Fight Code Budapest / Wako Pro World Grand Prix 2011: Hungary vs. Croatia Results

Fight Code traveled to Budapest, Hungary on Sunday, where they put together yet another solid show. This time, the promotion worked alongside Wako Pro, as the organization was in town for another leg of it's 2011 Worl Grand Prix. The event featured three 72.5 kg. bouts as a part of the promotion's ongoing Dragon Series tournament, while also playing host to three heavyweight non-tournament bouts showcasing some of the talent in the Rhino Series tournament. The Wako-Pro side of things featured bouts between Hungarian and Croatian competitors, as well as an absurd superfight between Bob Sapp and Tivadar Kunkli, an aged Hungarian Muay Thai champion who weighs in at around 70 kg.

For those interested, you can watch the Fight Code bouts online for free here.

Hungary's own Norbert Balogh outworked Luka Tomic en route to what should have been a decision victory following three rounds. To the surprise of many, however, the bout was declared a draw when the decision of the judges came down. While fans have seen many situations of this sort turn into real disasters, all was set right early in the extension round as Balogh floored his Croatian opponent with a head kick before an elated Hungarian crowd. Although Tomic returned to his feet, the Croatian made it evident that he possessed no desire to continue.

Yuri Bessmertny put on a bit of a show against Selmedin Didic, as the Belarusian swept his opponent late in the first round before playing to the crowd in the second with an impromptu matador impression. Bessmertny delivered with solid shots to the midsection of Didic, backing him against the ropes often in the second round. The Belarusian mixed in effective sweeps, body shots, and combinations of hooks and uppercuts en route to a decision victory.

British Muay Thai specialist Simon Chu looked the aggressor in the opening moments of his bout against Halim Issaoui, but was floored in short order by a wide right hand. Chu returned to his feet, fighting off the ropes and backed into corners for most of the first round. After a largely uneventful second round, Issaoui once again began to open up on Chu early in the third. Chu was content to fight defensively for most of the third, countering effectively at times. Even so, the bout was clearly Issaoui's and the judges responded accordingly. Halim Issaoui will still be a real underdog in the field at 72.5 kg., but he has secured himself a quarterfinal spot.

A look at Fight Code's non-tournament heavyweight bouts, as well as the fights from the Wako-Pro portion of the event, after the jump.

Contrary to initial reports, French heavyweight Freddy Kemayo was matched up against Romania's Corneliu Rus. Kemayo looked all the world-class veteran that he is in the abbreviated affair. The Romanian Rus swarmed Kemayo early only to be knocked down twice in the first round. Truthfully, Rus had no business continuing after the first knockdown, which came around the 1:20 mark. Even so, the K-1 ColliZion 2009 semifinalist stumbled to his feet and was knocked down once more less than twenty seconds later. Rus rose once again, but this time the referee wisely saved the glassy-eyed Romanian from further damage. Kemayo has now given himself some real separation from his two losses to Anderson 'Braddock' Silva and is scheduled to compete in the Fight Code Rhino Series tournament soon, where he will have a distinct advantage in experience over most of the field.

The other major heavyweight attraction of the evening saw Belarusian badboy Vitali Akhramenko take on Gyorgy Mihalik. Akhramenko surprised his Hungarian opponent with a vicious front kick early and landed well with leg kicks through the first two rounds. While Mihalik got a number of shots off, Akhramenko was plainly a cut above in the bout. The end seemed near early in the third, as Akhramenko floored Mihalik with a big left hand in the midst of a rapid exchange. Mihalik managed to survive for the duration of the final round, although he was never truly in it. Leaving with a unanimous decision victory, Akhramenko can look forward to the Rhino Series quarterfinals.

Mladen Brestovac walked through Tihamer Brunner inside of one round in the final heavyweight bout of the evening. The bout was a clear showcase for Brestovac, as he will be competing in the Rhine Series tournament. He did what he was supposed to do and did it in short order.

Moving onto the Wako-Pro side of things, there's not too much to be said about the bout between Tivadar Kunkli and Bob Sapp. Kunkli knocked Sapp down twice before the American tried to bully his smaller opponent around. The Hungarian sent Sapp to the canvas a third time in short order, securing victory in what was honestly just a disgraceful bout. Watch the train wreck here.

As for the actual Wako-Pro World Grand Prix bouts which pit Hungarian and Croatian fighters against one another, there's still no word on the results. The major draw among these bouts would have been the 81.4 kg. contest between Denes Racz and Luka Simic. As soon as results become available, I'll pass them along.