Regiment Training Center's Yorgan "The Mad Titan" De Castro (8-3) made good on the first fight of his multi-fight deal with Khabib Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC Friday night when he needed just 64 seconds to earn the first Submission of his MMA career against Bellator Veteran Shaun "The Bully" Asher (13-5-1) in a Heavyweight Preliminary bout at Eagle FC 44 in Miami, Florida.
The UFC and CES MMA veteran De Castro came out firing leg kicks while looking to back Asher to the cage with strikes. Asher's answer to the immediate onslaught was to change levels and look for the takedown. Asher turned the action and put Yorgan's back against the fence where he worked to take the heavy handed De Castro to the ground. Yorgan showed great takedown defense as Asher transitioned from takedown attempt to takedown attempt. Just under a minute into the action Asher left his neck exposed while transitioning from a double leg attempt to a single leg and Yorgan took advantage. Slipping his left forearm under the chin of Asher and clasping his hands together, De Castro sunk in a deep guillotine that left Asher with no choice but to tap.
It was apparent early that Asher wanted nothing to do with the heavy striking of Yorgan De Castro, but no one could have guessed that Yorgan would turn to his submission game to finish Asher...well maybe no one except his Regiment Training Center teammate; Aaron "Short Fuse" Hughes, who called for an immediate BJJ belt promotion for his friend and training partner De Castro via his personal social Facebook account.
Yorgan put the entire Eagle FC Heavyweight division on notice Friday night, telling fellow UFC veteran Henry Cejudo in the post fight interview that; although he knows he will be "overlooked" he is "here to stay" and "will fight anyone inside the (Eagle FC) Heavyweight division." We will have our eyes on whats next for De Castro as he continues his recently successful post UFC campaign with Eagle FC!
Fellow New Englander John "Doomsday" Howard (29-18) did not fare as well in his Eagle FC debut Friday night as he had no answer for the Dagestani wrestling of fellow Welterweight Ramazan Kurmagomedov (10-0) coming out on the wrong side of a lopsided Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26). Kurmagomedov dictated the pace throughout as his size nullified Howard in the grappling department allowing him to cruise to victory. Ramazan proved the hype surrounding him is indeed real, against a legit former UFC Welterweight in John "Doomsday" Howard, Kurmagomedov looked every bit a top Welterweight prospect!
Overall Eagle FC's premier in the United States was a successful one with an entertaining fight card, littered with MMA legends and highlighted by MMA stars of tomorrow, those who tuned in were treated to a healthy balance of finishes and decision, including a TKO finish in the Heavyweight main event where Sergei Kharitonov (34-9) defeated Tyrone Spong (2-1) by second round ground and pound. Eagle FC returns to Moscow, Russia for Eagle FC 45 on February 18th where EFC Featherweight Champion Busurmankul Abdibait uulu (14-3-1) puts his belt on the line against challenger Zhasulan Akimzhanov (7-2) in the main event.
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