1) James Brasco vs. Elijah Harshbarger: This is a welterweight contest said to be between two really good wrestlers. Harshbarger wants to fight GSP. So would I if that was my chosen profession. Both in their mid 30s. Harshbarger, says the internet, lost in an unaired Shogun Fights 2 contest. An unaired SHOGUN FIGHTS 2 CONTEST.
FIGHT: Harshbarger TKO Rnd 3. The announcers compare the early going trading of body shots in the clinch to Don Frye/Yoshihiro Takayama. Yeah, and Hopkins and Gatti were stylistically similar boxers. (0)
Brasco: Lots of heart, but his hands are so low that he begs to get punched. It happens too, dropping him in round 2 and he probably would have been stopped if it was anyone else. He's gassed by the mid point of the round, and so from that point forward it is 100% all Harshbarger.
Harshbarger: Top control grappler with decent power but little technique standing that theoretically should improve. He has some trouble getting the fight down early, and that's probably tied to an issue he has with one of his feet apparently in his stance and walking around. He even comes in with a welt under his eye that's troubling him. Just a collections of problems. And yet he still takes over the fight and dominates. Had some issues with stopping some less than orthodox takedown attempts.
2) Mark Serkez vs. Mitch Whitsel: This is shown after the Harshbarger/Brasco fight, and yet its this fight which the announcers keep referring to. I never noticed until today that Serkez has this tattoo on his back that looks like a giant smile. Except its like words. Or his name.
FIGHT: Whitsel Unanimous Decision. Deserved loss for Serkez who was outstruck standing pretty comprehensively. He did nothing but throw looping overhand rights while suffering being on the wrong end of leg kicks. The kicks so got to him, he was forced to change stances in round 2 and become even less effective. Yikes. His bright spot in the fight came in the 3rd when Whitsel slipped throwing a high knee out of the clinch and Serkez had dominant position for about 2-3 seconds. After that, the fight went back to being in the clinch, then at distance. Whitsel looked tired after round 2, FWIW. (0)
3) Erik Kovarik vs. Josh Bacallao: 150lb catchweight. Kovarik is listed as 1-4, Bacallao 5-1. Huh? Really?
FIGHT: Bacallao TKO Rnd 3. Just not a fun fight to watch - Bacallao dominates a wholly unprepared and underskilled and undersized and undereverythinged opponent that really only has heart on his side. Bacallao proves to be a mediocre finisher who can't beat a guy Alex Cacares subbed in round one no matter how many shots he lands or no matter how many kimuras or armbars he goes for. (0)
4) Jason Carapelluci vs. Ron Jacobs: Featherweights. Both are local guys with nonspectacular records and are practically novices at the pro level.
FIGHT: Carapelluci Unanimous Decision (0)
Carapelluci: He's a solid wrestler out of ATT. Aside from that? I'm not sure what to really suggest he is good at. He passes position rarely. He basically grinds out the clock with some punches and occasional elbows from minute one. I saw nothing of his standup here. Jacobs was able to reverse position on occasion, which made the announcers criticize the fans for not seeing the great positional battle in lieu of a fight with any actual contact or submission attempts.
Jacobs: A survivor. Has some submission skills maybe. Loses pretty much every minute of every round.
5) Brian Van Hoven vs. Vinnie Samero: Orlando vs. Fairfax, VA in a lightweight contest. Din Thomas joins to announce.
FIGHT: Van Hoven TKO Rnd 1. Dudes just feel each other out, and Samero keeps switching stances. Right after going from southpaw to orthodox, he drops his right hand and Van Hoven charges in with a Holyfieldesque left hook. Well, there's the crown of the head coming in to, and the combination knocks out Samero. More the punch than anything. (0)
6) Robert Turner vs. David Baggett: Florida locals fighting at a catchweight of 195. Two guys with .500 or lower records coming in.
FIGHT: Turner Submission Rnd 1. Baggett got the takedown early and nearly had the RNC, but his mediocrity kicked in. Turner escaped, turned over, and ended up catching Baggett in a guillotine. (0)
There is some sort of ceremony where Robert Turner wins a $250 prize and a trophy for some sort of performance of the night award given by the guy that invented MetRX. Can't make this shit up.
7) Justin Moore vs. Mike Lee: Co-main event. Mike Lee is the HOMETOWN HERO.
FIGHT: Lee TKO Rnd 1. Lee and Moore clinch a little early, they separate, and then Lee lands a right high kick as Moore comes in to punch. He is unconscious before he hits the floor. (0)
8) Harris Norwood vs. Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett: Bennett is "piss poor and broke". Norwood is 6-16-1. This is Bennett in the Kid Khaos Era.
FIGHT: Bennett Submission Rnd 2. (1)
Bennett: Bennett isn't going crazy. There's no wild slams. Instead, he's fighting slowly, composed, and...boring. He mounts Norwood early in the fight but does precious little with it before Norwood escapes. Later in the fight Norwood starts landing on the feet and Bennett basically doesn't respond. The second is more about Bennett controlling the fight by getting the take down and laying on Norwood. When the ref stands them up late in the round, Bennett ends up grabbing a guillotine and forces the tap late.
Norwood: Journeyman kickboxer with no grappling skill of any appreciable value. Beat Blake Bowman, which is like saying he beat me.
After the fight, Bennett does a backflip. His interview? Still incredible. Made no sense. I think he might have been high. He sends a shout out to his lawyer and his sister.
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Brasco/Harshbarger
KO OF THE NIGHT: Lee/Moore
SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: Turner/Baggett
OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 4 out of 10. There's some decent back and forth on this card, actually, but it is mixed with a lot of bad fights and the least exciting Charles Bennett fight in history. What a shame.
D&R Rating: 2% (1/40)
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