SRMMA.COM: TACHI PALACE 14 RESULT: ANDRE FILI UNLEASHES "THE FURY", FINISHES RICKY WALLACE

FILI (YELLOW) LANDING A RIGHT

SIX FIGHT WINNING STREAK FOR FILI
On the horn:
J. Waugh
EDITOR IN CHIEF
"I want to say thank you to Ricky for being such a rad dude," Fili told J. Waugh (SR). "I didn't know a lot about him but everyone I talked to said he hit hard."
(CONTINUED). . . PHOTOS INCLUDED
Andre "The Fury" Fili took on Ricky Wallace in a battle of Hawaiian blood on the Tachi Palace 14 'Validation' card that aired live online to a large MMA fan base. Wallace was finally back in the cage after a lay off due to medical issues. He was in high spirits backstage as he warmed up for the fight to come.
"It feels great," Wallace told J. Waugh (www.srmma.com). "Coming off ACL surgery. Very excited to get back in there and it's a privilege to fight for Tachi Palace . . . (Fili) looks like a well rounded fighter. He has really good cardio. I got really good cardio too. So expect fireworks coming up in this fight."

FILI (RIGHT) LANDING AN EARLY SHOT.

Fili was able to earn a second round armbar victory for his tenth professional win (10-1). This win was no easy task for the Team Alpha Male member as Wallace came out of the opening bell with heavy punches, knock out written all over them. Fili threw clean, technically solid shots that kept Wallace at distance during the early exchanges.
"I want to say thank you to Ricky for being such a rad dude," Fili told J. Waugh (www.srmma.com). "I didn't know a lot about him but everyone I talked to said he hit hard . . . He hit me with a couple body kicks that didn't feel good either. He was just a tough, tough guy. Great Guy."
Wallace landed hard punches that connected, causing Fili to use his well rounded skills to take Wallace to the mat three different times in the round. Fili also landed a series of powerful knees that dazed Wallace in a flurry against the cage. The opportunity for Fili to finish the fight in the first round may have happened had the bell came just a few seconds later.
"I want people to see I can do all these things," Fili told J. Waugh (www.srmma.com). "So it was nice to land clean shots and get the take down. . . With a guy like Ricky especially. If you don't hurt him now he's going to hurt you later. So if you can get in three or four knees as hard and as fast as you can, do it. Don't land one."

FILI (TOP) LANDING A RIGHT HAND.

After Wallace got caught with some blunt punches early in the second round, the two exchanged take downs and furious grappling. But Fili's second take down of the round brought him a guillotine choke attempt that forced Wallace to escape. During his attempt to get out, Fili secured a tight armbar. Wallace momentarily disputed the referee's stoppage in the ring, but Fili was confident that Wallace tapped out. There wasn't much more argument after the decision was announced.
"I worked really hard. I sacrificed a lot for this," Fili told J. Waugh (www.srmma.com). "I sacrificed a lot of time and fun things to be able to get ready for this fight. It just feels good. I'm going to make up for lost time and just go party."
Fili is the first fighter to beat Wallace since his last lost in 2008, and has extended his own streak of finishing fights to three consecutive. Tachi Palace Fights has been a top quality venue for MMA in the California region. The UFC has drawn many of their signings directly from positive results at the Tachi Palace events, and such a fast-paced fight with a definitive finish could be the ticket to the UFC for the "The Fury".