Photo: Uffe Brännström

Photo: Uffe Brännström

MMA superbout last minute replacement fighter Richie Whitson, a crab fisher from Alaska, gave the Swede Joakim Engberg a hard time in the ring constantly throwing big punches combined with a solid takedown defense. Engberg tried and tried to find openings for his groundwork during all rounds but Whitson always found a way out of Engbergs hot spots. The fight ended in the third round when Whitson managed to get a mounted crucifix position and started to hammer down punches at the trapped and defenseless Engberg.

Photo: Uffe Brännström

Muay Thai World champions Jiri Zak and Rickard Nordstrand played a game a of human chess in the ring. The first two round was a real positional war where Zak tried to land his heavy lowkicks and left hook while Nordstrand went more for damaging Zaks arms with hard body kicks.
None of them wanted to take any real risks and instead awaited a move from the other to counter at. In the third Zak took the initiative and started to put together combinations and moved forward. Nordstrand answered and landed a perfect straight right to Zaks head that lead to a standing eight count. Zak then tried to win the fight back but Nordstrand simply clinched and backed away to secure the decision win.

Photo: Uffe Brännström

Fight of the night saw the K-1 MAX star Artur Kyshenko and Swedish Muay Thai warrior Marcus Öberg in a battle that was sheer quality and excitement all the way.
Oberg, who had an injury in his elbow after the Sportaccord Combat game was close to cancel the fight since the training had not been what needed to fight an excellent fighter as Kyshenko. Kyshenko however seemed more focused and hungry than ever.
After a technical and close first round consisting of hard knees and low kicks from Öberg and accurate boxing from Kyshenko things took a different turn. A lovely well timed left hook from Kyshenko made Öbergs mouthpiece fly all of the way to the seventh ringside row and the following eight count for Öberg was righteous. Clearly dazzled Öberg tried his best to fight back but was moments later downed again by yet another hard blow from the Ukrainian. Even though badly hurt Öberg managed to stay on his feet for the rest of the fight and did land several good techniques of his own. But, still Kyshenko took a very impressive and clear decision win.

Photo: Daniel Andersson

Hard hitting Romanian TV star Catalin Morosanu had no problems what so ever to repeat his previous fight of the UFC, K-1 and PRIDE veteran Gary Goodrige. With persistent bombardment consisting of hooks, uppercuts and lowkicks towards Goodridge who seemed to be somewhere else than in the ring, Morosanu forced Goodridge down on the canvass three times in the second round by damaging Goodridge’s legs and picked up a easy win by technical knockout. Goodridge’s contribution to this fight was criticized by all the spectators.

Photo: Uffe Brännström

The historical female WBC-titelbout between Frida Wallberg and the Canadian champion Oliva Gerula turned out to be an eight rounded war! The “predator” Gerula did actually use a quite unorthodox fighting style at times that very much looked like a hungry lion on the savanna. The Swede Wallberg was not interested in playing prey and instead used great footwork and timing to score as many points as possible. Towards the seventh and in the eight round Gerulas fast and furious punches lacked aim and Wallberg clearly advanced on the score sheets. A very entertaining and dramatic fight ended with the new World Champion Frida Wallberg raising the WBC belt in front of a fanatic home crowd.

Photo: Daniel Andersson

Photo: Daniel Andersson

Former WMC European Champion and K-1 MAX fighter Dzhabar Askerov went in to the ring and gave the”Japanese Bull” William Sriyapai, who presented a total amateur & pro Muaythai fighting record of 139 fights, a lesson in Muay Thai. After just 30 seconds of the firsts round Sriyapai made his first of many visits to the canvass. Barley surviving the first round “The Bull” came out in the second trying to turn the fight around but it was to no use as Askerov mercilessly mangled him right back and secured a comfortable second round TKO win.

Photo: Daniel Andersson

The value of experience proved its worth in the clash between the gifted youngster Carlos Prada and the well rounded ring warrior Malik Mawlayi. Without any hesitation Prada threw himself at Mawlayi and tossed him to the ground from clinch. While Prada wasted big amounts of energy on the ground Mawlayi calmly weathered the storm waiting for a opening. Back up on their feet Pradas gastank had reach just a about zero and Mawlayi started to pound away a one minute long shower of strikes and kicks to the fatigued Prada. Heroically standing but unable to move away from the ropes and the hard beating Prada eventually got caught by a devastating livershot and the referee stopped the bout.

Photo: Uffe Brännström

Photo: Daniel Andersson

The full Muay Thai rules fight between the Swedes Martin Ahktar and Peyman Shahrokni was a real treat for the audience. This was also the first Muaythai fight in Sweden with elbows since 2007. Like expected it became a hard and technical brawl with a major focus on offence from both fighters. Shahrokni used more elbow techniques then Akhtar but Akthar did land more kicks and sweeps. The 2-0 decision victory came in favor for Martin Ahktar after three very close and exciting rounds of great Muay Thai action

Photo: Uffe Brännström

Swedish MMA rising star Hanna Sillèn took a impressive win over the versatile and hard hitting American Leah Melnychuck in the evenings first MMA fight. A couple of hard blows was traded in clinch and then Sillèn cached a kick from Melnychuck and took the fight to the ground. From side Sillèn took Melnychucks back and went for a rear naked choke. Melnychuck showed tons of fighting spirit as she struggled to not let Sillèn get a tapuot but after a whole minute of struggling Sillèn passed the defense and the rearnaked submission was a fact.

Photo: Uffe Brännström

The re-match between Meran Zangana and Alex Harris looked different now than in the Swedish Championship. Harris was sharper and had improved his techniques since his last fight and zangana looked more tens. Harris scored an early knockdown in the first round when Zangana made one of very few mistakes in the fight. Trying to get back on the scorecards Zangana needed a knockdown of his own and went all in for it in the third. Big punches did land in both directions but the systematic and relaxed Harris kept his head cool and secured a well deserved unanimous decision win.

Photo: Uffe Brännström

Text: Daniel Hol