In the nine months since holding their inaugural show in May of 2014, Front Streets Fights are hitting their stride by providing combat sports fans in the Treasure Valley some very compelling MMA matchups at the CenturyLink Arena in downtown Boise. At Front Street Fights 4 on February 21st, 8 MMA bouts went down - 4 pro and 4 amateur - featuring fighters from around Idaho, and from Oregon and Utah as well.

In the main event, Brandon "Hot Rod" Hempleman, fighting with Team Sklavos of Twin Falls, was certainly the fan favorite as compared to his opponent, UFC/WEC veteran Steven Siler, who was a late replacement to the card and came in representing The Pit Elevated out of Orem Utah. The bout was a contracted pro 135 lb contest, but Siler - who has spent most of his career at 145 lbs - came in ten pounds over. Hempleman though gamely accepted the fight and when the bell sounded, the pair circled each other, both landing with leg kicks as well as with a few punches mixed in. The fighters both looked patient as they traded in a at a somewhat slow pace. But suddenly, midway through the first, Siler caught Hempleman with a sneaky straight right that dropped him. Siler made no mistake in following Hempleman down, gaining mount, and raining down hard head shots that Hempleman was unable to defend, forcing a ref stop at the 2:45 mark.

In the co-main event, Team Sklavos' Czar Sklavos took on Rose City FC's Benny Vinson. A closely-fought first round saw an almost immediate takedown by Sklavos but Vinson grabbed Sklavos neck and locked on a tight guillotine that Sklavos had to fend off. After a minute or so, Sklavos broke free and the pair went back to a standing clinch against the cage with Sklavos relentless in going for a takedown. Vinson did well in defending it and landed the occasional knee as the pair battled for positioning. Late in the round, Skalvos got his takedown, took Vinson's back, and sunk a tight rear naked choke, but the round ended. In the 2nd, it was Vinson who shot in and got a nice slam, but Sklavos had him locked in a tight guillotine that Vinson had to roll out of, allowing Sklavos to gain Vinson's back on the ground. Sklavos put a tight body lock on Vinson and then proceeded to work for the rear naked choke. Vinson on his part defended the choke for the better part of the next three minutes, at one point standing up with Sklavos still on his back and trying to slam his way out of it. But Sklavos would not be denied, finally submitting Vinson with the RNC at 3:24 of Rd2.

All 8 of the bouts from Front Street Fights 4 have been uploaded to the promotions youtube channel at youtube.com/frontstreetfights. Stay up-to-date on Front Street Fights news by liking their Facebook page at facebook.com/frontstfights.

FRONT STREET FIGHTS 4 RESULTS
Bout 1 - Amateur 155 lbs
Sonny Silva (Debut - Team Sklavos, Twin Falls ID) def Josh Oquendo (Debut - Boise) by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Bout 2 - Amateur 135 lbs
Stephen Stirewalt (2-3 - Combat Fitness/SBGi Idaho, Boise) def Leon Taylor (1-2 - Fearless MMA, Nampa ID) by Triangle Choke @ 1:01 Rd 1

Bout 3 - Amateur 170 lbs
Michael Garcia (1-1 - Team No Excuse, Caldwell ID) def Derrick Urquidi (0-1 - Hardcore Idaho, Boise) by Unanimous Decision (All judges 30-27)

Bout 4 - Amateur 150 lbs
Vince Morales (3-0 - Sidekicks/Fearless MMA, Ontario OR) def Palaal Crawford (1-0 - Hardcore Idaho, Boise) by Guillotine Choke @ 1:49 Rd 2

Bout 5 - Pro 135 lbs
Joe Hamilton (1-0 - Sklavos MMA, Twin Falls ID) def Carson Frei (Pro Debut - Rose City FC, Portland OR) by TKO (Strikes) @ 1:06 Rd 2

Bout 6 - Pro 125 lbs
Freddy Arteaga (5-3 - Combat Fitness/SBGi Idaho, Boise) def Weston Barnes (2-6 - Team Davis MMA, Idaho Falls ID) by Verbal Tap to Strikes @ 4:10 Rd 1

Co-main Event - Pro 130 lbs
Czar Sklavos (10-4 - Team Sklavos, Twin Falls ID) def Benny Vinson (6-2-1 - Rose City FC, Portland OR) by Rear Naked Choke @ 3:24 Rd 2

Main Event - Pro 145 lbs
Steven Siler (24-14 - The Pit Elevated, Orem UT) def Brandon Hempleman (10-2 - Team Sklavos, Twin Falls ID) by TKO (Strikes) @ 2:45 Rd 1