Israel FC, an upstart promotion out of–you guessed it–Israel has began to take on a steady stream of veterans in for their promotional debut in what is turning out to be an all star cast of competitors.

MMAFighting.com first reported the event and it’s full lineup reads as the following:

Jeff Monson vs. Sergey Shemetov
Frank Trigg vs. Roy Neeman
Ricco Rodriguez vs. Daniel Tabera
Hermes Franca vs. Moshe Kaitz
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Valdas Pocevicius
Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett vs. Ariel Abergel
Daniel Gracie vs. Martin Wojcik
Shonie Carter vs. Jeremy Knafo
Thiago Meller vs. Fabrice Riconneau
Vitaly Shemetov vs. Alexandro Ceconi
Joshua Hewlett vs. Ido Pariente
Akop Stepanyan vs. Marc Berger
Serob Minasyan vs. Vitali Krbrsky

Hermes Franca, perhaps one of the most notable veterans on the card, is coming out of retirement to return to action here in Israel against the unheralded Moshe Keitz. Franca was last seen inside the UFC when he lost to lightweight standout by knockout at UFC 103.

It was only the second time the Brazilian had ever been knocked out, however, when Franca aimed for a comeback after his UFC release, he suffered an additional knockout victory, against Eric Wisely. In a rematch, Franca lost yet again to Wisely just three days ago at an SFC event, however made it to see the final bell. He lost on points, when Eric took home the unanimous decision victory, and left Franca with his third loss in a row.

So, MMA peeps, any other fighters stand out to you here? Looks like Trigg is aiming for a comeback, following his own UFC release, which ended a two-fight losing streak, which included two-knockout losses to Josh Koscheck and Matt Serra, respectively. The former two-time UFC title challenger brings a worlds of experience into the cage, as well as a chin that has seen better days.

Sound off, and let your opinions be heard in the comments section below.

Wallace tapped out “Juggernaut” Antwain Britt (11-3) in an armbar in the tournament’s finale after disposing of Gregory Milliard (1-2) by decision in the first round and Team Quest’s Aaron Stark (9-5) by decision in the semi-final.

Britt had won decisions over “Fury” Carmelo Marrero (9-4) and Richard Hale (8-3-1) on his path to the final.

According to Vendetta FC promoter Chris Allen, Wallace was signed by the UFC shortly after returning home from Aruba.  Fighters.com could not verify with Wallace or the UFC.

Carter is on a three-fight winning run that most recently included a split decision over George Lockhart (7-3) at Throwdown III in Salt Lake City last February.

One-time UFCer Noble came up short to “Mandingo” Antonio McKee (22-3-2) in a UD loss at MFC 20 in Enoch last February.

Britt is coming off an eight-second KO of American Top Team’s “Samuray” Antonio Mendes (2-4) in the Shine Fights premier in Columbus last May. Mendes’s teammate, Marrero, surely intends to exact some furious vengeance on Mendes’s behalf. Marrero comes to the tournament from a UD loss to “Darth” Ryan Bader (7-0) at Fight Night 18 in Nashville April, Marrero’s second, though brief stint in the Octagon. Fighters.com hopes Britt and Marrero get a crack at each other in round one.

IFL vet Stark tapped Rashad Brooks (2-5) in a rear naked choke at CATC 4 in Alabama last November. An eight-man tournament seems like a mouthful after a 10-month hiatus.

“Sho Nuff The Master” Rodney Wallace (6-0) and Brazilian Top Team’s Angelo Araujo (8-2) will also compete in the tournament while Gregory Milliard (1-1), Evan Nedd (0-0), Richard Hale (7-2-1), Ovince Saint Preux (3-2), and Xtreme Couture’s Nick Fekete (1-0) will fight on the card.

“El Guapo” Bas Rutten (28-4-1) will announce the card and soak up some of the white powder beaches of Aruba.

The fight will occur at the catchweight of 178-pounds.

Carter withdrew from the fight with Stewart this week with a hand injury.

