Middleweight Grudge Match

*originally published in Feb '03 on fullcontactfighter.com*

There’s no doubt where all the trash talking on the card would normally be emanating from – for choice words on any opponent, just look for the “New York Badass”. At Onslaught, Phil Baroni faces Matt Lindland in what could best be described as a middleweight grudge match, but while Baroni, 6-1, has made insults and threats one of the cornerstones of his career (the other cornerstones would be his work ethic, dramatically improved fighting skills and knockout hands!), it is now Lindland who has taken over the role of resident big mouth. But Baroni’s stunning 18-second KO over former middleweight champ Dave Menne at UFC 39 has shown that he’s definitely not all talk. Stepping into the Octagon to face the Olympic silver medalist in a rematch of their epic UFC 34 bout, Baroni promises this one will be nothing like the first time they met. Since that loss via decision, he’s been sending his opponents into dreamland – and he’s aiming to lay a beat down on the wrestler as he makes his way towards the belt.

An undefeated Lindland (aka the “Law”) faced champ Murilo Bustamante at UFC 37 - and came up short. Losing via submission, he returned at UFC 39 to dominate AMC Pankration grappler Ivan Salaverry, and returns with total confidence in his ability to control Baroni like he did before. “He’s a competitor,” says Silva on the Olympic wrestler with the 8-1 MMA record. “This is a guy who his whole life he’s competed against the best in the whole world.” He adds: “Both guys have improved a lot since they fought each other last – but he’s got more of an attitude about it this time!”

And what of Baroni? “I got see him train a lot, and I think he’s improved by leaps and bounds. With his last couple performances, you can dispute that he’s fast, he’s strong… I think this could be the fight of the night.”

Up-and-Comer Pete “Drago” Sell

*originally published in the Jan '03 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

He sports a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, is a regular at the local grappling tournaments, and has earned a record of 2-0 in mixed martial arts competition. And though Pete Sell (nicknamed “Drago” after the “Rocky IV” villain) may not have the most remarkable resume on paper, once you’ve seen him fight, you can’t help but be impressed. He’s intense, is always looking to finish, and is a constant threat right up until the end of the match. Many have compared his style of fighting to that of UFC lightweight stud Matt Serra – which is an astute observation, as Serra is his trainer. I tracked the Long Island native down after his victory over Ted Govola at Ring of Combat 2 to ask him some questions.

How long of you been doing jiu-jitsu, Drago?

I started in October of 1999. So a little bit over three years.

How’d you get started?

Actually, I was at my Tae Kwon Do school at the time, and white belts from Renzo’s in the city came in. They knew our instructor, and he asked us to try to hit them. They were like, ‘Yeah, you can try to hit us,’ and they took us down and choked us, put us in triangles and stuff like that. And I had no idea what was going on. I was kinda cocky, I was a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and I couldn’t do anything – they just choked me. So then I started learning the jiu-jitsu. I quit Tae Kwon Do and I stuck with it ever since.

You showed some striking in your fight with Govola. Is that from Tae Kwon Do?

I got my black belt in Tae Kwon Do, but I really don’t use the kicks too much. I’ve been training a lot with Ray Longo for standup. He helps me a lot with my conditioning, my standup – that’s where I’m getting my hands from – and I’m going to add the kicks in soon. I’m pretty much going to be an all-around fighter. I want to be able to stand with the guys. I know I’ll be better than everybody I fight on the ground because I train with the best guys – you know, Matt and Nick and Team Renzo, and we’re the best on the ground. I feel confident enough with my submissions where the guys are going to have trouble hitting me from in my guard, and if they open up too much I’m going to tap them. And that’s the bottom line.

You’ve only fought MMA twice, and your second fight was against an undefeated Mass Destruction champ. What’s up with that?

I’m jumping in there, I’m not warming up – I’m jumping right into the heat, know what I mean? I love to fight. Some people, they do it for the wrong reasons – they do it for the fame, or this and that. I just do it for the fight. I could care less about everything else. I love to fight. I’ll fight anytime, anywhere. I just love doing it.

Are you nervous before your fights?

Not really. My first fight I was little nervous. But the second fight, the one I just had, I was calm, I was ready, pumped. Basically, the way I look at is: the guy has to finish me to get me to stop fighting. ‘Cause every time I’m fighting, I’m trying to end the fight no matter what. With my fight with Ted [Govola], I was going for the submissions, I was going for the knockout blow, I was going for it. I wasn’t trying to win the decision – you’ll never see me do that. I’m always going to try to win the fight. Some people get their rushes from different things, they’ll jump on a roller coaster or whatever – I just love the rush of a fight.

So the rush of the fight is what motivates Drago?

Mentally, I’m not scared of anybody. I don’t care. If my opponent wants to hit me, he can hit me – I’m coming back for more. But there’s always going to be that chance that I’m going to submit you or knock you out, no matter what. So you can’t take that away from me.

