Reno 911- prospect Johnson halts Lopez’s win streak & Mulhern subs Adzitso for WW crown at King of the Cage

Reno, NV-King of the Cage's return trip to the HDNet airwaves featured two of the promotion's titles on the line as well as lightweight prospect Dustin Akbari's television debut.

The televised portion of the card opened with a welterweight title clash between four star prospect Quinn Mulhern (11-1) and Koffi Adzitso (11-7). Adzitso took to the center of the cage early putting Mulhern on his heels with strikes.

On the mat Mulhern chained together submission attempts on Adzitso at a rapid pace. The first round bell rang with Adzitso stretched out in a deep omoplata should locker by Mulhern.

In the second period, Mulhern wasted little time taking the fight back down to the floor. A trip takedown from Mulhern would lead to the submission finish for the New Mexico fighter. Following a handful of strikes from Mulhern, Adzitso gave up his back and got trapped in a firm rear naked choke for the tap-out at the 1:36 mark.

A rising 25 year old prospect Mulhern is a dual division prospect who may find his permanent home to be 155 pounds. Mulhern has won three straight dating back October 2009 where his only career loss came to current UFC fighter Mike Guymon.

Green heavyweight prospect Tony Johnson (3-0) dominated King of the Cage heavy and light heavyweight champion Tony Lopez (18-3) for the duration of their 25 minute title fight. A former Division I wrestler at Iowa State, Johnson exposed Lopez's lack of takedown defense and true heavyweight size in winning all five rounds on the judge's scorecards.

The 36 year old Lopez did show brief glimpses of offense while working off his back for the majority of the fight. In the championship rounds Lopez came close on a couple of submission attempts, including a tight armbar that Johnson managed to escape from with just seconds remaining in the fifth frame.

All three judges at ringside scored the fight 50-45 in favor of Johnson. Training with the famed American Top Team gym in Florida, the 24 year old Johnson will project as a top prospect in the always thin heavyweight division.

Lightweight prospect Dustin Akbari (5-1) stole the undercard spotlight with his impressive performance over veteran Jack Montgomery (7-8). The bout was contested at a catch-weight after Montgomery came in overweight. An early takedown and some vicious ground n'pound was all Akbari needed to score his first win of 2010.

At only 22 years of age and training with California's Team Alpha Male fight camp, Akbari is a four star prospect with huge upside. With a few more marquee wins and invaluable in-ring seasoning, Akbari could position himself to land a call-up to a national MMA by the end of the calendar year.

King of the Cage on HDNet results
Reno, NV

Quinn Mulhern def. Koffi Adzitso by submission rear naked choke 1:36 R2
Nick Gaston def. Mike Guidry by submission key-lock 4:49 R1
Jaime Jara def. Tim Means by submission guillotine choke 2:19 R1
Tony Johnson def. Tony Lopez by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Dustin Akbari def. Jack Montgomery by KO 2:30 R1
Mike Kyle def. Jon Murphy by TKO 4:53 R2