Monday, June 28, 2010

M1 Fighting Championship Episode 4 (?)

This was recorded from FSSHD, 3/21/10. I'm sure there will be a billion KOs to come.

1) Gilbert Yvel vs. Ibragim Magomedov: Everyone loves an Yvel fight. 11/11/2001 is the date.

FIGHT: Yvel Submission Rnd 1. (2)

Magomedov: Man, is he ever sloppy. I mean, Yvel almost gets a kneebar against him. Just overpowering Yvel in the clinch. Then, incredibly, Magomedov actually fouls Yvel by eyegouging him. Yvel recovers, fight restarts, Yvel drops him and it leads to the end.

Yvel: Yvel was once a dangerous man in MMA, and you see why here. Yvel has something resembling a submission game and is a powerful striker. However, the submissions never really got where they needed to in order to get him the Ws at the higher levels of the game.

2) Andrei Semenov vs. Alexi Vezelozorov: Vezelozorov is apparently a karate guy. I've enjoyed past fights of his. 11/11/2000.

FIGHT: Semenov Submission Rnd 1. (1)

Semenov: Really the only guy to talk about here. Takes down Vezelozorov early, easily attains mount, and then goes for the armbar. Vezelozorov taps in about a minute-thirty.

3) Sergei Bytchkov vs. Jani Lax: Bytchkov was a vet of a bunch of promotions and fought dudes like Mach Sakurai and Luiz Firmino. Lax is some Swede who actually was in Hero's for a time. From 11/11/2001.

FIGHT: Bytchkov TKO Rnd 1 (1)

Lax: Lax was actually a decent boxer standing, and had Bytchkov in real trouble in the first minute. However, there's being decent and being good: Good boxers don't drop their hands and they don't square up. Lax did and paid for it when Bytchkov threw a haymaker. Lax had no submission game, otherwise, he would have won.

Bytchkov: Tough guy, robot boxing. Had some decent takedowns.

4) Vladimir Yushko vs. Ansar Chalangov: Chalangov was the standout 185lber on M-1 last year, exemplifying how bad a season it was. 10/10/2003.

FIGHT: Chalangov Submission Rnd 1 (1)

Chalangov: It sucks seeing fights like this, because you know how the story ends. He just runs over Yushko, who isn't physically strong enough to stop the takedown or get his way out of the clinch. Wins by a strange armbar while still mounted on Yushko. Yushko threw a headkick that missed and that was pretty much all he had. Chalangov ran into American wrestlers who could take him down, and strong strikers who could shrug off his shots, and it proved that he was in way over his head outside of Eastern Europe.

5) Oleg Tsygolnik vs. Mika Ilmen: Heavyweight jobbers collide. 11/11/2001.

FIGHT: Tsygolnik Submission Rnd 1 (0)

Stupid fight. Some light bad leg kicks thrown, they clinch, Ilmen's knee gives out during a trip takedown. Fight is over as he taps.

6) Dave Strasser vs. Ansar Chalangov: What a strange fight at the time. Chalangov is a prospect. Strasser is a UFC vet. 12/5/2003

FIGHT: Chalangov Submission Rnd 1. (2) Not much to see here honestly. Chalangov dropps Strasser early, pounds on him, Strasser just sorta flops around, and is caught in a one arm guillotine and taps while mounted. Huh? Looked to me to be a thrown bout.

7) Musail Alludinov vs. Yuji Hoshino: Another bout from 12/5/2003.

FIGHT: Alludinov TKO Rnd 1. A whopping 10 seconds or so. Alludinov catches Hoshino with a right hand as Hoshino is circling, and then while he is face down on the canvas he takes another blow. (0)

8) Marcelo Vieira vs. Stanislav Nuschik: Vieira's career is a total mess.

FIGHT: Nuschik TKO Rnd 1 (0)

Vieira: Poor shot, but then he is against a guy in wrestling shoes. Submission game is not that great either. Zero standup. I guess is is really muscular.

Nuschik: Lands a billion punches standing as Vieira just sorta wobbles toward him. He is gassed about 2 minutes in as a result. Eventually he sucks it up and finishes the guy.

