Aaron Brink, the adult performer known as Dick Delaware, suffered a stunning defeat Friday night in the main event of Pangea Fights at the Hollywood Palladium.
Brink was submitted by Sherman "The Tank" Pendergarst in 54 seconds after Pendergarst applied a standing, rear-naked choke hold on the Huntington Beach fighter, forcing him to tap out. Brink attempted to fight off the choke but couldn't loosen the Baltimore fighter's grip because it was sunk so deep as he hung on his back.
Going into the bout, the eight-year veteran Brink figured to have his best chance to win by keeping the fight standing and testing the chin of the less experienced Pendergarst, who is a former Division I wrestler at Coppin State and Old Dominion University. But after their initial exchange of punches in which Brink landed a clean, left hook, Brink grabbed Pendergarst, drove him into the fence and tried to wrestle him to the ground. Pendergarst countered that by taking Brink down and quickly gaining control of his back. When Brink stood up with Pendergarst still on his back, even the raucous crowd seemed to realize he was in serious trouble.
"After we exchanged the first hits, it seemed like he didn't want to stand with me any more," said the 6-foot-1, 242-pound Pendergarst who trains with the Miletich Camp in Bettendorf, Iowa. "Then when we tied up, I said, 'wait, you're not trying to throw me now. That's my game. I was surprised."
Pendergarst improved his professional record to 7-3 and raised his profile as a prospect to watch by beating Brink, who is now 26-19-1 in a career that has included battles with some of the top fighters in the sport.
"I'm on my way to the UFC. That's my goal," Pendergarst said, adding he would fight one more time in the heavyweight division before dropping to light heavyweight (205 pounds).
It is unclear what Brink will do next between performing about three sex scenes per week for companies such as Vouyer Media, Combat Zone, Lethal Hardcore and Cherry Boxxx. Several members of the adult industry came to the event, including Cassandra Cruz, Jenna Presley, Travis Nestor, T.J. DiReda, Todd Todd, Mark Ashley, John Strong, Mike Ramone, Scott Ross and Chico Wang.
UFC veteran John Lober worked Brink's corner along with Muay Thai kickboxing specialist Ken Rose. Fellow UFC vet David "Tank" Abbott had planned to be in Brink's corner, but couldn't get licensed in time and sat in the crowd.
Pictured: Ken Rose, Dick Delaware and John Lober.
