Issue 039

July 2008

The strongest UFC card in many moons didn’t disappoint with it’s title. The ‘ill will’ between Sherk and Penn was one grievance to be settled, but the ongoing feud between Ortiz and UFC boss Dana White, although not on the card, was as much an attraction as some of the main card fights. 


BJ looked sublime in his handling of Sherk, and has seem to have matured in his approach to fighting. No longer the brash young talent he was always known as, Penn has continued his recent trend of proper preparation and channelled his energy into becoming one of the best fighters in the world. Who would have thought he would pick apart Sherk as easily as he did? It wasn’t a case of styles clashing, but more egos. Penn shelved his (for once) and got on with training, but Sherk couldn’t help but get riled at the relentless digs about his steroid suspension. Going into a fight emotionally charged can be a blessing or a curse, depending – in this case, it backfired spectacularly, and ended with Sherk leaving the Octagon more roughed up than he had ever been.  

Ortiz bowed out of the UFC with grace, putting up a spirited display against an elusive Lyoto Machida. The Brazilian karate stylist is about as difficult an opponent as you will find, and it is no secret he was Ortiz’s ‘going away present’. By making Tito look bad in his final fight with the UFC, it lessens his worth and makes him less marketable to other promotions. Machida drew heavy criticism again though, due to his frustrating style of scoring points and committing to attacks in short flurries but spending far too much time being inactive.  

Wanderlei Silva made a return a form with a 36 second demolition of Keith Jardine. Many thought Jardine would be the nail in Silva’s coffin, with the Brazilian on a losing streak of late. Silva turned on the pressure from the off, dropping Jardine and pummelling him into unconsciousness in true ‘Axe Murderer’ style. 


Full results

  • Shane Carwin def Christian Wellisch via KO (Punch) 0:44 Rd1
  • Dong Hyun Kim def Jason Tan via TKO (Elbows) 0:25 Rd3
  • Yoshiyuki Yoshida def Jon Koppenhaver via Technical Submission (Anaconda Choke) 0:56 Rd1
  • Rich Clementi def Terry Etim via Unanimous Decision 
  • Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou def Kazuhiro Nakamura via TKO (Leg Injury) 5:00 Rd1
  • Rousimar Palhares def Ivan Salaverry via Submission (Armbar) 2:36 Rd1
  • Thiago Silva def Antonio Mendes via Submission (Punches) 2:24 Rd1
  • Lyoto Machida def Tito Ortiz via Unanimous Decision 
  • Goran Reljic def Wilson Gouveia via TKO (Punches) 3:15 Rd2
  • Wanderlei Silva def Keith Jardine via.KO (Punches) 0:36 Rd1
  • BJ Penn def Sean Sherk via TKO (Unable to continue) 5:00 Rd3



INTERNATIONAL FIGHT REPORTS

CAGE RAGE 26

Birmingham, England, May 10th 2008

Most ageing fighters claim to be “in the best shape” of their lives. 41-year-old UK MMA legend Ian Freeman was one of the few telling the truth. For a full three rounds he completely outworked the decade-younger Paul Cahoon, displaying boundless energy and determination alongside some quality movement and positioning on the mat. Freeman thoroughly dominated the fight en route to his best performance since brutalising UFC poster boy Frank Mir in 2002.

One of The Ultimate Fighter’s most likeable contestants ever, Stoke-on-Trent’s Ross Pointon has never been mistaken for a master strategist or grappling guru. His showdown with local boy Ross Mason should have been a quick, furious fight ending with somebody called Ross unconscious and flat on their back. Shockingly, Pointon triumphed with a lovely heel hook inside two minutes. Too long a simplistic brawler, Pointon showed great technical improvement in his TKO (cut) loss to Marios Zaromskis and this win proved just how far he’s come in 2008.


ULTIMATE FORCE

Doncaster, England, May 3rd 2008

Expectations are sky-high for recent UFC acquisition Dan Hardy. One of the British scene’s most entertaining and gifted fighters, ‘the Outlaw’ made his final appearance for an English promotion and put on his customary display of thoroughly entertaining action. His opponent Daniel Weichel has long been one of Europe’s more dangerous competitors but Hardy escaped a choke and battered the German to defeat with some vicious ground n’ pound. A great addition to UFC’s welterweight division, Hardy’s fights for the world’s premier MMA organization will be watched with keen interests on both sides of the Atlantic.


