Lion Fight 21 Results: Muay Thai Play-by-Play & Updates

Nick Chasteen vs. Tony Fausto

Round 1

Tony Fausto runs across the ring to get the action underway, throwing a leg kick on Nick Chasteen. Leg kick from Chasteen is caught, but Chasteen fights out of the predicament with a flurry of punches. Fausto connects with the nose of his opponent, causing blood to flow slowly from the left nostril. The move into the corner and exchange, but Chasteen fights out of it and punches Fausto across the ring, seemingly rocking his foe. Leg kick to the thigh of Fausto slaps through Pechanga’s Grand Ballroom. Upper cut from Chasteen misses it’s mark. They trade jabs in unison, bringing about a smile from Fausto. 10-9 Chasteen.

Round 2

The two touch gloves to begin the second round. Chasteen scoring at will with his kicks to the body. Now Chasteen counters a running kick attempt from Fausto with a combination of left and right hands. Fausto is having difficulty getting his shots off first, eating a ton of punishment and finding himself in danger against the ropes. Overhand right from Fausto finally meets its mark, which is countered by a stabbing shot to the body from Chasteen. Four unanswered shots from Chasteen back Fausto up, but don’t send him to the canvas. Now Fausto eats a left hand. Fausto comes back with a combination of his own, but the round ends before he can capitalize. 10-9 Chasteen.

Round 3

Chasteen opens the round with a kick to the body. Fausto comes out showing a bit of desperation, seemingly aware that he’s down on the judges’ scorecards. Fausto’s face is showing a ton of damage, as is his right side. Chasteen is just decimating the lead leg of Fausto now, it really seems to be a matter of time before this one is called. Fausto loses his mouthpiece, causing a brief lull in the action. Uppercut from Chasteen makes it through the raised arms of Fausto, who then comes back with a right hook that makes good contact. Now the two trade shots in the center of the ring, drawing roars from those in attendance. With each passing leg kick, Chasteen continues to damage the debuting Fausto. 10-9 Chasteen.

Round 4

Fausto comes out on the offensive, doing a fair share of punching, while Chasteen blocks the shots. Now Chasteen has enough of the output, coming back with a flurry of shots that are connecting, inducing a standing 10 count from the referee. At the count of eight, Fausto says he can continue. Chasteen is absolutely just teeing off now, landing punches at will. Fausto looks considerably tired after his punching n the beginning of the round. Now Chasteen absolutely begins going to work, an uppercut, followed by a headkick send Fausto backwards, finally his corner throws in the towel to bring a halt to the action.

The Official Result

Nick Chasteen def. Tony Fausto via TKO (Referee Stoppage) 2:19, R4

Josh Shepard vs. Jose Lopez

Round 1

Josh Shepard towers over Jose Lopez when the two men come together, but Lopez is the first that gets off significant offense in the match. The two clinch up and trade knees, with Shepard doing what he can to slow down the action along the ropes. Shepard brings his knee up high, catching Lopez with a shot that drops him to the mat. After standing upright, he appears unable to continue and the referee waves it off.

The Official Result

Josh Shepard def. Jose Lopez via KO (Knee to Body) 1:33, R1

Victor Saravia vs. Sam Poulton

Round 1

Sam Poulton and Victor Saravia touch gloves to make the bout official, then literally begin tearing into one another. Poulton starting the fight with a steady flow of kicks, now engaging the clinch and popping off knees. Saravia with a stiff kick to the thigh that puts Poulton off balance. Saravia connects with a punch to the stomach that causes Poulton to gasp. Head kick attempt from Saravia misses its mark. A kick causes Poulton to fall, but it’s ruled a slip by the referee. Push kick from Saravia ends the opening frame. 10-9 Saravia.

