I attended the Fight Night Challenge on 3/29/2014, and was impressed by the amateur MMA and muay thai talent that showed up to Charlottesville, Virginia. Here’s a recap of the night’s highlights and knockouts.

Jon Hillis vs. John Kerman (Modified Muay Thai Bout)

Beard Advantage goes to Kerman, who is sporting a closely cropped full beard.

RD1: 10-9 Hillis

RD2: 10-9 Hillis

RD3: 10-9 Kerman

Given that it was an exhibition bout, the fight was not scored.

Antonio Ortega vs. Tommy Couzzi (125 lbs.)

RD1: Tommy Couzzi comes right out of the gate throwing hard punches, getting a slamming takedown in short order. Ortega gets back up, but Couzzi achieves the front headlock position and looks to work towards a D’Arce Choke. They stand back up, but they are separated by referee Mike King due to an inadvertent groin kick suffered by Ortega. They resume and touch gloves. Couzzi throws a kick and another series of hard punches, eventually pressing Ortega against the cage, where he lands some hard punches and a knee. Ortega gamely chases him back with punches, but Couzzi gets another takedown and is immediately in side control. Ortega scrambles and Couzzi looks for an Anaconda Choke, eventually rolling into one. Ortega continues to roll around and defend, getting out of the sub right before the end of the round.

RD2: They meet in the middle and Couzzi looks to resume his striking attempts, but Ortega clinches up and Couzzi ends up on top in side control. Couzzi postures up in guard and rains down a flurry of punches and then steps away, allowing Ortega to stand back up. They clinch against the cage again, with Couzzi looking to control Ortega and throw short strikes. Couzzi is on the receiving end of a knee to the groin,  causing the referee to stop the fight until he recovers. They resume, but Ortega lands a solid kick then a left hook, then he begins egging Couzzi on to fight. They exchange some hard punches that largely miss, with Couzzi getting another slamming takedown right before the end of the round.

RD3: Ortega opens up by winging some hard punches, but Couzzi clinches up with him against the cage, where they exchange some knees to the body. Couzzi then gets a slamming takedown that sees him get in side control, where Couzzi scrambles and is briefly threatened with a RNC. Ortega then reverses and ends up on top in guard, throwing punches while Couzzi looks to throw his legs up looking for a sub. Couzzi is working some short punches from the bottom, then stands up, throws a kick, and scores another takedown. Couzzi gets into mount and throws punches until the end of the round, with the crowd cheering loudly for both fighters after an entertaining and back and forth bout.

Unanimous Decision win for Tommy.

Maxwell Noonon vs. Jacob Ashley (145 lbs.)

Beard Advantage goes to Ashley, who is sporting some facial hair on his chin.

 RD1: Ashley throws a front kick, but is promptly taken down by Noonon. Ashley throws up a Triangle attempt, Noonon defends, but Ashley locks it back up again. Noonon is trying to get to the side to avoid the submission, but Ashley uses the Triangle to sweep into mount and starts working some ground and pound. They transition again, with Ashley throwing up an Armbar attempt that is shucked off. Ashley then takes Noonon’s back and sinks in a Rear Naked Choke, forcing the tap.

First Round Submission Victory via Rear Naked Choke for Jacob Ashley.

Antoine Brown vs. Jessie Gibson (190 lbs. )

Beard Advantage goes to Jessie Gibson, who is sporting an awesome mustache.

RD1: Brown wings some punches, and is then clinched up Gibson. They separate and exchange some more punches, then Brown pushes Gibson up against the cage. Gibson briefly reverses, then Brown pushes him up against the cage again and starts to work short punches. Gibson lands a knee to the body, and Brown responds with punches. Gibson returns fire but Brown charges forward and gets a takedown against the cage and looks to work short punches from within the guard. Brown gets to half guard and lands some short punches to the body as the round comes to a close.

First Round TKO win (Stoppage due to a cut) Antoine Brown.

Sydney Smith vs. Chelsea McCoy (125 lbs.)

There will be no Beard Advantage awarded for this fight, given that both competitors are women…and lady beards aren’t cool. Instead, I will award Beard Advantage to Referee Mike King, who is sporting an awesome full beard.

RD1: McCoy pumps a jab, then throws a series of fast combos. Mccoy backs her oppoent against the cage and works some strikes in the clinch, then gets reversed and eats a few shots until they separate. Smith pumps a jab, then Mccoy responds in kind. McCoy throws a rapid fire series of punches that land on the face of her opponent. Smith respons with some punches of her own, but is again pounced on by McCoy, who clearly has an advantage in speed. McCoy lands another flurry of punches to the face of her opponent, backing her up against the cage again. Both fighters exchange some more punches as the round comes to a close.

RD2: Smith pumps a jab, then another. McCoy responds in kind. McCoy then counters and lands a hard one-two, then pounces on her opponent, landing another flurry of punches and a knee to the face, visibly shaking Smith. McCoy pounces on her opponent yet again with punches against the cage. Smith looks to work her jab, but McCoy does as well, succeeding due to her superior reach. McCoy throws but misses with a knee? McCoy lands a hard right hand to the face of Smith, who responds with a hard punch of her own. Smith throws a series of hard 1-2 combinations, with McCoy responding in kind. The round ends with McCoy throwing hard punches to the head of Smith, who was backed up against the cage.

