Unleashed 56

[Jackson]

UNLEASHED 56
Lisbon, Portugal

UNDERCARD

Opening Fight
Clayton Hughes vs Sasha Brenshov

Hughes lands a stiff jab as Brenshov charges in, halting her attack. The blow drops Brenshov immediately. Hughes pounces, and a flurry of blows follow. Some miss, but a big left hand on the ground doesn't. The referee is forced to jump in, and Hughes earns the rapid stoppage. Impressive performance by the Circuit newcomer, and the crowd roars in delight.

Hughes defeats Brenshov via knockout at 0:56.

Second Fight
Cormack O'Cahan vs Emma MacNamara

O'Cahan works immediately to the clinch, though MacNamara backs him to the cage, works her arms free and lands a few hard shots. O'Cahan backs away and shoots in, taking MacNamara down, but only momentarily. O'Cahan misses a jab and MacNamara scores with a counter right. O'Cahan lands a heavy right, then moves in for another clinch, lands a knee inside, and then just misses with an elbow as he backs away. MacNamara pumps a jab but catches an inadvertent kidney shot in the exchange.

O'Cahan misses a punch, and MacNamara ducks under and works him to the floor. MacNamara takes side control and throws seEiriksonl knees to O'Cahan's right side. O'Cahan tries to roll free, and turns MacNamara by grabbing her leg and rolling. The two stand, O'Cahan at the rear. MacNamara lands a back elbow, but O'Cahan dumps her on the floor. MacNamara immediately pops back up. O'Cahan stands, and MacNamara lands a knee on the break. O'Cahan moves forward again into a clinch and with double underhooks works MacNamara to the mat. She pops immediately back up, and O'Cahan releases the hold. Little less bounce by both fighters with three minutes remaining. An exchange of punches mostly misses. O'Cahan works for angles, but MacNamara lands the heavy shot that wobbles O'Cahan. Tough to tell if he's feigning and MacNamara does not rush in. O'Cahan clinches and drags MacNamara to the floor. MacNamara again stands, though O'Cahan is the one that lands the knee this time. O'Cahan again shoves MacNamara to the cage, and lands a nice right hand that she eats like candy. O'Cahan takes a second to clean his feet, and MacNamara allows it. MacNamara lands another nice right hand. O'Cahan answers, then narrowly misses a homerun shot. O'Cahan grabs a guillotine choke as MacNamara drops to her knees. The hold is deep, leaving MacNamara no choice but to submit.

O'Cahan defeats MacNamara via submission at 9:22.

Third Fight
Drina Dumas vs Rachel Jackson

Jackson circles to her right, and Dumas throws a strong low kick right to Jackson's knee. It catches her in the side of the kneecap, and she stumbles, going down hard. The action is stopped as Jackson collapses on the mat. Dumas backs off, looking almost apologetic as Jackson struggles to get up, in obvious pain. Dumas has been pacing the whole time, and as soon as Jackson gets back to a vertical base, she immediately drops Jackson with a heavy left high kick. Dumas follows her to the floor, delivering more blows as she works to mount. A right hand lands on the jaw and forces Jackson to roll. She's bleeding from the nose as Dumas looks for a rear-naked choke. It's not there, and Dumas rolls out only to be on the receiving end of a back elbow to the face. She grabs for Jackson, who has scrambled away, looking for a breather. Dumas dives after her and lands a knee to the ribs. Jackson looks to be in major trouble. Dumas stands, and Jackson stays on her knee, slowly rising as Dumas leaps in for more punishment. Jackson is a bloody mess, and the fight needs to be stopped. It finally, mercifully is as a dazed Jackson receives more punishment from an almost frenzied Dumas.

Dumas defeats Jackson via technical knockout at 5:03.

Fourth Fight
Jackson vs Brody O'Connor

O'Connor stalks to open, pawing with his jab. Jackson tries to leap in with a right hand, but misses. O'Connor throws a high kick, but Jackson answers with his hands. Jackson scores a takedown, then backs away. He repeats the process. O'Connor remains on his back. Jackson remains standing over O'Connor, firing a few well-placed kicks into the ribs. O'Connor tries a few leaping upkicks, but Jackson keeps him at bay. Jackson grins, and then drops down with a punch. He moves quickly back out, and O'Connor works back to his feet. He's pushed to the floor by Jackson again only to pop right back up. Jackson's playing smart, almost against his usual suicidal ground and pound, moving away, though he lands a three-punch comb. Another right hand drops O'Connor, and Jackson follows him to the floor. Jackson throws a few wild shots on the mat, but O'Connor hangs in and regains his composure. O'Connor pulls guard, but Jackson backs away. O'Connor follows to his feet. Jackson lands a right hand and a takedown, then lands a flurry on the ground.

Jackson stands again and O'Connor throws a kick to the body, but Jackson catches it and throws him to the ground. O'Connor immediately rolls into a fetal position, clinching his left knee. The referee quickly halts the bout as it is obvious that O'Connor's left knee clearly buckled as he threw the right kick. O'Connor is helped out of the cage in obvious pain, leaving a disappointed Jackson behind.

