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Pre-Fight: As always, I got lost finding my way to the Power and Light District in KC. But after I eventually found my way here, I went and got my media pass, wandered around aimlessly for about 15 minutes before I got my seat front row of the media section. I saw Bjorn Rebney down by where they were selling t-shirts, so I had to use that as my opportunity to introduce myself and tell him how great the tournament fights have been up until now. He said “I hope we can deliver tonight”. I told him “You haven’t failed yet, and I don’t think it’s going to start tonight!” and then I went about my way. He was very friendly, but I could tell he was busy so I decided I’d wait to ask him some questions until Joe Doran, the gentleman who is taking care of all of us, brings Mr. Rebney up here to media row.
They then begin to show some highlight reel ko’s from previous events to get the crowed amped up. There are at least 2,000 people here, and they keep flooding in.
The show is running way behind schedule. The prelim’s were supposed to start at 6:00 CST. It is now 6:30 and now we’re off and running.
Preliminary Fight 1 - Demi Deeds vs. Eric Marriott (162lb. Catch weight Bout)
Round One
Marriott comes out and leads with a leg kick. They exchange heavy shots and Deeds goes for a single. Deeds is working a guillotine from his back, but it doesn’t appear that he has it secured very well and refuses to give it up. Marriott works his way back to his feet and slams Deeds down into side control. Both fighters are standing and Deeds lands a HUGE head kick that sends Marriott down. Marriott grabs a leg and tries to stand, but Deeds is once again refusing to let go of his neck. Deeds postures up and lands some big punches. Marriott goes for a heel hook but can’t secure it. Deeds rolls Marriott to his back and goes for a kneebar of his own. Marriott gets out of it and gets into side control where he lands some good punches as the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Deeds.
Round Two
Marriott leads out with a leg kick. Deeds lands a right and jumps guard. Marriott gets the crucifix, Deeds gives up his back and Marriott goes for the RNC. He can’t secure it and Deeds rolls into guard. Marriott is working an armbar and then transitions into a triangle. Deeds pops out and is working from Marriott’s guard. Marriott goes for another triangle, Deeds taps, and the place goes ape-s*** for the hometown fighter.
RESULT: Eric Marriott wins via tapout from a triangle choke at 3:02 of Round two
Since they were running so far behind, the Drew Dober-Nick Nolte fight had to be moved to the post televised portion of the show.
The ring announcer is getting the crowd ready for the televised card. Even though this is an outdoor event, this place is loud as hell. Well, here we go!
Middleweight Tournament Fight 1-Luke Zachrich vs. Eric Schambari
Round One
Schambari comes out swinging wild and goes for a double. Zachrich defends it well. Jab and another takedown attempt from Schambari, which is stopped, but he goes for it again, ends up in a guillotine, but is able to pop his head out. Schambari is working from half guard, landing some nice body shots and elbows to the legs. Zachrich is able to roll Schambari and get on top. They stand and Schambari gets another takedown. Schambari is working some lefts to the head from half guard. Schambari is looking to set up an arm triangle, locks it in and the fight is over.
RESULT: Eric Schambari wins via tapout from an arm triangle choke at 3:34 of Round 1
Schielke’s take: You can’t help but to root for Schambari after everything he has been through. He looked pretty impressive, defended himself well on the ground, took advantage of the first submission attempt handed to him, and he came out to “Mother” by Danzig. That’s a good combination in my book.
Middleweight Tournament Fight 2 — Matt Major vs. Alexander Shlemenko
Round One
Alexander lands the first strike of signifigance with a spinning back kick, which he follows up with another and a spinning back fist. Alexander lands a solid left. Alexander mjust have a thing for spinning techniques. The clinch and Alexander lands a knee. Nice body kick followed by a body shot lands for Alexander. Both are throwing , but nothing is landing. Alexander throws a pair of spinning backfist and the second one actually lands. They clinch and Major lands a knee to the body. Alenxander lands a right. The bottom half of Major’s face is a bloddy mess. Major shoots, but Alexander fends it off. Major lands a kick to the body as the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Shlemenko. Alexander kept spinnin’ and spinnin’ and spinnin’, but did land some good strikes. Major really didn’t land anything that I could see.
