Tokyo MMA fans were treated to a great night of action at the Hard Knocks Arena on Saturday in an event which saw a few surprises, not least in the main event!
MAIN CARD
Main Event – Middleweight - Kurt Sloane vs Enoc Solves Torres
Enoc Solves Torres had been very vocal in the build to the main event and taunted his opponent on multiple occasions. Torres’s confidence was very evident coming off his big win at BANZIA COMBAT 10.
That confidence soon wilted like a dying plant in the sun as Sloane took him into the clinch and pressed him against the cage. Torres was on the back foot in the opening minutes as he was forced to defend against Sloan’s constant onslaught.
Sloan’s superior Muay Thai skills enabled him to sneak an elbow through Torre’s defence which rocked him….BIG TIME……!!!! Sloan’s efficiency could have been better as he missed a lot of punches as he pounced to look for the finish as a brave Torres managed to block some of the punches. But another vicious elbow dropped Torres and a few punches later it was all over at 2:21 of round 1!
What an upset!! Kurt Sloane will move up the rankings for sure after this big win!
Co-Main Event – Welterweight - Sinan Vrases vs Haya Mi
Well, what a one-sided affair this turned out to be! Haya Mi must have been overcome by the occasion! He did nothing! Absolutely nothing!
In a very unusual contest where not a single punch was thrown, the entire 3 rounds were spent in the clinch, with Sinan Vrases pounding his opponent’s body with no fewer than a total of 74 knees! By the end of the three rounds Mi’s sides were turning blue!
The fight ended in a unanimous decision victory for Sinan Vrases with all three judges scoring the fight 30:24 in his favour.
Haya Mi exits cage-side quickly and quietly after his abysmal performance!
Heavyweight - James Hopkins vs Brandy Vera
This brutal beat-down lasted just 42 seconds! A brutal combination from Hopkins in the opening exchanges sent Vera crashing to the floor! Interestingly Hopkins waved his opponent up and set about inflicting more punishment!
A dazed Vera was out on his feet as Hopkins landed another big combination of punches and knees which sent Vera to the floor again! The ref stepped in at 0:42 of round 1 to save him from further punishment.
With the win James Hopkins puts himself into the top 5 of a massive Heavyweight division.
Heavyweight - Halo Halo vs Reid Raider
Halo Halo dominated the ground game in this encounter despite being a belt lower in BJJ than his opponent. In fact, Raider had very little answers as both fighters showed a lack of killer instinct.
Halo was the busier of the two and won the fight by unanimous decision 30:27, which wasn’t really all that surprising.
Light-Heavyweight - God Sven vs Mike Byson
This entertaining bout went one way and then the other with Mike Bryson getting a couple of takedowns but opting to stand back up again both times. Had he kept the fight on the ground he may have had a batter chance, as the hometown favourite got the better of the stand-up encounters.
Sven landed a two-punch combination which rocked his opponent and then BOOOOOOM!!!! Sven cracked Bryson right on the button, which sent him face first to the canvas! It was all over at 2:47 of round 1.
UNDERCARD
Featherweight- Jaquan Johnson vs Bashira Aya
This was an intriguing fight as Jacquan Johnson got the better of the stand-up, but was easily taken down over and over again by his opponent.
Johnson defended well but at 4:57 of round 1 Aya worked his way into a rear naked choke and made Johnson tap!
Bantamweight- Mr Necro vs Chain Gables
This one went to the ground almost immediately and a fascinating grappling battle followed. I’m not one to say I told you so, but I said in my pre fight comments that Nerco’s height and long limbs might work against him and that is exactly what happened
Gables managed to get a hold of his long neck and apply a guillotine which made Nerco tap at 2:52 of round 1.
The move earned Gables the submission of the night award!
Heavyweight - Ivan Drago vs Jerome Archer
Three punches is what it took for Jerome Archer to dispatch his Rocky pretender opponent, Ivan Drago. A brutal punch to the chin knocked him out cold as the ref had to tear Archer away as he continued to punch his unconscious opponent! He was awarded KO of the night for this big win!
Featherweight - Daichi Tanaka vs Ilia Topuria
Daichi Tanaka fought a very smart fight taking the fight to the ground at any opportunity including pulling guard a couple of times! He was right to avoid Topuria’s superior stand-up skills.
A wonderful takedown, led to a superb armbar by Tanaka. Which made his opponent tap at 4:50 of round 1.
A very good victory for Daichi Tanaka!
Middleweight - Scabs McGee vs Logan McIntyre
100% for effort for both fighters in this opening fight of the night, however I strongly suggest Scabs McGee goes and works on his clinch attempts having 95, yes you heard me right……95 unsuccessful clinch attempts during this fight. McIntyre wasn’t much better with 18 unsuccessful takedown attempts!
This fight did have some takedowns, it had reversals and some good stand-up encounters, but McIntyre was just that little bit better in every round and won the fight by unanimous decision 30:27.
OVERVIEW
Attendance: 2,051
KO of the night: Jerome Archer ($5,000)
Sub of the night: Chain Gables ($5,000)
Fight of the night: Logan McIntyre vs Scabs McGee ($5,000 each)
