Midwest Training Center’s Kevin Knabjian made the drop to lightweight in 2011, and it immediately paid dividends with wins over Jonathan Tarrh and Miletich Fighting Systems’ Brandon Adamson [Video].

Knabjian looked to continue his success against Drew Fickett at the inaugural Worldwide MMA event in Texas over the weekend. He was having his way with Fickett until he was hit with illegal head kick. Fickett submitted him shortly after the foul. Knabjian took to the UG to explain.

Ok, so I am not one to complain about why I lost, and have always accepted the blame for the losses in my career. However, I should not have lost to Drew Fickett.

Long story short, I took an illegal kick to the temple while on the ground. I knew something was up when I didn’t remember the moments between letting go of the kneebar to being in the guillotine. I remember every moment of the fight but that. I remember being in the guillotine and thinking “f–k how did this happen”. People were telling me that I got kicked in the head but obviously I didn’t remember.

You can see in the video that the heel lands solid to my temple and the crowd reacts to it. I stand up and am dazed as you can tell by my arms just kind of hanging there.

The ref should have halted the fight regardless of the kick being unintentional or not. Also, the ref actually acknowledged that he saw it. He told my corner who was complaining about the kick that “it was an accident”. Either way it was an illegal strike and time should have been given.

Watch the video and see for yourself. Thank you.

And here is the video of the bout:

Kevin Knabjian had a bit of a rough ride after competing on Season 9 of “The Ultimate Fighter”, dropping three straight bouts. But a more active 2011 and a drop to 155lbs. has reinvigorated the Midwest Training Center fighter.

He got back in the win column in July, needing just :35 to get Jonathan Tarrh to submit from strikes at Total Warrior Challenge 9 in Indy. Saturday night he was back at it, taking on Miletich Fighting Systems’ Brandon Adamson.

Listen to the excellent coaching from MTC’s Alex Trujillo, preaching patience and calling for the move that would finish Adamson.

Results from XFO 42 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, IL on December 10, 2011. Live results also available by following Chicago’s MMA Twitter.

Main Event

Miodrag Petkovich def. Mike Marrello via unanimous decision

Co-Main Event

Danny Aguirre def. Jake Grigson tap via armbar, 2:19 of rd. 2

Pro Bouts

Kevin Knabjian def. Brandon Adamson tap via kimura, 1:44 of rd. 1
Carson Beebe def. Lloyd Carter via unanimous decision
Darren Jacoby def. Kent Rexford, KO, 4:13 of rd. 1
Adam Ward def. Danny Rodriguez via KO at 2:00 of rd. 1
Joey Diehl def. Brandon Wood, TKO- Ref. stoppage, :47 of rd. 1
Ed Blake def. Matt Tobie via majority decision
Guillermo Serment def. Vince Ramos via unanimous decision
Chris Haney def. Johnny Coleman tap via strikes, 2:25 of rd. 1
Robert Couillard def. Anthony Goodwin, KO-Knee, 3:22 of rd.1

XFO Bantamweight Amateur Title

Richard Dey def. Vince Romandine via KO, 3:54 of rd. 1

XFO Featherweight Amateur Title

Cory Galloway def. Pedro Velasco, tap via armbar, 1:11 of rd. 2

XFO Flyweight Amateur Title

Andre Feliciano def. David Williams, unanimous decision

Amateur Bouts

Patrick O’Conner def. Eddie Escobar, Tap – triangle choke, 1:30 rd. 1
Zak Ottow def. Oliver Vazquez via unanimous decision
Alonzo Fuller def. Tommy Hawley via unanimous decision
Josh Estrada def. Chris Appleton, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Stefan Von Aulock def. Jake Klipp, TKO-Ref. Stoppage, 1:13 Rd. 2

Beebe said his opponent will be David Sachs, who won the Combat USA 145 championship this past July by submitting Josh Sterry with a 2nd-round rear naked choke. Sachs defeated Stanton Gavia to get to the finals, and Gavia is also scheduled to fight on the XFO card.

