SHARKSPAGE

Playboy Fight Night to the Mansion hybrid kickboxing/mma/boxing card in San Mateo finishes with style

2 OF 3 FINALISTS THAT BEAT OUT 2 DOZEN LADIES FOR PLAYBOY MANSION

JON PRYOR LANDS RIGHT VS SKLYR PENNA IN IKF TITLE FIGHT

IKF CHAMP JENNA CASTILLO LANDS HARD KNEE VS TIFFANY VAN SOEST

There are a number of smaller shows that help build up talent for larger kickboxing or MMA promotions, they are the lifeblood discovering talent for organizations like the UFC, K-1 or San Jose-based Strikeforce. Saturday night’s ‘Fight Night to the Mansion’ event from the San Mateo Event Center was unique. It served as a feeder program not only for kickboxers and MMA competitors, but also for models to participate in the upcoming September 11th event at the Playboy Mansion. A smaller setup than past MMA events at the San Mateo Event Center, Saturday featured two live DJs (DJ Tuesday and DJ Wednesday), several former Playboy playmates, over 2 dozen ring girls auditioning for the Playboy Mansion, and 12 entertaining kickboxing, boxing, and MMA fights.

The headline co-main event kickboxing title fights delivered in a big fashion. Hometown favorite and IKF Muaythai Bantamweight champion Jenna Castillo (San Jose) was pushed to the limit by previously undefeated U.S. California Welterweight Muaythai Champion Tiffany Van Soest (San Diego). Castillo entered the ring preceeded by a vibrant Punjabi drum and dance team, and she started the first of five rounds with a deliberate but mauling style.

A technical Van Soest tee’d off with a heavy high kick to the head. It was blocked by Jenna, but still registered. Van Soest also scored a trip takedown, but towards the end of the round an awkward collision forced an injury timeout. Castillo was checked for shoulder damage, but she was deemed fit by the ringside physician and allowed to proceed. San Diego’s Sean Ueda was forced to stop an earlier fight early in the first round with a torn bicep, it was in the back of the audience’s mind during the stoppage. The ref re-started the fight, and Jenna Castillo landed a hard hook to the head seconds after the horn. “Time Bomb” shook it off and returned to her corner.

In the second round a relentless Jenna Castillo kept coming forward. Hard hooks to the head stunned her opponent, and hard knees to the body in the clinch slowed her down. Blue Ocean trained Tiffany Van Soest was wobbled with 30 seconds left, but head movement and good footwork got her out of danger. The movement continued for TVS in the third, but a counter-punch low kick combination backed her into a corner. Two extended flurries punished Van Soest until she was forced to take an 8-count. The flamboyant San Diego native slowed down considerably against her larger opponent in the fourth, and a pair of trip takedowns in the fifth punctuated the end of the fight and a 50-44, 49-45, 49-45 unanimous decision win for Jenna Castillo.

In the co-main event IKF North American Super Welterweight Champion Skylr Penna met IKF West Coast Champion Jon Pryor in a distinct clash of styles. The World Team USA trained Penna out of SF held a significant height and reach advantage, and he used it effectively to create distance and set up strikes early. In the first round Pryor had problems adapting to Skylr, who was landing effectively from outside and dominating the clinch. The domination continued in the second round. Pryor checked several knees inside, but absorbed a lot of damage in the process. When there was an opening, Pryor tried to land hard, looping hooks to the head.

The tide turned for Pryor in the third round despite a large San Francisco cheering section ringside. Pryor shortened up his punches, and started landing effective strikes of his own from outside. Several hard knees to the midsection finished off the third, earning the Sacramento native his first round on the Sharkspage scorecard. Pryor backed Skylr Penna to the ropes in the fourth with a solid left hook to the head, but Penna came back with a withering clinch attack to the body. The Robinson Taekwondo trained Pryor was gassed in the fifth and final round. Skylr Penna effectively worked inside and out, and earned a 49-46, 49-46, 49-46 unanimous decision win for his efforts.

Undercards often deliver suprising fights and surprising finishes. Saturday in San Mateo it was mixed martial arts and boxing going head-to-head for the quickest knockout of the night. In his pro boxing debut, heavyweight Juan Hernandez came out to the ring wrapped in a Mexican flag. The Redwood City native had near full support of the San Mateo crowd. Before the ring announcer could even reach his seat, Hernandez stepped into a monster right uppercut that dropped Escondito native Seth Keeling. Hernandez followed with a left hook, but Keeling was already out on his feet and headed for the canvas. The fight was over with an official 22 second KO.

Two fights later, local standout kickboxer Tristan Arenal topped that with an even quicker finish in his professional MMA fight against AKA Fresno’s Josue Tirado. The Milpitas-native Arenal staggered Tirado with a quick left jab. Tirado dropped to his knees, quickly regained his feet, but was the recipient of an enormous overhand right. Tirado got to his feet to Arenal’s left, allowing Tristan to wind up across his body and step into a simply gigantic punch. Josue Tirado was knocked flat, and the fight was stopped with an official 17 second KO.

