CES 38 -- Results and Observations

Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket hosted CES 38 on Friday evening, September 23 and it was an entertaining event. The main event included two UFC veterans and a memorable finish, but the co-main event featuring a Connecticut fighter did not suffer by comparison.

Here is a list of the results with a few of my thoughts (we will post complete feature coverage with photos later this weekend.

The Main Event : (Featherweights) Levan Makashavili (9-2) Sean Soriano (9-5) submits by rear naked choke at 4:05 in round two.

This was an exciting fight that Soriano was winning in points before Makashavili sank the choke. Makashavili's frantic over-reaction following his victory was alone worth the price of admission.

(Featherweights) Calvin Katter (16-2) defeats Chris Foster (9-5) by Unanimous decision.

I could not help but root for Middletown's own Foster, who was presented as the clear underdog in this fight against obvious crowd favorite Katter. The bout was heavy on striking exchanges with Katter mixing his strikes and Foster leaning towards boxing. Foster held his own well during the first two rounds against Katter's lower leg kicks and high kicks, slipping punches while pacing himself (one judge gave Foster the second round in points). But about halfway through the third round it went to the ground and Katter clearly dominated the rest of the fight.

(Middleweights) Mike Rodriguez (5-1) submits John Poppie (7-4) at 1:32 in round two.

The first round went back-and-forth (one judge gave the first round two Poppie), but during the second round Rodriguez secured a leg triangle around his opponent and grabbed his head. Poppie tapped out.

(Bantamweights) David Garcia (3-1) submits Rico Discuiullo (6-1) at 2:25 in round one.

Garcia thanked Jesus Christ as the announcer spoke with him after he clinched the fight with a keylock. A visibly frustrated Discuiullo shouted a less diplomatic word beginning with an "f" as he verbally vented while leaving the cage.

(Heavyweights) Pat Walsh (8-2) defeats Carlos Zevallos (3-4) by TKO at 1:49 in round one.

Walsh scored a single-leg takedown early in the fight and dropped some elbows. One of them appeared to do serious damage to Zevallos directly above his eye, causing a visible bulge in his skull, and the referee stopped the fight.

(Bantamweights) Kody Nordby (7-4) defeats Brandon Seyler (6-4-1) by decision.

The first two rounds went back and forth as both fighters attempted various submissions. Nordby nonetheless appeared to dictate the pace of the fight. two judges scored it at 30-26 and one 30-27.

(Featherweights) Derek Shorey (4-7) submits Pete Rogers Jr. (2-4) by armbar at 3:25 in round one.

Shorey scored a single-leg takedown against Rogers early in the first round, following up later with a suplex. Rogers later scooped Shorey up and dumped him. But during the second round Shorey secured the armbar and appeared to seriously hurt Rogers as both fighters tumbled down, prompting the referee to wave off the fight.

(Flyweights) Richie Santiago (1-0) submits Brandon Warne (2-2) by rear naked choke at :52 in round one.

Santiago impressed the crowd in his professional debut that evening, making quick work of Warne.

(Lightweights) Wayne Ahlquist (2-3) defeats Lionel Young (7-16) by split decision.

Young dominated the first round, scoring a few takedowns and mounting with some ground-and-pound. But after that the tide turned, with Ahlquist nearly securing two rear naked chokes in the second round (one judge still gave that round to Young). Ahlquist generally dominated the third round despite a brief but frantic striking exchange.

(Bantamweights) Kris Moutinho (1-0) defeats Matthew Maldonado (0-1) by unanimous decision.

Moutinho generally dominated the fight, scoring takedowns and sporadically grounding-and-pounding Maldonado.