Here are the photos from Gionco’s fight night main card for a Canadian Amateur Muay Thai Title match between  Kiarash Moghaddam of Versus Training Centre in Vancouver and Nick Bautista from Siam No. 1 in Toronto.

After the fight, Justin Pierrot interviewed Kiarash Moghaddam to find out what he had to say about his victory over Nick Bautista…

It seems like Nick Bautista didn’t really have much of an answer for to your leg kicks tonight. He seemed to be shying away from your punches. Were you expecting that kind of reaction?

Three years ago I fought (Bautista’s) his coach, he won unanimously… After that fight I went to Thailand… I trained so hard. Tonight I just wanted to prove that I changed… it was a great fight.

You had a very calculated style in there, you kept him at a distance, you were snapping off those brutal looking leg kicks, was that all part of your strategy?

He wanted to clinch and do leg kicks – so I wanted to to do boxing. Clinch he didn’t have a chance, boxing he didn’t have a chance… all he did was low kicks and front kicks, he was a tough guy, he has a tough coach, but I’ve got the best coaching, I’ve got the best best support team… so lucky to have that.

Gerry Gionco is back with Fight At The View 7, on September 30 2011. Kiarash ‘The Beast’ Moghaddam will be fighting for a Canadian Amateur Kickboxing title. More info: go to http://gerrygionco.com .

Interviews with fighters on the evening’s card by Justin Pierrot.

Navi Mazary took the first fight of the night, in super middleweight Muay Thai against Jeremey Neufeld with an early TKO. Navi did put in a hard leg kick on Neufeld, but afterward said that he felt that Neufeld just wasn’t prepared for the fight. Neufeld took it hard in the corner early and then went down with an apparent knee injury.

Palvir Atwall from Bisla’s in Surrey had a strong win against Rob Kreuse from Wolfe’s Den, North Vancouver by judges unanimous decision. Going in with the definite height and reach advantage, Atwall said he put his strategy on those assets and used his jab and rights as well as he could. The 15 year old Atwall looks forward to more action and eventually moving up in weight divisions.

Chris ‘The Predator’ Hansen was the winner by triangle choke in the first round over Sean Devries. I asked Chris what his game plan was, and did he expect to get a triangle submission so quickly?
“Yeah, triangle choke is my bread and butter, I’ve got long legs, so triangle choke is usually what I go for… I was going to stand with him a little bit more, but I felt his power right away, decided think it would be a smart thing to do. He bloodied me up on the ground, he has lots of power. So hats off to Sean Devries.”
Chris said his plans are to keep fighting, work on his stand up, and will be submitting more people in the future.

Ryan Daley was declared the winner by judges unanimous decision in the evening’s only straight up kickboxing bout, in the heavyweight division Lloyd Kenny. Ryan says his game plan going in was “…lots of jabs. Lots of leg kicks, wear him down.” And besides that? “Being busy, keep on top of him, moving around, good technique, (it) seemed to work.”

I asked Suraj Bangarh, how he felt to be half of tonight’s unanimous draw in a Muay Thai bout at 147 lbs, you got that draw off a point deduction, how are you feeling about that?
“Pretty upset actually, it makes me feel like I didn’t do too much, felt like I had the fight. 2nd round could have been a tie. 1st round was his, the 3rd round was mine, it should have gone toward me. What can you do?
As you mentioned in 2nd round and in the 3rd round, you were coming back with huge kicks, was that part of your training that you specifically focused on, or did it feel right at the moment?
I’ve been doing martial arts for 11 years in my life now, mostly karate, just started kickboxing for 3 years now, kicks come from my karate background, definitely.

I asked Houtan Ali Kashani, the other competitor of tonight’s draw in the Muay Thai bout, about the deducted point for a low shot. Houtan said he was surprised to get the deduction right away, before receiving a warning… Very understandable. Your opponent, seemed to have trouble with your jabs, and throwing jabs over his teeps?
He is a Karate guy, he tried to throw more front kicks, but front kicks don’t work on me. Walking in to it, it will hit you, but just standing there, its not gonna work.

Sebastian Ankiel from Team Karma got his win against Jessie “The Russian Bear” Makortoff, in almost record time, with a dominant performance in the heavyweight division for MMA. Ankiel admitted “… it feels pretty good. First fight out. Make a statement, I think I did that today.” Ankiel also confirmed that in preparation for the fight he brought down his weight from 307 to 244 lbs, by training almost full time.

