By Jason Pardy, photos by Jeremy Trottier

The Score Fighting Series helped Ontario feed its insatiable appetite for MMA by holding the first event of its kind in Mississauga Friday night. The fight card featured a main event with Jordan Mein facing the current DREAM Welterweight Champion, Marius Zaromskis. Co-headlining were fights between UFC veterans Joe Doerksen vs. Luigi Fiovanti, and Rameau Thierry Sokoujou facing the Cesar Gracie trained Roy Boughton.

The main event lived up to main event expectations between Jordan Mein (pictured above on the right) and Marius Zaromskis. Off the opening bell Zaromskis started with a rolling back kick which set the tempo for an extremely high level of fighting. The rest of the tilt had both fighters trying spinning back fists and kicks along with well executed combinations. Zaromskis shot on Mein many times to no avail due to the Albertans strong sprawl.

Late in the second round Mein landed a solid right spinning back fist which dazed the Lithuanian a little but scored big in the judge’s eyes. Mein eventually went on to stretch his impressive win streak to five by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27,30-27), but could be seen telling his corner after an in ring interview that he broke his foot in the first round.

 Mein hitting Zaromskis

Previous fights of Joe Doerksen vs. Luigi Fioravanti and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Roy Boughton led to judges deciding their fates. In a fight with a little of everything, Doerksen and Fioravanti battled their way through the 1st and 2nd. They both landed combos and heavy shots through to the 3rd where we saw takedowns by “El Dirte” into guard that produced little enough action to warrant referee stand ups. The Winnipeg native went on to win unanimously (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).

In Sokoudjou’s unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Boughton the fans were treated to several throws by the “African Assasin”, which clearly gave him the 1st and 2nd rounds. Between the 2nd and 3rd Sokoudjou was seen wincing in his corner. Clearly in pain, he came out to survive the 3rd and Boughton’s Jiu-Jitsu. A double leg takedown leading to punches from half guard gave little excitement but one round on the judge’s scorecard to Boughton, which in turn isn’t enough using the 10 point scoring system.

 Doerksen (left) and Fioravanti exchanging

On a card that forced 8 of 10 fights to decision , 7 by unanimous, the Ontario based crowd were left scratching their heads with each decision being stranger than the last. However, local fighter Antonio Carvalho clearly won his fight over the familiar UFC name, Doug Evans, by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Kurt “The Hurt” Southern beat Jorge Britto by being heavier and stronger in the clinch and winning unanimously, but sporadic judging saw scores of 29-28, 30-26, and 29-28.

The crowd’s biggest disagreement in the judging department came after the bloody battle between Adrian “The Bully” Wooley and Bellator product Nick “Garfield” Mamalis. Mamalis landed an upper cut in the first that led to several more punches, forcing Wooley to shoot for double leg take downs leading to big slams that won over the slightly biased crowd.

The second round was bloody with Mamalis opening Wooley up with kicks and knees that didn’t seem to effect Wooley to much,  because he came out slamming for the 3rd winning the hearts of his local fans but not the questionable judges. Mamalis won in a split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

 Mamalis hitting Wooley

Two other fights that went the distance included Nova Scotian Tristian Johnson and local (Brampton, ON) favorite William Romero in a dog fight that no one would like to judge. Johnson won unanimously (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

The second, between Darin Cooley, another Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu representative and Stoney Creek, Onatrio’s Josh Hill ended with a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) going to Hill after many successful takedowns and several impressive wall walks. Desperate attempts to pull guard by Cooley, who was a last minute substitution, eventually lead to the first blemish on his record.

 Carvalho going after Evans

Main event aside, the first two fights were arguably the most entertaining; furthermore they were the only fights to end before the ring of the final bell. The first was between two fighters from Ontario with 1-0 records. Mike Reilly of Brampton and Tyler Harcastle of Rockland came out banging uncontrollably in the first, eventually settling down after their inexperienced adrenaline rushes tapered off. At 2:02 in the second Reilly threw Hardcastle so heavily to the mat that the official decision was a win by “SLAM”.

The second fight of the night redundantly with two Ontarian’s, saw Orillia’s Mike Sledzion ask for punches by sticking his face out and Woodbridge’s Alex Ricci answer it with a fist to Sledzions chin, leading to a vicious knockout. The win moved Ricci’s record to 2-0 in front of his parents in attendance.

 SFS Results

Mike Reilly Def Tyler Hardcastle 2:02 in Second by Slam (official call)

Alex Ricci Def Mike Sledzion By KO 3:27 in Second

Tristan Johnson  Def William Romero By Unanimous Decision – All 3 Judges Score 29-28

Josh Hill Def Darin Cooley By Unanimous Decision – 30-27, 29-28, 30-27

Kurt Southern Def Jorge Britto  By Unanimous Decision – 29-28, 30-26, 29-28

Nick Mamalis Def Adrian Wooley By Split Decision 29-28, 28-29, 29-28

Antonio Carvalho Def Doug Evan By Unanimous Decision All 3 Judges Score 30-27

Joe Doerksen Def Luigi Fiorvanti By Unanimous Decision – 29-28, 30-27, 30-27

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou Def Roy Boughton By Unanimous Decision All 3 Score 29-28

Jordan Mein Def Marius Zaromskis By Unanimous Decision – 29-28, 30-27, 30-27