9) Roman Zentsov vs. Herman van Tol: Did Zentsov commit any crimes against foreigners in Russia? He seems like the kind of guy who might. 11/11/2000.

FIGHT: Zentsov TKO Rnd 1. Zentsov and van Tol trade early and to the surprise of no one, Zentsov gets the best of it. (1)

10) Amar Suloev vs. Rick Rootlieb: From 11/11/2000 as part of a tournament.

FIGHT: Suolev Submission Rnd 1. Suolev shoots under a right hand as Rootlieb comes to deliver it, gets down Rootlieb, and his opponent has no idea how to defend anything there. He has the back in like 3 seconds, throws some punches, and then gets the RNC. Under a minute. (1)

11) Andrei Semenov vs. Adnan Durmas: Also part of a tournament on 11/11/2000. Possibly the same one? Who knows. Hell, we just saw the fight with Vezelozorov from that night in this same hour show.

FIGHT: Semenov TKO Rnd 1. Semenov shoots under an attempt to close the distance by Durmas, huge takedown, and then GNP in mount until the fight is over. Ends in 50 seconds. (1)

OVERALL FOR THE SHOW: 3.5 out of 10. 11 fights in about 50 minutes, and none of them were actually good.



Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Shogun Fights 2 (3/27/2010)

An hour long MMA show on TV from Mariner Arena in Baltimore. Circle cage.

1) Steven Baker vs. Rick Desper: 145lbers.

FIGHT: Desper Submission Rnd 1. (0)

Baker: Terrible ground work. Possibly never trained in his life as he repeatedly takes down Desper and tries to put him in headlocks while giving up his back.

Desper: Decent submission skills aided by Baker's total lack of skill there. No apparently standup ability.

2) Cole Preseley vs. Brian Van Hoven: 155 lb bout. Preseley is 6'1''.

FIGHT: Brian Van Hoven Unanimous Decision. (0)

Preseley: You may sit there and say you know MMA. Perhaps. Preseley then, for you educated folk, is the mid-atlantic's answer to Tristan Yunker. He's a lanky lightweight who works well off his back, but not so well that he can beat a seriously skilled wrestler. After winning the first round with submission attempts, he is taken down in the second round, slows the number of sub attempts, and ends up with a broken nose and some nasty cuts. He takes a urange in round three and is reduced to basically working buttscoot and trying to scissor legs and throw triangles. Bloody mess at the end of this fight. Ugly stuff.

Van Hoven: A wrestler who is strong and well conditioned. That's always a tough combination. However, not much to say about him standing, and while he was able to power and slam his way out of submissions against Preseley, his technique left a lot to be desired. Another thing I didn't like: He changed levels on Preseley in round 2 after getting clipped in the head with a punch while the men were clinched. Was slow in doing so, barely got the takedown against a guy who wanted to be on the bottom.

3) Justin Hickey vs. Brett Thomas: 145ers.

FIGHT: Hickey TKO Rnd 1 (0)

Hickey: Tries a wild guard pass, throws wild shots standing. Does have a nice takedown, being a judo throw really early on. Gets rocked during an exchange and barely hangs on.

Thomas: Mounted, smashed, taken down twice, controlled almost none of the fight except when he briefly hurt Hickey with a punch.

4) Bobby Huron vs. Jason Hillicker: 135lb fight. Huron is supposedly from Greg Jackson's camp.

FIGHT: Hillicker Submission Rnd 1

Huron: Just seems mediocre. Gets caught in an armbar while on top inside the guard.

Hillicker: Wild striking, grabs the armbar while on his back, forces the tap. Seems at least capable of finishing.

5) Mike Paschall vs. Quinton McCottrell: Paschall was once an undefeated boxer who made it to Shobox and was destroyed by Andre Dirrell. He looks real soft.

FIGHT: McCottrell Submission Rnd 1. (1)

Paschall: His opponent took this on late notice, and apparently can shoot a double. Completely awful, useless performance.

McCottrell: KOTC special with the takedown, mount, punches, RNC.

6) Ryan McGowan vs. Deon West: Huge fat guys over 300 lbs.

