Millender earns MMA victory in under a minute

by Lou Ponsi Orange County Register

COSTA MESA – The welterweight fight between Curtis Millender of Fullerton and James Chaney of Las Vegas was scheduled for five 5-minute rounds.

But the sellout crowd of 1,412 at the Hangar barely had time to get comfortable in their seats for the MMA main event before it was over.

Millender landed a right kick just below Chaney’s left kneecap, sending the fighter to the mat and ending the fight in 48 seconds.

Millender, who improved to 7-0, said he was expecting a tougher battle.

When Chaney (8-6) chose to stay upright and box, he played right into Millender’s strength, he said.

“He tried to play the striking game with me, which he shouldn’t have done,” Millender said. “Once I started hitting him with the jab, I felt he didn’t like how many times and how fast I was hitting him.”

With the victory, Millender hopes to get consideration to join the ranks of UFC or Bellator.

“Hopefully, especially after this,” Millender said.

In the boxing main, Alexander Flores of Rowland Heights and Avery Gibson of Lancaster fought to a draw in their six-round heavyweight fight, which was void of any real intensity.