Published: March 23, 2008 12:03 am         

MMA champs crowned in Terre Haute

TERRE HAUTE — Joe Pearson of Bettendorf, Iowa, won the Courage Fighting Championships world title in the 155-pound pro division by making Glen Hanson of Bloomington, Ill., tap out with a triangle choke hold in the first round of a 12-bout “ultimate fighting” card that ended late Saturday night at the Zorah Shrine Temple.

Representing Miletich Fighting Systems, Pearson improved his record to 27-9, while Hanson’s dropped to 12-5.

Earlier in the night, 21-year-old Dustin “The Beast” Neace of Jasonville captured the CFC national title in the 145-pound pro division by forcing Jake Corry of Salem, Ill., to tap out with a rear naked choke hold after slamming him down against the cage in the first round.

“We pulled a 2-2 jab and went straight for the takedown,” described Neace, a 2005 graduate of Shakamak High School and member of the Boiler Room MMA team out of Indianapolis. “But I can’t take credit for anything without mentioning my team.”

Neace (21-10-1) said he’d like to go for a world title the next time CFC comes to Terre Haute.

Another title at stake was in the CFC 155-pound pro division, pitting Chris “Crazy Man” McDaniel of Blueeye, Mo., vs. Tyler “Superman” Combs of Miamisburg, Ohio, in a highly entertaining bout that ended in the first round with a flurry of standing punches. In the end, Combs emerged victorious via a knockout to earn the right to wear the championship belt.

“I still don’t know what happened,” McDaniel said immediately after the bout. “It happened too fast for me. He caught me.”

“He came in and I threw a big right hook,” explained Combs, who also earned a roar of approval from the enthusiastic crowd.

Combs said he was surprised to see McDaniel start by boxing left-handed when he knew that he had seen him fight right-handed in the past, but he managed to adjust quickly.

Kyle Gray of North Carolina defeated Daniel Hopper of Mount Carmel, Ill., in a bloody match that lasted four rounds for the CFC 155-pound national amateur title. The end came on a tapout triggered by a guillotine. Gray is now 6-0 as an amateur, while Hopper is 5-4-1.

Non-title winners Saturday were Ryan McIntosh of Cincinnati, Dave Cochran of Decatur, Ill., Timmy Dick of Monticello, Ill., David Sarver of Pana, Ill., Tim Riddle of Cincinnati, Greg Miller of Indianola, Ill., Keegan Followell of New York and Dan Loman of Decatur.

Noted MMA fighter Spencer “The King” Fisher officiated several of the bouts Saturday.