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Z-Files #28 - Part 3
2007's Fights Of The Year - Dec 27, 2007


10. Ryan McGillivray vs. Donald Sanchez (MFC 13): It was a back-and-forth battle throughout three rounds with Sanchez scoring big in the standup especially with pulverizing leg kicks and McGillivray scoring with several
takedowns.McGillivray, who was fighting for the first time at 155, faded late and in the end the judges liked Sanchez's game better and gave him a unanimous decision.
 
9. Ryan Ford vs. Aaron Gallant (MFC 12): After just a few weeks of MMA
training, Ford, a former amateur boxer, made his debut. It was a good thing
his main training partner was Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald as submission
defence was critical in fending off repeated rear-naked choke attempts by
Gallant. Ford's untamed aggression proved to be too much and he earned a
second-round TKO in wild fashion.
 
8. Matt MacGrath vs. Nigel Zettergreen (MFC 11): Two unheralded fighters
made themselves known with a three-round war that left both of them bloodied
and bruised. It was a war of attrition that ultimately went MacGrath's way
but both fighters deserved more than a few pats on the back.

7. Ryan McGillivray vs. Graydon Tannas (MFC 12): An Edmonton vs. Calgary
rivalry albeit between two fighters who respected each other. Tannas's
experience gave him the edge through one round, but McGillivray stormed back
to take Round 2. That left it up to the final five minutes and McGillivray
landed punches in bunches down the stretch to eke out a split-decision
victory.

 6. Scott Junk vs. Dominic Richard (Unplugged 3): No, it wasn't very stylish but for those that like slugfest that got it and much more. The fight took a hugely wild turn when both fighters fell out of the ring midway through Round 1 and Richard's corner went after Junk. It was close to all-out mayhem before Junk got Richard back in the ring and rained down punches from the mount to score a second-round verbal submission by strikes.

5. Ryan Ford vs. Mike Sorensen (MFC 14): Sorensen was intent on avenging a
teammate's loss to Ford but "The Real Deal" wasn't bothered a bit. Both
fighters came out looking to end the fight in a big way and the raucous
sold-out crowd was treated to a full-out war. Ford took over in Round 2 with
a devastating uppercut and with Sorensen reeling Ford pounced with a vicious
assault that ended only by referee Herb Dean pulling Ford off. Ford's record
stayed perfect and his legion of fans continued to grow.

4. Adam Braidwood vs. Ryan Jimmo (MFC 11): Too often fights don't live up
to the hype. This one did. No MMA fight in Canadian history had attracted
more mainstream media attention as coast-to-coast coverage of the Edmonton
Eskimos star's first pro fight catapulted the MFC into the spotlight.
Braidwood shook off any nerves he had in the opening seconds and he then
displayed a violent streak that left Jimmo a bloodied and beaten warrior.
The win showed that if Braidwood wanted to leave football behind he could
have a very successful run as a fighter.

3. Victor Valimaki vs. Jared Kilkenny (MFC 11): Valimaki's first defence
of his MFC light heavyweight title nearly didn't last long as Kilkenny
poured on the early pressure with vicious ground and pound. But Valimaki
weathered the storm and then showed the crowd his impression of a mad
woodsman. Valimaki started to chop Kilkenny down with a quick combination
and then with a punishing right hand, the tree crashed in the middle ring
with a deafening thud.

 2. Ryan Heck vs. Donald Sanchez (MFC 14): Two of the MFC's best
lightweights put on an unforgettable display. Heck went in rated the better
wrestler and his takedowns led to some serious ground and pound. He kept the heat on Sanchez but "The American Stud" wasn't going away easy. In fact, Sanchez got better as the fight went on and after a wicked knee strike early in Round 3, Sanchez turned the heat right back on Heck who was forced to shield himself for nearly five straight minutes to avoid a stoppage. It went
to the judges and Heck pulled out the decision in a spectacularly gutsy
performance by both men.

1. Garrett Curran vs. Josh Kyrejto  (Unplugged 3): The MFC rarely has
fights in the featherweight division but making an exception to the rule was
worth it in this case. Curran's ju-jitsu skills looked to be a big edge, but
Kyrejto, who took the fight against his team's orders and then went without
their advice in his corner, scored big in the final seconds of Round 1 with
a brutal elbow strike that split Curran's forehead open. For the next eight
minutes, Curran was spilling so much blood that the entire ring was covered
red. Miraculously Curran continued on and unbelievably he was able to put
his submission skills to work in Round 3 to put Kyrejto away by rear-naked
choke. It was as fearless an effort as there ever had been in the MFC.