Jelena Mrdjenovich (29-9-1 14KO) of Edmonton, Alberta avenged two prior losses over Melissa Hernandez (18-4-3 6KO) at the Shaw Conference Centre Friday night in Edmonton, Alberta with a technical decision to win the WBC featherweight women’s championship. The scorecards read 58-55, 57-56, 58-55 in favor of Mrdjenovich who was visibly slowing down from the amount of blood that she lost during the fight after suffering an accidental head butt in the second round which opened a big gash on her forehead. In result of the cut Hernandez ended up suffering the first knockdown in her career from a combination of a push/punch and slipping on the blood in Mrdjenovich’s corner. The fight was later called off after the sixth round due to the amount of blood lost by Mrdjenovich. During the post fight interview Mrdjenovich was asked if she would like a fourth fight with Hernandez and she is more than willing but it is hard because they are friends.
The undercard itself was action packed without a dull fight.
Calgary welterweight Steve Claggett 16-2-1 (11KO) moved up in weight to fight Paul Bzdel (4-3-1) at junior middleweight. From the opening bell Bzdel tried controlling the pace by attacking Claggett frequently and quickly. Claggett listened to his corner and began timing his opponent and working his way in closer landing quite a few body shots and eventually stopping Bzdel at 2:47 of the third round with a left hook to the body that left Bzdel scrambling to get up but was unable to reach his feet after several attempts. Post fight Claggett was asked about his time training at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas. Claggett hoped that his friends from the gym saw his fight and appreciated it. In regards to the shot that ended the fight, “that’s my money shot,” stated Claggett.
Another Canadian fighter that has been brought down to Las Vegas to train several times in the Mayweather Gym put on an impressive fight in which power and defensive skills were put on display after a eight and a half month layoff. Edmonton cruiserweight Paul “P-Mac” Mackenzie (4-0-1 2KO) remained undefeated with a unanimous decision over Ty McDougall (2-4-1). The scorecards read 40-36, 39-37, 39-37.
Red Deer lightweight Cam O’Connell (3-0-1 2KO) made quick work of his opponent and late replacement Ryan Brigham, an MMA fighter making his pro boxing debut who is also from Red Deer with the fight being stopped at 1:59 of the opening round after O’Connell viciously attacked the body of Brigham knocking him down several times securing O’Connell the TKO victory.
Gary Kopas (4-5-0 1KO) from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan got his first victory while fighting in Edmonton after four previous tries over hometown fighter Max Gangne (2-2-1 1KO) in a light heavyweight fight in which the fighters did not hesitate to throw punches. Kopas controlled the fight, attacking the body at will and wore down his opponent. The final scorecards read 40-36, 39-37, 38-38 to result in a majority decision for Kopas.
In a battle of hometown fighters who knew each other very well super featherweight Vanessa Bradford (3-0-1) remained undefeated with a unanimous decision over Brandy Badry (1-5). The scorecards all read 40-36 in favor of Bradford who continuously landed power punch after power punch on Badry who suprisingly did not go down.
In the opening bout, hometown fighter Ryan Molner made his professional debut and made short work of his opponent Dave “Shaker” McQuaker (1-9-1). Molner was able to end things at 2:25 of the opening round with a body shot that has put McQuaker down and out in several fights.
