Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard vs Shane Roller
Round 1:
Guillard pushed forward right away with kicks and a one-two early on and he kept Roller on the defensive. Time was called after Guillard poked Roller in the eye while throwing a knee to the body. Action resumed and Guillard threw more knees. Roller cracked him with a hard right hand, however, but Guillard dropped him with a left soon after. Roller survived a barrage of hammerfists and got to his feet, but Guillard floored him again with a knee and a right hand. He dove in with punches and Roller was rendered unconscious.
Winner: Melvin Guillard by KO (Punches) at 2:12 of round one. He improves to 52-9-3, 1 NC.
Rafael dos Anjos vs George Sotiropoulos
Round 1:
Both fighters opened the fight aggressively with leg kicks that just missed and punches that landed. Leg kicks scored for both and a punching exchange followed. Dos Anjos dropped Sotiropoulos like a rock with a devastating right hook. Referee Yves Lavigne immediately dove in to stop the fight. Big win for dos Anjos.
Winner: Rafael dos Anjos by KO (Punch) at 0:59 of round one. He improves to 15-5-0.
Brian Bowles vs Takeya Mizugaki
Round 1:
Mizugaki landed leg kicks and two right hooks early in the first round as Bowles kept his distance. Another hard leg kick landed for Mizugaki and Bowles continued to struggle to find his range. Bowles finally landed a looping right hook and Mizugaki answered with one of his own. Bowles circled into Mizugaki’s power side as he stayed on the outside.
Mizugaki got the better of an exchange with a right hook and Bowles answered with an uppercut seconds later. A one-two landed for Mizugaki and the fighters exchanged hard punches in close. Mizugaki backed Bowles up to the cage, but Bowles reversed and the fighters battled for position. Both landed knees to the body before being separated late in the round. 10-9 Mizugaki.
Round 2:
Mizugaki landed a one-two and a leg kick in the second round and Bowles answered with jabs. Right hands landed for both and Mizugaki began to establish his jab as Bowles threw jabs of his own. A right hook scored for Mizugaki and he just missed with a second. Mizugaki stayed active with punches and leg kicks, but Bowles connected with a solid left hook.
Bowles caught a leg kick and landed a big right hook that dropped Mizugaki to a knee. Bowles took his back and secured a body triangle. Mizugaki defended as Bowles used punches to try to set up a rear-naked choke. Mizugaki managed to avoid danger all the way until the bell. 10-9 Bowles.
Round 3:
Mizugaki punched his way into a clinch in the final round, but Bowles reversed and put him up against the cage. A battle for position ensued and both fighters landed knees. Mizugaki punched free and circled away, but Bowles scored a takedown. He took Mizugaki’s back as Mizugaki got back to his feet. Bowles jumped onto Mizugaki’s back and tried for a rear-naked choke.
Mizugaki continued to defend the choke attempts as Bowles stayed on his back. The crowd booed the lack of action as Bowles could not secure a submission and Mizugaki held onto his wrists. The fighters were separated and Mizugaki rushed in with punches. Bowles circled out and Mizugaki walked him down with punches until the bell. 10-9 Bowles.
Winner: Brian Bowles by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 10-1-0.
Aaron “A-Train” Simpson vs Brad Tavares
Round 1:
Tavares landed a body kick early on, but Simpson countered with two punches and clinched. He backed Tavares up to the cage and tried for a takedown. Tavares defended well and stayed on his feet as Simpson threw short punches in close. The crowd grew restless as Simpson could not get Tavares to the mat.
The fighters were separated and Tavares landed a nice one-two. Simpson landed a leg kick and clinched, then backed Tavares up to the cage once again. He finally got Tavares down, but only for a second. Simpson threw punches in the clinch and added knees, but Tavares countered with knees of his own. Simpson threw a wild right hook and tripped Tavares at the bell. 10-9 Simpson.
Round 2:
Simpson landed a nice leg kick to open round two, but Tavares immediately answered with a hard right hook. Once more, Tavares landed a big right hand after Simpson closed the distance, but Simpson managed to clinch and took Tavares’s back on the feet. He pressed Tavares up against the cage and both fighters landed short punches.
Tavares looked for a takedown of his own, but Simpson stayed on his feet. Tavares finally got Simpson down, but Simpson secured a guillotine choke as the fighters stood. Simpson looked for more chokes in a scramble and landed two knees. He followed with a forearm strike over the top and remained in the clinch until the bell. Close round. 10-9 Simpson.
Round 3:
Simpson punched his way into a clinch in round three, but Tavares stayed on his feet and landed a nice right hook. Simpson tried again to take the fight to the mat and Tavares defended again. Simpson nearly tripped Tavares, but could not get him down. Finally, Simpson took Tavares down and secured back control as Tavares stood.
