1) Tom Blackledge (2-0, 1 KO, 1 Sub): Whenever Tom Blackledge is the best light heavyweight in your division, there are major issues at hand.
VS. Tatsuya Mizuno: Mizuno drops Blackledge really early in round 1, but Blackledge survives Mizuno's attempt to finish. Mizuno lands another right hand that hurts him, and then proceeds to try and win with a poor armbar attempt. Blackledge escapes but is jumped on. The overt aggression will not stand, man - Mizuno forgets to flow like water, and being overly aggressive costs him as Blackledge counters by taking the back and locking in a body triangle. Blackledge holds on as Mizuno elevates and gets to his feet, and as he drops back to try and break it, the choke is locked in. Blackledge comes from behind.
VS. Enoc Torres: Blackledge throws low kick, Torres drops his hands, and then gets caught with a headkick 6 seconds in. He's stiff as a board.
2) Christian M'Pumbu (2-0, 1 KO, 1 Sub): This shouldn't shock you at all. Well, it did shock me when I realized he lost in that DEEP Light Heavyweight Tournament. Good god.
VS. Hideo Tatsumi: Highlights are shown of Round 1, in which its said that M'Pumbu landed lots of strikes at all ranges. In the second, Tatsumi eats leg kicks and some wild punches while doing nothing. With a few seconds left, Tatsumi is dropped by a combination of a low kick and right hand, causing the corner to throw in the towel.
VS. Enoch Torres: Actually struggles to some degree, as Torres is able to get up after being thrown and actually catches one of M'Pumbu's kicks. In the end, Torres gets on top but gives up an arm to M'Pumbu, tapping out with just one second remaining.
3) Tony Lopez (1-0. 1 Sub): Lopez was just in for a cup of coffee, but considering the competition as to who was the third best light heavyweight in the M-1 Challenge 2009 season, he's the clear winner. Next on the depth chart is Tatsuya Mizuno or Gadzhimurad Omarov. What, Omarov deserves special treatment for fighting at heavyweight too? Not like Tony Lopez isn't known for that or anything. Oh, wait.
VS. Victor Nemkov: Lopez is shown going for a kimura in round 1, but Nemkov survives. We're told it was a close round in highlights. Entering round 2, Lopez looks beat. There's a pretty wild grappling exchange that leaves Lopez and Nemkov trading dominant positions, and Lopez gets the best of it. At one point, he looks to be going for a Eddie Bravo twister, then transitions to a body triangle, forcing Nemkov to tap to a chinlock. Hilarious.
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