Airing on UFC Fight Pass, Canadian promotions Samourai MMA and BFL partnered to hold the first ever MMA event at the Montreal Casino. A big step for the sport in the province of Quebec.
In the main event, Brazilian Rodrigo Sezinando became the new Samourai MMA super-welterweight champion by defeating Jonathan Ramsay in the very first round. Sezinando’s left hook couldn’t miss and the third knockdown forced the referee to stop the fight.
In the co-main event, Tommy Morrison, one of the best prospects in the province, stayed undefeated by earning yet another unanimous victory. Morrison had a clear grappling advantage that he used to win all three rounds, while also showing improvements in his striking and ground-and-pound. Even though Morrison couldn’t find a finish, it wasn’t for a lack of trying as Quinones successfully defended multiple arm-triangle attempts that looked quite deep. Though still green, it seems like Morrison is improving at a fast enough rate that he will eventually find his way to the UFC.
Yohan Lainesse won his first fight after getting cut by the UFC back in January as he beat Mac Laursen by unanimous decision. Laursen made Lainesse work, but the Quebecer’s strength was ultimately the difference as he was able to control Laursen on the ground and in the clinch. Lainesse was understandably emotional after the fight as he successfully starts his journey back to the UFC on a high note.
Hometown favourite Alex “The Chess Master” Morgan, who fought on Season 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series, put on one of his better performances to date as he thoroughly outclassed Jordan Beltran on his way to a second round submission win. Morgan, who had announced his retirement on social media after a loss this past summer, opted to get back in the cage in an attempt to get rid of the sour taste that his last loss left, a decision that evidently paid off. Beltran retired in the cage after the loss.
Mehdi Zeidvand kept his ‘0’ as he defeated Nic Ouellet by unanimous decision. Zeidvand had problems early figuring out the range against Ouellet’s reach. He eventually found a way to land his overhands and he comfortably took rounds 2 and 3. It will be interesting to see who the undefeated fighter gets next.
Adam Posener got a third round armbar submission over Trukon Carson. Carson was resilient, but Posener’s grappling advantage proved to be too much. Both fighters were undefeated coming into tonight, but someone’s ‘0’ had to go.
Karim Henniene and Mitch Strazzella put on what probably has to be considered Fight of the Night. A wild back and forth that saw Henniene getting several takedowns, but unable to find a finish. With Henniene the more tired fighter in round 3, Strazzella almost pulled off a comeback win as he had his opponent retreating on numerous occasions. “The Kryptonian” ultimately managed to survive and won by decision after taking the first two rounds.
A rough night for the Ouellet brothers kicked off with Raphael losing by first round knockout. Diego Santos had a massive speed advantage and was able to drop Ouellet more than once before getting the walk off KO.
Amin Almelik earned a hard fought victory over Frenchman Charles Azoulay in a fight that could’ve gone either way. In a competitive fight, the big moments are often the difference makers and Almelik was drawing the bigger reactions out of Azoulay when he was landing.
Olivier Poisson officially earned the first ever mma victory inside the Montreal Casino when he forced the tap from Sina Maani in the first round. Poisson immediately shot a takedown and his pressure proved to be too much for Maani who couldn’t fend him off. Getting backpacked by Poisson seems to be a bad position to be in considering his first professional win back in August played out in a very similar fashion.
The promotion also announced mid-event that Julien Leblanc, an 8-2 middleweight who has previously fought at Samourai MMA Chapter 6, has officially signed with the promotion and will return in March.
Overall, the event proved to be a massive success for French-Canadian promotion Samourai MMA. The place was packed early, the crowd was energetic and the pacing was impeccable from the first fight through to Sezinando’s win to cap off the night. It may have been their first time at the casino, but let’s hope it’s not the last.
