With all of the talk surrounding the MMA community about media bans, etc. it was nice to watch a show where money, fame, and fortune are not the main reasons why fighters fight. Instead, at the ICE show, fighters fight for pride and for the chance to step inside the octagon in front of family and friends to compete. Promoters Kerry Schall and Monte Cox brought the ICE show back to Metropolis nightclub, offering local and regional amateur fighters this opportunity to compete. Here was the quick rundown of the fights that took place.

In a battle of Detroit fighters, Scott Bickerstaff and James Hill-Harris took it to each other after the opening bell. Bickerstaff controlled much of the round with two successful takedowns, but eventually suffered a broken hand and was unable to continue after the first round.

Cincinnati fighter Steve Stocks took on Duncan’s MMA fight team member Darrell McKay in the 2nd fight. McKay got the first takedown of the fight and worked the guard of Stock. Unable to hold the guard tight, McKay worked his way to the mount and landed a few punishing shots. Stock rolled to his back and easily gave McKay his golden opportunity as he sank a rear naked choke and ended the fight at 1:31 of round 1.

Ryan “The Highlander” Griffen looked primed and ready as he took on Dayton, OH fighter Kevin Ferguson. Unfortunately for Griffen, he ate a straight right at the opening bell and hit the floor like a pile of bricks. From there, he did try to stand up, but after a quick check by referee Josh Rafferty, quickly stumbled again and the fight was stopped at an unbelievable :07 seconds of round 1.

ICE veteran and Team Shoot member Vito Woods returned to the ICE cage against PA fighter David Drago. Woods controlled the first round by consistently pinning Drago against the cage and pounding. Drago tried numerous submission attempts, going after a guillotine choke in the first and an ankle lock in the second but eventually, Woods was able to land a solid right hand which was the beginning of the end for Drago as he was forced to tap from strikes at 1:22 of round 2.

Another Cincinnati fighter Steve Tyrell tried to stop the 3 fight losing streak for Cincinnati fighters, by taking on Matt “Doc” Williams in the 5th fight of the evening. Williams opened the fight with a solid right that Tyrell ate early, held his composure and got the takedown but made the same mistake that numerous fighters before him also made and left his neck exposed. Williams locked in a guillotine choke and ended the night for Tyrell at a quick :37 seconds into round 1.

Murder City Boxing fighter Dom O’Grady took on Richmond Shootboxing Academy’s own Clay Coffman. Both fighters looked to thrown down and they did until O’Grady got the opening takedown. From there, O’Grady almost finished the fight after taking the back of Coffman, but the round came to an end. The second started well for Coffman, but unfortunately his takedown attempt landed him into a guillotine choke and he tapped at 1:10 of round 2.

In a very interesting match, Team Gurgel fighter Edward O’Daniel faced former All-American wrestler Danny Hoke. Hoke opened the fight with a solid right hand that visibly stunned O’Daniel forcing him to go for the takedown. After shaking off the cobwebs, O’Daniel executed a perfect hip toss on Hoke who had made his way back to his feet. As everyone knows, a wrestler does not like to be on his back and this was proven once again as O’Daniel took Hoke’s back and sank in a rear naked choke forcing Hoke to tap at 1:09 of round 1.

The tough guy of the night award easily goes to Hurricane, WV fighter Jeremy Linville who took on Newport, KY fighter Doug Kurzynski. After taking what took to be a low blow, Linville found himself with Kurzynski on his back landing shots. After making his way up, referee Franklin not knowing he took a low blow allowed the action to continue. With his back against the fence and Kurzynski charging, Linville landed the straight right that turned the fight completely around. From there, Linville was on the attack and with Kurzynski on the ground, landed punch after punch until Kurzynski tapped from strikes at 1:01 of round 1.

Sacan Martial Arts fighter Todd Carnes looked to add to his previous ICE victory’s by taking a big step up in competition and taking on experienced ICE and IFC veteran Tyler “Superman” Combs. Carnes effectively utilized his leg kicks, which seemingly threw Combs off balance. After eating what seemed like five or six leg kicks, Combs got the takedown and even achieved full mount butCarnes held on and survived until the round came to an end. The second round had both fighters trading until Carnes landed a solid right that dropped Combs and had him covering. Referee Franklin had seen enough and called a stop to the fight at 1:34 of round 2.

Bombsquad member Matt “The Hammer” Hamill took on Indiana fighter Robin Johnson. Hamill basically controlled the entire fight, taking down Johnson at will. Eventually, one of Hamill’s takedowns landed him into the mount and he pounded Johnson until he tapped at 1:05 of round 2.

The main event pitted two ICE veterans in tough Team Shoot member Terry Davinney against Sacan fighter Justin McElfresh for the ICE  light heavyweight title. Davinney, coming off a hard fought victory over Greg Franklin, looked to take the ICE title back to MI, but McElfresh wanted it to remain in Cincinnati. Round 1 had Davinney getting the initial takedown with McElfresh on his back. McElfresh displayed excellent ground skills and reversed Davinney into the mount. From there, he pounded, attempted an armbar, and almost ended the fight before the bell sounded ending the first round.

Round 2 began with McElfresh landing a straight right that momentarily droped Davinney. Trying to take advantage, McElfresh took the back of Davinney, but Davinney kept his composure and reversed McElfresh.  From there, Davinney tried to land a few punches, but left one of his arms exposed in the process, seizing his moment, McElfresh locked in an armbar and found himself the new ICE champion.

Overall, the ICE show had another excellent showing. Even with the cancellation of Mojo Horn’s fight due to an injury, the show still had plenty of action to go around. With the exposure of  "The Ultimate Fighter" on Spike, it seems that more and more shows like ICE are starting to draw bigger and bigger crowds. The sport of MMA is taking off, and shows like ICE are providing this area with top notch MMA action that most people would not otherwise have an opportunity to see.