2. MMA +93 kg 3×5 min

Atte Backman, Espoon Kehähait vs Emir Smajlovic, Holland

Winner: Backman TKO, 1. round at time 2,52

This was an easy fight for Backman. He managed to catch the 20 kg lighter Smajlovic with on overhand right which sent the dutch fighter to the canvas. On the ground, Smajlovic was able to defend for a while, but the bigger and stronger Backman was able to gain mount and pounded a TKO-victory in the first round.

4. MMA -84 kg 3×5 min

Timo Suhonen, Espoon Kehähait vs Mikko Suvanto, MMA Imatra

Winner: Suvanto, KO (high kick), 2. round at time 2,52

This fight determined the number 1 middleweight figher in Finland. Suvanto tried to take Suhonen down in the first round, but Timo had an excellent sprawl and he defended all the attempts. Both fighters were gassed by the time the second round started. Suvanto and Backman proceeded to exchange on their feet and Mikko was able to catch Timo with a left high kick to the jaw. Suhonen went down and Mikko punched him a couple of times before the ref managed to step in. Suhonen was completely out – a huge KO victory for Suvanto.

6. MMA -93 kg 2×5 min

Toni Valtonen, Espoon Kehähait vs Martin Zawada, Germany

Winner: Valtonen, unanimous decision

Valtonen played it very safe against the hard-hitting Zawada and took the German fighter down in both rounds. On the ground the match was a frightful bore. Maybe the ref should have stood them up to get some action, but he didn’t and Valtonen was able to lay ‘n’ pray to a victory by unanimous decision.

7. MMA +93 kg 3×5 min

Marcus Vänttinen, Alliance Porvoo vs Samir Bourekba, Holland

Winner: Vänttinen, submission (triangle choke) 3. round at time 1,26

Vänttinen fought his first fight after his one-year compulsory stint in the army. Samir wasn’t much of an opponent, but the dutch fighter was able to lengthen the fight until the third round, when he was caught in a triangle choke. Vänttinen would have won easy in the first round, if he could have worked the fight to the ground.

8. MMA -73 kg 3×5 min

Niko Puhakka, Espoon Kehähait vs Furdjel de Windt, Holland

Winner: Puhakka, unanimous decision

This match was the best MMA fight of the evening. The two first rounds saw Puhakka controlling the standup exchanges. Furdjel tried to repeatedly take Puhakka down, but the Finnish fighter defended well. Furdjel had an excellent heel-hook attempt in the second round, but otherwise he was unable to put Niko in danger. In the third round Puhakka had his own kneebar attempt which the dutch fighter defended. The last couple of minutes saw Furdjel taking Puhakka’s back, but Niko defended well. For Furdjel it was too little, too late and Puhakka took the unanimous decision.

10. MMA -86 kg 3×5 min

Lucio Linhares, Alliance Brazil vs Nordin Asrih, Germany

Winner: Linhares, submission (armbar) 1. round at time 1,56

This was also a onesided fight. Asrih started brawling and Linhares took him down for a jiujitsu lesson. On the ground Lucio dominated completely transitioning from a kimura to an armbar to end the fight.

12. MMA -88 kg 3×5 min

Mikko Rupponen, Espoon Kehähait vs Sean Salmon, USA

Winner: Salmon, TKO (cut) 1. round at time

In the main event Salmon scored a disappointing win over Mikko Rupponen. The American fighter was known for his strong wrestling and he put Mikko twice on his back. After the first takedown, Mikko was able to stand up, but Sean put him down again and proceeded to ground ‘n’ pound from the guard. An elbow strike opened up a huge cut over Mikko’s eye and the fight had to be stopped. Rupponen was a bloody mess after the fight.