Danny Chavez

Danny Chavez vs. Kai Kamaka III

Round 1
The long-historied battle between Florida and Hawaii continues here at featherweight, as “The Colombian Warrior” Chavez (11-4, 1-1 UFC) locks horns with “The Fighting Hawaiian” Kamaka III (8-4, 1-2 UFC). The horn-locking official overseeing the match is referee Herb Dean, who locks the cage behind them when the starting horn sounds and the fighters touch gloves. Kamaka reaches out with jabs but Chavez is there with a front kick to back him away. As both stare at one another, they tensely kick the other’s lead leg one after the other. Chavez slings up a head kick that is easily blocked, and Kamaka ducks a looping right hand. Chavez explodes into a takedown attempt, putting Kamaka on his back for a moment, but only keeping him there briefly. Kamaka springs back up and makes Chavez pay with a right hand, and he tries to follow it but it comes up short. Chavez throws several inaccurate strikes and Kamaka fires back at him with a deliberate barrage of calf kicks. The kicks land on the same spot again and again, until Chavez uncomfortably picks up his leg after one smacks him. Chavez’ offense slows after these kicks do some damage, and Kamaka stands in front of him peppering him with kicks. He throws these kicks until Chavez reacts visibly, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kamaka
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kamaka
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kamaka

Round 2
Chavez steps forward when the round begins to clock Kamaka with a fiery right hand, and Kamaka reels and throws back at him. Chavez is quick to string together several one-twos, surprising the Hawaiian as he stings him with these combinations. Kamaka gathers himself and chops down Chavez’ lead leg until Chavez runs at him to take him down. The takedown fails, and Kamaka is able to catch him on the way out with a hacking kick. Kamaka keeps drilling the same minute spot again and again, forcing Chavez to lift his lead leg up in pain. Chavez tries to plant his shin on Kamaka’s side, but the Hawaiian closes the distance to break it up. Kamaka methodically breaks down Chavez’ leg with kicks, and Kamaka reaches out to swat down a combination with outstretched fingers to jab Chavez deep in the eye. Chavez falls to the ground in major pain, screaming as the finger went deep into his right eye. Dean quickly calls in the doctor, and Chavez cannot even open his eye to show him its condition. He tells the doctor not to stop the fight, asking for as much time as he can get, and he requests some water to rinse his eye out. After a lengthy recovery time, Chavez pops up and says he is ready to go. Dean gives Kamaka a hard warning from his pokes – Kamaka was poked in the previous round -- and Chavez is incensed and ready to rock. He throws caution to the wind, swinging huge punches at his opponent. Kamaka recovers, frames off and blasts Chavez in the cup with his knee. Chavez crumbles to the ground in trouble again, and once more the fouled fighter in on his knees in a bad way. Kamaka is deducted one point before they get back to it, and Chavez once more recovers. The two engage in a torrid flurry at one another, stinging one another and walking through damaging blows. Kamaka kicks the leg, and Chavez picks it up and swings a hook kick at him. Kamaka targets the calf a few more times, he steps forward and scores a knee. The two kick at one another until this tough round comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 9-9
Brian Knapp scores the round: 9-9
Tyler Treese scores the round: 9-9

Round 3
Chavez tries his luck early on with a leg kick, and both men swing for the fences recklessly. Kamaka gives him one kick back and charges ahead to pursue a takedown. Chavez defends with his back against the fence by slamming his elbow on to the side of Kamaka’s head to embrace his inner Travis Browne. The Hawaiian’s knees wobble a little, but he is ok as he squeezes to take the fight down. Kamaka eats several knees on the chin as Chavez keeps his balance, and the stalemate of this position continues as Kamaka grinds on his foe. Kamaka turns a double into a single, and Chavez defends with a kimura to sweep his opponent but cannot pull it off. Instead, Kamaka briefly pulls Chavez’ legs out beneath him, but “The Colombian Warrior” stands back up. After a few warnings from Dean, the fighters push free and separate. Chavez sticks out a left hook that surprises Kamaka, and he pursues his own takedown to Kamaka’s surprise. Chavez goes low for a single, and he changes levels but it fails. Kamaka lands a body kick as Chavez chases after him, and Chavez throws everything he has into one string of punches until the fight mercifully ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chavez (28-28)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kamaka (29-27 Kamaka)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kamaka (29-27 Kamaka)

The Official Result
Kai Kamaka III vs. Danny Chavez is ruled a Majority Draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)

