American Ky Hollenbeck is the lone American representative in the league portion of the MPL, his opponent for the night was Dutch fighter Nieky Holzken. Hollenbeck has faced tough competition all year and each time out he was considered the underdog. After his win in October over the UK's Jordan Watson the talks were no longer about Hollenbeck being able to hang with the elite, but if his opponents could figure out how to beat him. Holzken had the answer, he made sure to make Hollenbeck pay for the few mistakes he made. Hollenbeck was competitive in the fight, but the few mistakes he made ended up costing him dearly against Holzken.
Hollenbeck's first mistake came in the opening round when he attacked with a knee while he was out of range, Holzken countered with a left hook that dropped Hollenbeck who was then slow to get up. Hollenbeck fought his way back into the fight, but was later hurt again by a perfectly timed spinning back fist from Holzken, although there was no knockdown awarded by the referee this time. In the final round it seemed Hollenbeck was once again fighting his way back into the fight until Holzken caught Hollenbeck with a spinning back kick that hurt him. Holzken then pressed him with a flurry which included some hard body shots and as the bell rang Hollenbeck went down. In the end the judges awarded Nieky Holzken the unanimous decision victory, giving him his second win in the middleweight division of the league. The loss is Hollenbeck's first of his career.
Nathan Corbett did something that many people are not used to seeing, he went the distance. Known for finishing fights Corbett was unable to do so against a very tough Abdarhmane Coulibaly, who pushed the pace against Corbett early on. Corbett continuously attacked Couliably's body, Coulibaly slowed down and Corbett began to take control. In the end the judges awarded Corbett the unanimous decision victory. With the win Corbett scores his second victory in the heavyweight division of the league.
Julie Kitchen and Sandra Bastian fought a technical fight that saw Kitchen wear Bastian down in the clinch. Considered one of the tournament favorites, Kitchen was able to use her technique as Bastian seemed to lose steam as the fight went on. Kitchen was awarded a unanimous decision victory in the end, her second victory in the league.
Artem Levin scored his second KO in the league and the night's only stoppage when he dispatched of Roberto Cocco in the first round. Levin connected with an elbow that sent Cocco to the canvas. Cocco was able to get up, but the count was already at 10 giving Levin the KO victory. Levin is a heavy favorite to make it to the tournament finals and with performances like this he is likely the overall favorite to win the light heavyweight division, although Simon Marcus likely has different thoughts about that.
Full Results:
140lb (63.5kg) - Super Lightweight
Valentina Schevchenko (PER) def. Ilona Wijmans (NED) via Unanimous Decision
Julie Kitchen (UK) def. Sandra Bastian (CAN) via Unanimous Decision
147lb (66.6kg) – Welterweight
Mohamed Khamal (MOR) def. Michael Dicks (UK) via Unanimous Decision
Mauro Serra (ITA) def. Denis Schneidmiller (GER) via Unanimous Decision
160lb (72.5kg) – Middleweight
Vladimir Moravcik (SVK) def. Yohan Lidon (FRA) via Unanimous Decision
Nieky Holzken (NED) def. Ky Hollenbeck (USA) via Unanimous Decision
182lb (82.5kg) - Light Heavyweight
Artem Levin (RUS) def. Roberto Cocco (ITA) via KO in Rd. 1
Artem Vakhitov (RUS) def. Jiri Zak (CZE) via Unanimous Decision
210lb (95kg) – Heavyweight
Nathan Corbett (AUS) def. Abdarhmane Coulibaly (FRA) via Unanimous Decision
Filip Verlinden (BLG) def. Chris Knowles (UK) via Unanimous Decision
Super Fights
Marco Pique (SUR) def. Ali Gunya (TUR) via Unanimous Decision
Aleide Lawant (NED) def. Lindsay Scheer (USA) via Split Decision
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