X1 #48 – August 12, 2017 “BRADDAH vs FELONY”

Cooper Retains Welterweight World Title with Knockout

By Kyle Galdeira
@kylegaldeira –Photos available at www.HawaiiMediaSource.com

Ray “Braddah” Cooper III has been a mainstay in the local mixed martial arts scene, and he hopes to raise his profile to the next level. After Saturday night’s impressive performance, he may be in line to do just that.

Cooper kept his Welterweight (170 lbs.) World Title with a convincing knockout victory over Charles “Felony” Bennett in the main event of the X-1 World Events MMA #48 at the Neal Blaisdell Arena. The fight, which was held before a crowd that nearly filled the arena’s lower bowl, was also broadcast live via pay-per-view.

“Thank you (Bennett) for coming out and challenging me,” Cooper said. “This belt is staying here until I get to the UFC. When I get there, you guys (currently fighting in the UFC) are going down, that’s my belt.”

“I don’t remember what happened,” said Bennett, perhaps only half joking, who normally fights at 145 pounds. “I love you all, Hawai’i.”

CO-MAIN EVENT: Sale Sproat def. Rafael Brewster via KO at 50 seconds into first round, for Middleweight (185 lbs.) World Title (3X5 min. rounds)

Sproat made quick work of Brewster, using a punch to the left side of his foe’s head to halt the hitman early. After hitting the canvas, Brewster could not fight back, and the fight was stopped just 50 seconds after it started, much to the delight of the local fans who were supporting Sproat, a cowboy and rancher from Moloka‘i.

“Thank you everybody who supported me, you know who you are,” Sproat said.

Russell “The Muscle” Mizuguchi def. Michael “Smash Boy“ Nakagawa via split decision, for State Flyweight (125 lbs.) Title (3×5 min. rounds)

Mizuguchi took Nakagawa to the ground midway through the second round, and delivered a few punches and elbows to his foe’s head as he controlled the action. The remainder of the round was spent on the canvas with very little going on – the bell put a welcomed end to the stalemate.

“I came in as the underdog…Dana White, give me a call!” said Mizuguchi.

Bill Takeuchi def. Justin Hugo via TKO (referee stoppage) at 3:53 in third round, for Bantamweight (135 lbs.) World Title (3X5 min. rounds)

The combatants felt each other out over the first two minutes, and just moments after Takeuchi caused a cut on Hugo’s nose, the fight was halted as Hugo took a low blow via Takeuchi’s whip kick. Once the action resumed, Takeuchi controlled the pace and pinned Hugo against the cage before delivering a series of punches and knees to Hugo’s head, which combined to open a large gash on the opponent’s forehead.

Rudolph Schafforth def. Tipo Lafaele via head-and-arm choke 3:02 into first round, super heavyweight (3X5 min. rounds)

Two large humans squared off in this bout featuring two 260-plus pounders, which excited the crowd as the lumbering fighters traded destructive blows. Two minutes into the opening round, Schafforth connected with a vicious right-handed uppercut that dropped Lafaele. Schafforth then gained control of the local fighter and secured the submission via head-and-arm choke three minutes into the first round.

“I know he’s a tough brawler, so I just tried to keep my chin down,” said Schafforth.

Juan Gonzalez def. Kaeo Meyer via unanimous decision, lightweight (155 lbs.) professional bout (3X5 min. rounds)

In a shocking decision to start the Main Card, Meyer fell via unanimous decision despite controlling the action throughout the fight. Meyer took control early with multiple strikes to the head, then braved a few big counters from Gonzalez. Meyer’s wicked right hook left a large cut under Gonzalez’ right eye as blood streamed down the foe’s face. Gonzalez did not give in, though, and ran the local fighter into the cage as the fighters flopped to the canvas. Meyer countered, though, and gained position to land a handful of overhand punches to end the first round.

Undercard

Davy Malaythong submitted Daylan Cummings in a 170-pound bout just 15 seconds into the final preliminary fight. A corner attendant said Cummings tapped out after suffering a separated shoulder.

X-1 World Events has helped launch the mixed martial arts careers of multiple elite-level fighters including the UFC’s current Featherweight Champion Max Holloway as well as former UFC champion Dan “The Beast” Severn.