ROUND ONE: Kian De Beer made a name for himself through the round robin tournament by ending his fights quickly, and violently. And, uh. He didn’t waste any time in the championship fight either. Literally the second the fight began, he stormed across the cage and met Alekzander Kristiansen with a flurry of blows that he barely had time to get a guard up to prevent! Kristiansen got rocked by a big right hook that forced him to try to circle away and throw a few shots to keep the South African destroyer away, but nothing landed with any power before Kian wound up a huge right uppercut that buckled Alekzander’s legs and sent him crumpling to the mat in one of the quickest, most dominant championship fights I’ve ever seen!
Winner: Kian De Beer by KO (Punches) at 0:38 Round 1
Statistics: Kian De Beer
Punches 10/15 (67%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 0 s
Statistics: Alekzander Kristiansen
Punches 0/3 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 0 s
Kayla Chapman’s Opinion: Um. What can I even say about this one? Goodness, Kian De Beer knows he doesn’t get paid by the hour, huh? Not a whole lot to break down here, dominance for the 40 seconds this fight lasted. Looking to the future, I don’t see Everest providing much more for the new champ, so where does he go? At his size, it’s crazy to imagine he even makes 170, I can’t imagine he cuts down to 155, so my guess is to test the waters at 185 lbs, where a new champion just shook up the rankings. Could be interesting if he chooses to head over to Ryujin and test his striking in Japan. With Alekzander, he was very impressive in the fights that weren’t against Kian, who looks like he’s on another level right now. I’d like to see him back in Everest next season, refine his skill a little, see what he’s made of when he doesn’t run into a buzzsaw.
ROUND ONE: Milo clearly remembers how the first fight with Mauro went, so after the two men touch gloves, he’s quick to circle away and fire off a stinging low kick that Mauro just barely gets a chance to check. As Milo’s getting resettled, Mauro clips him with a big right hand that stumbles Milo to the ground, but it’s more a trip than it is a knockdown, and Milo’s able to scramble back to his feet before Mauro engages on the mat. The Pole blasts a high kick that just, I mean JUST misses Mauro, but it does miss–and Mauro doesn’t miss with the big overhand right that stumbles Milo back, and gives Mauro a chance to shoot a single leg takedown while he’s off balance! Milo locks his guard and tries to contain Mauro, clearly hoping for a standup from official Archie Driscoll, but Mauro’s able to pry his guard open and pass to Side Mount! In the process, it seems like one of Milo’s fingers might’ve grazed Mauro’s eye, as he’s squinting badly, but Archie didn’t see it so the fight continues; Mauro takes his recovery time by securing his position in side mount, waiting for Milo to do something–and when the Polish fighter does try to recover his guard, Mauro feeds his arm through, securing an Arm Triangle choke! Milo struggles to defend, making a little bit of space for himself at first…but Mauro cinches it in even tighter, and forces Milo to tap.
Winner: Mauro Santos de Lima by Submission (Arm Triangle) at 1:56 Round 1
Statistics: Mauro Santos de Lima
Punches 2/2 (100%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 1/1 (100%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 1/1 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 50 s
Statistics: Milo Dragomir
Punches 0/2 (0%)
Kicks 0/3 (0%)
Clinch strikes 1/1 (100%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 60 s
Kayla Chapman’s Opinion: Mauro doing Mauro things, it’s honestly impressive how people like him and Isabel Azevedo do this–everyone knows what they’re going to do, everyone knows you’re going to get taken down and blitzed with submissions, but nobody can really stop it. There’s a notable lack of submission threat at Heavyweight, I’d be curious to see how he fares there. Milo, I’m going to say the same thing I said about Alekzander Kristiansen–he’s got the potential, he just ran into an unstoppable machine. I’d like to see him back in Everest next season.
