Hazan wins Mixed Martial Arts title fight

SPOKANE — Sandpoint High School senior Ethan Hazan came out throwing and landing strikes early, stopping Cody Roy by TKO in the second round and claiming the Unified Combat League 145 pound title belt on Saturday night at the Vengeance in the Valley fights at the Spokane School of Boxing.

Hazen (5-0) came out punching in the first round, before finally lifting Roy (10-5) off the ground and executing a body slam, leaving the more seasoned fighter slightly dazed.

Roy came back in the second round attempting to control Hazan on the ground, but Hazan worked well off his back and found his way back to his feet continuing to land lightning-fast strikes. Roy managed through the second round with a warrior mentality, but as the bell rang ending the second round he staggered to the corner, collapsing into his coach’s arms.

The ref stopped the fight, awarding the TKO to Hazan.

“I brought the belt to Sandpoint,” Hazan said after the fight, while being approached by promoters wanting to set up the next fight to defend his title. “Talk to my manager Mike McCray.”

 Sandpoint’s Skyler Bonner, part of the Black Bear MMA team, dropped to 4-2 after dropping a controversial decision to Jesse Thompson (5-0), leaving many in the crowd stunned.

Bonner connected on his punches and kicks and kept pressuring Thompson throughout the three round fight. At one point Thompson appeared to be staggering, but regained his composure and managed to work Bonner to his back.

Bonner continued to land blows and Thompson searched for ways to control Bonner’s assault by using take downs and strong wrestling and jiu-jitsu. At one point  the Thompson corner shouted out “you need to score points,” apparently believing that Bonner was ahead.

“I thought Skyler controlled the second and third rounds,” said Ted Greenblott, owner of Black Bear Mixed Martial Arts . “I was as surprised as the crowd when I heard Thompson’s name.”

Bonner and some other Black Bear MMA members have future fights on tap at the King of the Cage in Coeur d’Alene.

Sandpoint’s Mike McCray was scheduled to fight in Spokane, but his opponent fell ill and the fight was canceled. Promoters attempted to line up another fight for McCray on short notice, but were unsuccessful.