PEI fighter takes MMA win in Peterborough
Jason Saggo claims victory in front of 2,000 fans
Jason Saggo has some bling to take back to Prince Edward Island.
Saggo collected a five-foot high trophy and the BTC lightweight championship belt with his firstround submission of Burlington’s Adam Assenza in the first professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) card held in Peterborough.
Memorial Centre manager Jeremy Giles said just under 2,000 fans took in BTC 4: Vendetta on Saturday night. It was the fourth pro MMA show promoted in Ontario by Burlington-based BTC Fight Promotions. They are planning four shows for 2019 in Windsor in March, Burlington in June and Oshawa and Kingston next fall, says founder Irene
Starr who created the circuit to give Ontario MMA athletes a platform. She also admits she selfishly wanted to see more fights.
“There is no better entertainment than watching two men beat the crap out of each other,” Starr said.
Saggo improved to 13-4 in his career with 11 stoppages. His record includes six UFC matches where he was 3-3. He forced Assenza to tap out with rear naked choke hold 4:53 into the first round. Assenza’s record fell to 9-5.
“I’m bringing the belt back to PEI,” said Saggo, a Toronto native who moved to Summerside several years ago to train with Wolf Run MMA coach Paul Abel. “There are no fights in PEI, you can fight anywhere in the world, but what they do have is amazing training.”
Saggo took a solid spinning kick to the ribs from Assenza but was able to take him to the ground where his black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu took over.
“Adam is a great opponent. He comes from a good camp,” said Saggo. “He fought hard and hit me with some nice shots but I think my experience prevailed. As soon as I got his back I know how good my jiu jitsu is and I’m confident in my jiu jitsu. I soft- ened him up with some punches and did some damage and finished with the rear naked choke.”
In the card’s other title fight for the vacant BTC women’s strawweight crown, Brazil’s Rayanne Dos Santos made short work of Oshawa’s Lindsay Garbatt winning by arm bar submission 1:50 into the contest. Garbatt won a split decision over Dos Santos, a world jiu jitsu black belt champion, in a previous match.
Some of the loudest reaction was dished out to the lone area fighter on the card. Lindsay’s James Clarke submitted Nate Ledger by rear naked choke hold to improve his pro record at 126 pounds to 2-3.
“I was trying to make this the most exciting fight I’ve had,” said Clarke. “This was my most exciting professional fight.
“This is the most nervous I have ever been for a fight,”
Clarke told the crowd. “My 82year-old grandmother is here.”
Bouts involving two other area fighters fell through.
Matchmaker Rob Veevers said the bloodwork for Peterborough’s Kevin Henry, of Kawartha Combat, had expired. He wasn’t able to get new bloodwork done in time to get licenced. The same issue arose for the opponent of Lindsay’s Joe Elliott who was left without a fight.
All other bouts involved out-oftown fighters.
The closest battle saw Scott Hudson win a three-round split decision over Xavier Nash. Maxime Poulin submitted Patrick Connors in the third round. Serhiy Sidey stopped Avinash Chowtee in the third round of a rematch.
Kyran Cameron stopped Joey Morrency 2:59 into the second round. Matt Speciale won by technical knockout over Kris Allard 4:25 into the first round. Jeff Chan won the opening match by unanimous three-round decision over Marc Gillespie.