Rural Rumble: Griffin takes controversial decision

FALLON - It wasn't pretty, but Otis Griffin will take it.

Griffin of Sacramento beat Billy Bailey of Bakersfield, Calif., by a unanimous, yet somewhat controversial, decision in a light heavyweight bout on Saturday at the Churchill County Fairgrounds in the third annual Rural Rumble.

Bailey seemed to have most of the fight, but the judges saw Griffin's technical skills counter Bailey's bulldog style. However, the hundred of fans in attendance didn't agree with the decision.

With the win, Griffin, the USBA Light Heavyweight champ, improved his record to 23-6, while Bailey fell to 10-10.

"We wanted to go to the body early and we did that," Griffin said. "In boxing you want to handicap a guy, that's what boxing is all about. Once we figured out he was trying to go behind the ear with the hard overhand right ... after that we knew we had to catch him with some good shots."

John O'Donnell wanted to make his home debut a memorable one at Rural Rumble.

The 29-year-old trainer improved his professional record to 2-0 by submitting David Rivera of Turlock, Calif., 2:05 in the first round of their MMA bout. O'Donnell weighed in at 158.5 pounds, while Rivera, who was making his pro debut, came in at 157 pounds.

"I always come up fast and finish up fights in the first round," O'Donnell said. "I have a tremendous amount of power."

O'Donnell said he usually looks for a first-round or technical knockout, yet he had something to prove against Rivera. After he took Rivera down, O'Donnell punched Rivera several times in the head until he submitted.

"This one I wanted to exhibit to everyone that I wanted to win by submission," O'Donnell said.

O'Donnell thanked his supporters after the match.

"This fight wouldn't have been possible without Fallon, Nev.," he proclaimed. "This is an awesome community, and it was an honor to fight here."

In another highly anticipated boxing match, undefeated Brandon Gonzales scored a victory over Byron Tyson when Tyson's corner stopped the fight at 1:59 of the third round.

Gonzales (13-0, 9 KOs) cut Tyson below his right eye in the second round, but Tyson continued to fight. Tyson came out in the third and didn't seemed bothered by the cut.

"The key was to just stay composed and work everything off the jab," Gonzales said. "I think it was a good performance tonight."

In the mixed martial arts main event, Buddy Roberts of Reno submitted B.J. Lacy of Las Vegas with a rear naked choke hold at two minutes, 43 seconds of the first round.

Roberts and Lacy both came out trying to establish their kicks to control the fight. Roberts then scored a takedown and pounded Lacy's head from the top position.

Roberts (9-2) was able to roll Lacy (12-17-1) over and Roberts slipped his arms through Lacy and scored the tapout victory.

"I wanted to stand up a little more because I knew I could put him on the ground," Roberts said. "He's tough and he made me work."

In the second MMA fight of the evening, Jerel Clark of Reno submitted Adam Albright of San Jose, Calif., at 3:59 of the first period.

Albright scored a takedown of Clark early in the round, but Clark was able to reverse out of the hold and escape. Clark then took down Albright and landed four right punches to the face of Albright up against the ropes.

Seconds later, Albright tapped to end the fight. Clark, a full-time student at Truckee-Meadows Community College, improved his record to 4-0 and Albright fell to 4-2.

Kelley Weatherford, 132 pounds, of Reno won her professional debut against Nicole Johnson, 133, of Roseville, Calif.

Johnson brought in a 3-1 record into their MMA match and dominated Weatherford early in the first round. After Weatherford struck Johnson with a couple of body kicks, Johnson grabbed Weatherford and pushed her down on her back.

Johnson kept Weatherford on her back, but the Reno fighter, who had her legs wrapped around her opponent's shoulders, reversed her hold, causing Johnson to submit midway through the first round.

"Once I was there, that was the plan," Weatherford said when she was on her back.

Weatherford said she would love to fight again, and having a rooting section inspired her.

"It makes a big difference when you have your friends and family there," she said.

Lowell Brownfield of Omaha, Neb., was outmatched by "Lightning" Lonnie Smith of Las Vegas in their boxing match.

Smith, 10-2-2 with seven knockouts, came into the bout at 134.5 pounds, and Brownfield, 11-5-1 with four knockouts, weighed in at 135.

Smith's experience was too much for Brownfield. The Las Vegas boxer delivered a series of punches in the first round and then caught Brownfield with a hook to the jaw and another punch to the left side of the face, resulting in a standing eight-count.

Smith used a right hook to catch Brownfield over his right eye. Brownfield also walked into a hard body punch into the chest and also withstood another right hook to the head.

Brownfield, though, never made it to the third round as his trainer stopped the match.

Smith said his boxing is getting better, although he felt his first round could have been better.

"I'm glad I came out with a victory," he said, adding that he extensively scouted Brownfield.

Smith said his jabs were also improved.