(The Daily Haymaker is a daily series that takes a look back and covers the news, fights being made, and all the other insanity revolving around combat sports. The Haymaker’s purpose is to keep you up to date with the ever changing combat sports world and also provide thought-provoking [hopefully] analysis from yours truly.)
Here’s a look back at all of the big news and notes that happened in combat sports on Friday, October 25th, 2013.
ULTIMATE RECAPAPPOOLOOZA!!!
If there’s any kind of MMA on television or some type of stream (no matter how terrible that stream may be), I try my damn near hardest to watch it, and whenever I do, I’ll recap every fight I saw for you all. Yesterday, I hit for the cycle, watching Bellator 105, RFA 10, Cage Warriors Fight Night 9, and PXC 40. Here’s a fight by fight recap of every fight witnessed by yours truly.
Bellator 105
Bellator Lightweight Tournament Semifinal
Will Brooks (12-1) vs Saad Awad (15-6)
Recap: Brooks clearly had no intent of a repeat from their Bellator 91 clash which saw him end up unconscious on the canvas. In all three rounds, the Illinois native exhibited his safe game-plan by putting Awad on his back with well-timed takedowns. Aside from a few submission attempts, Awad could get nothing going. The way Brooks stifled Awad throughout the fight was certainly impressive, although Brooks did leave himself in a few precarious positions that will end up costing him fights in the future. Needless to say, Brooks absolutely has the tools to become a Bellator Champion and a Top 10 lightweight, but he’s still got a quite a bit of work ahead.
Official Result: Brooks beats Awad via UD
Side Rant: I have no idea what kind of carnage I will unleash if I hear the commentators talk about Will Brooks being athletic one more time. Listen, I understand Will Brooks is black, but it’s 2013. We seriously don’t have other adjectives at our disposal? And just thinking out loud here, aren’t the majority [like the VAST, VAST majority] of MMA fighters athletic anyway? Don’t get me wrong, Will Brooks is absolutely athletic, but so is everyone else in MMA. Unless Will Brooks is able to jump twenty feet in the air, spin three times, and land a reverse heel kick, I don’t want to hear about his athleticism.
Bellator Lightweight Tournament Semifinal
Alexander Sarnavskiy (25-1) vs Ricardo Tirloni (16-5)
Recap: If Brooks fought a safe fight against Awad, I can only imagine the safety precautions that we’ll see taken in his Lightweight Final fight with Sarnavskiy. Expect Brooks to come to the cage in a suit of armor because Sarnavskiy looked like a monster in his one round demolishing of Ricardo Tirloni. Channeling his coach Alexander Shlemenko, Sarnavskiy dropped Tirloni with a spinning back-fist during the opening moments of the round. Tirloni was able to recover and shoot in for a takedown that was countered by a Sarnavskiy triangle choke attempt. The Russian lightweight sunk in the choke and attained the victory in a little over a minute. Sarnavskiy’s last three fights [all victories] have elapsed in a total of 3 minutes and 58 seconds.
Official Result: Sarnavskiy beats Awad via 1st Sub. (Triangle Choke)
Mighty Mo (5-2) vs Ron Sparks (8-3)
Recap: Mighty Mo won with a submission. I’m dead serious. The unlikely result came to be after Mo defended a slow takedown attempt from Sparks by getting on top and eventually side control. From there, Mighty Mo worked on a keylock that would make Daniel Puder proud, and he got the tap. In two Bellator appearances, Mo is undefeated, and I’m all aboard the Mighty Mo train, even if it crashes into a body of water like the one in The Lone Ranger [I’m not the only one that saw that terrible, terrible movie, right?].
Official Result: Mo beats Sparks via 1st Sub (Keylock)
Eugene Fadiora (12-1) vs Keith Berry (15-12)
Recap: The British middleweight made a pleasant first impression in Bellator with a second round ground and pound victory over Keith Berry. Fadiora was able to pound away at his defenseless and bloody opponent by trapping him in a crucifix and hitting him with a quantity of punches. Prior to that, Fadiora was able to neutralize Berry’s aggressive stand-up approach by attaining takedowns and trips that were followed up with effective ground strikes.
