Starved of face-punching after a disgustingly peaceful holiday? FITE has you covered, offering a five-fight, all-Heavyweight card TONIGHT (Sat., Jan. 1, 2022) to start the new year off right.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE coverage of tonight’s card below, starting with the FITE PPV broadcast at 8 p.m. ET.
The main event pits former WBA Interim Champion Luis Ortiz (32-2, 27 KO) against onetime IBF Champion Martin (28-2-1, 25 KO) in an IBF eliminator, which could put the winner in line for a shot at world title in the near-future. One fight prior, red-hot prospect Frank Sanchez (19-0, 13 KO) faces late replacement Christian Hammer (26-8, 16 KO), who steps in on a few days’ notice after Sanchez’s original foe came down with COVID.
The card will also see Jonathan Rice (14-6-1, 10 KO) look to repeat his shock upset of Michael Polite Coffie (12-1, 9 KO), veteran Gerald Washington (20-4-1, 13 KO) attempt to turn away former Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen, and unbeaten Viktor Faust (8-0, 6 KO) open the show against Georgian slugger Iago Kiladze (27-5-1, 19 KO).
Luis Ortiz vs. Charles Martin
Frank Sanchez vs. Christian Hammer
Jonathan Rice vs. Michael Polite Coffie
Gerald Washington vs. Ali Eren Demirezen
Viktor Faust vs. Iago Kiladze — Faust def. Kiladze by TKO at 1:44 of Round Two
Heavyweight: Luis Ortiz vs. Charles Martin
Round one:
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Round three:
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Round five:
Round six:
Round seven:
round eight:
Round nine:
Round ten:
Round eleven:
Round twelve:
Final result:
Heavyweight: Frank Sanchez vs. Christian Hammer
Round one:
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Round three:
round four:
Round five:
Round six:
Round seven:
round eight:
Round nine:
Round ten:
Final result:
Heavyweight: Jonathan Rice vs. Michael Polite Coffie
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
round four:
Round five:
Round six:
Round seven:
round eight:
Round nine:
Round ten:
Final result:
Heavyweight: Gerald Washington vs. Ali Eren Demirezen
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
round four:
Round five:
Round six:
Round seven:
round eight:
Round nine:
Round ten:
Final result:
Heavyweight: Viktor Faust vs. Iago Kiladze
Round one: Faust looking to jab early. He steps in with a three-piece and a left hook floors Kiladze hard. Kiladze manages to beat the count and tries to throw with him. Stiff jab from Faust. Again, then a clean 1-2. Suddenly, Kiladze slams home a counter right that wobbles Faust and sends him to his knees. Kiladze tries to follow up when Faust beats the count, only to run into a left hook that drops him again. Two hard rights and Faust is hurt again. Clinch. 1-2 lands for him. Both calmed down, neither landing clean. There’s a hook from Faust, some questionable clinch punches from Kiladze in return. 10-8 Faust.
Round two: Stiff jab lands for Kiladze early on. They trade left hooks soon after, then Kiladze clips him with an overhand right to even up the knockdown count. He beats the count with time to spare. Kiladze coming on, warned for hitting behind the head. Kiladze landign most of the left hooks he throws, but Faust stings him with his own before flooring him with a 1-2. Kiladze again beats the count, but the ref waves it off. Kiladze replies by punching the ref. Ugly ending to a great fight.
Final result: Faust def. Kiladze by TKO
For more on “Ortiz vs. Martin” and other boxing-related events, click here.