Cage Vengeance 4 Recap

The Internet was still smoldering over Dana White's rant, but the MMA world did't stop turning.

Last night Caged Vengeance 4 was presented by the North American Allied Fight Series in downtown Columbus. The night's action included 10 amateur bouts and 4 professional bouts, including a title fight in the NAAFS heavyweight division.

In the main event NAAFS heavyweight champion Justin Black (8-2) squared off against Jason Riley (9-1). Both fighters weighed in around 240lbs. and both fighters are blue chip prospects for the always thin heavyweight divisions.

The fight started out slow with each fighter feeling the other out. Then Riley landed a big right hand that knocked Justin Black down. Riley let Black stand back up, this time landing another right followed with a flush jab, knocking out Black. It was the night's only knockout and resulted in new NAAFS heavyweight champion.

Riley was ecstatic in victory, thanking his fans, sponsors and teammates. He also told the crowd he planned on travel to Seattle for the open tryouts for the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter. Riley said, "Watch out the juggernaut is coming! Not the monster, the juggernaut!"

Lightweights, Joey Enright (5-1) and Tony Jayme (3-4), engaged in what was easily the professional fight of the night. Their bout was a back-and-forth affair for three full rounds. Each fighter gaining the advantage to only lose it a few moments later. Most of the fight took place on the ground, with both fighters jockeying for position. As an observer it was truly a treat to see so many fans cheering for grappling transitions, as one fighter would miraculously escape a mount or guillotine choke.

Joey Enright was the hometown favorite, fighting to chants of ‘Let's go Joe' and to cheers by the local ring girls (provided by Columbus Gold). Despite the hostile crowd Tony Jayme put forth and excellent effort.

By the third round both fighters were gasping for breath after such a furious pace over the previous ten minutes. Neither fighter let up, as the outcome was still up in the air. When the announcer read the score cards it was a unanimous decision for Joey Enright, (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

Billy Vaughan (6-4), of Buckeye MMA, looked impressive in his fight with Dan "The Pennsylvania Hitman" Swift (31-25-2). Swift entered to the song ‘Why can't we be friends' much to the amusement of the audience.

Vaughan quickly got the better of the standup and Swift pulled guard, realizing if he was to win this bout it would have to come from submission. Swift kept an active guard, constantly going for an armbar. Vaughan, realizing he was getting the better of the standing, let Swift up off the mat in the second round.  Swift kept using leg kicks, which Vaughan coutnered with punches. At one poitn Vaughan slapped his own leg demanding to be kicked again. Swift obliged the request and ate another punch but this time pull guard.  Billy was unable to avoid the submission and lost the bout, perhpas due to some hubris. 

While Dan Swift talked about his victory in cage, a heated argument developed on the outside between Billy Vaughan and referee Chris Larkin. A commission member was called over to calm the situation as Larkin and Vaughan became more heated.

According to a commission member, the altercation started due to Vaughan's actions after the fight was called. According to Vaughan, referee Chris Larkin thought he was choking Dan Swift in the aftermath. A cageside official said that the argument was centered around a thumb to the eye.

Afterwards Vaughan told WKR that there is history between himself and referee Chris Larkin, as Vaughan was a member of Larkin's old gym. Vaughan stated "I almost got suspended. I don't want to be seen as a punk , because it wasn't about losing, it was about him [Larkin] grabbing me [after the fight]."

In the night's first professional bout welterweights Marcus Ajian (6-4-1) and Jason Nickoson (5-3-1) faced off. While the fight was entertaining, Nickoson was deducted a point for holding on to Ajian's shorts. That deduction led to a majority draw decision by the judges, (28-28, 29-27, 28-28).

Full Results Here

Amateur Recap after the jump

Both Tim Davis (0-1) and Todd Shepard (1-0) were making their MMA debut and put on the amateur fight of the night. Both fighters were blue belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but Shepard came from Relson Gracie's school. Despite Shperad's pedigree, Davis got the better of the ground game in the first and third rounds. But a late flurry from Shepard in the first round, knocked Davis' down, costing him the round in some of the judges' eyes. The second round was all Shepard as he became noticeably more comfortable, once again landing a devastating combo that dropped Davis. While Davis did pull through the round and mount some offense at the end, the round clearly went to Shepard. The third round was all Davis who used leg kicks to take away his opponent's cardio and set up takedowns. The fight went to the judges card and they ruled it a split decision in favor of Shepard, (29-28, 29-28, 28-29).

There was a light heavyweight stand out, in Joe Dennis (3-1). In his fight with Justin Sowers (2-1), Dennis demonstrated solid wrestling which he transitioned into highlight reel slams. It did appear that Dennis gassed in the second round, but he was able to summon enough energy for one more slam and ground-and-pound to force Sowers to verbally submit.

Sean Barnett's (7-3) second round victory over Josh Castro (7-2) was an impressive display of Jiu-Jistu. Early in the first round Barnett threw a wild spinning back fist and then immediately pulled guard. Towards the end of the round there was a scramble and Barnett quickly latched on to Castro's arm for an armbar to win the fight. Castro had a visible contingent of supporters that were upset with the fighter poor performance.

Denny Hughes (2-1) and Craig Michael Watkins (0-1) also engaged in an entertaining affair. Watkins got the better of the Hughes in the first two rounds but once into the third round Hughes looked like a different fighter as he won the bout.

In the other fights of the evening Ben Grove (1-1) defeated Jeremy Yoder (0-1) to start the evening off.
Heavyweight Justin Kennedy (1-0) defeated Sean Butt. (0-1).
Dave Freetag (1-0) submitted Brownie Vosick (0-1) in under a minute.
Tyler Walker (3-3) avoided a judges decision with a late TKO over Shawn Daniels (1-2) .
Tom Wilson (3-0) used excellent ground-and-pound to defeat JJ Rey (3-3).