HALIFAX, April 29 — The Halifax Forum shook on its foundations tonight as fighters and fans made Extreme Cage Combat, the first Canadian mixed martial arts card east of Quebec, a resounding success.
Both fighters started aggressively, but it was MacDonald who was able to quickly get his opponent to the ground and then get on top. Whether it was full or half-guard, this is where MacDonald spent the majority of the fight.
That being said, the bout was pretty even. Several times Ray was able to get hold of an ankle, but was unable get a submission. After the fight he said that he could hear Jason’s ankle “snapping and popping.”
“Jason’s a tough guy,” said Ray. “There’s no quit in him.”
Most of the fighters tonight came into the Forum with little, if any, professional experience. Roughly half of the card came from the Halifax area, and they were all fortunate recipients of the appreciative Halifax crowd, who cheered and raved whenever the announcer named a local boy.
Probably the biggest cheer of the night came for Halifax fighter Roger Hollett. Part of the semi-main event, Hollett first tried his stand-up skills against those of his opponent, Peter Rogers. Things seemed to be fairly even between the two, so Hollett took him to the ground and quickly submitted him by armbar.
Fight of the night honors belong to the match between Vancouver’s Garett Davis and Nova Scotian Rowan Cunningham (Pictures). Whether standing, in the clinch, or on the ground, both fighters displayed incredible skill and versatility.
This was the kind of match where you hate to see someone lose. But lose someone did, and it was Cunningham, who was forced to tap due to a deeply sunk guillotine choke.
The event’s three promoters — Peter Martell, Kevin Taylor and Robert Walker — made an official announcement that their next card will be in Moncton, New Brunswick on June 17.