Beyond the Brawl: Dwain Victorian

Beyond the Brawl: Curtis Millender

Newport Beach, CA.; When Orange County fight promoter Roy Englebrecht became the first California boxing promoter to promote a pro MMA show back in 2006, Englebrecht knew the value of this new sport, and now does almost all his 20+ fight shows a year as hybrid shows with pro mma and boxing on the same card, with his flagship brand FIGHT CLUB OC playing to sellout crowd in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center.

Now Englebrecht has taken another step in the mixed martial arts world by signing his first pro MMA fighter to a promotional agreement, when it was announced today that middleweight Curtis Millender will join Roy Englebrecht Promotions with his first fight set for the August 15^th Fight Club OC show.

Millender, who is 2-0 as a pro, is out of the UFC Gym in Fullerton, and is trained by Head Coach Billy Burke, along with Uchenna Anyikam, Joe Murphy, and Joey Aguilar. In his first two pro bouts to say that Millender made an immediate impression in mma circles is an understatement. All he did was dominate Paul Gemmati  in his pro debut in February, winning all three rounds; and then come back on April 11^th and scored “the Knockout of the Year” with a 34 second first round KO of Blake Belshe. At 6-1 and only 25 years of age, Millender is the new mma prototype fighter, with great hand speed, great leg power, and a fearless demeanor in the cage!

“The success of any fight promotions company, and especially on the club level, is to give fans great fights with local fighters,” said promoter Roy Englebrecht. “The signing of Curtis Millender ensures that our Fight Club OC fans will see just an awesome young fighter develop before their eyes, as well as having his family and friends there to cheer him on.”

“It is widely known that we have the best MMA talent on the planet in Southern California,” said Mel Valenzuela, the MMA matchmaker for Roy Englebrecht Promotions. “But even in Southern California does one rarely come across a young fighter that is built like Jon Jones….moves like Floyd Mayweather Jr….and hits like Mike Tyson. Curtis possesses that rare mix of talent, desire, and ability that one can only dream of. We at Roy Englebrecht Promotions are fortunate to have the opportunity to watch such a promising talent develop his skills and grow into one of the most well rounded and feared prospects to come out of Southern California.”

“This is a real big opportunity for me to sign with Roy Englebrecht Promotions, and have a chance to showcase my talents with a major promotions company,” said Millender, “and I will certainly take full advantage of this great opportunity. My ultimate goal is to be the best in the world, as well as give back 100% of what everyone has given to me.”

Tickets for Millender’s debut under the REP banner on August 15^th are available online at www.fightcluboc.com.

For all you fight fans who enjoy a double dose of entertainment, get ready to be part of Season Six, as Roy Englebrecht Promotions announced today, a big ticket pre sale for the Sunday, July 14th SummerFist VI MMA Show during the 2013 Orange County Fair.

And what a SummerFist VI show it will be in the Action Sports Arena, as this year’s show will be held on the Opening Weekend of the OC Fair, with eight, count them, eight great mixed martial arts bouts, featuring some of the best young MMA fighters Orange County has to offer. Plus remember your ticket to the SummerFist VI show ALSO includes your admission to the OC Fair on Sunday, July 14th. So come early and enjoy the fair during the day, and head over to the Action Sports Arena at 6pm for great fight action!

Plus if you purchase your SummerFist VI tickets within the next seven days, you can save $5 per ticket with the Early Knockout Ticket Promotion. Purchase your tickets online at www.fightcluboc.com between now and Wednesday, May 15th, and use Promo Code – fair – and you save $5 off your tickets priced only at $30…and remember that includes both a reserved seat at SummerFist VI AND free admission to Opening Weekend of the OC Fair on Sunday, July 14th.

Don’t delay and save $5 per ticket using promo code – fair – at www.fightcluboc.com.

There have been some changes to the Fight Club OC Hot Summer Nights Series at the Marconi Automotive Museum.

The three new dates are:

    Saturday, July 27th (use your July 20th tickets for this show)

    Saturday, August 24th (date stays the same)

    Saturday, October 19th (we have moved June 22nd date to this new date)

Also, we will be making our August and October shows, hybrid shows featuring both Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai Ultimate II.

Newport Beach, CA.: Southern California fight promoter Roy Englebrecht announced today the signing of one of California’s top amateur boxers to a promotional agreement. 21 year old lightweight Dwain Victorian, the 2012 California Golden Gloves Champion and 2012 National Blue & Gold State Champion signed with Englebrecht in an office ceremony on Friday.