Also successful on the undercard: AJ Fonseca defeated Joey De La Cruz by unanimous decision, Gilbert Melendez trained Phil Baldacci used superior grappling to earn a second round TKO over Rene Gabaldons, Sean Ueda was forced to stop an amateur kickboxing bout with Kevin Arceo due to a torn bicep, San Diego’s Kristina Alvarez earned the IKF Super Lightweight West Coast Title in a 4-round slugfest against the East Bay’s Katie Toliano, Anthony Gonzalez remained undefeated with a unanimous decision win over Ryan Mazon, Gary Archuletta remained a perfect 6-0 with a win over Fairtex’s Arturas Barkauska, and Dereck Leung earned a majority decision win over Phil Devera in the opening contest.

The event, produced by Phantom Promotions and George Chung, was also filmed by four Playboy cameramen. There was no word on when, or if the event will air on the Playboy TV channel. Several playmates and former playmates performed two dance routines inside the ring, including Playmate of the Year Kara Monaco, Deanna Brooks, Sharkspage favorite Hiromi Oshima, and Qiana Chase among others. Of the nearly two dozen aspiring ring card girls, only three were chosen to head to the Mansion. Playboy feeder events are being held around the country to qualify for the Fight Night at the Mansion September 11th, and one ring girl will be featured in the magazine. The next Playboy Fight Night will take place in Tacoma, Washington on August 28th. Current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Meldendez, and former Elite XC Welterweight Champion and Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields were seated ringside. Shields will meet the well rounded Danish fighter Martin Kampmann at UFC 121. San Jose’s Cain Velasquez will meet Brock Lesnar for the UFC Heavyweight Championship in the main event. Also seated ringside were NFL alumni and East Bay standout Hardy Nickerson, and UFC veteran Matt Wiman.

Three bouts scheduled for the August 14th card were scratched. Richard Hargraves vs. Benjamin Rivera in a pro boxing bout, local boxing standout Bruno Escalante Jr., and Yohan Banks vs. Charles Leveque in a pro mixed martial arts bout had their fights nixed. Banks was at one time scheduled to meet Strikeforce heavyweight Bobby Lashley in Florida before the FSBC ruled against sanctioning the fight. Playboy has hosted several boxing events at the Mansion including ESPN and Fox Sports televised cards, and a pair of Strikeforce mixed martial arts events in 2007 and 2008.

A photo gallery from the event is available here. Event highlights and full Arenal-Tirado, Quares-Lira MMA fight videos are available here. Thanks to DaleShirley.com and MMAko.tv for their help on this post.

[Update] Event results courtesy of Vincit Magazine and Sharkspage:

Playboy Fight Night to the Mansion
Kickboxing/MMA/boxing
San Mateo Event Center – Saturday, August 14, 2010

Jenna Castillo (19-2) def. Tiffany Van Soest (7-1)
IKF Muaythai Bantamweight Title
Unaminous Decision (5 rounds), 50-44, 49-45, 49-45.
IKF Amateur Muaythai Kickboxing.

Skylr Penna (9-0) def. Jon Pryor (5-3)
IKF North American Super Welterweight Title
Unaminous Decision (5 rounds), 49-46, 49-46, 49-46.
IKF Amateur Muaythai Kickboxing.

AJ Fonseca (5-3) def. Joey De La Cruz (1-3)
Unaminous Decision, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.
ICSF Pro MMA.

Tristan Arenal (1-1) def. Josue Tirado (1-1)
KO, 0:17 1st round.
ICSF Pro MMA.

Phil Baldacci (2-2) def. Rene Gabaldons (1-3)
TKO (strikes), 1:09 2nd round.
ICSF Pro MMA.

Juan Hernandez (1-0) def. Seth Keeling (1-1)
KO, 0:22 first round.
IAB Pro Boxing.

Geoffrey Quares (1-0) def. Moses Lira (1-3)
Submission (RNC), 1:20 2nd round.
ICSF Pro MMA.

Kevin Arceo (9-1) def. Sean Ueda (6-2)
TKO (doctor stoppage, torn bicep), 1:43 first round.
IKF Amateur Muaythai Kickboxing.

Kristina Alvarez (4-1) def. Katie Toliao (3-2)
IKF Super Lightweight West Coast Title
Unanimous Decision – 39-35, 38-37, 38-37.
IKF Amateur Muaythai Kickboxing.

Anthony Gonzalez (4-0) def. Ryan Mazon (3-1)
Unaminous Decision – 30-26, 30-26, 30-26.
IKF Amateur Muaythai Kickboxing.

Gary Archuletta (6-0) def. Arturas Barkauska (5-4)
Unanimous Decision – 29-27, 29-28, 30-26.
IKF Amateur Muaythai Kickboxing.

Dereck Leung (2-3) def. Phil Devera (2-3)
Majority Decision – 28-28, 29-27, 29-27.
IKF Amateur Muaythai Kickboxing.

[Update2] Castillo Guts Out Win Over Van Soest – Mario Ortega Jr. for 15rounds.com.

[Update3] First-round KO for Hernandez in debut – Palo Alto Daily News.

[Update4] The PGP Podcast with Gina Grad and Randy Wang produced a show ringside, part 1 and part 2.

2 Responses to “Playboy Fight Night to the Mansion hybrid kickboxing/mma/boxing card in San Mateo finishes with style”