Sorry to start this late. I actually got here in time and wound up sitting down and chatting with Paul Schriener and Marcelo Garcia. Marcelo is in town for a seminar, as I understand it it's nt to late to sign up. More on that conversation in a moment.

Alexander Trivino armbars Eric Jacob first round.

Alexander "Spider" Trivino sporting homemade pink shorts and a cup that would make Shonie Carter say "whoa"slaps on the armbar from the bottom and Eric stands up to get out of it. Rookie mistake I comment as Marcelo smiles.

Jorge Interiano stops Travis Johnson (could not continue after the second round). I know Travis from working the front desk at AKA, but despite a few impressive kicks it gradually became all Jorge who began to literally chase Travis around the ring towards the end of the fight. The referee waves it off at the start of the third.

Cyrillo Padhillo vs Jesse Jones

This is actually a good fight, now entering it's third round. I was typing up the last two fights too much to be paying to much attention to the first two rounds.

In the third round Jesse lands a big shot that floors Cyrillo, then lands some big shots from the ground for good measure. Cyrillo somehw survive and comes back on top, but doesn't do much with it, so the fight is restarted on the feet. Cyrillo gets the takedown and the fight ends there.

Cyrillo is representing Luta Livre, which I haven't heard of in a long time. As we wait for the announcement, Ken Shamrock is walking around the cage and has a conversation with Ken Shamrock.

Cyrillo gets the judges nod, much to the chagrin of this partisan crowd. Hey, this is my hometown! What do you think they would do to Sports Illustrated MMA editor Josh Gross, who is sitting to my left sporting a backdrop of the LA Dodgers? We're in NorCal now baby!

Paul comes by to drop off a stack of flyers for the Marcelo Garcia seminar. Only 10 spots left to roll with one of the greatest grapplers ever! To register go to www.StrongVon.com

Intermission right now as we await the main card.


Brian Caraway vs Alvin Cacdac

The local boy Alvin Cacdac gets a hero's welcome, but it's Caraway that initiates the takedown and takes the back right away. Cadac fends off the rear naked choke as long as he can, but referee Herb Dean stops the fight when Cacdac appears to go out. I'm not sure if he was actually out, as he got up right away, but he definitely stopped struggling.


Bobby Stack vs Jose Palacios

Both local boys, but I think I hearing more booing than cheers for either of them? They each have their support, but it as if their respective sides are more interested in jeering the other side. Or maybe there is an echo. In my head. I haven't even had any beer yet!

The fight begins as they usually do with the fighters exchanging blows on the feet. Jose hits Bobby hard enough to send the mouthpiece flying, but a lull in the action and referee Josh Rosenthal stop the action. When restarted, Bobby presses the takedown and finally gets it, landing in the full guard of Jose where it stays until the round ends.

Round 2

Bobby gets the takedown, Jose struggles to his feet but with the bodylock Bobby brings it right back down to Jose's guard. A little ground and pound from Bobby and a pass to half guard, but after a failed armbar attempt Jose winds up on top in the half guard. Time expires before he can do much with it and we're to round 3

Round 3

A brief exchange and Bobby goes for the takedown again. Jose scrambles up, Bobby has the bodylock from behind and a BIG slam follows. Bobby takes the mount and eventually attempts to work some ground and pound as Jose covers up. Utilizing the bringing the legs up strategy Jose eventually manages to reverse the situation, topping Bobby over, but Bobby regains top position quickly. Fight ends with Bobby laying on top of Jose's guard and we await the judges decision.

All three judges score the fight 29-28 in favor of Bobby Stack.

Chris Cariaso vs Anthony Figueroa 135 pounds

Fair warning, more than a little bit of bias here as I train with Chris Cariaso at the Ralph Gracie SF academy. He's also the co owner of the Fight and Fitness Gym . Anthony Figueroa representing San Jose definitely gets the stronger reaction.

The fighter begin exchanging some beautiful kicks, however Chris goes for and gets the takedown, landing in full guard. After posturing up to hit, Chris manages to pass guard to side control, then eventually gets full mount. Chris looks for the key lock, but Anthony escapes, comes on top briefly before Chris slams him back down to guard. Chris passes once again to side control. Anthony comes forward and Chris looks for the guillotine before landing back in mount. Anthony escapes to the feet and with ten seconds to go we're back to a stand up bout as time expires.

Round 2

Some cautious exchanges before Chris charges forward and gets the takedown, landing in half guard. Chris passes briefy but Anthony comes forward, turtles up and pulls guard once again. Chris stands, pounds and passes to half guard with a slick manuever. Chris quickly achieves mount againand stays low, looking for a key lock once again. Anthony escapes the submission but not the mount, so Chris sits up and begins to rain down damage. Anthony is forced to his back and Chris sinks the hooks, looking for the choke but Anthony spins out. Chris remains relentless and gets the choke from a sort of half side position.

After the fight one bummed out Luke Stewart comes over to talk. He had three opponents pull out for various reasons on him Shonie Carter first with a broken knuckle. Then at the last second Joe Riggs had to pull out after being disqualified for admitting taking Percocet a few days a go. Drew Fitch stepped up to the plate but was denied by the promotion he is under contact to fight a month later for.

Jerimiah