“I am extremely excited that Dwain has decided to sign with us,” said Englebrecht. “As it is our goal to sign only Southern California fighters, and with Dwain being from Anaheim, it was a natural fit for both of us. So for him to be able to make his pro debut on our June 6^th Fight Club OC show before his family and friends is what Roy Englebrecht Promotions is all about.”

Victorian first stepped into a boxing gym in Anaheim at 15 years of age and quickly found success, winning the 2008 California PAL State Title after just one year of training. Besides his 2012 State titles, he also earned an invitational spot on the USA National Team and made it all the way to the quarter finals. Victorian also excels outside the ring, as he graduated Orange High School after the 11^th grade.

Costa Mesa, CA: Besides it being the biggest Fight Club OC show in the three year history of the bi monthly fight series, with eight pro bouts featured on the Thursday, April 11^th show in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center, it was also the most lucrative show ever.

Fight Club OC promoter Roy Englebrecht announced today that the live gate for the April 11^th show was $61,013, which set a record for not only any Fight Club OC show, but was also bigger than any gate he did over 25 years at his Battle In The Ballroom shows at the Irvine Marriott.

“A big thank you to the fight fans in Southern California, and especially all the fighters on the show who did an incredible job in ticket sales,” said Englebrecht.

The next Fight Club OC show is Thursday, June 6^th.

Opening Night is set for this Saturday for our Muay Thai Ultimate II Hot Summer Nights Fight Series. With three belt fights and seven under card bouts this show is sure to entertain all in attendance. The Marconi Automotive Museum is located at 1302 Industrial Dr. Tustin, CA 92780. Less than 100 tickets remain for this show, tickets start at only $40 and can be purchased at www.fightcluboc.com.

The four date summer series will feature two shows of amateur mixed martial arts and two shows of amateur Muay Thai. Opening Night on Saturday, April 20th is set to deliver a 10 bout card of exciting Muay Thai Ultimate II action.

“I am excited to move some of our Saturday shows from The Hangar at the OC Fair to the Marconi Automotive Museum” said Englebrecht. “The museum is just a great 1,000 seat venue, and with 30 million dollars of the most exotic cars and motorcycles in America, the fans will not only get to enjoy great fight action but I know they will love checking out all the wheels!”

Doors open at 6pm with the first bout set for 7pm.

Other Show Dates for our Hot Summer Night Series

Rachael Cummins is managed by Koast Kombat (www.koastkombat.com) She recently went professional at Pandemonium 8, at the Pomona Fairplex in Calif., on March 23. She fought undefeated Norma Reuda Center (5-0 amateur, 1-0 professional), out of Jackson’s MMA, and went three rounds with her. Though it was a controversial decision victory in favor of Center, Rachael proved that she has what it takes to be on a professional level. Her fight was streamed on several websites, including www.prommanow.com. Rachael has always been a superior athlete and her next fight will be on June 6, for Fight Club OC, at the OC Fair Grounds. There are a lot of amazing things to come from Rachael Cummins. This is just the start of her blossoming career in MMA. Rachael has been training with top athletes like Leslie Smith, who currently fought for the 135 lb. title at Invicta Fighting Championships on April 5. Rachael is also training with UFC fighter Liz Carmouche in San Diego.

Rachael Cummins

Location: Lake Forrest, California

Gym: Reign Training Center, Lake Forrest, Calif.

Coaches: Mark Munoz, Jason Manley, War Machine, Frankie Chavez, Jake Ellenberger

Weight: 125

Height: 5’9

Professional MMA Record: 0-1

Background: BJJ

Twitter: @RachaelCummins

InstaGram: @RachaelCmmns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachael.cummins.37

Wow, Fight Club OC provided an amazing night of MMA to its fans.  They’ll be talking about this one for a long time!

Our Matchmaker, Mel Valenzuela, once again weaved his magic and provided fans with two action packed bouts.

In our first bout, Norwalk and Cleber Jiu Jitsu fighter Jose Diaz proved he was a force to be reckoned with demonstrating his superior ground game and striking winning a unanimous decision over Costa Mesa and Spyder Muay Thai’s Chris Peña.  Peña showed his Muay Thai skills delivering vicious strikes and knees.  Ultimately, Diaz got the victory and runs his pro record to 1-1 while Peña falls to 0-1.

In our featured MMA bout of the evening, San Bernardino and LA Boxing’s (Fullerton) Curtis Millender delivered what is perhaps the KO of Fight Club OC’s 3 year existence! After feeling each other out for a most of the first minute of round 1, Millender nailed Dana Point & Sub Fighter’s Blake Belshe with a devastating right sending him to the canvass near the one minute mark of round one.  The referee immediately called a halt to the bout as Belshe could not recover from the brain rattling punch delivered by Millender. Millender is now 2-0 in his pro career while Belshe suffers the set back in his pro debut.

