Phan Reverses Fortune with EFWC Win
ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 6 -- Nam
Phan (Pictures) got back on the winning track
Saturday night by knocking out Shad Smith (Pictures) just over a minute into the main
event of Extreme Fighters World Championships at the Anaheim
Convention Center.
Coming off losses to Josh Thomson (Pictures) and Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti (Pictures), Phan (13-4-0) righted his ship in a big way with a dominating performance against the always game Smith.
Smith (9-8-2) looked to attack early, throwing combinations while
pushing forward. Phan responded well, using his footwork to stay
out of danger as he continued to look for an opening.
He would not have to wait long. After misfiring with a right hand, Phan found the mark with a devastating left hook to the body that momentarily froze a wincing Smith.
Phan pounced on his downed opponent and teed off until referee Jason Herzog pulled him away at 1:11 of the opening round giving him the EFWC's lightweight crown.
"I knew he had a big overhand right and I wanted to counter off of it," a jubilant Phan told Sherdog.com after his victory. "I saw the body shot and landed it and I said to myself ‘that was a good one' then I thought ‘hey, I need to jump on this cat and finish him.'"
Preston Scharf sent a number of local fans home unhappy after he out-pointed local jiu-jitsu instructor Cleber Luciano. The crowd was not happy with the unanimous decision (29-28 on all three cards) but the scores were justified. The only round in question was the second, Luciano controlled the first and Scharf the third. All three judges saw the close second for Scharf and awarded him the victory.
Georgi Karakhanyan ended Bobby Merrill's night just nine seconds into the second round when he landed a devastating flying knee.
Jennifer Tate finished Angela Hayes (Pictures) with a textbook armbar at 1:08 of the first stanza in what was billed as the first sanctioned women's MMA bout in Orange County, Calif.
Fabio Nascimento stopped Jesse Juarez (Pictures) with strikes at 4:58 of the opening frame. Juarez disputed the tapout but it appeared he tapped the mat.
Karen Darabedyan took a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27 and 30-27) after three rounds over Luke Adams.
Jason Meaders knocked out Dave Rivas (Pictures) with a knee at 1:42 of the second period.
Mychal Clark landed a split-decision over Josh Griggs (Pictures) (29-28, 29-28 and 28-29) after three rounds.
Lance Wipf defeated Sevak Magakian by split-decision (29-28, 29-28 and 28-29) after three rounds.
Coming off losses to Josh Thomson (Pictures) and Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti (Pictures), Phan (13-4-0) righted his ship in a big way with a dominating performance against the always game Smith.
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He would not have to wait long. After misfiring with a right hand, Phan found the mark with a devastating left hook to the body that momentarily froze a wincing Smith.
Phan swooped in for the kill but missed with a big overhand right
before following it up with a precision-guided left hook to the jaw
that put Smith down for good.
Phan pounced on his downed opponent and teed off until referee Jason Herzog pulled him away at 1:11 of the opening round giving him the EFWC's lightweight crown.
"I knew he had a big overhand right and I wanted to counter off of it," a jubilant Phan told Sherdog.com after his victory. "I saw the body shot and landed it and I said to myself ‘that was a good one' then I thought ‘hey, I need to jump on this cat and finish him.'"
Preston Scharf sent a number of local fans home unhappy after he out-pointed local jiu-jitsu instructor Cleber Luciano. The crowd was not happy with the unanimous decision (29-28 on all three cards) but the scores were justified. The only round in question was the second, Luciano controlled the first and Scharf the third. All three judges saw the close second for Scharf and awarded him the victory.
Georgi Karakhanyan ended Bobby Merrill's night just nine seconds into the second round when he landed a devastating flying knee.
Jennifer Tate finished Angela Hayes (Pictures) with a textbook armbar at 1:08 of the first stanza in what was billed as the first sanctioned women's MMA bout in Orange County, Calif.
Fabio Nascimento stopped Jesse Juarez (Pictures) with strikes at 4:58 of the opening frame. Juarez disputed the tapout but it appeared he tapped the mat.
Karen Darabedyan took a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27 and 30-27) after three rounds over Luke Adams.
Jason Meaders knocked out Dave Rivas (Pictures) with a knee at 1:42 of the second period.
Mychal Clark landed a split-decision over Josh Griggs (Pictures) (29-28, 29-28 and 28-29) after three rounds.
Lance Wipf defeated Sevak Magakian by split-decision (29-28, 29-28 and 28-29) after three rounds.
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