RD3: Smith throws a hard combo to open the round. Chelsea starts to pump her jab. The fight is briefly stopped as the ref sees that smith has no mouthpieve. Chelsea lands a hard kick to the body of Smith, then begins to stalk her with more punches and kicks. McCoy lands and audibly hard kick to the body of Smith, who responds with a series of punches. McCoy counters a kick from Smith with a combination. Chelsea throws another combination and finishes it with a leg kick. At the 10-second clapper, both fighters open up and end the fight throwing hard leather until the final bell. Both fighters deserve a ton of respect, as this was a very fast paced and entertaining fight.

Unanimous Decision victory for Chelsea McCoy. This was definitely an early candidate for Fight of the Night.

Joseph Shearin vs. Robbie Lillard (170 lbs. Title Fight)

RD1: Lillard lands a kick to the body of Shearin, then another leg kick. Shearin throws but misses with a head kick, then follows up with a series of punches and a kick. Robbie barely misses with a spinning back kick, then back his opponent up against the cage and starts attacking with punches and knees to the face of Shearin. Shearin throws his legs up, looking for a submission, but Lillard stands up and slams him back to the ground. Lillard postures up and is defending well. Shearin contines to work hard for the submission, locking up a quick armbar, forcing Lillard to tap.

First Round submission victory for Joseph Shearin by Armbar, who becomes the new FNC Welterweight Champion.

John Calloway vs. Kris Lewis (265+ lbs. Superheavyweight Title)

RD1: Calloway immediately pounces on Lewis with punches, throwing him to the ground and getting the front headlock position. Lewis scrambles, but Calloway gets on top in side control and starts to land some hard punches to the face Lewis. After Calloway lands a few more hard and unanswered punches to the face of Lewis, Todd McGovern waves off the bout as a TKO stoppage.

First Round TKO win due to strikes for John Calloway, who becomes the new Fight Night Challenge Super Heavyweight Champion. Want to see the TKO? Watch it here.

Kristen Murphy vs. Brittney Doss (135 lbs. Female Title)

Given that both competitors are women, neither one is eligible for Beard Advantage. However, one of Doss’ cornermen was sporting a solid and long beard, so Beard Advantage goes to him.

RD1: Murphy pumps a jab, then another. Doss looks to throw a combination of her own, but is caught and dropped by punches from Murphy, who ends up on top in side control. Murphy looks to work short strikes from the top, with Doss continually scrambling around on bottom. Murphy postures up and lands a few hard strikes form the top position. Referee Todd McGovern then steps in and calls an end to the bout due to

Kristen Murphy wins by First Round Submission ( Verbal Submission   ) , becomes the FNC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

In between fights, the announcer called in multiple organization Featherweight Champion Chris “The Rocket” Rollins, who spoke on his career, his numerous titles, and his aspirations of eventually going Pro after his next fight.

Jon-Taine Hall vs. Dashawn Boatwright (205 lbs. Title)

Beard Advantage firmly goes to Dashawn Boatwright, who is sporting a really solid full beard.

RD1: Hall comes in with a punch, then lands a leg kick. Hall shoots for a takedown and pushes Boatwright up against the cage. Boatwright defends well. Hall briefly gets Boatwright down, but he pops back up, and is taken down again. Hall is throwing a few short punches from within a close half guard, but doesn’t really have the space to get much going. Boatwright looks to get up, and Hall briefly threatens with a Rear Naked Choke, but Boatwright turns back over. Hall lands a few hard strikes from top position. Boatwright attempts to stand up with Hall on his back, but is forced back to the ground. Hall looks for a pair of Armbar attempts as the round comes to a close.

RD2: Both fighters exchange

RD3: Hall throws a series of kicks to the body and legs of Boatwright. Hall throws a front kick to the body of Boatwright. Hall shoots for a takedown and gets Boatwright pressed against the cage, attempting to hook one of Boatwrights legs, eventually getting Boatwright to the ground. Hall is landing short punches from half guard, then transitions to mount. Hall then takes Boatwrights back, and looks to lock up an Armbar. Boatwright defends, and Hall lands some hard punches to the face of Boatwright. At the end of a fast scramble for position, Boatwright submits to the Armbar attempt.

Third Round Submission (Armbar) Victory for Jon-Taine Hall, who becomes the new FNC 205 lbs. Champion.

Stephen McBride vs. Andy “Tank” Knopp (265 lbs. Title)

RD1: Knopp wades in with some punches, and both fighters clinch up. Knopp  is throwing some hard punches in the clinch, and McBride responds with a hard punch that momentarily drops Knopp. Knopp recovers and gets a takedown, working some punches from within the guard of McBride. McBride gets up and then knocks

First Round Victory via KO for Stephen McBride, who becomes the new FNC 265 lbs champ.

Want to see McBride’s gnarly knockout? Watch it here.