Elite Cage Fighting held its last event of 2007 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on December 1, as ECF 18 featured a packed card and some high quality fights. Notably, the night both began and ended with title fights, as both the IUPAD Lightweight Indiana State Pankration Title (which is held annually and then vacated) and the ECF 170-pound title were up for grabs.

Adam Shea (4-2) vs. Denys Shalaev (2-0) (for the IUPAD Indiana State Pankration Title)
Shalaev opened the fight landing an inside leg kick but then missed with a high kick, allowing Shea to take him down. Shea worked out of Shalaev's guard to side control. After Shalaev rolled and gave up his back, Shea worked for a rear naked choke and eventually locked it in. Adam Shea wins by rear naked choke 1:34 into the first round.

Austin Appollos (1-0) vs. James Smith (1-1)
After Smith landed a good side kick and overhand right, Appollos pulled him down into half-guard and worked for a guillotine. Smith had none of it though, thwarting the choke attempt and gaining full mount. Appollos tried to slide out underneath but Smith maintained mount, got separation, and worked the ground and pound until the referee was forced to step in and save Appollos. James Smith wins by TKO 2:47 into the first round.

Smith looks for the finish

Brad Estes (0-0) vs. Seth Kellogg (0-2)
Brad Estes's MMA debut is one that Seth Kellogg would like to forget. Kellogg hit a big overhand right early in the fight but, after a furious exchange of punches after that, the rest of the fight belonged to Estes. After the fight went to the ground with Estes in full mount, Estes unloaded several shots as Kellogg tried to work enough to avoid a stoppage. However, after Estes landed several absolutely punishing strikes the ref had no choice but to step in and stop the fight. Brad Estes wins by TKO 2:31 into the first round.

Cody Craig (0-0) vs. Chris Hanley (0-0)
Quick and decisive devastation in this one. Hanley dropped Craig with a kick and unloaded facial abuse to which Craig offered absolutely no intelligent defense. The crowd booed the stoppage, but the ref again had no choice but to call this one. Chris Hanley wins by TKO just :06 into the first round.

Troy Burton (0-0) vs. James Falk (0-1)
Burton made his MMA debut on the wrong end of a clinic in stand-up abuse. Falk landed a good kick and a sequence of several good punches. After a brief clinch against the cage, Falk continued to land big shots and scored knockdown after knockdown, having his way with Burton before the ref mercifully puts an end to Burton's night. James Falk wins by TKO 1:04 into the first round.

The wonderful ECF cage girls

Brendan Broadstreet (5-4) vs. Jeremy Butler (2-0)
The last fight before the first intermission was, up until that moment, the best fight of the night. In the first round, Butler landed a stiff right before the fight went to the ground. Butler worked out of Broadstreet's guard and briefly gained side control, but Broadstreet was able to pull Butler back into his guard. Butler elected to pull out and stand the fight up, and Broadstreet landed two good jabs before Butler shot for the takedown. Broadstreet pulled guard and worked for an armbar, working it nearly to completion until Butler was saved by the bell. The second round opened with a good exchange. From there Broadstreet looked to pick his shots. Butler shot in but Broadstreet stuffed it, then pulled guard and looked for a triangle. After Butler fended that off and the ref eventually stood up the fighters, Broadstreet landed several good punches and then a big knee that dropped Butler. From there Broadstreet unloaded punishment until the ref intervened. Brendan Broadstreet wins by TKO 2:04 into the second round.

During the first intermission I chatted with Todd Kiser, who won the first IUPAD State Pankration Title back in 2000. Now at the tail end of a successful MMA career (losing his last fight to UFC vet Josh Neer), Kiser continues to train with Hoosier MMA notables Chris "Lights Out" Lytle and Jeremy Bolt while marketing and distributing Go Fast energy drinks.

Aaron Cooper (1-1) vs. Kevin Jennings (0-0)
This fight was spent predominantly on the ground. In the first round, Jennings transitioned from side control to north-south and worked for a guillotine. Cooper escaped the choke attempt and took down Jennings into full mount. With Jennings struggling to avoid separation, Cooper landed elbows, worked for a higher mount, and continued to land elbows as Jennings managed to hang on until the end of the round. After Jennings missed with a big head kick to open the second round, Cooper again took Jennings down into full mount and continued to land elbows. From there Cooper caught Jennings in a straight armbar. Jennings tried to hold out but Cooper tightened the hold and forced Jennings to tap. Aaron Cooper wins by armbar 1:06 into the second round.

