Hard Knocks 28 Recap

Local MMA fans were entertained another night of great nights as Hard Knocks Fighting made its return to Estevan for Hard Knocks 28.

The only fight to go the distance was the main event featuring Felix Jimenez and Wade Baldwin. The local fighters received the loudest ovations of the evening before each of them stepped inside of the cage. Jimenez got the early advantage in the bout when he applied a guilltoine choke on Baldwin early in the fight, Jimenez managed to apply the choke for around a minute before Baldwin was able to escape the choke and ended off the round with some punches.

The second round saw Jimenez go to work early with a take down. He positioned Baldwin against the cage and managed to strike his knees against Baldwin's kidney. It didn't look good for Baldwin again in the second but he managed to escaped the situation and once again came back strong with some punches to close off the round.

The third round got off to a slow start with both fighters exhausted from the previous two rounds. In the third round it was Baldwin managed to apply a choke and get Jimenez against the cage. Jimenez used the cage to illegally get himself out the hold and was deducted a point. Knowing that he likely had to end the fight, Baldwin came back with some punches to close the fight but it wasn't enough to knock out Jimenez. After the fight concluded the judges ruled a unanimous decision in favor of Jimenez giving him the decision.

Derek Daku had an early start to the evening as he faced Allan Bogle of Toronto. Bogle was a larger opponent for Daku but the local fighter wasn't intimated. Daku went to work early in the fight with a series of punches. After connecting with some punches Daku used some leg kicks to weaken up Bogle. Following the kicks, Daku landed some haymakers and the fight was then over at the 1:07 as Daku picked up a TKO victory. After the fight Daku said he was ready to for a rematch against Devon Smith for the Heavyweight title.

A fight with local ties featured Estevan's Matthew McCormick and former Estevan Bruins Lee Ruff. This fight didn't last too long as shortly after the fight began Ruff attempted for a takedown but was caught by McCormick with a guillotine choke and Ruff had now choice but to submit early in the contest.

Estevan's Kurt Bailey squared off with Corey Atkinson in the co-main event of the evening in a light Middleweight bout. This was another quick bout after a quick takedown Atkinson managed to apply for a rear naked choke for the submission win.

Another local fighter Craig Gaudry and Meelad Hasteed faced off in a light heavyweight that was filled with plenty of explosions. Right off the opening bell Gaudry charged in on Hastee and landed some quick punches and then some body kicks. Hasteed would survive and would then deliver some punches of his own. Gaudry would counter and apply a choke but couldn't finish the fight. Hasteed escaped and came back with a knee to the body. With only a few seconds remaining in the round Hasteed slipped in a late guillotine choke and scored a submission win.




Estevan's Mike Geib faced off with Kevin Taylor of Brandon in a light heavyweight fight. Taylor managed to score some punches and took control early in the bout. Geib was able to counter and applied some ground and pound but it was short lived as Taylor managed to get back on top and landed some punches. It appeared Geib had survived the first round but in the break Geib gave a verbal tapout due to a knee injury suffered in the fight.




In other fights featuring non local fighters

The opening fight of the night saw a featherweight bout featuring Derek Lapierre and Madison Mejia.  In the opening minutes of the bout Lapierre forced Mejia to the cage but couldn’t apply a choke hold. Lapierre applied kicks and punches before attempting a flying armbar submission. Mejia responded with a pair of takedowns but couldn’t apply a choke submission. At the end of the first round Lapierre did get a scoop slam.

At the second round Mejia came out with some body kicks before Lapierre caught with a reverse triangle submission to get the victory 48 seconds into the first round.

Justin Hill squared off with Cody Puls in a Welterweight bout. Puls started off the fight with a scoop slam but Hill was quick to recover and was able to move in for a choke attempt. At the end of the first round Puls got Hill against the cage was able to force a choke attempt as the first round came to an end.

Hill recovered and dominated in the second round Hill came out punches early on and then was able to snap in a guillotine choke and recorded a submission win. 

Curtis Richard faced Josh Ferguson was a lightweight bout that went into the second round that another early end in the second round. Richard started the round with some leg kicks and recorded a stiff punch followed by a pair of head kicks and he followed by some more punches and picked up a TKO win 37 seconds in the 2^nd round.

Ian Abbott and Nic Dupasquier squared off in a flyweight bout. Dupasquier got off to a strong start after blocking a kick and then following some punches Dupasquier went for a choke hold. Abbott escaped the hold and he came back with a series of punches, after a head kick and punch Abbott recorded a 1^st round knockout.

Harold Brun met Miquel Tock met in a welterweight bout. This fight went in to the second round and Brun won the fight after blocking a takedown he applied a choke and picked up the submission win.

Ethan Cornect and Chris Wilson met in a lightweight bout which carried over to the second round. Cornect was able to connect with some punches and that lead to a TKO win in the second round.

Nic Grandboise and Christian Olson met in a lightweight bout. The two fighters exchanged punches during the first round and it appeared Grandbois gained an advantage with a takedown and went for a submission win. But during the break Grandbois had to verbally tap out after suffering a leg injury.



Ryan Starkell and Zachary Atkinson met in an all Winnipeg lightweight bout. The first round went back and forth as Starkell had early pressure but Atkinson came back and almost applied a rear naked choke. Starkell managed to reverse and got back on top for some ground and pound at the end of the round.

Starkell came charging in the second round with punches against Atkinson along the cage. Atkinson came back with punches of his own. Starkell was able to land a big haymaker and followed that up with a big punch. Starkell recorded a TKO win after punches late in the round.

Here are post interview fights with former UFC fighter Jesse Bongfeldt, Derek Daku, Wade Baldwin, and Felix Jimenez.