AX Fighting #40 filled the gym of Edmonds Community College on Saturday night with 12 MMA fights, two of them for titles. The Main Event 170lb Title match between Chris Garcia (C3) and Taki Uluilakepa (MABJJ/Jones Jr Muay Thai) was what every main event should be - Fight of the Night! For all 5 rounds, these two amazing fighters stayed active and aggressive, both showing what the best of MMA fights are all about. In round one, Garcia kept working to slip through Uluilakepa's punches to clinch up and rifle off knee after knee on his hapless opponent. Uluilakepa decided to change the gameplan by catching one of Garcia's kicks early in the second and taking the fight to the ground. During a scramble, Garcia slipped out from underneath and ran around to Uluilakepa's back, stepping in his hooks on the turtled-up Uluilakepa. Uluilakepa was able to defend the RNC and rolled through, with Garcia ending the round in side control. Settling in to the stand-up, both fighters traded back and forth in round three before clinching up in the corner for a relentless amount of knees. This time it was mainly Uluilakepa that kept Garcia trapped in the corner, though both were slinging knees. Round four continued where round three left off with clinched knees, although Uluilakepa was able to get a very pretty trip/hip toss takedown. In the final round, neither fighter slowed down, but it was Uluilakepa that secured a great position on the ground where he was able to rain down punches on Garcia. Garcia kept moving and blocking the strikes while looking for a submission, finding a kimura with near a minute left to go. Uluilakepa kept his composure and defended the kimura until the bell rang. After the scores were tallied, the judges unanimously handed the belt to Taki Uluilakepa.

Knockout of the Night came from James Trochowski (AKA) in a 185 lb face off with Brent Ockerman (UTC). The first round looked like the fight was going to be a classic grappler versus striker. Ockerman kept working for triangles and armbars while Trochowski defended and worked to land the ground and pound. In the second round, Ockerman attacked the leg, surprising his opponent who toughed it out until he was finally able to work himself free. Round three, Trochowski began to work his hands a bit more, seeing that his opponent was letting his hands drop from his face. Pressing forward across the ring, Trochowski's opening came and he blasted a huge right hook to Ockerman's jaw, dropping him cold at 0:22 in.

Submission of the Night was in the 155 lb fight between Shane Gardner and Luke Seyss. Gardner's hands looked good, nice combos and agressive footwork. Seyss wasn't able to answer much on the feet but locked up well and neutralized Gardner from striking while on the ground. In the second, it looked like all of Gardner's hard work was going to be lost when he over-extended himself mid-combo trying to chase Seyss. He fell to the mat and Seyss dove for his neck. Gardner fought out and got it back to his feet where he caught one of Seyss's kicks and pulled him back to the canvas, securing the top postion. From there, he pummled Seyss into giving up an arm. Gardner grabbed on and fell backward for the armbar and the tap at 2:21 of round two.

The night's other title fight was a brawl for the 125 lb belt. Mike Ingersoll (C3) and Skyler Donner (Independent) spent three and a half rounds duking it out. Ingersoll's range control was best of the night and his counterstriking crisp and deadly. Donner would try to work in close but could never seem to reach Ingersoll square, and half the time would catch a wicked left hook for his trouble. Changing tactics for round two, Donner caught a kick to pull Ingersoll down. But Ingersoll quickly transitioned and climbed Donner's back looking for the rear naked choke. Donner defended well and they both scrambled before ending up in the same rear naked choke position. Luckily for Donner, the bell signaled the end of the round before the choke could be completed. Round three was back to the mat with reverses and strikes from both fighters, and Donner defending a gogoplata at the end of the third. Starting the fourth, Donner listened to his corner's instructions and threw the combos yelled to him, but found only empty air. Ingersoll got the takedown and mount, and after fighting out of Donner's break down he started to sling heavy punches until the ref stepped in 1:20 of round 4.

James Pollard (House of Stone) was able to squeak out a victory over Steven Kelly (C3) in their 145lb fight. Pollard kept control on the feet in the first round by staying just out of reach. Kelly attempeted a guillotine, but Pollard fought free and stood back up. In the next round, Kelly was able to catch the elusive Pollard, dropping him with a heavy left hook. Kelly quickly attacked and had a head and arm choke from bottom, but again Pollard escaped. More cautious on his feet, Pollard slowed the pace down, so Kelly took him down. Pollard tried for an armbar, but was stacked by Kelly who remained standing over him and looking for head strikes. Pollard used his long legs to stay away and rolled across the mat until the bell sounded. Kelly found his hands in the third landing some clean strikes right down the pipe, but most times Pollard danced out of range before they connected. Pollard circled out and away as Kelly kept pressing forward. Stalled out on the feet and the ground, the fighters clinched up for the last 10 seconds of the fight, sending it to the judges where Pollard was awarded the split decision.

The next show from promoters Charles Pearson and Aric Wiseman is the A-Town Throwdown 6 in Arlington, WA on January 19th. More info at axfighting.com.