Caged Combat 4 doesn’t disappoint

Thibodaux welcomed with open arms its first mixed martial arts fights Saturday night at the Warren J. Harang Jr. Municipal Auditorium.

Over 1,300 spectators cheered on the hexagon-caged gladiators competing in “Caged Combat 4: Cage Fighting,” presented by In Ya Face Fight Productions of Houma.

Unlike boxing, the end of a mixed martial arts fight is not won with a knockout or by out-pointing your opponent. Instead it is to make them submit or “tapout.”

The event was designed to showcase local fighters and build the sport from an underground movement into the mainstream in this region.

Blood spewed, noses broke and heads swelled with bruises, and the crowd loved every minute of the action.

Eleven of the 12 fights were between amateurs, meaning they were not allowed to strike with their elbows or knees. Plus they fought in three four-minute rounds – pros fight in three five-minute rounds.

The evening’s main event was supposed to feature Thiboduax native Nathan “Ice Cold” Sanchez in his cage fighting debut, but a broken tailbone prevented that. He did attend to thank the crowd for supporting him and the local fighters.

The only other professional fight on the card then moved up to main event. Dulac native “Smiling” Martin Verdin pummeled Raymond Knight mercilessly until the referee had to stop the bout midway through the first round.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on one’s taste) the two EMTs from Acadian Ambulance waiting backstage were not needed to carry any fighters to seek medical attention.

Here are the rest of the results from Saturday’s card by round and winning method:

• Nick Goutreaux defeated Keal Demere (1st, armbar)

• Scott Smith over Zack Dardar (1st, armbar)

• Pete Tatum over Dustin Broussard (1st, TKO)

• Blake Verdin over Josh Philips (1st, KO)

• Paul Guidry defeated Royce Guidry (could not answer 2nd round bell)

• Joey Dobson beat Antonie Lewis (2nd, referee stopped fight)

• Justin Martinez over Farrel Goff (1st, referee stopped fight)

• Caffery Bordunlon beat Oren Terrebonne (1st, TKO)

• Brian Billiot beat Lewis Johns (could not answer 2nd round bell)

• Justin Thibodaux over Ron Methvin (1st, guillotine choke)

• Randy Billiot over Randy Cheramie (1st, guillotine choke)

Blake Verdin (top) of Houma knocked out Josh Philips in the first round. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF