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Honor Fighting Championship had one of their, if not their best event yet over the weekend. As always Mr. Monk put together on hell of an event card, making all the fans and Meet the Future very happy. Now I always do a review of the events, but this time I decided to do my review a little different. I am going to ask everyone who reads all the reviews and previews to head to the Smack Talk Thread and let me and Mr. Monk know if you like the new format or not. I usually do almost a live update blog about the fights, but if you were there or seen the play by play there is no need for something like that. So I what I have chosen to do for this event was to do an actual review. It will not be an exact play by play, so it should lend a slightly different prospective than what you are used to getting. Please let us know if the new format is working or not.
Preliminary Bout Number 1- Light Heavyweight Fight (205lbs)
Dave "D" Davisdon defeats "Dangerous" Phillip Finnegan
Finnegan looked good in the stand up, for what little bit there was. He was able to land at an incredibly high percentage, but that did not stop Davisdon’s clinch and takedown tactics. Davisdon took the fight down very quickly but he was not feeling the positioning and stood back up. After a few seconds we got to see the second clinch and takedown and Dave was now ready to punch, improve and submit his way to victory. Davisdon gets the submission win at 2:39 of the first round. Both of these fighters are not in the top ten so who knows what’s next for them, maybe a top ten opponent for Davisdon, we will have to wait and see.
Preliminary Bout Number 2- Light Heavyweight Fight (205lbs)
Cullen Bohannan defeats Tim Tupy
Tupy was the more aggressive fighter, but that does not always give you the desired result. Tupy threw 27 strikes to Bohannan’s 11. Even though Tupy threw more than double the strikes we see a total different number in what landed as Tupy landed 6 shots to Bohannan’s 10. I also thing Cullen was able to land the more powerful shots including 4 big head kicks, two of which sent Tim to the ground with one of those knocking him out. Tupy did get a few clean ones in though cutting Cullen early but a very nice recovery and win at 2:25 of the first round by knockout via head kick. Tupy 1 Bohannan 1 will there be a third fight to settle the score once and for all?
Preliminary Bout Number 3- Welterweight Fight (170lbs)
Alex "Almighty" Irwin defeats Keyser "The Con Artist" Soze
This one was a little hard for me to watch, mainly because I manage Soze and I did not think he had much of a chance. He wanted the fight though, and I could not talk him out of making his debut. Soze initiated several clinches but was dominated by Irwin in the clinch. Outside of the clinch it was almost as if these two where on different planets. Irwin destroyed Soze with ease landing a huge uppercut at 1:06 of the first round, and got the win by way of knockout. Soze is off to Helsinki and back to training as Irwin looks to climb up the Welterweight chain here in HFC.
Preliminary Bout Number 4- Lightweight Fight (155lbs)
Bolius "One round fighter" Kalabokas defeats Junior "The Red Pitt" Flores
Flores really struggled in the takedown department and that is what cost him the most in this one I think. The fight lasted about four minutes and Flores had 11 failed takedown attempts, which will put a serious strain on any fighter. Both of these guys landed a similar amount of punches and while Flores was more accurate Kalabokas was able to land some combinations. When you can string two or three shots together it wears your opponent down just a little bit more. Kalabokas landed a combo after cutting Flores that caused him to tap out from strikes. It was ruled a TKO at 3:57 of the first round for your winner Bolius Kalabokas. This was a big time fight, and Kalabokas should be looking at a title shot right around the corner.
Preliminary Bout Number 5- Middleweight Title Fight (185lbs)
Donovan "Ronin" Robertson defeats Dario "The Killer" Silva
Silva absolutely destroyed Robertson in the first round. Silva was able to get Robertson in the clinch where he just put a hurting on him. Tons of knees to the head and body, and he even looked like he was going to finish Robertson near the end of the round. I scored that round 10-8 for Silva.
Once again in the second round it was much of the same. Silva gains the upper hand in the clinch and goes to work on the body and head of Robertson with knees. For the first four minutes of the round it was total annihilation, then Robertson got a big takedown. The round was almost over but Donovan tried to end the fight anyway forcing Silva to defend several submission attempts. I scored the round for Silva 10-9 and have the fight in favor of Silva 20-17.
