MFC 20: "Destined For Greatness" Results
by Robert Sargent
Once again outdoing themselves, Maximum Fighting Championships put on an excellent event at MFC 20: "Destined For Greatness," which culminated with MFC Welterweight Champion Pat "Bam Bam" Healy defeating Ryan "The Real Deal" Ford again.
In another main card title bout, Antonio "Mandingo" McKee used his superior wrestling to defeat Derrick "The Eraser" Noble for the newly-formed MFC Lightweight Championship.
MFC Welterweight Championship
Pat "Bam Bam" Healy vs Ryan "The Real Deal" Ford
Unlike their first bout, which Healy took on short notice and won by submission after being battered for 12 minutes, this was a very competitive ground battle, and saw Healy emerge with a hard-fought Split Decision win.Healy countered an early uppercut with a takedown in the corner, but Ford rolled to reverse and the fight was stood up soon after. Healy scored another takedown against the corner post, where he worked from side-control as Ford attempted a side guillotine. Ford spun free and took top position, then kneed Healy as he stood up. Ford scored a takedown, but landed in a guillotine choke and had to fight his way free. From half-guard, Ford landed elbows to the head. Healy worked his way back to his feet, but was slammed down again. The fight returned to the feet and Healy looked for a takedown. He got Ford down and escaped a last-second guillotine choke. Very close round. 10-9 Healy.
Ford looked to strike with kicks and punches to begin round two, but Healy clinched in the corner. Following an inadvertent low blow from Ford, Healy scored a big takedown and worked from guard. Ford looked for submissions from the bottom as Healy landed elbows. Ford used his strength to reverse and take top position, then took Healy's back as the two stood. He slammed Healy to the mat and attempted a rear naked choke, but it was Healy who soon reversed and took Ford's back. Healy used a body triangle to keep Ford in place, while trying to lock on a rear naked choke. This continued for quite some time, until Ford reversed position late in the round and worked from Healy's guard. Healy kept him in check, and took the round in the process. 10-9 Healy.
Healy came forward in round three, but Ford clinched against the corner and scored a takedown. Healy reversed in mid-air and took Ford's back, then moved to half-guard. Ford muscled his way back to his feet and looked for a takedown of his own, but Healy repeatedly defended. Ford finally managed to score a takedown, but Healy immediately looked for an omoplata and a Kimura. Healy tried to stand up and Ford took his back, but Healy easily shrugged him off and stood up. Healy dove to side-control, then mount. The fight was moved away from the ropes and Healy landed short punches from the top. Healy then looked for an arm-triangle choke, but Ford countered into an extremely deep Kimura that had Healy in all sorts of trouble. Healy somehow escaped and landed punches and elbows from the top until the bell. Another very close round. 10-9 Healy.
Following a brief stoppage after Ford fell from the ring while defending a takedown, the action resumed in round four and Healy scored a takedown. Healy took Ford's back and attempted to lock on a rear naked choke, then transitioned to a neck crank. Ford fought off the submissions, but Healy secured a body triangle and continued to look for chokes. Ford tried to buck Healy off of his back, but the body triangle allowed Healy to retain position. Healy continued to punch the sides of Ford's face, while trying to secure a rear naked choke, but Ford gamely defended. With less than 20 seconds left, Ford attempted to reverse, but could not. Healy maintained back control until the bell. 10-9 Healy.
Ford scored a big takedown to begin round five and looked to immediately move to mount. Healy regained half-guard and worked his way back to a kneeling position, then reversed Ford onto his back. Healy landed knees to the body as Ford tried for a guillotine. Ford powered out and took top position, then landed punches and elbows that cut Healy. Ford maintained top position and landed more strikes as Healy defended. The remainder of the round was all Ford, as he pushed the pace with strikes and looked for the finish, but he could not put the champion away and the fight went to the judges, who awarded Healy with a Split Decision that probably should have been Unanimous.
After the fight, Healy's former friend, Nick Thompson, came into the ring and challenged Healy to a title fight, which is evidently going to take place as a result of a dispute in a sushi bar. Bizarre.
Winner: Pat Healy by Split Decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48) after five rounds. He improves to 20-13-0 and remains the MFC Welterweight Champion.
Nick "The Goat" Thompson vs Paul "Semtex" Daley
Despite being dropped in round two, Thompson showed vastly improved striking and used his superior ground game to frustrate Daley (who missed weight yet again for this bout), taking the fight on all three judges' scorecards in an impressive victory.The fighters exchanged leg kicks early in round one, and Thompson landed a one-two. Daley continued to throw hard kicks to the legs and body, but Thompson fired back with kicks and punches of his own. Daley scored with a left-right combo, but Thompson landed a combination in return. Thompson landed two right crosses and looked for a takedown, but was unsuccessful. Thompson landed a big right hook and Daley replied with three quick punches, which set off a wild exchange. Thompson attempted a trip takedown and pushed Daley against the ropes. Daley initially defended, but Thompson used a hip toss to take the fight to the mat. Thompson landed small punches and elbows and appeared to be looking for a Brabo Choke, but Daley defended. Thompson stood and landed two big punches from the top. He landed more elbows from Daley's guard before the bell. 10-9 Thompson.