FIGHT: McGowan TKO Rnd 1. Terrible fight. West hurt early with clubbing blows and this resembles Tank's debut in MMA. (0)

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Van Hoven/Preseley

KO OF THE NIGHT: West/McGowan

SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: Huron/Hillicker

OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 3 out of 10. None of the fights look like they matter, none of the fighters look particularly relevant, and this fight is important most for the ex-boxer on the card.

D&R Rating: 3% (1/30)


Monday, June 14, 2010

M1 Fighting Championship Episode 3 (?)

This is recorded from FSN Southwest, 3/14/2010.

1) Chalid Arrab vs. Stanislav Nuschik: 2/15/2002 is the date on this. Nuschik's last fight.

FIGHT: Arrab TKO 1. (0)

Nuschik: Takes down Arrab, mounts him, and lands a lot of shots. Honestly, should have had this fight in the bag. And then, he gases and its a wrap.

Arrab: Withstands some punishment, powers out of mount, and just plasters Nuschik's face with punches until the fight is over.

2) Roman Zenstov vs. Bob Schrijber: Oh my god. Oh my fucking god. 10/10/2003.

FIGHT: Zentsov Submission Rnd 1. As good as you'd hope for how long it lasts. Both dudes wing shots, Zentsov lands some nasty inside uppercuts around Schrijber's sidearm punching, and Schrijber is out. Yet, the ref waits to see Zentsov mount a prone Schrijber, belly first on the mat, and puts a choke on him sorta and gets a sad, sad tap. Not as good as either Midoux/Zentsov fight, but great stuff nonetheless. (1)

3) Patrick de Witte vs. Alexander Garkushenko: Who? De Witte is from Holland. 2/15/2002.

FIGHT: Garkushenko Submission Rnd 1. de Witte throws a one two at the start, Garkushenko doesn't like being hit, and to the mat it goes. From there he's dominant. There's a ridiculous standup that is the only thing notable about this fight as Garkushenko is on top in mount. (0)

4) Brad Lynde vs. Alexi Veselovzorov: Another "who?" fight. 12/5/2003.

FIGHT: Veselovzorov Submission Rnd 1. (0)

Lynde: Very awkward standing and is cut by a high kick thrown with not much intensity. Shoots for a takedown and ends up getting choked out.

Veselovzorov: Another Russian fighter who is okay at different stuff but not great at any of it. Wins with a guillotine as Lynde leaves his neck out there for one.

5) Curtis Stout vs. Andrei Semenov: Two gatekeepers at different levels. 11/15/02.

FIGHT: Semenov Submission Rnd 1. Stout shoots and tries to slam Semenov out of the fight. Instead he ends up the ground, mounted, and then choked out. (1)

6) Ruben Vazquez vs. Arman Gamburyan: Who? Light heavyweights. 4/6/03.

FIGHT: Gamburyan Submission Rnd 1. The Armenian sounding named guy just slams and dominates Vazquez all 8 minutes before tapping him with a kimura. Blah fight. Blah dudes. Gamburyan took a long time to set up anything. (0)

7) Amar Suolev vs. Vagam Bodjukyan: Holy christ, this is old. One night tourney on 11/11/2000.

FIGHT: Suolev TKO 1. Lands some solid strikes, then defends a shot of Bodjukyan and smashes him. Nonevent. (1)

OVERALL FOR THE SHOW: 5 out of 10. More carnage plus interesting carnage.


Thursday, June 10, 2010

M1 Fighting Championship Episode 2 (?)

The next episode of their show. This one was recorded from Fox Sports Southwest on 3/8/2010. Wheelock and Smith are still announcing.

1) Yushin Okami vs. Amar Suolev (10/10/2003): The show starts at M1 MFC 6: Russia vs. The World. This is a shockingly important fight, as Suolev went on to PRIDE, Okami to the UFC, and to various states of ranking since.

FIGHT: Suolev TKO 1. (4)

Okami: He's big back then too and still is for the weight class. His low kicks aren't bad, but he can't seem to muscle down Suolev. Not willing to just push to the cage, Okami instead gets stuffed when he shoots doubles, and ends up being blasted to the face with right hands and right high kick attempts.

