Results: Caged Madness 27

Expolsive Fight Promotions returned to the Tadmor Shrine in Akron, Ohio on Saturday night, with a 14-bout card filled with some of the best amateurs Ohio has to offer. Two titles were on the line in the night’s headliners, and it was a night chock full of just about everything, from knockouts, to submissions, to close three-round decisions.

In the main event, Ohio’s top featherweight Jerrell Hodge (10-1) picked up yet another victory, submitting Pennsylvania’s Ethan Goss (4-3) with a rear naked choke in the third round after a back-and-forth affair. Hodge appeared to have control for most of the fight, and he dealt with a lengthy reach advantage from Goss by going for the takedown early and often. Goss was very game, however, going for multiple submissions and ignoring a nasty cut over his left eye that was opened in the first round. Eventually, however, Hodge’s athleticism was too much for Goss and he earned the tap with a rear naked choke int he third round.

The full results from the event:

145 lbs – Samuel Gross (1-0) def. Aaron Felton (0-1) via submission (guillotine) – Round 1, 0:49
170 lbs – Chris Brooks (2-1) def. Sean Holder (0-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
155 lbs – Justin Clevenger (1-3) def. Steve Paugh (0-4) via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:41
265 lbs – Bryan Howe (6-6) def. Pete Hernandez (3-7) via TKO (retirement) – Round 2, 2:59
265 lbs – Ray Hollis (2-1) def. Chris Wood (1-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
185 lbs – Devon Kelleher (1-0) def. Brandon Jackman (0-4) via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:25
175 lbs – Matt Matlock (1-2) def. Tyler Schlairet (0-2) via submission (guillotine) – Round 1, 2:52
170 lbs – Marvin Rolles (5-6) def. Delbert Alford (2-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
170 lbs – Desmond Ford (1-1) def. Kyle Kissel (0-1) via submission (arm bar) – Round 2, 1:11
155 lbs – Bhrandon Poindexter (9-9) def. Josh Faison (1-5) via submission (triangle) – Round 1, 2:18

This was a fast-paced bout from the start. Poindexter landed a nice inside uppercut but was caught with a knee from Faison below the belt. When the action resumed after a brief pause, Poindexter was the aggressor again and he shot for a single leg takedown which he finished against the cage. After a couple of scrambles, Faison ended up getting a takedown, but Poindexter went for the submission. After Faison attempted to slam out of a triangle, Poindexter was able to cinch it in tighter to earn the tap.

185 lbs – Steve Stocker (3-1) def. Joshua Barbee (2-2) via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:58

Stocker was the clear aggressor throughout this fight, but Barbee hung tough and lasted into the third round. Stocker had a clear advantage on the ground, where he went for multiple submissions including a rear naked choke and an arm bar in the first round. The fight appeared to be headed toward a stoppage for Stocker in the second round after he dropped Barbee, but Barbee kept looking for submissions and the second round was close. The tide turned early in the third round, however, as Stocker landed a takedown early, took Barbee’s back, and pounded him out to earn the referee stoppage.

170 lbs – Chico Bays (7-3) def. Donnie Cameron (9-6-1) via submission (guillotine) – Round 2, 0:31

Both fighters were coming in off of year-plus layoffs but both were throwing big shots to open the contest. After trading takedowns early in the first, Bays landed a massive left hand followed by a big right that would have staggered most fighters. With Cameron unfazed, Bays finished a power double leg takedown and it appeared as though Cameron injured his toe. Bays eventually made his way to full mount, and looked for an arm bar as the first round ended.

The doctor took a long look at what appeared to be a broken toe for Cameron in between rounds, but he decided to let it go. Clearly in pain, Cameron came out in the second looking for a finish. Instead, Bays landed another takedown, and he finished a guillotine against the cage to earn his first win in nearly two years.

135 lbs interim title – Darnell Pettis (7-3) def. Colt Gross (3-2) via TKO (punches/knees) – Round 2, 0:57

The boxer Pettis came out swinging heavy, but Gross was able to tie him up early and looked for the outside trip. It was Pettis, however, who earned the takedown and ended up in mount. Gross eventually landed a sweep and ended up in full guard, but Pettis began to look for a triangle. Gross stuffed it and passed to side control, where he began to look for an arm bar. Pettis escaped out the back door and made Gross pay with a couple of big shots on the ground to win the first round. Pettis landed a big left hand to open the second round and Gross was looking to clinch again. But Pettis turned it on after stalking him across the cage. A couple of punches and knees later and the referee jumped in to stop the bout.

145 lbs title – Jerrell Hodge (10-1) def. Ethan Goss (4-3) via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 3, 0:49

Goss landed a left hand early, and Hodge immediately went to work looking for a takedown. After getting it to the mat, Goss went for an arm bar but Hodge blocked it and looked to take his back. Goss scrambled and got back to his feet, but Hodge clinched again and picked him up. After carrying him all the way across the cage to his own corner, Hodge finished a huge slam that wowed the crowd. The referee stepped in for a standup after Hodge failed to advance his position, and Goss earned a takedown of his own to end the first round.

In the second frame, it was much of the same with Hodge once again going for the slam after blocking a body kick. After transitioning on the ground, Hodge ended up on Goss’ back with both hooks in, but he was too high and was shaken off. Goss once again turned the tide late in the round with a sweep, but it was too little too late to win the round.

Goss was aggressive once again in the third round, but Hodge earned another takedown and immediately took his back on the ground. After attempting to pound him out, he put his hooks in and finished the rear naked choke to earn the featherweight title.