World Fighting Federation Guerreros De Tucson: Judges Not Required

Within the Latin culture, the word "guerrero" translates to English as Warrior.  For the World Fighting Federation , their recent fight card Guerreros De Tucson could not have been more accurately branded.

On this past Saturday evening, fight fans filed into the beautiful Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater at the Casino Del Sol, not knowing quite what to expect from the WFF’s third ever fight card.

Judging from the previous two outings, fans knew they were in for a treat.  In this particular case, the third time truly was a charm for both the promotion and the fans who showed up in droves to support it.

The guerreros that master match maker Thom Ortiz was able to bring together lived up to all the expectations, and made everyone in attendance proud to have seen such an explosive night of fights.

From the opening round of the first fight to the closing hurricane of rabid fans buzzing over the main event, this fight card had you pinned on your back barely able to breathe.

Guerreros De Tucson pounded fight fans into submission with fast paced, aggressive, and impressive displays of mixed martial arts.

Very few fights found their way past the first round, and not one bout required the expertise of the officials sitting cage side.  It was MMA with a dose of nitrous oxide revving the WFF’s engine at extremely high RPMs.

The crowd was deafening as they cheered on many local favorites.  Their involvement and enthusiasm added a certain level of electricity that can’t be fabricated or predicted. The fans in attendance really helped make the show the tremendous success that it was.

Having centrally located their cage for the first time, the WFF allowed a more encompassing flow of fans around the cage who could clearly see the action from all angles.  Surely this added to the fan’s enjoyment, thus in turn sending their appreciation for the fights through the roof.

It showed in their undying hail of cheers.  If you were in attendance and closed your eyes, you could have sworn you were deep inside a sold out Vegas arena, but when you opened them again it reminded you that this was Tucson, a place quickly becoming an MMA hotbed.

Of course all that was attributed first hand to the fighters themselves, the guerreros that were proving their MMA worth for those attentive and explosive fans looking on.

There is sadly not room to discuss them all, even though they all deserve their credit, but a few really jumped out at those in attendance.

In one of the few bouts that went beyond the first round, Nick Rhodes and Nick Piedmont went to war.  These two young warriors wanted desperately to represent their local gyms with all they had.

Rhodes and Piedmont train out of Apex MMA and Boxing Inc. respectively.  Both gyms put out some of the greatest talent in the area.

It showed when they hooked ‘em up and went to war.  The battle of Nicks left fight fans with their jaws on the floor as blows were traded and grappling positioning was challenged for.  Just when one seemed to get the upper hand, the other would turn it around and take the advantage.

It ended in the second when Rhodes seemed to tire from a relentless pace set by both fighters, and Piedmont was able to secure his back and sink the rear naked choke.  This submission won Piedmont the Nova Home Loans submission of the night award.

Another bout that really surprised was that of Andy Perez vs. Martin Cortez.  Perez is an up and comer who still has a world of potential ahead of him after only training for a year in MMA.

Perez is a kid who emits drive and never quits.  Expecting the toughest bout of his young career against Cortez, Perez was shocked when he secured the rear naked choke early in the first round.

It is an unexpected early stoppage like that which can trigger momentum that will carry a fighter well beyond anything he ever thought possible.  It was very exciting to see the delight written all over Perez’s face after a most deserved victory.  His previous bouts have all been wars, it was nice to see him get a less physically taxing win.

“Irate” Nate Vorel showed once again why many in the know consider it only a matter of time before he graces a Bellator or WEC cage.  After leaving a strong impression on the local crowd at his first two WFF fights earning FOTN and KOTN, Vorel did it once again.

He stopped Charles Williams shortly after a minute of the first round with a tsunami of strikes that left Williams without an answer.  Vorel shows time and time again that he is the real deal.  It isn't just his wins, its how he wins that is impressive, the kid is a finisher plain and simple.

Obviously Jose Aldo would be a stretch as a comparison this young in his career, but as a spectator you can see the same aggression and effectiveness in Vorel’s game.  Time will tell how his career progresses but today the future looks very bright.

While every fight was explosive and highly entertaining, keeping fans on their feet most of the evening, there was one that sent a shock wave across the desert sky.

When the announcer called  for mixed martial artist Dennis Pignataro, fight fans knew the main event was upon them.  As the Boston native made his way to the cage, the crowd knew what was about to follow.

Local hero and solid fan favorite Eddie Arizmendi Jr. was about to make his way to the cage to entertain a fan base that knows him like a brother.  When “Crazy Face” began his march, adorned in his signature face mask, the crowd left the ground with electricity.

The place quite simply went insane.  The Apex MMA and Joey Rivera trained elite Native American warrior is nothing short of a god in the Old Pueblo.  It showed when ears rang deaf from the crowd’s screams as he made his way to battle with Pignataro.

Forty five seconds later, Pignataro lay devastated by strikes which were followed up with a lighting fast rear naked choke.  They could hear the Tucson crowd all the way back in Boston, it was a wicked nice submission.

With 11 bouts total, it truly is amazing that they all were finished without the need for judging officials.  Then again, knowing WFF owners Thom Ortiz and Al Fuentes, it is not hard to believe in the talent craving to compete for these two class acts.

Being the former ASU wrestling coach, and an aspiring fighter himself, Thom Ortiz has a unique eye for talent.  Thom’s many years recognizing and evaluating talent at the collegiate level has become very apparent in his matchmaking.

He spends quite a bit of time with and around some of the most elite competitors in the game. Names like Cain Velasquez, Ryan Bader, and Ben Askren are common topics when talking to Thom about who he has worked with on any given day.

He has earned a level of respect and appreciation amongst the elite of the game that tells a young fighter they are on the right track when they find themselves under the wing of Ortiz.

Equally Al Fuentes does his part to bring together the absolute best representatives he can when he brings a show together.  Al constantly strives to put the best components in place to make a quality show.

The efforts of both men came together seamlessly this past Saturday night.  Surely they must be very proud of both their fighters and their accomplishments for this show.  And looking to the future the sky is truly the limit as they move forward with The World Fighting Federation.

Article originally published at Hurtsbad.com