|
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Taneo: The big shots
By Paul J. Taneo
Free-for-all
James Thompson versus Kazuyuki Fujita might be bigger on the scales, Mirko “Crocop” Filipovic against Ikuhisa Minowa might have more explosions (mainly from Crocop), but for sheer energy and technique no match-up could beat the Josh Barnett-Aleksander Emelianenko barnburner.
The first round had Emelianenko showing his boxing skills, hurting Barnett for most of the first eight minutes of the 10-minute first round. But in the last two minutes, Emelianenko had tired out and Barnett got back at the Russian with a few head and body shots.
Barnett was so impressed by Emelianenko’s boxing that he said in the post-fight interview that Aleksander “is a much-better boxer better” than his brother Fedor, the Pride heavyweight champion, who is no slouch in that department either.
Learning a painful lesson in Round 1, after engaging the Russian in some fisticuffs, Barnett took down Emelianenko as quickly as he could in the second round to the ground. The former UFC heavyweight champ got side control and did damage with knees to the head of Emelianenko.
Barnett then went for a keylock. Emelianenko pulled out his left arm but Barnett tried the same hold again and this time forced Emelianenko to submit in 1:57 of Round 2.
Barnett mentioned in the interview in a mix of English and Japanese – stamina. “They cannot keep up. It makes them fall behind. Then when I get a shot for a kill…” At this, Barnett makes a gesture about quick attack.
The AMC Pankration fighter is now 17-3, 11 by submission.
Barnett-Emelianenko may have been the best fight of the night, but for sheer knockout energy, James Thompson and Kazuyuki Fujita made out like street fighters.
Sporting a flaming red/maroon Mohawk that matched his shorts, Thompson controlled much of the fight with strikes while Fujita constantly went for the takedown which Thompson capably countered with a sprawl. Employing low kicks and knees, Thompson punished Fujita some more, but someone forgot to tell Thompson that Fujita takes a beating and stays on his feet. A classic example would be Fujita’s hilarious fight with Ken Shamrock, also in Pride, where the American pummeled Fujita from beginning to end but had to give up to save his hands from breaking and his lungs from bursting.
Fujita cried real tears of joy, relief and disbelief at his luck. In his win over Thompson, he had more than luck and an iron jaw and steel heart. With Thompson’s back to the ropes, Fujita connected with two punches on Thompson’s chin. He followed that up with uppercuts while holding on to Thompson’s nape. Thompson at first refused to go down and exchanged haymakers with Fujita. Their strength ebbing, Fujita suddenly landed a right hand that dropped the Britisher with a minute and 35 seconds left in Round 1 of what Fujita called “a fight of soul.”
Mirko “Crocop” Filipovic was the most impatient of all winners in Pride Total Elimination 2006. He needed just a minute and 10 seconds to earn his pay. The Crocop Squad Gym top dog probably wanted to go back to the dressing room as soon as possible to avoid being subjected to Ikuhisa Minowa’s weird tactics.
Minowa punched it out with Crocop for a while and suddenly went for a shot.
Crocop, a kickboxer who has mastered the sprawl after venturing into mixed martial arts, did just that. As both went back up, Minowa surprised Crocop with an unsuccessful cartwheel kick. Then in the clinch, Crocop connected with an uppercut and a body blow. Minowa went for the shot again, only to be neutralized by a sprawl. Crocop let go a series of punches as Minowa fell to the canvas near the corner.
The referee stepped in to stop the fight. (Second of three parts – to be concluded, this time it’s for real.)
(paulotaneo@yahoo.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 17, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
