Albuquerque-based MMA fighters Devin Clark and Christian Edwards both lost their light heavyweight bouts on Saturday on separate cards.
On a Bellator card in San Jose, California, Edwards (5-1) lost to Pachuta, Mississippi’s Ben Parrish (5-1) by first-round TKO (left hook to hammer fists).
On a UFC card in Las Vegas, Nevada, Clark (12-6) lost unanimously to Moldovan Ion Cutelaba (16-6-1).
It took Parrish just 38 seconds to score a jaw-dropping surprise against Edwards, who is considered a rising star in the Bellator light heavyweight division. A left hook dropped Edwards onto his back and Parrish, a 6-to-1 underdog, quickly followed with ground and pound. Referee Jason Herzog called for a stop after 38 seconds.
Edwards, stunned by the result and apparently dissatisfied with Duke’s decision to end the bout, did not take the defeated fighter’s usual seat next to the umpire during the traditional announcement of the result.
Dropped by a right hand from Cutelaba three minutes into the first round, Clark was dominated by the rugged Moldovan for the next seven minutes – he was repeatedly knocked down and suffered some tooth damage in the second round.
All three judges gave Cutelaba a 10-8 rating in the first round. Two of them scored the second that way, the other scored 10-9 for the winner.
Clark, showing remarkable heart, rallied to win the third round on two of the three scorecards.
The cards read 30-26, 29-26, and 29-27.
Clark and Edwards both train at Jackson-Wink MMA.
It was a tough night indeed for the hugely successful Albuquerque gym. Two other JW fighters, Brazilian Antonio Arroyo and Russian Khalid Murtazaliev, also lost.
Arroyo (9-5), a middleweight, lost by the third round TKO (right hook hits the ground) to Joaquin Buckley (13-4).
Murtazaliev (15: 3), also a middleweight, lost unanimously to Anthony Adams (9: 2).
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