ROUNDKICK
RUMBLE VII
SUMMER FINALE
BOUT 1 MUAY THAI
RULES “EXHIBITION”
Clayton Skidmore,
1-0-0 Team RoundKick, Des Moines, Iowa vs.
Josh Usera, 3-0-0, Dynamic Martial Arts, Rapid City, South Dakota
Round 1
As expected, the bout began with the fighters feeling each other
out and not throwing many techniques. Usera was cautious s due to
a disadvantage with reach and height. Eventually, both fighters
began to loosen up by using their flexibility to throw kicks to
the legs, body and head. In the first clinch, Skidmore gave Usera
an accidental knee to the groin. After a momentary break, Usera
came back apparently fully recovered and out of nowhere, delivered
a right reverse hook kick squarely to the much taller Skidmore’s
head knocking him out 1:34 into round 1.
BOUT 2 MUAY
THAI RULES
Josh Schwitters,
2-2-0, Team RoundKick, Des Moines, Iowa vs
Langdon Stahle, 1-1-0, Minnesota Kali Group, Minneapolis,
Minnesota
Round 1
Quick and constant action opened this fight. In an early clinch,
Stahle’s headgear came flying off due to frequent and strong
exchanges. Schwitters was able to land several front kicks to
Stahle’s abs. Stahle’s best technique in the round was a solid
kick to the inner thigh. Both fighters threw a lot of knees in
the clinch. Schwitters’s body would get dangerously low, but he
was able to pull himself up and out of the way preventing any
fight-ending blow to get through his defense.
Round 2
Stahle was able to land very well targeted round kicks to
Schwitters’s body and thighs before forcing a clinch. In the
clinch, Stahle threw numerous knees, but referee Mike Storm had to
break the fighters and warn Stahle not to push on the back of
Schwitters’s head. Schwitters figured out in successive clinches
how to block Stahle’s knees more effectively and follow up with
hooks and uppercuts to the body.
Round 3
In the final round, Schwitters connected with a few hooks to
Stahle’s head. Stahle again began working inside with hard
knees. Schwitters was forced to bend over to block. He tried to
pick up Stahle’s leg, but unable to, he quickly stood back up and
continued to block. The clinch continued with a volley of knees.
The fight ended with an all out effort by both fighters. The
unanimous decision went to Stahle.
BOUT 3
INTERNATIONAL RULES
Zach Johnson,
0-2-0, Team RoundKick, Des Moines, Iowa vs
Dane Cumella, 1-0-0, Dynamic Martial Arts, Rapid City, South
Dakota
Round 1
The height advantage in this fight obviously was with Johnson, but
Cumella was skilled at closing the distance and was able to catch
Johnson off guard. With every attack, Cumella threw flurries of
punches and kicks with no intention of stopping. Johnson, to his
credit, kept his head up and his wits about him.
Round 2
In the opening of the second round, Johnson was more focused and
concentrated on straight line attacks. Cumella gave a clinic in
bobbing and weaving. Again Johnson attacked straight on, but
Cumella stepped to the side to evade and followed up with his own
barrage of attacks. Eventually, he knocked Johnson to his knees.
Following Johnson’s 8-count, Cumella again began punching to the
head, kicking to the legs and body over and over. Johnson turned
sideways and could not respond. Referee Mike Storm gave Johnson a
standing 8 count. At the end of the 8-count, Storm asked Johnson
if he wanted to continue. Johnson turned away and spat out his
mouthpiece. Storm stopped the fight. The winner by TKO at 1:38
was Dane Cumella.
BOUT 4
INTERNATIONAL RULES “EXHIBITION”
Chris Lyons,
0-0-0, Team RoundKick, Carroll, Iowa vs
Andrew Kappel, 1-0-0, Minnesota Kali Group, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Round 1
A 48 pound weight difference made this an exhibition but it did
not deter the lighter Kappel from giving it all he had in this
bout. From the beginning, Kappel punched, kicked and pushed Lyons
around the ring. Lyons was able to maintain his composure and
stay in the fight by either keeping Kappel at a distance with his
leg or throwing a jab/cross combination to slow Kappel down.
Lyons, however, received several strong leg kicks that stung and
caused him to stumble.
Round 2
In the second round, Kappel delivered strong leg kicks and then a
series of punches to the head and body. Lyons covered up but was
unable to respond. Kappel then finished with a leg kick that sent
Lyons to the mats. After the first 8-count, Kappel repeated his
strategy and Lyons earned a second standing 8-count. The final
attack tired Lyons and after ending on his knees, referee Mike
Storm stopped the match at 1:33 in the second round.
