Raging Wolf 6 (1/23/2010)

This show is from just outside Niagara Falls at Seneca Casino/Hotel. Jarrod Card and Jay Adams are announcing, with Mike Brown and Jon Jones guesting here and there. Some really interesting matchmaking too: Luigi Fioravanti vs. Shane Primm is on this show as the headliner. Corey Hill fought on the card in the real main event, but it wasn't available for taping due to Hill's UFC contract.

1) Eric Herbert vs. Oliver Kimmions: Heavyweights. Heavy is a key here, because they are chubsters. This is apparently an amateur bout, BTW.

FIGHT: Herbert Submission Rnd 1. Easy fight for Herbert as he shoots real early, takes down Kimmions, ends up with an RNC. Herbert is the new Raging Wolf Amateur Heavyweight Champion. Fuck these belts. (0)

Kimmions: Did nothing.

Herbert: Needs to drop to middleweight. Possibly even 170, since he's 5'11''.

2) Christina Domke vs. Bethany Marshell: Women's fights. Domke looks a little ragged with the tattoos. Fight taken on 9 days notice. 5 minute rounds.

FIGHT: Marshell Submission Rnd 1. Marshell gets a d'arce super early standing and basically drags down Domke into unconsciousness. 20 seconds. No point in reviewing further. Marshell on a different planet.

3) Allan Arzeno vs. TJ Sumler: Northeast Regional Raging Wolf Welterweight Championship of the World Not fucking kidding. One dude is 2-1 and the other 3-0. Enough with the fucking title belts. Worse yet, this is a full 5 rounds.

FIGHT: Allen Arzeno UD. 5 round fight that was almost all standup. Sumler threw single jabs and shots, and Arzeno, a brawler, countered with kicks and right hands. Near the end of the 5th round, a knee was thrown by Sumler while Arzeno was in 3 point, and gets a point taken away to sinch it up. (0)

Arzeno: Gutsy guy who bleeds easily; had a couple cuts on his face from the punches. Dropped in the first round. Mezger style kicks that do not much damage. Basically won because his opponent let him.

Sumler: Had the distance he wanted, technically seemed better. But he didn't move his head and allowed himself to be timed the way he was punching. Also thumbed Arzeno in the eye multiple times in the fight. Sucker for low kicks. Nearly caught in an ugly armbar attempt in round 1 after trying to finish off Arzeno from a knockdown started with a right hand. Looked gassed 6 minutes in.

4) Luigi Fioravanti vs. Shane Primm: Fioravantai in the prefight interview segments say Raging Wolf is the equivalent of UFC. Me = LOL. He's also still soft in the middle. This is a three round fight. Yes, two UFC vets aren't fighting for a title, but some guys that you have never heard of did.

FIGHT: Fioravanti UD. Total domination by the former welterweight gatekeeper. Primm simply cannot do anything with him. (2)

Fioravanti: The same as always. His midsection is really soft, he's always looking for takedowns and control, though he doesn't really go for any submissions. Luigi gets cut very badly at the end of the fight somehow after defending a kimura. Primm never had him in trouble with submission attempts on the mat.

Primm: Fioravanti took his back standing and on the mat repeatedly. He just had no answer for Luigi any time he'd turn around on him. The only thing he was effective was (and Fioravanti agreed) were some knees in the first round that led Fioravanti to go to more of a wrestling strategy to win. Any time you're this easily controlled on the mat, there's a problem.

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Arzeno/Sumler

SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: Domke/Marshell

OVERALL FOR THE EVENT: 1.5 out of 10. Best aspect was the length of time it took to watch with the commercials and interview bits. The fights were either lousy and long or terrible and short.

D&R Rating: 10% (2/20)

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)

WFC 6 (3/22/08)

This is from the Fightzone TV broadcast courtesy of Sun Sports. Jay Adams and Benjamin Glossup. Lots of hype about how awesome this is gonna be and I know nothing about any of these dudes.

1) MATT MCCOOK vs. GABE MALDONADO: This is at 155. McGirt is 2-0 and has white trash dreads. Other dude is making his debut. Maldonado lands a right early and is taken down shortly after. McCook pushes him against the cage and gets locked into a triangle. McCook doesn't really do a good job defending it and while he hangs on for awhile, and gets swept with it. Maldonado ends up tapping him less than two minutes in. (0)

2) DANIEL PEREZ vs. MARCUS JONES: Two undefeated heavyweights. Perez is a lumpy guy, Jones is pretty cut. Neither has more than 2 pro fights.

Marcus has that old school BJJ stance and I'm stunned that he's going with that. So is Perez, who punches him in the face and drops him very early. Jones never recovers and is stopped shortly after. (0)

3) YORK ASH vs. ERIC REYNOLDS: At 155. Reynolds is 7-0, Ash is from TRAVERSE CITY, MI. Holla at me, Cherry Capital.

Reynolds rushes across the ring and gets caught in the clinch after doing nothing. Apparently Reynolds is a kickboxer or something and that will matter, but right now its all about greco clinch. Ash pulls guard but gets slammed hard. Reynolds throws some strikes and then stands up. Great front kick by Reynolds. Ash looks gassed at the 1:30 mark. Clinch again. Reynolds with karate style kicks. Also catches a roundhouse by Ash and punches him a couple times. Ash is cut over the left eye pretty badly. Ash ends up just giving up his back and goes to the mat. Easy submission for Reynolds. (1) because Reynolds will probably end up getting thrashed in TUF eventually.

