Hanford’s Gonzalez scores 1st-round knockout in MMA matchup

LEMOORE -- Luis Gonzalez continues to prove he isn't a one dimensional mixed martial artist. The Hanford fighter known mostly as a world-class jiu jitsu player improved to 2-0 with a knockout victory over Los Angeles flyweight Maurice Eazel (3-9) on Thursday in a Palace Fighting Championship special feature at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino's night of boxing.

"He wanted to stand and he was pretty scrappy," said Gonzalez, who stopped the fight with a right hand in the first round. "I knew he was a good wrestler, so I thought that he would shoot in and try and take me down."

But Eazel opted to try and stand with Gonzalez.

"I felt pretty confident out there. I was kind of surprised that he didn't shoot in," Gonzalez said. "When we did go to the ground, I just used my jiu jitsu to get to my feet."

In the other MMA bout at the Palace on Thursday night, Reno featherweight Leland Gridley (3-2) won by split decision over Las Vegas' David Smith (4-2).

(June 27, 2008)