Fight Game Blog

The “pregame” show talked about Klitschko’s relationship with trainer Emmanuel Steward and how Steward came in to save Klitschko’s career. It wasn’t necessarily a moving piece, but an interesting one because Klitschko is being built up as a guy with all the tools who just can’t get it done.

For Thompson, they built him up very much as the underdog, which was fine, but I wanted to see more about him as a human interest story. Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant did a little outline of his life, but I wanted to see how this professional sparring partner became a contender for Klitschko’s IBF and WBO title. They did say that his kids made him take the nickname, “The Tiger” as in Tony “The Tiger”.

Jim Lampley said that Klitschko is called a mechanical version of Lennox Lewis, to which Lewis agreed and said he was more natural. Um, isn’t that pretty much inferred Lennox? Isn’t that what being mechanical is not? Oh well.

Round One

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Here are my predictions for the five fights that are scheduled to be on the PPV show.

Tyson Griffin over Marcus Aurelio by decision.
Josh Koscheck over Chris Lytle by decision. (If Koscheck lets his hands go, this could be the sleeper fight of the night. If not, might be the worst fight of the night.)
Joe Stevenson over Gleison Tibau by third round submission.
Ricardo Almeida over Patrick Cote by second round submission via guillotine.
Rampage Jackson over Forrest Griffin by third round TKO.

By the way, I suck at predictions, so take that for what it’s worth.

1. Tyson Griffin vs. Marcus Aurelio

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In the MMA world, this show needs no introduction. But in the sports world, it probably does. Elite XC is putting on the first prime time network MMA show. No, the UFC didn’t beat them to the punch. This show needs to be successful for the good of the sport and they are putting all of their money on Kimbo Slice to help them draw the necessary ratings.

Gus Johnson, Mauro Ranallo, and Frank Shamrock are the commentators.

There was a nice little lead in for the fighters where each person fighting tonight was introduced in a pre-recorded deal, but it was a little less than what I’d have expected. It was a bit subdued.

They are pushing the arts in martial arts fairly hard, though Shamrock said that anyone could punch you or choke you to death, talking specifically to the home viewers. He also looks very nervous in the booth.

I know why they did it, but I didn’t like the long intro. I think they should’ve gone to a fight first and during the first fight, do a bit of educating, and then talk about the sport and tell the viewer what they are watching after. You could’ve put Phil Baroni and Joe Villasenor in there knowing that Baroni just swings away and gasses early to start the show off with a bang.

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1. Brett Rogers vs. James Thompson

Rogers knocked this man silly. It was slow until the middle of the round and then Rogers hit a knee and four straight punches. He was knocked completely loopy.

Winner: Brett Rogers by way of first round TKO

2. Edson Berto vs. Yves Edwards

They were both landing early, but Berto took it to the ground. He had a guillotine in and it looked tight, but Edwards got out and nearly got a kimura. Edwards was on top and both men were striking from their positions, but the referee stood them up anyway. Berto shot in for a single leg and actually grabbed a hold of his right leg, but Edwards jumped with his free leg and threw a wicked knee and Berto went down and was out.

Winner: Yves Edwards by way of first round TKO

3. Kyle Noke vs. Scott Smith

Noke took the first round on points strictly from boxing his way through it. He was sticking and moving but never hurting Smith. Smith got a few shots in early. In the second, Noke threw a couple punches that Smith walked right through and then Smith landed a right hand to Noke’s mouth and Noke went out completely. He was out before he hit the ground.

Winner: Scott Smith by way of second round TKO

4. Ricco Rodriguez vs. Antonio Silva

The story of the fight was that Rodriguez was far more active and game than he seemed to be early on. He looked to be afraid of Silva’s strength, but eventually got a takedown late in the first. In the second, Silva was on top and was hitting Rodriguez with some heavy shots, cutting him over his left eye. Rodriguez got the referee to stop the fight so the doctor could check his eye, but it seemed like he did it more so to catch his breath as he winked at the camera. The second was all Silva. In the third, Silva got a takedown but the referee stood them back up and Rodriguez got the takedown. He tried to steal the round, but didn’t do much while on top. It was a boring fight, and afterwards Silva said that he tore his MCL a couple weeks ago. The surprise was that even as fat and out of shape Rodriguez looked, he fought well.

Winner: Antonio Silva by way of split decision

5. Tank Abbott vs. Kimbo Slice

Abbott came out and pushed Slice against the cage, but Slice was able to push him off. Slice put him on all fours, but the referee came in the middle of them because of a punch to the head and Slice received a warning. He knocked Abbott back down twice, with one shot to the head and one to the back of the shoulder. It was more like a forearm. Abbott was back up and was knocked out off a right/left combination.

Winner: Kimbo Slice by way of first round TKO.

1. Antonio Banuelos vs. Manny Tapia

Tapia won a three round decision that initially was called a split decision draw. The first round was really good, but in the second and third, they kind of stayed away from each other. It was mostly stand-up though Banuelos did get a few takedowns.

Winner: Manny Tapia by way of split decision.

2. Chase Beebe vs. Miguel Torres

This was for Beebe’s bantamweight title. Urijah Faber was on commentary and said that Torres had a dirty mustache and a mullet and you can’t underestimate the power of the mullet. He was right. Torres was taken down twice and the second time went for a shoulder lock from the guard. Beebe rolled out of it and Torres got an anaconda choke, but then switched to what Frank Mir called a reverse rear naked choke and Beebe tapped out. Torres is the new WEC bantamweight champion.

Winner: Miguel Torres by way of first round submission

3. Leonard Garcia vs. Hiroyuki Takaya

Garcia got him early with a straight right and then stopped him soon thereafter.

Winner: Leonard Garcia by way of first round TKO

4. Rob McCullough vs. Jamie Varner

Varner showed that he could stand-up with McCullough in the first round and was the better boxer. McCullough was being patient, looking for his spot, but he definitely lost the first round. The second round was nothing much at all. But the third was classic. McCullough dropped Varner and the tide seemed to shift. Varner lost his mouthpiece and asked the referee to stop the fight so he could put his mouthpiece in. The referee agreed and he was able to catch his breath a bit. It helped. Varner dropped McCullough with a right hand and followed up, but McCullough was trying to fight back. He was dropped again and fell backwards and the fight was stopped. Two title fights, two title changes.

Winner: Jamie Varner by way of third round TKO

5. Carlos Condit vs. Carlo Prater

Condit came out fired up, but was taken down early in the round. He was very comfortable on his back though and was keeping Prater and his elbows at bay. He locked in a guillotine and the fight looked to be over, but Prater got out of it, only to get stuck in it again. This time, he tapped.

Winner: Carlos Condit by way of first round submission