From Russia, With (No) Love
American Team Goes 8 For 1 Tonight In Mixed Fighting Championships
By Loretta Hunt

Chatt Lavender Atlantic City, New Jersey -- Mixed Fighting Championships did something rather extraordinary tonight. For a first installment, the MFC managed to pull off an event that would rival numerous long-running mid-level shows across the country.

To a crowd of approximately 2,500 mainly Russian supporters, the Americans went on to grasp eight of the nine victories -- spare a nasty 15-second knockout of Ron Faircloth at the hands of Sergey Kaznovski. The theme for the night quickly formulated into the Americans taking each of their foes to the mat with little ground defense or offense offered back by their Russian adversaries. It was obvious that the Russians came to stand, and many Americans answered the call, but to not assume the fight would hit the canvas eventually proved too detrimental to the opposing team.

Highlights for the event were many, including a Tank Abbott of old-inspired attack by Red Devil brawler Mikhail Bogdanov, who hunted down the knockout from the get go with some noticeably heavy hands. Miletich fighter Justin Eilers kept his cool though, even when Bogdanov managed to hurl Eilers through the ropes and into the crowd during a scramble. Taking a moment, Eilers eventually made his way back into the ring, giving and receiving a few healthy strikes till round's end. Exhaustion and an injured right knee kept the Russian from continuing on.

Ron Faircloth is sent careening to the canvas by a right hand from Sergey Kaznovski
Faircloth is sent to the canvas by a right hand from Kaznovski

Alexei Veselovzorov displayed a crisp right high kick and sold punching that jarred AKA rep Brian Ebersole for the first round of their meeting tonight, but the Russian seemed to gas in the later rounds once Ebersole was able to get him to the ground. Ebersole got full mount in the third, and teed off on the bloody Russian till the action was halted.

Chael Sonnen makes life miserable for Arman Gambaryan
Sonnen makes life miserable for Gambaryan

Illinois Silverbacks representative Derrick Noble displayed a tight stand-up game versus equally qualified opponent Musail Allaudinov. Noble worked both punches and kicks to jolt the Russian a few times, and amply dominated the action in the second round when the men went to the ground.

Chatt Lavender tying up and punishing Sergei Bal
Lavender tying up and punishing Bal

Almost stealing the show, the rumble between lightweights Rich Clementi and Sergey Goliaev proved an incredibly intense showdown that had the crowd roaring.
Rich Clementi (left) vs. Sergey Goliaev
Clementi (left) vs. Goliaev
Clementi was on fire tonight, standing toe-to-toe with the Russian, whose stand-up prowess would rival any competitors in the UFC today. Goliaev's incredible reach and punching power eventually proved too much for the American though, so the Team Extreme rep took the fight downstairs. Stuck underneath Clementi's side control, the extremely flexible Goliaev managed to knee his opponent in the back of the head, and was immediately reprimanded for the illegal move. Bleeding profusely from the back of his head, the bout could have been stopped, but an enraged Clementi continued on, beckoning his opponent back to the center of the ring to finish the job. Started back in their downed position, Clementi unleashed on the Russian before maneuvering to the armbar and then the finishing triangle choke.

Andrei Semenov made his return to America tonight in grand fashion. His battle with Trevor Prangley was an out and out slugfest, with both men landing flush shots to their opponent's chins. Semenov remained the most adapted Russian when the action did eventually hit the ground, but missed opportunities for submission attempts when he chose to "tough it out." Prangley was deservedly given the unanimous win after a hard earned three round war.

Travis Wiuff beating on Roman Zentsov
Wiuff beating on Zentsov
In the main event, two-day replacement Travis Wiuff chose a safe but effective line of attack against M-1 heavyweight champion Roman Zentsov by taking the boxer down quickly and working his ground and pound tactics. Zentsov spent the majority of the first and second rounds on his back, where Wiuff was eventually able to open two deep gashes on the Russian's forehead for the referee stoppage.

Mixed Fighting Championship: Russia vs. USA

170 LBS: Chatt Lavender def. Sergei Bal - Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-24)

Heavyweights: Justin Eilers def. Mikhail Bogdanov - TKO Referee Stoppage (Fighter could not answer 2nd round bell)

205 LBS: Brian Ebersole def. Alexei Veselovzorov - 2:26 Rd 3 TKO referee stoppage due to strikes

Heavyweights: Sergey Kaznovski def. Ron Faircloth - KO 0:15 R1
205 LBS: Chael Sonnen def. Arman Gambaryan - Unanimous Decision (29-25, 29-25, 29-24)

155 LBS: Rich Clementi def. Sergey Goliaev - Tap out to triangle choke 3:43 R2

170 LBS: Derrick Noble def. Musail Allaudinov - Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)

185 LBS: Trevor Prangley def. Andrei Semenov - Unanimous Decision

Heavyweights: Travis Wiuff def. Roman Zentsov - TKO Referee Stoppage due to cut R2
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