Minotaur 2 Recap: Matiu Thoms upsets Rodolfo Marques, Callan Potter submits Steven Maxwell

Melbourne’s newest promotion Minotaur MMA returned for its second instalment on Friday night at the Reggio Calabria Club in Parkville. The event was streamed via Go Fight Live and is now available on demand.

In the main event, many fans were eager to see Melbourne based Brazilian Rodolfo Marques bounce back after an upset KO loss to American fighter Alvin Cacdac at Hex Fight Series IV last month. Unfortunately for many of the locals in attendance, Marques, who looked on track to take home the decision in the lightweight clash, was on the receiving end of another brutal KO in the third round, this time at the hands of Strikeforce Canterbury Kiwi Matiu Thoms.

The first round began with Thoms attacking early, barely missing Marques with a left hook. Marques quickly went in for the takedown, which was successful. From top position, Marques began striking to the body with elbows and then to the head as he held his opponent to the canvas. Thoms looked active from the bottom as he attacked with short elbows of his own. Marques then attempted to secure a keylock submission but Thoms worked his way out of it nicely. During the grappling exchange, Marques looked to go for an arm-triangle choke however Thoms spun out of it and went for a submission of his own in the form of a guillotine choke.

Round two started very similar to the first with Thoms coming out aggressive, rushing forward and attacking with a leg kick. Marques looked to put a halt to that with a takedown attempt. Thoms pushed away from Marques and attacked with more kicks. The two looked to be even in the stand up going toe to toe in the striking department, however Thoms looked to have an obvious size advantage. Marques again went for a takedown, with the two battling it out in the clinch against the cage for an extended period of time. Thoms remained upright, as Marques continued to work for the takedown, while also punching to the body and head of Thoms. Marques eventually took Thoms down to the mat and gained mount. The Kiwi did well to sweep the Brazilian and get to full mount. Round two ended with both fighters battling it out, grappling for dominant position.

Round three was a match of kicks. Marques attempted a standing Guillotine choke with Thoms going in for a takedown. The two remained upright as Marques switched for a keylock submission. The two combatants pushed away from each other, Marques reengaged with a legkick. Out of the blue, Thoms leaped forward with a flying Knee which caught Marques in a spectacular KO, dropping the Brazilian to the canvas midway through round three

In the co-main event, hometown favourite Callan Potter made quick work of Tasmania’s Steven Maxwell. Potter moved forward from the get go. Maxwell attacked with combinations, however Potter did a good job of staying just out of reach. Potter secured a takedown and moved straight to mount before unleashing elbows and punches. As Maxwell attempted to get to his feet, Potter pounced on his back, flattened him out and secured a rear naked choke, forcing Maxwell to tap. With the win Callan Potter now ends 2015 on a two fight win streak.

Also on the night, Kael Coster had a quick submission win over Braden Wells, scoring the win with a first round rear-naked choke. New Zealand’s Beau Rawiri won his match against Victorian based Irishman Ryan Barry via TKO late in the opening round. Meanwhile, Mildura’s Jesse Medina overcame a first round scare to come back and submit relentless Kiwi featherweight Scott Macgregor. Medina now remains undefeated in his last nine fights with the victory.

Results:

• Matiu Thoms def Rodolfo Marques via KO (Knee), Rd 3
• Callan Potter def Steven Maxwell via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1
• Kael Coster def Braden Wells via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1
• Beau Rawiri def Ryan Barry via TKO (Ground and Pound), Rd 1
• Jesse Medina def Scott MacGregor via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2
• Danny Wairasi def Fergus Tokin via Decision (Unanimous)
• Raphael Scott def Ant Poke via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1

Fight Card (Amateur):

• Rafael Theodoris def Charley Miles via TKO (Punches), Rd 3
• Andrew Smith def Mark Lowes via Submission, Rd 1
• Michael Mannue def Dylan Orchard via TKO (Punches), Rd 1