Chris Tuchscherer’s Crowbar MMA promotion came to Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota tonight with a ten-fight card at “Spring Brawl 2.” The main event featured a light heavyweight matchup between UFC veteran James “The Hammer” McSweeney and Francisco “Kiko” France.

Tonight’s card also included a pair of women’s bouts. Rising prospect Barb “Little Warrior” Honchak battled Nina “The Macedonian Mauler” Ansaroff at 125 pounds, while Shana “Rock Solid” Olsen faced Elaina “Beef” Maxwell in 145-pound action. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the event.

 

Francisco “Kiko” France vs James “The Hammer” McSweeney

Round 1:
McSweeney landed a leg kick and a knee to open the fight, but France took him down. France moved to side control and used elbows to set up a Kimura on McSweeney’s left arm. McSweeney tried to defend, but France wrenched his arm behind his back and McSweeney was forced to submit.

Winner: Francisco France by Submission (Kimura) at 1:35 of round one. He improves to 7-2-0.

 

Barb “Little Warrior” Honchak vs Nina “The Macedonian Mauler” Ansaroff

Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of quick jabs and leg kicks, and the fighters continued to trade single strikes throughout the opening minute. Honchak clinched and pressed Ansaroff up against the cage. Both fighters landed knees in close and Ansaroff spun out of the clinch. More kicks were exchanged to the legs and body, and Honchak landed a stiff jab.

Ansaroff answered with jabs of her own and a punch-kick combination. Honchak came up short with a combination, but landed a kick to the body. Ansaroff ate another stiff jab, but stuffed a takedown and landed two elbows over the top. She landed big punches in close and attempted a hip toss, but Honchak wound up on top. Extremely close round. 10-9 Ansaroff, barely.

Round 2:
The second round began with more jabs and leg kicks from both fighters. Ansaroff attempted a spinning kick, but Honchak used the opportunity to clinch. She backed Ansaroff up to the cage and landed short knees, but Ansaroff circled out. The fight continued with both fighters landing single jabs and leg kicks, and Honchak began to get the better of the punching exchanges.

Honchak landed a nice one-two and kept Ansaroff on the defensive with jabs. Ansaroff countered with lead left hooks and occasional leg kicks. Honchak nearly caught a body kick, but Ansaroff backed away and Honchak remained aggressive with punches. Both landed leg kicks before the bell. Another competitive round. 10-9 Honchak.

Round 3:
Ansaroff began the final round more aggressively with quick punches and leg kicks. Honchak responded with a combination and a nice right hook. A one-two snapped Ansaroff’s head back and Honchak shot in for a takedown. Ansaroff defended, but Honchak kept her pressed up against the cage. She landed knees until Ansaroff broke free of the clinch. Ansaroff landed a right cross and a leg kick, then followed with a Superman Punch.

Honchak clinched briefly in the centre of the cage and Ansaroff fought out with another right hook. Honchak backed Ansaroff up to the cage and both fighters landed knees. They continued to trade strikes until referee Daniel Grimestad separated them. Ansaroff scored with a body kick and a one-two. Honchak fired back with three punches, but Ansaroff caught a kick and tripped her to the mat. Honchak stood and took Ansaroff down at the bell. Even round. 10-10. Fight could go either way.

Winner: Barb Honchak by Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29) after three rounds. She improves to 4-1-0.

 

Indalecio Tat “Mean Bean” Romero vs Chris Page

Round 1:
Page opened the fight with kicks to the head and legs, but Romero caught one and took him down. Page threw elbows from the bottom and Romero answered with punches from the top. Page rolled to his stomach and Romero continued to blast him with punches. Two vicious shots under the arm left Page unconscious and the fight was stopped.

Winner: Indalecio Tat Romero by KO (Punches) at 1:18 of round one. He improves to 18-3-0.

