In an exchange of dueling head kicks, Nico
Echeverry landed first, but Le’ville
Simpson landed the one that counted, setting up a stunning
second-round finish and winning Simpson the Fury Fighting Championship lightweight
title.
Fury FC 45, which took place on April 18 at the
Bayou Events Center in Houston, Texas, was the second show on
Fury’s new broadcast agreement with UFC Fight Pass. The main event
featured Echeverry in his first defense of the belt, against
Simpson, in his second attempt at winning it. The first round was
conducted entirely on the feet, characterized by tense striking
exchanges as Echeverry switched stances and worked to navigate the
taller challenger’s reach. Simpson, perhaps expecting a takedown
attempt, used lateral movement, push kicks and his long left jab to
maintain distance.
Both men appeared more aggressive to begin the second frame, and 15
seconds into the round the champ threw a hard left high kick that
Simpson took on the arm. Simpson responded with a right kick that
cleared Echeverry’s guard to land squarely on the jaw. Echeverry
went down and Simpson pounced, throwing a flurry of hammerfists and
punches as referee J.J. Ferraro looked on closely. A few moments
later Ferraro waved the fight off, a TKO win for “Cadillac” at 30
seconds of Round 2.
With the win, Elevation Fight Team representative Simpson rises to
10-5 and takes the Fury lightweight belt back to his native
Colorado; Echeverry falls to 9-4 in defeat.
Glenn Strangles Morris
Kenneth
Glenn answered when opportunity knocked, stepping up on a
week’s notice and choking out Fury lightweight standout Will Morris
in the co-main event. Morris put his hand speed and huge advantages
in height and reach to good use in the first round, keeping Glenn
on the end of his quick jab and landing several step-in knees.
Morris stung Glenn several times in the first round, likely winning
the frame despite giving up a takedown in the final seconds. That
takedown, however, pointed the way towards what was to come. In
Round 2, Glenn secured a takedown despite a couple of fence grabs,
and after Morris escaped, quickly scored another. This time, Glenn
quickly took Morris’ back, locked up a rear-naked choke and got the
tap within seconds. With the submission at 3:35 of Round 2, Glenn
is now 9-5, while Morris is 5-2.
Altum Lands Sensational Flying Triangle
Josh
Altum put on an absolute jiu-jitsu clinic at the expense of
Frank
Meno, capped off with a slick flying triangle submission. It
took barely 100 seconds for the W4R Training Center featherweight
to hand Meno his first career loss. Altum took the fight to the
ground quickly using a hip throw, passing almost immediately to
mount. After absorbing a few ground strikes, Meno turned his back,
scrambled out and used an overhook to try and stand. Instead, Altum
rolled under him, locking up a triangle choke as he did so. Meno
struggled as Altum switched to an armbar, then back to the
triangle, forcing the tap at 1:42 of the first round. With the
electrifying finish, the 24-year-old Altum goes to 4-1 as a
professional; Meno falls to 3-1.
Oriahi Flying Knee Levels Ageday
Morgan
Oriahi claimed to take exception to Derrick
Ageday missing weight, and took it out on him once the cage
door shut, crushing him with a flying knee and diving follow-up
punch in their 175-pound catchweight fight. The first round saw
Ageday find some success wrestling, as he scooped the taller man up
for several forceful takedowns. However, Ageday had his hands full
coping with Oriahi’s aggressive guard and was unable to keep him
down for long, or inflict any damage while on top. Early in the
second round, Oriahi launched a beautiful flying knee that struck
Ageday full in the face. Ageday staggered back and fell at the base
of the cage, where Oriahi went airborne and landed a final huge
right hand to spur referee Ferraro into action. The TKO came
officially at 40 seconds of Round 2, bringing Oriahi’s professional
record to 2-1 and marking a successful return after a four-year
absence from competition. With the loss, Ageday falls to 3-8.
Smotherman Boxes Perez Up, Stays Perfect as a Pro
In a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, the striker prevailed,
as Cameron
Smotherman (2-0) took a one-sided unanimous decision over
Stephen
Perez (5-5). Perez committed to the takedown from the opening
bell, and after considerable work, succeeded in bringing Smotherman
to the canvas. Smotherman managed to escape without damage,
however, and once they were back on their feet, his advantage in
speed and technique was obvious. For the remaining two and a half
rounds, the story of the fight was Smotherman’s jab and right
cross, which left Perez’s face bloodied and bruised, and vicious
low kicks. Perez was game throughout, even when he was reduced to
pulling guard, and he briefly threatened with a heel hook in the
second round, but Smotherman freed himself easily. A knockdown in
the final seconds of the fight sealed the deal for the 23-year-old
Metro Fight Club prospect, who collected 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26
scorecards.
Herrera Mauls Garza
In the lightweight main card opener, the power and wrestling of
John
Herrera were simply too much for Paul Garza.
Herrera struck for takedowns early and often, taking dominant
positions and applying ground-and-pound. Garza had moments of
success, especially in the first round when he landed some stinging
punch combinations and knees, but the clear power advantage on the
feet belonged to Herrera, who dropped Garza with punches in the
first round and appeared to be close to finishing the fight. Garza
survived to see the second round, but Herrera picked up right where
he left off, rocking Garza with a left hook and a standing knee,
tossing him into the fence and finishing him there with punches.
Referee Ferraro moved in for the stoppage at 2:30 of Round 2. With
the dominant performance, the 27-year-old Herrera moves to 2-0-1 as
a pro; Garza falls to 2-2.
Postlims: Hickman Makes Successful Debut
Taylor
Hickman made his professional debut after an extensive amateur
run and got things off on the right foot, tapping out Christopher
McElroy with a mounted guillotine choke in the second round of
the evening’s final bout. The protégé of UFC welterweight Alex Morono
goes to 1-0 and becomes an immediate person of interest in the
fast-growing Fury lightweight division. In the first postlim,
flyweight Francisco
Obando snared Chase
Eastham with a second-round armbar to move to 2-1 as a pro.