Sachs holds an 8-3 pro record, with 5 of his wins coming by submission. This sets up an interesting match between Beebe’s wrestling and Sachs’ ground game. Sachs did score a TKO win over Gavia to get to the finals, and also holds a submission win over the very tough Jacob Kirwan.

Beebe is coming off a stint on the UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter” show, where he lost in his first bout to Johnny Bedford. Since then he’s scored two straight wins, beating Matt Wikoff via armbar at Rockford Cage Fights 51 and a unanimous decision victory over Danny Aguirre at Chicago Cagefighting Championship IV. Beebe is 8-1 as a pro, his only loss coming in March to Team Top Notch’s Giovanni Moljo.

We’ll preview the entire card as we get closer to the event, but for now here is the updated card.

Mike Marrello vs Miodrag Petkovich
Daniel Aguirre vs Jake Grigson
Kevin Knabjian vs Brandon Adamson
Will Brooks vs Chris Tickle
Vincent Ramos vs Guillermo Serment
Adam Ward vs Daniel Rodriguez
Matt Tobie vs Frank Pizzirulli
Kent Rexford Jr. vs Darren Jacoby
Joey Diehl vs Joe Voitik
Anthony Goodwin vs Robert Couillard
Andrew Krzeptowski vs Quartus Stitt
Kenny Booker vs Belal Muhammad
Christopher Haney vs Stanton Gavia
Carson Beebe vs Dave Sachs

These events have always featured some of the best local fighters. Eddie Wineland, Dan Hornbuckle, John Kolosci, Josh Shockley, Yusup Saadulaev, Darren Elkins and Kevin Knabjian have all competed in the promotion.

Duneland Classic VII
June 25, 2011
Lake County Fairgrounds
Crown Point, IN
Doors open 6PM
First Bout 7:30pm

Damian Grabowski lands a left against Scott Barrett

Where were you, Chicago? Another disappointing turnout for a major MMA event in the Windy City. But the event was still entertaining. The local fights injected a ton of excitement into the card, as all 4 of the main card bouts went to decision. To the results:

The Chicagoland area will get treated to plenty of MMA this week. Here’s a rundown of the events.

Bellator 25, Thursday, Chicago Theatre

Bellator returns to Chicago for Bellator 25. The exciting Zoila Frausto (7-1) will battle the undefeated, #6-ranked flyweight Jessica Pene (7-0). Damian “The Polish Pitbull” Grabowski (12-0) will take on Scott Barrett in a battle of heavyweights. Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament runner-up and local favorite Dan Hornbuckle will face off against UFC veteran “Bad” Brad Blackburn. Undefeated Division I NCAA Wrestling Champion Cole Konrad takes on submission specialist Rogent Lloret in another heavyweight tourney showdown. “Mr. International” Shonie Carter will take on Torrance Taylor, a one time Strikeforce fighter. Brian Gassaway will battle Kevin Knabjian in a match of two local fighters. Mark Miller was supposed to fight on the card, but he has been forced to withdraw due to injury. Keoki Cypriano will face Eric Kriegermeier in the promotion’s third show in the Windy City. Visit Bellator.com for ticket info.

G2 Fight Night Live, Saturday, Tinley Park Convention Center

The Gilbert Grappling produced event is back with another card full of promising amateur fights. Here’s a great fight video from the last G2 featuring Jon Reed vs. Kenny Jordan.

For more information contact 630.479.6304 or send an e-mail to g2fightnight@live.com.

American Predator FC, Saturday, Lithuanian World Center

The second event produced by APFC will once again be held in Lemont. You can buy tickets and check out the full fight card at the American Predator FC website.