Cheryl Chan quickly took out Femina Wachal to win the AMA Women’s flyweight champion belt.
28 seconds is the fastest submission of the night so far. You rocked her with a really solid punch and then she just turtled. What was going through your mind when you saw her back?

I grabbed her neck and choked her out, been working on it for a long time… instinct, Soon as she turned her back, I jumped her.

What a way to rebound after last fight at Trail at AM 4 fight night where unfortunately didn’t come up on top. looks like you turned corner and new chapter starting.

I learnt a lot from that last fight. I Got back into gym, Trained really hard. I think I grew a lot more than any other fight than any other fight. I got refocused and got ready to get back in there.

Wade Apps, won his mma fight over Parker Lang, in the last 20 seconds of round 1. Apps had a impressive round of ground and pound, Taking it into a shoulder lock. .Was that what you were looking to do, go for the submission, or did you have other things in mind?

It was more or less what I wanted to do, to take him down, heard he had decent striking. So I wanted to to take him down, thats what happened.
Wade says he is looking for more amateur fights, and then will turn pro.


Bruce Tran was the winner of the co-main event, Muay Thai at 135 lbs by split decision from the Judges over Jay Jauncey from WKX. Tran said, “I feel very exhausted, a pretty cool fight, could have gone either way, did the best I could… he has some pretty good front kicks, I had to watch for his moves.”

Tricky Nick Marinos is now the AMA Welterweight champion, the winner by stoppage in round 3 over Brett Lucero from Crisis MMA in Olympia WA.

I feel good, was little worried about my cardio, because I packed on some weight for this fight, because I knew my opponent was gonna be much bigger, the knees, so I needed to have the same kind stopping power back… every fight that Ive gotten into I’m confident that I’m going to win but I always have that worry… every fight I get into I know my guard game is pretty strong, even though he is on top of me, I can hold that position for a long long time and wait for the right moment to either get out or do a reversal, once I get on my game, I don’t scramble and make bad decisions, my game plan worked. I knew he was bigger he was stronger, a champion from Washington State, I had to take my time to wear him out, and as soon as I saw him getting into round 3, and I saw his punches getting slow, I saw his punches slowing down, I came in with that hook, and I stopped him, rung his bell, and then boom, the take down! I got on top, the plan worked out great.

LIVE in Vancouver – MMA, Muay Thai and Kickboxing
All Martial Arts Championship Back to Vancouver

WHEN: Friday June 24th, 2011
WHERE: Fraserview Hall 8240 Fraser Street Vancouver, BC
TIME: Doors open at 6:30 for Dinner tickets 7:30 non Dinner tickets
TICKETS: contact Mike at 604-318-1902, Marc at 604-729-6066, Gerry at 604-435-7777

All Martial Arts Championship is back to Vancouver, presented by BC’s leaders in Fight Promotions, Top Rank Martial Arts, and Gionco International Promotions, With Promoter Marc Crimeni following the smashing success of the 4 previous instalments. This fight series has reliably sold out  before the doors even open, so get your tickets now!

VIP tickets include a beautiful dinner prepared by outstanding chefs at Fraserview Hall. GA seating without buffet are also available.

AMA 5 will feature an action-packed evening of exciting fights in a venue that offers incredible views from every seat in the house.

This is your chance to cheer on some of the most explosive Canadian fighters as they do battle with notoriously talented Americans in Vancouver, BC.

North Vancouver’s ‘Tricky’ Nick Marinos MMA Canadian Welterweight champ faces off against MMA American welterweight champ Brett Lucero for the AMA Welterweight Title.

The EX UBC Football Player Seb Ankiel faces the American MMA Heavyweight Brandon Brazier.

Canadian Trent Skinner faces the American MMA Featherweight Jose Ramirez.

Jonathan Agnew out of Suitela fight team in Surrey, BC goes head to head with Dylan Brown out CV MMA in Courtenay, BC for the AMA lightweight Title.

Famina Wachal from Surrey, BC battling in MMA  Deb Boyes from Vancouver, BC.

Houtan Alikshani from KB-ONE in North Vancouver battling  Suraj Bangarh From Canadas best karate in Victoria in explosive Muay Thai.

