Wild Bill's Fight Night 16: UFC Vets Assuncao and Yarbrough Dominate

UFC Veteran Junior Assuncao (7-3) won a unanimous decision in a battle with a willing and worthy Kalvin Hackney (3-1) at Wild Bill’s Fight Night 16 in Atlanta Saturday night.  Assuncao utilized his entire arsenal to wrestle, grapple and pound out Hackney in a clear win on all cards.  Judges saw the fight 27-30 across the board. 

Ultimate Fighter, Cale Yarbrough (1-1), displayed an impressive and vastly improved ground game along with heavy hands to defeat a strong Anthony McKee (1-1) via TKO stoppage. 

Local favorite Jeff Boudreaux (3-1) eventually tapped to Kentucky’s Joe Heink (4-0) in a back-and-forth war of attrition. 

Jeff Bedard (10-2), Dave Vitkay (7-8), Dustin Chovanic (2-0) and Clint Hester (1-0) all walked away with victories as well. 

Assuncao Pleases The Masses With A Well-Rounded Exhibition of MMA

Kalvin Hackney (3-1) entered the venue with an entourage of rappers repeating the phrase; “I wanna be a dog, I wanna be a beast.”  Hackney proved to be a tenacious opponent; but, Assuncao’s experience took the spotlight. 

Junior Assuncao (7-3) displayed strong wrestling and jiu-jitsu skills transitioning from submission attempt to submission attempt continuously throughout the bulk of the fight. In round one the clinchwork was even for the most part with Junior winning the edge in knees and punches. The opening round ends with Assuncao nearly sinking a guillotine choke.

Hackney appeared gassed in the beginning of the second round approaching his opponent with hands down beside his waist and his mouth open. The fighters rolled and transitioned from multiple submission attempts on Assuncao’s part yet again. Hackney came back to life momentarily late in the round landing respectful punches only to get tagged with a strong kick to the chin. Junior ended the round in half guard landing undefended elbow shots.

The final round began with both fighters smiling and touching gloves. Junior landed leg and body kicks before taking the single leg and falling into top position. The energy of the room and momentum of the fight was all on the side of Assuncao. During one escape from the ground, Hackney stood over a seated Assuncao raining down a few straight punches only to have Assuncao land a jumping roundhouse kick from his Capoeira arsenal. The crowd was pleased by the exciting move and equally enthusiastic as the final bell sounded with Assuncao throwing a barrage of double hammerfists and waving his hand in victory to the audience. 

All three judges scored the bout a unanimous decision for Assucao 27-30. 

Yarbrough Wins An Impressive Moral Victory With Power On The Ground And The Feet

The fighters clashed immediately with a strong kick to the midsection of Anthony McKee (1-1) from Yarbrough. Mckee took a single leg and dropped Yarbrough into guard position landing some strong shots over the top. Yarbrough answered the shots with a triangle attempt nearly catching McKee before an escape followed by a nasty elbow strike from Yarbrough. 

Within the first half of  the round, Yarbrough attempted five submissions, displaying a strongly improved ground game. Yarbrough transitioned from triangles to armbars fluidly with Mckee having no answers for the ground assault. Standing briefly, Yarbrough landed an extremely heavy overhand right which visibly injured McKee’s left eye leaving a massive mouse. Following a flurry of punches and knees, both of McKee’s eyes started to swell shut. The fight was totally in Yarbrough’s command.

After the closing bell, a visibly hurt McKee crawled back to his corner. McKee looked very injured resulting in a time delay before the second round. The end of the fight was made official when McKee himself threw in the towel by failing to answer the bell. In the affair, Yarbrough attempted eight total submissions and landed an equally impressive amount of heavy shots from all angles. 

Yarbrough was officially awarded the victory via TKO stoppage due to eye injury. 