Official Result: Fadiora beats Berry via 2nd TKO
Des Green (9-2) vs Angelo Sanchez (12-4)
Recap: A vicious standing elbow strike from Des Green in the second round opened what ended up being a fight-ending gash on Angelo Sanchez’s forehead. Green followed Sanchez to ground with a flurry of punches, until the bout was stopped in order to have the doctor look at Sanchez’s cut. The doctor’s initial reaction to Sanchez’s injury was priceless, he looked astonished and squeamish like the little seven year-old me that accidentally opened a Playboy magazine. Before the second frame, Green looked a little more matured by taking down Sanchez a couple of times and utilizing patient striking.
Official Result: Green beats Sanchez via 2nd TKO (Cut)
Raphael Butler (7-0) vs Joseph Bryant (4-3)
Recap: The highlight reel of Raphael Butler just got a bit longer. Butler finished Bryant in the first round with a barrage of powerful right hands. Butler ended up on top of Bryant by rolling through a takedown attempt with a kimura attempt. This was the sixth time in Butler’s career that he finished a fight in the first round.
Official Result: Butler beats Bryant via 1st TKO
Volkan Oezdemir (10-0) vs Josh Lanier (3-8)
Recap: It’s difficult to get excited for a victory over a fighter with a 3-7 record, but Volkan Oezdemir did what he needed to do to in order to keep his record unblemished. Oezdemir put his balance and strength to work by countering a lazy throw from Lanier, ending up on top, and raining down punches. Clearly, it’s time for a step up in competition from the light heavyweight hailing from Switzerland.
Official Result: Oezdemir beats Lanier via 1st TKO
Luis Alberto Nogueira (16-3-1) vs Frank Baca (16-4)
Recap: If I put together rankings on who impressed me the most at Bellator 105, Luis Nogueira would be high up the list. Nogueira dominated a respectable opponent in Baca with his grappling game. The Brazilian took down Baca from the body clinch, transitioned from position to position, and locked on an arm and triangle choke for the victory.
Official Result: Nogueira beats Baca via 1st Sub
Steve Garcia (1-0) vs Shawn Bunch (2-1)
Recap: This was a real disappointing performance from Shawn Bunch, a fighter who was considered a top prospect because of his amateur wrestling credentials. Sure, Bunch won the first couple of frames with takedowns, but he did absolutely nothing else. Nevertheless, Bunch tired in the third period, and Steve Garcia capitalized on that. Garcia ended up just landing punches on a grounded Bunch who was on the canvas, desperately searching for a takedown. The referee stepped in for a stoppage that some would call controversial, but the controversy was quickly dispelled when Bunch took a few minutes to get back up to his feet.
Official Result: Bunch beats Garcia via 3rd TKO
RFA 10
RFA Welterweight Championship
Mike Rhodes (6-1) vs Alan Jouban (7-2)
Recap: Rhodes looked fantastic en route to his five round decision win over Jouban. With the win, Rhodes is now the RFA Welterweight Champion which should just be renamed to UFC contract. All of Rhodes’s success can be tied to his ability to wrestle down Jouban in the early portion of the fight. From then on, Rhodes was able to open out his striking game with the threat of a takedown always imminent. The Roufusport product wants a shot in the UFC, and he’ll eventually get one if he continues his winning ways. Personally, I would expect him to get a call if he wins his next two.
Official Result: Rhodes beats Jouban via UD.
Justin Lawrence (5-2) vs Luis Saldana (7-2)
Recap: You could tell Lawrence knew he needed this victory after an two consecutive losses in the UFC. Surprisingly, Lawrence put on a wrestling clinic Saladana for three straight rounds. Lawrence was able to fend off submission and obtain a clear unanimous decision. RFA was made for fighters like Lawrence who have UFC potential that need more experience to refine their game.
