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• Shawn Albrecht def. Kris Arbanas – TKO (ref stoppage – punches) R1 2:53
• Brian Grimshaw def. Jas Malhi – Triangle choke R1 3:08
• Colin Daynes def. Ramin Astaseare – DQ (multiple fouls) R2 4:34
• Hardeep Singh def. Mike Grant – Rear-naked choke R1 0:48
• Leonard Carter def. Robert Young – Armbar R1 1:37
• Kerry Melnyk def. Garrett Zacharias – KO (punches) R1 0:16
• Andrew Peterson def. Frank Ziak – KO (punch) R1 0:04
• Brandon Dudley def. Cesar Narita – Unanimous decision
• Myles Merola def. Justin Jones – Toe hold R1 2:26
• Aaron Stark def. Marcus Hicks – Verbal submission (rib injury) R1 3:23
• Cam Brown def. Shane Lightle – Choke R2 1:46
• Danny Dlask def. Marcus Vinicios – TKO (ref stoppage – punches) R2 2:32

Dudley punching Narita

"I really though we’d sell out the first event," Martell acknowledges. "There was a lot of controversy and media coverage for the first show, it wasn’t the people of Halifax, it was the media. You know they want to sell papers, get people listening to there radio show, so they want to keep it controversial. To be perfectly honest it helped sell the show. I expected some controversy, but not the amount that we saw, I would have expected that ten years ago when MMA was just beginning. The media really seemed to only want to talk about violence without knowing much about the sport. Now the real work starts, to keep people coming back, I think people are really starting to embrace it, I hope that we sell between 2,000 and 3,000 tickets per show, that’s not bad at all considering the size of Halifax."

The main event at ECC 3 will once again feature top ranked Canadian middleweight Jason Macdonald, who has recently defeated Gideon Ray by unanimous decision at ECC 1, and Jerry Spiegel by TKO at ECC 2. In Macdonald’s third ECC appearance he will take on Fritz Paul (7-2), whose nine professional fights have also occurred in Eastern Canada, competing in Ultimate Generation Combat and Apex MMA cards held in Quebec. Macdonald, who is originally from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, is beginning to make a name for himself in his native province, due his previous successes in the ECC.

"He was a well kept secret in Halifax," Martell tells FCF. "He was very well known in his hometown which is pretty small, but now everyone in the province is beginning to hear about Jason Macdonald. I’m surprised he hasn’t been called by the UFC yet, we’re very happy to have him fighting for us, he is an unbelievable fighter, one of Canada’s best at 185."

The card also features several match-ups that will feature fighters from Halifax’s Team Titan, including local favorite Roger Hollett (1-0) taking on Marcus Hicks (4-1), teammate Jason Mackay (1-0) fighting Russell Triggs and Titan member Roger Colbourne (1-0) meeting Travis Axworthy. According to Martell, who holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is one of Titan’s instructors, by promoting the ECC in Atlantic Canada, the regions less experienced, but growing pool of MMA fighters, now have a local event to compete in.

"The main reason we started Combat Productions was to develop East Coast fighters," says Martell. "We are years behind Quebec and much of the rest of Canada. Titan MMA base is BJJ, originally under Renzo Gracie, but we also have a great Muay Thai program. I’d say that one of the best guys out of Titan is Roger Hollett, his stand up is fantastic and he has a really solid ground game too. Most importantly though he has heart, you can’t teach a guy heart and will but with Roger there’s no quit in him. He is an extremely explosive fighter and is really marketable; he’s certainly someone to watch."

Saturday’s card will also feature some intriguing match ups outside of the card’s main event and local talent. Victor Valimaki (5-2) who recently defeated Craig Sloan (6-3-1) at ECC 2, will take on Shane Lightle (4-5), while Lethbridge lightheavweight Jason Day (8-5) will fight veteran Chris Peak (9-14).

Date: Saturday July 29, 2006

Place: Auburn, WA – Vision Quest sport and fitness center at the Auburn Supermall

Time: Doors open 7PM, Fights Start 8PM

Tickets available at the door and at:

• Vision Quest Sport and Fitness Center at the Supermall
  Auburn, WA
  253-333-7771
• AMC Kickboxing and Pankration
  427 6th Street South
  Kirkland, WA
  425-822-9656

PRIDE FIGHTING’S BUSHIDO SURVIVAL is the second round of an exclusive 16-man welterweight tournament, spanning three events. BUSHIDO SURVIVAL is scheduled to premiere in the United States on Fox Sports Net on Sunday, August 27th, 2006 at 7:00pm nationwide.