4) PATRICK MIKESZ vs. JOE WISSMANN: At 185. Wissman is undefeated, Mikesz is from the Czech Republic and 4-3.

Joe gets a takedown early and the czech dude who is supposed to lose sweeps him. Apparently Wissmann wins off his back, so I'm guessing he's okay with this. Rubber guard from Wissmann. Nothing really happens and Mikesz stands out of the guard and then goes for stomps to the stomach. He is pulled back into the guard for his trouble and nearly leglocked. After that, Wissmann doesn't do much of anything and Mikesz does little to actually cause damage. Mikesz stands up periodically and on one occasion in the first, Wissmann shoots for a single. Mikesz spins off that, takes his back, and sinks in a RNC. (0)

5) JESSICA AGUILAR vs. ANGELA MAGANA: 120lbs. Women. Who cares?

Magana pushes her punches and Aguilar is counter punching with the hooks. Solid right hand shakes Magana and Aguilar uses the opening to clinch and get a takedown. The announcers like women's MMA because they "listen to their corners". Even in MMA, there are gender roles. Aguilar assaults the senses by laying in half guard and waiting for a standup. Of note: 5 minute rounds in this. This is not a good thing because I don't care about this and want to move on. Wild swinging occurs. Aguilar with a Matt Hughes style slam. And yes, they lay in half guard doing nothing. Round eventually ends.

Round 2 starts like most of the rest except that Magana pulls guard instead of getting slammed. She sweeps Aguilar and it is seemingly in slow motion. Aguilar sweeps her and is in mount. Aguilar is bleeding and I don't know how. Magana escapes out the back after hellaslow GNP, but apart from surviving, there's nothing to be said about this great success. We end up with more half guard and more slow motion lesbian rape. Dan Severn is apparently calling this bout too but you can't tell because the mics sound so bad.

Yes, there's a third round. Clinch with Magana going for the guillotine. Since this fight sucks, she does not succeed. It gives her an opening for knees and her first effective offense of the fight. Aguilar with a double leg takedown. More painfully slow submission wrestling style ground work. Fight is stopped while Magana is going for an armbar because of a small cut on her face. (0) One of the more horrible fights this year.

6) TOM LAWLER vs. SHANE PRIMM: Yes, you read that right. Dudes from TUF against each other before TUF.

Standup in the early going, with Lawler getting a strong position in the clinch following a superman punch. He backs off but uses the opening from another punch to clinch and takedown Primm. Primm goes for a triangle and Lawler goes for a power bomb to get out. He doesn't actually get the slam off, but Primm does end up releasing it. Lawler has a D'arce in pretty tight and then throws a knee to Primm's head with all 4 points down. Primm sells it well and wins by DQ. Interesting historical footnote, just like Kyle Kingsbury's similar fight in KOTC. (1)

7) RICH ATTONITO vs. RYAN HODGE: I feel like I've seen Attonito before.

Attonito drops Hodge right away with a right hand and ends up in his guard. Attonito pushes him up against the cage and lands some more blows. Hodge gives up the back to try and improve position and actually returns to a standing position before being slammed back to the mat with Attonito in side control. Hodge eventually regains guard but is not terribly offensive off of his back. When he's able to get back to a standing position he just gets slammed again. Hodge gets the fight standing again and while he tries to steal the round, he gets taken down once more.

Hodge lands a nice flying knee at the start of the first, but a second attempt at one gets him taken down. The next 2:3o are all about Hodge getting punched in the face from his back. It ends when he gives up his back and continues to be punched with less resistance. Attonito is looking for a suplex or choke and neither is really present, so be just keeps throwing punches. The round ends with Attonito landing punches while in back control.

The third is a replay of the other two combined. Hodge takes some punches standing, gives up his back and is pounded for awhile until submitting verbally. (1)

8) EFRAIN RUIZ vs. DAVID VIEIRA: Vieira has a really nice backdrop. Both are welterweights.

Ruiz came out swinging, Vieira clinched and then pulled guard, then stood up. Vieira is a wikdman on the mat and its pretty awesome to watch him transition between various attempts. Standing d'arce/anaconda for awhile, then Vieira pulls guard. Boring grappling battle for much of this round. Its a battle of positioning with Ruiz trying to be on top and Vieira allowing it. Ruiz gives up his back for a moment and gets choked out. (1) for Vieira.

9) WAACHIIM SPIRIT WOLF vs. DANNY RUIZ: Welterweight title fight.

Spirit Wolf goes for a single at the start and Ruiz defends it against the cage for awhile. Ruiz reverses and has underhooks. They end up separated once more and back into a tenative striking bout. Ruiz with some strong punches and he stuns Spirit Wolf, then later hurts him quite badly. Spirit Wolf has some serious heart though and keeps on going. After some strikes are landed between the two, the lights go out. Pentagon Combat? Spirit Wolf claims he hurt Ruiz with some punches at some indeterminant point I'm sure was before the lights went out. Spirit Wolf gets the takedown and Ruiz responds with a high guard and some triangle/armbar setups. Spirit Wolf stands up out of the guard and then drops some bombs down on his opponent. Ruiz is out cold and the native american is your new champ. (0)

Fight of the Night: Attonito/Hodge

KO of The Night: Spirit Wolf/Ruiz

Submission of the Night: Maldonado/McCook

Overall: 1.5 out of 10: Seriously, none of the fights were actively good, no high level fighters, even the production was bad with audio issues the entire time.

D&R Rating: 9% (4/45)