Cory Devela submits David Anderson in the main event

Combat Games MMA returned to the Snoqualmie Casino for their 29th rendition of Rumble on the Ridge on October 25th and what a night of fights it was. 11 bouts in toal took place, 7 professional and 4 amateur, with not a dull one in the bunch. In total, there were 5 submission finishes, 3 TKOs, and 3 competitive bouts going the distance - as well as plenty of blood spilled - providing for a fantastic menu of fight acton for the fans inside the casino's ballroom, as well as for those watching on the live stream around the world. Color commentator for the broadcast was none other than former Combat Games MMA Heavyweight Champion and current UFC Fighter, Anthony "Freight Train" Hamilton, ably assisted by smooth-talker Christopher "Last Call" Cope, who also pulled double duty as ring announcer. Check out our video interview below with Anthony talking about his upcoming December 6th fight against Todd Duffee at UFC 181.

The main event was a pro 193 lb catchweight bout between Cory "The One" Devela and David "The Viking" Anderson. At the opening bell, the pair circled each other with Devela in his patented "Cowboy Karate" stance. Anderson threw a punch but Devela ducked under, spun and grabbed Anderson up from his backside, and with the momentum launched Anderson and himself for a big slam. Once on the ground, Devela calmly worked from side control, throwing punches and then transitioned onto the top of Anderson, dropping more bombs. Anderson turned to his stomach, and Devela threw shots to his head. Anderson again turned but was unable to get out from under Devela, who postured up in full mount and let loose with some hard punches. Anderson turned again to avoid the punishment, leaving open his neck, which Devela seized upon, sinking the short choke at 2:12 of round one.

In the Co-main Event, undefeated Albert "K-9" Tadevosyan, training out of Combat Sport & Fitness, took on NW Elite's Nick "Pop the Cork" Coughran in a pro welterweight matchup. The pair traded kicks in the opening minute of the fight, and then against the cage had a good exchange where both fighters tagged the other. Coughran charged forward towards a retreating Tadevosyan who suddenly chose to reverse course, rush in and drive Coughran across the cage for a takedown. Tadevosyan was working from top position when Coughran isolated his right arm for a submission and wound up reversing position. Tadevosyan quickly escaped out the back door and got back on top of Coughran where he proceeded to land some wicked elbow strikes that cut Coughran open. In the 2nd round, Tadevosyan moved in quickly on Coughran, got him in a muay thai clinch and landed numerous knees before taking the fight to the ground. Once there, Tadevosyan stayed heavy and gave Coughran no quarter, punishing him with elbows and punches until the referee had seen enough at 3:56 of the 2nd. With the win, Tadevosyan moves to 3-0 as a pro.

In the professional 185 lb division, Jorge "The Hammer" Moreno of the Irish Hit Squad got a 1st round TKO win over Kina "Kryptonite" Peneueta. As the fight unfolded, Moreno repeatedly would wade into Peneueta throwing big punches. Peneueta landed a few good knees to the body from the clinch and looked to utilize his height advantage. Peneueta got Moreno to the ground on a couple of occasions but wasn't able to keep him there as Moreno worked it to the feet again. The third time it went to the mat, Moreno was in top position and took advantage by landing a perfectly placed elbow that opened up a cut over Peneueta's right eye. The referee called for the cageside doctor to come in and examine the gash. Unfortunately for Peneueta, the doctor deemed it severe enough to halt the contest giving Moreno the TKO win at 3:38 of the first round and moving him to 2-0 as a pro.

Pete Nicacio, repping both Ivan Salaverry MMA and Xtreme Couture, moved to 2-0 as a pro by submitting ACA's Alex Eastman late in the 1st round in their 135 lb contest. When the opening bell sounded, Nicacio moved forward with punches, pushed Eastman against the cage, and got the eventual takedown. Nicacio had top position, but Eastman was defending well, not allowing Nicacio any room to posture and strike. The referee called for the fighters to improve their position and Nicacio did so, passing guard and moving into side control. Nicacio then locked Eastman into a crucifix, isolated his left arm, and applied a keylock for a tap at 3:55 of the round.

Pro Bantamweight Emanuel "The Warrior" Russell, out of Ivan Salaverry MMA, had the quickest finish of the night when he submitted Carlos Lozoya with a Rear Naked Choke in the first round. Lozoya closed the distance early and the duo clinched up against the cage for half a minute. When they separated, Russell threw a head kick, dropping Lozoya. Russell moved in quickly and took Lozoya's back and began to work for the submission. Lozoya stood up but Russell held on, sinking the choke and forcing the tap moments later at the 1:15 mark of the first.

