X-1 Night of Champions (1/26/2008)

An incredible show with a remarkable headliner. Didn't even know going in who was the top name.

1) Wesley "Cabbage" Corriera vs. Jacob Faagai: Faagai is debuting. CABBAGE is the dude who's head is super hard and can't be KOed. Well, until people started doing it. Regularly.

FIGHT: Cabbage TKO Rnd 1. Corriera still doesn't look any different than years ago. Just tosses Faagai down when he shoots. Like, straight back over backwards. Hilarious shit. Faagai actually turns him over and gets to side control and starts smashing. It looks as if he's going to win with GNP! Then HILARITY. Faagai dislocates his shoulder smashing Cabbage, reels back, falls over, and eats a punch by Cabbage. (2) for the incredible one of a kind ending, Cabbage, a random dude that was smashing Cabbage - incredible. Never seen anything like it.

2) Ricky Shivers vs. Kenny Ento: Shivers is the Alaskan middleweight champ. Can't make that up. Oh! This is a tournament. One night only! Who is the other bracket?

FIGHT: Shivers TKO Rnd 1. (0) Ento slams Shivers early and looks to mount and end this fast, but Shivers is able to force the fight back up, takes down Ento, and nearly gets caught in a leg lock. Shivers stands out, then lands a right hand on Ento. Ento ragdolls into the ropes and starts taking punches like its Morrison/Mercer as the ref jumps in. (0)

INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS LEBEN. He looks like Dave Walsh on a permanent heroin bender.

3) Joey Guel vs. Falaniko Vitale: NIKOOOOOOOOO

FIGHT: Vitale Unanimous Decision (3)

Vitale: Winning a decision in Hawaii is hardly a surprise. He deserved it though, having Guel in trouble with frequency standing and on the mat. He's at a technique deficit standing but makes up for it with raw strength and his grappling technique. Even then, you see that Niko is losing a step against increasing competition - he has to force his way out of a kimura from Guel on strength alone. He should be exceedingly thankful that wasn't a serious prospect or current top fighter.

Guel: Guel shows superior standup for most of the bout and actually has a decent ground game. But he's just an OK fighter, and Vitale can defeat those. He shows enough in terms of how immobile Vitale is as well as how open he is to submissions to make you believe that Niko's a long ways away from making another run at a world title. Guel is pretty well done with the sport, it seems.

4) Dave Moreno vs. Eddie Yagin: Featherweights. Super lightweights. Whatever. 145 is the weight class. Yagin and Moreno have been around in Hawaii SO LONG.

FIGHT: Yagin Unanimous Decision (1)

Yagin: Yagin looks significantly smaller, but he's an all around better fighter. He takes down Moreno a few times and lands nice kicks and right hands. Pretty easy fight, all things considered.

Moreno: Hurts his wrist and takes a low blow the ref misses. Add in that he's a step below Yagin in terms of skill and technique, and he's not gonna win. And he doesn't.

5) Michael Brightmon vs. Anthony Torres: Welterweight bout. Never heard of either. Brightmon was in the UFC I guess. 3 minute rounds.

FIGHT: Brightmon Split Decision (0)

Brightmon: Lost to Bryson Kamaka. In 9 seconds. So that is what we are dealing with here. Just a wild puncher with a lot of physical strength. He wins the first round with some strikes that he wings out and then gets on top in the third thanks to Torres gassing and grinds out a decision.

Torres: A wrestler who has some skills on top, but nothing too great. At all. No standup. There's a reason why it was smart for him to seemingly retire and move on.

MOAR LEBEN INTERVIEW ON THE BEACH

6) Ricky Shivers vs. Falaniko Vitale: And now, the finals.

FIGHT: Vitale TKO Rnd 1. (3) Shivers gets nailed with a flying knee early in the first that drops him. Vitale jumps on him, and there's a lot of blood. Huge cut on Shivers' forehead ends the bout.

EVEN MOAR LEBEN INTERVIEW

7) Mia St. John vs. Rhonda Gallegos: UNREAL. THIS IS A FIGHT?????

FIGHT: St. John TKO Rnd 1. Gallegos is a fat mess and St. John drops her with punches. She just crumbles. St. John doesn't jump on her or anything, but does it matter? This is probably fixed. (3)

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Guel/Vitale

KO OF THE NIGHT: Cabbage/Faagai

OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 5 out of 10. Freakshows of epicness. Niko SMASH. And then decisions that aren't very good.