Flaunting explosive speed and knockout power, Russia’s Karaev fired up a near-capacity crowd at Las Vegas’ Mirage last April as he ran to three consecutive victories during the "Mayhem At Mirage" eight-man, single-elimination tournament. The 23 year old kickboxing stylist, who was billed a 17 to 1 underdog by odds makers prior to the event that marked his debut in North America, set the tone for a thrilling night of martial arts fighting when he made short work of quarterfinal round opponent Freddy Kemayo. Without warning, Karaev, standing toe to toe with the Frenchman, suddenly spun around and drilled Kemayo with a spinning back kick to the liver. The blow sent Kemayo down for the 10 count at the 1:39 mark of the opening round.

In the semifinal round, Karaev attempted to finish Switzerland’s Azem Maksutaj in similar fashion. What resulted instead was one of the greatest K-1 battles of all-time as Karaev unleashed an onslaught of punches, including a leaping straight right hand, in the first round of action before flooring Maksutaj in the opening seconds of the second round with the same kick that he had used to defeat Kemayo. Maksutaj beat the referee’s count, however, and, after taking more punishment, began to turn the tides on the forceful Karaev before the round ended.

During the third and final round of the semifinal bout, Karaev scored one more knockdown on Maksutaj with a straight knee strike to the midsection before advancing to the tournament’s championship round by way of unanimous judges’ decision.

The championship fight pitted Karaev against American Scott Lighty. Karaev, once again, fought at a furious pace before being awarded a third victory and the tournament crown by all three judges scoring the contest.

On April 29th of this year, Karaev returned to Sin City where he squared off with three-time K-1 tournament champion, Stefan Leko. Leko, who had previously never been defeated in Las Vegas K-1 competition, found himself engaged in a relentless firefight. Karaev downed Leko once in the second round with a straight right hand and once in the third round with an overhand right before earning another win via unanimous judges’ decision.

Cooper’s history with K-1 spans six years. Handicapped by his 205 pound frame that has frequently been thrown into battle with 230 plus pound opponents from K-1’s super heavyweight roster, the 31-year-old resident of Las Vegas has proven himself to be one of the sport’s mentally toughest competitors as he has never been stopped in a K-1 fight.

A versatile athlete with outstanding agility, Cooper made his finest stand to date in K-1 tournament competition on April 30, 2004 when he finished as runner up in the eight-man, single-elimination affair at the Bellagio. After defeating Japan’s Nobu Hayashi in the playoff’s quarterfinal round, Cooper overcame 265 pound knockout artist, "Mighty Mo" Siligia. In the championship showdown, Cooper was repeatedly beaten to the punch by two-time K-1 tournament champion, Michael McDonald, who was declared the victor of the event after three rounds.

While maintaining his status as one of the most active competitors in the martial arts fight mix, Cooper has built a second home for himself in the world of professional boxing. Trained by Jeff Mayweather, uncle of world champion "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather, Cooper has compiled a 14-0-2 record in the sport, with 9 of his wins having come by way of knockout.

In addition to the Superfight between Karaev and Cooper, "Battle At Bellagio" will be highlighted by an eight-man, single-elimination tournament as well as two additional Superfights. Two-time K-1 tournament champion, Alexey "The Scorpion" Ignashov and 2003 K-1 USA tournament victor, Carter Williams, are scheduled to compete in the tournament. The remainder of the August 12th lineup is expected to be finalized shortly.

Tickets for the K-1 "Battle At Bellagio" event are on sale at the Bellagio box office (888-488-7111) and are priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50.

8-man welterweight tourney

Alternate bout
Jason Louck def. Josh Smidt, unanimous decision, 3 rounds (13:00)

First round
Victor Moreno def. Nick Sorg, unanimous decision, 2 rounds (10:00)
Dustin Hazelette def. Mike Cardosa, :48 triangle choke
Justin Wilcox def. Bobby Voelker, unanimous decision, 2 rounds (10:00)
Chad Reiner def. Edward O’Daniel, :31 Rd. 2 (5:31) knockout.

Semifinals
Hazelette def. Moreno, 1:02 armbar
Reiner def. Wilcox, 2:54 armbar