Local mixed martial arts (MMA) sensation Dwayne Hinds again lived up to his high expectations on Saturday night when he elbowed his way to the welterweight title at the Caribbean Ultimate Fist Fighting (Cuff) 05 event at O2 Park, Chaguaramas, in under two minutes against top-hundred ranked American Mike Wade.
After making his pronouncement, "I'm ready to go to war," at the weighing in ceremony on Friday, Hinds, who has represented the country in a number of combat disciplines, stayed true to his word as he carried his untainted record to ten wins consecutive without any losses.
And, despite Wade's superior rank at 89th, the American was unable to make his ardent start to the bout count as Hinds, spurred on by the home support held the bull by its horns to unleash massive blows from his elbow to his opponent's head, and with Wade unable to escape, the referee was given no choice but to put an end to the contest. The decision was ruled as a knockout.
Hinds, as with two other local fighters who faced foreign athletes at the big event failed to disappoint the vast number of supporters who showed up. Leyland Gomez, also known as Green Dragon lifted the home crowd with a win in the earlier bout by way of submission against Jamaica's Cleon Bardowell. Rough House's Joash Walkins, who has consistently climbed the ranks as one of the top fighters in the country did his supporters proud with a win over Daniel Trevino.
It was a unanimous decision in the end which saw Walkins secure a win in his first ever professional MMA fight. After knocking over his opponent no less than four times and also leaving Trevino with a bloodied face, it was an easy decision by the judges to award the contest to Walkins. The contest was deservedly named "fight of the night."
T&T's Ryan Ramoutar, who stepped in for withdrawn American Mikal Abdullah, lost his contest by submission in the second round to Jamaica's Kaffain Williams.
Following his victory, Hinds said the bout was won by virtue of a perfectly executed game plan.
"I saw his other fights and knew that his intention was to try and take me down. I've spent the last three weeks having the toughest, biggest rugby players trying to hold me down (in that position)," said Hinds.
The Pan American sambo gold medalist continued, "I knew every time he picked me up and put me down, he was just wasting energy because I was never in any danger... And, I knew once I got a proper base and he calmed down I was going to throw those exact elbows to the temple."
Hinds said his move was inspired by world number-one ranked MMA fighter Anderson Silva, who secured a knockout in similar circumstances.
He also took the opportunity to refute any suggestions that the referee called a premature stop to the fight. "I know for sure the Wade was out clean when the ref stopped the fight, there's no way anyone can dispute he wasn't out, check the tapes back."