Cooper finishes Jennings off with an armbar

Joshua Jones (2-1) vs. Nick Wakley (3-0)
Quite simply, the fight of the night and a nonstop blur of back-and-forth action. After an exchange of takedowns, Wakley worked for a guillotine from north-south position. Jones powered out and took Wakley down to full mount, but quickly got reversed with Wakley ending up in his guard. Undaunted, Jones looked for a triangle but Wakley escaped. Jones rolled into full mount but Wakley again managed to reverse into Jones's guard. The fight went back to stand-up and the fighters exchanged punches as an outstanding first round ended. The action continued in the second, with Jones momentarily dropping Wakley and later landing an overhand right. From there it appeared that Wakley feinted being tired, prompting Jones to swing and miss and enabling Wakley to take the fight to the ground with back control on Jones. Wakley looked for a rear naked choke but Jones managed to work out of the position and into Wakley's guard. Wakley briefly appeared to look for a gogoplata but Jones worked out of the guard to side control and then full mount. From there Jones caught Wakley in an armbar to finish an incredible fight. After the fight, with both fighters bloody, Jones dedicated his win to his father, who recently passed away. Joshua Jones wins by armbar 2:30 into the second round.

One of many good ground exchanges in this fight

Rocky France (1-0) vs. Jesse Turner (1-1)
It is only fitting that a fight featuring a guy named Rocky would be finished with strikes. After an opening clinch, France landed two good rights and then dropped Turner. Turner worked out of inferior north-south position back to standup and landed a solid jab, which France laughed off. Turner's high kick was deflected by France, who then dropped Turner and unloaded on him until Turner was knocked out. Rocky France wins by KO 1:57 into the first round.

Damon Roberts (2-5) vs. Brandon Clore (0-2)
In a fight featuring two guys desperate for a win, Clore shot for a takedown and ended up in Roberts's guard. Roberts looked for an armbar but couldn't get it. Clore worked out to half-guard, landed a good elbow, and ended up back in full guard. Roberts again looked for an armbar to no avail, and Clore was able to land good shots from within guard and eventually knock out Roberts. Brandon Clore wins by KO 2:49 into the first round.

Bobby Chadwell (1-5) vs. Cody Abercrombie (0-2)
Chadwell got a takedown and full mount, but Abercrombie reversed into Chadwell's guard. From there Chadwell somehow ended up hurt, although it was unclear what caused it. Cody Abercrombie wins by TKO(?) 1:01 into the first round.

Matt Jones (1-1) vs. Garett Whitley (0-0)
The fight opened with an exchange of takedowns into one another's guards. Back on their feet, Whitley picked his shots and, after a clinch, got the better of an exchange of punches against the cage and landed several knees. Jones shot for a single leg takedown but Whitley stuffed it. Whitley landed a big elbow while in a clinch against the cage and then finished Jones with a flurry of punches that dropped him. Garett Whitley wins by TKO 2:47 into the first round.

Brian Payne (0-0) vs. Dustin Dennison (0-3)
Unfortunately this fight came after the second intermission and not before. Payne faked an opening glove tap with Dennison and shot for a takedown that was the equivalent of a sucker punch. From there Payne landed a crushing illegal knee to Dennison's head that absolutely devastated Dennison. The fight was stopped and initially declared a no-contest. However, after a video replay it was determined that Payne's illegal strike was clearly intentional, giving Dennison his first "victory" the very hard way. Dennison was carried out on a stretcher and left in an ambulance, and the remaining fights were delayed for quite some time until an ambulance could again be on hand.  Dustin Dennison wins by disqualification :20 into the first round.

Dennison being loaded onto a stretcher

Josh Rines (1-1) vs. Stephen Power (0-1)
Rines made quick work of Power, gaining a takedown, working to side control and then full mount. From there Rines got separation and landed big strikes, prompting the ref to intervene. Josh Rines wins by TKO :55 into the first round.

