Gladiator Challenge – Validation June 26, 2009 Placer Co. Fair Grounds, Roseville, CA

In a night of action packed fights, Marinoble*Elite fighters did not disappoint. Johnny Goh came out on the winning side of his fight for his first professional victory; this time fighting at 170Lbs, not 155Lbs. Fighting against another Northern California fighter, Tim Houser, Jr, Goh showed an improved stand up to go with his slick BJJ skills he has learned at Brudda’s Jiu Jitsu. Houser, a former Vacaville High School wrestler, stood toe-toe with Johnny for the better part of the first round as the two traded strikes. Houser used his wrestling base to secure a take downs and show some good ground and pound. Goh weathered the storm and even dropped Houser with a crisp right hand to the chin. Although he was dazed, Houser was able to regain his bearings and secured another takedown. The round ended with Houser pinning Goh against the cage with some ground and pound.
The Second round began with the two fighters exchanging again in the center of the cage. The end came very quick as Houser took Goh down again but this time, Goh defended the attack from the guard slipping his legs around Houser’s arm securing a belly to floor arm bar causing Houser to submit midway through the second round.

In Bantamweight (135Lbs.) action, Marinoble*Elite fighter, Joe Baros and Rio Linda’s Randy “the Shark” Rodoni took Fight of the Night honors after one of, if not THE most exciting fight of the night. Baros looked to stand while Rodoni used his aggressive striking to pin Baros against the fence and scoring a double leg take down. Baros fought again the ground and pound of Rodoni and was able to get back to his feet where the two let leather fly as both of fighters rocked their adversary. Much of the next 2 rounds went back and forth as Baros and Rodoni traded big shots. Baros and Rodoni, each with their own fans in the crowd were able at times to get the best of each other not only standing, but on the floor scoring with ground and pound and submission attempts. In the third round after Rodoni scored another take down, the fight was restarted due to Baros’s good ground defense not allowing Rodoni to score from the top. As the fight was restarted on the feet, Baros exploded with a flying knee the hit flush on the head of Rodoni. The knee sent Rodini to the canvas where Baros patiently pounced on his fallen opponent until the referee intervened calling an end to the contest at 1:58 into the final round. This fight may not have had the size of fighters as the other fights, but what they lacked in size, they made up for in heart.