For all those MMA fans out there who have yet to see you fight, what should they expect?

I want people to have no idea what to do with me. They’ll have no gameplan with me – they’re not going want to stand up with me, they’re not going to want to go to the ground with me. I’m getting everything good in my game. I’m working with wrestlers for my takedowns – I want to kill everybody.

And your ultimate goal in mixed martial arts?

I like the UFC. I like what they’ve done for the sport.

Thanks, Drago.

No problem.

An Event Grows in Vegas (or, the June 22nd Ultimate Fighting Championship Preview)

Part I

*originally published in the Jun ’01 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

It developed amidst rumors and guesses, and seemed to sprout up out of nothing. The facts were slow to bloom – appearing only as the fighters one by one confirmed that they were on the card. Yet, though it all, one thing was evident: something big was going to happen in Las Vegas. Something big for mixed martial arts. On June 22^nd, at the Bellagio Resort and Casino, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will venture further into the mainstream with an event slated for Fox Sports Net’s “Best Damn Sports Show, Period” – and the event boasts a line-up that’s as solid as oak.

There’s no official name for it – some call it “UFC 37.5”, while others label it as the “UFC at Bellagio”. But whatever its designation, this show is history in the making. Though it won’t be on pay-per-view (much to the chagrin of the ardent fans) and seating is limited to the few thousand that the venue can hold, this UFC has the potential to reach nearly half-a-million cable television viewers. This is Zuffa’s big shot at crossing over into the mainstream – and they know it.

Taking No Chances

“It’s going be an historic show for mixed martial arts,” says UFC president Dana White. White knows that this is the sport’s biggest shot in years at leaving an indelible impression on the general public, and that this impression must be that MMA is most thrilling sport out there. The fights have to be incredible and the show must be stellar. The “Best Damn Sport Show” will air only one of the June 22^nd bouts – the best one – so it needs to be a barnburner. Stacking the odds in their favor, White and matchmaker Joe Silva have light-heavyweight superstars Vitor Belfort and Chuck Liddell headlining the card. And following the recipe for sure-fire action from the last show’s barrage of blazing ‘young guns’, seven newcomers and three hard-hitting veterans complete the roster. Welterweight sluggers Steve Berger and Robbie Lawler will return to meet up in the cage, and the heavy-handed welterweight Benji Radach will face rookie and Nick Serra. The other newcomer match-ups include middleweights Tony Fryklund and Rodrigo Ruas, welterweights Joao Marcos Pierini and Josh Thompson, and welterweights Pete Spratt and Zach Light – all hungry up-and-comers practically guaranteeing action. Did the success of UFC 37 have anything to do with the implementation of this show? “No,” says White. “It’s no secret we’re shopping for TV deals… But it did have a lot to do with the makeup of the fights.”

Aside from the thrills within the cage, what happens outside of it must be just as impressive. Adding to the odds of a great show is comedian Joe Rogan as guest commentator. The host of the ultra-popular “Fear Factor”, Rogan (an avid MMA enthusiast himself) brings with him mainstream appeal and acceptance – an essential component in garnering new fans. And what better way to round out the production than to have the Bellagio packed with ardent followers of the sport? By offering fans a week-long special rate at the nearby Palace Station Hotel and Casino (where the fighters are staying), Zuffa has provided a strong incentive to come out to Las Vegas for the show – almost ensuring an audience extremely interested in what’s happening in the Octagon. Zuffa is taking no chances.

An Event Grows in Vegas (or, the June 22nd Ultimate Fighting Championship Preview)

Part II

*originally published in the Jun ’01 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

The Young Guns

The meat of the card is the newcomers – Zuffa’s newest and most precious resource. Fighting their hearts out for cheap (compared to the purses the more established athletes command), they provide more bang for their buck. “When you have young talented fighters looking to make a name for themselves, quite often they’ll fight harder than someone looking to protect their name,” says White. “These rookies fight harder than a lot of the bigger guys. They’ll put on a hell of a show.”

So who are these fresh faces? Nick Serra (brother of lightweight Matt Serra) is a Renzo Gracie black belt with experience in local MMA competitions. Described as a “talented jiu-jitsu guy” by matchmaker Silva, he’ll be meeting Dennis Hallman-protégé Radach’s heavy hands and sprawl head on. Tony Fryklund returns to the Octagon a new man (he first fought at UFC 14 in 1997!). Now a Militech fighter who likes to brawl, he’ll be facing Rodrigo Ruas, nephew of UFC legend Marco Ruas. “He’s primarily a stand-up fighter,” says Silva of the Brazilian. “Though like his uncle Marco, he does have a ground game.” Joao Marcos Pierini is another Brazilian making his debut. Originally scheduled to fight at UFC 37 but sidelined with a herniated disc, he’s jiu-jitsu man described as a “Tasmanian Devil” in the cage. His opponent, Josh Thompson, trains with Frank Shamrock, and at the Shogun promotion left Silva with the impression that “he can strike really well and do submissions.” Pete Spratt is “definitely a stand-up fighter” who “likes to try to knock people out,” and Zach Light is a Tito Ortiz-trained wrestler who “likes to slug it out.”

