Mitchell Marfinetz dominated the first round of his amateur mixed martial arts debut during Wednesday’s Bayfront Brawl 14.
The 2020 Girard graduate would have beaten fellow newcomer Jayden Potok had their 170-pound bout ended after those three minutes
It didn’t.
Potok eluded Marfinetz’s takedown attempt in the opening seconds of the second period. Then, from the neutral position, the Akron, Ohio, fighter got off two punches with his right hand.
The second one not only dropped Marfinetz to the canvas but sent his mouthpiece flying to the opposite side of the Bayfront Convention Center’s cage.
Referee Chip Snider immediately prevented Potok from pouncing on his prone opponent and Marfinetz stood up with no visible issues. However, Potok was declared the winner via knockout after the former YellowJacket and Gannon University wrestler was checked by the fight physician.
Marfinetz took solace he dominated Potok throughout their first period.
“It (stinks), but it’s part of the sport,” he said. “Win or lose, I want to get another (bout) and just keep after it. I’m going to keep coming back because I’m a fighter.”
Marfinetz’s fight was one of 19 boxing or MMA bouts on promoter Ernie Bizzarro’s latest fight card. It also was the culmination of a dream that began during his days as a Girard wrestler.
Marfinetz had a career varsity record of 58-54 on the mat. As a senior, he went 32-12 and reached the Northwest Region Class 2A tournament at Sharon.
“Back then, it felt kind of impossible to be where I am (Wednesday),” Marfinetz said. “But now, here I am.”
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
More: Titusville’s Seth Donovan clinches victory in amateur MMA debut during Bayfront Brawl 13
Results for Bayfront Brawl 14 at the Bayfront Convention Center:
Boxing
Professional
140 pounds: Jerome Baxter def. Andrew Bueno by technical knockout at 2:58 of the fourth round
140: Shawn Rall def. Mike Vega by unanimous decision.
Note: Four amateur exhibition bouts were held, but not scored.
Mixed martial arts
Amateur
135 pounds: Brandon Hall def. Kahle McCauley by unanimous decision
170: Ian Campagna def. Drew Hardin by split decision
130: Kam Smith and Colby Potts finish in majority draw
145: Eli Garcia def. Preston Frost by tapout, rear-naked choke at 1:13 of second round
170: Josh Caban def. Andrew Gates by tapout, rear-naked choke at :37 of first round
170: Jayden Potok def. Mitchell Marfinetz by knockout at :13 of second round
170: Logan Johnson def. Ryan Cooper by unanimous decision
145: Luke Martin def. Caleb Adamowicz by unanimous decision
155: Jordan Isenberg def. Tony Lichtenberger by split decision
Bizzarro Promotions title fights
145 pounds: Nick Durst def. Seth Donovan by unanimous decision
135: Juan Goins def. Logan Fink by unanimous decision
heavyweight: Dan Albright def. Logan Fink by unanimous decision
Professional
125 pounds: Jeff Offak def. Mason Deless by rear-naked choke at :35 of third round
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Former Girard wrestler Mitchell Marfinetz knocked out in MMA debut