The Great Showdown at Westfalenhalle: A Clash of Titans and a "Neanderthal" Ascension
Dinosaur Ride by Woodman Sparks Neanderthal Resurgence
Step right up to the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund for an action-packed night of MMA! The main event brings together two fierce rivals, Deniz Ilbay and Max Holzer, in a heated featherweight face-off. Don't miss the event on RTL+.
Holzer and Ilbay have been at each other's throats for months, dishing out jabs, not just in the ring but in public as well. The much-anticipated fight promised fireworks, and it didn't disappoint. The boxing champ Ilbay gave Holzer a run for his money in the stand-up, while the Dinosaur-riding Holzer soon took control on the ground.
Round after round, these titans went at it, trading blows and grapples. Holzer managed to secure Ilbay's back in round four and locked in a rear-naked choke, forcing Ilbay to tap. After the victory, Holzer locked lips with his foe and even gave him a hip check, an unexpected and unsportsmanlike move that overshadowed the intense and exciting fight.
The dust settled, and the drama continued as Ilbay chased Holzer around the ring, pushing him down the ring steps. Holzer wasn't hurt, but he complained in the post-fight interview about being disparaged from Ilbay's corner.
The opening bout featured Aleksandar "Eisbär" Stefanovic versus Czech David Hošek. Stefanovic weighed in several kilos higher than intended, forfeiting his entire purse to his opponent. Despite the weight disadvantage, "Eisbär" didn't waver, showcasing impressive footwork and quickly pinning Hošek against the cage. It was a short-lived dominance, as Hošek freed himself and delivered wild swings that Stefanovic effortlessly dodged. Stefanovic's impressive left hook sent Hošek to the mat, but then Stefanovic tapped out when he found himself caught in a tight triangle choke.
Eugen Black-Dell sought a win after a tough loss to Max Holzer. But against Karol Rysavy in the lightweight division, it wasn't easy. The first round was a tough fight, with both fighters throwing combos and knee strikes, even scoring a knockdown. Black-Dell found his rhythm in the second round, striking with greater precision and agility. However, his momentum was short-lived as Rysavy scored a Guillotine Choke, forcing Black-Dell to tap out.
The "Neanderthal" Strikes Back
Düsseldorf's "Neanderthal", Frederic Vosgröne, proved his ground prowess against Frenchman Jorick Montagnac. After a brief feeling-out period, Vosgröne sought to execute a takedown, while Montagnac delivered a heavy knock. Vosgröne stayed on his feet, evading a leg lock, and then secured a Head-and-Arm-Choke, causing Montagnac to lose consciousness. The crowd went wild with every action and erupted at the victory.
Gjoni Palokaj, a member of Holzer's team, faced off against Marco Novák in the co-main event. Palokaj showed his class in all aspects of the fight, outmaneuvering Novák in stand-up, ground, and clinch situations. Despite Novák's efforts to intensify the fight in the third round, Palokaj emerged victorious with a unanimous decision.
Fedor Duric, Germany's biggest lightweight talent, squared off against Predrag Bogdanovic, a formidable opponent with 16 wins in 18 professional fights. The grappling-heavy fight was a tough one, with both fighters struggling on the ground and against the cage. Duric had a highlight moment with an upkick to the chin in the second round, but the judges awarded the split decision victory to Bogdanovic.
Khalid Taha, a homegrown UFC veteran, took on José Zarauz in the Westfalenhalle. He opened the fight strong, landing heavy blows that shook his Peruvian opponent. Zarauz attempted a takedown in the second round, securing the mount position and attempting a rear-naked choke. Taha defended well, even managing to escape and go on the offensive. After several clean hits, the referee stepped in, declaring Taha the winner. After the fight, Taha challenged Holzer and Ilbay, declaring he could outshine them all!
The co-main event brought together two social media influencers turned MMA fighters, Flying Uwe and Ediz the Wide. The fight started wildly, with Uwe Schüder knocking Ediz Tasci down three times. Despite getting up each time, Tasci was the one to finish the fight, landing a right hook that sent Uwe to the mat. The referee stepped in to stop the fight, crowning Tasci the victor.
- Mixed Martial Arts
Uwe "Flying" Schüder is a German social media influencer and mixed martial artist with a record of 1-2-1 going into the event. He faced off against another influencer, Ediz "Der Breite" Tasci, in a welterweight bout. The bout was marked by controversy, as both fighters had differing interpretations of a second weigh-in clause in their contracts. Despite these disagreements, both fighters successfully made weight for the event.
Sports enthusiasts on Whatsapp discuss the bitter rivalry between two MMA fighters, a Hannoverian rider named Max Holzer and Deniz Ilbay, who hail from Düsseldorf, nicknamed the "Neanderthal". They reminisce about their mixed martial arts encounter at Westfalenhalle, where Holzer emerged as the victor after securing a rear-naked choke in round four. Despite the unsportsmanlike post-fight actions, Holzer garnered a controversial victory over his opponent.