Jared Gordon (150: Missed Weight) vs. Danny Chavez

Round 1
Capping off the shortened preliminary card due to multiple recent bout scratches is another catchweight contest, this time at 150 pounds. Ahead of his match, Gordon (16-4, 4-3 UFC) missed weight by four pounds before facing Chavez (11-3, 1-0 UFC), but he redeemed himself with a walkout from the band Genesis. The Octagon ranger for this catchweight bout is referee Herb Dean, who sees no touch of gloves take place. Chavez wings a few single shots early, but he is more finding his range than connecting with anything. Gordon blocks a high kick and takes a leg kick, but as soon as the leg kick comes at him, he charges forward to throw strikes. Chavez circles away and sticks Gordon with a right hand, but it does not back “Flash” off one bit. Gordon strings together a trip of punches, absorbs a leg kick and fires off a left hook that glances off the target. “Flash” scores a low kick on his way in, where the two start trading heavy leather. Chavez successfully backs Gordon off with his punches, but only for a moment before Gordon bears down on him again, pressing forward with a clinch that leads to a single knee. Gordon kicks low and gets countered with two punches, and the two are biting down on their gumshields and swinging. As Chavez looks to back his man away, he throws an inside leg kick that claps off the cup and forces a pause in the tense exchange. Gordon cracks a joke while recovering, and needs 45 seconds before he has Dean clap them back in. “Flash” fires off a series of leg kicks, prompting Chavez to give him one back and loop a right hand to the body. Gordon just barely ducks a spinning wheel kick in time, and he puts together several low kicks. As Gordon looks to attack, Chavez kicks his leg out from beneath him, but he cannot capitalize on the position. Instead, Gordon springs back up and goes on the offensive, landing a few punches that make Chavez bounce off the wall. Gordon sticks him with a knee and an overhand right, forcing “The Colombian Warrior” to reset and duck several strikes. Both get off leg kicks, and Gordon rings Chavez’ bell with a left hand before shooting in for a takedown. Chavez stuffs it but absorbs a heavy knee, and a kick to the calf followed by a head kick that strikes his back gives him pause. Gordon sticks and moves, cracking Chavez with a few punches but eating a few of his own as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gordon
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Chavez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gordon

Round 2
Chavez begins the round with a leg kick that makes Gordon immediately lift his leg up, and he pushes through it to take the fight down. Gordon hits the ground and bounces back up, where he ties Chavez up against the fencing before they break. “Flash” scores a one-two, and he walks through a low kick and a few punches to target the body. Chavez lands kicks to the body and leg, before scoring a right hand across the bow. Gordon sees a spinning wheel kick coming and once more ducks it, and hurts Chavez with a few punches before shooting in for a takedown. When Chavez stands him up, Gordon ties him up and drags him down. In his foe’s guard, Gordon postures up and lands a few punches before getting pulled down and tied up. A few more punches from Gordon mount, and Chavez tries and fails to sit up and escape, but “Flash” keeps him grounded. When Chavez stuck against the fence, Gordon drills him on the chin with a couple fierce punches. There is nowhere for Chavez’ head to go, as it cannot bounce off the floor as it is trapped on the corner of the fence and the canvas. As Gordon keeps striking, Chavez thinks to tie up the guard but gets elbowed to open it up. Chavez kicks off, but Gordon is instantly on him to keep him planted on his back. Gordon works hammerfists while Chavez aims to earn a referee standup by simply tying Gordon up. Gordon sits up and lands a couple stern punches to make Chavez buck and twist. With seconds left in the round, Gordon passes guard and slashes down a few elbows, but the time elapses before he can get any major damage done.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gordon
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Gordon
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gordon

Round 3
Chavez’ first strike is a booming head kick, and Gordon ducks down to avoid it. “The Colombian Warrior” throws kick after kick, to the body and legs, and Gordon ignores them as he pushes the pace. Both men nail one another with leg kicks, and their legs may be compromised and swollen but they do not appear very hampered from them. Two punches from Chavez clip Gordon, and Gordon ducks down for a takedown attempt but gets rebuffed. Chavez goes on the aggression with a few big punches, and Gordon throws right back furiously. Gordon tries to push through into a takedown, and Chavez lets him fall on his face before allowing Gordon to stand up. Chavez lands a few punches, and Gordon interrupts a combination with a jab that snaps Chavez’ head back. There is a wild brawl that sees Gordon get tagged a few times, forcing “Flash” to lift his foe’s leg up and hits a takedown. Comfortable in his adversary’s full guard, Gordon lands occasional strikes while precious seconds tick off the clock for Chavez. “The Colombian Warrior” ties up Gordon with his full guard, only to open it up again when Gordon punches through it. Chavez remains flat on his back as he alternates between closed and open guard, which keeps him safe from most of the damage but also is a bad place for him. Chavez squirms and backs off, where he sits up and gets to a knee. Gordon throws a knee, but pulls it back right before it lands as Chavez is grounded. Gordon backs away, and charges forward to take the fight back down. As Gordon pushes Chavez into the clinch to halt furious offense from his foe, he holds on tight to ride out the fight and likely notch a win. Chavez kicks and flails to break the grip, but Gordon’s body lock control allows him to push Chavez to a knee. Chavez breaks free, springs in with a knee that bounces off Gordon’s face, and tries to throw a few punches only to get tied up to the final bell. We have now reached the scorecards for the first time of the night.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gordon (30-27 Gordon)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Gordon (29-28 Gordon)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gordon (30-27 Gordon)

The Official Result
Jared Gordon def. Danny Chavez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)