Big-show veterans made a lot of noise on the Korean and Japanese MMA scenes last weekend, but shows in Russia and Stateside also played host to some concussive action from UFC alumni. Results follow, beginning with a TUF 10 cast member…
In the main event of Russia’s Tech-Krep FC: Prime Selection, 25-year-old Denis Goltsov further cemented himself as one of MMA’s promising heavyweights thanks to his second-round TKO of James McSweeney (14-13-, 1-2 UFC).
McSweeney did well in the early going, landing leg and body kicks before fighting through Goltsov’s methodical jab for a takedown from the clinch. He spent the remainder of the round shrugging off submission attempts while landing moderate strikes from full and half guard before threatening with a heel hook at the bell. Goltsov would, however, halt McSweeney’s momentum early in Round 2, finding McSweeney’s jaw with his first kick of the fight and leaving the UFC veteran fetal alongside the ropes. The victory moves the six-foot-six Goltsov to 15-4. He’s won his last ten fights. As for McSweeney, he finds himself on a losing streak for the first time in four years; this latest setback makes for two TKO losses in a row, the first of which came, surprisingly, at the hands of Roger Gracie last December.
Check out Goltsov vs. McSweeney here. Action starts at 0:25.
And in Colorado on Saturday, at Golden Fights: Cage Wars 22, “Mr. International” Shonie Carter (50-31-7-1NC, 3-3 UFC, 0-1 Bellator) entered his headlining bout with Johnny Parsons in search of his first consecutive victory in six years. Parsons, making his pro-MMA debut, would happily play the spoiler, giving evidence of his kickboxing experience with a right hand that stunned Carter only half a minute into Round 1. Follow-up strikes left Carter unconscious, on his feet only by virtue of being propped up by the fence. Carter falls to 1-1 for the year; fans of his colorful personality, and wardrobe, and penchant for spinning backfists, will be disappointed to know that he’s 2-6 since a 2010 appearance in Bellator. Parsons, meanwhile, kicks off his pro career at 1-0-0.
Also on the card, Andrew Yates (9-1-0, 0-1 WSOF) overcame an early injury in his bout with Ryan Landis (1-3-0) to take a unanimous decision victory. With his first punch of the fight, Yates broke his hand, after which he relied on his grappling and ground-and-pound to take scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 30-26 on the judges’ cards.
Up a piece, in Omaha, Nebraska, Ryan Roberts (21-10-1-1NC, 0-2 Bellator, 0-1 UFC) successfully defended his Victory FC bantamweight title against Ramiro Hernandez (17-7, 0-2 UFC), putting “Junior” away with strikes mid-way through the first. Roberts, who in his lone UFC appearance was armbarred in sixteen seconds by Marcus Aurelio, seems to be hitting his stride of late, having won his last five, which includes victories over former WEC talents Chase Beebe and L.C. Davis as well as fellow Bellator alum Jeremy Spoon. Hernandez, meanwhile, has a recent win-streak halted at four. He’s 4-1 since the 2014 unanimous decision loss to Hugo Viana that saw him out of the UFC.
Also on the card, Alonzo Martinez (39-17-1, 0-1 Strikeforce, 1-1 Bellator), who appeared in Bellator’s inaugural event, bested Cody Carrillo (9-12-0, 0-3 Bellator) by unanimous decision. He’s won two straight.
Finally, as part of Monday’s Montenegro Fighting Championship, 12-fight UFC veteran Igor Pokrajac improved to 2-0 in his post-Octagon campaign, handing opponent Rudolf Pavlin the first loss of his career in the process. The victory came in Round 1 after Pokrajac settled into mount and leveled a series of elbows to Pavlin’s head. Pavlin drops to 4-1-0, Pokrajac moves to 27-12, 1NC.
Check out the finishing sequence here.
About the author