Jay Jauncey From WKX in Surrey, Jay’s Brother of  Jr World Champion in Mauy Thai(JOSH) VS  San Shou Champion from Calgary, AB Bruce Tran batling in Mauy Thai.

A Stacked Card including electrifying fighters from Lightweight to Super Heavyweight in an |International event of epic proportions.

• Novic Pavic VS Navi Marzary  Muay Thai  SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT
• Rob Kruse VS Palvir Atwall  Boxing SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT
• Chris Hanson VS  Shaun Devries  MMA WELTERWEIGHT
• Ryan Hayward VS Pat Alec Muay Thai WELTERWEIGHT
• Curtis Baker VS Nate Nowak Boxing SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT
• Lloyd Kenny VS Ryan Daley Kick Boxing HEAVYWEIGHT
• Parker Lang VS Wade Abbs MMA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Card Subject To Change

As always, this will be an amazing card that is stacked with edge-of-your-seat exciting fights!

Book early your tickets as limited tickets are available.

Chris Anderson vs Cass Young

Cass Young Team from Bad Boy Outreach Surrey BC def.  Chris anderson CVMMA Campbell River. Anderson delivered a heavy blow to the head in round 2, while Young was attempting to stand. Its hard for fighters to hold back at that moment, and it was found later to be a good call on the part of the referee and judges to stop the fight. Young hit the mat, and the fight doctor commented on a possible opened up artery in the scalp, which was already forming a pool of blood on the mat. Young was awarded the win by disqualification. Anderson was apologetic and paid his respect to Young and his corner like an honourable fighter. Young’s bleed out was proof that scalp wounds look more gruesome than they really are. Both fighters are already talking about a rematch at King of the Rock 2 in Campbell River in the fall. An exiting fight by both combatants.

Via the fight team at BCMMA.com, I have some of the fights as shot by Jorge Parra from Underdogprod.com.

Exhibition Match

Mark Cadiz WACHAL’s Martial Arts Surrey BC vs Pat Alec ITK North Vancouver BC Exhibition match for upcoming fighters.

Josh Williams vs Brandon Takahara

Josh Williams from Final Round Duncan BC def. Brandon Takahara WACHAL’s Martial Arts Surrey BC. Knockout round 1, 31 seconds. Takahara charged out quickly, hoping to spook Williams, and pounded him brutally hard from guard. When they got to their feet again Williams hit him squarely with a cross and it was over.

Kalen Johl vs Louie Claman

Kalen Johl ITK North Vancouver BC def. Louie Claman EKKERT Fight Team Vancouver. Tko ground and pound in round 2, and a big improvement in fighting skills for Johl over his previous bouts.

Rakinranh ‘Ricky’ Keohavong vs Gurmeet Gill

Rakinranh ‘Ricky’ Keohavong WKX Surrey BC def. Gurmeet Gill WACHAL’S Martial Arts Surrey BC. Ricky Keohavong wins by tko in round 2. A stunningly aggressive fighter, scoring several knockdowns and never really being in trouble for any length of time during the fight save a brief stumble, in spite of Gill being a better challenge than his earlier ring fight.

Herbert Moon vs Gord Mosley

Herbert Moon Island Warriors Campbell River BC def Gord Mosely EKKERT Fight Team Vancouver BC. A stunning knockout in round 1 in the corner, keeping on him and exploiting the heavy gas burn of his opponent.

Fight results:

Bisla martial arts presents Fight Night 2011 in Surrey BC on April 8, 2011.

Bombay Banquet Hall, Convention Centre, 7475 – 135th street,  Surrey BC.

Bisla FIGHT NIGHT April 8^th

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Fight at the View 5 was kicked off with a Kickboxing match at 155 lbs between Armit Dulla of Bisla Martial Arts in Surrey vs. Tyler Bate from Williams Lake Muay Thai. Dulla got a knockdown at end of round 1. Bate looked re-energized in round 2, both showed good exchanges, and round 3 the gas factor kicked as time wound down. Dulla wins by unanimous judges decision.

Next was a boxing match at 175 lbs between independent fighter Kory Grimm from Richmond vs Mike Blumke, now with RAW Academy in Vancouver. Grimm I havent seen before but Blumke had a decent MMA showing at the last Extreme MMA show. Grimm was, well, grim. A hard uppercut put Blumke down at end of round 2, and Grimm put him away in round 3. Grimm proved to be an aggressive and determined opponent to deal with. While Blumke put up a valiant effort he took shots that hurt him and they would determine the fight with 2 more knockdowns in round 3. Blood was sprayed on the media table at the end of round 2.

