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Kerr’s Return? It’ll Have to Wait

DENVER, Colo., May 6 — Having not tasted victory since 2000, mixed martial arts legend Mark Kerr (Pictures) was finally set to make his return to the ring Saturday evening. Unfortunately a hand injury suffered a week ago in training when he inadvertently punched his training partner’s elbow caused a further delay to his return.

Kerr was set to face Hammer House fighter Wes Sims (Pictures), who has gone undefeated since losing to current Ultimate Fighting Championship’s heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (Pictures) at Super Brawl 38.

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In what had a professional wrestling feel to it, American Championship Fighting’s promoter Rico Vecc brought Kerr to the “Ocho” to make the unfortunate announcement. Drowned out by boos from the crowd Kerr tried to apologize, and stated that he had three different doctors examine him so he could try to fight.

Vecc then announced that Sims would be awarded the interim heavyweight championship belt. Sims then entered the cage.

“I trained my ass off for three months so I could beat yours,” stated Sims, staring long and pointed toward Kerr. “This is the end of the ‘Smashing Machine,’ just not the one I wanted.”

As if there wasn’t enough tension in the air, Mark Coleman (Pictures) then entered the ring, grabbed the microphone and announced that if it was anybody but “my boy” (Sims) he would fill in for Kerr and fight tonight for the fans. Shortly after, in response to crowd chants of “you suck,” Coleman, seen drinking beer earlier backstage, exchanged words with one fan, before having the microphone taken from him by Sims.

One fight later Sims returned to the cage to thank the sponsor of the canceled main event and stated that it was not the ACF’s fault that Kerr chose to retire rather than face him. Kerr made no mention of retirement, only that he would “get healthy and try again.”

What was supposed to be a match between ACF welterweight champion John Cronk (Pictures) and Joey Clark (Pictures), turned out to be one hell of a non-title bout between Cronk and Ben Call.

Call accepted the fight on two days notice after Clark broke his leg in training. Round one was a stand-up war, as both fighters threw punches and kicks until Call took down Cronk in the final seconds.

Cronk was able to reverse and ended up in Call’s guard. Round two started with Call dropping Cronk with a hard right hand. Cronk was able to secure his opponent in his guard and regain his composure.

Call worked from the top until he secured what appeared to be a tight armbar, yet somehow Cronk was able to spin out of it and found himself in Call’s guard to end the round.

The final period found both fighters exhausted and the first two minutes consisted of very little work from either. The champ was happy to stay in his opponent’s guard. The referee stood the fighters for the final minute, and Call answered his corner’s pleas of “give it everything you have” by landing a left jab and straight right to end the round.

The judges gave Cronk, who winced in pain, holding his right hand after hugging Call, a split decision.

Chilo Gonzalez (Pictures) avenged his loss to Brett Shafer, submitting Shafer by armbar at 1:34 in round one.

Rob Wince (Pictures) did a good job early of holding off Jason Brilz attempted takedowns. Despite having Mark Coleman (Pictures) in his corner, who pleaded with Wince to not go to the ground, Brilz, an assistant wrestling coach with University of Nebraska Omaha, secured the takedown and quickly began the pepper Wince with punches.

Brilz turned his stomach to avoid punishment, but the punches never stopped and the Hammer House fighter was forced to tap 2:37 in the first round.

Donnie Liles (Pictures) proved to be too much for Greg Jackson fighter Chris Avila despite having UFC middleweight contender Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) in his corner. Lilies forced Avila to tap at 3:04 in the first round with a Kimura.

American Top Team’s Rafael Dias took all of 15 seconds to defeat Keith Wilson (Pictures), with numerous strikes to the head, causing referee Cecil Peoples to stop the fight.

Cruz Chacon defeated Noah Thomas in the first round by triangle choke.

Dennis Davis (Pictures) quickly submitted Daniel Betzold with elbow strikes from the side mount in 28 seconds.

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