With their potential for explosive battles and back-and-forth wars, any one of these young gun’s matches could be the bout that makes the cut and is aired. Or the Belfort/Liddell match could be the one. But expectations run high for Berger and Lawler. The veteran Berger, coming off a controversial (and soon-to-be reversed) loss at the last show, has been known to throw heavy leather and fight his heart out. At UFC 37, the Militech-trained Lawler did the same. Putting these two together could mean dynamite.

“I’m a believer in Robbie Lawler,” says White. He cites Lawler’s determination in the epic bout with Aaron Riley, and how despite all the punishment taken, Lawler dug deep and rallied. For Berger, White has a comparable level of respect – and aside from the veteran’s skills, the UFC president appreciates the Missouri-native’s qualities outside of the cage. “Steve Berger is very classy, and I think he would represent the sport well,” he says, taking into consideration the image mixed martial arts athletes must convey to those thousands of Fox Sports Net viewers.

Exciting. Fresh. Hungry. Brimming with talent. If Belfort and Liddell fail to deliver, it’s clearly in the hands of the young guns.

A Few More Words from Dana White

Only the best fight will we be shown, and the choice of which bout makes the broadcast rests with Zuffa. What constitutes the ‘best fight’ according to White? “Anything exciting,” he says. “A fight like Robbie Lawler/Aaron Riley. Or a Serra/Carter fight. Or a Rizzo/Couture fight. Or a Rizzo/Barnnett.” Will the fans ever get to the see the other fights on a later broadcast? “I don’t know what I’m going to do with that yet. I’m putting this show together for those people that wouldn’t normally see a UFC.”

Will the winner of the Belfort/Liddell fight be the number one light-heavyweight contender? Will they get the next shot at Tito Ortiz? “Yes. They will get the next shot at the champion,” and White pauses, perhaps concerned about jinxing the not-yet-official match-up. “They’ll get the next shot at the winner of the Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock fight.”

With no PPV sales and a limited gate potential, how will this event’s success be measured? By airing on cable TV and tapping into a broader audience, the success is in the exposure. Says White: “This show here isn’t about making money.”

The “Best Damn Sports Show, Period” is hosted by Tom Arnold, Chris Rose, basketball player John Salley, baseball player John Kruk and football player D’Marco Farr. “This fivesome tosses around sports conversation from the fans’ and players’ points of view with a no-holds-barred approach,” reads the show’s website – an approach seemingly tailor made for MMA. By crossing over into the mainstream, the growth potential here is enormous. And with a card stacked with young guns and brawlers, headlined by superstars Belfort and Liddell, and with Joe Rogan at the broadcast table, Zuffa appears to be giving it everything they’ve got. If all goes well, the event that has grown into the June 22^nd UFC will rock.

UFC 34: “High Voltage” Shocks the World

Part I

*originally published in the Nov ’01 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

For those disappointed in UFC 33 “Victory in Vegas”, with its lackluster fights ending in decisions, UFC 34’s “High Voltage” was a jolt of energy – a blast of high-powered excitement. Picture this: Punches of lightning speed, devastating a Japanese legend in only eleven seconds. An almost-double knockout, the first in the history of mixed martial arts. A rookie submitting a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt and Abu Dhabi grappling champ in a little over a minute. The roar of over six thousand fans, on their feet in the MGM Grand Arena. Picture this, and you’ll have a good idea of what was the Ultimate Fighting Championship 34. For those ready to write off the new sport of MMA as tedious and boring, the November 2^nd show was anything but. “High Voltage” shocked the world.

The crowd was electrified as it was treated to eight bouts featuring some of the best fighters in the world. Center stage on the card was a rematch between heavyweight champion Randy Couture and top challenger Pedro Rizzo – who’d fought their hearts out at UFC 31 six months before. With the last meeting of the world-class Greco-Roman wrestler and Brazilian kickboxer ending in a close decision, this fight was meant to leave no questions unanswered. Also on the card was welterweight champ Carlos Newton’s first title defense. He would square off against Matt Hughes, a wrestler and Pat Miletich-protégé. Would Matt avenge his friend and mentor’s loss to the craft Canadian jiu-jitsu stylist? Add to this already volatile mixture an explosive match-up between Japanese Shooto star Caol Uno and Hawaiian “Phenom” BJ Penn, plus the return of Evan Tanner, the trash-talking Phil Baroni, and three more heavyweight fights, and there seemed little room for this show could fizzle. Zuffa was taking no chances with this show. And could it?

