Lion Fight 24 returned to Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. The night's main event featured the return of American stand out Ky Hollenbeck as he took on up and coming Richard Abraham. Many expected Hollenbeck to run through the less experienced Abraham, but the fighter from Illinois showed some real grit.
Hollenbeck used his usual aggressive style to try and keep Abraham on his heels, but Abraham was more than willing to engage with Hollenbeck as he came forward. Hollenbeck started off slow, but as the rounds went on he got more aggressive. and started landing some nice shots and looked stronger in the clinch. In the second round a cut was opened over the right right eye of Abraham, and in the third round an accidental headbutt opened a cut over the left eye of Hollenbeck. The referee stopped the action to have it checked and the doctor allowed the fight to continue.
In the fourth round Abraham landed a right hand that caused the cut to open again and after a few more seconds of action the referee called for the doctor to check on Hollenbeck's cut. The doctor stopped the bout and it seemed Abraham would be the winner by (T)KO, but a protest from Hollenbeck resulted in the fight going to the judges score cards where Hollenbeck was declared the winner by unanimous decision.
The controversial part of the ending is that typically this would be a (T)KO win for Abraham. If the fight had been stopped when the headbutt first occurred then the ruling of a no contest would apply or if the headbutt had occurred in the fourth round then they would go to the score cards, but letting it continue into another round and the cut opening up again because of a landed punch doesn't fall under that. The ruling should have been a (T)KO win for Abraham due to doctor stoppage. On top of that when the doctor was checking the cut he asked how it happened, if it was a headbutt or elbow. It shouldn't matter to the doctor how the cut happened as their job is to assess if the fighter is able to continue fighting with the cut. How it occurred should have no bearing on the his decision if the fighter is able to continue or not. Unless they have some special rules in Connecticut regarding this Abraham should have won by doctor stoppage.
In the co-main event Ognjen Topic and Stephen Meleady fought for five rounds as both men looked to capture the Lion Fight Lightweight Title. The first two rounds were close as both fighters exchanged kick & punches, and jockeyed for position in the clinch. Topic began to take control with his boxing in the third round, and in the fourth round wobbled Meleady. It was evident Meleady was tough as nails as he continued to press forward, but Topic got the better of the exchanges. In the end Topic won a unanimous decision and the Lion Fight Lightweight Championship.
Jo Nattawut showed why they call him Smokin' Jo. He successfully defended his Lion Fight Super Welterweight Championship against the UK's Charlie Peters. Nattawut was a bit more aggressive than normal in this fight and it paid off when he scored a third round (T)KO due to elbows. A barrage of elbows knocked Peters down and after the referee started his count Peters signaled he could not continue. Nattawut continues to be undefeated since joining Lion Fight and has now gone 5-0 for the promotion.
In other action Gaston Bolanos remained undefeated with a fantastic finish of Ben Yelle in the second round. Bolanos landed his patented spinning elbow and hurt Yelle which led to the fight being called off. It was another fantastic performance by the young Bolanos.
Chris Mauceri was also in action and delivered the KO of the night. In the third round he landed a brutal spinning elbow on Nicolas Parlanti that knocked him out cold. It was easily the most spectacular finish of Mauceri's career.
Results:
Ky Hollenbeck def. Richard Abraham via Unanimous Decision
Ognjen Topic def. Stephen Meleady via Unanimous Decision
Jo Nattawut def. Charlie Peters via KO (Elbows) in Rd. 3
Gaston Bolanos def. Ben Yelle via (T)KO in Rd. 2
Chris Mauceri def. Nicolas Parlanti via KO (Spinning Elbow) in Rd. 3
Julio Pena def. Yelson Berdugo via (T)KO in Rd. 3
