Results
American Kombat Alliance (AKA) 1: Rite Of Passage
American Kombat Alliance (AKA) made its promotional debut in a big, big way Friday, Aug. 18, on FloCombat. Live from the Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in Bossier City, Louisiana, AKA showcased Rite of Passage to fans worldwide, featuring vicious knockouts, slick submissions, and back-and-forth brawls aplenty.
Featuring Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) vets Kendrik Williams, Brandi Narvaez, and Katherine Roy along with the MMA debut of the highly touted Hailey Cowan, the event brought the heat start to finish. Here's how it all went down.
Featuring Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) vets Kendrik Williams, Brandi Narvaez, and Katherine Roy along with the MMA debut of the highly touted Hailey Cowan, the event brought the heat start to finish. Here's how it all went down.
In the AKA 1: Rite of Passage main event, undefeated knockout artist Kendrik Williams took the stage.
And he made a statement.
At 3-0 with his most recent victory coming under the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) banner, Williams was hugely hyped coming into the title fight showdown, largely because of stuff like this:
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/897831008422252546" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Facing Rocky Landry for the inaugural AKA pro featherweight title, Williams delivered on that hype -- and then some. After an early takedown from Landry, Williams worked back to his feet, getting to business immediately. Some body shots caused Landry to go on the defensive, then Williams launched through the air with a perfect flying knee, ending the fight abruptly in Round 1.
For his efforts, Williams moves to 4-0 and will take home a shiny golden belt.
Kicking off the pro card, LFA vets Brandi Narvaez and Katherine Roy put on a fun, back-and-forth fight for the fans in attendance and at home. Both women came into the bout off the first losses of their careers --Roy to Mackenzie Dern at LFA 6 and Narvaez to Itzel Esquivel at LFA 7 -- and each looked hungry to quickly reverse that trend.
For three rounds, the two went toe-to-toe, but it was Roy who earned the judges' nod. Using superior control and clinch work, Narvaez smartly dictated the pace of the fight and prevented Roy from gaining the space she needed to unleash her Golden Gloves-level hands.
But Roy made her moments count, rocking Narvaez at one point and continuously battering her foe every time they broke from the clinch. It was enough for two out of three judges, who each gave her two out of three rounds for the split decision win.
On the amateur portion of the card, flyweight Hailey Cowan, a former acrobatics and tumbling standout at Baylor University, made her MMA debut.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/898717679292370945" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
She quickly proved to be in her element inside the steel cage. Cowan fought off multiple takedowns from the game Anel Cantu throughout the contest and almost ended the fight with a head kick and follow-up flurry in Round 2.
Using her superior length, strength, and athleticism, Cowan made a statement in her MMA debut and quickly became a fighter to watch as she moves forward toward the pro ranks.
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[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/898705129624395777" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Kendrik Williams def. Rocky Landry via TKO, Round 1 (flying knee and punches, wins AKA pro featherweight title)
Katherine Roy def. Brandi Narvaez via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
DJ Doyle def. Kory Marcantel via unanimous decision
Hailey Cowan def. Anel Cantu via unanimous decision
Dillon Fraley def. Chris Miller via submission (triangle choke), Round 2
Andrew Davis def. Jake Foster via submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1
Jeb Ross def. Justin Robinson via submission, Round 1
Caleb Simmons def. Cody Isenhauer via TKO, Round 3
And he made a statement.
At 3-0 with his most recent victory coming under the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) banner, Williams was hugely hyped coming into the title fight showdown, largely because of stuff like this:
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/897831008422252546" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Facing Rocky Landry for the inaugural AKA pro featherweight title, Williams delivered on that hype -- and then some. After an early takedown from Landry, Williams worked back to his feet, getting to business immediately. Some body shots caused Landry to go on the defensive, then Williams launched through the air with a perfect flying knee, ending the fight abruptly in Round 1.
For his efforts, Williams moves to 4-0 and will take home a shiny golden belt.
Kicking off the pro card, LFA vets Brandi Narvaez and Katherine Roy put on a fun, back-and-forth fight for the fans in attendance and at home. Both women came into the bout off the first losses of their careers --Roy to Mackenzie Dern at LFA 6 and Narvaez to Itzel Esquivel at LFA 7 -- and each looked hungry to quickly reverse that trend.
For three rounds, the two went toe-to-toe, but it was Roy who earned the judges' nod. Using superior control and clinch work, Narvaez smartly dictated the pace of the fight and prevented Roy from gaining the space she needed to unleash her Golden Gloves-level hands.
But Roy made her moments count, rocking Narvaez at one point and continuously battering her foe every time they broke from the clinch. It was enough for two out of three judges, who each gave her two out of three rounds for the split decision win.
On the amateur portion of the card, flyweight Hailey Cowan, a former acrobatics and tumbling standout at Baylor University, made her MMA debut.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/898717679292370945" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
She quickly proved to be in her element inside the steel cage. Cowan fought off multiple takedowns from the game Anel Cantu throughout the contest and almost ended the fight with a head kick and follow-up flurry in Round 2.
Using her superior length, strength, and athleticism, Cowan made a statement in her MMA debut and quickly became a fighter to watch as she moves forward toward the pro ranks.
Enjoy some highlights from the undercard below, then be sure to catch the full event replay.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/898712391495503872" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/898707232455610368" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloCombat/status/898705129624395777" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Full Results
Kendrik Williams def. Rocky Landry via TKO, Round 1 (flying knee and punches, wins AKA pro featherweight title)
Katherine Roy def. Brandi Narvaez via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
DJ Doyle def. Kory Marcantel via unanimous decision
Hailey Cowan def. Anel Cantu via unanimous decision
Dillon Fraley def. Chris Miller via submission (triangle choke), Round 2
Andrew Davis def. Jake Foster via submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1
Jeb Ross def. Justin Robinson via submission, Round 1
Caleb Simmons def. Cody Isenhauer via TKO, Round 3