D&R Rating: 34% (12/35)

RUMBLE ON THE ROCK 6 (11/20/04)

Back to Hawaii, as I desperately try to get another boxed set out of the way. This time unlike ROTR 5 we get the opening sequence. This card? STACKKKKKED. More so than most UFNs, actually. A big opening ceremony with hula and conch shells ensues. Clearly they love their Japanese worship here. 

1) GILBERT MELENDEZ vs. KAYNAN KAKU: Kaku is a hot prospect. At this point, so is Melendez. 

Kaku's last fight saw him being all about take downs and this time Melendez is the better wrestler and submission artist. Not a good sign. Melendez with the shot and takedown, but Kaku keeps fighting to his feet until he is slammed pancake style, Melendez in the half guard. Kaku takes some shots but works his way back up and forces Melendez with strikes. Melendez gets this back down and Kaku is working for submissions in between the strikes on the mat. Good action.

Melendez comes in with right hands at the start of the round and Kaku is DOWN, but not hard. Melendez is throwing BOMBZ and passing, and then lands a mean knee to the dome. Kaku is getting raped here and you wonder what it would be like with unified rules. Kaku is constantly trying to improve his position but isn't able to do anything to stop the onslaught or provide offense of his own. Melendez eventually forces Landless to make the stop. Kaku went on to get beat up in Cage Force and Melendez is, well. (3)

2) DENNIS HALLMAN vs. ROSS EBANEZ: Both are journeymen, but on very different level.

Hallman ends up germaning Ross and locks in a RNC early. Kinda sucks that his last fight in the UFC was at middleweight to make Jorge Rivera look good. (2)

3) ANTONI HARDONK vs. WES SIMS: Oh man. SIMS. Kickboxer. This could be ugly.

Sims tries to stand up with Hardonk. Imagine how this goes. That's probably about right. Sims shoots in and he actually gets the fight down. I consider this a miracle. Even moves to half guard. Sims doesn't do that much and Hardonk sweeps him and mounts. Poor Wes Sims. Head and arm choke after a lot of punches. (2)

4) KRISTOF MIDOUX vs. MIKE MALONE: This I do not have the highest expectations for. What is with all these shitty heavyweights on this card?

Both men with FEARFUL STANDUP in the early going. Midoux is so outrageously fragile, so who knows what will happen. Big right hand after a low kick drops Malone. Sherdog has it at 34 seconds, its more like 2:00. Who cares though? (0)

5) AITOR CANUP vs. JUDA A'ALONA: Canup is from North Carolina, A'Alona is a fat Hawaiian sumo. This is listed as a light heavyweight fight and the Hawaiian is like 23o.

A'Alona tries to check a kick and gives up his back. Does that tell you what I'm watching here? A'Alona throws him off and does nothing with it. Canup starts landing knees standing and A'Alona can only sorta slap and push. He is tough and nothing else. Then there are uppercuts and then a guillotine and its over. (0)

6) SHUNGO OYAMA vs. SEAN O'HAIRE: Wow.

O'Haire obliterates Oyama with punches very quickly. Oustandingly pointless. (1)

7) YOSHIHIRO NAKAO vs. WESLEY CORREIRA: KISS VS. CABBAGE!

Nakao is looking for a takedown and Cabbage is is shoving him off early, only to suffer the indignity of a single leg takedown. I am horrified because I know this is going the distance. Nakao with some punches after a guard pass. Cabbage really isn't bothered apart from the cuts, which are multiple in number. Cabbage is taking a beating in round one by the superior Nakao: Knees are raining in and Cabbage somehow gets up. He's brought over to talk with the doctor, and the fight is restarted after he's cleaned up. Wouldn't want a riot. Nakao's mouth is open. Another single from Nakao and he drives down Cabbage. Nothing this time really and there's a standup. Nakao lands some looping right hands and Cabbage just laughs them off. Interesting tactic given that he has no offense in the entire round and both eyes are cut. 