Suolev: Some of the things that ultimately failed him are on display here - he isn't big, he's overly reliant on the right hand and leg to stun people, doesn't jab. He does stop the takedown attempts of Okami (who was never necessarily a monster wrestler) and damages him with the right hands though. He didn't need much more than that.

2) Andrei Semenov vs. Chris Albandia (10/10/03): Both guys are shredded. Semenov's body type always made me think he might have been juicing big time. Strange career arcs too.

FIGHT: Semenov TKO 1. He takes down Albandia and smashes him out with strikes, ending the fight as Albandia turns to his stomach and is cut badly by a punch. Meaningless stuff, really. (1)

3) Valentijn Overeem vs. Ibragim Magomedov (4/6/03): Back in time for this one to Russia vs. The World 5. (1)

FIGHT: Magomedov TKO 1. Standard Overeem sort of bout. He's dropped early by a right hand, Magomedov ends up caught in his guard, he nearly pulls off a submission win with a kimura while keeping Magomedov in the full guard, tries to get around him to put on leverage and Magomedov gets out. Then with the very first set of blows thrown from standing, he drops and stops Overeem. Magomedov was recently KOed by Alex Emelianenko's jab. 1-1 against lesser brothers.

4) Tulio Palhares vs. Denis Komkin (10/10/03): Palhares is listed as 2-9. WHAT.

FIGHT: Komkin Submission Rnd 1. Palhares is hurt early with a punch and this goes to the mat off a Komkin outside trip. When there, they jockey for leglocks, Komkin gets his, and cripples Palhares with an achilles lock. Shameful stuff. (0)

5) Eugeney Lyamin vs. Brian Maulany (2/15/02): This show is all over the place. No idea who either is.

FIGHT: Lyamin Submission Rnd 1. Lyamin likes throwing karate styke high kicks, and then takes down Maulany. Maulany gives the back, rear naked choke. This is not a KO, as listed on Sherdog. Neither guy was ever relevant. (0)

6) Sergey Kaznovsky vs. Slavonir Molnar (12/5/03): Molnar is from Slovakia and listed as 3-0. Kaznovsky is a semi well known journeyman heavyweight from Russia.

FIGHT: Kaznovsky TKO Rnd 1. Shameful level of striking from both, particularly Molnar, who looks like a plussed up version of Cal Worsham from the Varelans fight and less talented. (0)

7) Andrei Semenov vs. Nikolai Onikienko: I think this is part of a one night tourney from 11/11/2000, but it could also be from their first fight on 9/11/2000. Honestly not 100%.

FIGHT: Semenov Submission Rnd 1. (1)

Semenov: A solid performance, all things considered. He gets a takedown early, doesn't get enough out of it, and is taken down himself. He shows how skilled he is at submissions by using an active guard to pursue and nearly win via leglock. When Onikienko defends, he ends up getting mounted by Semenov and Semenov floats over to a straight armbar for a beauty of a finish. Well, aside from Onikienko's screams of pain.

Onikienko: Should tap earlier. Good leglock defense, sorta. Decent shot.

OVERALL FOR EPISODE: 3.5 out of 10. Some interesting stuff, but no really good fights. Just carnage. Lots of carnage.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Cage Wars 10: Braveheart (3/15/2008)

Another CWC show. This one originates in Belfast, Ireland.

1) Alan Love vs. Richie Bagby: Middleweight contest. Amateur bout.

FIGHT: Love Submission Rnd 1. Love with a takedown, and then a guillotine. Bagby, who is muscular, does nothing. (0)

2) Ali McClean vs. Anthony Thompson: Amateur Lightweight contest.

FIGHT: McClean Submission Rnd 1. Thompson looks composed early on and gets a takedown, but is unable to do anything in guard and we get a standup. McClean goes wild with strikes and then grabs a guillotine and pulls guard. Thompson taps. (0)

3) Arno Rotgans vs. Daren Petrikonis (?): Another lightweight bout, but this time, a pro boutwith a man who is perhaps a Polish Plumber stereotypes. But from Lithuania. Rotgans is from Mike's Gym in Holland.

