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This Weekend in Fights! (March 31st) featured no UFC, but lots of UFC veterans fighting on the local scene in various promotions across the world. Starting on Friday night, the weekend’s events included Bellator 63 in Connecticut, Resurrection Fighting Alliance in Nebraska, Legend Fighting Championship 8 in China, and continued on Saturday with ONE FC 3 in Singapore, Amazon Forest Combat in Brazil, the inaugural Worldwide Mixed Martial Arts event in Texas, and Instinct MMA 3 here in here Quebec.

Bellator 63 kicked off the Season 6 Welterweight tournament at the Mohegan Sun Arenau in Uncasville, Connecticut on Friday. Karl Amoussou, Bryan Baker, David Rickels and Ben Saunders advanced to the semifinals. Amoussou connected with a a superb head kick that dropped Chris Lozano, with Lozano down, Amoussou picked up a quick rear naked choke. Bryan Baker dropped from Middleweight  to compete in this  season’s tournament. A move that would prove to be the right one against a dangerous striker in Carlos Pereira. The two combatants battled it out in a three round war, that saw each of hem dictate the pace of the bout, but overall Baker came up with the split decision victory. Known for his great striking ability, Ben Saunders displayed his submission skills against Raul Amaya. After three rounds, the judges gave the bout to Saunders via unanimous decision.  David Rickels had the most impressive showing at Bellator 63, when he squared off with Jordan Smith. Rickels had a early night with a 22 second knockout to adavance in the tournament. The semifinals of the tournament are set with Ben Saunders taking on Bryan Baker, while Karl Amoussou will take on David Rickels on May 4th at Casino Rama, in Rama, Ontario. On the Women’s side of things Munah Holland picked up an impressive knockout out victory over Marianna Kheyfets with 15 seconds remaining the the second round. (Full Bellator 63 event results below.)

The Resurrection Fighting Alliance promotion held its second event on Friday at Viaero Event Center in Kearney, Nebraska. The event was headlined by with a blockbuster Light Heavyweight main event of UFC veterans Gilbert Yvel and Houston Alexander. Yvel slimmed down to Light Heavyweight and has since picked up two victories including the knockout victory over Alexander late in the first round. The man who defeated Mark Coleman to become the UFC Heavyweight champion, 50-year-old Maurice Smith returned to action on this card. Smith retired from MMA in 2000, following a loss to Renato “Babalu” Sobral, only to return in 2007 for three bouts through to 2008. Smith picked up a head kick knockout over Jorge Cordoba after a four year layoff. Dakota Cochrane who was unable to secure a spot in the Ultimate Fighter Live house was in action. Cochrane who “should” be best known for defeating Jamie Varner, has gained more notoriety for his stint in gay porn prior to his MMA career. Cochrane lost his bout to Cliff Wright via rear naked choke in the first round. In the professionalism fight of the night, both Tara LaRosa and Kelly Warren missed weight for their 125lbs bout. However the former Bodog Fight Bantamweight Women’s champion and current DaMMAge Fight League Women’s 125lbs champion, LaRosa picked up the victory with an arm bar submission with one second remaining in the third round. (Full Resurrection Fighting Alliance event results below.)

China based promotion  Legend Fighting Championship held its eighth event on Friday at Asia World-Expo in Hong Kong, China. The event had two championship bouts including the Lightweight and Featherweight titles. Both bouts ended via guillotine submission, as the LFC Lightweight champion Jadamba Narantungalag successfully  defended his championship in just under a minute of the second round over challenger Yui Chul Nam.  In the inaugural LFC Featherweight championship bout, Yusuke Kawanago claimed the title when he submitted Xian Ji. Also on the card, UFC and Sengoku veteran Keita Nakamura picked up a victory over Korean welterweight Hoon Kim. Kim injured his hand in the first round, and refused to continue into the second, giving Nakamura the TKO. (Full LFC 8 event results below.)

ONE FC 3: “War of the Lions” took place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore, on Saturday night. Headlining the event was a bout between Zorobabel Moreira and Felipe Enomoto. The native of Brazil, Moreira is a former Middleweight competitor, who now fights a Lightweight. Standing tall at six foot three, Moreira carries enormous size advantage over other Lightweight competitors. Moreira took the bout to the mat early in the third round to secured the victory with an arm bar to earn submission of the night honors. Former PRIDE and STRIKEFORCE fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri, who has since dropped the Featherweight,  made short work of  King of The Cage Bantamweight champion Donald Sanchez. Kawajiri used his superior submission skills against the wrestler for a first round triangle choke submission victory. Melvin Manhoef  and Yoshiyuki Nakanishi went toe-to-toe or shin-to-shin for that matter as their stand up war was halted and subsequently ended in just over two minutes over the very first round, when both fighters shins collided causing huge gashes; declaring the bout a no-contest.  (Full ONE FC: “War of the Lions” event results below.)

