Vigneault Holds Serve in TKO Rematch
Marten Holdenried Oct 1, 2005
MONTREAL, Quebec, Sept. 30 — The main event of TKO 22 in this
city’s Pierre-Charbonneau Center featured a rematch between former
TKO middleweight champion Jason St. Louis (Pictures) and former middleweight and
lightweight TKO champion, “Coeur de Lion” Steve Vigneault.
Both returned tonight to face one another and, of course, to fight for their fans. There is little need to recount either fighter’s history. Both champions squared off with confidence and obvious respect for one another, and fought on an even basis for most of the first round. A mix of exciting stand-up and hard, grinding ground work ended in a near draw at the end of the first, with perhaps a slight edge to St. Louis.
The second round started much the same as the first, but as so
often the case in the world of mixed martial arts, anything can and
often does happen. Soon it was St. Louis falling prey to a vicious
and decisive onslaught of powerful punching combinations.
Vigneault’s assault was enough, and as he’d done in their first
contest, the “Coeur de Lion” scored a TKO victory, this time 30
seconds into round two.
In a contest for the undisputed TKO super lightweight championship, number-one contender Ryan Diaz (Pictures) squared off with current champion “The Machine” Mark Hominick (Pictures).
Diaz, assuming a traditional Thai stance, continued to be picked apart and despite his best efforts was unable to get inside. In the end, Diaz fell victim to a Hominick barrage, as he could not answer the champion. At 4:25 of round three the referee called a halt to the bout.
Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada, veteran Marvin Eastman (Pictures) faced “The Wild Thing” Yan Pellerin (Pictures) from Sherbrooke, Quebec. Both experienced fighters, it was to be expected the action might be cautious, and so it was for most of the first.
Eastman was on the receiving end of two unfortunate groin kicks, the second of which brought action to an uncomfortable pause. Ever the consummate warrior, “The Beastman” regained his composure and ended the first round with a last-minute full frontal assault that dropped Pellerin to the mat. The bell sounded to end the round before Eastman had the chance to finish his opponent.
In the second, Eastman dominated both on the feet and on the ground, ending things with a front choke to gain victory at 2:55 of round two.
Max Marin of Calgary, Alberta met Thierry Quenneville of Laprairie, Quebec. Both fighters showed great skill and respect for one another as the stand-up action began. Once on the ground, however, it appeared as if Quenneville was gaining the upper hand while Marin stayed in his comfort zone and worked in a vigorous and disciplined manner from the full guard, waiting for the opportunity to apply an armbar or any other such availability.
While Marin waited, Quenneville delivered three downward well-intentioned-yet-off-the-mark punches and the bout was ended with a very questionable stoppage in favor of the Laprairie fighter. The end result: a disappointing ruling by TKO in favor of, and to no fault of his own, Thierry Quenneville at 2:46 of the first round.
Perhaps the most entertaining match of the evening paired Stephane Laliberte (Pictures) out of Victoriaville, Quebec against newcomer Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki, fighting out of London, Ontario, who came into tonight’s bout with a veritable tabula rasa record of 0-0-0.
This 18-year-old carried himself with what can only be described as indomitable spirit and an irreproachably positive energy that cannot fail to win over the greatest skeptics. Both fighters entered confident and held one another to task in stand-up and ground work, however “The Polish Hammer” certainly won over any doubters, taking his TKO debut in convincing fashion by stoppage at 2:52 of the second round. This is certainly one fighter to watch.
Tyler Jackson (Pictures) and Samuel Guillet (Pictures) met face-to-face with clear respect for one another — respect that would be shown worthy on both parts, as this three-round battle unfolded. Despite the left eye laceration he received from ground-and-pound, the first round was Jackson’s.
The second and third rounds were clearly dominated, both standing and on the ground, by Guillet, who showed great skill and determination to bring this competition to a roaring unanimous decision in his favor at the end of three rounds. This fight alone was worth the price of admission.
In other action, Dave Pariseau stopped Mike Turner 29 seconds into the first round. And Martin Desillets ended Lance Evans’ night with a knockout 2:30 of the opening period.
Both returned tonight to face one another and, of course, to fight for their fans. There is little need to recount either fighter’s history. Both champions squared off with confidence and obvious respect for one another, and fought on an even basis for most of the first round. A mix of exciting stand-up and hard, grinding ground work ended in a near draw at the end of the first, with perhaps a slight edge to St. Louis.
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In a contest for the undisputed TKO super lightweight championship, number-one contender Ryan Diaz (Pictures) squared off with current champion “The Machine” Mark Hominick (Pictures).
While both fighters worked hard to achieve their ends, Hominick
dominated all rounds, staying on the outside and using the speed of
his hands to keep Diaz at bay, opening up first his nose, and then
his eye.
Diaz, assuming a traditional Thai stance, continued to be picked apart and despite his best efforts was unable to get inside. In the end, Diaz fell victim to a Hominick barrage, as he could not answer the champion. At 4:25 of round three the referee called a halt to the bout.
Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada, veteran Marvin Eastman (Pictures) faced “The Wild Thing” Yan Pellerin (Pictures) from Sherbrooke, Quebec. Both experienced fighters, it was to be expected the action might be cautious, and so it was for most of the first.
Eastman was on the receiving end of two unfortunate groin kicks, the second of which brought action to an uncomfortable pause. Ever the consummate warrior, “The Beastman” regained his composure and ended the first round with a last-minute full frontal assault that dropped Pellerin to the mat. The bell sounded to end the round before Eastman had the chance to finish his opponent.
In the second, Eastman dominated both on the feet and on the ground, ending things with a front choke to gain victory at 2:55 of round two.
Max Marin of Calgary, Alberta met Thierry Quenneville of Laprairie, Quebec. Both fighters showed great skill and respect for one another as the stand-up action began. Once on the ground, however, it appeared as if Quenneville was gaining the upper hand while Marin stayed in his comfort zone and worked in a vigorous and disciplined manner from the full guard, waiting for the opportunity to apply an armbar or any other such availability.
While Marin waited, Quenneville delivered three downward well-intentioned-yet-off-the-mark punches and the bout was ended with a very questionable stoppage in favor of the Laprairie fighter. The end result: a disappointing ruling by TKO in favor of, and to no fault of his own, Thierry Quenneville at 2:46 of the first round.
Perhaps the most entertaining match of the evening paired Stephane Laliberte (Pictures) out of Victoriaville, Quebec against newcomer Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki, fighting out of London, Ontario, who came into tonight’s bout with a veritable tabula rasa record of 0-0-0.
This 18-year-old carried himself with what can only be described as indomitable spirit and an irreproachably positive energy that cannot fail to win over the greatest skeptics. Both fighters entered confident and held one another to task in stand-up and ground work, however “The Polish Hammer” certainly won over any doubters, taking his TKO debut in convincing fashion by stoppage at 2:52 of the second round. This is certainly one fighter to watch.
Tyler Jackson (Pictures) and Samuel Guillet (Pictures) met face-to-face with clear respect for one another — respect that would be shown worthy on both parts, as this three-round battle unfolded. Despite the left eye laceration he received from ground-and-pound, the first round was Jackson’s.
The second and third rounds were clearly dominated, both standing and on the ground, by Guillet, who showed great skill and determination to bring this competition to a roaring unanimous decision in his favor at the end of three rounds. This fight alone was worth the price of admission.
In other action, Dave Pariseau stopped Mike Turner 29 seconds into the first round. And Martin Desillets ended Lance Evans’ night with a knockout 2:30 of the opening period.