Nakao with another takedown. Shock on my part. Not enough action for Landless and there's another standup. The corner for Nakao is pissed, and rightfully so, because he's throwing shots. Cabbage is throwing some bad leg kicks. Cabbage tries to throw punches and isn't landing anything. Nakao is actually the one landing shots. He shoots again, and Cabbage grabs the fence to stay up. He goes for a headlock and lands a knee. Another knee after a failed combination by Nakao. Nakao still throwing more punches and landing them. The crowd is going wild for Cabbage and he has only landed two knees the whole round. Everything else is bouncing off Nakao's arm. A couple punches and a knee right before the bell from Cabbage. Still, no way he won it.

Nakao shoots and Cabbage sprawls, but Nakao drives and gets it. Nakao passes to side control. The fight is stood up and we're back to what round 2 looked like: Nakao lands everything, throws almost everything, Cabbage throws one successful strike every 90 seconds and the crowd goes wild for it. Cabbage with a big knee and Nakao mocks him. Cabbage eats more right hands, his face is a mess, and you know where the scoring is going. Its a split decision, but surprising that Nakao wins for all the wrong reasons. (1)

8) KAZUYUKI MIYATA vs. ROYLER GRACIE: What a strange fight to have: Miyata is an Olympian, Royler is a legend. 

Royler with some cool leg kicks to start and then a head kick. Didn't expect that from Mr. Super Grappler. Miyata with a shot and, well, c'mon. Arm is locked by Royler, he starts moving for the triangle, and Miyata picks him up and slams him. Doesn't really escape though. Royler with an armbar attempt and another slam hurts Royler big time as he lands on his head. Royler survives and regains full guard. There's another short standup segment and then we're back to the mat as Miyata really only knows top control and Royler only really knows grappling. Another triangle attempt and Royler remembers to grab the leg to prevent the slam. Royler has the triangle in solidly by the horn sounds as he transitions into an armbar. 

Miyata tries to show off with some spinning back fist shit and eats a kick to the face. He shoots and every time it happens you laugh because you just know that sometime soon, he's gonna get caught. Finally there's a triangle and he makes sure to cheer for himself before actually releasing the hold. STAY CLASSY GRACIES. Watching stuff like this I really want to rewatch his shit getting caved in by Kid. (2)

9) TOM HOWARD vs. CARTER WILLIAMS: Williams was a K-1 fighter of some note and Howard is a pro wrestler. K-1 HERO'S USA? No, its Rumble On The Rock!

Howard goes for a takedown after Williams starts tooling him on the feet. Howard gets the takedown, mounts, and gets swept because he is crap. Williams starts landing 'dem bombs and Howard is all fucked up, groaning and shit. (1)

10) RODRIGO GRACIE vs. BJ PENN: A Gracie against fat BJ Penn. One of two such bouts to take place in Hawaii.

Clinch early and Gracie pins Penn against the cage. EXCITEMENT as the they throw knees and stuff. Gracie doing an epic job pinning Penn against the fence. Penn slips away. Rodrigo is terrible standing.  Another shot by Gracie and he is back to pushing him into the fence. Penn slips away again and throws some wild shots, but Rodrigo has the most effective blow of the right hand. Rodrigo gets tapped and pulls guard and Penn follows him down, landing some punches from half guard. Stupid move by Rodrigo that basically cancels out the round of domination with the Hawaiian judges. 

Gracie settles down a little and starts throwing a jab, but then goes for the desperate shot before pulling guard. Penn is not Oleg Taktarov and isn't KOed by followup upkicks. Right hand as Penn jumps in and he's in side control. Penn sure knows he has knees available to him: He made the rules! The camera pulls to the fights outside the cage. Gee, clearly this is more important than PENN/GRACIE IN THE CAGE. Penn pulls out of a submission attempt says the announcers and he stands and passes again. Another fight in the crowd! Still more important than the real fight! What the fuck is this? Announcers are still talking about the fight and there's apparently an amazing guard pass and WE DO NOT SEE IT. Fuck this shit.

Penn lands a short uppercut as Rodrigo shoots in and Penn is dominating with punches on the mat from dominant positions. Penn mocks him a bunch and even stands up as the round ends, taunting him to stand and trade before rushing him and trying a jumping stomp/pass. God bless BJ Penn. (5), even with the ridiculous fact that we only actually see half the second round. 

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Kaku/Melendez

KO OF THE NIGHT: Howard/Williams

SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: Miyata/Gracie

OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 7 out of 10 - Crappy fights were generally short and the good fights were pretty long and telling. Lame camera work in the best bout. 