Round 2

Absolutely tenacious opening 15 seconds here in the second, with both men absolutely teeing off on each other. Saravia is walking through the shots, while Poulter is showing the damage. Saravia did get opened up in the exchange, somewhere in his hairline. Saravia connects with a beautiful elbow after a jab. Both men take their turns throwing and checking leg kicks. Saravia begins to pull away a bit, doing a good job of alternating between punches and kicks to close the second frame. 10-9 Saravia.

Round 3

Poulter connects with a right hook that sends the head of Saravia flailing backwards. Now Poulter is walking forward to close the distance and get off his shots first. Now they enter the clinch and trade elbows. Saravia cracks Poulter on the temple, rocking his equilibrium and allowing Saravia to unload. Now a running knee connects, but he’s unable to meet with the headkick. The round draws to a close, absolutely fantastic exchanges from both men that result in a 10-9 round for Poulter.

Round 4

Saravia rocks Poulter with a push kick to open the frame. Now head kicks to each side of the head are narrowly blocked by the forearms of Poulter. Uppercut from Saravia connects. Now Saravia opens up sending Poulter into the ropes, now an elbow meets its mark, Poulter eating a ton right now, seeming a bit wobbly on his feet. Blood flowing from the face of Poulter, but he continues to walk forward and engage. Flying knee from Saravia hits the chin again. They separate for the final 10 seconds, but it’s Saravia’s round 10-9.

Round 5

Fifth and final round here in Temecula, Calif., both men can’t wait to tear into each other again. Saravia going to work on the lead leg of Poulter. Saravia catches Poulter with a kick to the leg that sends Poulter south and starts a 10 count. Poulter argues the call, but it’s warranted. Saravia is absolutely tearing apart the leg of Poulter, just pounding it with kicks and Poulter has absolutely zero answer. Saravia looking for a stoppage, but Poulter is just too tough to lose from leg kicks. Now Saravia goes high and rocks Poulter with straight right punch. Poulter digging deep, ripping into the liver of Saravia with a punch as the proceedings draw to a close. 10-9 Saravia (49-46).

The Official Result

Victor Saravia def. Sam Poulton via Decision (Unanimous) [50-45, 50-44. 49-45] R5, 3:00

Malaipet vs. Ben Yelle

Round 1

Malaipet is about to take part in his 181st professional fight. Meanwhile, Ben Yelle is looking to improve to 23-16. Overhand right from Malaipet connects first, he then follows with a leg kick that rings through the arena. The action is moving along slowly, both men seemingly in the feeling out process. Malaipet goes for the kill, looking for the head kick knockout at every opportunity. Yelle is on the defensive, as the round was definitely a Malaipet round. 10-9 Malaipet.

Round 2

Malaipet catches a kick from Yelle and drops him to the canvas. The crowd immediately begins chanting for the legend. Yelle doing what he can to hang in there, but it seems that this is a formality. Another drop to the mat from Yelle. Now Yelle comes back but all it does is cause Malaipet to smile and come back with a whipping kick to the thigh. Head kick from Malaipet scores. The round concludes with Malaipet picking his spots and scoring. 10-9 Malaipet.

Round 3

Leg kick from Malaipet is checked. Now Yelle comes back with a crazy right-left combination and it forces Malaipet to strike back. Malaipet drops Yelle, but again no count, six seconds later another kick drops him to the mat. Yelle throws a looping left hand, but it misses, now Malaipet connects with a straight right that wobbles Yelle. Ten seconds left in the round and while it was Yelle’s best yet, it wasn’t enough to get the round. 10-9 Malaipet.

Round 4

Yelle opens up with a higher offensive output in the second to last round, sending Malaipet backwards for what seems like the first time tonight. Lunging elbow from Malaipet is blocked, he then comes right back with a push kick. Malaipet is slowing down visibly, but Yelle is unable to capitalize as of yet. Malaipet does seem to see it all coming before it’s thrown, which allows for him to avoid the damage. Yelle misses with a flailing kick, opening him up for the counter right hand. 10-9 Yelle.

