The main event of the Arena Wars show featured up and coming talent Haidon Allen facing wily veteran Rob Diezel in a six round super featherweight bout. Diezel has been in tough in all of his fights and he is a fighter that has the stamina and skill to go the distance. Allen faced some good opposition in his previous bouts, but Diezel would be a step up in competition.

As might be expected, the opening round was close because of the way each man fought. Diezel was able to stay in the center of the ring, causing Allen to move to avoid getting caught. Both men threw jabs, though Allen’s jabs were landing more often than were Diezel’s. Allen was able to shift the momentum in the second round as he kept Diezel on the move. That also allowed Allen to step in close and land body shots.

In the third round Allen began to land more power shots. He placed a target on Diezel’s head, and he caught him a few times. When in close, Diezel fired shots to Allen’s body. Diezel had a solid fourth round as he was able to again keep Allen moving while landing body shots. Allen was able to counter, and in so doing he landed the heavier punches.

While Diezel had a good fifth round, and against another fighter he may have taken the round, Allen was able to land the heavier punches, often landing on Diezel’s body. Diezel continued to move well while looking to land shots to Allen’s body in the sixth, but Allen adjusted, moved to avoid getting hit, and fired counter punches that landed to Diezel’s body.

After six rounds, one judge scored the bout 59-55, the other two saw it 60-54, all in favor of Haidon Allen, who though tested, would remain unbeaten.

Diezel's left catches Allen backing out

Allen catches Diezel with a left in close

Mills did damage with his right when he caught Esera

A match of unbeaten heavyweights featured Nick Mills and Iosefa Esera. Mills entered the bout carrying some knockout power, while Esera relied on movement and pilling up scoring punches for his two wins.

The opening round was close as the two men seemed to respect the other’s power. Esera landed more punches, while Mills landed the heavier punches. The second round saw Mills target Esera’s head with heavy right hands. Esera moved well enough to avoid getting caught too often as he threw body shots in return.

Mills landed a number of hard punches to start the third round, and some of them landed to Esera’s head. At the midpoint of the round Mills asked the referee to stop the fight and check Esera’s right eye. The doctor did so and let the fight continue though Esera seemed to be having trouble keeping the eye open. The men spent much of the fourth round leaning on each other and taking the fight in close. That meant they threw short body shots. When there was some separation, Mills was able to land a few punches to Esera’s chin.

The in close fighting continued in the fifth round as the men leaned on each other and threw short body shots again.

After five rounds one judge scored the fight 50-45, the other two saw it 49-46 all in favor of Mills who would, behind the unanimous decision, remain unbeaten.

Kevin Davila does not have an impressive record, but he is a fighter that is always coming forward and challenging his opponent. Jose Garcia has dispatched all three of his previous opponents by knockout.

Garcia was content to work off his jab in the first round. Davila covered up, keeping his hands high and peeking through to keep Garcia in front of him. Davila did not throw many punches in the round. Garcia’s jab was the story of the second round as well, though he began to add body shots to his assault. Davila began to open up in the closing moments of the round and he was able to back Garcia up and land some punches to the taller man’s body.

Davila tried to take the fight in close in the third round as he stood toe to toe with Garcia and fired shots to Garcia’s body. Garcia moved away from Davila and began to land heavy body shots. One of those shots rocked Davila at the two minute mark of the round. Garcia began to shoot power shots in the round and as they connected, Davila could do little but cover up. Garcia landed heavy head and body shots at the 2:44 mark of the round and dropped Davila. Davila stood, but his legs were wobbly. The referee stepped in to end the fight.

Garcia would claim another TKO win at 2:44 of the fourth round.

Garcia showed power in his left land

Torres catches Arriaga with a right

Unbeaten Pedro Torres faced Oscar Arriaga, a man looking for his first win though his losses had come at the hands of tough opponents.

Torres aggressively answered the opening bell throwing his left and right at Arriaga’s body. Arriaga had to move and cover to avoid getting hit. When Arriaga created some distance, his reach proved effective and he was able to land his jab.  The second round was close as Arriaga’s footwork allowed him to move away from Torres’ body assault while he shot his jab and followed that with a hard right.

Arriaga was able to control much of the action of the third round as he pumped his jab to keep Torres from getting close. Torres however, when he did shorten the distance was able to land scoring punches. Torres shifted the momentum in the fourth round as he walked Arriaga down and landed his jab. Arriaga looked to turn the tide in his favor as the round drew to a close, but he could not land enough effective punches.

After four rounds all three judges scored the bout 40-36 for Torres who with the unanimous decision would remain unbeaten.

Mike McMillian, unbeaten in three pro fights, faced Christian Auguirre, a veteran of twenty fights coming off a big split decision win in his last outing.

The opening round was close, not because each man threw a lot of punches as they moved to asses each other, but because they threw few and were able to connect. McMillian threw to the body while Auguirre stepped in close to land to McMillian’s ribs. There was more action in the second round as both men landed scoring punches. Auguirre landed his left and right to McMillian’s body while McMillian landed heavy right hands that often connected to Aguirre’s body.

The pace of the third round was slower. Aguirre was still able to land his left – right combinations while McMillian stepped away from the pressure, creating enough distance to land his straight right. McMillian had a solid fourth round as he continually moved to create just enough distance to land his right. Aguirre moved to close the distance, but he landed fewer punches.

McMillian controlled the action of the fifth round as landed heavy shots to Aguirre’s head. Auguirre continued to throw punches at McMillian’s body. The final round was close as both men were able to land scoring punches. McMillian gained an advantage in landing the heavier shots.

