Mixed martial arts action from the Memorial Centre
Muay Thai kickboxing moved to Peterborough’s biggest stage Saturday night. After years of hosting shows in night clubs, the Memorial Centre was the venue for Winter Warriors 2. The 13-bout show attracted almost 1,000 spectators, according to promoter and Kawartha Combat owner Kevin Henry. The main event was the final of a four-man tournament and Brantford’s Thomas Raby, of Caged Dragon, won a trip to train in Thailand by edging hometown fighter Jeff Brown, of Dohjo Muay Thai, by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27). It was a hotly contested bout, in the 178-pound open class. Both fighters felt they did enough to win. “I knew it was close,” Brown said. “I thought I had two rounds out of three. When I heard the 30-27 I thought it had to be me. I could have done a little bit more in the third round.” To fight at the PMC was special for the 35-fight veteran. “I had 50 family and friends here and all my teammates. It was truly something,” he said. The 27-year-old Brown was impressed Raby, 18, fought so well on four days notice. “Thomas Raby was an excellent opponent and great Muay Thai fighter. He has a great career ahead of him,” said Brown. Raby said he was training for a fight that got cancelled last week so he was prepared. “It was a close fight that could have gone either way,” said Raby. “I’d definitely love a rematch to solidify the win. I think I won with a little more hands and by moving forward.” Brown reached the final by stopping Oshawa’s Chris Martin in two rounds. Raby decisioned Cambridge’s Stefan Dronjak. In the co-main event Kawartha Combat’s Matt Loescher put up a game effort until the referee stepped in to stop the bout 1:52 into the third round giving Kingston’s Taylor Sands the win. Tayler Marie Gerow was the lone KC fighter to win with a split decision over Milton Muay Thai’s Rayanna Santiago. Gerow has fought in Iowa and Markham but never in Peterborough. “I was a little more nervous competing here than I have been anywhere else,” said Gerow, “but it was really exciting to fight in front of my family. It was the first time my family has got to see me compete. This is exciting. This is like history here in Peterborough and it’s history just to be a female in this sport. To do it on such a big stage in my hometown means everything.” Ontario history was also made when KC’s Mike Andrews, 50, best known for operating Mike’s Tattoos, fought Oshawa’s Lloyd Lawrence, 43. It was the first time two competitors over the age of 40 have fought under Muay Thai Ontario. Lawrence won a split decision with all three judges scoring it 29-28.Whitby’s In other bouts featuring KC fighters, Mack Berardi lost a unanimous decision to Dan Bacchus. Scott Arsenault lost to Milton’s Isaiah Ordonez by decision.