Darren Smith (3-3) vs. Dwayne Detty (1-0)
In another very quick fight, Smith got a single leg takedown and rained an uninterrupted series of big strikes on his opponent. Detty flailed helplessly and the ref eventually stopped the abuse. Darren Smith wins by TKO :25 into the first round.

Superheavyweight staredown

David Brinley (0-0) vs. Andrew Key (1-4)
After an opening exchange of punches, Brinley attempted a shoot and Key worked for a guillotine. Brinley escaped the choke attempt but landed an illegal head shot. After Key was given five minutes by rule to recover, Brinley gained a takedown into full mount. Key rolled and gave up his back. Instead of a rear naked choke, Brinley locked up Key's head and, with Key defenseless, rained an abusive succession of quick punches that rearranged Key's face, prompting Key to desperately tap out. David Brinley wins by submission (strikes) 1:20 into the first round.

David Zamani (2-1) vs. Justin Allen (7-0) (for the ECF 170-pound title)
The headline fight of the night did not disappoint. After an opening clinch, Zamani looked for a guillotine but Allen took him down into Zamani's half-guard. Allen worked from that position into a leglock attempt, and Zamani began pounding Allen with strikes as Allen worked unsuccessfully for a leglock. Getting the better of that sequence, Zamani worked to full mount but Allen reversed into Zamani's guard. After a period of inactivity the ref stood up the fight. Allen landed a good knee in a Thai clinch, but Zamani countered with a head kick and a series of jabs. Zamani then took down Allen and landed heavy elbows. Allen took some major abuse but managed to survive to the end of the round. However, Allen could not answer the bell for the second round. After a brief debate over whether Zamani's post-fight celebration violated the cage safety rules (which would have resulted in forfeit), Zamani was officially declared the winner and new 170-pound champion. David Zamani wins when Allen cannot continue into the second round.

Allen congratulates Zamani on winning the title

Riehle Brothers Tavern, a bar in a converted warehouse with a little bit of an outlaw atmosphere, hosted LFC 21: Redemption as the Legends of Fighting Championship invaded Lafayette, Indiana on Saturday night. The headline fight was supposed to be the highly anticipated rematch between UFC veteran Chris “The Exorcist” Price and Jeremiah “Wood” Adriano. Unfortunately, either because of job issues or personal reasons, Price had to withdraw from the event, leaving comparatively unknown Ohio wrestler Chris Canale to take his place in the headline bout.

The preliminary fights alternated between close contests and total annihilations. In the opener, Donald Hoover took quick control over Dustin Dennison, shooting immediately for the takedown, then passing effortlessly from Dennison’s guard to side control. After Dennison weakly gave up his back, Hoover locked in a rear naked choke and secured a tapout victory just 42 seconds into the first round.

The second fight was an evenly-matched contest with a disappointing ending, as Howard Clark faced off against Brad “Powerhouse” Purcell. The contest opened with an exchange of strikes. After Clark landed a solid connection, Purcell shot in for the takedown and eventually gained side control, only to see Clark power out of the bad position. Back in standup, Clark landed another good shot and tried unsuccessfully to shoot. Both fighters looked gassed as the first round ended. As the second round was about to begin, Clark (who has “Never Give Up” tattooed on his chest) indicated he could not continue. Clark’s lack of fight prompted a hail of boos as Purcell was declared the winner.

In the third fight, Cody Abercrombie never seemed to have a chance against the much stronger Mike Taylor. The opening seconds saw Taylor land a leg lick and immediately take down Abercrombie to side control. From there Taylor took full mount and punished Abercrombie with strikes. Taylor briefly gave up the mount as Abercrombie reversed into Taylor’s guard, but Taylor never lost control, locking in a straight armbar and forcing Abercrombie to signal his submission just 1:27 into the first round.

