Immortal Champions returned to Porchester Hall for its latest event Sunday.
The event was the promotion’s biggest to date, with a 14 bout multi-discpline fight card along with a live musical performance and DJ.
The Immortal Champions European K-1 rules title was at stake in the main event. Dutchman Joey Klijenburg battled Huseyn Mustafazade of Azerbaijan for the belt.
Klijenburg worked push kicks to the body and low kicks early. Mustafazade was the aggressor.
The Azerbaijani fighter had a point deducted after throwing Klijenburg to the canvas. It was his second foul, and the referee warned him he would be disqualified for another throw.
Mustafazade took round two, landing some thudding body punches. Klijenburg leaned on the ropes after the round, looking exhausted.
Both fighters continued to battle in round three. The fight went to a decision with the judges voting unanimously for Mustafazade.
Pupanga Wins British MMA Belt
Tresor Pupanga took on Patryk Czart in the co-main event. The MMA bout was for the Immortal Champions British title.
The two fighters locked up with Pupanga tripping Czart and ending up in side control. He worked the short elbow but Czart got full guard and the referee restarted the action.
Pupanga took Czart down with a double leg and landed a right hand on the feet that seemed to stun Czart.
Pupanga scored another takedown in round two, landing in half guard. Czart tried a sweep and got full guard before switching to an open guard. Pupanga scored with short punches to the body and hammer fists upstairs.
Pupanga looked to score with strikes before taking down Czart again in round three. The fighters were stood up, and Czart started to let his hands go. He stopped a takedown and looked for the rear naked but Pupanga ended up on top again.
All three judges scored the bout for Pupanga. He’s the new Immortal Champions British MMA champ in the 84 kg weight category. A jubiblant Pupanga hugged his friends, family and training partners while posing for photos after winning the title. Let’s hope we see the GB Top Team fighter back defending his belt soon.
Jonny Hart outscored Ching Mac in a battle of Immortal Champions veterans. The judges scored the bout unanimously for Hart, whose knees to the body attack piled up points.
Haydar Choudhury Ramos knocked Saber Ghrilbi down twice en route to a unanimous decision win. Ghrilbi showed his heart, rising from the two first-round knockdowns and pushing forward trying to swing the K-1 Rules match in his favour.
Barret, Bentley Thrill Crowd
What a fight! Thomas Bentley from the Kru Muay Thai Gym and SN Combat Academy’s Ian Barret went to war for three rounds. Barret, wearing camouflage, took the battle to Bentley early.
But he may have worn himself out, as Bentley was the stronger fighter in round 3.
Bentley scored with a spinning back kick followed by a right, and landed a spinning backfist late in the stanza. Barret seemed tired as Bentley opened up before the final bell as fans cheered them on. In the end, Barret’s early aggression won him a split decision by scores of 29-28 (twice) and 28-29.
Rematch anyone?
Two other bouts rounded out the main card. Luca Coyte defeated Suri Kailasanathan in a Muay Thai bout. All three judges scored the match for Coyte, who scored with the harder shots.
Mohammed Elosta knocked out Amanuel Reda in spectacular fashion to begin the Immortal Champions: Triumph 44 main card. After a low kick, Elosta caught Reda with a right hand and follow up shots that dropped Reda flat on his back. Official time was 22 seconds of round one. Elosta fights out of the KO Gym.