D&R Rating: 42.5% (17/40): This event is tied for the second highest ranking I've ever handed out, alongside the Strikeforce one night tournament event in 2007.

RUMBLE ON THE ROCK 5 (5/7/04)

Another fine cage based card from Hawaii from the onetime Strikeforce of Hawaii. Some lousy, some great, I'm sure. Mike Onozuka (?) and Ryan Bennett are announcing this night of fights. 

1) VINCE PU vs. ROYDEN DEMOTTA: Nobodies from the islands.

Demotta with a takedown early, some strikes, guard pass, more strikes, fight over. Worthless. (0)

2) JUSTIN MERCADO vs. HARRIS SARMIENTO: Sarmiento is a well known journeyman. Mercado isn't. Troy Mandaloniz is the ref.

Running story of this fight: Mercado takes a ton of punishment, especially knees in the clinch, and doesn't ever seem to be terribly hurt. Mercado goes for a bunch of half assed sub attempts (armbar from back in first, guillotine in second, RNC in third) and even with each coming increasingly close to actually finishing, in the end he didn't properly secure any of them and Sarmiento was able to escape and return to offense, winning all 3 rounds. (0)

3) SANTINO DEFRANCO vs. KAYNAN KAKU: Both guys were interesting prospects at this point in the lightweight division.

Kaku is all about takedowns, all the time. DeFranco is passable on his back and nullifies anything really damaging in the first round by utilizing the rubber guard, but he's not really getting any solid catches. As the fight rolls on, DeFranco finds himself unable to effectively take a dominant position and is pulling guard just to get the fight down in the hopes he can sweep his way there. Another unanimous decision, neither man getting to that next level. Kaku wins. (0)

BJ PENN INTERVIEW TIME: He is leaving for K-1 and he considers that a good career move. NEWS FLASH PEOPLE - BJ Penn fights for money first. Just keep that in mind.

4) MIKE ROGERS vs. JASON LAMBERT: Rogers was coming off his first two career losses to Vernon White and Alex Stiebling. Jason Lambert was not terribly known at this stage, having lost to Tim Sylvia in the Superbrawl heavyweight tournament as well as Cabbage later.

Lambert just shoving Rogers around and takes him down. After some pushing towards the fence, Rogers ends up on his back to escape punches, gives up the hooks, and punches are thrown till its over. (2)

5) KENDALL GROVE vs. JOE RIGGS: Good chance you've heard of both. 

Grove is too green and unprepared to stop a wrestler as big and strong as Riggs. Riggs gets him down and just reels back and throws some monster bombs. Grove's head rebounds off the canvas as he is knocked unconscious. Now Riggs is a cripple and Grove is a middle of the road challenger. Still, both had their moments, including Riggs' aborted welterweight title shot. (3)

MELVIN MURRAY vs. DANNY STEELE: Kickboxing match...IN THE CAGE~

Two aging kickboxers THROW DOWN. IT SHOULD END IN A KO says the ref, and it ends as a draw on the cards. Crap. Doesn't count.

6) RYAN SCHULTZ vs. RONALD JHUN: Schultz has no idea who Machine Gun Jhun is. I knew who Jhun was and I was watching 90% boxing, 10% MMA at this point in time. I also have a good idea how this goes.

Good scrappy first round that was primarily standup and Ryan Schultz actually lands a number of looping shots. Pretty good action. Second round and Jhun actually gets a trip takedown and and kinda shocked. Isn't Schultz the wrestler from Team Quest? Jhun is in half guard and trying to stay active and prevent a takedown while Schultz is hanging on for dear life. He then passes to mount and Landless steps in to stop the fight as he is blasting punches. That is....not what I was expecting. And thus great. (3)

7) TONY FRYKLUND vs. MATT LINDLAND: Fryklund is the dumbest man alive. Lindland is soulless but younger here.

Lindland with a clinch and takedown. Well, who could have expected that? Punches and elbows are thrown and Fryklund is cut. Fryklund gets this back up and Fryklund starts landing shots, which surprises me to some extent, but of course there are clinches and when that happens, he is miserable. Fryklund is looking better here than he did against Loiseau. Lindland's striking is miserable, and it never got better; no wonder he had so many troubles in Affliction. Fryklund lands some punches in the first. This is competitive. I am shocked. Fryklund with a takedown at the end of the round. Fryklund wins the first?