Riggs will return from back surgery for an injury suffered during a slam that forced Riggs to tap to Cory Devela (9-2) in February.

Stewart will look to bounce back from a loss to Tiki Ghosn (10-7) in March, the first of Stewart’s pro career.

At Legends of Fighting 25: Breaking Point in Indianpolis, Bowman, oft-criticized cast-member of TUF 6, made his pro debut and first fight after the show on which he was seriously injured in a fight with Richie Hightower (7-2), and seriously ridiculed by eventual champion Mac Danzig (18-4-1).

“Believe it or not, there is life after TUF,” Bowman said.  “Undoubtedly, I wasn’t UFC caliber when I got onto the show.  I teach at Defcom One, Gracie Baja now, and, thanks to those guys on TUF, trainers and critics, they made me a fighter.”

The 6’2″, lanky fighter was sporting some new red and pink hair, silver painted toenails, and impressive musculature.  He wasted little time getting over what he called “basically, first-time jitters.”

After throwing some long, quick jabs to measure distance, Bowman used that rehabbed left leg - which is still slightly thinner than his right – to launch a crisp left high kick that caught his opponent, Kevin Walker (0-1), along the jaw and neck.

The crack popped throughout the venue; Walker fell like a board; and, finally, after nine-months of frustration, Bowman proved he at least belongs in a cage.

In two bouts before Bowman’s, the crowd was treated to a site few will ever get to witness.

Middleweights Shaun Parker (0-0-1) and Tyler Bryan (0-0-1) squared off for only a few seconds before both fighters threw big, looping right hooks simultaneously.

Both fists landed!  Both fighters were knocked cleanly unconscious.

When they hit the mat in opposite directions and with both mouth pieces rolling, “Mr. International” seemed truly confused, hardly knowing which man to attend to.

That fight, which kept the crowd on its feet for two minutes after the knockouts, was called a draw.

In other action:

Super Heavyweight: Tiny Norton (2-1) over Brian Veach (1-2) in a TKO, round 1.

Heavyweight: Chris Canale (1-1) over Jason Hayes (0-1) with an arm lock, round 1.

Heavyweight: Sean Sallee (9-15) over Tim Wills (0-18) by TKO, round 1.

Middleweight: Matt Roland (5-1) over Josh Rines (0-1) by TKO, round 1

Middleweight: Gabe Holmes (4-4) and Steve Frits (0-1) fought to a draw after 3 rounds.

Welterweight: Daniel Nuttall (2-1) over Bobby Chadwell (0-1) by TKO, round 1.

135 lbs.: “The Asian Sensation” Kris Boyden (1-0) over Scott Blevins (0-6) by TKO, round 1.

The main event featured lighweights Jeremy Ashley (6-5) over Jacob Cory (0-1) after Cory’s corner threw in the towel just a two minutes into the fight.

Carter lost to the Canadian in the first round due to an arm injury suffered during a takedown by Zazulak.

There was a bit of Canadian promoter-on-promoter violence before the event.

Hardcore Championship Fighting CEO Keith Crawford had pleaded publicly for the Carter versus Zazulak fight to be canceled because, “Sanctioning any athlete with 96 fights and a wealth of cage/ring experience against an athlete with 2 fights is nothing short of ludicrous.”

Scott Zerr of Maximum Fighting Championship responded simply, “We feel [Keith Crawford] should mind his own business.”

“I am healed entirely,” Carter said.  “I have been training.”

“Mr. International” will ply his trade in two nations this month, begining next weekend in Denver.

“I’m fighting twice in April, for Worldwide Fighting Championship on the 12th for the middlweight world title versus “The Terminator” John Cronk (17-21) and the 26th in Toronto [at Iroquois MMA Championships] versus “The Angry Hick” Bret Bergmark (4-1-1),” Carter said.  “Then 30 May [at Primetime Fighting] versus Victor Moreno (24-11) in Merrillville, Indiana.”