Knucklehead Promotions held their second show - dubbed "Knucklehead Knockdown" - at the Salem Armory Aug 13th, with a full fight card of 16 MMA fights, including two pro bouts and a 155lbs amateur title bout as the main attractions.

The main event pitted two young, hungry, up and coming, 135 lb Pros: the "Pitbull" Austin Warner versus "Dirty" Benny Vinson. Before the first punch was even thrown, the fight had emotions running high with the crowd on their feet. Benny Vinson came out with one thing in mind and one thing only: to ground and pound. He used a one, two combination to get his hands on Warner and slam him to the mat and after that he mauled Warner, controlling his head and punching and elbowing when the opportunity came. Warner was on the defensive for the entire first round and the pace was set. The second round was much like the first with Vinson controlling the takedowns and using his GNP to score points and attempt to break Warner, but it became apparent Warner wasn't going to break. Near the end of the second, Warner scrambled to get off his back and went to clinch Vinson and threw a knee, but as Vinson hadn't stood up yet the knee was deemed illegal and Vinson was given time.

Warner was hit again by the ref for illegal knee in the third round, though from my point of view it looked as if the knees hit Vinson's shoulder and shouldn't have been called. Most of the pro-Warner crowd were screaming it wasn't illegal because Vinson was on his feet, but most also failed to see his hand was on the mat which is legal as a fighter can put his hand on the mat in a three point stance to avoid being kneed in the face. Despite this, Warner rallied, reversed Vinson and got on top with a flurry of punches looking for a finish. But Vinson avoided well and had an active guard. There were a couple times it looked like Warner had a guillotine sunk but Vinson escaped much to the crowds dismay. The fight ended the same way it started with Vinson getting the takedown and the win via unanimous decision to move to 3-0. Austin Warner loses his debut pro fight, but this 19 year old fighter certainly looks to have a bright future in the sport.

The co-main event had the Knucklehead 155lb amateur title on the line with 503 West Coast Jiu Jitsu fighter Chris Calabrese coming out in a fury to face Dynamic Full Contact Club (DFCC) fighter Mike Frear. The fight went the full five rounds and Calabrese was on the defensive the whole time. Frear was throwing submission attempt after submission attempt at him, and on Calabrese's part he did show some amazing defense. Frear cut Calabrese and it became a blood fest but the referee let the fight continue. In the end, Frear won the well deserved unanimous decision.

The second pro fight on the card slated pros Jake Thomas and Jessee Filan in a bout at 135 lbs. Thomas came explosive on Filan, landed some huge shots on the ground, but got caught in a beautiful triangle choke slapped on fast by Filan at 3:01 of the first round. Filan won the "Finish of the Night" award for the submission.

Josh "Braveheart" Spencer took on Patrick Ryan at 155lbs. Spencer spoke of getting food poisoning the night before the fight but didn't withdraw. Spencer didn't look sick when he quickly sunk a Rear Naked Choke on Ryan and finished him at 2:06 of the first round. Spencer has been very active on the NW amateur circuit and looks to continue his winning ways, minus the food poisoning.

FCFF champion David "Kid Kryptonite" Converse showed an amazing Jiu-jitsu game in his defeat of Justin Hubbard from Dog Pound MMA. Converse came out and sunk a RNC at 1:57, and looked extremely good in doing so. This was Spaniard's favorite submission win of the night as everything was clean, textbook BJJ.

More info on Knucklehead Promotions HERE.