Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has been a regular fixture at Commerce Casino in East LA for over ten years now.
The Californian state organization fights, such as the UFC, won’t allow their fighters to compete in the state. Meaning there’s an opening for another promotion. And Commerce stepped up to the plate. As a result, we’ve seen some incredible MMA fights inside Bicycle Casino & Resort. Let’s look back at some of the biggest MMA fights at Commerce Casino and see who had the edge.
#5 Joe Taimanglo vs Ricky Steele – Cage Warriors Championship (2019)
Let’s start our list of biggest MMA fights at Commerce Casino with a banger from 2019. This one was all about the bantamweight title. Joe Taimanglo entered the cage with a perfect 24-0 record. So, many believed he would waltz past Ricky Steele and continue his dominance.
Not only does Steele train out of the world-famous Black House Gym in Texas, but he also had the hometown advantage here. And the crowd played its part, will Ricky on his way to snatching the belt.
7Red Casino Review UK - Slots & Other Games to PlayIt wasn’t to be, however, as Taimanglo showed why he’s one of the best bantamweights in the game today. He used his reach to keep Steele at bay during the first round. Then, he took him down to the mat several times in the second to earn a unanimous decision.
A lot of people thought that Steele won the first round, which proved to be the only real chance he got. Do you think the hometown advantage plays too big of a role in mixed martial arts? Having the support of the crowd behind you can make a huge difference in high pressure situations like this.
Another great event in the books! Thank you to everyone who came out last night and thanks to our amazing broadcast team @combattv @UFC Fight Pass . Check out some pictures from last nights event below courtesy of @GabeTibaudoPhotography ! See you soon! 🏊♂️👌 #cagewarriors111
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Here’s the video highlights so you can judge for yourself.
#4 Adam Townsend vs Gary Tapusoa – Cage Warriors 37 (2013)
Next up on our list of biggest MMA fights at Commerce Casino is one that ended in tragedy. We certainly didn’t expect one of the combatants to leave the arena in an ambulance. This added an eerie feeling to what was a highly anticipated clash between two heavyweights.
Townsend and Tapusoa didn’t disappoint either. They went at it hammer and tongs from the off. Both tried to get the fight to the ground early, but neither could get the upper hand. It wasn’t until the third round that there was a turning point.
Townsend managed to get Tapusoa down before unleashing a flurry of punches to his head. The referee had to step in to stop the fight 80 seconds before the final bell. Gary was unconscious as he was helped from the cage. Sadly, he suffered a brain hemorrhage and passed away a few days later.
Was this an example of unsafe MMA practices? I don’t think so because both fighters were willing participants. Moreover, they each had corners watching over their health. It just goes to show how dangerous this sport can be at at time. In light of recent events, do you think the Commerce Casino MMA events should be toned down?
lucky land casino review#3 Jordan Parsons vs Alex Garcia – Legacy Fighting Alliance 16 (2017)
Our third pick takes us to 2017 when the Legacy Fighting Alliance visited Commerce. Two welterweights entered, but only one left with a record. What followed was a nonstop battle that had the whole arena on its feet.
Garcia dominated the first round, dropping Parsons with a right hook early on. He followed him to the canvas before raining down blows until the ref called a halt to the action. Somehow, Parson made it to his feet at the count of nine and turned the fight on its head.
The next two rounds belonged to him. He managed to take Garcia down in the second before choking him out 4:04 into the third. This earned him $100,000 and the vacant LFA welterweight title. An impressive turnaround by any standard.
Can you believe that Parsons went on to lose his very next fight? Sometimes a fighter can put everything into a performance that they pay the price later. At least he bounced back with a win in April 2020. What do you make of this rollercoaster ride?
#2 André Winner vs Chris Horne – CW 24 (2009)
One of the most explosive endings greeted those inside and betting at the Commerce Casino when Andrè Winner faced Chris Horne back in 2009. It was a lightwelterweight bout destined to set the cage alight. But even I didn’t think it would end as quickly as it did.
Horne charged across the Octagon to engage Winner within seconds of the first bell. The pair traded blows before Horner shot in for a takedown. He almost had a body lock before Winner swept his legs and pinned him to the matt.
Andrè immediately began to rain down punches on Chris’ head. The referee stepped in to halt the fight 22 seconds after it began. Unbelievably, this stands down as the fastest knockout in Commerce history.
Do you think Winner deserved to win fight of the night and receive the $2,500 bonus? His opponent didn’t give him much day to work with, that’s for sure. The way he caught Horne off guard deserves credit, if not the financial reward. What do you think?