Second round has Fryklund try for the guillotine early and he fails and gets slammed. Fight is stopped for cuts to Lindland's face but its restarted with Lindland on top. Fryklund is cut really bad over the right eye now. Good lord, this second round lasts for a long time. Lindland clearly won it.

Lindland shoots, Fryklund stands, actually takes down Lindland, and then passes to half guard. Fryklund almost mounts him, actually. Lindland is just terrible on his back. The "lack of action" gets this fight stood up, and Fryklund is almost suplexed and holds onto the fence to stop it. Lindland takes him down again anyhow. There's a standup with only a few seconds left and Lindland again acquires the takedown. This is not Lindland's finest moment but he definitely deserved to win. (4)

8) JOHN MARSH vs. CABBAGE CORREIRA: Cabbage was in career freefall by this point. Marsh was the worst fighter I can think of outside Manny Yarborough that was both a UFC and PRIDE vet.

All standup in the first round. Cabbage is actually sorta gunshy. Marsh lands more jabs and right hands and his face is getting marked up. This is pathetic by Cabbage. The fight doesn't get better as the BJJ specialist is moving in and out and landing on Cabbage while Cabbage does nothing but mug to the crowd and let time slip away. Marsh shoots for the takedown in the second and Cabbage tries for a guillotine, but really doesn't have it in. Marsh easily breaks away and returns to what we've seen the entire fight, throwing low kicks and running. Third round is more of the same; Marsh with clunky but effective technically sound striking and Cabbage being a punching bag. A sad, shitty fight as Marsh plays Cory Spinks, and gets a shot in the UFC his next bout out. Today, Marsh lost to a modern day Oleg Taktarov. (1)

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Fryklund/Lindland

KO OF THE NIGHT: Riggs/Grove

OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 5 out of 10. Some names on this card highlighted by a Lindland appearance, but really it is Riggs/Grove that sorta steals the event historically. Schultz/Jhun is such a shocker given how each man has progressed since. Lots of boring, mediocre fights.

D&R Rating: 32.5% (13/40)

Superbrawl 39: Destiny (4/9/05)

Having finally wiped out the last few KOTCs in the boxed set that so troubled me, its onto the Hawaiians again. I've got a bunch of ROTR and Icon/Superbrawl shows to watch thanks to well timed trips to Big Lots, of all places. This event was one of the last ever promoted under the Superbrawl title before the switch to the ICON Sport name later in 2005. Like many of the Hawaiian shows, its from Blaisdell Arena in front of a 3/4 capacity crowd and has a lot of interesting names on the bill.

Added note: extra short descriptions because I watched this in December 2008 at the cottage and wrote my notes on a small memo pad. Just got around to typing it!

1) TYSON NAM vs. JUMAR DUMALAO: Kickboxing bout between dudes from the islands.

Nam wins by low kicks. Doesn't even count. 

2) REESE ANDY vs. KALA KOLOHE HOSE: Hose has had some bigger fights scheduled for himself that never came through, whereas Andy ended up in the IFL and eventually UFC.

The first round sees Hose doing something I didn't really expect: He hangs in there and is competitive. Mind you, this is not high level striking, but basically definitive robo-kickboxing, but whatever. Andy wins the round off a slam and guillotine attempt though. He gets another big takedown during the second and ends up spending the whole round on his back being punched in the face. Somehow, he comes out for the third and does no better. About the only thing you can give Hose for rounds 2 and 3 is that he didn't get german suplexed. Andy by a wide decision. (1)

3) ALBERT MANNERS vs. RYAN LEE: Who? Manners has a rash guard on.

Manners and Lee engage in a grappling bout for 3 rounds that is decently technical, but often resembles anything but a modern MMA match with the abject lack of striking. Manners wins the unanimous decision and, well, let's just say he's not UFC bound. (0)

4) KJ NOONS vs. MALIK WILLIAMS: Noons was the winner of PRIDE's talent search! Remember that? Oh, you don't. Okay.

Williams is overwhelmed early and ends up being KOed brutally with a series of right hands and stomps. What you expect. (3) 

5) HARVEY NAKAMURA vs. MARK OSHIRO: Oshiro's size makes it exceedingly likely he'll end up in the WEC at some point.