Official Result: Lawrence def. Saldana via UD
John Case (13-4) vs E.J. Brooks (7-2)
Recap: It wouldn’t be a weekend of MMA action without an atrocious, inexplicable decision. Somehow, two of the three judges gave John Case the fight, and I have no idea. Brooks clearly captured the first two frames with takedowns and top position grappling. The only debatable period was the third which started with Case rocking Brooks with an uppercut, but Brooks closed out the round with more wrestling. Still, the idea that Case took any one of the first two rounds is asinine. Just a terrible performance from the judges.
Official Result: Case beats Brooks via SD.
Cage Warriors: Fight Night 9
Gael Grimaud (19-6) vs Bruno Carvalho (15-7)
Recap: This was a thrilling performance by Gael Grimaud, France’s top welterweight. Grimaud came out uber-aggressive knocking down Carvalho with a right in the opening moments of the contest. Grimaud then followed up with a thunderous right hand that knocked out Carvalho. This performance had to have earned Grimaud a UFC contract.
Official Result: Grimaud beats Carvalho via 1st KO
Faycal Hucin (10-3) vs Che Mills (15-7)
Recap: Faycal Hucin upset Che Mills with a second round stoppage. In the second period, Hucin knocked down Mills with a sledgehammer-like overhand and then followed up with strike after strike until the fight was called. Before that, Hucin controlled the fight with takedowns and clinch work. Mills pieced together some nice combinations and even a takedown, but he tired early and lost in disappointing fashion.
Official Result: Hucin def. Mills via 2nd TKO
Ronnie Mann (23-6-1) vs Marat Pekov (10-4)
Recap: Mann dominated Pekov from a grappling standpoint to outpoint Pekov for unanimous decision win. All three periods saw Mann score with takedowns, attempt submissions, and dominate from a position standpoint. The highlight of the fight was a near gogoplata finish from Mann in the second period.
Official Result: Mann def. Pekov via UD
Jack Mason (25-12) vs Vladimir Opanasenko (11-7)
Recap: A bloody Vladimir Opanasenko was the result of Jack Mason’s return to the winner’s circle. In the second frame, Mason charged for a bullish takedown, opened up the guard of Opanasenko with punches to his ribs, and then finished with a series of elbows. Just an observation [with no judgement at all], Jack Mason has really dirty soles.
Official Result: Mason def. Opanasenko via 2nd TKO
Jean N’Doye vs Sergey Grechka
Recap: Jean N’Doye wanted a finish, and he patiently got one, finishing the fight with less than a minute left to spare. N’Doye’s constant leg kick attack came into play in the third round as Grechka was visibly hurt. N’Doye got the back of Grechka got the back of Grechka after hurting him with a couple of powerful shots and locked on a rear-naked choke. The first two rounds saw N’Doye land effective strikes and sprinkle in a couple of takedowns.
Official Result: N’Doye beats Grechka via 3rd Sub
Mohamed Ali (8-5) vs Prince Aounallah (6-3)
Recap: Mohamed Ali didn’t live up to his name-sake. Instead of floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee, Ali caught Aounallah in the web that was his guillotine choke in the first frame. Ali grabbed a guillotine when both men were standing and brought his opponent down, finishing the fight from the top position.
Official Result: Ali beat Aounallah via 1st Sub
PXC 40
PXC Bantamweight Title
Michinori Tanaka (9-0) vs Kyle Aguon (6-4)
Recap: Japanese bantamweight prospect Michinori Tanaka superb grappling was put to work in what was one of the best fights on Friday. Tanaka won a hard-fought decision that showcased his ability to counter grapple with transitions. Tanaka’s speed on the ground is really mesmerizing, and he’s got to be considered one of the top Japanese fighters not signed by a major US organization. If you have the time, check out this fight at livestream.com, it’s a great one.
