Noble, Sandford, Machan, Russell, and Lofton Pick Up Wins at MFC 19

At MFC 19: Long Time Coming Friday night in Edmonton, Alberta, “Eraser” Derrick Noble (24-11-1) submitted Ariel Sexton (5-3) via guillotine choke in round two.

Kyle Sandford (6-1) won a split decision over Joey Gorczynski (12-4).

Ryan Machan (7-1) submitted Mike Sorenson (3-4) with a rear naked choke in round one.

Josh Russell (2-0) picked up a submission win over Colby Snyder (7-2) with a first-round rear naked choke.

Aron Lofton (4-1) submitted Jason Kuchera (3-3) via guillotine choke in the first round.

Derrick Noble submitted Ariel Sexton via guillotine choke in the second round of an exciting stand-up battle between the lightweights.

Noble opened the round kicking high, and Sexton answered with a solid right kick.  A hard kick issued from Noble, then a stiff jab, and another right kick to the leg.  Sexton tried for a takedown but Noble kept it standing.  Sexton knocked Noble down with a straight right, but Noble quickly regained his footing.  Noble landed a right hand, then a left hook.  Sexton went at Noble with a flying knee and ate a Noble punch.  Noble rocked Sexton with another big right, then sent a right knee into his face.

Sexton flew at Noble to start the second round, but Noble quickly backpedalled and did not allow the strikes to land.  The fighters traded punches, then Noble landed a hard knee, which Sexton followed with a solid right punch.  Hard strikes from both fighters echoed through the arena.  After an overhand right and a flying knee from Sexton, he shot for the takedown.  Noble immediately wrapped his legs around Sexton’s body and his arm around Sexton’s head in a tight guillotine, forcing Sexton to tap at 1:30 of round two.

Joey Gorczynski lost a surprising split decision to Kyle Sandford.

Although Gorczynski scored a takedown, it was Sandford who controlled the first round.  Sandford got Gorczynski’s back and attempted a rear naked choke but Gorczynski spun out of it.  The fight was moved to the centre of the ring when two punches landed on the back of Gorczynski’s head as he turtled.

In round two, Gorczynski again got the takedown, and appeared to be the aggressor, landing some elbows.  Sandford was able to keep the much shorter Gorczynski from landing many strikes from the top.  Gorczyski attempted his second flying superman punch before the end of the round.

Gorczynski seemed to control more as the fight progressed, landing two big right hands in Sandford’s face and getting four takedowns in the third round.  Gorczynski landed two more huge right overhands.  Neither fighter was able to finish the fight, but Sandford ended the round on top, dropping fists at Gorczynski’s head as he again turtled.

Halifax’s Sandford received scores of 29-28, 29-28, 28-29, to a chorus of boos from his fellow Canadians.

Ryan Machan submitted Mike Sorenson in the first round with a rear naked choke.

After a quick exchange in which Machan landed an uppercut, Machan got Sorenson’s back and climbed up into a choke.  Sorenson flipped onto his back on top of Machan.  Machan still had his back and an arm under his chin and worked the entire first round for the rear naked choke.  He finally got the tapout seconds after the clapper sounded, at 4:54.

Josh Russell, the trainer of “The Athlete” Jason MacDonald (19-10), submitted Colby Snyder with a rear naked choke in round one.

Russell shot soon after the bell rang and scored the single leg takedown.  In side control, Russell immediately took what was offered when Snyder turned his back.  Slowly tightening his body lock on Snyder and working in the choke, he forced Snyder to tap 1:44 into the fight.

Aron Lofton submitted Jason Kuchera with a guillotine choke in the first round to go 2-0 against the Canadian light heavyweight.

At the bell, they immediately clinched.  Lofton got the trip takedown and locked in a standing guillotine.  Lofton tapped out Kuchera at 0:44 of round one without breaking a sweat.