Amazon Forest Combat stacked their second event at the Amadeu Teixeira Gymnasium, in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil with a who’s who of MMA superstars. Former UFC Middleweight champion Murilo Bustamante headlined the event in a UFC 35 rematch against Dave Menne. The result was the same as their 2002 bout, as Bustamante picked up the victory snapping a two fight losing skid and ending Menne’s two fight winning streak. Bustamente’s BTT teammate Patrick “The Predator” Cote was also successful on the card against Gustavo Machado with a first round knockout. Cote in now riding a four fight win streak since being dropped by the UFC in 2010. Former UFC Middleweight championship contender and current Superior Challenge Middleweight champion, Thales Leites picked up a second round arm triangle choke submission over Matt Horwich in a rematch from their Powerhouse World Promotions Middleweight championship bout in 2010. MMA journeyman Pete Spratt, who has fought in every promotion under the sun, and most recently here in Quebec against Martin Grandmont for Instinct MMA continued his winning ways. Spratt “picked up” a unanimous decision victory over Chute Boxe Academy’s Daniel Acacio, in what would have been a knockout, but because it was scored at the five minute mark of the third round, the bout went to the judges score cards. After being cut from the UFC for two straight losses against Melvin Guillard and Jacob Volkmann, former Lightweight now Welterweight fighter Ronys Torres has compiled an impressive 10-1 record. The 10th straight victory came a by way of TKO in 22 seconds of the first round over controversial fighter  Ferrid Kheder, who didn’t have the opportunity to allow the promoter rig his decision for him. (Full Amazon Forest Combat 2 event results below.)

Worldwide Mixed Martial Arts held its inaugural show on Saturday night at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. The card featured a lot of notable names in the world of mixed martial arts. The main event featured a,  super heavyweight bout between Brian Heden and a 312lbs Sean McCorkle. Heden scored a second round TKO victory over McCorkle, who has fought 4 times in the last 63 days. The lost snaps his 6 fight win streak since parting ways with the UFC. Three bouts on the card were all snapping losing skids for UFC and STRIKEFORCE veterans as  former UFC fighter Karo Parisyan snapped a three fight losing skid by  finally picking up a victory as he scored a decision victory over veteran welterweight Thomas Denny.  Former STRIKEFORCE fighter Lyle Beerbohm, snapped his two fight skid, when he submitted  Cleburn Walker with a guillotine choke in the first round. Former UFC fighter Drew Fickett snapped his four-fight losing skid in a submission victory over Kevin Knabjian. Other UFC veterans on the card included
Rodney Wallace, who defeated Derrick Mehman via unanimous decision, improving his win streak to two; and in a Heavyweight clash TUF alumni Darrill “Titties” Schoonover defeated  Paul Buentello via unanimous decision. (Full WMMA 1 event results below.)

Instinct MMA 3 went down at the Centre de Foires in Sherbrooke, Quebec on Saturday night. The event was plagued with many fight cancellations, and Pay-Per-View complications. Nonetheless the event had 15 bouts, but many of which were last minute replacements. In the main event, Peter Nolan replaced Todd Stoute, who was forced to withdraw due to injury. Nolan defeated Sebastien Gauthier with a Rear-Naked Choke submission in just 35 seconds. Grudge MMA product Brandon Thatch made short work of  Jory Erickson with a 15 second knockout in the first round. Erickson attempted to shoot for a take down, and was met with Thatch’s knee, rendering him unconscious. Victory MMA Middleweight champion Rémy Bussières made his pro debut in impressive fashion with a TKO victory over  Bruno Lurette. Bussieres dropped Lurette with a punch and ended the bout with some ground and pound early in the second round. GAMMA gym stand out Loyd Galindo picked up a submission with over  Alexandre Gauthier late in the third round. (Full Instinct MMA 3 event results below.)

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Fight Night Fights -

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Bellator 63 results:

Karl Amoussou def. Chris Lozano via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:05 – welterweight-tourney opening round

Bryan Baker def. Carlos Pereira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – welterweight-tourney opening round

David Rickels def. Jordan Smith via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:22 – welterweight-tourney opening round

Ben Saunders def. Raul Amaya via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – welterweight-tourney opening round

Spike.com prelims:

Ryan Quinn def. Marc Stevens via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Matt Bessette def. Saul Almeida via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Dan Cramer def. Jeff Nader via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

Andrey Koreshkov def. Taiwan Howard via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:26

Munah Holland def. Marianna Kheyfets via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 4:45

Brandon Fleming def. Pete Rogers via submission (Peruvian necktie) – Round 1, 3:39

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Resurrection Fighting Alliance 2 results:

Gilbert Yvel def. Houston Alexander via KO (punch) – Round 1, 3:59

Cliff Wright def. Dakota Cochrane via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:39

Maurice Smith def. Jorge Cordoba via KO (head kick) – Round 3, 2:05

Tara LaRosa def. Kelly Warren via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 4:59

Derrick Lewis def. Justin Frazier via KO (knee) – Round 1, 2:37

Timothy Elliott def. Josh Rave via submission (D’arce-choke) – Round 1, 0:28

Jared Downing def. Alessandro Ferreira via unanimous decision

Laramie Shaffer def. Aaron Ely via split decision

Elaina Maxwell def. Ashley Sanchez via unanimous decision

Tyler Shinn def. Cody Land via submission (north-south choke) – Round 3, 3:53

Aaron Derrow def. Jordan Johnson via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:12