FIGHT: Rotgans Submission Rnd 1. Rotgans with a nasty armbar after a takedown and beating in the mount. He starts looking to take the arm and Petrikonis turns to his belly. Rotgans still has it and basically flips Petrikonis over with it. Yikes. Rotgans is undefeated at 7-0 but inactive going on 3 years. (0)

4) Peter Duncan vs. Cyrille Crochet: Lightweights. Duncan is sometimes fun to watch.

FIGHT: Duncan Submission Rnd 2. Yet another guillotine. Duncan repeatedly took down Crochet, had dominant positions (banana split!) and eventually grabbed him and guillotined him. (0)

5) Alexandre Abin vs. Daniel Abrol: Lightweights.

FIGHT: Abin Submission Rnd 1. Really wild striking at the start of the fight, and Abin ends up grabbing a rear naked choke standing. Abrol tries to jump and slam him down to release, but the plan fales. Abin ultimately sinches it in and forces a tap.

6) Jontas Novaes vs. Mamarizaev Jahongir: Jahongir is much bigger than his opponent.

FIGHT: Novaes Submission Rnd 1. Novaes decides not to try and stand and trade, and takes down Jahongir, then gets the armbar. It ain't a choke as Sherdog has it. Straight armbar out of mount. Novaes has had a nondescript career since. (0)

7) Lee McKibbin vs. Aureles Kerpe: Middleweights.

FIGHT: Kerpe TKO Rnd 3. McKibbin was killing this early on in the first round, and Kerpe came back with a vengence. (0)

McKibbin: Decent jitz, and almost had a W by submission early on. But he couldn't close the deal, and also couldn't block a punch. That was his undoing.

Kerpe: Seems to have some sense of submission defense and can stop menially skilled takedown attempts. Tough. Landed a lot of punches without totally gassing out, earning him the W.

8) John Smith vs. Graham Turner: Lightweights.

FIGHT: Turner TKO Rnd 1. A throwback - Smith is a former kickboxer with no ground skills, and gets taken down and demolished by Turner, who does. Turner is the only story here, and there's not a great story to be told. Can't even tell if he can throw a punch standing. (0)

9) Mo Gormley vs. Andy Hillhouse: Huge heavyweights. Gormley is with a shirt and resembles Chance Williams. Hillhouse has a shaved head and a tattoo on the back of his head.

FIGHT: Hillhouse KO Rnd 1. Some slobberknockering ends with Gormley being taken out with a right hand to the head. Hillhouse's only career win. (0)

10) Heman Gipson vs. Michal Kita: Kita's name is misspelled, but I know who it is. He's an M-1 vet. This is a heavyweight fight with the potential of some skill being exhibited.

FIGHT: Kita Submission Rnd 1. This was a extra special thing, because he won with a Sakuraba kimura with Gipson having his back. Sorta. I mean he twisted him all over the mat while trying to lock it in and eventually fucked the dude's shoulder up. Also had a sweet judo throw. Gipson rolled around a little to defend and failed. The end of that. (1)

11) Daniel Tabera vs. Ken Sparks: This is a 90 minute TV show, and there's 30 minutes left...and we've seen 10 fights! Jesus. Light heavyweights.

FIGHT: Tabera Submission Rnd 1. Another total domination; Tabera lands some looping shots while coming forward, ends up pushing Sparks to the cage, it goes to the mat, Tabera smashes him and eventually takes his back and chokes him out. I learned nothing other than I'm not sold on Tabera to strike with anyone. Presently 16-2-3, he lost in Bellator last year but drew with Mamed Khalidov, beat Mikhail Zayats, and is an M-1 vet. (1)

At this point, the show then starts to display fights from Scotland the Brave that were already reviewed. So I guess that's it.

