 |
|
Pride Grand Prix 2003 Fight Reap August 10, 2003 - Japan
Copyright 2003 DSE/Pride
It was an exciting night, filled with action and surprises. The future now holds four middleweights who will battle it out in November to see who is the best middleweight in the world. And two heavyweights made a loud and resounding point that they should meet in the future for the heavyweight title.
Fight 1 -- Heavyweight Bout Fedor Emelianenko vs. Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge - Both fighters came out to win by KO – they’re swinging leather like you wouldn’t believe. Emelianenko right away charges Goodridge. Emelianenko starts landing rights and lefts to the face and then a couple of punches to the body. Goodridge goes down - Emelianenko follows up with more punches and a kick that lands right to the face of Goodridge - and then more punches - the ref steps in and stops the fight – first round TKO for Emelianenko
Chuck “Ice Man” Liddell vs. Alistair Overeem - These guys were there to fight - exchanging blows, Overeem seemed to get the better of the exchanges - Liddell is just a step behind but still swinging. Overeem lands a couple of good knees that seem to stun Liddell. Liddell brings Overeem down and delivers his own knees in the north, south position. Overeem gets up and delivers some more great knees but Liddell comes back and delivers a right that stuns Overeem. Liddell follows up with two or three more rights, then a left knee and a left cross that sends Overeem down and out. First round KO for Liddell. Liddell advances to next round. Quenton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Murillo Bustamante - Everyone was waiting for this one. This fight went the same from the beginning to the end. Rampage was able to stay on top of Bustamante, delivering and landing punches to Bustamante’s face and body while Bustamante attempted submission after submission. Rampage, at one point, carried Bustamante across the ring to his corner, while Bustamante worked a choke, so that he could listen to the advise of his corner. There were a couple of close calls for Rampage during the first round. Bustamante almost pulled off an arm bar but Rampage was able to pull away and continue with the pounding. The fight went the distance and Rampage won by three round split decision (2-1).
Rampage advances to next round. Ricco Rodriguez vs. Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera - This fight went the same as the previous fight but with a surprise at the end. Rodriguez spent most of the time on top of Noguiera, pounding away but not causing much damage. Rodriguez kept busy throwing punches. Noguiera almost had Rodriguez on a couple of occasions with an arm bar and kimora but Rodriguez was able to pull out. Rodriguez was relentless with his attacks from the top - The entire bout went the same from round one to three. And it was left to the judges. Here comes the surprise. I would say that at least 90% of the people had Rodriguez as the winner. It was just too bad that the judges belong to the 10% that didn’t. They ruled a unanimous decision for Noguiera as the winner. And
that folks, is how they ruled it. Mirko "Cro Crop" Filipovic vs. Igor Vovchanchyn -They came out to the center of the ring, measuring their distance. Igor delivers a high kick that lands on “Cro Cop” head but doesn’t faze him. "Cro Cop" comes back with punches that land and then he delivers his own high kick that lands right on the jaw and neck of Vovchanchyn and sends him down and out. This one was quick - "Cro Cop" wins by first round KO.
Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Hidehiko Yoshida - Tamura comes out like he hates Yoshida - landing a right that sends Yoshida down. Tamura then jumps over Yoshida’s legs and lands a few more punches. It seemed like it was an active fight but then the ref stepped in and stood them up. Tamura again lands a right and a left, stunning Yoshida. Yoshida struggles to clinch and punch back. Yoshida struggled but eventually takes Tamura down and lands on top and applies a box choke and Tamura Taps. What is a box choke you may be asking? Well, that’s when you have one arm around you opponents neck (around the back) while you face him and with your other arm, you put it in front of your opponents throat and grab each sleeve of the Gi and squeeze till you opponent taps or passes out. And yes, I said Gi - Yoshida fought with a GI! Yoshida by submission
and advances to next round. Vanderlai Silva vs. Kazushi Sakuraba - Fighters came out to the center of the ring and exchange blows – Sakuraba landing a quick right and they pull away from each other. Then another quick exchange - this time Silva lands his own right - these guys had a few great exchanges and then they would take a small break and then back at it. Sakuraba slightly bleeding from the face but doesn’t seem hurt. Sakuraba moving slightly back and forward, then launches at Silva with punches. Silva, with his hands up, just waiting for Sakuraba . Sakuraba launches once again, missing with a right - Silva though, delivers his own left, right combo that nails Sakuraba right on the chin and knocking him out - Sakuraba was out. Silva by first round KO. Silva advances to next round.
Quenton Jackson Chuck Liddell Hidehiko Yoshida Vanderlai Silva
Now we just have to wait and see who Pride decides to match-up (from our understanding, it is not a blind draw).
And what about the heavyweights. Will we see a Mirko "Cro Crop" Filipovic vs. Fedor Emelianenko in November? Let's hope so.
Till next time, Al
(8/10/03) |
 |
