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 EEC Hogmanay Event Recap + Bonuses
Hogmanay lived up to the hype as an all-night must attend event in New Yorck City New Years Eve. The event garnered the highest ratings ever in New York as well as being the highest revenue producer and far exceeding fighter payout records. comes to New York City on December 31st! The Madison Garden Arena, hosted the Eastern Elite Combat (EEC) as they presented 9 fights for the ages in an action packed card! Four championship belts were lost and only one champion defended which added to the night of thrills as the EEC rang in the New Year with flying fists instead of fireworks.
Rakastaja Nurminen v Mark Calaway
Hometown support was not enough to spur previously undefeated EEC fan favorite Mark Calaway (5-1) to victory in the main event. The open weight contest was a lopsided affair as Callaway was soundly beaten over three rounds by undefeated light heavyweight Rakastaja Nurminen (16-0). Calaway a native of Montreal in his fourth EEC appearance could get nothing going and was a human punching bag for the skilled Finnish fighter who threw precision kicks and punches to far outscore his shellshocked opponent. Calaway can take solace in the fact that he was not knocked out like 14 of Nurminen’s prior foes. After a night of thrills the main event while a great display for the Finn was anticlimactic.
Sebastian Bantrell v Sem Shilt
Sebastian Bantrell (16-1)may have been born in Canada, but since being “born again” as a professional fighter he had fought solely for UVT in Rio de Janiero and came to New York as their reigning heavyweight champion. In the five round co-main event, Sem Shilt (11-3) came out throwing and after three rounds the fight was Shilt’s to lose. In what ended up as a pure striking affair the two men battled on their feet for five rounds with neither man looking to take the fight south. But it was in the final two rounds, the championship rounds; that Bantrell showed what has made him the class of the heavyweights and worthy of his world ranking. Bantrell came out calmly and took the fight with proper countering, solid striking as he gained strength as his opponent faltered. A finish was predicted here but the swelling of Shilt’s face may have been the factor that swayed the judges the most in the final round and Bantrell adds to his list of impressive victories. Bantrell and Shilt shared Fight of the Night honors for their twenty five minute war; well deserved.
George Steele v Fedor Jr Emilianko
Bare Knuckle Combat light heavyweight champion George “the Animal” Steele (24-9) found his five fight win streak come to an end as he was swiftly submitted by a very crafty Fedor Jr Emilianko (16-1). I predicted that if Emilianko could get this fight south he could possibly win this fight and that if it stayed standing he was doomed. Steele, at 32, may be a step or two slower than he used to be and after a minute of feeling each other out standing took the fight into the clinch. Myself and the local crowd expected Steele to unload and dominate the clinch but Emilianko surprised by showing a good plum and as his “victim” landed some very hard punches inside it was Steele looking to break free. A lapse in judgement next perhaps as the veteran allowed himself to be pulled into guard shocked the local crowd. Butnot as much as what came next, as Emilianko wasted no time locking in an arm and turning into a triangle armbar that saw Steele tapping at 2:39. Emilianko returns to Rio ranked 14 p4p in the world and walks away with the EEC and Non-Stop Nutrition Submission of the Night bonus!
Mac Tyson v Pay Attention ( EEC Super-Heavyweight Championship )
In only his second EEC appearance, Pay Attention (9-1) electrified the crowd with a dramatic first round stoppage of previously undefeated Superheavyweight Champion Mac Tyson (11-1). Attention notches his 8th straight victory with a criminal display of dirty boxing as he caught the champion in the clinch and tried to bully him against the cage. Whatever gameplan Tyson came in with was thrown out the window after he tasted the first power shot. The champion seemed content to stall, defend, and look to break the clinch, only throwing two strikes while locked up. Attention however winged off 23 shots, most aimed at the head and the ones that got through were damaging to say the least. Where the hell was Tysons’ clinch game?? An uppercut put Tyson on queer street and then a hook sent him sagging as the referee waved off Attention to save Tyson from permanent damage. A very excited Attention wasn’t very humble in victory but the crowd seemed to thrill in his enthusiasm as being crowned the new EEC Super Heavyweight champion!
