Art of Fighting 6 (11/22/09)

From Fightzone TV, another Florida event. The "sequel" to the previously watched AOF event I guess? Ron Yacovetti, Seth Petruzelli, and Jay Adams are announcing this event from the Germain Arena.

1) Jim Alers vs. Freddy Assuncao: Two undefeated prospects fighting just north of the featherweight limit.

FIGHT: Alers Submission Rnd 2. Fairly competent MMA bout by both men featuring ground work and standup. Action on mat slow to develop in round 1. Second round largely standup, though not particularly active. (1)

Alers - Alers showed excellent ring savvy, putting his hand down on the mat when in a front headlock/clinch position in round 2, making Assuncao's knees illegal blows. His takedowns were not necessarily world class, but decent enough for this level of MMA to be successful. Striking was pretty robotic and not at all different from your average MMA fighter. Very few kicks thrown, doesn't look comfortable jabbing, doesn't really give feints or move his head. That'll be an issue with tougher men.

Assuncao - Physically well built fighter, but his takedown defense was generally lacking. he stopped a shot in the second round, but was taken down in the first and ended up tripped up and put in the position for the standing RNC in round 2 when defending another double leg takedown. Striking wasn't anything unbelievable, but at least feinted and was active with his upper body. His movement opened up an opportunity for a superman punch.

2) Ariel Gandulla vs. Shane Primm: Primm was on TUF and Gandulla is an ex-Cuban wrestler who once lost a title fight in the WEC to the guy Zuffa loved who everyone thought might have been white power. Both have moved to 185. Interesting note: Primm is sponsored by the supposedly WP Hoezler Reich clothing here. MMA: Always classy.

FIGHT: Primm Submission Rnd 1. Gandulla was strong in the early part of the round, taking down Primm, but his much older body wore out fast and Primm took control. While ending up on his back late in the round, Primm was able to make lemonade out of lemons and tap him with a triangle. (1)

Primm - Wrestling is still okay at best, not really improved since the Tom Lawler fight much earlier in his career. Standup seems so so but you can't tell against someone who's so singularly talented as Gandulla. Had no problem pulling thai plumb on Gandulla.

Gandulla - Nothing new here. Gandulla got into the sport 10 years too late to make an impact. Strong wrestler, but with an official age as a Cuban import already into his 40s, he's likely even older than that.

3) Brian Fuery vs. Dave Yost: Heavyweight contest. Yost looks all gassed up at 5'11'', 231. Fuery is a more realistic 6'3'' 235. Decent records here. (0)

FIGHT: Yost TKO Round 1. Almost all grappling with Yost being taken down repeatedly, but fighting his way to good positions. When he gets the fight standing toward the end of the first, he hurts Fuery with uppercuts in the clinch, and Fuery basically turns around and gives up, forcing a ref stop.

Yost - Built like Jeff Monson and about the same amount of ink, the big difference is the wrestling. Monson was a Division I wrestler. Yost clearly isn't. He had no takedown defense. He does have powerful punches, and he's capable of escaping bad positions on the mat, but there was nothing about his standup shown here. But in a division full of wrestlers in a sport where wrestling is the dominant art - I mean, does this end well?

Fuery - Has takedowns, doesn't finish all that well on the mat in dominant positions, standup is all question marks.

4) DJ Linderman vs. Mario Rinaldi: Rinaldi is a big boy who had some success in Japan and in smaller MMA promotions in the US. Bodog used him for a little while; not the best in shape ATT product, but not terrible either. Linderman I've never heard of. Rinaldi may have actually gained a lot of weight.

FIGHT: Linderman TKO 3. Simple case of cardio overcoming lack of technique, size, or strength. Similar to Yost/Fuery before it as man outwrestled overcomes and wins by stoppage. (1)

Linderman - Taken down over and over, mounted twice, in danger of submission, eating right hands...its a good thing Rinaldi was running on E with one minute left in round 1. Otherwise there could have been real trouble. Linderman has heart, a decent gastank, and some submission defense skills. He scored the final takedown of the fight, pulling a single leg takedown on Rinaldi that was kind of nice. But again: How does a guy who can't defend Rinaldi's shot get to the next level in MMA?

Rinaldi - Years pass, the story is the same. He can move around on the mat, and in many ways is the superior version of Lloyd Marshbanks. But like Marshbanks, you never get the sense that he's taking this that seriously. His weight is the major indicator; always been in shape, so long as round counts. Maybe its because everyone else is using steroids, but I doubt that's the whole answer. If Rinaldi really put in work, I wouldn't be shocked to find out he's a light heavyweight in disguise.

5) Reggie Orr vs. Crafton Wallace: Middleweight fight. Orr was a TUF reject, Wallace has been around as a part time fighter forever.

FIGHT: Wallace, UD 3. The most important aspect of this fight is Orr's size. Don't let anything else fool you. He used it to put Wallace on his back and sap his strength in the first two rounds, and by the third, Wallace was arm weary and flatfooted. Not terrible technically. (1)

Orr: Repeated takedowns slowed down the fight and Orr ran the pace. Wallace was able to drop Orr in the second but got wild afterwards and almost kneebarred as a result - Not sure if you can give that to Orr or if its a negative for Wallace, but there you go. Good cardio too. When Wallace got tired in the third, Orr was able to hook over his jab.

Wallace: Decent counter punching early, but he was unable to defend the takedown and was worn down by the bigger man. Lots of attempts at rubber guard failed. When Wallace transitioned for armbar attempts in the first and second round, both attempts were thrown off to the side and he absorbed punches. I just don't see what Wallace does at this point in his career to improve.

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Alers/Assuncio

KO OF THE NIGHT: Linderman/Rinaldi

SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: Alers/Assuncao

OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 6 out of 10. Huge improvement over the last AOF show I had seen in terms of talent presented. Some solid fights. Can't complain too much.

D&R Rating: 16% (4/25)