Friday in Connecticut, IFL Heavyweight Champion Roy Nelson (13-2) blitzed "Hillbilly Heartthrob" Brad Imes (11-5) at the bell to score a TKO in 2:55 and retain his title. "Lion" Ryan Schultz (20-9-1) defended his IFL lightweight title in a five-round unanimous decision "W" over tough Lithuanian Deividas Taurosevicius (9-3). Middleweight Dan Miller (8-1) blew through IFL Middleweight Champion Ryan McGivern (12-6).  At 3:36 of round one, Miller sucked up McGivern's right leg in a kneebar to tap the champ and take his strap. On the undercard at the Mohegan Sun, "Indio" Danillo Villefort (7-2) tapped middleweight Mike Massenzio in a kneebar at 3:25 of round one. Jorge Gurgel-trained lightweight "Pitbull" Josh Souder (7-2) dispatched Zac George (12-3) by TKO in 47 seconds. Middleweight "Suave" Matt Horwich (23-10) won a unanimous decision over "Coyote" Joey Guel (13-6). Welterweight "Doomsday" John Howard (9-3) TKO'd Nick Calandrino (4-1) at 2:24 of round three. Light heavyweight Aaron Stark (6-4) won a unanimous decision over "Philly Bad Ass" Lamont Lister (4-4), fresh off his win at YAMMA Pit Fighting. Lightweight John Franchi (4-0) remained undefeated tapping Frank Latina (4-2) in a rear naked choke at 2:19 of round one. ...

Former TUF finalist ""Hillbilly Heartthrob" Brad Imes (11-4) will challenge IFL Heavyweight Champ Roy Nelson (12-2) 16 May in Uncasville, Connecticut. Imes replaced Branden Lee Hinkle (13-9) Saturday on the New Blood New Battles card at the Mohegan Sun Arena after Hinkle withdrew due to an injured rib. Imes won a UD over James Jack (2-1) in March and is amidst a 6-1 run since losing his last UFC appearance Fighters.com's eighth-ranked heavyweight "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-13) in April 2007. Nelson has knocked off four straight victories himself since losing to heavyweight prospect Ben Rothwell (29-5) in April 2007. Lightweight prospect Jim Miller (11-1) and "Morango" Fabricio Camoes (8-4) have also been removed from the card after Camoes pulled up lame during training. ...