Caleb Crump celebrates birthday with first MMA win
PUEBLO • Caleb Crump gave himself a heck of a birthday present.Dylan Stubblefield made sure his title belt was going right back home with him.
Saturday night Crump notched his first mixed martial arts victory when he won a unanimous decision over Tyler Arvin at Massari Arena in Pueblo at Top Shelf Entertainment’s Rubicon V on Saturday.
On Sunday, Crump turned 25.
“It feels so good,” he said. “To work so hard for so long and finally see results – I lost my first two fights – so to come back and win is huge.”
Jordan Titoni (3-2), who graduated from Pine Creek in 2006, won his second consecutive professional fight, scoring a unanimous decision over Jake Mendez (1-3).
All three judges scored it 30-27.
Crump (1-2) used his wrestling base to score takedowns in each of the three rounds and stayed in control throughout the welterweight amateur bout. All three judges scored it 30-27.
“I outwrestled him,” Crump said. “The Olympic Training Center is a game-changer. Training with those guys it’s almost unfair.”
Arvin (0-1) was making his MMA debut. He also had a boisterous crowd, while Crump, who moved to Colorado in October to train for wrestling and MMA, didn’t have as many fans.
And he could hear it inside the cage.
“I sold six tickets, I think he sold a little more than that,” Crump joked.
Crump, who waits tables at an Olive Garden near the Citadel Mall, moved to Colorado to train at Victory MMA and Hustle Hard Boxing gym and at the Olympic Training Center in preparation for the U.S. Open wrestling tournament in December.
On Sunday, he doesn’t have to wait tables on his birthday. Instead, he gets to relax. Monday, however, he’s back at it.
“Monday morning I’ll go to four-a-days,” he said. “Getting back to the grind. You’ve got to work like a pro if you want to be a pro.”
As for birthday plans, Crump isn’t doing anything too special.
“I might drink some wine,” he said. “I’m doing some yoga, that’s all I have scheduled.”
Stubblefield (8-5), a former Doherty High wrestler who trains at Shin Gi Tai Jiu-Jitsu in the Springs, retained the 145-pound Rubicon amateur title after stopping Fernando Sanchez (0-4-1) in the first round via TKO (punches).
Stubblefield scored two takedowns in the round and made sure he didn’t need a third. He gained Sanchez’s back and rained punches, prompting referee Eric Heinz to stop the fight.
Hector Leon (3-2 amateur, bantamweight) dropped his first MMA fight in Colorado and second consecutive overall when he tapped out after Cole Griego (2-1) slapped on a rear naked choke midway through the second round.
Leon, stationed at Fort Carson, was returning to the cage for the first time in more than two years after being stationed at Camp Carroll in Daegu, South Korea.
Griego, who took the fight on short notice, missed weight for the 135-pound bout on Friday.
Caleb Crump throws punches at Tyler Arvin during their fight Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Crumb won the fight. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Bryan Romero (right) fights Austin Brown Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Romero won the match 29-28. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Tyler Arvin (right) and Caleb Crump fight Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Crump won the fight. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Nate Cullision (left) dodges a punch from Joseph Quintana during their fight Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Cullison won the fight in the first round. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Nate Cullision celebrates after beating Joseph Quintana in the first round Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Jon Nelson enters the cage to fight Nick Graziano Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Dylan Stubblefield raises his hands after beating Fernando Sanchez Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Jordan Titoni hits Jake Mendez during their fight Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Jake Mendez winces as he fights Jordan Titoni Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Titoni won the match. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Adam Vigil celebrates after beating Travis Aragon Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Caleb Crump throws punches at Tyler Arvin during their fight Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Crumb won the fight. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Jon Nelson enters the cage to fight Nick Graziano Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Adam Vigil celebrates after beating Travis Aragon Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Jordan Titoni hits Jake Mendez during their fight Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Jake Mendez winces as he fights Jordan Titoni Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Titoni won the match. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette
Dylan Stubblefield raises his hands after beating Fernando Sanchez Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Massari Arena at CSU-Pueblo. Photo by James Wooldridge, The Gazette