Date: Friday, February 29, 2008
Place: Orleans Arena in Las Vegas
Event: International Fight League's 2008 season opener

Ian Loveland (Pictures) vs. Dennis Davis (Pictures)
Round 1
Davis started out with a right leg kick. Good left hand by Davis to the face of Loveland, followed by a slam from the clinch. Loveland wound up in side-control but was scooted to the side by Davis. Davis applied a tight omaplata, but Loveland was able to escape. Loveland got stuck in Davis' guard. Davis tried an armbar on Loveland's left arm then switched to a triangle, but Loveland defended well. Loveland scrambled away and got back to his feet. Davis shot in and scored a slick double leg and quickly moved to side-control. Davis passed over and mounted, only to be swept. Davis tried another triangle, but was fended off. Loveland scrambled again at the end of the round. Mike Sloan scored the round 10-9 for Davis.

Round 2
Good right hand stunned Loveland very early but he shook it off. Loveland was cut over his left eye from the punch but he fired a right of his own. Davis tried to shoot in but ran into a tight guillotine in a neutral corner. Loveland wrapped it up perfectly and forced the tap. Davis and his corner are melancholy. The official time of the submission was :58 of the second round.

Rafael Dias (Pictures) vs. Santino Defranco (Pictures)
Round 1
Takedown from the clinch 25 seconds in for Dias. Dias tried a guillotine from the top but he was stuck in Defranco's guard. Dias rolled Defanco over and latched on an anaconda choke. Defranoc defended well and got back up to his feet only to be brought back down via guillotine. Defranco defended well again, but Dias swiftly slid over and seized his back and executed a perfect rear-naked choke. Defranco couldn't defend this one and had no choice but to tap out at 2:03 of the opening round.

Leopoldo Serao (Pictures) vs. Josh Haynes (Pictures)
Round 1
Haynes landed a stiff punch to get the action started. Serao got a takedown but Haynes was able to get back to his feet. Serao went to his guard, where he looked for an omaplata, but Haynes had none of it and went to his feet. After pulling guard, Serao was offensive from his back, but he was unable to secure a submission after looking for a triangle and an arm.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Haynes
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Haynes
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Haynes

Round 2
Serao continued to flop to his back after failing to get takedowns. The crowd voiced their displeasure with the tactic. Haynes fired wild punches but nothing connected flush. Serao glanced a head kick off Haynes' melon. Serao was able to get to his guard following another failed shot. Serao went for a guillotine as time expired.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Haynes
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Haynes
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Haynes

Round 3
A hard left hook connected for Haynes. Serao dropped levels and went for a single-leg, and again ended up on the bottom. As Haynes tried to stand, Serao hopped on the "TUF" veteran's back, where he looked for a rear-naked choke. He had his arm sunk under the chin but Haynes fought it off. Again Serao sunk the choke but Haynes pried his neck free. Haynes escaped danger and went to Serao's guard before standing up with 20 seconds remaining in the round. A right straight and a low kick landed before the horn sounded.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Haynes(30-27 Haynes)
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Serao (29-28 Haynes)
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Serao (29-28 Hayes)

The official judges see the contest 30-27 (twice) and 29-28 for Josh Haynes.

Alexandre Ferreira vs. Lew Polley
Round 1
Ferreira opened up with a flurry of punches and a left hand that landed. He immediately latched on a standing guillotine choke and forced a tapout quickly. Polley staggered backward as he was nearly choked unconscious at just 0:20 of the first.

Jake Ellenberger (Pictures) vs. Pat Healy (Pictures)
Round 1
Ellenberger teed off early with left and right bombs before scoring a takedown. He controlled from the top for most of the round, and fought off a single-leg after Healy got to his feet. Ellenberger hit the ribs and stuffed a final effort from Healy on the single.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Ellenberger
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Ellenberger
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Ellenberger

Round 2
The fighters traded knees to the body to kickoff the second frame. Ellenberger followed with a strong punching combo. Two knees to the chin ejected Healy's mouth guard to the canvas. Ellenberger got a takedown, but time was called to replace the mouthpiece before the action resumed with Ellenberger in Healy's half-guard. Healy got back to his feet and ate a right hand in the process. Ellenberger swooped in and scored another takedown into half-guard.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Ellenberger
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Ellenberger
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Ellenberger

Round 3
Healy got a fast takedown but he could not hold Ellenberger down. Healy cracked him with a right hand before Ellenberger got a takedown. Healy, with Ellenberger on his back, reversed the position and went briefly to side-control. Ellenberger swept and took the top position at the midway point of the final round. Ellenberger hit the head with his right hand and took Healy's back with no hooks sunk, which allowed Healy to stand. Healy kneed the body and tried a takedown before the fight ended.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Ellenberger (30-27 Ellenberger)
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Healy (29-28 Ellenberger)
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Healy (29-28 Ellenberger)

The official judges see the contest 30-27 (twice) and 29-28 for Jake Ellenberger.

