Web Exclusive
In the first row of a half-filled PMAC Saturday night, three licensed fight judges were hired to score 12 fights as a part of Beat 2 Sleep’s: B2S I.
The only problem was judges were not needed because all 12 fights were ended via knockout or submission.
“These guys have never fought in this big of a stage before,” fighter Troy Kilgore said. “Guys come out swinging as hard as they can, and if the punch lands, it’s over.”
Kilgore fought in the second bout of the night and fell victim to Wes Leonard’s right hand causing the referee to stop the fight.
“I’m a grandfather,” 36-year-old Kilgore said. “It’s a little tough for me to hang with the young guys, but I will be back.”
In the third bout Baton Rouge’s own Dave Shepard had a successful debut defeating Ryan Tyson thanks to a strong ground attack.
“I got him mounted, and I wasn’t going to let go,” Shepard said. “I was nervous as hell performing in such a big place like this. This is the type of place the pros roll in.”
The fastest knockout of the night took place in the seventh fight when Ricky Harvey took down opponent Trey Lee and pounded his way to a victory 15 seconds into the fight. Fans booed Lee as he walked out the cage, but Kilgore said Lee had a reoccurring injury that made him questionable coming into the fight.
“He did good just to step in there tonight,” he said.
In the last under-card fight New Orleans’ Jason Galjour brought the arena to its feet with a leaping haymaker on Baton Rouge’s Thomas Webb.
Webb’s knees buckled, and Galjour jumped on top of Webb as he hit the ground, landing several more haymakers before the fight was stopped.
“That is probably the hardest shot I have ever seen landed in a fight,” Kilgore said. “That shot would have dropped any boxer or any [Mixed Martial Arts] fighter in the world.”
UFC middleweight Chris Leben was the special guest official of the night’s co-main event and main event.
In the co-main event Mike Perez used an incredible speed advantage to get a mounted position on opponent Mike Roy, forcing Leben to stop the fight just minutes into the first round.
In the main event hometown favorite Andy Chapman scored a first round victory over Houston’s Gooch.
Chapman received a standing ovation on his way to the cage from an extremely pro-Chapman crowd.
Leben told both fighters prior to the fight to be prepared to come out swinging.
“I’m not going to give this fight to anyone,” Leben said after the fight. “If you want to get out, then you’re going to have to tap because I won’t stop it.”
With the entire arena chanting “Andy” in support of the hometown fighter, Chapman took Gooch to the ground and dominated the entire fight, forcing Leben to stop the fight with 30 seconds left in the first round.
“Thank you so much for all of your support, Baton Rouge,” Chapman said. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
Beat 2 Sleep owner Sterling Byrd said he was pleased with attendance for the event and with more promotion he expects it will grow for B2S II.
“We definitely plan to come back,” he said. “The fans were great, and the people at the PMAC made everything work out perfectly.”
—–Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]