The Jiu-Jitsu Vortex

Arthur Barkaukas lands a push kick on Sean Kearney at Proving Grounds Muay Thai at BCIT on June 2, 2012. Photo courtesy of MartialArtsNomad.

The Muay Thai Proving Grounds event at BCIT in Burnaby was killer. The day started with a modified Muay Thai tournament and four full boxing rings going simultaneously meant lots of action. When the smoke from the tournament had cleared, three of the rings were dismantled, seating was arranged, and the evening show started. Thanks to Joel Wasel from Dynamic MMA, Jason Fenton from Iron City Muay Thai, and Gerry Gionco for putting the event together; thanks to all the fighters who came out to bang – especially those who travelled from out of town; and thanks to Master John Chamkunthod for reffing the night.

Results below…

I had full intention of taking notes and doing a proper write-up but was drafted into the timekeeper’s position, which was super fun but not conducive to taking good notes. So here’s a bare-bones version based on what I scratched down in between running the stopwatch, using the clapper, hitting the bell, blowing the whistle, yelling “seconds out!”, and trying my hardest not to screw something up.

Vancouver Proving Grounds Muay Thai Results – June 2, 2012

Undercard – Smoker Fights

1. Gurmeet Gill (Wachal’s Wolfpack) defeats John Basque (Iron City Muay Thai) by unanimous decision. 178 lbs. Modified Muay Thai.
2. Mike Yurko (Iron City Muay Thai) defeats Chris Ryan (Dynamic MMA) by unanimous decision. 168 lbs. Modified Muay Thai rules.

 
Main Muay Thai Kickboxing Fight Card

1. Andrew Lewis (Nak Muay Thai) vs. Daniel Olson (Kai SingThong). 154 lbs. Modified Muay Thai.
Lewis wins by unanimous decision

2. Suraj Bangara (Canada’s Best Karate) vs. Houtan Ali Kashani (KB-One). 150 lbs. Modified Muay Thai.
A back-and-forth battle. Kashani scores a bunch of knees early on. Bangara comes back to stop Kashani at 1:52 of round 2.

3. Oli Mckiernan (Iron City Muay Thai) vs. Gary Gill (West Coast BJJ). 147 lbs. Modified Muay Thai.
Mckiernan wins by unanimous decision.

4. Cole Smith (Dynamic MMA / Squamish Martial Arts) vs. Phil Bordenbender (Team Bad Boy Outreach). 154 lbs. Modified Muay Thai.
Two bangers blasting each other with combos, clinches, and sweeps. Smith chops out Bordenbender’s legs repeatedly and wins by decision.

5. Chad Gerow (Revolution MMA) vs. Shawn Whitehall (Shaolin Muay Thai). 178 lbs. Full Muay Thai.
Stoked on Gerow’s walk-out – very cool with the tribal headdress and music. Gerow scores a knockdown, lands elbows in the clinch, and wins by decision.

6. Tom Mattu (WKX Surrey) vs. Anthony Pizzarelli (Woodenman Muay Thai). 142 lbs. Modified Muay Thai.
Anthony Pizzarelli is the first fighter of the night from the Jongsanan “The Woodenman” Team from San Francisco (Trivia corner: Jongsanan The Woodenman is Gilbert Melendez’s current kickboxing coach). Pizzarelli seems in control of the fight at first, but Mattu wins by headkick KO in round 2.

7. Ron Pearce (Nak Muay Thai) vs. Mark Goco (Dynamic MMA). 160 lbs. Full Muay Thai.
Goco comes out blazing and has Pearce on the canvas within seconds. Pearce collects himself and pounds Goco with knees from the clinch, ending the fight in round 2 by KO from knees. Duncan is a really nice little island town that breeds tough fighters.

8. Max Carruthers (Ajarn Mike Miles) vs. Chriscarlo Chua (Neuroline Muay Thai and Fitness). 125 lbs. Modified Muay Thai.
Technical match from the scrappy little guys. Carruthers controls most of the fight. Chua lands a solid uppercut but it isn’t enough to slow down Carruthers, who wins by split decision.

9. Stanley Lam (Kai SingThong) vs. Jamie Gifford (Shaolin Muay Thai). 154 lbs. Full Muay Thai.
Tactical back-and-forth match. Lots of hard exchanges. Lam dislocates Gifford’s shoulder with a right kick and wins by TKO.

10. Sean Kearney (Iron City Muay Thai) vs. Arthur Barkaukas (Woodenman Muay Thai). 142 lbs. Full Muay Thai.
For the ISKA (International Sport Kickboxing Association) North American Light Welterweight title.
“Woodenman” might be the best Muay Thai nickname ever (digging the creepy organic feel… “run! it’s a human tree man!”). This was a great fight with clean kickboxing technique from both sides. Four rounds of action and a firefight in round five. Kearney wins by unanimous decision.

Sean Kearney receives the ISKA Light Welterweight belt at Proving Grounds Muay Thai on June 2, 2012. With Joel Wasel, Jason Fenton, Master John, and Ryan Ventura. Photo courtesy of MartialArtsNomad.

This was the first full-day Muay Thai event of its kind in Vancouver and we’re all looking forward to more in the future. If you weren’t able to make it to BCIT on June 2 for the show, check out this Proving Grounds Muay Thai photo gallery by Martial Arts Nomad.