Angelo Antuna def. Chad Obermiller via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2

Darrio Mobley def. John Gettle via TKO – Round 3

Tyler Perry def. Wayman Carter via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1

Enrique Torres def. Josh Heath via unanimous decision

T.J. Hepburn def. Kellen Fraser via KO (punch) – Round 2

Dusty Spaulding def. Richard Barajas via unanimous decision

Derek Williams def. Ben Wallingford via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1

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Legend Fighting Championship 8 results:

Jadamba Narantungalag def. Yui Chul Nam via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 0:58 – (to retain lightweight title)

Yusuke Kawanago def. Xian Ji via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 4:18 – (to win vacant featherweight title)

Sam Brown def. Yuki Niimura via unanimous decision

Keita Nakamura def. Hoon Kim via TKO (hand injury) – Round 1, 5:00

Haotian Wu def. Daniel Hooker via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:52

Rob Hill def. Yusuke Kasuya via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:55

Chengjie Wu def. Leonard Delarmino via unanimous decision

Danaa Batgerel def. Jazor Ablasi via majority decision

Agustin Delarmino def. Kaiwhare Kara-France via KO (punches) – Round 3, 0:29

Terrence Chan def. Alex Lee via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 1:55

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Saturday Night Fights -

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ONE FC 3 results:

Zorobabel Moreira def. Felipe Enomoto via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 1:04

Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Donald Sanchez via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:27

Ole Laursen def. Eduard Folayang via split decision

Fabricio Monteiro def. Yuya Shirai via unanimous decision

Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi ruled a no-contest (clash of shins/cuts) – Round 1, 2:08

Eddie Ng def. Jian Kai Chee via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:43

Masakazu Imanari def. Kevin Belingon via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 1:18

Nicole Chua def. Jeet Toshi via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:07

Kim Hock Quek def. Majee Overall via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:18

Long Yun Jiang def. Yodsanan Sityodtong via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:28

Danny van Bergen def. Richie Whitson via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:19

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Amazon Forest Combat 2 results:

Murilo Bustamante def. Dave Menne via Unanimous Uecision

Thales Leites def. Matt Horwich via Submission (Arm Triangle)- 4:39 – Round 2

Patrick Cote def. Gustavo Machado via KO (Punches) -t 2:44 – Round 1

Pete Spratt def. Daniel Acacio via Unanimous Decision

Ronys Torres def. Ferrid Kheder via TKO (punches) – 0:22 -Round 1

Dileno Lopes def. Javier Ocampo via submission

Emiliano Sordi def. Fabiano Capoani via TKO (punches)

Rivaldo Junior def. Marcelo Rojo via unanimous decision

Luiz Fernando def. Pablo Javier Llampa via TKO (punches)

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Worldwide Mixed Martial Arts results:

Brian Heden def. Sean McCorkle via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:44

Karo Paryisan def. Thomas Denny via unanimous decision

Rodney Wallace def. Derrick Mehman via unanimous decision

Drew Fickett def. Kevin Knabjian via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:38

Willie Parks def. Jamaine Facey via unanimous decision

Darrill Schoonover def. Paul Buentello via unanimous decision

Chris Gruetzemacher def. Frank Gomez via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:25

Lyle Beerbohm def. Cleburn Walker via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:34

Esteves Jones def. Deutsch Pu’u via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:54

Lionel Lanham def. Brad Peterson via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:56

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Instinct MMA 3 results:

Peter Nolan def. Sebastien Gauthier via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – R1 – 0:35

Brandon Thatch def. Jory Erickson via KO (Knee) – R1 – 0:18

Stephane Pelletier def. Melvin Blumer  via Submission (Armbar) – R1 – 4:30

Moise Rimbondef. D.J. Linderman  via Unanimous Decision (29-28×3) – R3 – 5:00

Alex Laramée def. Emmanuel Crevier via TKO (Corner Stoppage) – R1 – 5:00

Anselmo Gutierrez def. Guillaume Vigneau via  TKO – R2 – 4:20

Strahinja Gavrilovic def. Alex Pelletier via  Submission (Kimura) – R2 – 2:30

Rémy Bussières def. Bruno Lurette  via  TKO (Punch + GnP) – R2 – 0:22

Derek Parker def. Dave Bedard via  Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – R1 – 4:28

Loyd Galindo def. Alexandre Gauthier via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – R3 – 4:32

Yves Lemelin def. Jason Riley via Unanimous Decision (29-28×3) – R3 – 5:00

Guy Poulin def. Ken Macleod via TKO (Ground and Pound) – R1 – 0:58

Kevin Lee def. Levis Labrie  via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 20-28) – R3 – 5:00

Frank Marques def.  Johnny Grigware via Submission (Triangle-Armbar) – R2 – 4:56

Yannick Duval def. Sasha Maheux via TKO (Strikes) – R1 – 0:31