FIGHTFEST Rounds Out 2006, Welcomes 2007
Fightfest closed out 2006 with strong shows in Cleveland and
Canton, Ohio. The promotion is poised to make even more noise in
2007.
The fans at the Canton Civic Center welcomed back the stars of Fightfest at a TV taping on Nov. 11. Canton was also the site of the second Fightfest live event back on April 14.
Former Iowa State University wrestler Sonny Marchette competed in the main event against Nick Sorg at 155 pounds. Marchette and Sorg battled evenly through the first round. One minute into Round 2, Marchette dumped Sorg onto his back, but Sorg quickly slapped on a triangle hold for a huge upset win. Sorg is now 3-2, while Marchette drops to 1-1.
Mike McKenzie stayed undefeated at 205 pounds with a comeback win over P.J. Bolanis. For most of the first round, Bolanis dominated his opponent on the mat, but the referee stood the fighters up because he wanted more action. McKenzie (3-0) took advantage of the second chance and won with the guillotine choke.
Another pro fight saw 170-pounder Matt Shaw (4-2) force a submission from Travis Burnett (Pictures)e in in 47 seconds with armbar.
Team Instigator, based in nearby Canal Fulton, Ohio, enjoyed a great night with several wins in the amateur ranks. Cody Butzer (5-1) continued his hot streak, knocking out newcomer Nathan Martin with a vicious takedown in just 15 seconds. He is becoming a huge crowd favorite with several wins and local TV coverage. He also wrestles at Cleveland State University.
Also, Team Instigator trainer John Barabasch stepped into the cage for the first time and defeated veteran Leo Fowler with a keylock in 3 minutes. Barabasch won despite suffering an injury that required doctors to insert two pins into his hand. Two weeks later, Fightfest returned to its home at the Masonic Temple in Cleveland for another big TV taping.
Hometown boy Matt Masterson picked up another win in the 185-pound division. He improved his record to 4-1 with a win of Sean Sallee (Pictures) of Indianapolis. Despite entering the bout with a 4-15 record, Sallee put up a strong fight. However, Masterson broke his rib in the second round, so Sallee had not choice but to tap out.
Vadim Ivanov also had the hometown advantage as he faced Alonso Martinez in the semifinals of the 155-pound tournament. Ivanov, who trains with Team Strong Style in Cleveland, had defeated Kevin Contos in the first round of the tournament, while Martinez had knocked off Mike Bogner. Martinez, who fights out of Omaha, Neb., controlled the tempo in the first round. Ivanov was starting to turn things around in Round 2 when he suffered a rib injury and the referee stopped the fight.
The fans in Cleveland got their first look at “The Caucasian Devastation” Brendan Seguin (Pictures), who battled Tom Jones from Tulsa, Okla., at 185 pounds. Both men entered the fight with 11 pro wins. As usual, Jones was tough as nails, but Seguin wowed the crowd with a TKO victory in 3:45.
The fight everyone in was waiting for was the rematch at 185 pounds between Rhomez Brower and Prince McLean. They did battle in the main event of the first Fightfest taping in September and Brower won after McLean suffered a separated shoulder. With McLean healed, the fight was on again. Brower tagged the Prince with several good punches in the first round, and McLean was unable to answer the bell for Round 2.
Arman Loktev of Cleveland showed that he had what it takes to seize control of the 145-pound division after his win over Jesse Williams. Loktev unleashed a relentless attack, and to his credit, Williams kept fighting. Loktev won on a unanimous decision, and he has to be considered one of the favorites to win the division title.
Similarly, heavyweight Tony Sylvester used a methodical approach to wear down veteran Demian “The Coroner” Decorah from Wisconsin. Sylvester, who wrestled at Ohio State University, won the fight on a TKO in the third round. Sylvester hails from Canton and now has a 7-1 record.
The big news in the amateur ranks was the debut of the Simms brothers from Olmsted Falls, Ohio. They brought a loud group of supporters with them as they made successful debuts in the cage. Justin Simms beat David Blakeman at 155 pounds, while John Simms scored a decision victory over A.J. Carl at 145. Also in the amateur ranks, Terry Blackwell scored a hard-fought decision victory over Scott Burr at 170 pounds; while heavyweight Brian Rogers knocked off Matt Mehnert.
Fightfest airs on Friday night at 10:30 p.m. on Sports Time Ohio, the cable network owned by the Cleveland Indians. Replay times are Sunday night at 11;30 and Monday night at 8 o’clock.
