Legends of Fighting returned to 8 Seconds Saloon in Indianapolis on November 30, promising a headline bout between two of central Indiana's best fighters who share an intense dislike for one another. The preliminary bouts featured a little something for everyone, and the headline fight most certainly did not disappoint.

The action for the night opened with two Damage Incorporated fighters, Billy Cooper and Andy Nicola, facing off against one another. After an opening clinch against the cage and some missed punches, Nicola shot for the takedown and ended up in Cooper's guard. Cooper worked for an armbar but Nicola powered out of it and back into standup. After an exchange of punches, Cooper got a takedown, worked for full mount, and began to rain down punches, only to see Nicola saved by the bell. In the second round, Cooper tried to shoot but got caught with an uppercut. As the fight went to the ground Nicola was able to sink a guillotine choke and earn the victory 51 seconds into the second round.

From there, Jeremy Smith took on Justin Ward of the No Mercy Fight Team. After the fight went to the ground, Smith picked up Ward and landed a big slam. From there Smith worked to full mount. Ward managed to stave off Smith's first armbar attempt but could not avoid the second, tapping out at 1:10 of the first round and giving Smith a submission victory.

In the third fight, undefeated fighter Dave "Pee Wee" Herman (11-0) efficiently disposed of MMA newcomer Chuck Geyer. After Geyer swung wildly and missed, Herman took Geyer down and alternately worked from back and side control. Although Geyer managed to get to his feet briefly, Herman easily stuffed Geyer's shoot attempt and then dropped Geyer with a solid right. Herman remained undefeated with a TKO victory 1:21 into the fight.

Herman standing over his defeated opponent

The next fight featured a three round battle between two fighters who definitely gave it everything they had. The first round saw James Simon and Chris Hanni going toe to toe, with Simon landing some good shots in standup. Hanni eventually was able to get a takedown and work to full mount, but unfortunately for him the first round ended. In the second, Smith landed a big right that sent Hanni's mouthpiece flying. Hanni gamely fought back, pulling guard when the fight went to the ground and defending Smith's punches. After the ref eventually restarted, Hanni landed a good overhand left, but the round ended. In the third, with Smith's corner seeing an opening and pleading with Smith to throw the right hand, Smith obliged with a devastating shot that dropped Hanni. Smith landed a couple more shots for good measure on his fallen opponent, securing a TKO victory 1:12 into the third round.

During the first intermission, I was able to interview Tristan Yunker, one of Indiana's best fighters who has an upcoming fight with UFC veteran Pete Spratt on the next HD Net fight card in Dallas (which also features Mayhem Miller, Frank Trigg and Yves Edwards, among others). Although he wouldn't offer a specific prediction, Yunker said he hoped to take the fight to the ground and impose his will on Spratt. From that fight, Yunker hopes to land a longer-term contract for 2008, hopefully with UFC or Elite XC. Tune in on December 15 to see if Yunker can take down the UFC vet.

As the fights resumed, Kyle Gibbons made quick work of yet another opponent, this time the overmatched Durrell Mitchell. After a clinch against the cage the fight went to the ground, where Gibbons worked for a kimura. Mitchell managed to work his way out of that but Gibbons took Mitchell's back and rained down some absolutely brutal shots on his defenseless opponent, earning a TKO victory 1:45 into the fight. Gibbons is now 13-2, has fought some quality opponents, and definitely appears to be someone to keep an eye on in this sport.

Kyle Gibbons looking for a kimura

The sixth fight saw another No Mercy fighter, Jerry Bussen, on the wrong end of a submission finish. Chris Franks opened the fight with a big slam on Bussen. Grappling on the ground, Bussen worked for an odd-looking kimura, then an anklelock, but Franks rolled out of it, pulled guard, and locked in a kimura of his own. Bussen could not escape and was forced to tap 1:31 into the fight.

The seventh fight featured two skilled combatants, Davion Peterson (14-4) and Marcus Reynolds (3-3). This fight went the distance and was largely a technical standup battle. Reynolds managed to keep Peterson somewhat off balance with a good mixture of kicks, despite landing few of them. At the end of the first round, Peterson managed to land some good punches while in Reynolds's guard and was working for a side choke as the round ended. The second and third rounds saw relatively little action, with the exception of a thunderous kick by Reynolds at the start of the third round that missed its mark. In the end, Peterson was awarded a unanimous decision.

Davion Peterson entering the cage

Once the card resumed following the second intermission, undefeated fighter Orville Smith (7-0) opened the action by completely dominating Mohammed Jordan, whose two previous fights had both ended in draws. Jordan attempted a kick but Smith caught the leg, took Jordan down, and asserted his will, finishing Jordan off with an armbar 1:17 into the fight.

Smith setting up Jordan for the finish

In the penultimate fight of the night, "The Disciple" J.D. Craft took on Dustin Thompson. Craft landed two big slams and took back control when the fight went into the ground. Thompson managed to stave off too much abuse while in the inferior position and eventually worked his way back to his feet. In the second round, Craft landed a big right hook, then quickly regained back control and sunk in a rear naked choke, forcing Thompson to tap 22 seconds into the round.

Last, and certainly not least, was a supercharged main event that fully lived up to its billing. Both Jeremy Wingler (12-2) and Johnny Rees (11-0) brought their huge fan bases and mutual resentment to the event, and serious tension built both inside and outside the cage in the moments leading up to the fight. As the fight opened, Wingler drew first blood, momentarily dropping Rees. However, Rees immediately fought back, and the fighters tore into each other with an explosive exchange of punches. At a pivotal moment, Wingler missed with a right hook as Rees managed to knock him off balance. From there Rees pounced, taking Wingler's back and methodically working for a rear naked choke. Wingler was helpless as Rees sunk in his hooks and choked him completely unconscious to end the fight. As if there was any doubt about the bad blood, as Wingler was being revived, Rees mockingly fell to the ground as if being put to sleep. The night ended with the Rees and Wingler camps confronting each other angrily outside the cage. Undoubtedly we have not heard the last of this rivalry.

Crowd fight breaks out after Rees chokes out Wingler