Turning to MMA, we got a 140 lbs matchup between Vicky Boparari from Bisla Martial Arts against Ryan Ince from Fight Pit in Maple Ridge. Round 1 was pure ground position, with a lot of energy being expended for very little change through to the end of the round. Bopari, who also had Adam Santos in his corner, won in round 3 due to referee stoppage by unreturned blows. Ince had issues executing corner directions which probably would have helped him control Boparari better.

The next MMA match was between independent fighter Kalen Johl from Salmon Arm and Lute Ganeif from WKX in Surrey, fighting at 155 lbs. Incidentally, Johl had a match recently at King of the Rock 1 in Campbell River, and it planning a move to Vancouver to fight on promoter Mike Hammoud’s cards. Lute dominated Johl effectively in round 1, executing the calls from his corner and had Johl on his back through most of the round. Round 2 would end by Kimura arm lock.

Next up on the card was a kickboxing match at 170 lbs between Ronnie Gill from Bisla and Brandon Kapitan from KB-ONE in North Vancouver. Kapitan would get the win by TKO with a right hook in the corner that put Gill down in round 2 at 15 seconds in.

Fight 6 was a kickboxing exhibition between Toby Cleary from Carlson Gracie in Maple Ridge against ‘Ricky’ Rakniranh Keohavong from WKX. This was only an exhibition match, but Ricky Keohavong went hard on Cleary right from the start of the action with stunningly hard leg kicks with impacts that sounded like tree branches breaking, paired with hard technical strikes. Ricky made quite an impression, and Cleary was clearly beaten mentally early on in round 1 by such a tough opponent. Keohavong, on the other hand, fought like he was in a title fight.

Pat Thibodeau from Kombat 1 in Delta took on James Hansen of Team Bad Boy Outreach Surrey for an amateur Muay Thai match pegged at 185 lbs. The match was certainly a good aggressive fight by both fighters involved. Both fighters had moments of dominance; Hansen was able to improve somewhat over his performance in the second round, but would go down to what would be called an illegal strike from the knee to the head while against the ropes, resulting in a technical disqualification for Thibodeau.

Stats Tatarinov WACHAL’s Martial Arts Surrey was paired up with Andrew Uyeno from WKX for an amateur Muay Thai matchup at 170 lbs weight. Uyeno showed he benefited from his experience at Extreme MMA series last year, and has had time to improve his game over his previous showing, controlling round 1. Tatarinov was fiercely aggressive in round 2. Uyeno’s defense was not without merit, managing to turn Tatarinov’s kicks into sweeps and takedowns, and kept it going hard with straight up boxing battles in the corners and ropes. Round 3 was a much more open battle around the ring. Tatarinov’s offense must have impressed the judges more than Uyeno’s defence, and would take a unanimous judges decision.

James Lepage EKKERT Fight Team in White Rock, who had taken on a stronger Achilles Estremadura at Battlefield 2 returned to take on Cass Young from Team Bad Boy Outreach at 170 lbs. Lepage demonstrated a much more effective game in this return to MMA, but Cass young dominated and won by referee stoppage in round 2.

The main card for the night was a Junior World Title kickboxing match, at welterweight. Enter fighter Guillermo Valpoort from Bonjasky Akademy Amsterdam, Holland, thats the gym run by Remy Bonjasky, the K-1 world champion in 2003, 2004, and 2008. Josh Jauncey of WKX took on Valpoort as the challenger. Jauncey was well prepared for the title bout and made a convincing statement in round 1 with a knockdown. He came back in round 2 and finished his match with a devastating spinning back kick at 53 seconds in that Valpoort could not shake off in time for the standing count. Congratulations to Josh Jauncey. No doubt, the fighters at gyms in Holland will be interested in the quality of the talent being churned out of the BC martial arts scene.

Final fight of the night would go to Herbert Moon, an independent fighter from Campbell River, who had been seen locally before at the Extreme MMA series. Moon was matched up with Colin Campbell from EKKERT Fight Team in what was essentially a heavyweight catchweight fight – a fight between two really big guys. Moon one the battle in round 1 winning by referee stoppage while in the mount due to unreturned blows.