| Date: 09/24 | 2:00 AM |
| Views: 2,305 | |
I'm not good at estimating numbers of people, but the entire floor and most of lower bowl of the Quad was full. Only the upper bowl was sparse but there were still a good number of fans in the nosebleeds compared to some Smackdown house shows I've been to. BTW for more information on the International Fight League visit IFL.tv. They're not as big in profile as UFC, but they do have a show on Fox Sports (the first episode of season two, taped in Portland, airs later tonight) and a lot of support from the grassroots level up.
There were two prelim fights for the fans who arrived before 8 o'clock bell.
First middleweight fight - in the blue corner a BJJ specialist weighing in at 187 pounds - Delson Heleno. And in the red corner, weighing in at 186 pounds, Ben Uker. This fight ended quickly when Heleno knocked out Uker.
Second middleweight - in the blue corner for the Razorbacks a fighter trained by Ken Shamrock (this elicited a boo) weighing 190 pounds, Jeff Quinlan. In the red corner for the Dragons a fighter specializing in (no bullshit) COWBOY KARATE~!, Dennis Hallman. After three rounds the judges score was 29-27, 29-29, 29-28 for your winner DENNIS HALLMAN. I'm still trying to figure out how the hell they scored it like that.
I have to point out IFL made a really stupid decision by having the hometown team of the Silverbacks face off against the Pitbulls for the first two hours of the taping. The crowd was really insanely pumped for the Pitbulls and after that two hours was done the crowd was just totally dead. They'd get up for a big punch or a slapping kick or some awesome stand-up, but during the second two hours they would sit there quiet as church mouses. In fact it was so quiet you may hear me yelling WE WANT EL GUAPO during a fight or two as well as "DO IT FOR THE PODER EMPIRE" at Joe D.
Bart Palaszewski (Silverbacks) v. Marcio Feitosa (Pitbulls). This fight went all three rounds, the first two were boring for the most part and they poured on the action in the third. The decision was 29-28, 30-28 for the Silverbacks, and 29-28 for your winner by decision Bart Palaszewski. Silverbacks up 1-0.
Rory Markham (Silverbacks) v. TBA - Azevedo (Pitbulls)
This was the only fight without both names listed before I arrived. Rory was on point and extremely energetic, overwhelming Azevedo with blows to get a knockout win at 3:58 of the very first round. This put the Silverbacks up 2-0.
Ryan McGivern vs. Fabio Leopoldo
The first round was pretty even, I'd be hard-pressed to score it 10-9 for either man. The second round Fabio got ahold of the leg and hit one of those lightning quick submissions you miss if you blink. McGivern tapped out and the Pitbulls got their first win of the night to avoid elimination and make it 2-1.
Mike Ciesnolevicz vs. Andre Gusmao
Mike was a very heavy crowd favorite but Andre was totally unphased by all the taunting, which included "YOU'RE A BORING FAT SLOB!" He was so boring in fact that he rocked Mike's bell and left him down for the count as the ref stopped it at 1:01 in the second round. This tied up the team war 2-2 and left it to the heavyweights to settle the score.
Fifth fight, to decide which team advances to the next round of the IFL.
Ben Rothwell vs. Bryan Vetell
Ben clearly knew he had the weight of his whole team on his shoulders, which is part of what makes the team concept for IFL unique and exciting for MMA. As a result he came out swinging for the fences and landing blow after blow, Vetell would try to retaliate but was getting hammered so hard the ref finally had to step in after a sick looking KO blow and say it was over. No need for the judges cards here - your winner is BIG BEN ROTHWELL. This man looks and feels like a monster - I predict big things in his future. The win puts the Silverbacks up 3-2 and the hometown team ADVANCES~! Rothwell also gets the KO of the night award from the IFL.
SECOND SHOW: Razorbacks v. Dragons, from San Jose and Toronto.
Josh Odom vs. Rob DiCenso
These were the little guys but they showed big heart, fighting all around the ring for two rounds until Odom started ringing his bell in round three which left DiCenso punch drunk and defenseless requiring a stoppage at 1:47. Odom puts the Razorbacks up 1-0.
Ray Steinbeiss vs. Claude Patrick
Even though the crowd was still pretty dead for this second fight of the second show, I enjoyed the hell out of this one. Patrick is clearly a top submissions master evidenced by the nasty choke he put on Steinbeiss, forcing a tapout at 3:12 and giving the Dragons their first point to tie things up at 1 apiece.
THE PODEROSO EMPIRE FIGHT OF THE NIGHT~!~!!
Brian Foster vs. Joe Doerksen
I was really pissed off the crowd was so dead for this won, but Joe still represented for all his F4W fans by surviving a round of a brutal fight that I actually believe might have had Foster ahead on points. In the second Joe overwhelmed the game Foster and locked on a rear naked chokehold for the tapout at 3:40, giving the Dragons a 2-1 lead.
AND THE MOST EXCITING FIGHT OF THE NIGHT FROM MY VIEW WAS FIGHT FOUR WINNER: THREE HARD HITTING ROUNDS FOR A DECISION OF 29-27, 29-28, 30-25. Brent Beauparlant (try saying that three times fast) defeats Raphael Davis, scoring the third point for the Dragons and giving them the TEAM WIN to advance.
Fifth and final team fight of the evening just for pride and maybe a bonus.. Travis Wiuff vs. Wojtek Kaszowski
Those who watch this fight will be inclined to compare Wiuff to Rashad Evans, in that he doesn't do a whole lot that's exciting but still manages to control all three rounds of the fight with ground 'n pound, overpowering his opponent and keeping his back to the mat at almost all times. The decision was 30-25, 30-27, 30-27 for Viuff (more WHACKY~! scoring) which makes the FINAL 3-2 DRAGONS.
SUPERFIGHT MAIN EVENT~!
Pat Militech, of Militech Fighting System: 5'10, 185 pounds. Renzo Gracie, of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: also 5'10, 185 pounds.
The previously dead crowd was suddenly electrified that the hometown hero was coming out to defend the honor of Militech Fighting System, and Gracie was booed like a mothersucka. Even as the "big fight feel" was taking place loud chants of "PAT PAT PAT" broke out, which continued throughout the whole fight. Before I forget for the second show Joe D. got "Fight of the Night" honors and Josh got the best KO award.
SUPERFIGHT WINNER: GRACIE BY FIRST ROUND TAP THAT STUNS CROWD AND NEARLY CAUSED RING MELEE.
Both fighters seemed dead even until Gracie backed Militech into the ropes in a clinch, and seemingly out of nowhere Pat tapped out on the shoulder. I was on the wrong side to see this but I assume it was a standing choke from the opposite view. The MFS crew was outraged and poured into the ring, the entire Gracie camp flew into the ring too, and that's how the whole thing ended - both camps standing there and the crowd loudly booing their heads off at the dissapointing finish. I'm sure it will be much more entertaining on TV.
Good show, long road trip, I'd do it again though!