Official Result: Tanaka def. Aguon via UD
Patricia Vidonic (9-6) vs Mei Yamaguchi (11-6-1)
Recap: Vidonic won a razor-thin split decision that came down to how you scored the last round. The first was Yamaguchi’s. The Japanase fighter got the better of Vidonic on the feet, in the clinch, and with a takedown that sealed the round in her favor. Vidonic won the second with a pair of takedowns and punishing elbows from the top position. Lastly, the third round was close. Vidonic looked better early on in the wild, sloppy striking exchanges, and Yamaguchi finished the round strong with a takedown.
Official Result: Vidonic def. Yamaguchi via SD
Kyle Reyes (4-1) vs Tae Kyun Kim (2-2)
Recap: Kyle “Boom” Reyes lived up to his nickname with a flying knee KO that was preceded by a left that knocked Kim groggy. Reyes found a home for his left early and often, and it was only a matter of time before he captured a first round victory.
Official Result: Reyes def. Kim via 1st KO
Will Chope (19-5) vs Takafumi Nakayama
Recap: Standing 6 feet and 4 inches tall, Will Chope is going to get plenty of prospect hype as a featherweight from his size alone. The 23 year-old Chope extended his winning streak to fourteen with a third round TKO victory. In the third period, Chope landed a few uppercuts and body punches in the clinch, and then ended up on top of his opponent thanks to a guillotine attempt. Chope landed several ground shots from there until the fight was called with Chope on Nakayama’s back.
Official Result: Chope def. Nakayama via 3rd TKO
The News
1. Devastating yet “great” news in the Bellator world broke yesterday evening. Tito Ortiz had to pull out of the main event bout against Quinton Jackson at the Bellator 106 PPV because of a fractured neck. The “great” news from Bjorn Rebney was that the Bellator 106 card will now be on Spike TV rather than PPV. This was a generous gesture by Bjorn Rebney, especially when you consider ALL of the people that were interested in buying the show. The Fight Master finale between Mike Bronzoulis and Joe Riggs was added to the main card, and no replacement was announced as of press time for Ortiz in the Jackson fight. It’s funny how the narrative to this show has changed from “WTF is this card doing on PPV” to “Wow, this is the best Bellator card ever. I can’t wait.”
2. Ian McCall is injured and out of his UFC on FOX 9 contest against Scott Jorgensen. That’s an unfortunate bit of news because McCall/Jorgensen sounded like a speculator flyweight match-up. Similar to the Jackson/Ortiz fight, no replacement has been announced for Ian McCall, yet.
3. In his fifth UFC weigh-in, John Lineker missed weight for the third time. Lineker weighed in at 128, and in spite of his fun fighting style, he absolutely needs a win to stay in the UFC. Missing weight that many times is absolutely inexcusable.
4. MMA-in-Asia announced the UFC signing of yet another Japanese fighter. This time the UFC signed KST veteran Shunichi Shimizu (28-8-10). Shimizu is an aggressive grappler that is fun to watch, but I don’t anticipate him having a long UFC career. Shimizu is currently on a five fight win streak which is highlighted by four submission wins.
Must Reads
1. Dave Meltzer of MMAFighting examines the recent Bellator news and asks some intriguing questions about what exactly happened and when it happened. Read it here: http://bit.ly/17P5BdM
2. MMAMania put out an intriguing article with Shinya Aoki talking about what lead to his lackluster performance against Cody Stevens at the last ONE FC event. The article can be found here: http://bit.ly/17OSIQV
3. This isn’t MMA related, but I can’t recommend this piece by Jessica Contrera on the closing of a local Indiana Waffle House enough. The article is absolutely fantastic and worth your read if you appreciate brilliant writing. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/1eFyPkj
And that’ll do it for today’s Haymaker. Thanks for reading, and I’ll leave you with a quote from Friedrich Nietzche.
“The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.”
-Dan can be reached at [email protected] or @danielgal.
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