Simpson tripped Tavares and Tavares immediately returned to his feet again. Simpson landed a knee and dropped for a takedown, but Tavares stuffed it. The fighters were separated and Simpson landed a looping right hook. He quickly transitioned to a takedown and attempted a guillotine choke as Tavares stood. 10-9 Simpson.
Winner: Aaron Simpson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 10-2-0.
Anthony “The Assassin” Njokuani vs Andre Winner
Round 1:
Big hooks landed for both fighters at the same time early in the first round and they continued to trade single punches and kicks. Njokuani threw a spinning elbow and jabs, then followed with a right hook and a knee. Njokuani landed an uppercut to the body and a knee, then avoided a head kick. He remained very active with a variety of strikes and threw another spinning back elbow.
A nice uppercut landed for Njokuani and he followed up with two jabs. Njokuani clinched briefly and punched to the body, then backed away and landed kicks. A one-two and a knee hurt Winner and he backed up to the cage. Njokuani absolutely unloaded with punches and knees throughout the entire final minute of the round, but Winner somehow stayed on his feet. Njokuani scored a brief takedown before the bell. 10-8 Njokuani.
Round 2:
Punches were exchanged in round two and Njokuani flashed out a head kick. Winner answered with a right hook, but Njokuani hurt him with a left. He followed with a series of punches and knees against the cage, but Winner survived again. Winner landed a left hook in the centre of the ring. A clinch ensued and the fighters were separated.
Another solid left hand landed for Winner and Njokuani returned to kicking from a distance. Two more leg kicks landed for Njokuani and he avoided a lunging left from Winner. Njokuani missed with a spinning back elbow and a right cross. He threw a one-two and a body kick shortly before the bell. 10-9 Njokuani.
Round 3:
The fighters exchanged head kicks to open round three, but both were blocked. A hard one-two and a body kick scored for Njokuani and Winner answered with an uppercut. Njokuani immediately countered with a leg kick and Winner landed a head kick. Njokuani landed a nice combination and more quick kicks to the leg and upper body. He mixed in punches to the body as well.
Njokuani remained the most effective in the striking exchanges by mixing things up with punches and kicks as Winner struggled to land. Njokuani clinched and looked for a takedown. Winner answered with knees in a clinch and a hard left hook. Njokuani landed knees and circled away, then followed with a body kick. Winner connected with a right hook and the fighters traded punches at the bell. 10-9 Njokuani.
Winner: Anthony Njokuani by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 14-5-0.
Jeff “Hellbound” Hougland vs Donny “Eagle Eye” Walker
Round 1:
Kicks were exchanged early on and Hougland ducked under a Superman Punch to score a takedown. He stood over Walker and threw punches and elbows, but Walker blocked most of the strikes. Hougland settled into Walker’s guard and stayed active with short punches and more elbows. Walker tried to kick Hougland off, but Hougland moved to mount and secured an arm-in guillotine choke.
Hougland pulled guard with the choke and Walker appeared to be in danger, but he remained calm and eventually freed himself. From his back, Hougland tried for an armbar and Walker fought out. He attempted a Brabo Choke from the top, but was unable to lock his arms. Hougland reversed and took top position as Walker looked to stand. Walker then rolled for a leg submission. Close round. 10-9 Hougland.
Round 2:
Single punches and kicks were exchanged in the opening minute of round two and Hougland just missed with a spinning backfist. Hougland landed jabs and Walker looked to land a big power punch. Hougland countered a head kick by clinching and trying for a takedown, but Walker circled out. Hougland landed a knee and more jabs as Walker continued to headhunt.
Hougland mixed up his kicks by targeting the head and body in addition to Walker’s lead leg. Walker landed a combination, but fell while throwing a leg kick. Time was called briefly after Walker was struck in the groin. Stiff jabs scored for Hougland after the restart and he stunned Walker with a left hook. Hougland pulled guard with a guillotine choke, but Walker narrowly made it to the bell. 10-9 Hougland.
Round 3:
Walker pushed forward aggressively in the final round and clinched against the cage. The fight went to the mat and Walker sprawled out with a front headlock. He wound up on top and landed punches, but Hougland secured an armbar. Walker picked him up and slammed free of the hold, then rained down more punches. Hougland continued to try for an armbar and a triangle choke.
The fighters were stood up despite being active on the ground and Walker landed leg kicks and right hooks. Hougland shot in for a takedown, but Walker sprawled and secured a modified Brabo Choke. Hougland managed to fight out and took top position in a brief scramble. The fighters exchanged strikes on the ground until the final bell. Another close round. 10-9 Walker, barely.
Winner: Jeff Hougland by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 10-4-0.