Bad Boy Pro Series Handwraps 3-Pack w/Wash Bag

MMA Junkie is reporting TUF veteran Kevin Knabjian will face journeyman Brian Gassaway, and Keoki Cypriano(training partner of WEC lightweight Ricardo Lamas) will face Eric Kriegermeier in the promotion’s third show in the Windy City.  Those matchups join a lineup already featuring Chicago favorite Shonie Carter and Dan Hornbuckle, who has fought in several regional promotions including Ironheart Crown, Total Fight Challenge, and The Duneland Classic.

The Gassaway /Knabjian will be interesting to watch because both trained together at Midwest Training Center, although Gassaway has since left the gym.   The “Mandingo” hasn’t fought since 2008 when he lost to Mike Pyle by armbar at SuperFights MMA in Las Vegas.  Knabjian will make his second appearance in Bellator.  He lost to Jacob Volkman at Bellator 7  by Brabo Choke.

Cypriano goes by the nickname “Hawaii’s Bad Boy” and brings a heavy-handed exciting style to the cage.

Bellator has not officially announced these fights, nor have they officially announced Carter’s fight(against Torrance Taylor) or Hornbuckle’s(against Brad Blackburn.)   The only officially announced fights are two tournament matches.

In the heavyweight tournament Damian Grabowski faces  Scott Barrett in opening round action.  Meanhwhile, Jessica Pene will face Zoila Frausto in the first round of the female 115 pound tournament.  Grabowski and Frausto are two names to watch in season 3 of the Chicago/Los Angeles based fight promotion.

Damian Grabowski is undefeated at 13-0 and has finished all his opponents.  Zoila Frausto has a Muay Thai background and is fresh off an upset knockout victory over highly regarded Rosi Sexton.  That knockout helped the “Warrior Princess” steal the tourney spot originally intended for Sexton.

The main event will match XFO vet and former WEC champ Chase Beebe against Billy Jochum. Beebe (11-5) comes back to the states after battling in DREAM to fight locally for the first time in almost 4 years. Jochum (8-3) fought here at “Fight Club One” in July last year, getting submitted by John Hosman by a first round armbar.

Hosman (15-6-1) will also fight on the card. After rattling off 7 straight wins, Hosman got the call to fight in the WEC. He got a very tough matchup in his first fight, having to face off against submission specialist Rani Yahya. Yahya submitted him in round 1. Then Hosman battled Chad George to a decision loss at WEC 45. At Lords of War, Hosman looks to get back to his winning ways and will take on Mike “The Assassin” Lindquist.

Also at Lords of War 1:

• Former TUF combatant and MTC fighter Kevin Knabjian will fight on the card.
• Gilbert Grappling’s Joe Benoit (8-3) will fight Craig Kaufman (7-4).
• Undefeated C3 and TFC vet Tony Wisnieski (6-0) will battle Iowa’s Ryan Bixler.
• MTC fighters Ryan Williams, Mikey Lullo, Mike Pitz and Vincent Ramos will all fight at the event.

click the poster to view full size

Check out our Chicago’s MMA Events page for all the upcoming local cards.

Hayabusa Red Label Pro MMA Gloves

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

**MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL**

- Omar De La Cruz def. Dave Menne by TKO @ 3:19 of Rd.1.

- Lyman Good def. Jorge Ortiz by TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) @ 4:37 of Rd.2.

Omar De La Cruz and Lyman Good advance to the finals.

155 lbs: Troy Gerhart def. Lorenzo Borgomeo by unanimous decision

HWT: Eddie Sanchez def. Jay White by TKO @ :10 of Rd.1.

155 lbs: Alonzo Martinez def. Victor Meza by Submission(rear naked choke) @ 2:43 of Rd.2.

170 lbs: Jesse Juarez def. DeRay Davis(Team Corral) by TKO @ 4:47 of Rd.2.

Women’s 135 lbs: Kerry Vera def. Leslie Smith by unanimous decision

170 lbs: Jacob Volkman def. Kevin Knabjian(MTC) by Submission(triangle choke) @ 1:42 of Rd.2.

170 lbs: Anthony Lapsley def. Ryan Williams(MTC) by Submission(rear naked choke) @ 4:22 of Rd.2.

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