Gokhan Turkyilmaz needed just 26 seconds to dispatch Canadian Kevin Manderson in the main event at Brace 23 tonight, while former featherweight champ Edwin Arana returned to form with a back and forth decision win in the co-main event.
Brace 23 took place at the Townsville Entertainment Centre in Queensland.
With the win, Turkyilmaz rebounds from a loss he suffered earlier this month in Thailand at the hands of Russian standout Murad Machaev.
Edwin Arana snaps a three-fight skid with his victory, in what was an entertaining encounter with Melbourne’s Zack Hook.
Gokhan Turkyilmaz vs Kevin Manderson
Round 1: The two fighters touch gloves to begin the main event. A kick from Turkyilmaz to the body of Manderson lands. Turkyilmaz lands a solid jab which backs Manderson up. He pounces and drops the Canadian with a left hand and the referee dives in and puts a stop to the short lived encounter. Manderson is back up and walking it off.
Result: Gokhan Turkyilmaz def Kevin Manderson via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 0:26
Edwin Arana vs Zach Hook
Round 1: A tentative start from both fighters to begin this bout. Arana takes center cage. A leg kick from Hook lands. Arana returns fire with a left head kick which sends hook stumbling backwards. Arana rushes in looking to capitalize on the situation, however Hook takes his back and drags him to the floor. Hook locks up a body triangle once there and searches for the rear-naked choke. Arana holds on in a good show of strength. Hook can’t quite sink his arm in as Arana does well to control his hands. The ten second warning sounds and the opening round ends. 10-9 Hook.
Round 2: Arana connects with a body kick to begin the second, however Hook catches his leg and forces him backward. Arana looks for a guillotine choke, he’s unsuccessful however, as hook drags him to the ground and soon finds his back. A long period of time passes as Hook controls Arana with both his hooks in. Arana reverses the position and winds up in mount where he lands a solid elbow. Hook tries to cage walk his way out, however Arana unleashes with strikes from above. Arana takes Hook’s back as he rolls, and the two men are soon standing. The round comes to an end with Hook on top. 10-9 Arana.
Round 3: The two fighters embrace to begin the final frame. An overhand right from Hook glances Arana. A punch combination from Hook backs Arana up. Arana reengages with a leg kick. Hook then fires off a leg kick of his own. As the action continues, both men land single shots, before Hook slams Arana to the canvas, briefly however, as Arana is back standing soon after. Hook gets him down again but Arana reverses and gets the fight standing once more. Hook drives Arana backward to the cage but eats two big knees in the process. Arana gets a takedown after an extend period of time, then claims Hook’s back. The fight is standing soon after and the round ends with Arana again driving Hook backwards. 10-9 Arana.
Result: Edwin Arana def Zach Hook via Decision (Majority), 29-28, 29-29, 30-28
Luke Hume vs Jamie Mullarkey
Round 1: Both men exchange strikes to begin, however nothing major lands. Mullarkey clinches before dropping down for a single leg and dragging Hume to the ground. Hume adopts a high guard and searches for an arm-bar. Mullarkey soon gets to side control however. A knee to the ribs of Hume lands. Hume locks up an arm-bar, however Mullarkey breaks free. Another arm-bar attempt from Hume but again Mullarkey escapes. Hume with another arm-bar attempt and this time it looks tight. Mullarkey rises up and dumps Hume to the floor. Hume continues to search for the arm-bar submission but yet again Mullarkey escapes. Mullarkey unleashes a handful of head bouncing strikes and the referee intervenes and calls the entertaining scrap off.
Result: Jamie Mullarkey def Luke Hume via TKO (Strikes), Rd 1, 4:59
Kris Spence vs Jan Johannas Van Aswegen
Round 1: Van Aswegen comes forward swinging as the fight commences, before tying Spence up and scoring a takedown. He then unloads short rib shots from half guard. Spence rolls and Van Aswegen locks up a tight looking guillotine choke. Spence breaks free after some time however. The referee stands the two men up. A Knee from Van Aswegen lands as they reengage. Van Aswegen ties Spence up against the fence again and lands more short shots. Spence reverses and searches for a double leg takedown. He picks Van Aswegen up over his shoulder, however Van Aswegen balances well and returns to his feet. Van Aswegen moves to Spence’s back as they stand. Not for long however, as Van Aswegen gets it to the canvas, where he searches for an arm-bar. Spence scrambles well and claims Van Aswegen’s back briefly before both men return to their feet once more. The round ends soon after. 10-9 Van Aswegen.