The previous UFC, “Victory in Vegas”, was far from the victory Zuffa had hoped for. One reason for this was that every match went the distance, a disaster for the UFC’s comeback to cable. The judges were forced to decide the outcome of each of the pay-per-view match-ups, and fans were left wondering what had happened to the sport that had once been so gripping and intense.

Zuffa took this to heart, and after conferring with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, made a change in the rules. At the UFC 34 press conference two days before the event, it was announced that the referee would once again have the power to stand up combatants due to inactivity – a power used before the advent of five-minute rounds. Though this new rule played little role in “High Voltage,” the message was clear: this show was going to be different.

As another reason for UFC 33’s less-than spectacular outing, critics blamed Zuffa Vice President of Talent Relations Joe Silva. In his role as matchmaker, Silva was the one responsible for choosing the fighters. Did he match them too evenly? “With this last show, some people were saying they were too evenly matched,” said Silva, an avid MMA fan himself. “All I can say to that is it was the same exact type of matchmaking I’ve done for all the shows that we’ve had.” What was his take on UFC 33’s shortcomings? “I think it was more of a combination of, not being so evenly matched, but [that it was] the first time back on cable, first time in Las Vegas. I think there were a lot of jitters - a lot of people saying ‘man, I really just don’t want to lose’. This led to some boring fights.” Did Silva’s bosses at Zuffa blame him for the outcome of the “Victory in Vegas”? Did they put pressure on him to make “High Voltage” more exciting? “No. Fortunately, my bosses all come from boxing and they realize that... if you look at all the boxing matches per year, how many of them are truly great? Even with all the hype, all the -‘this should be the greatest fight!’- stuff. Most of them don’t live up to it. Superbowls quite often don’t live up to the hype. It’s very difficult. We’ve been fortunate and we’ve had some truly spectacular shows. But every now and then, you’re not going to. So I had no pressure from my guys at all – they realized they were all good matches to make.”

Still, the Virginia native freely admits that by the end of the last show he was “pulling his own hair out.” This one had to be better. Zuffa might bounce back from a poor event, but would MMA? It is too new of a sport not to worry about cable viewers missing the ends of matches that go the full time limit. For the sport to succeed, UFC 34 needed not just to promise excitement, but to deliver it.

And so it was that, with the prior show hanging over everyone’s heads, “High Voltage” got underway.

UFC 34: “High Voltage” Shocks the World

Part II

*originally published in the Nov ’01 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

A smaller venue than Mandalay Bay, the MGM Grand Arena seated approximately seven thousand. As the preliminary matches started, many of these seats were empty. First up were the heavyweights: Roberto Traven versus Frank Mir.

A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu with fights going all the way back to UFC 11, Traven entered the Octagon first. Known for his grappling skills, he proved a formidable champion when he competed in the Abu Dhabi submission tournament. If this fight were to go to the ground, nothing less than complete dominance was expected.

Mir, the local boy, sported a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and background in wrestling. Though he had a 23-pound weight advantage, his record was short: only two professional fights, with this his first bout in the UFC. As some had anticipated, the fight was quick. The outcome, however, was nothing anyone could have imagined. After a few strong punches, Mir took the Brazilian down and landed in his guard. From there, a scramble brought them back to their feet, with more punching from an advancing Mir. Backpedaling, Traven stumbled and dropped to his back near the fence. Mir was over him, maintaining constant pressure. In a quick series of moves, Mir stepped over Traven’s legs to take mount, then reached for an extended arm. At one minute and five seconds, the Abu Dhabi champ was forced to tap.

“I didn’t think it would be so short,” said Mir, above the cheering fans. “I trained for a 30 minute bout.” The underdog had won in a convincing fashion, and the fans loved it. “Now that I’m in the UFC, I want to stay in the UFC,” Mir told the crowd. “I’m not going anywhere.” In submitting a master grappler, the Las Vegas resident had made an impression – and set the tone for the rest of the night.

Next up were middleweights Phil Baroni and Matt “the Law” Lindland. Though their last fights in the Octagon had lacked excitement, the pair had been matched up here to help establish a pecking order in the new weight class. Baroni, infamous for his trash-talking antics, promised to break “the Law” – no easy task, as Lindland was an Olympic silver-medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling. Would these two be able to follow the pace of the match prior? For those who predicted a boring “lay-and-pray” bout, this one was the farthest thing from it. Despite lasting all three rounds and going to the judges for decision, Baroni and Lindland battled their hearts out in what many described as the fight of the night. Lindland did his best to stay on top, getting the takedown many times and maintaining control. Twice Baroni reversed him and, in the first and third rounds, managed to throw some heavy leather. Though not enough to earn the win, Baroni nearly had Lindland out, and showed immense heart by not giving up in the face of bad positions or exhaustion.

Lindland received the majority decision. “Phil fought better than I expected,” he said afterwards, and indeed, Baroni had clearly given it his all.

