Edgars Skrivers remains on a mission to win back the Karate Combat lightweight title.
Skrivers took a step in that direction with a win at Karate Combat 36 over Bruno Silva Saturday night.
“You can run, but you can’t hide – Luiz, keep that belt safe for me, I am coming for it,” the former champion warned Karate Combat lightweight champion Luiz Rocha, who took the belt from him earlier this year.
Skrivers entered the fight as an underdog versus Souza, who was making his second appearance in Karate Combat. The fight was a close one, as evidenced by the scoreline after five rounds, and advantage passed back and forth continually.
Once the extra round was ordered, victory suddenly depended on three minutes of fighting to produce a winner. Skrivers, known for a relentless gas tank, was able to edge Souza – who also impressed with his conditioning – and take a crucial win on his road back to world title contention.
In other action, Igor de Castaneda finished Franklin Mina and former UFC fighter James Vick lost a decision to Jorge Perez.
As soon as the final bell had sounded, Vick had raised his arms in victory and had run up the edge of The Pit to share a moment of celebration with a teammate. Referee Marc Goddard cautioned him to return to the center and await the formal decision, a prescient piece of advice given the result which followed.
“I didn’t lose that (expletive) fight,” he fumed backstage. “The scoring criteria rewards moving forward and pushing the fight, right? I was the one doing that. He hit me with nothing significant. That was absolute (expletive). I don’t know what those judges were looking at. I couldn’t believe it when he was announced as the winner.”
Karate Combat Results
Edgars Skrivers (LVA) def. Bruno Souza (BRA) – Unanimous Decision (Extra Round), R6 3:00
Igor De Castaneda (ESP) def. Franklin Mina (ECU) – KO, R3 1:38
Jorge Perez (DOM) def. James Vick (USA) – Unanimous Decision, R3
Fernando Paz (ESP) def Diego Avendano (VEN) – KO, R2 01:26
Mitchell Thorpe (ENG) – Tommy Azouz (FRA) – Majority Decision, R3
Elvin Aghayev (AZE) def. Chayil Calaway (USA) – TKO, R3 02:36
Kenji Grillon (FRA) def. Nikos Gidakos (GRE) – TKO (Corner Stoppage), R2
Abdessalam Ameknassi (MOR) vs. Kalvis Kalnins (LVA) – Unanimous Decision, R3
Christina Kavakopoulou (GRE) vs. Kaye Asesor (PHI) – Unanimous Decision, R3
Damian Villa (USA) def. Maximilliano Larrosa (URU) – Unanimous Decision, R3
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