Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3) would have his revenge this past Saturday on the man who beat him via unanimous decision more then four years agoAnaheim, Ca – Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3) would have his revenge this past Saturday on the man who beat him via unanimous decision more then four years ago, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko (21-3). Starting out slow both fighters drew boos from the crowd for their excessive circling but as they would both settle in the action would start to pick up as both fighters would become aggressive. Leading the aggression with some forward movement Matyushenko would land a hard right hand that would seem stagger the former PrideFC fighter. Showing his experience though Nogueira would regain his composure and while lunching an attack he would land a hard knee that would floor the former IFL LHW champion. Seeing that his opponent was hurt Nogueira would go in for the kill and land some hand punches that force the ref to stop the fight.
In what could be considered as the fight of the night IFL Veteran L.C. Davis (12-1) would grind out a unanimous decision victory over Team Oyama fighter Bao Quach (15-8-1).
Davis would be fighting out of the famed Miletich Fighting System camp and would come into the fight prepared for a war as he would weather the early onslaught of strikes and submission attempts that would leave the MFS fighter bloodied going into the second. Showing a lot of heart though Davis would take control of the fight using the top position and strikes from various positions and as the bell would sound signaling the end of the fight Quach would be sent home with his first loss in over 2 years. In Featherweight action Albert Rios (11-3) would also take his opponent Antonio Duarte (10-1) the distance as he would also score a unanimous decision victory over the Tijuana, Mexico native. Surviving a hard right hand early in the fight Rios would settle in and eventually take over using strikes, takedowns and constant pressure that would tire out Duarte and give him the victory.
Starting out the night Bodyshop Fitness fighter Brett Cooper (7-4) would score a TKO victory over San Diego Fight Club fighter Patrick Speight (7-1). Going in with a feverish pace Cooper would dominate early on feet using footwork and combinations to the head and body of his opponent, anytime Speight would throw a punch the faster Cooper would simple move and counter over and over. Knowing he was getting outworked on the feet Speight would pull guard only to be met by Cooper’s solid top game which included great posture and some brutal ground and pound. Seeing that his opponent would start to tire Cooper would land a vicious uppercut and send Speight crashing to the floor where Cooper would end the fight using hammerfists that would force the ref to call the fight.
This would be Cooper’s fifth straight victory and judging by Saturday’s performance the promising welterweight has nowhere to go but up in the new organization.
In a swing bout that would occur after the main event former IFL Welterweight champion Jay Hieron (16-4) would hand the 6-0 Jason High his first lost of his career via KO that night.
Off the bat High would engage Hieron using his quickness and punches that would seem to frustrate the former IFL champ early, but as Hieron would start to find his range he would catch the BodyShop Fitness fighter with a brutal left hook that would send him crashing into the ropes. Seeing that his opponent was hurt Hieron wasted no time and rushed in to finish High off with a barrage of punches before the ref pulled him off.
That night the Preliminary fights proved to be action packed and for a new promotion like Affliction looking to promote up and coming fighters they are certainly filling their rooster with some promising talent.