‘Hulk’ rips ‘Poster Boy’

Hollett knocks off Lofton in Heat XC 4 main event

By MFC Staff

Roger Hollett showed he is on his way back to the form that made him the MFC light heavyweight champion with an impressive performance at Heat XC 4: Hysteria.

Before a sold-out crowd at the River Cree Resort and Casino, Hollett (11-3) submitted fellow heavy hitter Aron Lofton with an armbar at 3:02 of Round 1 in the night’s main event. Lofton (7-3) arguably had the edge in the early exchange of strikes and put Hollett on his back with a strong takedown but “The Hulk” positioned himself perfectly to apply the fight-finishing submission.

Explosive knockouts highlighted the action-packed card of the MFC’s elite developmental system. Lightweight “Rajin” Kajan Johnson survived a violent throw and a near-perfect first round from Josh Russell before launching a vicious attack in Round 2 punctuated by a knee strike that split open Russell’s right eyebrow. It was the conclusion of a dominant round for Johnson who started to pick apart Russell midway through the stanza. The ringside physician called a halt to the fight at the end of the second round giving Johnson (16-10) the TKO victory. For Russell (3-1), who had total control in Round 1, it was a disappointing end to his winning streak.

Light heavyweight Josh Bryant kept his unbeaten streak intact as he found his rhythm in Round 2 against Danny Valimaki. Bryant (10-0) found a groove getting inside on the lankier Valimaki and connecting with big shots. A lead left hook led to a wicked overhand right that dropped Valimaki (3-1) in his tracks and ended the fight at 3:19 of the second round.

It was the first stoppage win in five fights for Bryant who was aggressively seeking the much-needed convincing victory. The result also wrapped up an interesting side story as Bryant’s cornerman, David Heath, had bested Danny Valimaki’s brother, Victor, almost three years ago.

The night opened up in outstanding fashion as light heavyweights Jason Kuchera and Taylor Bull waged a standup war that brought the crowd to its feet several times. Bull surprisingly found a niche in Round 1 with pinpoint strikes that battered and bruised Kuchera. But Kuchera rebounded in Round 2, bulldozing his way through Bull’s reach advantage and connecting with heavy-handed shots. Kuchera (5-4), who had lost four of his last five fights, finally brought Bull (2-2) down and pounded out a stoppage at 4:15 of the second.

Jeff Montemurro (3-0) continued the winning ways of the home-town fighters in the night’s second bout as he needed just 1:29 to stop Chad Sherman (5-3) by TKO.

A middleweight grudge match ended in short order with Andrew Buckland (10-5) easily getting past Allen Hope (4-5). The two fighters, who nearly came to blows during the weigh-in, were just as eager to get it on come the opening bell but Buckland mowed through Hope and ended it at 3:22 of Round 1 with a rear-naked choke.

In a heavyweight battle, Ryan Fortin (5-1) showed a strong chin by taking a couple of early shots from Jared Kilkenny and then turning things in his favor with a series of unanswered blows. Kilkenny (12-7) was still standing when referee John Braak stepped in to end the fight but he was clearly unable to defend Fortin’s attack.

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