The evening was filled with both boxing and MMA matches, and it did the discipline of combat sports in the southland proud. The show featured some old faces, some new faces, and of course the usual intensity that all Fight Club OC fighters bring to the the ring
Opening the show was the debuting Jamal Evans now 1-0 from Los Angeles’s against Ontario’s 0-2 Louis Vasquez in a 4 round, middleweight, boxing match. These two combatants wanted to make an impression as the show openers and they both succeeded. Evan’s came out giving Vasquez movement and angles. Vasquez pressed forward landing hard shots to the body and head. It continued like this until the 3rd round, but then Evans’ dropped Vasquez and that was more than enough to seal the deal and give Evans his first pro victory.
Moving down to the super lightweight division, we had another 4 round boxing match in which Niguy Simms (1-1) from Buena Park battled Riverside’s Nate Palencia (1-3). These two warriors threw punches in bunches as they engaged in a very high energy fight. Palencia is a fan favorite and he and Simms engaged in a very fast paced tactical battle. Palencia chased Simms around the ring and was met hooks and uppercuts. He kept Simms on his back foot but got dropped in round three. Palencia pressed ahead but Simms was in control and took a decision over his game foe.
Moving into the realm of MMA saw welterweights Jack Hemauer 2-0 from Huntington Beach, go up against Tyler Kaiser 3-2 from San Diego in a 3 round contest. As we’ve discussed before, MMA at Fight Club OC is a special thing and tonight’s bout was no different. Hemauer and Kaiser had a lot of back and forth action in round one. There were takedowns, ground and pound, and a lot of holds as each fighter attempted to gain control. This continued into the second round, but things soon turned, as they often do in combat sports, as Kaiser unleashed multiple headshots via ground and pound hammer fists to force a stoppage.
Switching over to boxing but staying in the welterweight class, we were treated to Steven Shareef (0-1-1) from Los Angeles vs. Oscar Enriquez Trujillo (2-0-1 1KO) out of Riverside in a 4 round match. With the crowd excited for this high level contest, Trujillo and Shareef both made their case for why they should be the winner of the bout. Shareef moved a lot using his jab to land shots at all angles. Trujillo wanted him to stand and fight and at times they did. When that happened Trujillo won those exchanges. In the end, this bout was declared a draw by the judges.
Ending the night was a 4 round, Tequila Mandala Young Champions bout in the lightweight division. Billy Timmons (3-0 1KO) of Cypress, went head to head with Los Angeles’s Clayton Hibbert (2-6 2KOs). These two fighters wanted to close the show big and they sure gave it their all. Timmons used his boxing skills to move, jab, and counter the onrushing Hibbert. In fact, Timmons even dropped him in the first round. After that, each round became a carbon of the next as Timmons took a decision over his tough foe.
The first Fight Club OC show from the The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa is in the books for 2025! We return to Orange County on April 17th for the second show of the year. Grab your tickets ASAP as everyone knows this is where fights are guaranteed!
And… if you love Muay Thai (and who doesn’t?) you’ve got to attend Fight Club LA at The Garden’s Casino in Hawaiian Gardens on March 15th! Order tickets here: