Pic: Fatih Balci def Alex Wiebe r1 by armbar.Duisburg, Germany – The first installment in MFN?s three-fight Grand Prix style tournament series went off well despite some last minute changes to the card. Fatih Balci, Denis Siver, and Lars Besand were the most impressive with Siver being the name on everybody?s lips at this time. Overall the skills of the fighters were more well-rounded than European fighters usually get credit for while showing striking skills especially kicking skills that would put most North American promoters to shame. It may be too early to tell how these fighters would do at a higher level but by the end of this series the winner is not only going to be 150,000 euros (about $195,000) richer but is most likely going to have a line of promoters waiting. The next show in this series takes place in October with the finals in December. COMPLETE RESULTS:- Thomas Hinrichsen def Stefan Holtmann by judges? decision (3 rounds)- Fatih Balci def Alex Wiebe r1 by armbar- Malte Janssen def Garry Kono r2 by TKO- Marc Wisniewski def Raouf Omar r1 by triangle choke- Rafael Dabrowski def Ramo Durmic r1 by TKO- Denis Siver def Maciek Lascak r2 by submission to strikes- Cengiz Dana def Rafal Lasota r2 by doctor stoppage (cut)- Lars Besand def Andre Baltschmieter r1 by submission to strikes- Nordin Asrih def Meike Sturmbries r2 by guillotine choke- Andrej Kulik def Jacoub Unul r1 by submission to strikes