The last preliminary match-up saw the return of light-heavyweight Evan Tanner as he faced off against Homer Moore. Tanner, coming off a quick loss to champ Tito Ortiz, needed this win. Training with Lindland and heavyweight champ Randy Couture, he professed to know little about his opponent. Moore, with a spotless record in the Arizona Rage in the Cage shows, was indeed an X-factor. Nonetheless, Tanner achieved the victory he had sought: at fifty-five seconds into the second round, Tanner secured an armbar from the guard, forcing the bigger man to tap out. “I felt really confident coming into this fight,” said Tanner, a Texas native. “My training was key and I have such a great team with Randy and Matt teaching me so much.” For Moore, who had spent time training with the Lion’s Den for his UFC debut, it was back to the drawing board.

UFC 34: “High Voltage” Shocks the World

Part III

*originally published in the Nov ’01 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

With the preliminaries out of the way, the show was already a vast improvement over the last one. If the rest of the matches proved to be as thrilling, Zuffa could finally have the coming out party they deserved. Thanks to Zuffa, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, sanctioned in Nevada and now on cable television, would truly be back and better than ever.

As pyrotechnic explosions flared and burst, the crowd, now nearly filling the arena, went wild. Heavyweights Bobby “Bad Seed” Hoffman and Josh “the Baby-Faced Assassin” Barnett made their way to the Octagon. Hoffman and Barnett had met up before, squaring off in 1999 at the end of a grueling eight-man tournament – Superbrawl 13. There, Barnett had gotten the better of Hoffman, earning a hard-fought decision. But a lot had changed since then. Now, Hoffman was the King of the Cage heavyweight champ, and amassed an impressive record against world-wide talent. Barnett himself was considered a top contender, his only loss to Pedro Rizzo via knockout after a long stand-up battle. Both were seasoned veterans – with skills on their feet and on the ground – and both knew this fight would be the next step towards the UFC heavyweight title.

As referee Big John McCarthy started the match, both fighters advanced. Wary of Hoffman’s incredible punching power, Barnett tied up. From there, Hoffman got a takedown, but found himself in the guard of someone adept at submissions. The Baby-Faced Assassin tried armbar after armbar, then a kneebar, while Hoffman kept his cool and escaped each one. A scramble took them back to their feet, where they tied up against the fence. This time, Barnett got the takedown this time and attained the mount. Slamming his chest into Hoffman’s face again and again, Barnett was unable to do much damage, and was reversed. The round was nearing an end, when, from inside Barnett’s guard, Hoffman received an unintentional eye-gouge. Despite the heat of battle, Barnett was apologetic.

Back in their corners between rounds, both fighters seemed fresh, although Hoffman was indeed nursing his eye. As Big John turned them around to face one another, Barnett could be seen mouthing yet another “I’m sorry.” And then they were clashing again, Hoffman landing a knee before getting tied up. A sweep by Barnett took them to the ground, where he scored with punches from within the Bad Seed’s guard. After passing, then a scramble, Barnett was sidemounted. It was there that he unleashed a flurry of forearms and elbows. Unable to defend himself, Hoffman tapped at four minutes and twenty-five seconds.

Although it was unclear as to how much the accidental eye-gouge factored into the win, both fighters acquitted themselves well. The Baby-Faced Assassin, in spite of his signature throat-slashing “victory dance”, was quick to praise his opponent, and asked the crowd to applaud him. “I’m know I’m going to be wearing the gold real soon,” said Barnett on his future. “Real soon.” With only a handful of fighters in the UFC heavyweight division having made their mark, Josh Barnett will certainly get a shot at that gold – sooner rather than later.

Next up was Caol Uno versus BJ Penn. Uno made his way to the Octagon with UFC vet Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in tow. Penn followed, sprinting, and bringing MMA legend Frank Shamrock with him. Both fighters were visibly pumped. As referee Larry Landless started the match, no time was wasted: Uno and Penn charged each other. Uno was the first to make his move, leaping into the air and attempting a sidekick. Penn dodged, and when both fighters reset themselves, Penn opened up with lighting-fast punches – first a straight right, then a left cross. With Uno stumbling back into the fence, the Phenom followed up with four right uppercuts before the referee could jump in. Penn ran out of the Octagon as quickly as he ran in, returning a few minutes later to get his hand raised in victory. The crowd went wild. Not since the days of Vitor Belfort had they seen such amazing hand speed. In just eleven seconds, Penn had shocked the world.

Many believed Uno’s vast experience in defeating top talent would be too much for Penn – a relative unknown quantity in the MMA world. Other than being the first American black belt to win at the Brazilian Mundials, Penn only had two quick wins – against Din Thomas and Joey Gilbert. How well could he really hope to do? Evidently, extremely well. It took only eleven seconds for the Hawaiian “Phenom” to knock Uno out, cementing his shot at the belt with a dizzying flurry that left the Japanese Shooto champ crumpled on the Octagon floor.

