June 27, 2009 is a day that will go down in history for Ivey League MMA as Matt Brennon won the Championship title at MMA/ Thai Nationals 2009. His impressive performance included three bouts all resulting in unanimous decisions. It was a long day for Matt with only a few hours between each fight to recover, but his conditioning and dedication prevailed. Congratulations Matty B!
Matt fought in the featherweight division (145 lbs) in a very competitive bracket with 8 competitors vying for the title. Matt’s fights captivated the audience. He showcased his talents in striking, submission attempts, ground and pound, and of course, wrestling take downs! He pressed each of his opponents throughout his fights with unrelenting attacks. His strategy clearly worked!
In his championship fight, Matt faced a tough opponent who was well prepared for the fight after having a medical bye in the previous round. Matt immediately attack with striking combinations that left his opponent stunned. After a few exchanges on the feet, Matt took the fight to the ground with a body lock takedown. The two scrambled on the ground until Matt locked on an armbar attempt. His opponent was able to escape the armbar by rolling into the cage when time ran out on the first round. The next round started much like the first, with a few strikes followed by another takedown dictated by Matt. Matt maintained the dominate position throughout the entire round and constantly raining down punches. He ended the second round dominating with a barrage of hammerfists to the head. In the final round Matt took the fight straight to the ground with a double leg takedown. While on the ground, Matt maintained his dominance and pounded at every opportunity. The ref brought the fight back on the feet for the last portion of the fight with the two rumbling back and forth. He ended the fight with a ferocious body slam, sealing the deal and winning Matt the Championship.
We can’t say enough about Matt and how proud we are of him. A thank you and congratulations also goes out to the coaching staff that supported him throughout the day, Danny Ives, Jason Ferral, and Jeff Blachey. Thank you to the students who helped Matt prepare by working with him, challenging him, and being his punching bag! It’s a gratifying day for Ivey League MMA and Matt Brennon! Enjoy a few pictures of the fight below.
