Cummins wins Tuff-N-Uff 115-pound women’s championship

By Hepi Mita

Saturday, May 29, 2010 | 1:51 a.m.

Ashley Cummins became the first ever Tuff-N-Uff 115-pound women’s champion Friday, following a unanimous-decision victory over Gabriella Lakoczky at The Orleans.

While both fighters came into the fight at the same weight, Lakoczky (1-2) was the more physically imposing fighter. But Cummins (5-0) overcame her size disadvantage with a tenacious performance.

“My key was to have quicker hands, land a lot of punches and take her down and dominate on the ground,” Cummins said.

Cummins wasted no time getting started, coming out with an intense flurry right after the opening bell. Cummins landed several rights and momentarily overwhelmed Lakoczky.

Lakoczky, however, answered back with shots and kicks of her own. But before the fight could turn into a brawl, Cummins switched her game plan and exhibited her wrestling skills, taking down Lakoczky down throughout the fight.

“I just go with the flow,” Cummins said. “Wherever the fight’s going, I just react to it.”

Despite having an undefeated amateur record of 5-0, Cummins is in no rush to go pro and is content to leave her career path in the hands of her coaches at Team Vaghi St. Charles MMA.

“I’ll go pro whenever my coaches say I’m ready,” Cummins said. “I definitely think they’re the best coaches in the world, and I trust their decision 100 percent.”

In the evening’s main event, Team Lethal’s Jimmy Spicuzza won a close split-decision victory over Legends’ Christian Palencia.

“I’d say we were pretty even in the stand-up exchanges,” Spicuzza said. “I caught him some, he caught me. I got the takedowns when I needed to, did a good job of changing levels and I was fortunate enough to get this victory.”

Spicuzza began the fight by countering a Palencia kick with a hard takedown. The fight, however, got back to the feet where the fighters exchanged blows furiously, before Spicuzza shot in for another devastating takedown.

But following the second takedown, Palencia managed to sink in a guillotine chokehold and things looked bad for Spicuzza as Palencia cranked hard on his throat.

“That guillotine was super tight, but I had no intention of tapping,” Spicuzza said. “I’ve tapped before and I wasn’t too satisfied. I’m going to sleep before I do that again.”

When Spicuzza eventually escaped, Palencia was shocked.

“I really thought I had him,” Palencia said. “I don’t know where he got the room to get out of it. I thought that was game right there.”

The missed opportunity would come back to haunt him as Palencia was unhappy with the decision.

“I haven’t seen the fight yet, but I definitely feel like I won it,” he said.

A rematch does not look likely as Spicuzza now looks to turn pro following the win.