The third round starts and we go right where Robertson does not want to be, the clinch. Silva works him over some more, but then moves to range. I then see Robertson engage in the clinch where Silva has dominated this entire fight. Silva went right back to work as well, but Robertson was able to pull guard. Robertson quickly started working for a sweep from bottom guard, and when Silva tried to defend it Robertson slapped on the armbar. Silva after dominating the entire fight was forced to tap out at 2:50 of the third round. There is a few people in line for a shot at this title, but I hope Silva gets a rematch soon, he was clearly winning this fight but that is what happens. Great job to our new Middleweight Champion Donavan Robertson.
Main Card Bout Number 1- Light Heavyweight Fight (205lbs)
"Wrecked" Stew Sauced defeats Nissan "Gtr" Fairtex
To start off our main card one of my favorite fighters in HFC Stew Sauced was in action. Sauced grabbed onto Fairtex and went to town on him. Sauced landed more shots at a higher percentage from the Clinch and it seemed Fairtex was not match at all. Once the two fighters got out of the clinch Sauced dropped Nissan with a uppercut and then dove on top for a quick referee stoppage. Sauced won the fight by TKO at 2:38 of the first round. This fight does not mean Sauced is getting a shot at the title but it should move him up a spot or two, and if he keeps on winning we will see him in the main event soon.
Main Card Bout Number 2- Featherweight Fight (145lbs)
Dewayne Bryant defeats Adam McGrath
The first round was all Bryant. He scored a big takedown to open the round, and then had to defend a submission. Once he defended it, he went to work on submissions of his own. McGrath was able to defend well though stopping four submissions from Bryant. The action dulled out just a little bit, and we got a stand up from our third man in the cage. Bryant scored big with a second takedown though and was able to control until the end of the round. I gave this round to Bryant by a score of 10-9.
Bryant got another takedown early in round two. Once again he started working on any loose limb he could find but I was impressed by McGraths defensive grappling. Bryant was able to get a tight arm triangle on McGrath and was able to submit him at 1:57 of the second round. That big win earned Bryant a title shot as his next fight will be for the Featherweight Championship on February 15th.
Main Card Bout Number 3- Welterweight Fight
"Veliki" Ljuti Hrcak defeats Kevin "GroundnPound" Coonaments
Hrcak was able to get an early takedown on Coonaments but Coonaments seemed more aggressive in the beginning. Kevin started working in some submissions from the bottom but Hrcak was able to defend easily. Hrcak started working in some ground and pound as he improved upon his position. He did try a forearm choke, which I am pretty sure has not won a professional fight in the last decade, but it’s nice to see people still trying. All though that choke attempt did not work, it did leave an opening for Hrcak to take the mount and start raining down hell fire and brimstone and ref has to save Coonaments as Hrcak gets the TKO win at 2:57 of the first round.
Co Main Event and Main Card Bout Number 4- Welterweight Fight (170lbs)
Bobby "The Next Big Thing" Shamrock defeats "Cold Storm" Markus Vinicius
Shamrock locked up a clinch nice and early but he was unable to do anything with it. Vinicius actually got the better part of the clinch but it was broke pretty quickly. Back to range we go and Vinicius starts going for takedown one right after another but Shamrock was defending well. The Next Big Thing seemed to have all the takedowns on his mind though as he was not landing with any sort of accuracy. Vinicius did get a takedown near the middle of the first but Shamrock was able to control until there was a standup. Vinicius did get another takedown in the closing seconds of the round which scored big with the judges. I had to give the round to Vinicius the round, after the second takedown. I got this fight 10-9 so far for Vinicius.
Vinicius goes right back to his bread and butter in the second with more takedown attempts. Shamrock can defend a takedown well, but there is just so many coming at him. Vinicius gets the takedown and Shamrock does a great job just controlling the action and as he was able to avoid most of the ground and pound. We get a ref stand up but Vinicius takes it right back to the mat, and once again Shamrock is controlling like a boss. Once more the ref stands this fight up and Vinicius starts looking for another takedown but time ran out before he was able to get it. 10-9 for Vinicius in the round and for the fight he is up on my card 20-18.
