Downs aims for third win, second at Fallon Fights

A local flavor rumbles over the sixth annual Fallon Fights.

Six Fallon fighters will compete in Saturday’s event with the first fight at 7 p.m. at the Churchill County Fairgrounds. Gates open at 6 p.m.

One of those brawlers is Cody Downs, like the rest of the Fallon athletes, puts his skills to the test in the amateur mixed-martial arts portion of the fight card.

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Downs makes his second appearance at the Rural Rumble, and aims for a repeat of last year’s success. He knocked out Robert Lloyd 38 seconds with a vicious right cross, which landed under Lloyd’s eye.

“I want to go out a little more composed,” Downs said. “Hopefully I can control myself. I want to stick to the game plan.”

This year, however, the 27-year-old Downs (2-0) takes on a more experienced fighter in Gardnerville’s Giovaughn Mackey in a three-round middleweight fight. Mackey stands at 6-4, is 2-2 and off a fight against Daniel Reese on June 29 at the Grand Sierra Resort.

Downs, who trains with Jason Carter at Nevada Martial Arts in Fallon, said he plans to come into Saturday’s bout calmer. Last year, Downs was so amped his technique fell by the wayside as soon as the bell rang.

“I know how I train … after watching the video I can tell a lot of the little things I was working on went out the window,” he said.

Not that it mattered much, but Downs said he is preparing to go all three rounds with Mackey. Downs’ style consists of Jiu-Jitsu and grappling, although he prefers to battle on his feet.

Mackey, meanwhile, also prefers a standup attack, so the two may engage in a blow-for-blow bout.

Downs, though, said he does not know much about Mackey’s style, so being prepared is the best option.

“I want to come out and keep my composure and go out don’t let the adrenaline get me,” Downs said. “I’ve been training really hard and have been doing everything I can training-wise. He may have more experience or training, but I have a lot of heart.”

— Other MMA bouts

In addition to Downs, five other Fallon fighters will compete at the Rural Rumble.

Fallon’s Quentin Owens makes his debut against Dan Lewis of Redding, Calif., in a heavyweight bout. card is as follows:

In the middleweight division, an all-Fallon bout between Casey Diaz and Tim Nunes is scheduled. Light-heavyweights Robert Smith of Fallon Michael Sandage of Colusa, Calif., tangle. All MMA bouts are scheduled for three rounds.