After six rounds one judge scored the fight 60-54, the other two saw it 59-55, all in favor of Mike McMillian who would remain unbeaten behind the unanimous decision.

McMillian breaks down Auguirre with a right to the chin

Sanchez' right caught Iniguez on the chin

Luis Iniguez stepped in to fight Alonzo Sanchez after Sanchez’s scheduled opponent dropped out to face him at a later date. Iniguez was hungry for a win; Sanchez was looking to stay unbeaten.

To negate Iniguez’ height advantage, Sanchez stood in close and threw body shots. Iniguez did try to counter, but he was only able to throw short punches. In the second round Iniguez was able to create some distance, and when he did so he was able to land scoring punches. Sanchez worked to close the distance between the two and quickly went back to work attacking Iniguez’ body.

Iniguez made the adjustment to fight in close as Sanchez applied pressure in the third round, and in so doing he was able to land body shots. However, Sanchez also landed body shots at a slightly higher rate in the round. Iniquez had a good fourth round as he reverted to creating distance and using his reach advantage, but it was Sanchez’ in close body work that made the difference in the round.

After four rounds all three judges scored the fight 40-36 for Sanchez who would remain unbeaten behind the unanimous decision.

Emmanuel Ojeda entered the bout with Abel Kassa after winning his last fight. Kassa was making his pro debut, though he was not new to the realm of fighting sports.

Ojeda quickly took control of the fight by stepping in close to Kassa to negate his height and reach advantage. Early in the round Ojeda landed a body shot that dropped Kassa as he was backing away. Kassa quickly rose and the round continued. Ojeda kept the pressure on Kassa in the second round, taking the fight in close. Kassa moved to take advantage of his height and reach, but Ojeda’s pressure kept Kassa from landing many punches.

Kassa was able to connect with his jab in the third round, but his scoring opportunities were few as Ojeda kept him on the move and landed body shots while doing so. Kassa fought a decent final round as he was able to stand in tight and land his jab. Ojeda however continued to pressure Kassa, and that gave Ojeda the opportunity to land more punches.

After four rounds all three judges scored the fight 40-35 for Ojeda.

Kassa ducks away from an Ojeda straight right

Much of Aguilar's damage came from wide rights

Thomas Aguilar, making his professional debut, was matched against Alan Hernandez who was looking for his first win as a professional. While one might expect the two to be somewhat cautious in their approach to the fight, there was no evidence of such feelings.

The two men threw a lot of punches in the opening round, as the action was nonstop. Aguilar may have gained an advantage in landing scoring shots, but Hernandez was able to clock many punches. Aguilar, in the second round looked to land heavy scoring punches. That meant he was throwing many wide looping shots that provided Hernandez the opportunity to step in and throw punches up the middle. As in the first round, a lot of punches were thrown.

Hernandez applied the pressure in the third round, and while both men threw a lot of punches, Hernandez landed at a higher rate. The final round was close. Aguilar controlled the first half of the round as he was able to land body and head shots while keeping Hernandez on the ropes. Hernandez scored when the two men were in close as he fired shots at Aguilar’s body.

After four rounds, one judge scored the fight 39-37 for Aguilar; the second judge scored it 39-37 for Hernandez; and the third judge scored it even at 38. The fight would end in a majority draw.

Ryan Bailey has been refocusing his attention on boxing and looked to show some improvement when he faced Dylan Potter in a four round bout.

Early in the opening round Bailey was able to score landing shots to Potter’s body. While Potter took a few punches, in the latter portions of the round he stepped away from Biley and used his reach advantage to land some heavy shots. The second round was close. While Potter was able to land scoring shots to Bailey’s body and head, Bailey patiently put his target on Potter’s body.

Bailey fought a solid third round, continuing his shots at Potter’s body, but Potter countered Bailey’s attack throwing combinations that consisted of the right to the body followed by a left to the head. Potter threw more punches in the closing round, and I answer Bailey looked to land something hard and heavy to change the momentum.

There is no doubt that Bailey showed improvement over his last few outings, however the judges’ scorecards favored Potter, 39-37, and two at 40-36.

Potter uses his reach to throw his right

Esquivel sidestaps Hernandez' left

The opening fight of the night featured Margarito Hernandez and Gerardo Esquivel in a rematch of their great fight in Medford a few months ago. That fight ended with Hernandez eking out a win, Esquivel was looking to get even.

Esquivel was aggressive in the opening round as he fired his jab at Hernandez’ head. Hernandez was able to move out of range, but that also limited the number of punches he was able to land. Hernandez fared better in the second round. He landed a flurry of body shots that slowed Esquivel’s assault. Esquivel closed the round shooting his right at Hernandez’ head.

The third round was close, and it saw a change in the men’s tactics. Hernandez landed scoring shots to Esquivel’s head while Esquivel focused his attack on Hernandez body. Esquivel was busier in the fourth round as he threw a number of combinations that landed on Hernandez’ body. Hernande was able to land some heavy shots in the round and that momentarily slowed Esquivel.

The first portion of the fifth round was close as the men traded punches. Hernandez controlled the last half of the round as he began to land combinations that saw him first land to Esquivel’s body, then shoot towards his head. Much of the sixth round saw the men moving about the ring to avoid getting caught as both were throwing heavy punches looking to inflict some real damage.

After six rounds all three judges scored the fight 59-55 for Hernandez who would again claim the win.

This Ring Card Girl was flying solo, and that meant working every round through out the night.

Nathan Youngclaus scored the win in the kickboxing title event