Nuno
11-10-2003, 04:07 PM
*Note: My info is based on what I remember from yesterday.
Gary Goodridge defeated Daniel Bobish
TKO (Strikes) 0:18 1R
Goodrige may have lucked out when Bobish started *****ing about his eye. It looked like Bobish stopped fighting cause he got a booboo on his eye. Well duh, you just got punched in the face. Goodridge took advantage and wailed on him until the ref stopped it.
Fight Rating: 3/10
Quinton Jackson defeated Chuck Liddell
TKO (Strikes) 3:10 2R
Wow, Quinton was awesome in this one. His standup striking and defense is incredible. He was hitting Chuck with hard kicks and punches whenever he wanted and neutralized Chuck's attacks with solid defensive work. It was looking like a K-1 fight. Quinton won the round decisively. In the second round Quinton silenced all by taking Chuck down and giving him his worst MMA beating ever. Chuck looked hurt cause every time Quinton hit him, he would wince in pain. The ref stopped it to end his pain at the 3:10 mark 2R.
Fight Rating: 10/10
Wanderlei Silva defeated Hidehiko Yoshida
Decision (Unanimous) 5:00 2R
This fight will have some people rethinking whether Yoshida's previous fights were worked. It also showed that Silva has a competent ground game. Yoshida was very cunning. He didn't waste an opportunity to take Silva down. He executed his Judo throws to perfection. However, on the ground, Yoshida was unable to submit Silva. Silva almost caught Yoshida in a triangle choke. Yoshida won the first round. Silva change things in the 2nd round keeping it on the feet and damaging Yoshida's face. Yoshida ate a knee to the mouth yet he kept going. Yoshida showed that he can take punishment and that he has MAD HEART! In the end Silva won a fair Decision.
Fight Rating: 9/10
Dan Henderson defeated Murilo Bustamante
KO 0:53 1R
Busta got caught early with quick punches and knees from Hendo. I was shocked it ended so quickly. A rematch may be warranted in this one. Don't get me wrong, Hendo whipped his ass. I just think it wouldn't happen twice with a fighter the caliber of Busta. Hendo just got the punch he wanted and it was good night for Busta.
Fight Rating: 7/10
Heath Herring defeated Norihisa Yamamoto
Submission (Choke) 2:29 3R
Did not see it. I think it took Herring too long to beat Yamamoto, though.
Fight Rating?
Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Kevin Randleman
Submission (Armlock) 2:36 3R
Randleman could have won this one if he had been more aggressive in certain positions he had. He was too cautious. Saku was also extra especially cautious not to get KOed. Randleman almost Koed him too, when Saku was going for a takedown. Randleman's other notable offense was a devastating low kick and some nice trip takedowns. Then the fight got boring for several stretches to the point where I was begging the ref to stand it up. I blame it on Randleman for laying and praying. When Saku started setting up the armbar the excitement level changed for me. I went from the sleep like state I was in, to the hyped state I was in during the QuintonxChuck fight. When he locked it in and Randleman tapped, I realized that there is a God and his name is Kazushi Sakuraba.
Fight Rating: 10/10 it gets MAD RATINGS cause Saku won by sub.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira defeated Mirko Filipovic
Submission (Armlock) 1:45 2R
Dreamstage Entertainment? No doubt! This was a dream match. This was a classic style versus style matchup. CroCop was awesome in the 1st round. He totally dominated Nog, brushing away every takedown as if Nog was an amateur and hitting him with heavy punches and kicks. Towards the end of the first round, it looked like CroCop was about to finish it when the round ended. To Nog's credit, he can take punishment like no one else. The fight totally changed in the second round. Nog dominated the second round; scoring an early takedown and quickly getting full mount. From there he rained down punches until CroCop practically gave him his arm. Nog said thank you and armbared him till he tapped at the 1:45 mark 2R. Great fight.
Fight Rating: 10/10
Wanderlei Silva defeated Quinton Jackson
TKO (Strikes) 6:28 1R
Contrary to what most had predicted, both fighter came in to this fight relatively fresh with hardly any battle scars from their previous fight. The stare down was classic. Quinton had the meanest look I ever seen on his face. Vanderlei appeared gitty, like he couldn't wait for the match to start. Quinton went for the takedown early, which Silva countered by going for a guillotine choke. Eventually they were on the ground and Quinton started throwing down strikes, which Silva was neutralizing. Quinton got side mount until Silva worked his guard back in. After a minute of stale action the ref stood it up, giving both fighters a yellow. Some may argue that this was unfair for Quinton, but the truth is neither fighter was hurt yet so it was all fair. From here on Silva just went "Axe Murderer" on Quinton, landing solid punches and at least 20 solid knees. Before Silva dealt the final blows, he and Quinton provided us a moment that will live in our MMA memories forever. From the pump clinch position, Silva lifts up Quinton's head and they smile at each other. With one more punch and a knee the ref stops it. Quinton falls over as the ref separates them. He later hugs Silva and whispers in his ear, "you the man". (Bub noticed it.) Now you all know why I praise Silva. Not cause he's the world's greatest (which he might be), but because his fights are always exciting. This was the best fight I have ever seen period.
Fight Rating: 10/10
Closing thoughts:
This was by far the best MMA event I have ever seen. Pride lived up to its billing as the best MMA organization in the world and that it has the best fighters in the world. We can only hope the heavy weight Grand Prix will be this good.
Event Rating: 10/10
Gary Goodridge defeated Daniel Bobish
TKO (Strikes) 0:18 1R
Goodrige may have lucked out when Bobish started *****ing about his eye. It looked like Bobish stopped fighting cause he got a booboo on his eye. Well duh, you just got punched in the face. Goodridge took advantage and wailed on him until the ref stopped it.
Fight Rating: 3/10
Quinton Jackson defeated Chuck Liddell
TKO (Strikes) 3:10 2R
Wow, Quinton was awesome in this one. His standup striking and defense is incredible. He was hitting Chuck with hard kicks and punches whenever he wanted and neutralized Chuck's attacks with solid defensive work. It was looking like a K-1 fight. Quinton won the round decisively. In the second round Quinton silenced all by taking Chuck down and giving him his worst MMA beating ever. Chuck looked hurt cause every time Quinton hit him, he would wince in pain. The ref stopped it to end his pain at the 3:10 mark 2R.
Fight Rating: 10/10
Wanderlei Silva defeated Hidehiko Yoshida
Decision (Unanimous) 5:00 2R
This fight will have some people rethinking whether Yoshida's previous fights were worked. It also showed that Silva has a competent ground game. Yoshida was very cunning. He didn't waste an opportunity to take Silva down. He executed his Judo throws to perfection. However, on the ground, Yoshida was unable to submit Silva. Silva almost caught Yoshida in a triangle choke. Yoshida won the first round. Silva change things in the 2nd round keeping it on the feet and damaging Yoshida's face. Yoshida ate a knee to the mouth yet he kept going. Yoshida showed that he can take punishment and that he has MAD HEART! In the end Silva won a fair Decision.
Fight Rating: 9/10
Dan Henderson defeated Murilo Bustamante
KO 0:53 1R
Busta got caught early with quick punches and knees from Hendo. I was shocked it ended so quickly. A rematch may be warranted in this one. Don't get me wrong, Hendo whipped his ass. I just think it wouldn't happen twice with a fighter the caliber of Busta. Hendo just got the punch he wanted and it was good night for Busta.
Fight Rating: 7/10
Heath Herring defeated Norihisa Yamamoto
Submission (Choke) 2:29 3R
Did not see it. I think it took Herring too long to beat Yamamoto, though.
Fight Rating?
Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Kevin Randleman
Submission (Armlock) 2:36 3R
Randleman could have won this one if he had been more aggressive in certain positions he had. He was too cautious. Saku was also extra especially cautious not to get KOed. Randleman almost Koed him too, when Saku was going for a takedown. Randleman's other notable offense was a devastating low kick and some nice trip takedowns. Then the fight got boring for several stretches to the point where I was begging the ref to stand it up. I blame it on Randleman for laying and praying. When Saku started setting up the armbar the excitement level changed for me. I went from the sleep like state I was in, to the hyped state I was in during the QuintonxChuck fight. When he locked it in and Randleman tapped, I realized that there is a God and his name is Kazushi Sakuraba.
Fight Rating: 10/10 it gets MAD RATINGS cause Saku won by sub.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira defeated Mirko Filipovic
Submission (Armlock) 1:45 2R
Dreamstage Entertainment? No doubt! This was a dream match. This was a classic style versus style matchup. CroCop was awesome in the 1st round. He totally dominated Nog, brushing away every takedown as if Nog was an amateur and hitting him with heavy punches and kicks. Towards the end of the first round, it looked like CroCop was about to finish it when the round ended. To Nog's credit, he can take punishment like no one else. The fight totally changed in the second round. Nog dominated the second round; scoring an early takedown and quickly getting full mount. From there he rained down punches until CroCop practically gave him his arm. Nog said thank you and armbared him till he tapped at the 1:45 mark 2R. Great fight.
Fight Rating: 10/10
Wanderlei Silva defeated Quinton Jackson
TKO (Strikes) 6:28 1R
Contrary to what most had predicted, both fighter came in to this fight relatively fresh with hardly any battle scars from their previous fight. The stare down was classic. Quinton had the meanest look I ever seen on his face. Vanderlei appeared gitty, like he couldn't wait for the match to start. Quinton went for the takedown early, which Silva countered by going for a guillotine choke. Eventually they were on the ground and Quinton started throwing down strikes, which Silva was neutralizing. Quinton got side mount until Silva worked his guard back in. After a minute of stale action the ref stood it up, giving both fighters a yellow. Some may argue that this was unfair for Quinton, but the truth is neither fighter was hurt yet so it was all fair. From here on Silva just went "Axe Murderer" on Quinton, landing solid punches and at least 20 solid knees. Before Silva dealt the final blows, he and Quinton provided us a moment that will live in our MMA memories forever. From the pump clinch position, Silva lifts up Quinton's head and they smile at each other. With one more punch and a knee the ref stops it. Quinton falls over as the ref separates them. He later hugs Silva and whispers in his ear, "you the man". (Bub noticed it.) Now you all know why I praise Silva. Not cause he's the world's greatest (which he might be), but because his fights are always exciting. This was the best fight I have ever seen period.
Fight Rating: 10/10
Closing thoughts:
This was by far the best MMA event I have ever seen. Pride lived up to its billing as the best MMA organization in the world and that it has the best fighters in the world. We can only hope the heavy weight Grand Prix will be this good.
Event Rating: 10/10