ROUND ONE: The last time these two fought may very well go down as one of the biggest upsets of all time in Everest, when Victoria ended Alexandra’s unbeaten run. And, uh…remember when I asked how Alex would handle that loss? Yeah, she clearly wanted to make a statement early in this fight–we start with a touch of gloves, and Alex absolutely BLASTS Victoria with two big punches, a big looping left, then a right uppercut that stumbles Victoria back! Marshall circles away to clear the early cobwebs, and lands a big two punch combo when Alex presses the action–a big straight right that stops Alex in her tracks, then a digging left hook to the body that makes the young Welsh girl visibly wince. Victoria drops for a takedown, but Alex is able to resist and ends up driving Victoria to the mat herself, albeit only as far as Marshall’s guard. Victoria quickly pops her hips and sweeps Alex over, taking Full Mount! Alex throws a couple punches up at Victoria, which Victoria answers with a sharp elbow right to the forehead! Alex scrambles from underneath, escaping to half-guard, but the fight grinds to halt as both women cancel out the other’s attempts to improve their position, and Colin Davenport has to stand them up. Alex slams a kick to the inner thigh, but Victoria just eats it and drives forward, managing a beautiful ankle pick that sends the fight back to the mat–but Alex immediately scrambles and manages to end up on top! It’s a struggle, but she manages to get to Full Mount and isolates one of Victoria’s arms, hooking up an Americana before Victoria can defend! Marshall grinds her teeth, shaking her head as if she were trying to psyche herself up as much as anything. Alex puts a little more torque on the hold, but before anything can come of it, the horn sounds and round 1 ends.
Kayla Chapman’s Scorecard (Unofficial): 10-9 Hughes — Close round, Victoria had moments, but the big shots early on, plus the submission there at the end, I don’t think Marshall did anything that betters those moments.
ROUND TWO: Hughes starts round two with a big leg kick that misses wildly, and gives Victoria an early opening–which she’s all too happy to accept, hitting another single leg takedown and driving Hughes to the mat! Alex locks her guard up to prevent Victoria from passing, then pops her hips and sweeps Marshall over to take Full Mount herself! Marshall scrambles to recover half-guard, then turns Alex over and ends up on top! Marshall passes to Full Mount with relative ease, then SLAMS a few punches down that get the official’s attention! Alex shrimps out to try to recover half-guard, but Victoria flows with Alex’s movement, and ends up swimming back to Side Mount rather than try to resist. She drops a few hammerfists down that keep Alex in place–for the moment, anyway; as soon as she feels safe, Alex is back on the move, swimming her leg in and recovering half-guard. Victoria tries to get her position back, but Alex takes advantage and manages to get back to Full Guard–she even tries to go all the way to Victoria’s back, but the Seattle girl stops that before Alex can ever get close. A lot of jockeying for position takes place, with both ladies improving their positions, then losing it as the other manages to counter, before ultimately Colin Davenport stands both fighters up with 90 seconds left in the round. Victoria lands a nice three punch combo, punctuated by a big uppercut that rocks Alex’s head back–and then, for some reason, drops for a double leg takedown, rather than capitalize on the advantage? And Alex gets a chance to recover, resist, and drives a knee straight up the gut that nearly puts Victoria out! Marshall rolls to her back, but Alex doesn’t engage, and she’s stood up quickly. Alex slams in a high kick that Victoria manages to block, but the impact still sounded like a gunshot! Both ladies throw a volley of strikes, but neither lands anything with any significance–but Alex over-committing to the strikes does give Victoria a chance to drive her to the mat once again! Marshall passes swiftly to half-guard, then to Full Mount, and starts to drop big shots, but she doesn’t get much of a chance before the horn sounds to end round 2.
Kayla Chapman’s Scorecard (Unofficial): 10-9 Marshall (19-19 Push) — Much better round from Victoria, some big ground and pound and a couple big shots in the fight. But like round 1, it wasn’t so dominant that I think Alex is out of it. All to fight for in the third.
ROUND THREE: Round three begins with Hughes jabbing her way in range, then launching a big kick to the body–that Victoria catches and turns into an ankle trip takedown! The constant grind on the mat seems to be taking a toll on Alex, as she takes a deep breath before trying to improve her position, but Victoria doesn’t wait–she slams a couple shots to the ribs before passing to half-guard, but Alex is able to recover her full guard before anything really comes of it. The two ladies fight for position for a while, before Victoria postures up and drops a BIG series of elbows–one, two three of them all land with a THUD against Hughes’ forehead and open a cut over the Welsh woman’s eye. Victoria passes to half-guard while Alex is recovering, then to Full Mount, but in the process, both ladies’ heads clash–and Colin stops the fight to give Alex a chance to recover. And…oh, no, come on Colin, he takes a point away from Victoria for what was obviously an accident. SERIOUSLY!? In a title fight, no less, we’re doing this? I’m so tired of harping on these refs, I really am, but WHY? Victoria’s protesting her innocence, but the point’s already been taken away. Alex shakes the cobwebs free, and assures Colin she’s OK to continue–and normally stone-faced Victoria Marshall looks MAD, y’all. She absolutely blitzes her way into another takedown, scooping Alex off the mat and SLAMMING her down–and an already gassed out Alex Hughes clearly has the breath taken out of her, as Victoria passes to side mount, then back to full mount with ease. Like in Portland, Victoria’s not looking at her opponent; instead, she’s glaring a hole through Colin Davenport while absolutely POUNDING Alex’s into the mat! Alex manages to catch one of the punches and tie Victoria up, and it might very well have been what saved the fight for her; she shrimps out to escape to half-guard, but Victoria locks her down and ultimately the fight comes to a halt, forcing a standup with 90 seconds left. On the restart, Alex pushes forward, despite the visible fatigue, and manages to land a flurry of shots that force Victoria backwards–only for the Seattle girl to uncork a massive overhand right that nearly stops Alex in her tracks! Alex circles away, gauging her position before dropping for a takedown of her own, but Victoria resists it easily–and Alex pulls guard instead, immediately hitting a sweep that turns Victoria over! Alex is in half-guard for the moment, but quickly passes to Full Mount, but the horn sounds before she can do anything with it.
