ATLANTIC CITY, Nov. 5 — The land of the rising sun couldn’t muster more fight than their counterparts from Russia did at MFC 4. The Americans took every fight in dominating fashion except two, on a card that saw only two bouts go past the first round.

The main event featured hometown hero Eddie Alvarez (Pictures) (Fight Factory Philadelphia, Penn.) versus Daisuke Hanazawa (Pictures) (MMA Dojo Cobra-kai Osaka, Japan). It was clear right from the get go Daisuke wanted no part of Alvarez’ stand-up and if he was going to have a chance he needed to get this one to the ground as quickly as possible.

Alvarez came out with superior striking and looked like he was going to end this one as quickly as it started, but Daisuke was able to score a takedown to get himself out of trouble. With the fight right where Daisuke wanted it he was unable to pass Alvarez’s guard or inflict any damage from the top position, and the fighters where soon backup on their feet. Once the fight was back in Alvarez’s comfort zone it didn’t take long for him to finish off his Japanese counterpart and end the fight via TKO 4:00 into the first round.

Alvarez’s cheering section, which seemed like the whole stadium at this point, was so amped up it was borderline scary. Those fans from Philadelphia sure do love their hometown hero’s and you can bet if the Fight Factory produces anymore like Alvarez the fans will have plenty to cheer about for a long time to come.

The next fight set Kazuhiro Hamanaka (Pictures) (Inoki Office, Tokyo, Japan) against Wilson Gouviea (ATT, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Kazuhiro went right for the takedown at the bell and just as it looked like he was going to get it Gouviea unleashed a brutal ground-and-pound that ended the fight via knockout 39 seconds into the first.

Getting back to the USA vs. Japan format the next fight pitted Hiroyuki Abe (Pictures) (AACC, Tokyo, Japan) versus Joey Brown (Pictures) (Team Renzo Gracie (Pictures)). Before the bell even rang Abe’s corner seemed clearly agitated and protested to the referee, resulting in referee instructions to Brown’s corner to towel their fighter off, mainly his legs.

Abe’s corner may have been onto something because on the opening bell Abe went straight in for a single-leg switching to a heelhook, which resulted in a submission victory 1:40 into the first round.

In a break from the USA vs. Japan format the next bout featured two Americans, Carlo Prater (Pictures) against Pat Healy (Pictures). This one was another grappler’s battle where both fighters worked back-and-forth from each others’ guard until Prater was able to end it with a neck choke at 3:57 into the second round.

Midway through this fight an eruption of applause broke out stemming from a fight in the stands that made it clear the fans appreciated the action both in and out of the ring. On this night MFC 5 was going to give the fans everything they wanted even if they had to get into the action themselves.

Up next was Toraji (AACC, Tokyo, Japan) against Chris Ligouri (Team Rhino) in what was clearly the most competitive fight of the night. The first round turned into a grappler’s battle with Toraji trying to pass Ligouri’s guard while working the ground-and-pound.

Ligouri defended well and came close to catching Toraji in an armbar on multiple attempts. Neither fighter seemed able to take advantage but Toraji clearly won the positional battle.

The second round turned out to be the complete opposite of the first with Toraji working submissions from the guard while Ligouri was trying to pass and work his own ground-and-pound. Both fighters came out strong in the third round trading strikes and knees at a pace that could have ended this bout in either fighter’s favor. Ligouri then went for the takedown and this time he was able to pass Toraji’s guard and effectively work the ground-and-pound to take the fight via decision.

MFC standout Kurt Pelligrino (Pictures) (ATT, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) took on Kazuki Okubo (Pictures) (U-File, Tokyo, Japan). Pelligrino — obviously not one to shy away from the limelight — entered the ring to James Brown “Living in America” and put on a show to likes of which would have made Apollo Creed proud.

He certainly didn’t disappoint once the bell rang either, looking like he was literally shot out of a cannon at the opening bell. Charging in with pinpoint strikes followed by a “Rampage” Jackson like slam, Brown ended the fight 38 seconds into the first by TKO via ground-and-pound.

The third fight of the night was between first timer Yuichirou Tsuchida (Kuju-ken Kaikan, Osaka, Japan) and Jose Rodriguez (Freelance) in what can only be described as a really tough night for the newcomer. Yuichirou was clearly outclassed before he even stepped into the ring falling by TKO at 31 seconds into the first by a vicious burst of unanswered strikes and knees from the clinch. This one was over before it even began.

Next up was BJ (AACC, Tokyo, Japan) against Chris MacGrath (Advanced Fighting Systems, Mahwah, NJ). MacGrath came out intent on keeping this one standing, but BJ quickly took the fight to the ground. What followed could only be considered as one of the most bizarre moments of the night when it looked to all like BJ had clearly broken MacGrath’s arm in a perfectly executed armbar. Everyone in the building including the referee was fooled. When the fighters were separated it became apparent that not only was MacGrath perfectly fine and able to continue but he clearly has the most flexible arm this side of Renzo Gracie (Pictures).

The reprieve didn’t last long as BJ quickly gained MacGrath’s back and applied a rear-naked choke that ended the fight at 3:17 in the first round.

The first bout pitted Yuji Miyazaki (MMA Dojo Cobra-Kai, Osaka, Japan) versus Stephen Haigh (Fight Factory, Philadelphia, Penn.) in what was billed as the MMA version of “The Head Shave Challenge.” In a flurry that started with a flying knee that connected right on the button followed by an armbar submission, it would be Yuji going home bald tonight just 31 seconds into round one.

In other action Steve Bruno stopped Jay Jack 4:02 of round one. Jason Guida knocked out Pat Stano (Pictures) 3:05 of the first period. Bristol Marunde defeated Rich Attonotio by TKO 1:57 of round three. And Mark Burch defeated Jay White (Pictures) by knockout 1:48 of round one.