Round two began with Daley pressing forward with leg kicks and short punches, and he followed up with a solid overhand right. Daley threw more punches and Thompson failed on a takedown attempt. Daley continued to punish Thompson with quick punches, but Thompson bloodied Daley's nose with a counterpunch of his own. Daley lunged forward with a looping left hook that landed, and the fighters traded jabs. Daley scored with a quick combination in the corner, then dropped Thompson seconds later with a right hook behind the ear. Daley followed up with a barrage of punches on the ground, but Thompson quickly recovered and trapped Daley in his guard. Thompson looked for triangles from the bottom, then attempted an armbar. He reversed position and dropped elbows to the face of Daley just before the bell. 10-9 Daley.
The pace slowed somewhat in round three, as the fighters once again traded jabs. Thompson shot in for a takedown, but Daley sprawled to defend. Thompson used a Judo throw to take the fight to the mat, then worked from side-control. He grabbed Daley's left arm and worked for a Kimura. Thompson gave up the hold and landed elbows from side-control. He continued to punish Daley, who seemed to be tiring. After eating more elbows, Daley rolled to his stomach and Thompson took his back. He briefly tried for a rear naked choke, but quickly gave it up. Thompson once again looked to trap Daley in a rear naked choke, but Daley fought it off until the bell. 10-9 Thompson.
Winner: Nick Thompson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 38-10-1.
MFC Lightweight Championship
Antonio "Mandingo" McKee vs Derrick "The Eraser" Noble
Though McKee did show more aggression in this fight than in most of his others, this was a slow and methodical bout that saw McKee use his wrestling to keep the fight on the ground, where he landed small strikes and did little else en route to a title victory.Round one began with both southpaws circling each other and throwing jabs. Noble threw leg kicks, while McKee replied with front and side kicks to the midsection. Noble dropped McKee with a head kick and a right hook, then pounced and tried to finish the fight. McKee recovered and got to his knees, then tried to take Noble down. Noble used a front choke to push McKee back, but McKee got to his feet. The fighters again circled each other and threw sparse strikes, and McKee scored a takedown. McKee threw weak strikes from the top until Noble grabbed hold in a front koala position and used it to get to his feet. Both fighters landed strikes in the final seconds, with Noble taking round one. 10-9 Noble.
Noble landed a stiff leg kick early in the second round, but clearly appeared tentative and wary of a takedown from McKee. Noble threw a few punches, and McKee replied with a side kick and a takedown. McKee landed weak punches on the ground until the referee brought the fight back to the feet. The fighters again circled each other and traded occasional strikes, with neither doing any damage. The crowd began to grow restless as McKee's typically slow style and Noble's unwillingness to engage led to a lengthy stalemate. McKee scored a takedown right before the bell. 10-9 McKee.
Round three began with Noble throwing more leg kicks and McKee countering with jabs. Neither fighter displayed much aggression until McKee scored a takedown 90 seconds into the round. McKee pinned Noble against the corner post and landed short punches and elbows from half-guard. McKee attempted to move to side-control, but could not. Noble eventually regained full guard and prevented McKee from doing anything, which led to the referee standing the fighters up with one minute to go. Again, McKee threw a handful of side kicks while Noble fired off one or two punches in return, but the action was few and far between. McKee landed a knee in the clinch just before the end of the terrible round. 10-9 McKee.
Round four was more of the same, as Noble still seemed unwilling to engage for fear of being taken down. The fighters pawed out jabs and short punches and McKee went for a takedown 90 seconds in. Noble defended and attempted a standing guillotine choke, but McKee took Noble down and evaded the choke. From side-control, McKee landed knees to the body but little else. He managed to land a few elbows to the face of Noble, but did little damage. This continued until the referee finally stood the fighters up with 45 seconds left in the round, and both once again traded a handful of weak strikes until the bell. Another terrible round. 10-9 McKee.
The fifth and final round was a mirror of the past, as Noble threw one solid leg kick and then did nothing. McKee danced around and landed a few jabs, then finally scored a takedown one minute into the round. Noble kept McKee trapped in his guard and nullified all offence until McKee postured up and landed elbows and forearm strikes that opened a large cut above Noble's right eye. Time was briefly called to check the cut, during which McKee illegally went to his corner and took a drink of water - which is normally grounds for disqualification but evidently went unnoticed - and the fight returned to the feet. The final two minutes saw the fighters throw rare strikes once again, with McKee landing a side kick and scoring a takedown shortly before the bell. This terrible fight, which is very uncharacteristic for Noble, mercifully came to an end. 10-9 McKee.
With McKee's lone stoppage victory in the last eight years coming when his opponent suffered an unfortunate knee injury, it is painfully obvious that he has absolutely no finishing ability whatsoever, and it is very possible that he will quickly become the most unpopular champion in Maximum Fighting Championships history.
Winner: Antonio McKee by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) after five rounds. He improves to 22-3-2 and becomes the new MFC Lightweight Champion.
