M-1 Challenge: Bennett vs. Garner’s Headline Bout Takes Fight of the Night Heavyweight Duel Ends in Second Round Knockout

Last Friday night’s M-1 Challenge: Bennett vs. Garner event from The Hangar in Costa Mesa, Calif. Not only captured the attention of the crowd and those tuning in to the live telecast on SHOWTIME but also the approval from fight fans around the world. With fighters hitting the canvass from every angle, the card’s Fight of the Night top honour was awarded to the headline bout’s participants: Pat Bennett and Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner. Garner got the best of Bennett in a tremendous back and forth war that ended via KO at 1:15 of the second round.

Unlike their first meeting back in September of last year at the M-1 Selection Americas tournament, Bennett wasted no time bringing the action to Garner as he connected with a Superman punch that sets off a wild exchange of heavy blows before the men tied up on the ropes. As the big men come apart, it was Bennett who once again landed the better power punches but Garner snuck in a return blast which landed on his opponent’s chin as payback for the early barrage. As the onslaught continued, Garner regained confidence and momentum, landing a nasty, looping right that opened a gash on the left side of Bennett’s head. Refusing to back down, Bennett tied up Garner in the corner to work the foot stomps as a precursor to securing the bout’s first successful take down in the last seconds of round one.

The second frame started off with the same intense action and it was Garner who once again struck first blood, this time connecting with another razor shot that split Bennett’s face on the left side. With Bennett rocked and wobbly, ‘Deuce’ wasted no time going in for the kill, dropping Bennett with a crisp, clipping shot to the chin. With Bennett floored on the canvas, Garner fired off one more right for good measure before referee ‘Big John’ McCarthy dove between them.

The win improves Garner to 7-3
Love to hate him or hate to love him, the Port St. Lucie, Florida and American Top Team fighter, Kenny Garner is making a name for himself; he’s outspoken, versatile, packs lethal one-punch power and a potent submission game. With an affliction for the camera and ‘in your face’ personality, Garner is surprising fans, media and executives at every turn, proving to critics that he’s the ‘real deal’ in M-1’s heavyweight division – Deuce is proving to be a force to reckon with.

Garner has shown time and time again he’s a capable fighter with a deadly arsenal of skills. Eager for a second shot at Europe’s leading mixed martial arts promotion’s Heavyweight Champion Guram Gugenishvili, the remainder of 2011 is shaping up to be a great year for ‘Deuce’.

Garner won the 2010 M-1 Selection Americas Heavyweight tournament with wins over Matt Hopkins, Andre Kapilou and Pat Bennett.

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.

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