Last Updated on June 25, 2012.
Team TSMMA Hits The StrikeZone
6/23/12 – Article By Sensei Thad Campbell of TSMMA Feasterville – photo’s by Brian T Cooper Photography
Voorhees, NJ – The destruction continues for Team TSMMA as they sent three more fighters into the ring Saturday night looking to build on an impressive steak of victories. The three would take part in StrikeZone, an amateur Muay Thai event. Joshu Shane Baker of TSMMA Cherry Hill would make his debut alongside veterans Shane Burgos and Jenna Serio. Shake Baker would be fighting ten minutes from his school against a competitor from a rival school. Burgos and Serio had much longer journeys, coming down from TSMMA Woodbury and TSMMA Bay Ridge respectively. Hurricane and Pepperoni wouldn’t disappoint the fans who followed them down the Jersey Turnpike to Exit 4 for the event. All three fighters would get the TSMMA fans in the arena to their feet.
Things started out with Joshu Shane Baker making his debut in the ring. The lanky Baker had been training for twenty years preparing for this day and his experience showed in the first round. Baker was taking on Ian Smith of Daddis Fight Camps, which is right down the street from his own school. It wasn’t until the two faced off at the referee that Baker would find out he was fighting a southpaw. This didn’t faze Baker in the least as he listened closely to his corner shouting out for straight right hands. Baker would land a couple solid shots in the round, hurting Smith. Smith was a game opponent though and was able to gain a clinch on numerous occasions. At first Baker was tying up his opponent and waiting to be separated, but the rules of the event were to allow the clinch to continue so once again Sensei Paul Querido came through with a quick adjustment. This time encouraging Baker to push off his opponent’s face and load up a right hand. This is exactly how the round ended.
Round 2 started with Smith once again looking to clinch, but the new tactic by Baker was immediately effective. He would stun Smith with a right hand out of the clinch and then land another huge right hand from range. This put Baker in stalk mode and he quickly found the range for another combination that put Smith on the canvas for good. It was an impressive knock out for the newcomer as the referee didn’t get past four on the ten count, seeing that Smith was finished for the night. Baker wins his debut at 1:25 of the first round by TKO Ref Stoppage.
The applause for Baker had barely subsided when Hurricane Shane Burgos entered the ring to take on Eric Tobias of Wat Gym. Burgos was fresh off a victory in MMA where he utilized standup to dominate and looking to build on that success. Long known for his elite level grappling, Burgos has been working tirelessly for the last few years to bring his kickboxing to the same level. It certainly seemed to be there on Saturday night. Tobias was a great opponent to challenge Burgos. The student of Phil Nurse was extremely confident and composed in the ring matching the intensity brought by Burgos. He was constantly testing Burgos’ defense with straight punches and trying to control him with a clinch. Burgos was countering with a counter left hook and looking extremely comfortable inside the clinch with his own array of knees and uppercuts. This was all packed into the first minute. Halfway through the 1st round, the night changed for Tobias as Burgos landed a brutal hook that landed Tobias on the canvas. He would get up quickly and answer the ten count only to be caught again seconds later. This time it put Tobias on shaky legs, but after a quick check by the ringside Doctor, Tobias was allowed to continue. Burgos meanwhile was standing in the neutral corner looking like a caged animal. The referee would start the action again and once again Burgos would land a devastating left hook. This one left his opponent completely out on the canvas and the ref didn’t even start a count before calling the fight off. Burgos wins by TKO at 1:37 of Round 1.
No pressure on Jenna Pepperoni Serio as she faced off with Jess Vondolln of LA Boxing. The two would be the headliner for the night and they didn’t disappoint. Serio came out like a wildfire throwing a jab cross combination at Vondolln at least fifty times in Round 1. She would chase Vondolln around the ring with constant pressure and at numerous points it looked like she might get a flurry to stop the fight. Her opponent wasn’t a main eventer for nothing though, as Vondolln showed amazing toughness while throwing back right hands of her own. Serio showed great maturity in round 2. Realizing that Vondolln wasn’t going anywhere, Serio showed off her conditioning by using movement to stymie her opponents attack. Vondolln would begin to throw a little more frequently in Round 2, but Serio continued to answer with a Jab Cross combination that Vondolln had no answer for. While it looked like Serio was in control of the fight, the TSMMA crowd was a little on edge because Vondolln was still answering back any time Serio looked to take control. That would be put to rest in Round 3 as Serio took control completely. She simply wouldn’t let up the pressure on her opponent, throwing punches for two straight minutes while constantly moving her opponent backwards. The verdict was sealed and Serio took away a unanimous decision. She pitched a shutout on two of the three scorecards, highlighting her domination.
All three TSMMA fighters put on an amazing show Saturday night. The most obvious component being the great conditioning all three brought into the ring. Months of hard work paid off as all three were constantly on the attack with no fear of gassing out because of their preparation. Congratulations to all three. The people in attendance can’t wait to see the show again soon and if you missed these fights look out for any of these three to be fighting again soon so you can witness the excitement first hand!