In the best preliminary fight of the night, Brandon Plore took on Marcus Smith. The fighters remained on their feet for most of the first round, during which Plore seemed to land the better shots. However, as the fight went to the mat late in the round, Smith gained side control but couldn’t do anything with it before the round ended. After a clinch against the cage to open the second round, Smith gained a takedown only to find himself having to fight off a guillotine choke. Smith was able to escape the potentially dangerous position and rain bombs down on Plore from within Plore’s guard, then sit back and work for an anklelock as the second round ended. Sensing his opponent weakening from the damage inflicted, Smith opened the third round by shooting for a takedown and landing a couple of shots. Plore attempted to set up an armbar but didn’t have the strength remaining to pull it off. With increasing confidence, Smith took side control and set up for a straight armbar. Plore tried to defend but Smith softened him up with some devastating head shots, which left Plore helpless to defend as Smith extended the arm and forced Plore to submit. Smith gained a hard fought victory by armbar at 1:29 in the third round.

In stark contrast, the last two preliminary fights of the evening each saw a clearly superior fighter dominate his opponent. Tom Osborne was never once threatened by Jeff Hellman, as Osborne took down his opponent and unleashed severe punishment that left Hellman completely laid out, gaining Osborne a knockout victory just 47 seconds into the fight. In the next fight, Joel Blanton made equally short work of his opponent, quickly taking Jason Powell down and gaining full mount. Rather than absorb punishment, Powell gave up his back and Blanton, like an anaconda, locked on to his prey and sunk in a rear naked choke. With Powell tapping out and his legs flailing helplessly, Blanton held the choke and earned a submission victory just 49 seconds into the fight.

In the headline fight of the night, Chris Canale stepped in for Chris Price to take on Jeremiah “Wood” Adriano. Adriano enjoyed pervasive fan support on this night, as the crowd was filled with family, friends and fans wearing shirts reading “Wood is Good.” Seemingly overmatched, Canale nevertheless put up a good fight. Although Adriano stuffed Canale’s early shoot attempt, the fight went to the ground with Canale in half-guard and looking to land elbows. As Adriano defended, Canale gained full mount and then rear control, but Adriano was able to escape. Adriano gained control of the fight up against the cage but was penalized for an illegal blow. Unfazed, Adriano took the fight back to the fence and landed a couple good shots as the first round ended. In the second round, Adriano stuffed another takedown attempt. Canale worked out of inferior north-south position back to a clinch against the cage. Adriano sought a single-leg takedown but Canale stuffed it. After another brief grappling exchange ended up back in standup, Adriano landed a devastating left kick to Canale’s head that immediately dropped Canale. Adriano landed two more punches to his downed opponent before the ref intervened, giving Adriano a TKO victory 1:57 into the second round.

Legends of Fighting will return to Indianapolis in just three weeks, featuring a bitter grudge match between Johnny Rees and Jeremy Wingler. LFC 22 will be at 8 Seconds Saloon on November 30, 2007.

KUBED (“Knuckle Up, Break ‘Em Down) represented well at the event. KUBED (pronounced “coo-bed”) has an excellent MMA clothing line and represents fighters throughout the Midwest, including Chicago, Cincinnati, Iowa, and of course, Indianapolis.

The first fight of the night was Mike Taylor (0-0) against Seth Sugars (0-2). This was a nice back-and-forth fight between two amateur fighters. In the first round, Taylor took down Sugars and gained side control, only to see Sugars pull a reversal to guard and eventually to his own side control. Sugars gained full mount only to have the first round end. In the 2nd round, Sugars attempted a standing guillotine, but Taylor took him down and transitioned nicely from half-guard to side control. From there Taylor was able to gain the mount and secure a guillotine choke for the win. .

The second fight was Jeremiah Davenport (2-3) versus Taz Ferguson (5-2). Ferguson made short work of his opponent, gaining side control and then his opponent’s back, and finally securing a rear naked choke just 58 seconds into the first round. .

In the next fight, Sean McCorkle (5-0) came out a favorite against James Ferguson (0-1) but struggled before finishing off his opponent. Ferguson fought well in the first round, gaining two good takedowns and controlling the action on the ground. The second round was another story, as McCorkle pulled guard and was able to lock in a kimura for the win 1:28 into Round 2. .

The fourth fight of the night saw Brian Holmes (1-0) make relatively short work of Tim Follette (0-0). After Follette swung wildly and missed, Holmes took him down and transitioned easily from half-guard to full mount. From there Follette proved relatively defenseless, as Holmes locked in a straight armbar and forced his opponent to submit. .

