BATTLEFIELD Fight League Crowns New Heavyweight Champion Adam Santos at the Vogue Theatre Downtown Vancouver

Battlefield Fight League filled the Vogue theatre in Vancouver for BFL 11: Payback with a roster of top local amateur fighters featuring a match with Andy Marinos, Ash ‘Smash’ Mashregi, and a grudge match between two heavyweights on the main card, Adam Santos and Micah Brakefield. Judging by the photos from the weight in, it looked like both these big boys had no affection for each other during the staredown pose. Turns out the Westcoast Jiu-jitsu camp wasn’t showing much respect for Santos’ Morganti Black belt, and that was how it started getting under Santos’ skin. A fighter and his emotions can be an important part of his overall composure going into the cage. Anger can be an ally or it can beat you. Santos’ coach, Cesar Narita said that some anger going into a fight can be a good thing, but each fighter has to find his own way with it. Who is a better fighter in the cage anyways? A De La Riva blue belt or a Morganti Black Belt? That is why we went to BFL 11!

Curtis Harriot won by tapout at 45 seconds into round 2 by leg triangle over Lupine Wills.

Sean Roche defeated Jason Noble by going to the ground and into a kimura quickly. The lock was in and then came the tapout in round one.

Steven Best won the decision over Alex Green. An exciting fight to the end of 3 rounds, to a decision. Steven Best pretty much owned the top position over Alex Green who was turtling, but to get there, Best had to use a solid defence before he would have the chance to totally dominate the second half of round 3.

Marinos Triplet, Andy Marinos came into the cage with a resplendent red mohawk to go up against Brandon Takahara. Takahara pushed Andy against the cage, but eventually managed to sweep and take the top. Takahara had to fight off a hard aggressive choke against the fence until the end of round 1. Round 2 was a standup battle, with Takahara’s corner telling him to get in there and punch. Marinos responded and put on an entertaining fight on the ground to bring about an end by referee stoppage.

In the sixth matchup of the night, Josh Lewis defeates Jeremy Peever. In the beginning of round 2, Lewis got in a deep front guillotine on Peever who otherwise was holding his own well. Peever signaled the tapout.

Levon Kinley got a win by tapout over Dillon Brown. Brown spent a lot of time controlling Kinley in guillotine in both rounds. It seemed like it was working until he tried to open up his strategy, causing him to lose the control over Kinley. Kinley got in the rear naked choke and won by tapout.

Ash ‘Smash’ Mashregi won by referee stoppage very quickly over Kolten Higginbottom. Very fast win for Smash. Quickly lead to the ground in guard. Mashregi crawled with Higginbottom over to the fence and took control to force a tapout at 35 seconds due to strikes.

Adam Santos settled his grudge in lightning time against Micah Brakefield. Against the cage and Santos got behind him and laid a series of brutal heavy hammer fists to the side of the head. The referee called stoppage at 22 seconds. Micah was taking heavy brutal shots to the face and the referee made a good call, ending the fight quickly.