Heavyweight Andrei "The Pit Bull" Arlovski (20-10) wanted to prove to his doubters that he can still take a punch. He took several of them from a bruising Mike "MAK" Kyle (20-10-1) but picked himself up off the canvas to score an impressive decision win on the main event of Saturday's World Series of Fighting 5 fight card.
The headlining contest took place at New Jersey's Revel Atlantic City and aired live on NBCSN. A replay of the show airs on the network Monday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. ET.
Arlovski, who stepped in on one month's notice for an injured Anthony Johnson, was fighting for the first time since having his jaw shattered in a March outing. He wasn't gun shy in his return, and Arlovski went toe-to-toe with Kyle throughout the 15-minute thriller.
Kyle, who also competes in the 205-pound division, looked incredible from start to finish, and he scored knockdowns in both the first and third rounds. But Arlovski rebounded well each time, and his volume of work in both the first and second frames - landing his own stiff punches and kicking the legs, as well - proved enough to erase his faults, and he was awarded an entertaining decision win, 29-28 on all three cards.
"It was a great fight," Arlovski said after the win. "He's a top fighter, and I really appreciate him for this fight.
"I guess I could have followed the gameplan more, but I did what I did. It was a good comeback from my fight March 23."
In the night's co-main event, David Branch (13-3) assured he'll fight for the World Series of Fighting middleweight title with a one-sided decision win over Brazilian veteran Danillo Villefort (14-5) in the middleweight tourney semifinal bout.
While Villefort looked to strike, Branch repeatedly took the fight to the floor and controlled the position with a dominant top game that stifled his foe. While Villefort was strong in defense from his back, he was never able to offer any counter offense, and Branch was awarded all three rounds, claiming the clear decision win.
Branch will now meet an opponent yet to be determined for the inaugural World Series of Fighting 185-pound belt.
"It feels good," Branch said after the win, his third for the promotion. "This is my destiny. I was the first fight for the WSOF, and I want to be the first middleweight champion."
Heavyweight Derrick Mehmen earned the biggest win of his career, scoring a second-round knockout over submission ace Rolles Gracie.
Gracie surprised in the opening round, largely forgoing the ground game in favor of boxing with his opponent. The unexpected gameplan worked well early but backfired in the second frame, when Mehmen started to get comfortable in his striking game.
With Gracie retreating in a standup exchange, Mehmen blasted him with a clean right hand to the chin. Gracie was out on his feet, and his body slowly twirled before crashing to the canvas in a highlight likely to be seen for years to come. Mehmen was awarded the knockout win at the 2:40 mark of the second round.
In a bizarre moment rarely seen in combat sports, New Jersey State Athletic Control Board officials called off a middleweight tournament bout between Elvis "The King" Mutapcic (13-2) and Jesse "JT Money" Taylor (26-9) just moments before the two were scheduled to hit the cage.
According the commission, Mutapcic took a prescription pill that had not been cleared for use.
"There were some prescriptions that weren't given to our doctors during the physicals and that weren't approved by us the commission
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