“I want my belt,” Penn said in his post-fight interview. “I’ll go past anyone to get it.” Get ready for fast hands facing off against heavy leather at the upcoming UFC. The next stop on the Phenom’s quest: Jens Pulver.

UFC 34: “High Voltage” Shocks the World

Part IV

*originally published in the Nov ’01 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

In what will go down in history as the first almost-double knockout in the Octagon, Carlos Newton met up with Matt Hughes to battle for the welterweight belt. Coming off a win against Pat Miletich, Newton promised excitement – something he’s always specialized in throughout his long MMA career. Hughes, seeking revenge for Miletich’s loss, would certainly add to that excitement.

Though Hughes’ entrance was to Kid Rock’s “American Badass”, it seemed mild when compared to Newton’s. To the music of Destiny’s Child, Newton and his trainers wore huge afro-wigs, and grooved with Playboy model Angelica Bridges. Ever the entertainer, Newton was already making this match memorable. Then, as Big John McCarthy shouted “Let’s get it on!” the battle was joined.

Both fighters had promised a stand-up fight at pre-show interviews. However, that was not to be, for when Hughes threw the first punch and connected, Newton fell to guard. The former All-American wrestler followed, and after a few moments was reversed. Completely mounted, Hughes remained calm, and the Canadian was unable to score or try a submission. A scramble brought them back to their feet, where Hughes unleashed his trademark move: a big slam. The crowd cheered. Newton managed to get guard, and after another scramble, Hughes finished out the round landing heavy punches on the welterweight champ. For all his craftiness, Newton was getting the worst of it, though everyone knew he could win at any time with a magical submission.

Round two began with another hard right by Hughes, followed by another powerful slam. From within Newton’s guard, the Miletich protégé punched, but found himself caught in a triangle choke. With his opponent’s legs getting tighter, Hughes did the unexpected: he lifted Newton up into the air, carried him to the edge of the Octagon and held him suspended against the fence. Undaunted, Newton continued the choke, pulling his legs even tighter. In a last-ditch effort, and a stroke of brilliance, Hughes did another slam… and Carlos Newton was knocked out. Big John rushed in and disentangled them. Hughes, dazed and nearly unconscious, quickly came to his senses. Celebrating his victory with an ecstatic Miletich, Jeremy Horn, and twin Mark Hughes, the new welterweight champ was virtually speechless. His victory had come at one minute and twenty-seconds in the second round.

“I’m at a loss for words,” he said in the ring. “This is a lifelong dream come true. This is awesome. I can’t even believe this is happening! I feel like I’m in a dream, and it’s simply awesome.”

Newton was revived, only to be told he had lost. “I thought when I choked him, that was the reason we fell to the ground. I thought were both knocked out. But I was wrong.”

Back in the locker room, Matt Hughes went over the play-by play. “We didn’t train for a triangle. I made the mistake there in diving into the triangle. He didn’t do anything fabulous – it was my mistake that got him the triangle.” Did he realize the danger he was in? “He had it sunk in good.” Had Hughes, known for his strength and power, expected to knock Carlos Newton out? “I didn’t know I’d knock him out. I just wanted to break the hold. I backed up, slammed him down, and then he was out. End of the story.” As Hughes saw it, the slam was his last resort.

It was an amazing fight, and an amazing outcome. The show, very nearly at its end, was turning out to be one of the most exciting ever.

UFC 34: “High Voltage” Shocks the World

Part V

*originally published in the Nov ’01 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

Heavyweights Ricco Rodriguez and Pete “El Duro” Williams were up next. Rodriguez, a Team Punishment member, was looking to prove himself against top competition, and Pete Williams, the infamous Lion’s Den member whose claim to fame was his knockout of Mark Coleman, fit the bill. In Rodriguez’ corner: Ortiz and Baroni. In Williams’ corner: UFC legend Ken Shamrock. As the fighters squared off, it was clear whoever was able to impose his game on the other would be the winner. Rodriguez, the accomplished Brazilian Jiu-jitsu grappler, would want the fight on the ground. Williams, though skilled on the ground, would want it on their feet. With his superior conditioning and aggressiveness, Rodriguez would earn the win.

Unable to get off a strike, Williams found himself on his back early on. Rodriguez, after taking him down, worked the ground-and-pound strategy, utilizing the fence. A kneebar attempt by Rodriguez spared Williams further punishment, and gave El Duro an opening to stand up. Instead of disengaging, Williams came back down into his opponent’s guard, where he was reversed. The round ended with Rodriguez dominant.

For the second round, Rodriguez showed more of his aggressiveness, getting another takedown and achieving sidemount. More ground and pound prompted Williams to turn over, and the Team Punishment heavyweight took backmount, hooking his feet inside Williams’ thighs for complete control. A flurry of punches to the sides of Pete Williams’ head forced the referee to call a halt to the match. The winner: Ricco Rodriguez, at four minutes and two seconds of the second round. Pleased with himself and his performance, Rodriguez called out his critics on the Internet – having won convincingly against one of the best.

The final match of the night was set to begin, and for all that had transpired in the Octagon in the previous two hours, it was eagerly awaited.

Entering to a song specifically made for him, Pedro Rizzo was a man on a mission. This was his third chance at the heavyweight title. Though highly skilled, a loss here would throw him back into the mix of fighters still trying to earn their first shot at the belt. Would Rizzo be the next to wear the heavyweight crown? For Rizzo, tonight was it.

With flames and explosions, Couture entered with fanfare befitting a champion. Over the sound system the Jimi Hendrix-version of the “Star-spangled Banner” blared. Pausing with a hand over his heart, the world-class wrestler was the American hero, as the crowd to chanted “USA! USA!”

Couture had trained with former champ and opponent Maurice Smith to combat Rizzo’s strong kickboxing skills. Would it be enough?

The contest was underway to see who had learned the most from their last bout. Both men were extremely tentative, circling one another and refusing to make the first mistake. The crowd responded with boos, which Couture seemed to take as a cue for the takedown. Scooping up Rizzo and spilling the Brazilian on his back, the wrestler worked from within the other man’s guard – a turn of events almost identical to their first round together at UFC 31. Unlike their last fight, Couture restrained himself from unleashing a flurry and gassing. The round ended in this fashion, with the champ standing over the challenger, landing the occasional punch through Rizzo’s defenses. Under his left eye, Rizzo was cut.

The second round started with the same tentativeness, until Couture began to show off what he had learned while training: his kicks. Of their limited exchanges, the man who had once was once just a wrestler was now getting the better of the kickboxer. Then, like in the round prior, Rizzo was taken down, with Couture raining more strikes from within the Brazilian’s ineffectual guard. It was now obvious that of the two Rizzo’s known to show up in a fight – the aggressive one and the passive one – the passive one was lying on his back on the Octagon floor. Bleeding profusely, Rizzo was losing. Big John stopped the action to have the challenger’s cut looked at, and the round ended.

The next round brought more hesitation between the fighters, prompting the referee to call for action. A kick from Couture was answered with a solid low kick from Rizzo; his first for the night. But the champ was unfazed. He secured the double underhooks, then the takedown. Back in Rizzo’s guard, victory was within Couture’s grasp. A strong flurry, more blood from Rizzo’s cut, and at one minute and thirty-eight seconds of the third round, the fight was over. Big John called the match. Randy Couture had held on to his belt. He was still the best heavyweight fighter in the world.

After the fight, the champ thanked Zuffa, his opponent, and the fans. He had won, but the real winners were all those who had attended, all those who had tuned in at home, all those who had wanted action and excitement. They got it. “High Voltage” was everything Zuffa could have hoped for.

UFC 34: “High Voltage” Shocks the World

Part VI

*originally published in the Nov ’01 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

Joe Silva was a happy man, discernible by his grin from ear to ear. He was beaming. He had helped set up a stellar card, and unlike the last show, this one was full of thrills. What were his thoughts, in light of this incredible success? With enthusiasm, he spoke about his fighters after the show.

On the prelims: “I was really impressed with Frank Mir. He fought in a prelim fight, but he tapped out a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu world champion – an Abu Dhabi champion – with an armbar. The kid’s got a ton of potential. Evan Tanner made a great comeback. Numerous submission attempts, finally landed it. It was great. Phil Baroni answered so many questions I had. He talked a lot of crap, but he showed me he’s got a lot of heart. He came back and did everything to win. I’m really impressed with Phil. And Matt Lindland: he went to war! People said he’s boring, never bring him back.’ He wasn’t boring tonight. He did everything he could – I’m really impressed.” As Silva could very well hold their futures in his hands, this mean a lot.

On the lightning-quick bout between two stars in the lightweight division, Silva was even more enthused. “BJ Penn is completely insane! Caol Uno is truly one of the very best in the world, and BJ just wrecked him. I can’t wait to see him and Jens Pulver. That’s gonna be awesome.” Could fans expect to see Uno back, despite his crushing defeat? “Caol Uno is a true warrior. People know I’ve always been a big Shooto fan, I’m a fan of the Japanese fighters. Caol Uno is back in the UFC whenever he wants to come back to the UFC. BJ Penn is just a freak! Anybody he gets in there could end up like that! Din Thomas, one of the best in the world, didn’t do a whole lot better. What is our champion gonna do against him?”

