Weekend Rundown: Boetsch, ‘Pe de Pano’ Dominate

UFC and International Fight League veteran Tim Boetsch knocked out Reese Shaner under the North American Fighting Championship banner on Saturday, as he delivered a first-round head kick in the NAFC “Stand Your Ground” headliner at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis. Shaner met his demise 65 seconds into round one.

Boetsch, who was pruned from the UFC roster following his unanimous decision loss to Jason Brilz in March 2009, has rattled off three consecutive wins. The 29-year-old Pennsylvania created some distance with a front kick and then unleashed the knockout blow.

Other winners at the NAFC premier included UFC exile Razak Al-Hassan, who submitted David White with a rear-naked choke 1:36 into the second period. Perhaps best known for his gruesome armbar defeat to former World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight champion Steve Cantwell, Hassan snapped a two-fight losing streak with the victory.

Meanwhile, WEC veteran Sherron Leggett coaxed a tapout from Tim Samelstad with a second-round rear-naked choke, and Chico Camus stopped Pat Miletich protégé Joe Pearson on punches 3:57 into round two.

Cruz Submits Yost at Art of Fighting 7

Six-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Marcio Cruz needed little more than a minute to submit David Yost with a rear-naked choke in the Art of Fighting 7 “Payday” main event on Saturday at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla. “Pe de Pano” cinched the fight-ending hold 1:22 into the first round.

Cruz has delivered five consecutive wins since his knockout loss to former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in December 2006. The 31-year-old Florida-based Brazilian had not won by submission in nearly two years.

Though not as impressive as Cruz, EliteXC veteran James Edson Berto was dominant in his own right, as he submitted Greg Loughran with a first-round heel hook. The end came 2:05 into their encounter. The 26-year-old Berto had lost four of his last five fights.

‘Passion’ Play: Oishi Topples Kobayashi

UFC veteran Koji Oishi stunned the previously unbeaten Isao Kobayashi by unanimous decision in the featured matchup at Pancrase “Passion Tour 3” on Sunday at the Differ Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

Oishi -- who holds victories over Chris Lytle, Karen Darabedyan and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner Nate Diaz -- has pieced together a three-fight winning streak since he fought reigning lightweight King of Pancrase Maximo Blanco to a draw in April 2009.

Other winners at “Passion Tour 3” included 37-year-old journeyman Keiichiro Yamamiya and the once-beaten Isao Hirose, who remains one of the world’s top flyweights. Hirose, who stopped Ryota Uozomi 1:22 into the second round, has won back-to-back bouts since his decision loss to Mitsuhisa Sunabe in October.