Ezekel Rage v Sheldon Chaykin ( EEC Light-Heavyweight Championship )
Revenge was on the mind of Sheldon Chaykin (11-1) as the challenger for the light heavyweight crown sought to avenge the only loss of his career and came away victorious. Momentum was with the reigning champion heading into the fight as Ezekiel Rage (10-2) rode a four fight win streak and facing the former champion whom he vanquished at EEC 137 many had wagered on him to defend (myself included). Oddsmakers and the challenger came away happy as Chaykin dominated round one and then finished off the champion at 2:13 of round two. Chaykin was not to be denied this night. Landing punches at a 90% clip, the seemingly defenseless Rage seemed sluggish and a step behind as he seemed to be having his head snapped back, his legs buckled, or his abdomen thumped every couple seconds. An inspirational “Get your head into the fight” from his management was not enough between rounds as Rage came out aggressively but paid for it by being counter struck repeatedly. After a missed bomb by the champion, Chaykin landed a combo that crumbled Rage to the mat. People in the crowd were awed and there was a moment of silence before the place erupted in applause for the now repeat champion Sheldon Chaykin.
Jin Kwon v Hulk Hogan ( EEC Welterweight Championship )
Welterweight champion Jin Kwon (11-1) successfully defended his title on Saturday night with a knockout finish of challenger Hulk Hogan (8-2). Hogan predictably sought to take the fight south and did succeed at times but he was far behind on the judges cards when the fight entered the third of five scheduled rounds. Kwon, after almost getting in subbed in round two, landed a dink of a jab a minute into round three that staggered the challenger. Smelling blood the champion unleashed a combo – missing with his first two bombs but the third shot in the salvo, a big right hook knocked Hogan cold. Kwon takes home KO of the Night honors and takes the championship belt home to defend again another day.
Mack Speed v Zhu Fangyu ( EEC Middleweight Championship )
You can add to “formerly’s to any discussions regarding Mack Speed (7-1) as he is now formerly undefeated and a former champion. The middleweight contest which saw challenger Zhu Fangyu (8-1) take the title had my vote for fight of the night despite a real lack of strikes landed for either fighter. A tactical chess game with movements and points scored more for control than for damage, the challenger nullified Speed’s power by taking the fight in close and scoring takedowns to steal rounds. While most in attendance were somewhat disappointed to see a belt change hands without any insane dramatics or a finish, true MMA fans witnessed Fangyu execute a stellar plan to perfection for five rounds. Congratulations on becoming an EEC champion.
Lucas Dylan v Randy Ortiz ( EEC Heavyweight Championship )
The move up to heavyweight has been good for Randy Ortiz (6-2) who won his third bout since moving up and went home with the EEC heavyweight strap. Champion Lucas Dylan (9-2) had been a wrecking machine, stopping five straight foes before running into Ortiz. Ortiz who had been a slow starter obviously made some huge changes in camp as he unleashed an immediate fury that dropped and cut the champion. A flustered Dylan then found himself fighting off his back and trying to survive as the challenger pushed the pace. Ortiz started landing huge unanswered shot from side control and the referee had no choice but to step in. The reign of Dylan has come to an end … and now Ortiz can be called champion … at least until he next steps into the cage.
Vladimir Konstantinov v Ted Scheckler
You know what sucks? Dominating a fight for almost 15 minutes and then losing right before the end by a KO or in the case of our opening bout, a submission. Vladimir Konstantinov (4-2) had become a NY legend overnight with his thrilling stoppage of former champion Bunny Ynnub and the crowd was enthusiastically behind the Russian. Konstantinov was having his way with Ted Scheckler (7-1), but the submission specialist stood up to his foes’ best shots and bided his time. In round three a tired Konstantinov was taken down and all he had to do was survive to win, but Scheckler was too determined. With just one tick left on the clock, Konstantinov tapped to a kimura. Brutal but that’s the MMA game.
This is Paul Dengel of the MKFC thrilled to have been involved in EEC’s Hogmanay the biggest MMATycoon event ever in New York!
Event Bonuses : ($5000 each) -
KO of the night: Jin Kwon (105974)
Sub of the night: Fedor Jr Emilianko (46535)
Fight of the night: Sebastian Bantrell(36259) v Sem Shilt (53036)
Thanks and very much appreciated for Paul Dengel doing the Event Preview and Event Recap for this event.
Also, thanks and apprreciation for the managers and their fighgters who helped make this such a big event.
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