In one of the best fights of the night, Anthony Reyes of Combat Sport & Fitness came away with a unanimous decision win over James "Jimbo" Martin in a pro 145 lb bout. The first few minutes of the fight started out cautiously, with the pair circling each other and staying away from big exchanges, instead moving in with a kick or a punch and then moving back out again. Midway through the round, Reyes staggered Martin with a hard shot, and as Martin stumbled back a few steps, Reyes closed the distance with a spectacular flying knee. Martin ducked under and Reyes went flipping over him into the corner of the cage. Martin moved in and Reyes locked on an armbar, which Martin was able to slam his way out of. Martin landed a few hard strikes from top position but Reyes was soon able to reverse it and finished the round punishing Martin on the ground. The 2nd round opened like the first with the duo circling and looking for an opening. Again Reyes clipped and staggered Martin midway through the round, and this time Martin went to the mat. Reyes moved in but Martin was able to recover enough to stand and clinch, and then get a single leg takedown. The round ended though before Martin had much time to work on the ground. In the final frame, Martin shot in for a single leg but Reyes sprawled well and wound up taking Martin down against the cage. Once there, Reyes punished Martin with numerous ground strikes until the fight-ending bell finally sounded. The final tallies for Reyes were 30-27, 30-27, 29-27.

In a pro 135 lb contest, Ivan Salaverry MMA fighter Chris "Boulevard" Brady returned to the cage after a couple year layoff and took home an impressive victory over previously unbeaten Joaquin Calderon. The first round was spent with both fighters moving forward and engaging all around the cage, mixing in punches, combos, kicks, and knees, to keep the other off balance. Calderon shot in a couple time, getting the takedown once, but Brady got it back up quickly. Brady had the edge in the striking department and finished the round landing combos on Calderon against the cage. The 2nd round again featured both fighters coming out throwing and displaying their standup arsenal. A couple minutes into the round, Brady got a takedown and then went to work on the ground in Calderon's guard, landing solid elbows and punches to the end of the round while thwarting every attempt from Calderon to escape from out under him. In the third round, Calderon threw a high kick to Brady's head that just missed, and Brady caught and drove Calderon to the mat. Brady took Calderons' back and started raining down punches to Calderon's head. Calderon looked to escape, and Brady went for an armbar. Calderon slipped out of the submission and the fight went back to the feet. Calderon at this point had lost a bit of his step, while Brady still looked fresh, and after a couple exchanges standing, Brady got another takedown, and finished the round with a nice display of ground and pound. After 15 minutes of fighting, all three judges saw it 30-27 for Brady.

Local fighter Johnson "Black Lightning" Nasona, repping the White Buffalo Warriors and Marcelo Alonso BJJ, took on Hawaiian fighter Zach "The Hurricane" Zane of Kekino Kicboxing in a fight for the COGA Amateur Lightweight Title. Zane came out and fired a couple kicks, including one to Nasona's midsection, before clinching up and executing a single leg takedown. Nasona looked to get out from under Zane to stand up, but as he did so Zane took hold of his neck, dropped into guard, and put Nasona to sleep with a guillotine at 1:19 of the first.

In an amateur middleweight matchup, CSF's Caleb "Conan" Padgett submitted Felony MMA's Joseph "The Mangler" Magana via 1st Rd rear naked choke. Padgett got a big slam takedown and then looked like he might get a guillotine choke finish on the ground. Magana though was able to pop his head out and force it back to the feet. Padgett though got a takedown from the clinch, and was in the perfect position to take Magana's back where he quickly locked in the choke and flattened out Magana to get the tap at 1:55 of the first.

In an amateur women's 125 lb contest, Shelby Miller wrapped up Cassandra Moors early on and took her to the ground, and then proceeded to start throwing punches to Moors head. Moors covered up so Miller took her back and looked like she'd go for a rear naked choke, but changed her mind and finished Moors with more punches for a TKO stoppage at 2:00 in.

James Wander won his amateur MMA debut over Juan Romero in a 175 lb catchweight bout. Wander caught Romero early with a punch that floored him, and it looked as if it was over as Wander moved in for the kill. Romero though survived the ground shots and battled back to make it a entertaining fight. After three rounds, two judges saw it for Wander 29-28, while the 3rd had it even at 28-28, giving Wander the majority decision win.

Combat Games MMA's next event is Saturday November 8th with Battle @ the Bay IX at the Swinoish Casino in Anacortes WA. The promotion will be back at the Snoqualmie Casino next January with the date to be announced soon.
More info at www.combatgamesmma.com.