Local Favorite Boudreaux Upset By Heink From Louisville

Former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann (6-1) was in Boudreaux’s corner before the starting bell pumping the local hero into readiness. Jeff Boudreaux (3-1) looked determined and focused as the two fighters met in the center of the ring. Joe Heink (4-0) opened with a strong leg kick to be answered immediately by a massive slam from Boudreaux. Boudreaux took top  position and attempted a guillotine choke before Heink rolled into rubber guard. Heink attempted an awkward Americana and then the fight slowed to a stalemate. 

Following a restart, Heink’s boxing appeared crisper with Boudreaux bleeding heavily from his nose as evidence. Boudreaux landed a takedown and plastered Heink with repeated hammerfists. Heink survived the storm and got to his feet only to get tagged with a hard shot from Boudreaux. Boudreaux regained some momentum at round’s end with a strong right hook but walked back to his corner following the bell with a swollen eye. The first round was a close and active round by both fighters. 

The second round began with Boudreax showing fatigue. The fighters clinched immediately with Boudreaux winning the takedown battle. On top, Boudreaux controlled the pace until Heink got a hook in trying for the rear mount. Heink then attempted a Kimura transitioning into a triangle attempt and then into an armbar. Boudreaux caught tight in the armbar almost escaped trying to lift Heink up into a slam. Heink patiently held on and within seconds Boudreaux was forced to tap out.

Joe Heink officially won by armbar submission at 1:58 of the second round. 

Vikay Chokes Out The Veteran Carney 

West Viginia’s Todd Carney (32-22-1) is a coal miner by day and fighter by night. Seasoned with over fifty professional fights in his career. The veteran charged forward into a strong head kick by challenger Dave Vitkay (1-0). The fighters tied up in a clinch on the ropes with Carney throwing repeated rib shots. Falling to the the ground, Vitkay took top position in half guard landing elbows as Carney remained focused on the ribs. 

Vitkay landed some strong overhands before Carney transitioned into full mount. The mount was brief as Carney rolled over giving up his back. Getting his hooks in, Vitkay attempted a rear-naked-choke and then transitioned into an armbar attempt. Carney escaped but Vitkay jumped to his feet landing a heavy, heavy overhand right. Carney was hurt but saved by the bell. 

The second round began with Vitkay landing another strong head kick. Carney rushed forward taking a single leg. On the ground the fighters rolled over with Vitkay sinking in a deep guillotine choke. Carney quickly tapped.

Vitkay wins a quick second round submission victory at the 0.37 mark. 

Bedard Wins In Overwhelming Highlight Reel Fashion

Immediately at the opening bell, Jeff Bedard (9-2) clocked James Foster (9-6) with a devastating head kick reminiscent of Cro-Cop in his prime. Foster fell hard in this stunning knockout affair going into a few moments of convulsions before coming back to consciousness. It was both a thrilling and frightening moment for fans on hand as Foster flopped around on his back uncontrollably. 

Bedard wins via KO at 0:06 of the first round. 

Hester The Victor In A Bloody, Bloody Bout

Clint Hester (1-0) and Aaron Johnson (0-1) excitingly charged one another from the opening bell in a mutual professional debut. Landing strong leg kicks, Johnson quickly pulled guard. Suddenly Hester caught Johnson with a vicious elbow from top position resulting in a nasty cut that temporarily stopped the fight for inspection from the ringside physician. The fight was allowed to go forward with Hester continuing to land heavy shots in the guard. Back to their feet Johnson countered with a heavy shot of his own. Falling to the ground Hester attempted a submission with blood pouring massively on the canvas from Johnson’s cut. There was a tremendous amount of blood forcing the referee to stop  the fight. 

Hester won his professional debut via TKO (doctor stoppage) due to the cut. 

Chovanic Pounds Decisively To Victory

Dustin Chovanic (1-0) opened the fight with an overhand right rivaled by kick attempts from Jason Wiggins (9-7). This was a battle of North Carolina with both journeymen settling the score front of an Atlanta crowd. Chovanic quickly took Wiggins down securing a mount on his back. Landing heavy, heavy ground-and-pound from the mount, Chovanic overwhelms Wiggins into an impressively quick knockout. 

Chovanic takes the win via KO at 0:44 of round one.