Superfight 1:

Christian Smith  (83.9 kg) vs Cliff Hall (83.5 kg)

Referee: Marc Goddard

Of these two local fighters, Smith is best known for his Stand-up skills while Hall is an expert grappler. Both were looking forward to impress the attending M-1 scouts with their skills so they could be selected for the UK M-1 team that will be part of the Challenge in 2008.

Whistling, yelling, shouting on the top of their lungs. The crowd went berserk when the two British heroes entered the ring. Hometown fighter Hall against Smith from Mansfield.

What a fight. Words fail to describe it. Puncher Smith was dominating the first round and a few times Hall narrowly escaped being KO´d on the ground. Just 33 seconds after the bell of the 2th round Hall was mounted again and this time lady luck left him. He needed serious care after a heavy G&P knockout. Christian Smith winner by KO G&P of this fantastic superfight.

Red Devil vs USA

The psychological battle between the Russians and the Americans started at the weigh in when Brandon Magana and Brian Harper did not made the weight straight away. First they tried to make the IMA officials tolerate a four to five hundred grams overweight. When this was refused they said they could not cut more weight and were willing to offer their opponents a part of their fee. The Russians refused because in another Challenge they had the same problem and were ordered to cut the weight down. Then the Americans said they would not fight because they felt too weak to lose more weight. The Russians did not care because then those fights would be scored as wins in their favor. Then the Americans decided to do more effort if they were given a few extra hours. The Russians on their turn started to argue that it should not be allowed and so it went on and on. Eventually things were settled and Magana and Harper made the weight.

With the Red Devil team the Russians just opened another tin of champions because all of them are Mixfight, Pancration, Combat sambo, Russian hand to hand combat or another martial arts Champion and they were eager to prove this in the ring against the Americans.

Mikhail Malyutin  (69.5 kg) vs Beau King (69.5 kg)

Referee: Mika Sinkkonen

In his last Challenge fight Malyutin beat the strong Finnish fighter Nikko Puhakka and insiders tipped him to be the winner against King who lost his last three fights in a row.

He continued his losing streak with number four. He was no match for the experienced Malyutin. After exactly 5 minutes in the first round King tapped out on a  rear naked choke. Had he held it for one single second longer then there would have been a second round.

Erik Oganov (75.8 kg) vs Brandon Magana (75.9 kg)

Referee: Mika Sinkkonen

Would Magana be able to give a good performance after having to struggle so much to make the weight? He didn’t do too bad, because he survived the first round in which they traded some punches and clinched for the rest without ever going to the ground.

Second round there was some groundwork but most of the time went on with Oganov holding Magana in a guillotine choke which he could not finish. Winner on points Oganov.

Dimitriy Samoilov (83.7 kg) vs Bryan Harper (83.7 kg)

Referee: Marc Goddard

The first round of this fight was more like a boxing match then an MMA fight with Samoilov having the upperhand. Same thing in the second round and Samoilov deserved to be the winner which was also the outcome of the jury decision.

Mikhail Zayatz (90.8 kg) vs John Cornett (92.8 kg)

Referee: Marc Goddard

In the first minute of the first round Cornett was cut above the left eye by a hammerfist during a ground situation. Lots of effective aggressive action by Zayatz who took the first round.

44 seconds after the bell of the 2th round Cornett gave up.

Kirill Sidelnikov (103.00 kg) vs James Jack (117.4 kg)

Referee: Marco Broersen

It took Sidelnikov just 1.27 minute in the first round to make the referee stop the fight after ground & Pound.

Superfights 2 & 3:

Jim Wallhead (75.7 kg)  vs Igor Araujo (76.00 kg)

Referee: Marco Broersen

Wallhead took even less time than Sidelnikov did to finish his fight against the Brazilian.

After a slam he Ground and Pounded  him out after 1.19 minute in the first round.

Wayne Buck  (102.7 kg)  vs Matteo Minonzio

Referee: Marc Goddard

It looked like Minonzio had a kickboxing background because he landed some strong lowkicks and good knees. 2:51 minutes after the bell of the first round Wayne Buck tapped out after a knee to the body.