Bunny ears weren’t the only thing things standing at attention
at the Playboy Mansion Saturday night.
Bunny ears weren’t the only thing things standing at attention at the Playboy Mansion Saturday night.
Roughly 1,000 fight fans had reason to rise from their seats when Gilroy’s Anthony “AntDawg” Figueroa put together a devastating three-punch combination to floor Miguel Linares in the first bout of a mixed martial arts event arranged by San Jose-based Strikeforce.
The fight lasted only two minutes and nine seconds into the first of three scheduled rounds and improved Figueroa’s record to 3-1, while also giving the fighter his first career knockout.
“We came into a tight clinch and I came at him with an uppercut, and a hook, and another uppercut. I caught him flush on the chin” Figueroa said. “I’ve been waiting to get the knockout man. I’ve been fighting those long fights. I like them – a lot of action, gets you to test your skills, but the knockout felt good. I think it was a crowd-pleaser for everybody.”
The win gave the 135-pound fighter a fantastic finish to the first month of fall. In addition to a $2,000 payday for winning the bout (a larger sum than had he lost), on September 12 his wife gave birth to daughter Alexa Janae. The couple also have two sons.
“I came home with a black eye and they were like, ‘Oh, you won? Good.’
“It was awesome. I got to fight in front of Hugh Hefner, top-named fighters, celebrities,” Figueroa said. “It was completely different. A very exclusive event. You had to know somebody to get in.”
According to the fighter, getting hold of tickets for the event often required having a connection and $1,000. A small price to fulfill a dream of most men.
“I think every man,” Figueroa said.
As part of a ticket, guests had access to “a completely open bar, gourmet buffet, wine tasting, cigars” and of course a seat to watch 12 brutal bouts. Hefner had a bird’s eye view of the action, sitting in the seat of honor with his girlfriend(s).
“I didn’t really meet him,” Figueroa said, “but I saw him. He was front row.”
Morgan Hill’s Daniel Puder also took part in the event, defeating Richard Dalton in a three-round unanimous decision. According to MMATorch.com, Puder received $20,000 for his efforts.
Figueroa said the victory could open up more opportunities in the near future, possibly earning the fighter a spot on the next Strikeforce card, which is expected to be held at HP Pavilion in November.
To find out more information about all of the Strikeforce fights at the Playboy Mansion, go to mmaweekly.com. To see more images, you can also check out napkinnights.com.
