Herrera finds ways to improve after losing title in split decision

Thomas Herrera didn’t get the result he wanted at the A-Town Throwdown Three at the Holiday Inn’s Austin Conference Center Friday night, but he took a step to becoming a better fighter.

Herrera lost on a split decision to Melvin Cruz in the 185-pound title fight. Cruz won three of the five rounds.

“It was a classic boxer versus wrestler fight,” Herrera said. “He had a very good strikes and he was on point. I took him down quite a few times and it was a very good back and forth battle.”

In hindsight, Herrera was hoping he could’ve been a little more aggressive in the title bout.

“I could’ve imposed my will a lot better and not left it in the judge’s hands. You don’t want to just try and let the judges decide it,” Herrera said. “I was trying to finish as well as I could, but I think I could’ve imposed my will a little better than I did.”

Herrera was already looking forward to getting back in the gym right after the fight, but he knows that he needs to let his body rest for a couple of days. The fight left a lasting impression on what Herrera needs to work on next.

“It opened my eyes and it made me a better fighter,” Herrera said. “I fought a tough opponent to a split decision. It’ll get me in the gym and working harder. Maybe I need to work on my strikes more so I don’t always rely on my wrestling.”

Herrera thanked Troy Williams of IMPACT Fitness in Austin for training him.

A-Town Throwdown Three results

PROFESSIONAL

Heavyweight: Travis Wiuff def. Danyelle Williams by unanimous decision (50-45).

160: Jeremy Castro def. Ryan Stock by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

AMATEUR

185: Melvin Cruz def. Thomas Herrera by split decision (50-45, 47-48, 50-45).

150: Chris Karge def. Paul Burgin by TKO at :44 of first round.

115: Berta Gray def. Brooke Possehl by submission due to strikes at 1:22 of first round.

205: Tom Krenzel def. Jared Lange by submission due to armbar at 2:26 of first round.

180: Mike Waltz def. Josh Erdmann by submission due to armbar at 1:13 first round.

140: Zach Buros-Nash def. Anthony Yost by TKO at 1:26 of first round.

145: Cipriano Sanapaw def. Joe Willson by TKO at 2:23 of second round.

135: Collin Connery def. Johnny Rosa by KO at :15 of first round

135: Jesse Fisher def. Ben Ames by submission due to guillotine choke at 2:02 of first round.

135: Dalton Sellner def. Bradly Hicks by unanimous decision (29-28 on all three).

145: Victor Cabadas def. Dale Walters by submission due to standing guillotine choke at 1:12 of first round.

—Results courtesy of MMA News