:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/789486/sf21_main_event.jpg)
It took three months for Bobby Lashley to settle on an opponent. It took just three more minutes to put him away. The former-WWE star handled last-second replacement Karl Knothe on Friday night in the main event of Shark Fights 21, winning via first-round submission to earn the promotion's vacated heavyweight strap.
Lashley (7-1) dominated from the outset, controlling his opponent before sinking in an early Americana choke that eventually elicited a tap. Afterward, Strikeforce grand prix finalist Josh Barnett was seen celebrating his pupil's second straight victory cageside.
Knothe (20-7), a nine-year veteran who entered the contest on just three days notice after four successive opponents dropped out, snapped a twelve-fight winning streak of his own with the loss. Shark Fights 21 is scheduled to air in full on December 23 on FUEL TV.
Elsewhere in weekend mixed marital arts action, Aleksander Emelianenko's first foray into the cage in 2011 ended as abruptly as it started on Saturday night. Promoted to M-1 Challenge 28's main event just a week out from fight night, Emelianenko (17-5) fell victim to a looping overhand right from late-replacement Magomed Malikov (4-1) 23 seconds into their heavyweight contest. The loss marks the second in a row for the former Pride star and capped a night of swift finishes.
M-1 Challenge 28 results:
Magomed Malikov def. Aleksander Emelianenko via KO (punches) at 0:23 of round 1
Isaiah Larsen def. Alikhan Magomedov via submission (armbar) at 3:41 of round 2
Vugar Bahshiev def. Yves Landu via unanimous decision
Gredory Babene def. Alexander Dolotenko via submisssion (choke) at 1:18 of round 1
Sunay Hamidov def. Alexey Martynov via submisssion (triangle choke) in round 3
Anatoly Tokov def. Jan Zdansky via TKO (punches) at 4:20 of round 1
Enok Solves Torres def. Ruslan Khaskhanov via TKO (punches) in round 1
David Baudrier def. Anton Kostishchin via submission (arm-triangle) in round 2
Shark Fights 21 results:
Bobby Lashley def. Karl Knothe via submission (americana) at 3:44 of round 1
Cody East def. Adenelson Clementino viat TKO at 1:15 of round 1
Cody Pfister def. Isias Martinez via TKO at 4:09 of round 2
Warren Stewart def. Gabe Vasquez via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:46 of round 1
John King def. Daniel De Almeida via split decision
Rashad Coulter def. Chase Watson via TKO at 2:39 of round 3
Jon Voth def. Jeremiah Castillo via submission (arm bar) at 2:27 of round 1
Matt Hobar def. Marcus Baldivia via submission (north-south choke) at 0:53 of round 1