Lightweight, Mikhail Odintsov (17-2)
Mikhail Odintsov fought a tough Russian guy in Timur Nagibin in Russia. The fight was a qualification fight to compete in the PFL million-dollar tournament coming up. Odintsov put it on Nagibin early landing a barrage of punches. It seemed like he could have finished it but he went for the takedown instead. Odintsov mixed it up very well with striking and wrestling. He kept heavy on the gas looking for the finish the whole time but won the decision instead.
Grade: C+
Featherweiht, Ilias Bulaid (2-0)
Ilias Bulaid the kickboxer made his second MMA appearance in February and looked very good. The fight stayed standing the whole time and we were able to see the arsenal of Bulaid. He lit up his opponent with strikes and kicks mixing it up perfectly. He was ripping awesome combinations from different angles mixing in kicks and punches. Bulaid really looked good on the feet with his fluidity of output.
Grade: A
Lightweight, Kieran Lister (6-0-1)
The winner and now the Almighty Fighting Championship lightweight champion is Kieran Lister. Lister displayed solid counter-striking hitting the target moving backward especially with his uppercut. He dropped his opponent in round two with one of those uppercuts. After that, he landed a barrage of ground and pound and almost finished with a RNC. His opponent lasted to the bell but had to quit on the stool. This was a step up for Lister and he looked good.
Grade: C+
Strawweight, Denice Zamboanga (7-0)
Denice Zamboanga had a massive step-up in competition against a veteran in Mei Yamaguchi. Zamboanga passed though and I believe won all three rounds (ONE fights do not score round by round). Zamboanga had good takedown defense for the most part. She did get taken down once but was able to sweep and land good ground and pound. Mei threw wide looping hooks as Denice was throwing nice sharp straight punches. She just outworked the veteran.
Grade: B-
Lightweight, Max Rohskopf (5-0)
Max Rohskopf continues to impress with another first-round finish, that being his fourth first-round finish overall as a pro. He used a lot of jabs and sidekicks from the outside. He grabbed the neck of his opponent and snapped him down to his knees. Rohskopf locked in a modified guillotine rolling into mount forcing his opponent to tap. A beautiful submission.
Grade: B
Flyweight, Casey O’Neill (4-0)
In round one it was a bit back and forth. Opponent McEwen was the one going for the takedowns but Casey O’Neill would just step over and take the back. McEwen would turn toward her and get on top but O’Neill was attacking submissions and landed good elbows. Round two and three were a beating as O’Neill landed a lot of output on the feet. She was snapping the head of McEwen back, landing crisp combinations. She defended the takedowns and controlled the back. O’Neill looked great and is someone to watch this year.
Grade: A+
Welterweight, Jack Della (8-2)
This was a fight between two of the better prospects out of Australia in Della and Glen Pettigrew. Round one was a chess match as both fighters were really methodical, had good defense, and had some nice smaller moments. Round two Pettigrew was more aggressive and Della was ripping the body more; he landed a few clean hooks to the body in the clinch which I think hurt his opponent bad. Della had him in danger almost getting the TKO stoppage before he landed a deadly right hook to the body crumbling Pettigrew.
Grade: A-
Lightweight, Manoel Sousa (5-0)
Manoel Sousa is quickly becoming maybe a top 25 Brazilian prospect. He struck his way into the clinch right away throwing with a lot of power. Sousa again burst forward with strikes as he landed a left hook on the button folding his opponent. This is now his second straight knockout.
Grade: B
Lightweight, Melquizael Costa (15-4)
Moving his win streak to three, Melguizael Costa beat a prospect I like in Anderson Ferreira. Anderson was very aggressive chasing Costa but Costa was countering and circling out well. Costa landed a spinning kick to the ribs and a follow-up left hook for the clean knockout. He has had a few bumps in the road but is still young and promising.
Grade: C+