Kayla Chapman’s Scorecard (Unofficial): 9-9 (28-28 Draw) — Well, now what? Our officials pull the trigger on point deductions way too fast, this was absolutely Victoria Marshall’s round, but she gets it taken from her because of an accident. And if the judges agree with me, we’ve got a draw in a title bout; do we go to a sudden death round, or does nobody win the belt this season? Boy oh boy, this…this sure is something.
JUDGES’ SCORECARDS
Victoria Marshall 9 10 8: 27
Alex Hughes 10 9 10: 29
Victoria Marshall 9 10 9: 28
Alex Hughes 10 9 9: 28
Victoria Marshall 9 10 9: 28
Alex Hughes 10 9 9: 28
Winner: Alex Hughes and Victoria Marshall fight to a Majority Draw
Kayla Chapman’s Opinion: I…would like to know what that first judge saw in round 3 that gave it to Alex. I thought that was the easiest round to score, but…what do I know. But now that it’s official, there’s some discussion between Everest’s figurehead Cass Madrigal, and Union GP President Dante Reed who’s joined us for the title fights tonight, before Cass gets up into the cage and decides to allow a sudden victory round. Round 4, lets go!
ROUND FOUR: To say round four begins differently than the other three would be putting it very mildly; both ladies are worn out by this point, so it’s a slow feeling out process; Victoria jabs her way into range, then drops for a takedown that Alex resists with relative ease, mostly because Victoria shot from way too far out, but they end up clinched up against the cage. Victoria slams a couple hooks to the body in, which Alex counters with a knee up the middle–one lands right below the sternum, and slows Victoria down immediately. Alex manages to pummel her way off the cage, then breaks the clinch and moves back to the center of the cage. She beckons Victoria on, and Victoria’s happy to answer her, with a big two punch combo that clips Alex on the chin and nearly puts her down! Alex responds with a big middle kick that wrenches Victoria’s body, and gives Alex a chance to land a quick one-two, then she wings another big kick to the body–this time, Victoria manages to catch it and drive her to the mat again! It’s a slower process this round, but Victoria’s able to shuck Alex’s leg through and pass to half-guard, then postures up and, I really cannot emphasize this enough, SLAMS down a series of elbows! Alex blocks a couple, but a couple very much get through and open that cut from earlier up again! Victoria doesn’t bother trying to pass at this point, she just alternates body shots and headshots–whether they get through or not doesn’t seem to bother her, she just wants the control and the chance to land a good shot. Alex defends well, but she ends the round on her back covered up.
Kayla Chapman’s Scorecard (Unofficial): 10-9 Marshall — Alex pressed the action early, but I think she pushed too hard early, as Victoria was able to get the advantage toward the end of sudden victory. It’s narrow margins when you only get one round to play with, and I think Victoria got it.