Dana White Special for three rounds. Oshiro is better at everything than Nakamura, landing more often with straighter, harder shots. Problem? At 135, neither has much pop. Oshiro wins 30-26 on two of the three cards. (2)

6) ALLAN ULIP vs. BRYSON KAMAKA: Kickboxing again.

Kamaka wins a UD with his abjectly better striking. A) This isn't MMA. B) Kamaka sucks in MMA. 

7) MARK MORENO vs. KEVIN BARBER: Welterweight fun! Both are from the outliers of the US, with Barber successful in the always popular Alaskan MMA circuit (seriously! There's almost monthly shows in Fairbanks) and Moreno a local to Hawaii.

Moreno outguns Barber standing: better technique, more powerful. He drops Barber with a two punch combination and makes sure there's no more fight to be fought when he kicks a downed Barber in the face. Oh, pre-commission Hawaii. (0)

8) TRISTON PREBIA vs. KAI "BOY" KAMAKA III: Children's MMA.

Absolutely beyond reviewable. Actually somewhat offensive. I didn't even bother to write down who won. (0)

9) JIM KIKUCHI vs. JUSTIN MERCADO: Hawaiian Superfight 145lb title! MMA has no problem with belts.

Kikuchi hurts his shoulder early on and so we get a boring fight of inactive standup and laying/clinching. I'm kinda glad I didn't record more about this show. (0)

10) KULTAR GILL vs. HARRIS SARMIENTO: Gill was an interesting name for, what, the better part of 5-6 minutes? Sarmiento is a career journeyman.

Gill has a big advantage in the standup, but fears Sarmiento's takedowns, so they circle with occasional leg kicks and shit. Horrid. Gill gets the fight down in the 3rd and Sarmiento basically rolls over and taps to a RNC. Gill has fought on big shows, but he's 1-5 in his last 6. Tough to reward that. (0)

11) FALANIKO VITALE vs. MASANORI SUDA: Suda was once Shooto's middleweight champ. With posted wins over Ryo Chonan, Yuki Sasaki, Ronald Jhun, Egan Inoue, and Ryuta Sakurai, Suda was certainly no push over. He was also in his 11th year as a full time pro MMA fighter. Vitale had lost once in 3 years, beating Yushin Okami, Dave Menne, Matt Lindland (by "reversing" a slam), and a bunch of nobodies over the same span. He had been successful in the UFC, but returned to Hawaii realizing that he might actually make more money there. 

Suda is hurt with a punch early in the fight and is judo thrown through the ropes of the ring. The ref obviously has to let this one continue, and Suda returns to his feet. He absorbs a superman punch to the dome, and with that, Vitale's highlight reel has its anchor. Practically everyone on the big island cheers, but Vitale's career took a pretty major turn after this bout. (2)

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Oshiro/Nakamura

KO OF THE NIGHT: Vitale/Suda

SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: Sarmiento/Gill

OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 3 out of 10. This would be higher, but watching young (I'm talking like 8) kids fight in the ring drops the event appreciably. Too many bad mismatches too. Who'd have thought the opening MMA bout would be the most competitive in retrospect?

D&R Rating: 18% (8/45)

RUMBLE ON THE ROCK 4 (10/10/2003)

It seems almost amazing in retrospect that this show was five years ago. Not that it feels like it was yesterday: it seems more like it was 100 years ago in an alternate dimension. Announcing the fights are Mike Onozuka(?) and Phil Baroni.

1) ANTONIO BANUELOS vs. YOBIE SONG: Banuelos was not particularly well known here, whereas Song was a local product whom even less was known about.

First round has the usual feel out process followed by Banuelos pummeling Song. Song is slammed to the mat, then german suplexed to the mat, and gets punched and elbowed a ton. Song has an armbar attempt and is able to scramble to his feet towards the end of the round, but otherwise this looks like a squash. Banuelos swings wildly at the bell for round 2 and slams Song again. More and more ground and pound from Banuelos is just ruining Song for the entirety of the round, with Song not even competent or athletic enough to do anything about it. Somehow, the fight is allowed to go to round three, where Song is taken down and elbowed until cuts that resemble a prison shivving end the bout. Banuelos got into the WEC and has been a decent competitor at 135 since. (1)

2) DESHAWN JOHNSON vs. SANTINO DEFRANCO: Johnson is a tall striker, Defranco a wrestler.

