Fighters Only

Issue 012

April 2006

January 13^th 2006

Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Lemoore, CA.

By Brad Doerges, Photos by Dave Mandel

World Extreme Cagefighting is California’s premier MMA event. Owned by former UFC fighter Scott Adams, most WEC fights feature future or former UFC stars in almost every fight. This brings an added excitement as each fight feels to have implications on the fighter’s ability to make it to the next level. .

With three belts up for grabs and the excitement of being on live High Definition TV, WEC 18 Unfinished Business, looked to entertain and did not disappoint. The main event of the nights evening featured undefeated Justin “the Executioner” Levens vs. the 205lb champ Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith. The fight should have happened at WEC 17, where Smith and Levens were set to meet in the conclusion of a four-man tournament, but Levens had to drop out due to an shoulder injury he sustained in his fight with Jorge Oliveira. This gave the nod for Tait Fletcher, the alternate, to take on Smith in the finals. Fletcher was no match for Smith and was taken out by TKO late in the first round. That win gave Smith the belt and left him and Levens with “Unfinished Business”.

Business gets settled

The fight began with both men looking to land the first blow. Smith threw first but Levens quickly dodged the punch and landed a right to Smiths jaw that dropped him to his knees. Looking to finish the fight early Levens quickly went to Smiths back trying to set up a rear naked choke. In his haste he completely neglected to establish his hooks and Smith was able to escape out the back and then dive into Levens half guard. Smith, not known for his submission prowess, secured Justin’s foot, stood, and then went for a straight ankle lock. Levens stayed calm and countered with a vicious toehold. With neither man willing to submit Smith scrambled for top position and got it only to end up on his feet again with Levens on his back.

With Levens on his back and standing, Smith countered by gaining wrist control on Levens right hand, but instead of attempting a kimura Smith did what he does best- knock people out. In the blink of an eye Smith swiftly let go of his grip and threw a wild right elbow at Levens that surprised him and left him open for a left-right combination that sent the undefeated fighter falling back. Smith hit Levens with a perfect left hook that knocked out Levens and sent his back to the cage floor.

Smith pounced on his downed opponent and was able to land a brutal right-left-right combination before the ref was able to stop the fight. The champion celebrated with his team while the chants of ‘UFC’ echoed thru the Arena. With rumors of Smith fighting at UFC 59 it looks as if his first WEC title defence will be his last.

Quicksand makes quick work of Mr. International

In another title fight Mike “Quicksand” Pyle looked to defend his WEC World welterweight title against former champ and UFC veteran Shonie “Mr. International” Carter. This fight was set up when Carter challenged Pyle after the younger fighter won the vacated belt in his fight with Bret Bergmark.

Pyle wasted no time initiating the action by throwing a right push kick to Carters solar plexus. Pyle then threw a right to Carters face, but Carter was able to counter the off-balance Pyle and take him to the mat. Although I was surprised about how quickly Shonie was able to get Pyle to the mat Mike was not. “No, I don’t really feel he took me down. I deliberately fought the way that I did to get the fight where I wanted it to be.”

Pyle quickly recovered and stood up, and Shonie countered by going for another takedown but got caught in a guillotine. Shonie was able to pop his head out of the choke hold and fire back with a kick to Pyle’s body. The two clinched again and Pyle jumped to secure the guillotine, then pulled guard. Carter was once again forced to fight off a deep choke, but when he was able to get his head out he found himself fighting off an armbar. It was quickly transitioned to a triangle, and after fighting off the deep choke for a moment Carter reluctantly tapped.

Pyles future looks bright, and he is training with some of the worlds best fighters at the Ultimate Fighter training centre, including Randy Couture and Forrest Griffin. Asked about his next fight, Pyle doesn’t look to choose his next opponent. “I’m the champ, so they have to give me someone. When you’re the champ you don’t pick and choose who you want to fight. They choose who they think is the most worthy opponent.”

Crunkilton runs a ground and pound clinic on Ertle.

In lightweight action UFC veteran Richard “Cleat” Crunkilton took on Shooto veteran Nick Ertle in what was to be Ertle’s retirement match. Crunkilton made sure that Ertle didn’t have any second thoughts on his retirement plans by showing one of the best ground and pound performances I have ever seen. After scoring several takedowns Crunkilton worked his ground and pound with the precision of a surgeon. Picking his shots and making them count, he was able to get Herb Dean to stop the fight halfway through the second round.

Lytle crosses out another opponent.

Chris “Lights Out” Lytle made quick work of Savant Young in his first fight since a disappointing loss to Joe Riggs at UFC 55. Savant went for a takedown early but it was Lytle who scored first by getting an outside leg trip from the clinch. On the ground Savant was able to secure a tight Guillotine but Lytle stayed calm and worked his way out. “I’m real good at staying relaxed… I knew if I took my time I would get out of it,” explained Lytle. Once out Lytle passed guard to side control, trapping both of Young’s arms, one in between his legs and the other controlled with his right arm. Trapped in this crucifix-like position and unable to defend, Savant was forced to tap when Chris began dropping a series of short hard elbows to his face. “I feel like I was this close to getting a title shot in the UFC. Me and Joe had a close fight but I got cut. I feel like I’m right there [on the cusp]” said Lytle. Only weeks later, Lytle picked up a belt from UK promotion Cage Rage.

Lavar suffers another Big letdown.

The final fight of the night featured local favorite Lavar “Big” Johnson from American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), taking on Brian Olsen from Connecticut for the vacant WEC world heavyweight belt. After watching Lavar fight and speaking with him several times it was hard for me not to want to see his trademark victory celebration, a chugging of a beer, but tonight we would both be let down.

After settling for a non-title fight in his last bout due to his opponent’s last minute injury, Lavar looked to use his superior striking and reach advantage to strike his way to a belt. Olsen had other plans. Olsen immediately took the striker down and easily controlled Johnson on the mat, winning the first round. Although Johnson looked terrible in the first round I still felt that he had a chance to win the fight and I was right. At the beginning of the second Johnson came out striking, landing a left-right combo and hurting his opponent. Lavar, smelling that there was a beer and a belt somewhere near, landed a big left knee to Olsen’s jaw. With Olsen on the brink of unconsciousness, Lavar fell to the ground tapping, grabbing his knee and wincing in pain. It was later discovered that Johnson had injured his knee in the first and had completely blown it out when he planted his foot in the second. A disappointing end to an otherwise great fight.