Clayton KO, Renteria Liver Shot Steal the Show in San Diego

Epic Fighting returned to San Diego on Friday, February 20, 2026, and the fighters on the Epic 64 card left absolutely nothing to chance. Held at the Four Points by Sheraton San Diego (8110 Aero Drive, San Diego, CA 92123), the 10-bout amateur MMA event delivered a staggering seven finishes — including knockouts, submissions, and one of the most vicious body shots you’ll see at any level of competition.

Four amateur title fights anchored the card, and every single championship bout delivered memorable moments. From first-round stoppages to hard-fought decisions that went the distance, Epic 64 gave the San Diego MMA community exactly what it came for: raw, relentless competition from fighters hungry to prove themselves.

Here’s a full breakdown of every fight on the card.

Bout 10 – Amateur Title | Featherweight (145 lbs)

Daniel Renteria def. Logan Ramirez TKO via liver shot – Round 1, 2:13

The night ended with an exclamation point. Daniel Renteria (@dmoneyjj) closed out Epic 64 with a highlight-reel title fight finish, dropping Logan Ramirez with a perfectly placed liver shot at 2:13 of the first round. Body work is an underappreciated art in MMA, and Renteria executed it with precision. When a liver shot lands clean, there’s no getting up — and Ramirez found that out the hard way. A statement-making finish to claim championship hardware and cap off the card.

Bout 9 – Amateur | Heavyweight (200 lbs)

Nate Ray def. Jonah Hendrickson Submission via rear naked choke – Round 1, 1:02

Nate Ray (@snakethenatemma) wasted zero time. Just 62 seconds into the opening round, Ray locked up a rear naked choke on Jonah Hendrickson (@jonahlikes2fight) and forced the tap. At 200 lbs, that kind of speed and submission efficiency is impressive. Ray came in with a plan and executed it before most fans had settled into their seats.

Bout 8 – Amateur Title | Lightweight (155 lbs)

Kellvon Clayton def. Mustafa Bell KO – Round 1, 1:36

One punch. Lights out. Title fight over. Kellvon Clayton (@kellvonclaytonmma) scored the most emphatic finish of the evening, putting Mustafa Bell (@stafmma) away with a clean knockout just 96 seconds into the first round of their championship bout. When the referee waves it off that quickly in a title fight, there’s nothing left to debate. Clayton’s power at 155 lbs is serious, and walking away with a belt after a performance like that will have people paying close attention to his name going forward.

Bout 7 – Amateur Title | Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)

Khallil Stokes def. Khajuan Mattocks TKO via strikes – Round 2, 2:00

Khallil Stokes (@luckylefty__13) showed patience and poise in this title fight against Khajuan Mattocks (@themultiversalwarrior), weathering the first round before turning up the pressure in the second. Stokes overwhelmed Mattocks with strikes at the 2:00 mark of round two, earning the TKO stoppage and the championship. It was a calculated performance — survive, assess, then attack — and it paid off in a big way at 205 lbs.

Bout 6 – Amateur Title | Bantamweight (135 lbs)

Antonio Hayes def. Nathan Hawthorne Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

The closest title fight of the night came at bantamweight. Antonio Hayes (@igs.tone) edged out Nathan Hawthorne across three competitive championship rounds, taking the split decision on all three scorecards with identical 29-28 scores. Both fighters left everything in the cage for the full 15 minutes, and Hawthorne has nothing to hang his head about. This one could have gone either way, but Hayes did just enough to earn the nod from the judges and take home the title.

Bout 5 – Amateur | Lightweight (155 lbs)

Omar Ojeda def. Isaac Verdugo Submission via armbar – Round 1, 2:59

Omar Ojeda (@prodbyyomar) added to the first-round finish count with a slick armbar on Isaac Verdugo (@isaac.v.) at 2:59 of the opening frame. Ojeda’s grappling was sharp all night, and once he isolated the arm, the finish was inevitable. Another lightweight showing that the 155-lb division at Epic Fighting is deep and dangerous.

Bout 4 – Amateur | Lightweight (155 lbs)

Jiovanny Melendez def. Juan Lopez Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-26)

Jiovanny Melendez (@jiovannymelendez) and Juan Lopez (@juanlopez.mma) went to war for three rounds at 155 lbs. Melendez controlled the action throughout, earning the unanimous decision with scores of 29-28, 29-28, and a wider 30-26 from one judge. Lopez fought hard and made it competitive, but Melendez’s consistency across all three rounds was the difference. A gutsy performance from both fighters.

Bout 3 – Amateur | Lightweight (155 lbs)

Elijah Tagalog def. Todd Schultz TKO via strikes – Round 3, 0:54

After two rounds of battling back and forth, Elijah Tagalog (@lapu_lapu_bjj) came out in the third round with bad intentions. Just 54 seconds into the final frame, Tagalog swarmed Todd Schultz (@tschultz607) with strikes and earned the TKO stoppage. There’s something special about a fighter who can dig deep and find a finish in the final round. Tagalog did exactly that.

Bout 2 – Amateur | Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)

Petar Bojicic def. Gabriel Vivan Submission via rear naked choke – Round 1, 1:03

Another first-round submission, another rear naked choke. Petar Bojicic (@petar.bojicic) made quick work of Gabriel Vivan (@gabrielvivan12), securing the fight-ending choke at just 1:03 of round one. Bojicic’s grappling was suffocating from the opening bell, giving Vivan no time to establish any offense. Efficient and dominant.

Bout 1 – Amateur | Bantamweight (135 lbs)

Gio Mendez def. Jose Martinez Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

The evening’s opening bout set the tone for everything that followed. Gio Mendez (@mmagiom) put on a technical clinic against Jose Martinez (@josecovarrubias_mtz), winning by unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28. Mendez controlled the pace and range for three rounds, showing composure and skill that kept Martinez guessing all night. A complete performance to open the show.

The Takeaway

Epic 64 showcased the depth and excitement of the Southern California amateur MMA scene. Seven finishes in 10 fights — including three knockouts or TKOs and three submissions — meant the crowd at Four Points by Sheraton San Diego was on its feet all night. The four title fights each told a different story, from Renteria’s vicious liver shot to Clayton’s first-round knockout to Stokes’ second-round surge to Hayes’ razor-thin split decision. Every champion earned it.

For more information on Epic Fighting and upcoming events, visit EpicFighting.com.

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