This is mostly a grappling based fight. Johnson fends off Defranco's attempts at getting the fight down, so Defranco pulls guard to force the matter. Johnson is able to stand out of it, and back to the feet. Defranco goes for a single as Johnson throws a right, and Johnson defends by just dropping his knee onto Defranco's face as pretty much all four points are down. Defranco turns over and taps out, but its overruled as a submission loss, give why he tapped. Johnson loses by DQ. There was never a rematch, and Defranco is at best a fringe contender. (0)

3) GABE CASTILLAS vs. ROSS EBANEZ: Ross has appeared on numerous EliteXC cosponsored events of late. Castillas had a short tenure in the IFL with an 0-2 record there.

Ross is cut early, assumed to be from a strike of some sort. Other than that, its mostly Ebanez on top with elbows and punches and stuff like that. A standup late in the round produced a knockdown of Castillas from a combination of punches that followed a pretty solid knee to the noggin of Castillas. In the second round, Ebanez gets the top position after Castillas falls from trying to throw a kick, and decides to try and wipe out Ebanez from that position with elbows and punches. There's some weird rule where the ref counts to 4 then stops the fight with unanswered strikes on the ground, and that's used as the justification for hometown fighter Ebanez to be given a TKO win as Castillas rolls for a kneebar. (1)

4) GILBERT MELENDEZ vs. STEPHEN PALLING: Palling was actually really good at this point. He had just drawn with Pequeno Noguiera and prior to that had wins over Mark Hominick and some guy named Norifumi Yamamoto. I guess he's a big deal or something.

Melendez, as everyone expected, sorta rushes out for the clinch. He even gets a double leg and slams Palling. Melendez rains a lot of shots and is looking really good in there, which catches the crowd and announcers off guard. Palling is able to force the fight standing and get a trip takedown of his own, but Melendez pushes him off. Palling goes for Melendez's back as he stands and Melendez counters with a single leg takedown that puts him back on top. He cuts Palling pretty nice with an elbow.

Next round begins as the last did, but Palling times Melendez and lands a hard uppercut. Melendez isn't stopped by this and continues to work for the double, and just like in round 1, is successful in his efforts. This is classic Gilbert Melendez, as he does nothing more than ground and pound Palling into hamburger. Melendez passes guard and Palling is desperate to change position, allowing north/south as he tries to stand. Melendez just shoves Palling back and mounts him. Eventually, the fight is stopped due to strikes. Melendez makes a huge splash with this fight, and Palling was retired a year later. (4)

5) SEAN TAYLOR vs. RONALD JHUN: Jhun has become a living testament to the way the sport has evolved. He's a vet of pretty much everything imaginable, but has been reduced to tomato can from "strong vet" in recent years. Taylor was 0-2-1. Not much expected.

Both men do not move any aspect of their body when punching, even their hips. Jhun is better with landing punches and gets the takedown. Jhun just hangs out in the guard or half guard of Taylor for the rest of round 1 and hits him a lot. Another poorly defended takedown for Jhun, more elbows, and the ref stops the fight at about the same time Taylor's corner throws in the towel. (0)

6) GIL CASTILLO vs. RENATO VERISSIMO: Castillo had a undulating record that shifted from day to day and week to week. He's officially listed on most fight finders as having had less than 10 pro wins, but he generally claimed between 16-20, depending on the day. Verissimo was a young gun here, Castillo already quite aged for an elite athlete at 36.

Castillo wants the clinch early, and that shocks no one that ever watched the man fight before. Verissimo shows he can prevent takedowns well though and throws some nice punches and knees while preventing the takedown. A lot of borderline low blows occuring during this inital period, too. Verissimo is eventually able to get distance, and Castillo lands a nice right hand which Verissimo answers with a high kick. Castillo has been cut somewhere along the way, though not heavily. Verissimo starts landing some right hands after a brief interruption for ref Larry Landless to stare at some of the cage padding and then decide not to fix it, and Castillo responds with (what else?) a takedown attempt. In getting it, he absorbs a punch that breaks his nose and turns the cage into a murder scene. Not nice. Close round goes to Verissimo, however.