Bryan "The Beast" Baker vs Rory "Outburst" Singer
After surviving an extremely tight armbar, Baker promptly came back and knocked Singer out with mere seconds remaining in the first round, securing a future MFC Middleweight Championship fight in the process.The fighters traded jabs early in round one, with Baker mixing in short leg kicks. Singer fired back a kick of his own, then attempted a hip toss, but Baker reversed and stood up. Both fighters landed solid combinations, and Singer followed up with two quick jabs. Singer surprisingly continued to push the pace with punches, but Baker fired back two hard rights to the head and body. Singer threw a variety of kicks as Baker began to bleed slightly from the nose. Baker twice knocked Singer to the canvas with punches and a leg kick, but Singer promptly locked on a very tight armbar. Singer then moved to a figure-four armbar and then a triangle choke, but Baker somehow survived. Singer landed elbows from the bottom, but Baker used the opportunity to escape and moved to side-control. He stood up and dropped a series of huge punches to his downed opponent, which knocked Singer out cold. Very impressive comeback for Baker.
Winner: Bryan Baker by KO (Punches) at 4:56 of round one. He improves to 9-1-0.
David Heath vs Roger "The Hulk" Hollett
This fight continued the drastic downturn in the career of Hollett, the former MFC Light Heavyweight Champion, as he was taken down and quickly submitted by Heath, who picked up a badly needed victory.Round one began with a quick exchange of strikes before Heath scored a takedown. Heath postured up and landed a series of shoulder strikes to the face, then switched to short punches. Hollett rolled to his side and tried to trap Heath's left arm in a Kimura, but Heath fought out by battering Hollett's ribs with punches and elbows. Hollett's nose began to bleed profusely after a shot from Heath, and Heath continued to land strikes from the top. Hollett scrambled and tried to get back to his feet, but Heath immediately locked on a guillotine choke and pulled him back to the mat. Hollett was forced to submit, giving Heath an impressive victory.
Winner: David Heath by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:57 of round one. He improves to 10-4-0.
"King" Solomon Hutcherson vs Dave "Big Wave" Mewborn
In a surprisingly competitive bout, former TUF star Hutcherson controlled enough of the fight on the ground to emerge with a very hard-fought Unanimous Decision win.Mewborn clinched right away and scored a takedown seconds into round one. He moved directly to side-control and landed short elbows from the top, but Hutcherson muscled his way back to his feet. Hutcherson targeted the body with knees and punches, but Mewborn fired back five knees in a Thai clinch. Hutcherson reversed a takedown attempt and landed strikes from Mewborn's guard. Mewborn managed to work his way back to his feet and landed strikes in a clinch, but Hutcherson drilled him with an elbow over the top. Mewborn scored another takedown and landed in side-control, but Hutcherson badly cut him below the eye with an elbow from the bottom. Mewborn maintained top position until the bell, but it was Hutcherson who landed effective elbows from below. 10-9 Hutcherson.
Both fighters came out with jumping kicks to begin round two, but it was Hutcherson's that landed to the body and Mewborn fell to the mat. Hutcherson worked from Mewborn's guard until the referee stood the fighters up, and Mewborn began bleeding from above the left eye as well. The fighters traded knees in a clinch and Mewborn seemed to actually hold an advantage. Hutcherson scored another takedown and once again worked from guard. He landed big elbow strikes from the top until the referee brought the fight to the feet once more. A wild exchange of punches followed, as Hutcherson fatigued but continued to land solid strikes. Hutcherson teed off with punches until Mewborn scored a takedown. Hutcherson tried to get back to his feet, but Mewborn looked to secure a guillotine choke. Hutcherson took top position and landed elbows from the top until the bell. 10-9 Hutcherson.
Hutcherson came forward throwing bombs in round three, then clinched and landed knees. Mewborn fell while throwing a knee and Hutcherson dove into guard. Hutcherson landed elbows from the top as Mewborn briefly looked for an armbar. The fight was moved to the middle of the ring and Hutcherson continued to land short elbows from Mewborn's guard. The fight was stood up and Hutcherson rushed forward with a flying punch. He clinched and threw Mewborn to the mat, then landed elbows from half-guard. Mewborn scrambled and took Hutcherson's back, then attempted a rear naked choke. Hutcherson fought off the choke attempts and eventually reversed position. He landed more punches and elbows from the top until the bell. Very close round. 10-9 Hutcherson.
Winner: Solomon Hutcherson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 11-5-0, 1 NC.
Undercard Fights:
Ryan Machan defeated Simon Marini by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:48 of round one. He improves to 8-2-0 with the win.Evan Sanguin defeated Alain Hernandez by TKO (Slam) at 2:50 of round one. He improves to 4-2-0 with the win.
Josh Russell defeated Donovan "Recon" Foley by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:00 of round one. He improves to 3-0-0 with the win.
Brad Zazulak defeated Richard Symons by TKO (Punches) at 3:54 of round one. He improves to 4-0-0 with the win.
Though the MFC Lightweight Championship bout was less than thrilling, the main event and the superfight between Nick Thompson and Paul Daley made MFC 20 a memorable night.