Fight of the Night Bonus – Carlos Alexander Duramel vs Victor Rodriguez
- Cage: N/A
- Odds: N/SA
- Result: Duramel wins by split decision after three rounds
Fight of the Night Bonus – Gustavo Trujillo Balderas vs Edgar Valente Briones
- Cage: N/A
- Odds: N/A
- Result: Briones wins by unanimous decision after three rounds
Fight of the Night Bonus – Jose Alday Gonzalez vs Javier Magdaleno Alvarez
- Cage: N/A
- Oddes: N/A
- Result: Magdaleno wins by technical submission (rear-naked choke) in round two
Fight of the Night Bonus – Hector Hernandez Chonguitla vs Israel Hidalgo Meza
- Cage: N/A
- Odds: N/A
- Result: Hidalgo wins by unanimous decision following three rounds
Fight of the Night Bonus – Carlos Alexander Duramel vs Victor Rodriguez
- Cage: CWC 110
- Odds: N/A
- Result: Duramel wins by split decision after three rounds
Fight of the Night Bonus – Gustavo Trujillo Balderas vs Edgar Valente Briones
- Cage: CWC 110
- Odds: N/A
- Result: Briones wins by unanimous decision after three rounds
Fight of the Night Bonus – Jose Alday Gonzalez vs Javier Magdaleno Alvarez
- Cage: N/A
- Odds: N/A
- Result: Magdaleno wins by technical submission (rear-naked choke) in round two
Fight of the Night Bonus – Hector Hernandez Chonguitla vs Israel Hidalgo Meza
- Cage: N/A
- Odds: N/A
- Result: Hidalgo wins by unanimous decision following three rounds
Submission of the Night Bonus – Ricardo Ramos Torres vs Jesus Pineda Sanchez
- Cage: N/A
- Odds: N/ASanchez until he secured a guillotine choke in round three.
Submission of the Night Bonus – Carlos Alfonso Leyva Gomez vs Jorgito Arce Espinoza
PA Casino News & Updates - New Casinos & Games- Cage: CWC 110
- Odds: N/A
- Result: Gomez forced a tapout via triangle armbar in round one.
KO of the Night Bonus – Jonathan Perez Navarro vs Christian Gonzalez Mendoza
- Cage: N/A
- Odds: N/A
- Result: Perez knocked Mendoza cold with a right hook 2:04 into round one.
KO of the Night Bonus – Luis Anibal Perez Reyes vs Erick Gabriel Silva Roldan
- Cage: CWC 110
- Odds: N/A
- Result:: Perez dropped Roldan four times before the ref stopped the fight 4:04 into the first.
KO of the Night Bonus – Andrè Winner vs Chris Horne
- Cage: CW 24
- Odds: N/AWinner surprised everybody by submitting Horne with punches just 22 seconds into the first.
OK, so that covers the biggest fights at Commerce Casino. It’s fair to say we’ve seen some dramatic endings inside the cage since these promotions started using the venue around 2008.
But, let’s be honest, none of these fights come close to the main event of one of the biggest MMA events of all time. You know the one I’m talking about…
Biggest Commerce Casino MMA Fight of All Time
We can debate which of these fights are the biggest Commerce Casino MMA battles of all time. But nothing comes close to the main event of one of the largest pay-per-views in the history of the sport.
Conor McGregor hadn’t fought in the octagon for more than four years ahead of his showdown with Dustin Poirier in January 2021. And a lot of people didn’t give him a chance against the number two-ranked lightweight fighter in the world.
best fanduel casino slotThe trilogy bout headlined a UFC pay-per-view that generated more than 1.3 million buys. Meaning it went down as one of the highest-grossing PPV events ever. And thousands of people watched the fight at watch parties around the Bicycle Hotel and Casino in Commerce, California.
McGregor v Poirier III will always go down as the biggest MMA fight to take place at Commerce Casino… Well, inside the fans anyway. Who knows what could happen if the UFC ever gets the green light to return to California?
Best Free Slots (Instant Play Demos) - Try Them NowThere’s no denying that this was an epic battle between two of the world’s greatest MMA fighters. Poirier dominated large parts of the fight, especially in the middle frame. He floored the Irishman with a right hook before sinking in a brabo choke that threatened to end matters.
Somehow, McGregor found a way to shake his head and improve his position. From there, he spent the rest of the round picking apart Poirier with vicious strikes to the body and head. A cut above, some might say.
That was the difference in the fifth and final round. McGregor came out swinging and put Poirier in trouble with a straight left early on. He didn’t secure the finish, but he did enough to win the round on all five judges’ cards.