Round 2 starts with Castillo complaining that vasoline is in his eye. Oh god. Maybe people would buy it if he hadn't pulled that stunt at UFC 40....but I digress. Landless decides to let him get it cleaned up, and we start the round, albeit about a minute late. Verissimo lands a lot of strikes, Castillo clinches, there's a knee somewhere around the groin area, and Castillo needs 5 minutes. Its kinda odd that he gets it, because Landless says he "didn't see it". News flash: If you are a ref, and someone turns to you complaining of a foul you did not see, you do not stop the fight.

So after a long ass delay, Castillo is willing to restart and jumps in with a hard right punch, his best strike of the bout. Verissimo absorbs it and continues on leading the striking overall. Castillo goes to squash Verissimo into the cage again, stalls, ref breaks it, repeat. Second time, Verissimo is all like "fuck this" and gets a trip takedown. He lands some decent shots but lets Castillo get up at the end of the round and even throw a punch. Castillo promptly quits between rounds. Blah. Still, its a fight between guys who fought for titles in the UFC, even if both are now irrelevant. (3)

7) PAUL BUENTELLO vs. ANDY MONTANA: I'm not really excited about this.

Montana is a kickboxer, and like Carter Williams 4 years later, he decides to be a wrestler. Buentello brushes off his shitty wrestling and ends up kicking him in the head. This is the coolest thing Buentello ever did. (2)

INTERMISSION! There is an uncomfortable Falaniko Vitale/Phil Baroni hype thing here for a fight they would never have at UFC 45 or ever, in fact.

8) DENNIS HALLMAN vs. RAY COOPER: I am giddy about Dennis Hallman fights in the same way I assume millions are giddy to get back positive STD testing.

Cooper goes for a takedown immediately and Hallman secures a guillotine. It is over! So much earlier and better than I could have hoped. Hallman calls Frank Trigg a "fairy" and Hughes a "pussy". (2)

9) TAKANORI GOMI vs. BJ PENN: Oh yeah, this is the main event. You may recognize Penn and Gomi as being the best lightweights in the world. Probably the best lightweights ever, actually. Penn had failed to get the 155lb UFC title twice by this bout and Gomi had just lost the Shooto championship, so while they were both top 5, neither was really "the man", so to speak. Well, at least at this point.

BJ takes down Gomi right away and gets the mount and back control. Gomi does a lot to try and shake BJ for the first two minutes and finally succeeds to get in BJ's guard, which is still not the best place in the world to be. Gomi decides to stand instead and BJ just takes him down again, again getting the back, again with a body triangle, again throwing strikes. All BJ in round one.

Different story with the beginning of round two. BJ decides to stand with Gomi a little and actually gets the better of the Fireball Kid. Gomi is hurt by a three punch combo and Penn again tries for a judo throw. Gomi actually defends it and gets on top, but as in the prior round, is ineffective against Penn's rubber guard and defense. Gomi's nose has also been broken and his right eye has a mouse under it. Penn stalls enough to force the standup, and again controls Gomi there. Gomi does lands some jabs every once inawhile, but its nothing nearly as damaging as Penn holding his head and going to town hockey goon style. BJ starts pushing to get a takedown in the final 30 seconds and pulls one off just moments before the bell.

Round 3 starts and both are exhaused. Penn grabs a single and Gomi actually tries to submit Penn with a guillotine. Not smart. Penn gets out very quickly and in the process of mounting, Gomi again gives up the back. Gomi's mouthpiece falls out as he desperately tries to get in air, but Penn is all over him in the worst position possible. The inevitable occurs: BJ Penn gets the arm under Gomi's chin and Gomi goes out. Post fight interviews are nothing special: BJ Penn doesn't talk much and he knows it, Gomi just wants people to say "hi" to him the next day. (5)

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT(S): Gomi/Penn

KO OF THE NIGHT(S): Buentello/Montana

SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT(S): Hallman/Cooper

OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 7 out of 10. This is a two fight card, really, though at the time it was much, much more. Still, as impressive as any North American outlet in years has ever done.

D&R RATING: 40% (15/45) Its worth noting that this is almost unfair a ranking. If you were to do this same ranking in 2004, my guess is it probably would have been about a 47-49%. The Penn/Gomi fight is among the most important ever outside a major promotion, and certainly the most important to the modern day. For the $9-10 you can find this boxed set for, its worth it for that alone. And hey, they're gonna release a bunch of Cage Rage shows on a 5 event DVD set also soon...I'm way stoked about that.