In a fast-paced junior welterweight match-up, 26-year-old Ruslan Provodnikov (16-0, 11 KO's) scored a devastating technical knockout versus Emmanuel Augustus (38-32-6, 20 KO's), 35, at 1:50 of the ninth round. Augustus, who took the fight on 4 days notice and appeared on ESPN's "Friday Night Fights" series numerous times over the years, was no match for the younger, aggressive Provodnikov.
Provodnikov applied unrelenting pressure throughout the fight, scoring a knockdown in the fifth round when he floored Augustus with a rock-solid overhand right. After that, Provodnikov continued his assault of Augustus, putting the tough veteran fighter on the canvas two more times in round nine. Once Provodnikov hurt Augustus with his potent right hand shots, Augustus crumbled instantly.
In the main event, lightweight Ji-Hoon Kim, 23, (21-5, 18 KO's) stopped Ameth Diaz, 26, (27-10, 19 KO's) at 2:59 of round one. Diaz was controlling the action by landing hard, accurate right hand shots until Kim landed a crisp overhand right late in the round. Then, Kim threw a left hook-right hand combination. Diaz immediately crashed to the canvas when Kim connected with the right hand blow. Diaz rose to his feet, however, referee Robert Gonzalez felt he could not continue. MMA GLOVES