And that was enough to earn the Notorious his 22nd win by way of a professional MMA record of 22-4. Do you think he has another title run in him? Would you back him with at these odds?
Other Major MMA Events Held at Commerce Casino
The UFC at Commerce came agonizingly close to happening on multiple occasions. As we’ve already established, it finally happened in 2021 when the Baddest Man on the Planet, Brock Lesnar, made his return to the octagon.
He lost to Randy Couture back in 2007 when the UFC couldn’t operate in the Golden State. So, many saw this as the big return many people thought he would make. Of course, Brock went on to fight multiple times under the WWE banner, so it wasn’t as monumental as some may have hoped.
Anyone who bets on MMA will tell you that the UFC is the top dog in this town. But plenty of other major promotions have graced the Commerce Casino over the years, including:
- Bellator MMA
- Invicta FC
- Legacy Fighting Alliance
- Cage Warriors
- RIZIN Fighting Federation
As you can see from the table above, these promotions have staged dozens of major fights at the Commerce Casino. Many of which have been streamed live around the world on platforms such as ESPN+, DAZN, and UFC Fight Pass.
Now you’ve recapped some of the biggest Commerce Casino MMA fights of all time, would you bet on MMA matches that take place at the venue? If so, check out this three-step guide to getting involved.
How to Bet on MMA Matches at Commerce Casino – BTSE Method
Betting on MMA fights at Commerce Casino is incredibly straightforward, providing you have a reputable site and a solid method. I’m going to walk you through the process using the BTSE betting strategy, which focuses on taking advantage of changing odds. Here are some simple steps you can follow to bet on MMA matches at Commerce Casino.
1. Get Started With the Right MMA Betting Site
I said earlier that the first step to placing a winning bet is finding the right fight to back. I’m now going to change my tune and say that the first step to success begins with choosing the right betting site.
Every one of my recommended MMA betting sites for readers in California is suitable. But only one of them will be the best fit for you. For example, I might be interested in the reload bonuses at Sportsbetting, while you prefer the range of payment options at Bovada.
Take a moment to review each of these operators and choose the one that ticks all your boxes.
2. Make a Deposit and Claim a Bonus
The second step is to make a deposit and claim any welcome bonuses. Cali doesn’t currently offer legal online sports betting. So, you will need to use a site that accepts players from outside of the state.
All of my recommended sites accept customers based in California. And each offers a generous welcome bonus for new customers, providing they …
- Are 18+ or older
- Have never registered or funded an account before
- Make a first deposit of at least $20
- Use the correct promo code (if provided)
Head to the cashier section of your chosen site and make a deposit using a card or transfer. Following this, you will need to create your account and enter any relevant promo codes to claim your bonus.
You should receive your bonus and deposit match in your account almost instantly. Keep in mind that all betting promotions will come with terms and conditions attached, so make sure you read the small print beforehand.
3. Look Out for Changes in MMA Odds at Commerce Casino
Now that you have an account and funds to play with, it’s time to find some valuable bets. One of the best ways to make money betting on MMA is to identify changes in odds leading up to a fight.
Perhaps a fighter opens as a +300 underdog and sees his or her odds shorten to +250 the week before the fight? Maybe there has been a lot of money pouring in on that bet, causing the line to move?
This is where you can move fast and get them on at +230 with a different bookie. That’s known as gaining value through changed odds, and it’s one of the best ways to make consistent profits betting on MMA.
If you’re unsure how to do this, I am going to show you exactly how it’s done with this 5-step guide. Once you feel confident spotting changes in odds, read this to help you decide how much to stake.
FAQs
What is MMA held at Commerce Casino?
Commerce Casino in Eastern Los Angeles has hosted numerous MMA events over the years. Promotions such as the UFC, Bellator, and Cage Warriors have all used the venue due to the restriction placed on full contact combat sports in California.
Does the Commerce Casino have MMA?
Yes, the Commerce Casino in Eastern LA is a popular backup venue for MMA promoters who cannot stage events in California. The Baddest Arena in California, also known as the Bicycle Casino and Hotel, has a seating capacity of over 2,000 and can hold up to 6,000 fighting fans.
Where is the Commerce Casino in LA?
You will find the Commerce Casino and Hotel located in Commerce, California. It’s around eight miles to the east of downtown Los Angeles and a short drive from Dodger Stadium.
Who owns the Commerce Casino?
Kim L. Gottman is the owner, CEO, and president of Commerce Casino. She inherited the business when her father, Frank Gottman, passed away in September 2019.