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A surprising roster cut casualty following his defeat to Brazilian prospect Charles Oliveira at UFC Fight Night 22 in September, Escudero has since rattled off back-to-back wins. The 25-year-old MMA Lab representative burst on the scene in 2008, when he defeated Ido Pariente, Shane Nelson, Junie Allen Browning and Phillipe Nover to win “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series.
Other winners at Rage in the Cage 148 included journeyman Shannon Ritch (first-round knockout over Scott Guenther) and Arizona Combat Sports product Jade Porter (unanimous decision against Ruben S. Gonzales).
Canadian Martial Arts Centre representative Jordan Mein sprang the upset at Wreck MMA “Strong and Proud” on Friday at the Casino de Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, as he stopped UFC and Strikeforce veteran Joe Riggs on second-round punches. The end came 4:30 into round two.
Mein floored Riggs with a right hook and followed him to the canvas, where he polished off the 28-year-old Phoenix native. The defeat halted a two-fight winning streak for Riggs, who had not been finished by strikes in more than four years. Mein has posted five wins in his past six appearances.
Meanwhile, UFC exile Mark Holst submitted Markhaile Wedderburn with a second-round rear-naked choke in the co-main event. Holst, who had previously announced plans to retire following the match, finished the job 4:56 into round two. The 25-year-old was cut by the UFC in wake of losses to John Gunderson and Paul Sass.
Finally, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 semi-finalist Kalib Starnes won for the third time in four outings, as he coaxed a tapout from Matt MacGrath with a rear-naked choke 3:14 into round two of their encounter. Starnes, 36, has now secured nine of his 12 career victories by submission. He will meet fellow UFC veteran Patrick Cote in the Ringside MMA 10 main event on April 9.
Former World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight champion Cole Escovedo put away Steven Siler with a first-round triangle choke in the Showdown Fights “New Blood” headliner on Friday at the UCCU Center in Orem, Utah. The victory brought an end to a two-fight losing streak for the 29-year-old Escovedo, who was forced into semi-retirement in 2007 by a staph infection that left him partially paralyzed.
Meanwhile, once-beaten prospect Radley Martinez took a unanimous decision from UFC veteran Brian Cobb at the event. Spawned by the same Victory MMA camp as “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11 winner Court McGee, Martinez has won eight fights in a row.
Other winners at “New Blood” included Jeremy Horn protégé Travis Marx (split decision over Trevor Mellen) and undefeated welterweight prospect Jordan Clements (unanimous decision against Eddie Rincon).