2012-02-24
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NFC 135: Tolonen vs Da Man Review

Event Review: NFC 135 Tolonen vs Da Man
Nordic Fire Championship
2012-02-18, Helsinki, Suomi International
Attendance:19,500, Event Rating:422
Author:

 CXXXV was a common year starting on a Friday. 135 film refers to the film cartridge still for photography introduced by Kodak. There are 38 highways around the globe with the number 135. On Saturday, February 18th, 135 took a whole new meaning when the Nordic Fire Championship returned to Helsinki, Finland for NFC 135: Tolonen vs. Da Man. It was a compacity crowd as nineteen-thousand-five-hundred filled Suomi International to watch the #1 fight organization in the world put on another three solid hours of non-stop MMA action. The main event of the evening was a clash between the #1 and #5 superheavyweight fighters ranked in the world, co-headlined by one of the most prestigious titles put on the line. 


The main card action began with a welterweight bout pitting James Kirk (13 - 4 - 0)against Waldorf Astoria (28 - 8 - 0). Both fighters had lost two-in-a-row previously and were looking to get back on the winning track. Astoria used his muay-thai experience early and often, scoring with kicks at will before taking it to Kirk in the clinch. It was in the clinch where Astoria rocked Kirk with a left hand, additional knees, before finally putting the 24-year old away with an uppercut just seconds before the end of the first. Waldorf "The World Renowned" Astoria wins by TKO (Strikes) at 4:57 of round one.

 

Following that was a match between lightweights in Victor Reinhardt (25-10-0) and Seppo Taalasmaa (26-13-0). In round one we saw Taalasmaa score a takedown after taking some abuse standing-up, but Reinhardt executed a masterful sweep. Despite actively looking for submissions from the bottom, Seppo eventually scored a sweep of his own and ended the round in top control. Round two was a standing affair- wherein Reinhardt scored many leg kicks. His strategy of chopping down the opposition definitely helped in this round. Round three saw Reinhardt continue to work the legs and body. After a takedown by Taalasmaa, two really impressive sweeps from both parties made for impressive groundfighting. With all three judges scoring the fight 29:28, it was Victor "Bloodlust" Reinhardt who came away with the close decision win.

 

After that, the light heavyweight action began. Urho Itaniemi (29-11-1) faced Sun Wukong (18-5-0) in the first of the final three fights of the night. In round one, Wukong used superior control of the cage and use of the clinch to pepper Itaniemi with short-range punches, despite Itaniemi scoring with one or two solid uppercuts.It was more of the same in the second round, however Itaniemi was able to break the clinch- only for Wukong to regain the clinch, cut Urho open and drop him with a solid knee. However, Itaniemi was able to survive the round. Round three had barely started when Itaniemi was caught with a right hand, knocking him out cold. "Son Goku" Sun Wukong wins at 0:05 of the third round by KO (Punches).

 

The co-main event of the evening featured a battle for the NFC Light Heavyweight championship. Defending champion Gristle McThornbody (25-4-0) took on challenger Simon Abedisi (20-5-0). It was a back-and-forth fight in the first round, with both fighters preferring to keep it on the feet and slug it out- resulting in McThornbody getting cut. In round two, Gristle used more of a "stalk-and-launch" strategy, using his height advantage to counter with severe combinations. The end of the round saw McThornbody chop down Abedisi with a leg kick, then rock kim with an uppercut. More of the same followed for round three, where Abedisi was unable to take the champion down. Gristle dropped Simon with a heat-seeking head kick, knocking the challenger out cold. At 0:31 of round three, Gristle McThornbody walked away with his belt intact by way of KO (Head Kick). 

 

It was here when we reached our main event of the evening, a clash between top fighters. Iiro Tolonen (30-8-0) faced off against Paco Da Man (20-4-0). This was a fast fight with a shocking ending. After having his takedown sprawled, Tolonen decided to take things into his own capable hands and dropped Da Man with an overhand left. At just 0:29 of round, Iiro Tolonen walked away victorious by way of TKO (Strikes), much to the delight of the hometown crowd, who went absolutely crazy.

 

Results from the undercard:
Ratt Hughes defeated Eric Cartman by Unanimous Decision (30:27, 30:27, 30:27)
Frank Andersson defeated Sami Salama by Unanimous Decision (30:27, 30:28, 30:27)
Huey Freeman defeated Korto Grepplund by TKO (Strikes) at 02:23 of round 3.
Maddy Rock defeated Palkki Niskavuori by Unanimous Decision (30:27, 30:27, 29:28)
Mike The Meth Addict defeated Carlos Arienzo by Unanimous Decision (30:28, 29:28, 29:28)

 

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