IFL

Uncasville, Connecticut, USA, May 16th 2008

He may look like a hillbilly trucker who shovels in hamburgers by the fistful but IFL heavyweight champion Roy Nelson can really fight. Heavy-handed, aggressive and with shocking stamina considering his tremendous gut, ‘Big Country’ gave former UFC giant Brad Imes a first round beating in the second defence of his title. The IFL is swimming in a sea of debt and may not be long for this world. But Nelson has genuine if raw talent, an everyman appeal and an underrated ground game. Expect him to cause a big splash if and when he moves on to greener pastures.



DREAM 3

Tokyo, Japan, May 11th 2008

In by far the month’s best fight Philadelphia’s Eddie Alvarez upset Norwegian hardman Joachim Hansen to clinch a spot in the lightweight Grand Prix semi-finals. A fast-paced battle packed with drama, Alvarez floored Hansen early and survived a late armbar attempt before earning the nod from all three judges. Alvarez’s attacking style has already made him a fan favourite in Japan and he is looking like the breakthrough fighter of 2008. As he goes into the final four, the 24-year-old Alvarez will be facing some of the sport’s very best. On the evidence of this fight, he can handle almost anything.

Somewhat unfairly inserted into the Grand Prix due to his mainstream appeal, Caol Uno gave an assured performance and earned a submission win over hyperactive wrestler Mitsuhiro Ishida that put him in the semi-finals. A highly skilled veteran, Uno became the first man to ever make Ishida tap out in a fight that proved he’s still one of the sport’s best.

Tatsuya Kawajiri earned his Grand Prix semi-final spot by outwrestling and outworking Luiz ‘Buscape’ Firminho in a typical Kawajiri performance where he ground out a decision win. Afterwards, Kawajiri challenged Uno in the hope of avenging teammate Ishida’s loss. The actual match-ups will be decided after Shinya Aoki fights Katsuhiko Nagata and the semi-finals and finals all take place on July 21st.



SHOOTO

Tokyo, Japan, May 5th 2008

Celebrating their 20th year promoting the sport we now know as MMA, this Shooto event featured an eye-popping upset in Frenchman David Baron’s first round guillotine choke win over modern legend Hayato Sakurai. A pro since 1996, this was only Sakurai’s second submission loss in a long career where he’s fought some of the sport’s very best. Meanwhile Baron, who also bloodied his opponent with his ragged punching, confirmed his place as one of Europe’s elite welterweights and even holds a pair of wins over Dan Hardy.


SENGOKU

Tokyo, Japan, May 18th 2008

There may be only six years age difference between Roger Gracie and Yuki Kondo but the Japanese fighter was entering his 76th fight in a 12-year career while Gracie was 1-0 going into this openweight fight. The 26-year-old Gracie is already one of the most gifted submission stylists in the heavyweight division and still competes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Towering over Kondo, Gracie patiently worked for the takedown, secured side control and then a full mount, landing a few punches before finishing the veteran with a rear naked choke 2.40 into the fight. Even today, the Gracie name can open doors and after the fight Hidehiko Yoshida presented Gracie with a bunch of flowers in that curious Japanese way that implies the two will fight at some point.

An entertainer first and fighter second, Josh Barnett is still a genuine top-five heavyweight with great skills in all areas. His fight with friend and former training partner Jeff Monson was one of those where both men know and respect each other too much, at least early on. As the fight progressed it was ever more obvious that Barnett was just superior in every way and he walked away with the unanimous decision after almost finishing things with a late toehold submission. If only Barnett’s relations with Dana White weren’t so poisonous, he’d be a truly fascinating addition to the UFC heavyweight roster. Next up for Barnett is a revenge match against the faded Pedro Rizzo (who KO’d Barnett back in 2001) at the much-hyped Affliction: Banned event in July.




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