Fightfest will kick off 2007 with a TV taping at the Canton Civic Center on Feb. 3.
The fans at the Canton Civic Center welcomed back the stars of Fightfest at a TV taping on Nov. 11. Canton was also the site of the second Fightfest live event back on April 14.
Former Iowa State University wrestler Sonny Marchette competed in the main event against Nick Sorg at 155 pounds. Marchette and Sorg battled evenly through the first round. One minute into Round 2, Marchette dumped Sorg onto his back, but Sorg quickly slapped on a triangle hold for a huge upset win. Sorg is now 3-2, while Marchette drops to 1-1.
Mike McKenzie stayed undefeated at 205 pounds with a comeback win over P.J. Bolanis. For most of the first round, Bolanis dominated his opponent on the mat, but the referee stood the fighters up because he wanted more action. McKenzie (3-0) took advantage of the second chance and won with the guillotine choke.
Another pro fight saw 170-pounder Matt Shaw (4-2) force a submission from Travis Burnett (Pictures)e in in 47 seconds with armbar.
Team Instigator, based in nearby Canal Fulton, Ohio, enjoyed a great night with several wins in the amateur ranks. Cody Butzer (5-1) continued his hot streak, knocking out newcomer Nathan Martin with a vicious takedown in just 15 seconds. He is becoming a huge crowd favorite with several wins and local TV coverage. He also wrestles at Cleveland State University.
Also, Team Instigator trainer John Barabasch stepped into the cage for the first time and defeated veteran Leo Fowler with a keylock in 3 minutes. Barabasch won despite suffering an injury that required doctors to insert two pins into his hand. Two weeks later, Fightfest returned to its home at the Masonic Temple in Cleveland for another big TV taping.
Hometown boy Matt Masterson picked up another win in the 185-pound division. He improved his record to 4-1 with a win of Sean Sallee (Pictures) of Indianapolis. Despite entering the bout with a 4-15 record, Sallee put up a strong fight. However, Masterson broke his rib in the second round, so Sallee had not choice but to tap out.
Vadim Ivanov also had the hometown advantage as he faced Alonso Martinez in the semifinals of the 155-pound tournament. Ivanov, who trains with Team Strong Style in Cleveland, had defeated Kevin Contos in the first round of the tournament, while Martinez had knocked off Mike Bogner. Martinez, who fights out of Omaha, Neb., controlled the tempo in the first round. Ivanov was starting to turn things around in Round 2 when he suffered a rib injury and the referee stopped the fight.
The fans in Cleveland got their first look at “The Caucasian Devastation” Brendan Seguin (Pictures), who battled Tom Jones from Tulsa, Okla., at 185 pounds. Both men entered the fight with 11 pro wins. As usual, Jones was tough as nails, but Seguin wowed the crowd with a TKO victory in 3:45.
The fight everyone in was waiting for was the rematch at 185 pounds between Rhomez Brower and Prince McLean. They did battle in the main event of the first Fightfest taping in September and Brower won after McLean suffered a separated shoulder. With McLean healed, the fight was on again. Brower tagged the Prince with several good punches in the first round, and McLean was unable to answer the bell for Round 2.
Arman Loktev of Cleveland showed that he had what it takes to seize control of the 145-pound division after his win over Jesse Williams. Loktev unleashed a relentless attack, and to his credit, Williams kept fighting. Loktev won on a unanimous decision, and he has to be considered one of the favorites to win the division title.
Similarly, heavyweight Tony Sylvester used a methodical approach to wear down veteran Demian “The Coroner” Decorah from Wisconsin. Sylvester, who wrestled at Ohio State University, won the fight on a TKO in the third round. Sylvester hails from Canton and now has a 7-1 record.
The big news in the amateur ranks was the debut of the Simms brothers from Olmsted Falls, Ohio. They brought a loud group of supporters with them as they made successful debuts in the cage. Justin Simms beat David Blakeman at 155 pounds, while John Simms scored a decision victory over A.J. Carl at 145. Also in the amateur ranks, Terry Blackwell scored a hard-fought decision victory over Scott Burr at 170 pounds; while heavyweight Brian Rogers knocked off Matt Mehnert.
Fightfest airs on Friday night at 10:30 p.m. on Sports Time Ohio, the cable network owned by the Cleveland Indians. Replay times are Sunday night at 11;30 and Monday night at 8 o’clock.
Fightfest will kick off 2007 with a TV taping at the Canton Civic Center on Feb. 3.