JUDGES’ SCORECARDS
Victoria Marshall: 10
Alex Hughes: 9
Victoria Marshall: 10
Alex Hughes: 9
Victoria Marshall: 10
Alex Hughes: 9
Winner: Victoria Marshall by Unanimous Decision
Statistics: Victoria Marshall
Punches 17/25 (68%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 5/9 (0%)
Takedowns 5/7 (71%)
GnP strikes 22/42 (52%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 618 s
Statistics: Alex Hughes
Punches 23/40 (58%)
Kicks 3/15 (20%)
Clinch strikes 6/6 (100%)
Takedowns 0/1 (0%)
GnP strikes 7/24 (29%)
Submissions 2/2 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 609 s
Kayla Chapman’s Opinion: Phew. I’m tired just watching that, I can’t imagine how those girls feel. I feel like I’ve harped on this too much, but I’m going to say it again–even last season, Victoria doesn’t hang with Alex like that. The turnaround in her Everest career has been incredible, and after 3 seasons, she’s worked her way from 0-4-1, to the first ever Everest Flyweight Champion. But don’t take anything away from Alex Hughes either, she fought a great fight, and on any other night, she might’ve gotten the win here. I think emotion got the better of her early in the fight, wanting to avenge the loss in Seattle, but she’s still been an incredible fighter. Both girls are perfect fits for the Bantamweight division, so unless they decide to go to Ryujin, I expect to see both ladies fighting at 135 lbs in 2023.
ROUND ONE: The last time these two fought, they fought to a Majority Draw, and…well. There’s no desire to see scorecards in Sadie Williams tonight; when the fight starts, she instantly shoots a single leg takedown, dragging Masami to the mat and passing easily to Side Mount! Masami scrambles to get back up, but Sadie snatches his neck and sits back with a Guillotine Choke! It’s tight, but Masami gestures to referee Lars Levy that he’s alright, so the fight continues, and eventually Masami pops his head free and scrambles back to his feet to get away from Sadie on the mat; she stays on her back, but he doesn’t even pretend to engage, forcing Lars to stand her up. And Sadie…apparently doesn’t appreciate that, as she literally immediately shoots a double leg takedown this time, driving Masami back to the mat, and passing to Side Mount again! Rose uses raw power to turn Sadie over, but she ends up recovering her guard and throwing up a Triangle Choke before Masami even realizes it! The Prodigy 206 rep’s turning as red as Sadie’s fight gear, but refuses to tap, even wagging a finger as if to say she won’t get him–but eventually, the resistance stops, and Lars waves the fight off! As Sadie lets go of the choke, Masami’s out cold, prompting the Canadian to scoot away enough to allow trainers to tend to him, but waiting to make sure he’s okay.
Winner: Sadie Williams by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:15 Round 1
Statistics: Masami Rose
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/1 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 37 s
Statistics: Sadie Williams
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 2/2 (100%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 3/3 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 37 s
Kayla Chapman’s Opinion: Wow. Complete control by Sadie Williams, it’s hard to quantify this kind of fight, the stats don’t look especially great, but for a 75 second fight, there wasn’t a moment of it that Sadie wasn’t in charge of. Very impressive victory for her, after a tough outing in Season 2. So where does she go from here? Well, she’s in that middle ground where she’d be a relatively small Lightweight, but a relatively big Bantamweight; ironically, 145 lbs is probably the right division for her, but I’d probably suggest cutting to 135 and testing the waters there. With the Bantamweight GP just announced, the ranks will be in flux, and a couple early wins could set Sadie up for big things at 135. For Masami, let’s not pretend this is a reflection of him as a fighter–we saw him all season, dominate his other fights, he and Sadie just seem to cancel each other out. I don’t know that coming back to Everest would benefit him any; he’s got the showmanship and the skill to be a star in Japan, I could certainly see him becoming a big name in Ryujin, if he doesn’t have any issue potentially fighting a teammate down the line.
Venue: Chase Center
Location: San Francisco, California
Attendance: 12,862
Date: January 8, 2023
Fighter Payouts: $4,490,000
Gate: $1,387,500
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT
Alex Hughes vs Victoria Marshall
PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT
Kian De Beer, Mauro Santos de Lima, Sadie Williams
DISCLOSED EARNINGS
Sadie Williams ($1,090,000)
Victoria Marshall ($1,090,000)
Mauro Santos de Lima ($1,075,000)
Kian De Beer ($1,075,000)
Alex Hughes ($55,000)
Masami Rose ($35,000)
Milo Dragomir ($35,000)
Alekzander Kristiansen ($35,000)
QUICK RECAP
Kian De Beer def. Alekzander Kristiansen by KO (Punches) at 0:38 Round 1
Mauro Santos de Lima def. Milo Dragomir by Submission (Arm Triangle) at 1:56 Round 1
Victoria Marshall def. Alexandra Hughes by Unanimous Decision
Sadie Williams def. Masami Rose by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:15 Round 1