TOWAOC Isaque Sandman Martinez met the challenge Saturday night in Mixed Martial Arts action at the Ute Mountain Casino.
Fighting against a leaner, yet, deceptively strong Dwight Parker of Wyoming in the nights 185-pound professional King of the Cage, Underground 71 main event, Martinez flew, literally.
Nearly 20 seconds into the 5-minute first round, the fighter from Rock Springs, Wyo., picked up the local favorite and threw him to the ground, shaking the floor from one end of the cage to the other.
Them Wyoming boys are tough, man, Martinez, 30, said afterwards.
With an anxious crowd cheering on its hero to get up, Sandman took his time.
I just had to stay sharp, stay skilled, he said.
While Parker appeared in control, having Martinez pinned to the floor, the Sandman protected his face and worked his way to the edge of the cage. Martinez trainer, Kaan Clark, was on the other side shouting instructions to his fighter. Sure enough, the Sandman escaped.
With the two fighters back on their feet, punches and kicks were limited, so back to the ground they went. Martinez eventually gained position and broke through Parkers protective wall to land a painful blow to his head. Parkers defenses were down and Martinez landed right jab, left jab, right jab, left jab knockout. Victory number 13 for Martinez.
The referee called the fight at the 4:38 mark of the first round, and Martinez, is now 13-2.
My hats off to him. Hes a very strong opponent, Martinez said about Parker, who dropped to 4-4. Hes going to do good. Hes young. Hes got a long career ahead of him. I wish him the best of luck.
After the fight, Martinez was mobbed by friends, family and many fans who wanted to congratulate, get pictures with, and get autographs from their favorite mixed martial artist.
I just want to say, Thanks for all the support for us fighters. It means a lot, Martinez said.
The victory means a lot for the Sandmans career, too, as he inches closer to his first middleweight (171-185 pounds) title shot.
Im a fight finisher, he said. Ive never went to a decision. I love to get those fights finished.
Now with Parker finished, Martinez will continue to train for the next three months leading into his next fight on Jan. 12, 2012 at the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla.
Martinez wasnt the only one drawing cheers. Two other Montezuma-Cortez High School graduates were in action at the amateur level.
Competing with Martinez out of Montezuma Martial Arts Studio in Cortez, were 19-year-old Manny Ruiz who picked up a win, and Dominic Gurule, 21, who took a close loss by decision.
The two fought fighters out of MMA-crazed Gallup, N.M., in what were perhaps the most entertaining bouts of the evening.
At 145 pounds, a bulked up Ruiz needed all three rounds with Trevor Long. The first two rounds were more of a boxing match with the two punching each other around, and dancing for position.
It was going good for me. I thought he wanted to stand up and bang with me, said Ruiz, while catching his breath.
By the third round, Ruiz and Long had physically pummeled each other. This fight would be determined with the best jiu jitsu skills.
Any way to win. You want to take me down? Go for it, Ruiz said.
Ruiz would get the submission hold that eluded him in the first two rounds. He locked Long in an armbar and held tight for a good 10 seconds. Finally, Long tapped out and the crowd rocked out... with excitement. Ruiz laid back in relief and raised his fists in the air in celebration, after winning at the 2:02 mark of Round 3.
I thought I had him in Round 1. I heard his arm pop. I was like, Oh, I got him, Ruiz, now 2-1, said. I didnt feel him tap or see him tap, and he kept going and starting beating me. I was like, All right. I didnt get you. More rounds for me.
Ruiz faced some adversity in the first round, but escaped Longs chokehold.
I thought in my head, Im not losing by a choke. I did what I knew how to do to defend it, Ruiz said.
Ruiz punched his way out of the headlock and away the fighters went for nearly three rounds.
Gurule and Daniel Castenada at 170 pounds did go to the judges in what was a back-and-forth battle throughout.
This was familiar territory for Gurule, who lost his only fight by unanimous decision at a then 185 pounds. Castenada controlled Round 1, but every hold Castenada had, Gurule escaped. The second round was a more even jiu jitsu contest. Gurule dealt some early kicks before the fighters were back on the ground. Neither seemed to be able to take control. The final round saw Castenada lock Gurule in a couple holds that didnt last. Gurule showed off his great escapability, but it wasnt enough. The judges gave Castenada the win by unanimous decision.
It makes me way hungry to come back, said Gurule, 0-2. My first fight at 185, I lost. The same thing. A decision loss again, it aint good. It makes me want to come back a thousand times harder.
Gurule felt more comfortable competing at 170 pounds.
I think I fit the structure of a new fight class right here. Im going to fight at 170 pounds for a while, he said.
Other fights saw: Brice Boling (Vicious Strength MMA, Durango) defeat Sergio Garcia, Round 1 rear naked chokehold. Efren Castenada def. Charles Deihl, Round 1 Total Knockout. Terrin Yazzie def. Ambrose Teasaytwho, Round 2 TKO. Ambert Teasaytwho def. Anthony Ford, Round 1 guillotine chokehold. Angelo Sanchez def. Amross Teasaytwho, Round 1 armbar.
NOTES: Montezuma Martial Arts fighter Joe Trevino did not make his debut due to his opponent not showing up. Elsie Henri did not compete at the 145-pound womens pro fight due to a shoulder injury.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