Jackson defeats O'Connor via technical knockout at 11:22.

Headline Fight FIGHT OF THE NIGHT
Lilah Hurst vs Grimur Eirikson

Hurst opens with a flurry of right hands. Eirikson avoids and the two set up for a striking exchange. Both miss with leg kicks. Hurst rushes in, but Eirikson answers with a knee. Eirikson keeping his distance, avoiding Hurst's rushes. Eirikson leaps with a 1-2 but misses. Distance closing a bit, and Hurst clinches out of sheer desperation. Hurst pushes Eirikson against the cage, and Eirikson narrowly misses with a knee. Hurst grabs the cage briefly, but Eirikson circles off. Hurst grabs a Thai clinch but it's ineffectual as Eirikson shrugs her off. Hurst is relying on her hands, while Eirikson mixing in some kicks. The pair clinches, and Eirikson throws a few knees inside, breaking away with ease before he spins and smashes an elbow into the face of Hurst. Hurst charges in, but Eirikson sprawls and lands a few shots.

Hurst escapes. Eirikson lands a right hand, then sneaks in another. Hurst works again for a bullrush, but Eirikson avoids and lands a vicious bomb to the face. Hurst lands a right hand, then immediately shoots in. Eirikson misses a high kick, and Hurst again pushes in. Eirikson tries to secure a rear choke, but he doesn't have the angle and Hurst moves away. Eirikson lands a combo, and Hurst clinches, then drops for a takedown. Eirikson won't go to his back, and the crowd is railing against Hurst's strategy. Hurst's determination pays off, and she works Eirikson to the mat. She does nothing with it, clearly exhausted as Eirikson fights free and pops back up. Eirikson moves in, trapping Hurst's arms and pushing her to the cage. The action stalls out, forcing them to break apart.

Eirikson is picking his strikes, knowing Hurst wants the ground. A few sneak in, but Hurst works back to the clinch. The evening's "Fight of the Night" honor is still up for grabs, as Hurst again works into a clinch. This time, Eirikson gets a trip, and Hurst grabs half-guard as he falls to his back. Eirikson works in a few right hands, and Hurst rolls to her belly. Hurst stands up and Eirikson throws a knee inside. Hurst parries a few Eirikson jabs, but time is running out to make something happen. Eirikson lands on a counter flurry, then adds in a leaping right hand. Hurst seems fatigued and frustrated. Eirikson throws a few front kicks, opening up his arsenal just a bit as the fight winds down. Hurst throws a few punches; Eirikson catches her arms, and pulls her in, nailing her on the forehead with a hard head butt. Hurst goes down, and Eirikson connects with a diving knee to the face that puts her lights out.

Eirikson defeats Hurst via knockout at 21:21.

MAIN EVENT

Circuit Championship
Theodore Janes vs Sinn

Janes circles, with Sinn taking the center. Not much action early as the two search for range. Janes seems almost distracted as he misses with a few kicks. Sinn answers with a kick to the legs that connects. Against her normal strategy, Sinn isn't looking to work to the ground early. Janes again misses with a kick. Sinn misses with a 1-2. Janes working kicks to the body, but Sinn is avoiding them with ease. The two seem so evenly matched it's almost a stalemate. Sinn leaps in with a knee as Janes looks low, and Sinn falls into guard. Janes throws a few shots to the ribs, and Sinn works a close guard. Janes postures, and Sinn kicks him away, using the space to stand. Janes' nose is bloodied as he returns to his feet. Sinn clinches and earns the trip, moving quickly to mount. Janes rolls and tries to sit up, but Sinn stands and locks in a guillotine. There's no leverage, and Sinn backs away, scoring a knee as Janes stands. Janes rushes in, and swings for the fences, but Sinn dances away.

As Janes regroups, Sinn misses with a high kick, and Janes uses the chance to counter and shove her to the floor. Sinn secures half-guard and works to full guard while Janes throws a few punches to the ribs. Sinn kicks her legs up for a triangle, but Janes tosses them aside and drops back into guard. Eventually the two fighters are restarted. Janes is looking to attack, but Sinn's defensive footwork is making it tough. Janes throws a left high kick that is blocked, but he follows with a left hand and moves into the clinch. Janes lands a few footstomps, looking to press any advantage he can. Janes backs away, and Sinn shoots in. After earning the takedown, Sinn stands, avoids a few upkicks and falls into guard. Sinn stands again, as does Janes, immediately unleashing a flurry of blows that decisively shifts the tide back in his favor.

The break apart and Sinn dances away, resting against the cage. Janes is stalking, and he throws a kick to the body. A second kick sees Sinn go back to her wrestling roots and quickly shoot in. Sinn transitions to mount with relative ease, then settles for half-mount. She throws a few elbows on top, then looks for the rear-naked choke. It's not there, but Sinn quickly grabs a deep head-and-arm choke as she tosses Janes to his back, securing her position by driving a knee into his sternum. Janes is trapped. He tries to last, then throws a quick punch that busts Sinn open above the eye before falling asleep.

Sinn defeats Janes via submission at 19:21 to become the NEW Circuit Champion.