Mecca XIX, held on the evening of Saturday, July 8th, 2023, was the stage for Ignite Fights to showcase a thrilling blend of Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). With a unique main event-first lineup, fans were captivated from start to finish by a series of dramatic decision wins, spectacular knockouts, and title defenses and claims.
The Mecca XIX Muay Thai main event saw Jeff Jepsen in a nail-biting split decision win over Floyd Hodges. Other memorable fights from the Muay Thai card included Jack Ellefson’s unanimous decision win over Chinemeren Eze-Sike, Abby Fink’s victory over Madison Whipple, and Jaxson Smythurst’s electrifying 3rd-round KO win over Chris McDurmont. Tim Klochan, Jim Allis, Justin Gichaba, Scott Hulsebus, Gabe Branco, and Alex Figueroa also showcased their striking prowess, earning decisive victories.
As Mecca XIX transitioned to the MMA segment, Jaden Overman kicked things off with a unanimous decision win over Aaron Skipitaris. Exciting performances by Marcus Downs, Hykeem Greene, Hollis Nelson, Daniel Soriano, Kendall Sandfir, and Mauricio Rodriguez kept the MMA fans riveted.
The evening was highlighted by several title fights. Dylan Smerillo seized the Interim 160lbs Ignite Title with a triangle choke submission over Xavier Rosenbloom. Brady Steinhorst claimed the Interim 170lbs Ignite Title with a Round 3 TKO over Tommy Shehan, and Mitchell Wilson took home the Interim 155lbs Ignite Title after a unanimous decision win over McCoy Tekautz.
One of Mecca XIX’s standout moments was the performance of Steven Asplund. He successfully defended the Ignite Fights Heavyweight Title with a standing guillotine over Adam Poulin in Round 3, maintaining his undefeated MMA career. Asplund’s post-fight interview gave fans a glimpse into his strategy and mindset, making it a must-watch moment of Mecca XIX.
The Mecca XIX MMA main event saw Cauata Samuel win a majority decision over Santos Verdinez, a fitting conclusion to a night filled with intense competition. Mecca XIX, with its incredible lineup and intense action, reinforced Ignite Fights’ status as a premier event for fans of Muay Thai and MMA.