With the 559 Fights middleweight title vacated, 559 Fights has gathered some of the top amateur middleweights in the state to decide a new champ. Hanford's (2-1) Giovanni Ascencio enters the tournament fighting out of the Ochoa Combat Academy. He takes on Fresno's (2-0) Larry Zavala. Ascencio comes in on a two fight win streak, where he finished both opponents in the first round.
Ascencio was born in Hanford, Ca and raised down the road in Armona, CA. We've been following his amateur MMA career since he made his debut in 2022. I caught up with him prior to his fight at 559 Fights 99. I started by asking how life has been, and how he got into MMA? Ascencio replied,
"I’ve been good, All Is Well. I started out boxing first, then I got into MMA. I feel good so far on my amateur MMA journey. I'm still learning and growing everyday as I go."
When asked how many amateur fights he planned on doing before going pro, Giovanni added,
"I'm thinking about five to seven more fights at the amateur level before I decide to go pro."
It should be no surprise that Ascencio started out in the striking department. He won his last two fights by ko and tko inside the first round. When I first seen Ascencio fight, he was training in Hanford. He now trains at the Ochoa Combat Academy with Jacob Jeff, who continues to keep the legendary Team Ochoa in the mix when it comes to MMA in the valley. I asked Giovanni if there was a reason for the move? he simply replied,
"I started training at Valley Fight Club in Hanford, then just decided to train in Lemoore at Ochoa Combat Academy with Jacob Jeff."
"I love striking due to the fact that I started boxing first, but yeah. All in all we're working on everything right now."
The undefeated Larry Zavala also comes into the fight with two first round finishes, last seeing action at 559 Fights 92, where he stopped his opponent by tko in :49 seconds. I asked Ascencio what he knew about his opponent, he said,
"All I know is, as of right now. My opponent is a stand up fighter.."
I don't think this fight will need the judges and I see the winner as the favorite to win it all come 559 Fights 100. I asked Ascencio if he had anyone he wanted to thank or shout out? he finished with,
"I Just want to thank my family, Ochoa Combat Academy and my new sponsor NW$E! Come July 29th you guys can expect A clean fight and I hope everyone enjoys it!"
On the other side of the tournament bracket Bakersfield's (3-2) Pedro Trujillo takes on (5-4) Andrew Priolo. Trujillo, out of One Nation MMA in Bakersfield will look to get back on track in his 559 Fights debut. As well as put himself in line for a title shot.
Andrew Priolo fights out of American Canyon, CA and competed for the promotion back in 2016. Priolo was riding a three fight win streak prior to his last fight.
The winners will face off for the 559 Fights middleweight title at 559 Fights 100 in September.
559 Fights and CAMO State Lightweight championship (5-0) Blake "The Snake" Decourcy vs (3-1-0-1) Dorian Hale
Interim 559 Fights Flyweight Championship (3-1-0-1) George Burgos vs (3-0) Robert Lopez
CAMO State Featherweight Championship (6-4) Mark Feliz vs (6-1) Ramon Cornejo
559 Fights Bantamweight championship (2-1) Isaiah Munoz vs (2-2) Julio Larrave
(3-2) Pedro Trujillo vs (5-4) Andrew Priolo
(2-1) Giovanni Ascencio vs (2-0) Larry Zavala
(2-0) Kyle Mask vs (0-0) Toamalama Scanlan
(2-0) Gabriel Reyes vs (2-1) Sebastian Gomez
(1-0) Ronnie Reyes vs (1-1) Eathon Rider
(1-1) Jose Riojas vs (2-2) Michael Gomez
(1-0) Antonio Ruelas vs (0-0) Kurt Tovar
(0-2) Darrien Williams vs (0-1) Jimmy White
(0-0) Anthony Romero vs (0-1) Hector Barbosa
(0-0) Andy Ordonez vs (0-0) Salvador Aceves
(0-0) Rene Lemus Cortes vs (0-0) James Albanez
visit 559 Fights at www.559fights.com on Facebook@ www.facebook.com/559Fights and On IG@ www.instagram.com/559fights
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By: Daniel "Trip" Quintana www.noweakshitever.com
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