BOUT 5
INTERNATIONAL RULES
David Allen,
0-1-0, Team RoundKick, Des Moines, Iowa vs
Jason Morris, 1-0-0, Dynamic Martial Arts, Rapid City, South
Dakota
Round 1
Another huge height and reach difference, but neither fighter
seemed to mind. Allen, the taller fighter, appeared to be a more
traditional fighter and tried to wear out Morris with leg kicks.
Morris favored hooks and round kicks.
Round 2
The action begins. Morris opened the round working hard to get
and stay inside Allen’s reach. The height difference caused a lot
of arm tangles which caused Allen to pause while Morris kept
swinging. The additional hits sustained by Allen in these tangles
may have began to taken a bit of a toll, but his youth played a
part in his resiliency and he was very much in the game. Both
were getting tired by the end of the round.
Round 3
Allen again showed his more orthodox style in the final round, but
Allen’s inexperience and Morris’s strength may have played a part
in the fight. The crowd really joined in the bout which seemed to
prod Morris on to be the aggressor throughout the event. The
third round was a repeat of the first two as Morris got the nod by
unanimous decision.
BOUT 6
INTERNATIONAL RULES “EXHIBITION”
Jessica
Schoonover, 0-0-0, Team RoundKick, Des Moines, Iowa vs
Marissa Biggerstaff, 0-0-0, Team RoundKick, Carroll, Iowa
Round 1
How often does one see a ringcard girl step into the ring and
fight? Well, the spectators at this card did as Missy Biggerstaff
shed her skirt and donned gloves to match up against Jessica
Schoonover in an International Rules exhibition. The lighter and
shorter Schoonover showed dynamite comes in small packages as she
was able to connect several right and left punches to
Biggerstaff’s face and head during the opening round. Biggerstaff
showed she could take a hit and stayed on her feet without much
trouble. The crowd was immediately engaged and on their feet
cheering from the beginning.
Round 2
Biggerstaff made first contact in the 2nd
round with a solid leg kick. Schoonover again went for the head.
Biggerstaff initially covered better and made Schoonover work
harder. Biggerstaff was most effective with legs although she did
get a few punches to connect. As the round continued, Schoonover
was able to repeat the story of the first round and hit
Biggerstaff’s head.
Round 3
Much a repeat of round 2 but at a slightly slower pace.
Schoonover’s skill was looking for or creating an opening and
Biggerstaff’s skill was learning as she went. This exhibition
went the distance with two fighters having potentially big fight
futures if they choose. The decision went to Jessica Schoonover.
BOUT 7 MUAY THAI
RULES
Jason Tart, 0-1-0,
Team RoundKick, Des Moines, Iowa vs
John Knutson, 1-0-0, Dynamic Martial Arts, Rapid City, South
Dakota
Round 1
Speed and Power! Tart was all about power as he threw every
technique with the goal of hurting his opponent. Knutson was all
about speed as he worked to hit before getting hit. Both were
vicious in the clinch, but no matter what the other threw, both
fighters were not shaken, only empowered. Right/left hooks, leg
kicks and knees were constantly flying as control of the opening
round went back and forth.
Round 2
Tart threw punches that would have hurt if they had landed.
Knutson was able to evade or deflect much of what was thrown. As
the round progressed, both fighters landed some and missed some.
With no defining blow in either round, it was still anyone’s game.
Round 3
Tart wanted to make a statement in round three by executing a
strong jump punch which bobbed Knutson’s head, but did not
otherwise move him. Knutson responded with the same on the other
side of the ring with the same result. Tart marched forward
throughout the middle of the round to the delight of the cheering
crowd. Knutson upped the intensity and Tart had his hands full.
The bell rang but neither fighter noticed as the referee had to
break them apart. Throughout the fight Tart initiated a lot of
exchanges but Knutson seemed to be able to get the upper hand by
finishing them. The fans were on their feet, but settled down and
showed their disappointment in the closest fight of the evening as
the results were read 27-30, 28-29 and 28-29 in favor of Knutson.
BOUT 8
INTERNATIONAL RULES
Adam Brown, 3-2-0,
Team RoundKick, Des Moines, Iowa vs
Kyle Gibson, 0-1-0, Dynamic Martial Arts, Rapid City, South Dakota
Round 1
In the final fight of the night, hand combinations worked well for
Brown as he worked to control the movement in the ring. Gibson
initially handled everything well, but as the clock ticked the
hits added up and he became shakey on his feet. The crowd was
roaring.
Round 2
Started with the typical set of exchanges as each fighter tried to
up the other and be the first to earn points. Unfortunately, this
caused both fighters to have their legs in the air at the same
time and exposed. Brown and Gibson hit each other and then the
ground simultaneously, but Gibson took it a bit lower with a groin
shot. After a moment to collect himself, he eagerly reentered the
contest with a vengeance. However, he soon missed one important
block and received a right hook to the head from Brown knocking
him out and ending the fight in the blink of an eye at :58 seconds
of round 2.