Josh Aragon Fight Blog #2: You need to be ready to adapt

by Josh Aragon

Another week of training down and I am feeling better and better each week. I did a lot of sparing this week working and focusing on timing and accuracy. Now that the time is getting closer I get more and more excited and anxious. It's always been a dream for me to win a WBC title and now that I get the opportunity there is no way I'm coming home without that title. To me a WBC title or WMC title are the most recognized titles internationally for Muay Thai. 

I know Landon comes to fight and he will be prepared which makes for an exciting fight. He has knockout power and won the WBC title in dominating fashion. I respect Landon, I respect every fighter that I step in the ring. I know the hard work and dedication and sacrifices we have to go through to fight and be successful in this sport, it is not for the faint of heart. Regardless of the respect, let me tell you when the bell rings I'm going for blood or the KO because nothing is gong to stand in the way of me achieving my dreams. I'm ready for this fight I feel everything is in the right place at the right time now it's time for me to make my dream become a reality.

Like anything else with the fight game you need to be ready to adapt, and I received that news on Friday. I was training and prepping to fight Landon Simmons at 154lbs for his WBC title, but I got a call from the promoter Dennis Warner that there was a change. Landon had to pull out of the fight and I was getting a replacement. Ryan Roy was my new opponent and the fight was no longer at 154lbs it was at 160lbs.

I am a fighter and the change is something that I accept, I am still fighting for a WBC title but it is for the 160lb title now. I am in great shape and now I just have to go to the drawing board to figure out my strategy against Ryan, but I know what I can do and I am confident I am still coming home with that strap.

As a fighter if you aren’t confident in your skill set then you shouldn’t be fighting. The moment you doubt yourself then you have already lost. 

I look forward to seeing everyone at the fights on November 13th at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas.

Kunlun Fight 29 Results: Askerov wins tournament, KO's Kehl

Kunlun Fight 29 took place this past weekend in Soichi, Russia. The events main attraction was the Kulun Fight 29 Middleweight Tournament. The semi-final match ups featured Mingzhi Liu vs. Landon Simmons and Dzhabar Askerov vs. Enriko Kehl. 

Liu was able to out point the undefeated Simmons en route to a unanimous decision win and a trip to the tournament final. In the most anticipated bout of the event, Dzhabar Askerov scored a huge knockout victory over Kehl in the second round of their bout. Askerov knocked Kehl down with a big right and after Kehl recovered Askerov went on the attack. He blitzed Kehl and connected with some big punches in flurry that put Kehl down for the count. Askerov punched his ticket to the tournament final and secured his second career victory over Kehl.

In the tournament final it didn't take long for Askerov to be crowned the champion. He scored (T)KO over Liu less than a minute into the first round after knocking him down three times. The tournament win for Askerov is huge, especially with such a dominant win over a fighter of Enriko Kehl.

Kunlun Fight 29 Results:

Anatoly Moiseev def. Cristian Milea via Unanimous Decision

Jahfarr Wilnis def. Valentin Slavikovski via Unanimous Decision

Alim Nabiev def. Pavel Turuk via (T)KO in Rd. 2

Ruslan Tozliyan def. Li Shuaihu via Unanimous Decision

Surik Magakyan def. Bai Jin Bin via Unanimous Decision

Kunlun Fight 29 Middleweight Tournament Semi-Finals

Mingzhi Liu def. Landon Simmons via Unanimous Decision

Dzhabar Askerov def. Enriko Kehl via KO in Rd. 2

Kunlun Fight 29 Middleweight Tournament Final

Dzhabar Askerov def. Mingzhi Liu via (T)KO in Rd. 1

Kunlun Fight 29: Battle in Sochi 2015 4-Man Tournament set with Kehl, Askerov, Simmons, and Liu

Kunlun Fight 29 is set for August 15 in Sochi, Russia, the event will feature Kickboxing and MMA fights. The main attraction for the night will be a 4-man middleweight tournament featuring Enriko Kehl, Dzhabar Askerov, Landon Simmons, and Mingzhi Liu.

The first semi-final bout will feature American Landon Simmons vs. China's Mingzhi Liu. Simmons is a current WBC Muay Thai National Champion. Simmons has an unblemished record of 9-0 and winning this tournament will establish him as an international presence. Liu is a Kunlun Fight regular and has had success in the promotion. He will be a stiff test for Simmons.

Kehl is seasoned veteran who has faced a who's who of top level fighters. He is probably best recognized for defeating Buakaw Banchamek in the finals of 2014 K-1 Max tournament. He has to be the favorite going into the tournament. Askerov is a veteran and like Kehl has fought the top fighters in the sport including Buakaw, Robin van Roosmalen, and Giorgio Petrosyan.

Fight Card:

4-Man Middleweight Tournament Semi-Finals

Landon Simmons vs. Mingzhi Liu

Enriko Kehl vs. Dzhabar Askerov

WCK Muay Thai: Beauty and the Beast set for May 1st in Lemoore, CA

WCK Muay Thai: Beauty and the Beast is set to take place at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, CA. on May 1^st. The event will feature a one night 4-man heavyweight tournament as well as a women’s bout featuring Zolia Frausto and Jessica Gladstone.

The 4-man heavyweight tournament will feature Steven Banks, Tony Lopez, Carter Williams, and Manuel Quezada. The semi-final match ups have not been determined for the event yet, and will be chosen at weigh-ins.

Also on the card Landon Simmons returns to action after his (T)KO over Bryce Krause earlier this year. Simmons will face Raul Rodriguez as he tries to defend his WBC Muay Thai Super Welterweight Championship.

Fight Card:

4-Man Heavyweight Tournament Competitors

Steven Banks, Tony Lopez, Carter Williams, Manuel Quezada

Super Fights

Zolia Frausto Jessica Gladstone

Landon Simmons vs. Raul Rodriguez

Manny Mancha vs. Deutch Pu’u

Stephanie Frausto vs. Kaiyana Rain

Andrew Capurro vs. Marquis Sasiprapa

Alfred Kashakyan vs. Angel Meza

Day Day Lewis vs. Natalie Morgan

Terry Tran vs. Robert Hernandez

WCK "Matter of Pride" Results

With the celebration of WCK’s 25^thyear of promoting world class Full Rules Muay Thai fights, Matter of Pride took place this past Saturday night in front of a completely sold out crowd at Pechanga Casino and resort in Temecula, CA.  The Event was live broadcast on FOX Sports San Diego in the first Live Muay Thai event ever broadcast on any Fox network platform.

The main event featured WBC Muay Thai World Champion Jemyma Betrian defeated brazil’s Thais Souza. 

Results:

Andrew Gabriel def. Travis Yoon via (T)KO in Rd. 2
Francisco Garcia def. James Steelsmith via Unanimous Decision
Adrian Morilla vs. Levon Sarksyan Majority Draw
Jason Caldwell def. Charles Bisset via Unanimous Decision
Zoila Frausto def. Linda Aguilar via (T)KO in Rd. 2
Melsik Baghdasaryan def. John Vargas via (T)KO in Rd. 3
Marvin Madariaga def. Travis Garlits via (T)KO in Rd. 1
Adam Rothweiler def. David Huerta via Split Decision
Jemyma Betrian def. Thais Souza via (T)KO in Rd. 3
Landon Simmons def. Bryce Krause via KO in Rd. 1
Sam Alvey def. Sergio Pique via (T)KO in Rd. 3