John Gunderson (Pictures) vs. Ryan Schultz (Pictures)
Round 1
Gunderson looked for a takedown in the first minute, but Schultz stayed calm against the ropes and tripped Gunderson to the mat. Schultz kneed the body twice before Gunderson was able to move to half-guard. Schultz stood up and punched downward twice then decided to engage back on the ground.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Schultz
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Schultz
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Schultz

Round 2
Gunderson picked Schultz up and deposited him on the canvas. Schultz, with a closed guard, worked for a guillotine choke with no arm inside. Gunderson freed Schultz's legs and went to half-guard, which allowed him to escape. Schultz got to his feet and took Gunderson down. Gunderson went for a Kimura but Schultz was able to pull his arm free.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Schultz
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Schultz
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Schultz

Round 3
Schultz got hit with a strong knee to the mid section just before he slammed Gunderson to the floor. Gunderson, from his guard, went for a guillotine choke. Just when it started to look secure, Schultz popped his head out and went to half-guard. Schultz landed some leather before the round ended.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Schultz
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Schultz
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Schultz

Round 4
Gunderson dropped levels and got a takedown. Schultz tried to take his back in the process, but Gunderson had none of it. Schultz stood and was ripped back to the floor. At the end of the round, Gunderson landed a hard knee to the head of Schultz as he stood up from his back.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Gunderson
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Gunderson
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Gunderson

Round 5
Gunderson went to his back to start the fifth round. He locked on a very deep guillotine choke, but as he has done several times in this contest, he got out of danger by getting to half-guard. Schultz elbowed the head with his right arm and punched the body with his left. Schultz stood and immediately took Gunderson down again. With 30 seconds remaining in a very lackluster championship bout, Schultz rested and threw the occasional right hand.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Schultz (49-46)
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Scultz (49-46)
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Schultz (49-46)

All three official judges see the contest 49-46 for Schultz.

Fabiano Scherner (Pictures) vs. Roy Nelson (Pictures)
Round 1
After trading some sloppy punches, Nelson looked for a single but it was stuffed in the corner of the ring. Scherner gave up the takedown after Nelson was able to switch positions against the ropes. From half-guard, Nelson did absolutely nothing. The crowd disapproved and showered the stage with boos. The fighters stood and Nelson got another takedown. Nelson unloaded with powerful right hands that forced the referee to intervene. The official time was 3:20 of the first round.

Ryan McGivern (Pictures) vs. Matt Horwich (Pictures)
Round 1
Horwich taunted McGivern at the opening bell, encouraging him to trade blows. After the fighters exchanged sloppy strikes, McGivern scored a takedown into his opponent's half-guard. Horwich got to his feet and clinched with McGivern, in search of a trip takedown. McGivern got distance and cracked Horwich with a right hand. Another right landed for McGivern before the round ended.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 McGivern
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 McGivern
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 McGivern

Round 2
McGivern got an easy takedown in the opening seconds of round two. From half-guard, McGivern worked for a Kimura on Horwich's right arm. After letting go of the hold, McGivern went to side-control and knee-on-belly. Horwich got back to guard and went for an ompalata attempt that lasted a good 60 seconds. McGivern was saved by the bell as the hold was tight at the end of the round.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Horwich
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Horwich
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Horwich

Round 3
The pace slowed in the third frame, with McGivern and Horwich exchanging weak strikes. Horwich glanced a head kick and McGivern landed a right straight to the body. The rest of the round saw Horwich edge McGivern on the feet with sneaky strikes from the outside. Yet another lackluster title fight.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 Horwich
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 Horwich
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 Horwich

Round 4
McGivern landed a solid right hand uppercut that stunned Horwich. McGivern landed another right before reversing a takedown attempt and ending up on top in Horwich's half-guard. The fighters were stood up by referee Mario Yamasaki. McGivern landed another hard uppercut that shocked Horwich.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 McGivern
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 McGivern
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 McGivern

Round 5
A straight right landed for McGivern. Horwich answered back with a left. McGivern clinched with Horwich in the corner, but was unable to land any blows or trip up the champion. McGivern backed away and laced Horwich with two right hands. Left jab, uppercut scored for McGivern.

Mike Sloan scored the round: 10-9 McGivern (48-47)
TJ De Santis scored the round: 10-9 McGivern (48-47)
Mike Fridley scored the round: 10-9 McGivern (48-47)

The official judges saw the bout 48-47 (twice) and 49-46, all for Ryan McGivern.