TUF Bowman Successful in Pro Debut
A card featuring a former combatant on The Ultimate Fighter, Blake Bowman (1-0), and “Mr. International” Shonie Carter (38-17-7) as referee proved to be one of those where you truly “didn’t want to blink.”
At Legends of Fighting 25: Breaking Point in Indianpolis, Bowman, oft-criticized cast-member of TUF 6, made his pro debut and first fight after the show on which he was seriously injured in a fight with Richie Hightower (7-2), and seriously ridiculed by eventual champion Mac Danzig (18-4-1).
“Believe it or not, there is life after TUF,” Bowman said. “Undoubtedly, I wasn’t UFC caliber when I got onto the show. I teach at Defcom One, Gracie Baja now, and, thanks to those guys on TUF, trainers and critics, they made me a fighter.”
The 6′2″, lanky fighter was sporting some new red and pink hair, silver painted toenails, and impressive musculature. He wasted little time getting over what he called “basically, first-time jitters.”
After throwing some long, quick jabs to measure distance, Bowman used that rehabbed left leg - which is still slightly thinner than his right – to launch a crisp left high kick that caught his opponent, Kevin Walker (0-1), along the jaw and neck.
The crack popped throughout the venue; Walker fell like a board; and, finally, after nine-months of frustration, Bowman proved he at least belongs in a cage.
In two bouts before Bowman’s, the crowd was treated to a site few will ever get to witness.
Middleweights Shaun Parker (0-0-1) and Tyler Bryan (0-0-1) squared off for only a few seconds before both fighters threw big, looping right hooks simultaneously.
Both fists landed! Both fighters were knocked cleanly unconscious.
When they hit the mat in opposite directions and with both mouth pieces rolling, “Mr. International” seemed truly confused, hardly knowing which man to attend to.
That fight, which kept the crowd on its feet for two minutes after the knockouts, was called a draw.
In other action:
Super Heavyweight: Tiny Norton (2-1) over Brian Veach (1-2) in a TKO, round 1.
Heavyweight: Chris Canale (1-1) over Jason Hayes (0-1) with an arm lock, round 1.
Heavyweight: Sean Sallee (9-15) over Tim Wills (0-18) by TKO, round 1.
Middleweight: Matt Roland (5-1) over Josh Rines (0-1) by TKO, round 1
Middleweight: Gabe Holmes (4-4) and Steve Frits (0-1) fought to a draw after 3 rounds.
Welterweight: Daniel Nuttall (2-1) over Bobby Chadwell (0-1) by TKO, round 1.
135 lbs.: “The Asian Sensation” Kris Boyden (1-0) over Scott Blevins (0-6) by TKO, round 1.
The main event featured lighweights Jeremy Ashley (6-5) over Jacob Cory (0-1) after Cory’s corner threw in the towel just a two minutes into the fight.
