Boston, MA, Nov. 15 – World Championship Fighting closed out 2008 on a high note with its best fight card of the year providing highlight reel knockouts and some very slick submissions. In the featured fight of the night UFC veteran Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon put on a show in front of the 3,500 fans who packed the Shriners Auditorium on Friday by catching a kick from his opponent Justin “Sledge” Hammerstrom and countering with a straight right hand which staggered Hammerstrom. Lauzon, eager to finish the fight in convincing fashion, followed up with combinations that sent Hammerstrom to the canvas where Lauzon seemed to turn up the heat even more with power punches from the top position. Hammerstrom scrambled to protect himself, but Lauzon was not to be denied as he seemed to find every opening by delivering punches to the head of Hammerstrom causing the referee to stop the bout at 1:15 of round one. Lauzon has now won seven straight fights and was gracious in his win thanking Hammerstrom and all of his local fans. Lauzon will now prepare for his upcoming fight in January on Pay-Per-View against Chris Horedecki.

In one of the nights other featured matchups undefeated Renzo Gracie New Hampshire standout John Benoit tangled with a very game Bill Jones. Both fighters showed their wrestling skill with Benoit shooting in for the takedown and Jones defending. Benoit was eventually able to secure a takedown and the two scrambled for position. During the scramble Benoit was able to secure what looked to be a fight ending anaconda choke which had Jones’ face turning purple. Jones was able to weather the choke and power through which left Benoit’s arms exhausted and Jones sapped of energy. The two fighters came out for round two visibly winded from the first round, but Benoit was determined to get another takedown. Once on the ground Benoit used his Gracie Jiu-Jitsu training to set up a rear naked choke. Jones was able to fend off the choke for a while until finally succumbing to the choke. Benoit now runs his undefeated record to a perfect 7-0.

In other action local favorite Dan Bonnell extended his winning streak to five in a row by defeating a very tough Josh Spearman. The fight, which was ruled a draw at the end of two rounds, went into a third and final overtime round in which Bonnell was able to earn the Unanimous Decision victory. One of the most exciting moments of the night came when Jose Lopez landed a devasting head kick to Wayne Harnois at 35 seconds into the first round to send Harnois crashing to the canvas giving Lopez the win by knockout. In one of the nights most evenly matched and technical fights, WCF new comers Greg Rebello and Chris Canale went back and forth exchanging postion on the ground in a series of sweeps and submission attempts. Rebello was able to pull out the split decision victory in his WCF debut. Also making his WCF debut was Calvin Kattar who had previously fought on EliteXC’s Primetime event which aired on CBS. Kattar faced off against the ultra tough Bobby Dias who had turned in one of the most exciting fights in North East history at WCF 1 last September. Kattar landed a body kick which hurt Dias and followed up with punches. Dias, eager to try and get the fight to the ground shot in for a takedown. Once on the ground Kattar immediately locked on a triangle choke to get the submission win at 49 seconds into the first round.

Fans were treated to the best talent in the North East and special guests UFC fighter Joe Lauzon, Jorge Rivera and the first man to beat Kimbo Slice, Sean Gannon, were also on hand to watch the fights. In addition to the night’s action World Championship Fighting, WBCN and the U.S. Marine Corps were able to collect an overwhelming amount of toys for the Toys For Tots program. Head promoter Joe Cavallaro had this to say about the Toys For Tots drive and the event, “The fans really came through by bringing a ton of toys out to our show for the Toys For Tots program. That combined with the night’s action, what more can you ask for? This was probably our best event yet, and the Toys For Tots drive made it that much better.” World Championship Fighting would like to thank the U.S. Marine Corps, WBCN, Boston Brawler, Respek Fightwear, Fierce Contact Fighter, and all of the fans who made this event an overwhelming success. Stay tuned for more WCF action in 2009!!!

Official Results:

Chad Beane def. Joe McGann 1st Rd (Disqualification – illegal blows to back of the head)
Dan Ferrer def. Ethan Kean 3:36 1st Rd Submission (Kimura)
James Pittner def. Robbie Roberts :31 1st Rd Submission (Guillotine Choke)
Jose Lopez def. Wayne Harnois :35 1st Rd TKO (Strikes)
Dan Bonnell def. Josh Spearman 3rd Rd Unanimous Decision
John Benoit def. Bill Jones 1:45 2nd Rd Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Calvin Kattar def. Bobby Dias :49 1st Rd Submission (Triangle Choke)
Stephen Stengal def. Jay Fortier :49 1st Rd TKO (Strikes)
Greg Rebello def. Chris Canale 3rd Rd Split Decision
Dan Lauzon def. Just Hammerstrom 1:15 1st Rd TKO (Strikes)

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