Unable to halt his accolades, Silva turned his thoughts to the other match-ups. “Josh Barnett was awesome. Carlos Newton and Matt Hughes: almost the first double-knockout in history. Matt Hughes was unconscious, but he woke up first and he wins. It’s a tough call, but I think it was the right call in the end. Ricco Rodriguez proved a lot of his critics wrong. I think he’s gonna earn a lot of respect he deserves. Randy Couture showed he is undisputedly the top heavyweight in the world. That’s what I wanted to do. So many people didn’t think he won [in their previous match-up]. They had a question – there’s no question now. I hate questions, I hate judges decisions, and tonight we didn’t have too many so I’m really pleased about that.”

He paused, but never stopped grinning. He had done his job to the best of his ability. In spite of the “Victory in Vegas” show, he had resisted potentially exciting mismatches – instead pairing up fighters without concern about whether they were too evenly matched. “My heart goes out to everybody on the card. I said to them: ‘I can put together the best match on paper, but it’s up to you to make it reality.’ And these guys did. They all came to fight, they all came to finish – they have my eternal thanks.”

All in all, the evening was an astounding success. Not only did Zuffa accomplish all it had sought out to – captivate the crowd, put on a great show for the pay-per-view audience, and demonstrate that they are the premiere MMA event in the world – but they did it with panache. “High Voltage” shocked non-believers and believers alike. With one champ keeping his belt, and another champ crowned, UFC 34 was an electrifying experience. Can Zuffa top it with UFC 35?

A Quick Interview with Joao Pierini

*originally published in the Oct '01 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

When the Gladiators team is mentioned, names that usually come to mind are UFC veterans Eugene Jackson and Tim Lacjik, or IFC vet Doug Evans. But the Gladiators Training Academy has other fighters waiting for their chance to compete. Joao Pierini is one such fighter. A Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt, Joao’s responsible for the team’s jiu-jitsu training, and he’ll be making his American debut at the upcoming Warriors Quest 3 show in Hawaii. Focused and serious inside the ring, friendly and funny outside of it, Joao was kind enough to answer a few questions.

Joao, tell us a little about yourself.

I’m 29 years old and I am from Sao Paulo, Brazil. I live with Eugene Jackson and I train at the Gladiators Training Academy. I left Brazil because there are better work and future opportunities here in the U.S.

What’s your Brazilian Jiu-jitsu pedigree?

I studied in Sao Paulo in 1983 and had three different teachers. My first teacher was Orlando Saraiva. My second teacher was Moises Muradi. My third was Pedro Hemeterio. I’ve trained in jiu-jitsu for seventeen years and I’ve been teaching about seven of those. I got my black belt from Moises Muradi.

What’s your fight record?

I fought against four other up-and-coming Brazilians [at a show called Circuito Free-style Vale Tudo] and won all the fights inside the time using my jiu-jitsu ground techniques. My corner man was Marcelo Giudici. I trained for three months prior to fighting.

How did you feel going into the ring?

My confidence was high because I trained with good people.

How’d you end up at the GTA?

I’ve been with the Gladiators for about a year. I came to train at the Gladiators Academy because of a guy named Eric Wray. He saw me at another gym and was impressed enough to introduce me to Eugene, who brought me to the Gladiators. I am also training jiu-jitsu with Claudio Franco and his team on the weekends. I want to let everybody know that I am now training full time for mixed martial arts, and I believe you will know my name in the future!

For those who haven’t seen you compete, what’s your style?

My style is jiu-jitsu and my jiu-jitsu is aggressive. I like to take my opponent to the ground, control him, and force him to give me an opening for a finishing move.

How has training at the Gladiators affected that style?

There are good teachers, especially boxers, that I think have helped me become a more rounded fighter.

What did you think of Eugene’s fight at UFC 33?

Eugene fought okay. I didn’t like the lack of respect on the part of Almeida when he attacked off the opening-glove touch.

What had you worked on with him before the fight?

Eugene is basically a striker so we focused on avoiding and escaping. His escapes will be much better next time. He will be doing more jiu-jitsu from now on. It is time to go back to basics – jiu-jitsu takes a long time to develop well.

How important is training in jiu-jitsu?

At first, grapplers ruled because the strikers knew no ground techniques. Now everyone does jiu-jitsu, so it’s down to who trains the hardest!

What are your goals in MMA?

My ambition is to fight in the UFC at 170 pounds. I’m not looking for any particular opponent. My manager, Doug Wilson, just booked me my first fight in the States – the Warriors Quest show in Hawaii on December 1.

Training with a gi: yes or no?

Yes. Jiu-jitsu in the gi allows you to develop more techniques and to develop them better.

Your opponent for the Warriors Quest 3 show is Nassor Lewis. What do you know about him?

I know he is supposed to be very tough. He’s never fought before, so I don’t have a tape on him. I expect to make a statement in this fight and start to build a name for myself – so I can achieve my goal of fighting in the UFC!

Any advice for the aspiring fighter?

To be a great fighter you need no distractions. You need to eat well, sleep well, and train well. These three must be in place with no exceptions.

Anything else?

You must also never forget to be grateful to God for all the opportunities in your life!