June 6 promises to deliver more of the same!

Last night, Roy Englebrecht’s Fight Club series lived up to its name yet again. The sold out/standing room only crowd of 1482 (who brought in a gate of roughly 60,000 dollars) found themselves treated to six action packed boxing matches and two exciting MMA special attractions. There were brawls, there were knockdowns, and there were knockouts. What more can you ask for? This was ‘Fight Club’ at its finest.

The main event saw Carlos Morales improve his record to 2-1-3, over a game but out-gunned Paul Velarde who now drops to 3-4-3. The fight opened at a blistering pace and early on in the 1st it appeared Paul would have his way. However, a couple of stiff body shots and a big right hand from Morales would change everything. By the end of an action packed first round it was apparent that Velarde was hurt badly, and Morales knew it. The second round saw the two pick up right where they left off. Velarde attempted to stand his ground but was hit by some big shots, including an uppercut through the guard, which momentarily buckled his legs. Early in the third Morales dropped Paul with a perfect left hook. Once action resumed Paul came out firing, in hopes of getting the round back. It made for some great action and the two would give as good as they got until the round ended. Going into the final round Velarde knew he needed a knockout, and for a brief moment it looked like he might have been on to something. A tight compact right hand would stagger Morales briefly, but just as Paul attempted to follow up he ran right into another solid left hook and from then on Morales would tee off until the final bell. At the end of four rounds Marty Denkin, Mike Lebell and Gene Lebell all had it 40-35 for Morales. Ringnews24 also had it 40-35 for Morales.

In a welterweight bout, Rashad Hughes picked up his first win as a pro and moved to 1-3-1 with a third round knockout of Beto Ibbara who now stands at 1-5. Beto was wobbled early in the 1st round by a perfectly timed left hand from the southpaw stance of Hughes. From that point on, Rashad would land virtually at will. Ibarra would be dropped in the second, after a volley of punches that ended with a straight left and right hook. The third round was only more of the same. First, a perfect right hook would floor Beto yet again. As he got to his feet it was clear he was couldn’t take much more, and when action resumed Hughes landed a perfect straight left to the body that dropped Ibarra for the final time. Referee Jack Reiss waived the bout off at 2:50 seconds of the third round.

In women’s action, Featherweight Nadja Ropac made her debut a successful one over Laura Deanovic, who is now 1-4. Ropac was in complete control for the entire four rounds. She landed jabs, right hands and left hooks almost at will. Deanovic never took a backwards step but after four rounds, her face, bright red and swollen, undeniably told the story of the fight. All three judges, Marty Denkin, Mike Lebell and Paul Lebell had it 40-36 for Ropac. Ringnews24 also had it 40-36 for Ropac.

In a battle of cruiserweights, Debuting Malanga D’hue improved to 1-0 over Jamel Reynolds who now enters the professional ranks at 0-1. Both men took their time in the first round and felt one another out until the last thirty seconds when D’hue landed two solid right hands. The action in the second picked up and Hughes’ power began to take over. The third and final rounds were both very brutal rounds that could have been seen 10-8 by some. D’hue landed at will and had Reynolds staggering, wobbling and holding on several occasions. Reynolds never stopped trying and the crowd roared with appreciation. When the final bell sounded, Judges Marty Denkin and Mike Lebell had it 40-36 while Gene Lebell had it 39-37 for Malanga D’hue by unanimous decision. Ringnews24 had it 40-36 for D’hue.

The only heavyweight bout of the evening saw Jonathon Hamm improve to 6-1, 5 KOs with a third round TKO over Kevin Howard, who slips to 3-9, 1KO. After two slow rounds, Hamm dropped Howard with a heavy looping right hand. Jack Reiss, took a good long look at Howard before he allowed the action to continue. Once it did, Hamm battered Howard until Reiss finally stepped in to halt the action at 1:21 of the third round.

The opening fight of the evening saw Jesus Gutierrez pick up his first win as a ‘pro’ and move his record to 1-1 over Noe Lucas, who remains winless at 0-2. Jesus was able to work behind a steady jab and land some decent hooks in the first round. The second would see Lucas look to outwork Jesus and dig some left hooks to the body of his shorter foe. The third and fourth rounds were both very close. Lucas was clearly the busier man while Jesus continued to land the cleaner and heavier shots. The two would trade until the final bell and the crowd roared with approval. Judge Marty Denkin saw it 39-37 and Mike Lebell had it 40-36, while Gene Lebell had it 38-38 for the winner by majority decision, Jesus Gutierrez. Ringnews24 had it 39-37 for Gutierrez.

By Geoff Booth