Round 5

Malaipet gets hit below the belt to begin the fifth and final round. After a brief moment to recuperate, the action gets back underway. Yelle seems to smell blood, really taking the action to the veteran, who remains complacent at this point in the fight. Malaipet drops his hands, asking for some more action, but gets tripped and dumped to the mat for his efforts. Looping left hand from Malaipet glances off the head of Yelle, who continues to walk down the legend. The fight closes with Malaipet connecting with the leg one more time for good measure. 10-9 Malaipet (49-46 Malaipet).

The Official Result

Malaipet def. Ben Yelle via Decision (Unanimous) [50-46, 49-46, 49-46] R5, 3:00

Tiffany Van Soest vs. Chajmaa Bellekhal

Round 1

Chajmaa Bellekhal and Tiffany Van Soest are ready to get this co-main event bout underway. Van Soest comes out guns ablaze, knocking Bellekhal off balance with a running kick. After a stutter step, Van Soest connects with another nice leg kick. Now a kick to the gut of Bellekhal. Spinning back kick from Van Soest connects. Bellekhal seems hurt, tying up Van Soest to get the wind back in her sails. Van Soest comes inside and lands a good shot that she follows up with an elbow. 10-9 Van Soest.

Round 2

Van Soest attacks with a head kick that should have warranted a count, but the referee waves it off. Bellekhal holding onto the rope to avoid a trip, but the referee separates them before it can come to fruition. Bellekhal gets spun around and then gets pounded with a kick, again tying up her opponent to slow the action. Van Soest comes in again with a flurry, causing Bellekhal to get jellowy on the feet. Van Soest really hurt Bellekhal in that round. 10-9 Van Soest.

Round 3

A kick to the stomach from Van Soest creates a visible grimace from Bellekhal, the two tie up and Bellekhal shouts something in the ear of Van Soest. Spinning elbow from Van Soest meets its mark. Now a punch knocks the mouthpiece of Bellekhal to the mat. Van Soest pounces and tries to get the finish. Bellekhal uses all the time possible to get her wind back, imploring a bit of gamesmanship to get back involved. 10-9 Van Soest.

Round 4

The round opens with Van Soest going to work and Bellekhal doing all she can to hold on for dear life. Spinning back fist from Van Soest scores, the two then tie up and Van Soest dumps her opponent to the mat for good measure. Left jab rocks Bellekhal. Now Van Soest puts the pressure on, seeking a finish. Again Van Soest sends the mouthpiece of Bellekhal flying. She wants the referee to stop the action and retrieve it, but Van Soest goes for the kill as the round closes. 10-8 Van Soest.

Round 5

Van Soest pops the fifth and final round off with a flurry to get the knockout. Now she steps into a beautiful elbow that rocks Bellekhal. Right hook from the Blackhouse MMA representative nearly drops Bellekhal to the mat. Van Soest is absolutely losing it on Bellekhal, all sorts of elbows, knees and punches in succession are close to bringing an end to this. Bellekhal is looked at by the ringside physician, but the fight continues. The final 10 seconds consist of Bellekhal holding on, but this one was a slaughter. 10-9 Van Soest. (50-44 Van Soest).

The Official Result

Tiffany Van Soest def. Chajmaa Bellekhal via Decision (Unanimous) [50-45, 50-45, 50-45] R5, 3:00

Kevin Ross vs. Tetsuya Yamato

Round 1

Main event time. Kevin Ross in a rematch with Tetsuya Yamato. Ross checks kicks early. Now he throws, but it’s checked by his Japanese foe. Ross looks incredibly calm here. Ross eats a kick to the body, but comes back with a nice jab. Tetsuya is much more active in the opening round. The lead leg of Ross is already showing some wear and tear early. Ross gets rocked out of nowhere. The ref begins the 10 count. Tetsuya is waiting to run across and pounce. Tetsuya sprints across and pours it on, the referee steps in an waves it off. We have a new champion.

The Official Result

Tetsuya Yamato def. Kevin Ross via TKO (Referee Stoppage) R1, 2:43