Rodriguez impressive in MMA debut at ‘SpringFist I’

April 13th, 2008, 9:54 pm · Post a Comment · posted by CARLOS ARIAS

To listen to audio interviews with Wendy Rodriguez, Travis McRoberts, Tyler Weathers and former WEC lightweight champion Rob McCullough, click here.

IRVINE - Former International Female Boxing Association flyweight champion Wendy Rodriguez has been in the ring with some of the top female boxers in the world, compiling an 18-3 record in the process.

But she also has been studying Jiu-Jitsu over the past five years, and she decided to combine those skills and make her mixed martial arts debut in one of the featured fights at “SpringFist I” on Sunday afternoon in front of 1,189 at the Irvine Marriott.

Rodriguez didn’t even get a chance to show her boxing skills, submitting Heather Basquil (1-2) of Arlington Kickboxing in 38 seconds.

“It was about time,” Rodriguez said of her MMA debut. “I wasn’t getting any fights in boxing, so I had to find a challenge somewhere else.”

Basquil shot in for a takedown almost immediately, and Rodriguez took her back and sank her hooks in. Basquil was in deep trouble and Rodriguez sank in a rear-naked choke that forced Basquil to tap out.

“I expected that,” Rodriguez said. “I knew she was a grappler. I was just waiting for the takedown, maybe, two punches and then she was going to go for the takedown. I seen her fight before and I was ready for it.”

Rodriguez, who has been training at Krav Maga in L.A., said she wants to be very active in MMA and she will continue to box as well.

In the main event, light-heavyweight Josh Griggs (5-4) of The Boxing Club in San Diego used his takedowns and dominant positioning on the ground to win a three-round unanimous decision over Andrew Flores (2-5) of Riverside Submission. All three judges scored it 30-26 for Griggs.

Welterweight R.J. Clifford (2-1) of Gazze Academy in Huntington Beach pulled out a three-round unanimous decision over Jarrod Kwity (0-2) of Gracie Academy in L.A. All three judges scored it 29-28 in favor of Clifford.

Featherweights Travis McRoberts (3-3) of H.B. Ultimate Training Center and Andy Jewett (3-2) of Team Wildman in Victorville earned “Fight of the Night” honors with their action-packed three-rounder.

Jewett leveled McRoberts with a right hand at the bell to end the opening round. McRoberts was groggy but made it back to his stool. McRoberts came on strong in the final two rounds to pull out a unanimous decision, winning by scores of 29-28 on all three scorecards.

“He caught me with a good shot, flashed me for a second there,” McRoberts said. “But it was all good. After the bell it gave me a minute to recover. I came back out and it was back to business.”

Featherweight Tyler Weathers (2-2) of Joker’s Wild in Lake Forest submitted Louie Moreno (1-3) of Fight Science MMA in L.A. with a rear-naked choke at 2:23 of the third round.

Patrick Doty (2-0) of MMA Headquarters in Mission Viejo scored two knockdowns with left hooks and eventually stopped Andrew Lang (0-1) of Fight Science MMA with a barrage of strikes at 2:29 of the first round.

MMA returns to the Irvine Marriott with “SummerFist I” on July 6.

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