MMA returned to the Visalia Convention Center on April 4 with three championship bouts headlining the main card of 559 Fights 123.
Prior to the battle for the titles, which included two belts for the California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization (CAMO) Featherweight and Bantamweight Championship, the prelims got the night started.
Multiple fights didn’t make it past the first round, which included a standing submission under a minute into the opening round and a TKO just 12 seconds after the fight started.
The main card got kicked off with an amateur Middleweight fight, two amateur Bantamweight matchups and an amateur Heavyweight battle that went the distance.
Miguel Gutierrez faced off against fellow Heavyweight Isidro Sanchez. Both fighters were able to do damage to one another, either standing and throwing punches or through massive takedowns. In the end, Gutierrez took home the win by unanimous decision.
Isaiah Sanchez won the final fight before the championship bouts started with a 2nd round TKO against Matthew Vargas. Sanchez is now 4-0 in his career.
The first title fight of the night was the 559 Fights Super Lightweight Championship between the champ Israel Aldama and the undefeated Rick Ugalde.
Aldama applied pressure in the first round using leg kicks to the body and head of Ugalde.
The champ got the second round started by tagging the challenger with a right hand before Ugalde was able to get back to his feet. Aldama was able to drop him again and ended the fight on the ground via TKO just over a minute into the 2nd round.
The second title fight of the night featured the 559 Fights and CAMO State Bantamweight Championship.
The current champ and undefeated Noah Ozuna faced Luis Ramos in a rematch from 559 Fights 115.
Both fighters showcased their grappling skills throughout the three round fight.
Ramos was able to secure a takedown of the champ early in round one and remained in control despite Ozuna getting back to his feet.
Ozuna responded in round two with a late takedown of his own, but Ramos was able to return to his feet before the round ended.
The third and final round featured more grappling between the two leading to a split decision.
Luis Ramos took home a 29-28 split decision victory, avenging his previous loss against Ozuna.
The final title fight of the night was for the 559 Fights and CAMO State Featherweight Championship in a rematch between the champion Erique Arroyo and German Taboada.
Arroyo was successful on multiple takedown attempts in the first round but wasn’t able to find control of Taboada.
Round two was much of the same, with both fighters struggling to take control of the other.
Arroyo came into the final round looking to do some damage. He started the round with a front kick to Taboada’s body and mixed in multiple punches to the head.
Taboada was able to take Arroyo’s back later in the round and ended the fight in control while on the ground.
Just like in their first matchup, the fight went to a decision.
German Taboada took the split decision victory to win the title, marking his second win against Arroyo.
Of the three title fights on the night, only one champion was able to retain their title.
The action returns to Visalia on May 22 for 559 Fights 124.
