A fighter makes the walk for the first time since 2014 in the AKA 58 co-headliner.
American Kombat Alliance arrives at the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City, LA. The main event features a thrilling matchup between the always game veteran Micheal Murphy and 28-year-old finisher Dey McIntosh.
In the co-main event, former AKA champion Steve “The Average” Jones looks for his second-straight win against the returning Omar Zapata AKA “Sasuke Universe”.
Believe it or not, the Mexican-born Zapata has not fought in over 12 years. Jones, on the other hand, is coming off a unanimous decision win at AKA 55 in July.
Team 515’s Jones finds it quite the challenge to prepare for someone who hasn’t fought in the last decade, knowing Zapata can be a totally different fighter than the last fight he watched of his.
Regardless of ring rust, “Sasuke” Zapata steps into the cage with Jones for what should be an exciting fight at 175 lbs.
Round 1:
Zapata lunges in with a left hand that doesn’t connect. Jones keeps his distance, bouncing around the cage. Zapata fires multiple punches as Jones returns with a shot to the body. Jones throws a teep kick to the body. Jones throws two leg kicks back-to-back.
Zapata throws more punches and finishes it off with a headlock that gets Jones’ attention. Crescent kick is thrown by Zapata to no avail. Left hook lands partially for Jones. Teep kick just misses for Zapata and so does a knee. Oblique kick lands clean for Zapata.
Jones rips to the body with a punch. Teep kick lands for Jones. Jones lands a good right hand. Zapata throws a headkick before the round ends.
Round 2:
Zapata fires a side kick to the body. They trade up close. Jones lands a low leg kick. Spinning back kick just misses for Zapata, which went over Jones’ head. Right hand lands for Jones. Zapata fires a right hand. Zapata eats a clean punch from Jones.
Zapata throws a body kick and then a headkick, but none of them seem to land. Jones rips to the body. The fighters trade inside the pocket. Zapata lands a couple of punches but Jones returns fire with the more effective strikes. Zapata throws another headkick that doesn’t land. Same thing goes for Jones, who lands one on the ear of ‘Sasuke’.
Round 3:
Jones starts round 3 aggressively. Body punch lands for Jones. Jones pours on the pressure, going for the kill with Zapata on the back foot. Zapata stands his ground accordingly. Zapata is stunned by a body shot. Jones lands a punch and follows it up with a kick to the body. Jones fires a right hand that glances off Zapata. Jones unloads a heavy left hook that just misses. Jones works the body once again.
Jones goes to the body and Zapata returns with a left hand of his own. Jumping kick from Jones doesn’t land. Jones punches to the body as he closes in. Jones lands a massive right hand as Zapata spins the other direction. Left hand lands for Jones, who has Zapata’s back to the cage.
Nasty body kick lands for Jones as the 10-second clapper goes off. They exchange strikes before round 3 ends.
Official result: Steve Jones defeats Omar Zapata via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
That’s back-to-back wins for Steve Jones at AKA.