 

Steve “The Hooligan” Steinbeiss vs Terence Joseph “T.J.” Medrud

Round 1:
Steinbeiss opened the fight with a nice combination, but Medrud clinched and backed him up to the cage. The fighters battled for position in the clinch and Medrud used an ankle pick to trip Steinbeiss to the mat very briefly. Steinbeiss stood and fought off a slam takedown attempt. He managed to stay on his feet and punished Medrud with knees in close.

More knees and a right hand over the top scored for Steinbeiss, but he was unable to take Medrud down. After three more knees from Steinbeiss, time was called to replace Medrud’s mouthpiece. Action resumed and Steinbeiss landed a grazing head kick. Medrus caught a body kick and tripped Steinbeiss to the mat. He tried for a guillotine choke, but time expired. Close round. 10-9 Steinbeiss.

Round 2:
The fighters clinched again in round two and Steinbeiss resumed his assault with knees to the body in close. Medrud countered with punches, but Steinbeiss took him down. Medrud looked for a leg submission, but Steinbeiss spun out and tried to take his back. He did so and worked for a rear-naked choke as Medrud stood up. A fatigued Medrud spit out his mouthpiece, but managed to escape the choke.

Back in the clinch, Steinbeiss landed a nice knee and circled away. He landed a devastating shin kick to the body and Medrud crumpled to the mat. Steinbeiss moved in with punches and Medrud tapped out.

Winner: Steve Steinbeiss by Submission (Kick to the Body) at 2:57 of round two. He improves to 6-4-0.

 

Elaina “Beef” Maxwell vs Shana “Rock Solid” Olsen

Round 1:
Olsen rushed in with punches and knees right away, but Maxwell secured a Thai clinch and answered with knees of her own. The fighters continued to trade knees to the body in close and Maxwell scored a nice trip takedown. Olsen quickly returned to her feet and punched free of the clinch. She walked forward with more punches, but ate a hard right hand counter. Olsen clinched and Maxwell reversed against the cage. Olsen circled and landed a big flurry of punches.

Maxwell countered Olsen’s punches with a quick combination and a knee. The fighters separated briefly, but Olsen immediately pushed forward with another barrage of punches. Maxwell missed with a spinning backfist and followed with a head kick. Olsen blocked it and landed knees in another clinch. Maxwell countered with knees of her own and a standing elbow. Olsen answered with an elbow of her own and more punches. Maxwell threw her to the mat at the bell. 10-9 Olsen.

Round 2:
Maxwell countered an early flurry from Olsen with a right hook and a takedown in round two. She landed on top in side control and worked for an inverted triangle choke, then an armbar. Olsen reversed, but had to fight off a leg scissor choke. Maxwell took over top position and landed elbows as Olsen began to bleed from the nose. Maxwell attempted to use a keylock to pass to full mount, but Olsen kept her in place.

Undeterred, Maxwell scored with elbows and punches to the body from Olsen’s half-guard until referee Jim Grimestad stood the fighters up for no apparent reason. The crowd booed the standup, but Maxwell promptly caught a kick and took Olsen right back down. She landed more elbows from the top and kept Olsen on the defensive until the end of the round. 10-9 Maxwell.

Round 3:
Olsen walked forward with punches in the final round, but was clipped by another counter right hook from Maxwell. The fight slowed somewhat as the fighters circled, but both connected with right hands in a brief exchange. Maxwell missed with a double spinning backfist, but connected with a hard kick to the body. Olsen landed a pair of kicks to the leg and Maxwell responded with two side kicks.

Olsen landed more kicks, but Maxwell caught one and tripped her to the mat. Maxwell moved to half-guard and pinned down Olsen’s right arm with her knee. She punched with her free hand and looked to move to a crucifix. Maxwell gave it up and attempted a Kimura on Olsen’s left arm. The cage worked against her, however, and she settled for punches to Olsen’s ribs until the final bell. 10-9 Maxwell.

Winner: Elaina Maxwell by Unanimous Decision (30-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 5-4-0.

 

(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)