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Sunday, March 12, 2006
Taneo: Bombs away
By Paul J. Taneo
Free-for-all
STRANGELY, if not properly (if we credit promoter DSE’s intuition), the main event of Pride 31 was the MMA debut of Japan’s cruiserweight boxing champ Yousuke Nishijima and not the Mark Coleman-Mauricio “Shogun” Rua preempted war.
At 210 pounds, Nishijima was almost 100lb lighter than former K-1 world champion Mark Hunt. In a match-up of heavy-handed protagonists, this fight lasted longer than expected.
Hunt smashed Nishijima into the canvas with a double-leg takedown, sidled for side control and mounted the Japanese twice. Nishijima showed good defense and eventually escaped. Again taking side control, the striking (specifically boxing)-specialist Hunt tried some keylocks and even an armbar.
On their feet, it was go-for-broke fisticuffs for both with Hunt scoring more solid hits. The mindless striking spent both fighters’ reserves after the 10-minute first round.
Still, letting go of bombs, it was more of the same in the second round. Nishijima tried to cover more of the ring but Hunt cornered him in the ropes (at one point, Hunt held on to the top rope with his left hand and jump-roundhouse kicked Nishijima) and punished him with combinations that were largely unanswered, dropping Nishijima on one knee then continuing to attack him with kicks and knees. The Japanese somehow got up to finish the round.
Nishijima, bloodied in the face, bravely answered the bell for the third round only to be struck by Hunt’s right hand right on the chin that had the Japanese down at 1:18 of the third for the KO win for Hunt.
In the undercard was the once-invincible Pedro Rizzo, who hasn’t been so formidable in his last few fights.
All it took for Roman Zentsov to beat Rizzo was 25 seconds in the first round by knocking him out with a single punch. Known for his painful leg kicks, Rizzo tried one on Zentsov’s left leg but the Russian quickly countered with a left hook that jarred the Brazilian.
This is clearly not “The Rock” that lovers of powerful KOs used to get so excited about. That’s the way of the MMA fight game, live by the KO, die (or at least lose consciousness) by the KO.
While in the Alistair Overeem-Sergei Kharitonov match, Overeem showed that youth has a lot to do with success in MMA. Young, strong and at times underrated, Overeem played drums with Kharitonov’s head. He TKOed the Russian in 5:13 of Round 1 after dominating the fight. In effect, making himself more visible for a shot at a world title. All he has to do to prepare is keep sharpening those elbows and knees.
The full results: Roman Zentsov defeated Pedro Rizzo by KO at 0:25 in Round 1; Rampage Jackson over Dong Sik Yoon by unanimous decision; Fabricio Werdum over Jon Olav Einemo, UD; Tsuyoshi Kosaka over Mario Sperry, KO (1:20 R 1); Alistair Overeem over Sergei Kharitonov, TKO (5:13 R1); Josh Barnet over Kazuhiro Nakamura, submission (rear-naked choke) 8:10 R1; Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira over Kiyoshi Tamura, submission (armbar) 2:24 R1; Mark Coleman over Mauricio Rua, TKO (0:49 R1); Mark Hunt over Yosuke Nishijima, TKO (1:18 R3).
MEANWHILE. This just in, we got the full results of SVE-Shamrock versus Gracie, held yesterday at the HP Pavilion, San Jose, California. What do you know, Frank Shamrock did Roman Zentsov one better by knocking out Cesar Gracie in 21 seconds of Round 1.
The full results: Scott Graham over Chris Yee, submission (rear-naked choke) 2:37 R2; Nathan Diaz over Tony Juares, TKO (3:23 R1); Crafton Wallace over Ray Routh, KO (knee) 0:35 R2); Gilbert Melendez over Harris Sarmiento, submission (strikes) 0:44 R2; Daniel Puder over Jesse Fujarczyk, submission (rear-naked choke) 1:54 R1; Brian Ebersole over Matt Horwich, UD R3; Mike Kyle over Krysztof Soszynski, technical draw (thumb in Krysztof’s eye) 2:02 R1; Eugene Jackson over Jorge Ortiz, UD R3; Clayton Guida over Josh Thomson, UD R5; Cung Le over Mike Altman, KO 3:51 R1; Frank Shamrock over Cesar Gracie, KO (punch) 0:21 R1.
The details in next column.
As usual, we express our gratitude to our usual Internet sources we won’t bore you by enumerating.
(paulotaneo@yahoo.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 12, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
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