Round Two
Major leads with a low kick. A spinning backfist turns into a spinning elbow that lands for Alexander. Major tries to push the action but can’t seem to land anything. A hoverhand right followed with a left to the body lands for Alexander. Major counters with a left. Alexander nails Major in the head with a right. Alexander goes for a spinning heel kick and is taken down by Major. Major can’t seem to land anything from the guard as Alexander is doing a good job tying him up. They get back to their feet and and Major takes a knee to his “cash and prizes”. Alexander swings wildly as the round comes to a close.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Shlemenko. Alexander isn’t doing very much, but Major is doing even less…
Round Three
Alexander comes out swinging and throwing more spinning crap. Hard left hook to the body followed by a left body kick lands for Alexander. Major goes for the clinch, but Alexander just pushes him away. A pair of spinning back kicks land for Alexander. Alexander starts pouring it on, but he seems gassed. Major rushes in but can’t land anything. Spinning backfist lands for Alexander. Major leads with a right but is countered by a left by Alexander. Another body shot lands for Alexander. Alexander gets Major’s back, but can’t do anything with it. Major gets a takedown. He works some ground and pound. Alexander goes for a triangle but Major stands up. More spinning stuff from Alexander. Pause in the action as Major lost his mouth piece. They trade spinning backfist and the fight is over.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Shlemenko. He looked completely gassed, but Major couldn’t do anything with it. Nothing really exciting happened this round, with the exception of the 2 solid spinning back kicks by Shlemenko.
-Schielke’s Final Score: 30-27 Shlemenko-
-Judge’s Scores: 30-27 X 3 for Shlemenko. Alexander Shlemenko wins by unanimous decision.-
Schielke’s Take: I’m dizzy.
Middleweight Tournament Fight 3 — Sean Loeffler vs. Bryan Baker
Pre fight - I found out from another reporter that Loeffler’s trainer was shot and killed 3 weeks ago and Loeffler is understandably tore up about it.
Round One
Baker comes out and lands a nice right hand. They clinch and Baker gets the takedown. Baker works some lefts to the head, but Loeffler is doing a good job controlling Baker’s posture. Baker stands and comes down with a right that misses, but he lands in side control. Loeffler goes for a leg but Baker isn’t having it. Baker lands a right to the body of the grounded Loeffler that hurts him badly. Baker follows up with at least 15 unanswered shots before the ref steps in and stops it.
RESULT: Bryan Baker wins via TKO at 2:43 of round one
During the commercial break, Loeffler tells the story of his trainer being murdered three weeks ago…
Middleweight Tournament Fight 4—Jared Hess vs. Ryan McGivern
Round One
Hess goes for a shot immediately and McGivern works a guillitone. Hess picks up McGivern and SLAMS him down. Hess comes flying down with a right that misses. Hess lands a few punches and gets into side control, where he is working some rights to the head. McGivern scrambles and gets half guard. Hess sands up and comes leaping in with another right. McGivern is doing a good job of controlling Hess from his back. Hess lands a few punches from half guard. Seems like Hess is keep just busy enough to prevent the ref from standing them up. Hess gets to side control again, gets the crucifix briefly, but can’t land anything. Some short shots land for Hess as the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Hess. After the slam, Hess dominated the round, even though he didn’t dish out much damage.
Round Two
McGivern Lands with a left hook and follows up with a jab. Hess shoots, but McGivern sprawls, tries to stop it, but Hess ends up completing the takedown. Hess stands up and McGivern pops up quickly and works for a single of his own. Hess sinks in a guillotine, drops to his back, and McGivern taps.
RESULT: Jared Hess wins via tapout from a guillotine choke at 1:54 of Round two
===
In other action….
Local fighter Nick Nolte showed a ton of heart and took an absolute beating before tapping out due to an arm triangle in the first round of his match against Drew Dober.
Two more local Bantamweights, Danny Tims and Brian Davidson, battled it out for a spot in next season’s Bellator tournament. Go to Bellator.com, Youtube.com or wherever you need to go to find this fight and watch it. This one had the crowd going more than any other fight tonight. Tims was all but KTFO’ed in the first round to come back and win a unanimous decision. This was the fight of the night.
Veteran fighters Brent Weedman (I can’t make this s*** up) and hometown boy Rudy Bears went to war in a 173lb Catch Weight bout. Weedman won by TKO in the first round by landing some hellacious ground and pound.
Post fight press conference coverage and interviews coming up….
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