Shamrock is going to need a finish to win this fight here in the third round. Vinicius looks tired but he is still going for one takedown after another. Shamrock is able to defend these telegraphed takedowns without a problem. In this third round Shamrock is clearly less tired and that is his huge advantage. He keeps defending the takedowns well, then Vinicius leaves himself open and Shamrock explodes with a shot to the face. Vinicius goes down hard and Shamrock swarms him to get the stoppage at 1:39 of the third round. It has already been confirmed Shamrocks next fight will be a title eliminator so we know that’s what is next for him, we just do not know who yet.
Main Event, Main Card Bout Number 5- Light Heavyweight Title Fight (205lbs)
Diego Russell draws Khru "OngBak" Maokhamphiou
In the first round Khru stuffed every takedown attempt and there were a lot of them. Russell was unable to do anything in the first round striking wise, and he wore himself out with takedown attempts one after another. Khru hit several leg kicks that did some damage and he also hit a couple of body kicks that cringed the face of Russell. Russell was still very active and adamant about getting a takedown late in the round, but I think the leg kicks have already started to do their job. All three judges scored this round 10-8, but I have it 10-9 in favor of Khru.
The second round was different from the first round for sure. Khru was in and out mixing up his strikes very well. He would take the fight to the clinch and win big there with head and body shots. He would break the clinch and move out of range just to come back in and land leg kicks. The amount of leg kicks he has landed is showing us how much Russell wants it, as he is still standing. Russell’s entire leg is red and purple and I am not sure how he plans on getting any sort of offence going in this fight with a limb like that. This was a 10-8 round for Khru and I have him up 20-17 for the fight.
To start the third round Khru lands yet another leg kick, but Russell pushes forward and gets a takedown on Khru. Now we enter the world of Diego Russell. Russell was still exhausted from all the failed takedowns mixed with the low kicks from Khru in the first two rounds. Diego works some ground and pound and throws up a submission attempt or two, nothing which looked serious as Russell was just doing enough to avoid the stand up. This was clearly the first round Russell won and could it be the turning point in the fight? 10-9 round for Russell but he is still down on the card as I have it 29-27 for Khru.
It seemed as though the fight was not going to turn around for Russell as Khru was able to defend the early takedowns from Russell at the start of round four. During one of the attempts Khru sprawled well and grab double under hooks and was able to pull Russell up into a clinch. Inside the clinch Khru landed some big shots but decided he would rather be at kicking range so he broke the clinch. At that point Russell jumped on him and scored the takedown. Out of fear of losing another round Russell went crazy with submission attempts, one right after another. Khru was able to defend them all well, but Russell was able to steal that round in my opinion. I scored it 10-9 for Russell and we are going to the fifth and final round with the fight at 38-37 Khru in the lead on my card.
Khru was completely gassed by the start of this fifth round. Not saying Russell was ready to run a marathon or anything, but he looked to be better conditioned for a five round fight. Russell was able to secure a takedown in the opening seconds of the round and we see Khru do nothing for five minutes. Russell was trying to finish with submission or ground and pound while Khru tried to minimize damage or just control the fight. It was the most one sided five minutes I have ever seen in Mixed Martial Arts. It was a disgrace. I scored this round 10-8 in favor of Russell, and if I would have been a judge in this fight we would have a winner and a champion. The 10-8 score on my card would end the fight 47-46 in favor of Russell but all three judges scored the first round as a 10-8 not sure what fight they were watching but they did. All three judges scored the fight 46-46 and we have a draw. These two will fight one more time for the title on February 21st and I am certainly looking forward to that.
That will wrap up the big event from Hayashi's Lounge other than your big 5k award winners. For Knockout of the Night Alex Irwin takes home 5k for his huge punch against Keyser Soze. Donavan Roberts wins the title and takes home an of the Night award when he submitted Dario Silva with an armbar to take home Submission of the Night honors. The big title fight draw will obviously take the Fight of the Night award as Khru Maokhamphiou and Diego Russell each walk away with an extra 5k.
Seriously guys and gals let me know what you think of the new format. Drop us a line on the Honor Fighting Championship Smack Talk Thread and tell us what you think. Please be sure to stop by the Meet the Future booths at our events or order on line since they are a Helsinki based company. As always I am Tony Rossi, and please join us for my next preview for Wednesday Warfare II coming out soon.
All views and opinions are those of the writer and my not reflect those of HFC. All writings are owned by the HFC and my not be reused or retransmitted without written expressed consent from Honor Fighting Championship.
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