The fifth fight was another quick affair, as Kenny Meal (0-0) caught Ron Snider (0-0) with a series of strikes and subsequently was able to lock in a guillotine choke for the win just 1:02 into the first round. .

Next was Mahran Elkhatib versus Danny New. Once the fight went to the ground, Elkhatib gained control over his adversary and finished him off with a series of strikes, prompting a ref stoppage. .

From there Patrick Aeyella made an impressive MMA debut against a more experienced opponent, Luis Gonzalez. Aeyella gained a full mount in the second round and was able to finish his opponent with strikes, to the great pleasure of his supporters sitting nearby. .

The next fight saw Jeremiah Davenport, who had already lost earlier in the night by submission, reappear to fight Brian Loughmiller. There would only be more frustration for Davenport on this night, who was forced to submit yet again when his opponent took him down and quickly trapped him in a keylock. .

Gabe Holmes (6-7) and Mark Reeder (2-0) fought an exciting three rounds. Reeder looked impressive in the first round, landing a couple big punches while in guard and ending the round in stand-up with a lunging overhand punch. In the second it initially appeared that Reeder had secured a tapout by guillotine, but after some confusion the fight was restarted in the same position and Holmes managed to escape to guard and work for a triangle choke as the round ended. After the third round proved indecisive, Reeder was awarded a split decision. .

From there, Derek Sawyer (0-0, with one NC) totally dominated Shaun Parker (2-4). After Parker unconvincingly pulled guard, Sawyer quickly was able to take side control and then back control. After toying with his weaker opponent with strikes, Sawyer sunk in the rear naked choke and forced Parker to tap out 1:39 into the first round. .

In the LFC open weight championship fight, heavy favorite Dustin Neace (15-11-1) made short work of Wade Markland (5-10), landing a series of strikes in half guard and sinking in the rear naked choke once Markland gave up his back. This represents Markland’s sixth consecutive loss, almost all coming by quick submissions. Neace, on the other hand, has now won four straight fights. .

In perhaps the highlight of the night (at least from this male’s perspective), the ring girls engaged in a three round MMA pillowfight in the cage during a brief intermission. Showing off some unexpected grappling prowess, the brunette abandoned the pillows and locked in a brutal guillotine choke, completely lifting the blonde girl off the ground and prompting the ref to intervene. .

Although that was a tough act to follow, the feature fights of the night each proved decisive. Experienced heavyweight Sean Sallee quickly finished off James Powell (2-5), securing an armbar from the guard just 51 seconds into the first round. .

Thomas Hoover, a last minute replacement for teammate Matt Thompson, was used and abused by a much stronger and skillful Kyle Gibbons (9-1). Gibbons took Hoover down and transitioned with ease from side control to full mount. From there Gibbons confidently rained down strikes on his helpless opponent until the ref mercifully stopped the fight just 33 seconds into round one. .

The penultimate fight of the night saw Zach Jenkins (14-7) battle it out with Tom Logsdon (6-6). After a little bit of back and forth action, Jenkins gained mount and eventually worked for a leglock. Logsdon escaped, only to be taken back down. Jenkins moved nicely from full mount, to side control, then to back control, and finally back to full mount. Jenkins rained down strikes, after which Logsdon briefly reversed, only to see Jenkins lock in an armbar from the guard position toward the end of the first round. .

The headline fight of the night was Matt Roland (12-3) of Darlington Fighting Systems taking on Jeremy Wingler (7-2). Roland is the cage Rage middleweight champion and the LFC 175-pound superfight champion. Unfortunately for him, Roland’s pre-fight comments, that he expected Wingler to be his toughest opponent, would prove prophetic. After the fight went quickly to the ground, Wingler moved from half guard to side control, and then finally to back control. From there Roland was helpless as Wingler rained down strikes from the back mount, prompting the fight to be stopped 1:51 into the first round. .

The next LFC event in Indianapolis will be on August 31. For those who can’t wait that long, check out the United Fight League, featuring UFC star Chris Lytle in the headline fight, at Conseco Fieldhouse on August 11.