Round 2: Touch of gloves to begin the second chapter. A pair of leg kicks from Van Aswegen land before he takes Spence down with a double leg. Short left elbows from Van Aswegen land once there. Spence gets back to full guard after an extended period of time. Van Aswegen continues with short rib shots and elbows to the face of Van Aswegen before moving back to half guard. Van Aswegen’s frustrating Spence with strikes, however none cause any major damage. The two fighters are soon standing and Van Aswegen lands a bunch of knees to the head and body of Spence. More knees from Van Aswegen land, however Spence holds on as the round closes out. 10-9 Van Aswegen.
Round 3: Spence opens the final round with an overhand right. Van Aswegen ties him up and gets the fight to the ground, where he soon gains mount before finding Spence’s back. With both hooks in, Van Aswegen turns him over and locks up a rear-naked choke and forces the tap.
Result: Jan Johannas Van Aswegen def Kris Spence via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 3, 2:01
Taela Kelly vs Mick Bosworth
Round 1: Fighters touch gloves. A leg kick from Kelly lands to begin the bout. Looking for a takedown, Bosworth shoots in for a single leg and drags Kelly to the floor. Kelly does well to keep Bosworth from posturing up. He rolls and gets back to his feet in a good show of strength, before then dragging Bosworth to the canvas. Kelly postures up from full guard and lands multiple right hands, forcing Bosworth to scramble, and soon they’re back standing. Kelly clinches Bosworth up against the cage and soon trips him to the canvas. Kelly with another good show of strength easily postures up and lands with enough right hands to force the referee to wave it off.
Result: Taela Kelly def Mick Bosworth via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 4:10
Paul Cavacus vs Eddie Trewin
Round 1: A touch of gloves to start this one. The height advantage goes to Cavacus. Both men engage with punches. Trewin catches Cavacus with a short right hand that drops him cold to the canvas. The referee scrambles to wave the bout off as Trewin unleashes the final blow. It will be some time until Cavacus finds his feet and is escorted from the cage.
Result: Eddie Trewin def Paul Cavacus via KO (Punch), Rd 1, 0:14
Craig Callaghan vs Ben Games
Round 1: Games with a high right kick to open the bout before taking Callaghan down. From there he looks to posture up but Callaghan locks up a tight looking triangle choke. Games breaks free soon after however, and moves to side control. Callaghan gets it back to full guard. Staying busy off his back, Callaghan locks up an arm-bar but struggles to extend it. Games is free again and finds his way to mount. Callaghan scrambles to his feet and drives him backward to the cage. Callaghan controls Games once there, however opts to pull guard and the round ends not long after. 10-9 Games.
Round 2: Double high kick from Games forces Callaghan to look for the early takedown, however it’s Games who gets it to the floor. Callaghan continues to look for submissions off his back. Games moves to side control. Callaghan however, gets it back to half guard while Games was searching for mount. Games back to side control before moving to the crucifix position, where he connects with short elbows. Games then transitions to Callaghan’s back. Callaghan tries to roll, however Games moves to mount and soon after gets the TKO with punches.
Result: Ben Games def Craig Callaghan via TKO (Punches from Mount), Rd 2, 4:02
Matt Eland vs James Fa’aoso
Round 1: Eland with the height advantage as the two men engage. Strikes from both fighters miss at the start of the fight. Eland takes center cage as Fa’aoso circles. A right hand lands from Fa’aoso. It’s not long before Eland closes the distance and drives Fa’aoso backward to the cage. The fighters clinch briefly before Eland drops to the canvas and pulls guard, it’s there that he locks up a guillotine choke and within seconds forces the tap.
Result: Matt Eland def James Fa’aoso via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 1, 1:35
The next offering from Brace will feature a featherweight title fight between Luke Standing and Martin Nguyen in Canberra on November 29.
Unofficial Results:
- Gokhan Turkyilmaz def Kevin Manderson via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 0:26
- Edwin Arana def Zach Hook via Decision (Majority), 29-28, 29-29, 30-28
- Jamie Mullarkey def Luke Hume via TKO (Strikes), Rd 1, 4:59
- Jan Johannas Aswegen def Kris Spence via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 3, 2:01
- Taela Kelly def Mick Bosworth via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 4:10
- Eddie Trewin def Paul Cavacus via KO (Punch), Rd 1, 0:14
- Ben Games def Craig Callaghan via TKO (Punches from Mount), Rd 2, 4:02
- Matt Eland def James Fa’aoso via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 1, 1:35