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Kerpe/McKibbin

KO OF THE NIGHT: Gormley/Hillhouse

SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: Rotgans/Petrikonis

OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 3 out of 10. Another lousy CWC show with a mildly entertaining beatdown over several rounds, and a bunch of one sided tomato can beatings. I'm glad I've come near the end of these programs. With CWC 9 not making TV here yet (Colin Robinson vs. DAN SEVERN, Danny Van Bergen, and Jimmy Mills!), I have to shoot ahead to CWC 11 which features an appearance by JEFF SNOWMAN MONSON. That I can get excited about.

D&R Rating: 4% (2/55)

Thursday, June 3, 2010

M1 Fighting Championship Episode 1 (?)

This was televised on 3/1/2010 from CSN. Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock announcing. Cage rules in effect, and its one 10 minute round with no knees or kicks to the head on the mat. Shoes are legal. What will we get here?

1) Yka Leino vs. Alexi Vezelovzorov: Who?

FIGHT: Vezelovzorov TKO Rnd 1. And with this, I can tell it was the first meeting between these two on 2/15/2002. 8 years ago! Bizarre fight with Leino tapping to a heelhook, but it being missed by the ref, who then stands them up, and Leino is stopped with strikes and takes a ton of kicks to the head on the mat, which were supposedly illegal. (0)

Leino: Decent grappler who almost taps his opponent early on, but ends up eating a lot of nasty strikes. Wide open standing. Last fought in 2003.

Vezelovzorov: Wide open striker with some grappling skill. Threw sidekicks, which I adored. Absorbed a lot of shots. Last fought in 2008. Never moved into serious competition internationally. Lost to Denis Kang and Bristol Marunde.

2) Andrei Semenov vs. Renato Vieira: From 11/11/2001, prior to Semenov being in PRIDE or the UFC.

FIGHT: Semenov KO Rnd 1. No shock here. Vieira is a BJJ guy through and through and Semenov, always a tough kickboxer, just works over Vieira and drops him with a right hand. Vieira goes down and Semenov stands over him as the ref stops it. Easy fight for Semenov. (2)

3) Ronny Rivano vs. Danila Veselov: Another fight from 11/11/2001. Neither man has fought since 2005.

FIGHT: Rivano KO Rnd 1. Wild trading. Veselov gets the takedown and mounts his opponent, but the fight is stood up. Rivano lands a front kick to the mush and Veselov is out cold. Rivano retired at 13-13 according to Sherdog. Does the baby giraffe dance for awhile after too. (0)

4) Roman Zenstov vs. Chalid Arrib: What a strange and timely fight now that Arrib is in the UFC. Also from 11/11/2001.

FIGHT: Arrib KO Rnd 1. Arrib lands a ton of low kicks, drops Zenstov with a right hand, and then just smashes him for about 15 seconds straight with punches to the head as Zenstov doesn't defend. (2)

5) Amar Suloev vs. Julian Gonzales: What? Who is this dude fighting Suolev? From 11/15/2002.

FIGHT: Suolev Submission Rnd 1. Pointless contest as Suolev dominates standing, slams down Gonzales, and taps him with a rear naked choke as he controls all positions. (2)

6) Ben Rothwell vs. Ibragim Magomedov: Also from 11/15/2002. Rothwell looks better here than he does these days.

FIGHT: Magomedov TKO 1. Rothwell retires between rounds from exhaustion. Close and competitive fight as Rothwell controls the early going, but ends up getting tagged with a multitude of strikes halfway through the 10 minute round and from that point on, its all downhill. He takes a battering of shots as the first round ends and hugs until the bell. (2)

How do you even analyze something like this? Magomedov is an also ran these days. Rothwell morphed into a brawler with takedown defense and top control skills. Rothwell would be like a 5-1 favorite in a fight between them today. You can see in this fight that Rothwell is very tough to drop and take out, and that he was in better shape once.

7) Yuji Hisamatsu vs. Denis Komkin: Hisamatsu was fresh off a loss to Nate Marqhardt in Pancrase. That makes this fight on 12/5/2003.

FIGHT: Komkin KO Rnd 1. Over in 16 seconds. Neither guy amounted to anything. (0)

OVERALL FOR THE EPISODE: 3 out of 10. All of it is for the back and forth single round of Magomedov/Rothwell, which is such a strange fossil in MMA history to appear here on TV now.