WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?

Pride Shock Wave Analysis

Copyright 2002 Kyodo news service

 

Tokyo, Japan

 


If there was ever a bad call In any Martial Arts competition, this one beats them all.  I am not a referee but I

train in Jiu-jitsu and I am an active competitor in tournaments. You don't need to have 50 years of experience

to see that Gracie wasn't in any trouble when the referee stopped the fight.

 

If there was ever a bad call In any Martial Arts competition, this one beats them all.  I am not a referee but I

train in Jiu-jitsu and I am an active competitor in tournaments. You don't need to have 50 years of experience

to see that Gracie wasn't in any trouble when the referee stopped the fight.

 

NO DISCREDIT to Yoshida who is a Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo. The fact is that was a bad call. If you

didn't see Pride over the weekend, it was a great event overall.  It had fights with K-1 rules, Pride rules, and a

special grappling match. 

 

As you probably already guessed, the Gracie vs.Yoshida was the special grappling match which for many,

turned out to be a big disappointment. Not the fight Itself but the call the referee made. 

 

Let me tell you how the fight went - both guys came out, both seemed relaxed. Yoshida the bigger of the

two. Gracie does his fake front kick, grabs Yoshida and pulls him into his guard. Gracie plays the guard

game for a little bit and as Yoshida gives him a little space, Gracie wraps his right leg in-between and around

Yoshidas left leg trying to bring him down to sink in the heel hook. Yoshida, aware of this, grabs onto

Gracies belt and Gi. After doing this for a while, Yoshida does go down but to sink in his own heel hook. It

seemed Yoshida was causing some damage as Gracies face showed some signs of pain. Both men

escaped. As Gracie stood up and walked,  he seemed to be limping slightly. They go at it again and more of

the same with Yoshida on top and Gracie attempting different things from the bottom. Finally, Yoshida gets

the mount and goes for a box choke. Gracie relaxes and scoots down toward Yoshidas chest making it hard

for Yoshida to execute a good box choke. So Yoshida tries to smother him with his chest holding the box

choke. Gracie was still relaxed, putting his hand in-between Yoshidas chest and his face making sure he

has an opening for him to breath. When this happened, the referee stopped  the fight (probably because he

thought Gracie was out). Gracie upset, gets up immediately and goes to his corner. His corner is throwing a

fit!  GRACIE GRABS YOSHIDA FROM THE BACK OF HIS GI AND PULLS HIM TOWARD THE JUDGES -

PROTESTING THE CALL . GRACIE TOLD THE JUDGES - HE KNOWS I DIDN'T TAP- I WASN'T OUT !  BUT

THE JUDGES DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE REFEREES CALL STOOD. Maybe after they get to review the

tape, they might reverse the call. Gracie was not out and he deserves at the very least a rematch. We'll keep

you updated on the situation.

 

Vanderlei Silva vs. Tatsuya Iwasaki 

Originally Silva was supposed to fight Jerrel Venetian. For some reason or another, he ended up fighting

Iwasaki. On paper this seemed like a great match even though it was Iwasakis debut. It wasn't to be. Silva,

true to his style, was just too much fury for Iwasaki to control or stop. Silva came out banging with rights and

lefts. Iwasaki could not stop them. Many landed which forced Iwasaki down. Silva jumps on top of him and

starts delivering left after left to Iwasaki face. Iwasaki turns - now facing the floor. Silva gets his back with the

hooks in and starts punching away. Iwasaki pulls away but as he tries to stand-up, Silva delivers a soccer

kick to his face that connects sending Iwasaki down. Once again, Silva rushed him and was able to connect

with a lot of punches. The referee finally stops the fight in the first round. Winner Silva by TKO.

 

Jerrel Venetian vs. Matsui

Venetian took control right away with his jab. He was able to avoid the take down. Matsui was able to take

him down a couple of times but was unable to put anything together. Venetian was able to push Matsui off

and stand-up. The rest of the fight went the same way. Venetian, landed strikes with his hands and feet -

Matsui trying to take Venetian down. Venetian winner by split decision.

 

Gary Goodridge vs. Lloyd Van Dams

Both came out to the center of the ring, Van Dams ties Goodridge up on top. Goodridge pushes him slightly

into the ropes. They both bounce off and Goodridge is in the bear hug position - lifts and turns Van Dams a

complete 180 degrees into a slam with Goodridge landing on top. Goodridge starts playing the ground and

pound game. Van Dams seemed to not know how or what to do from the bottom. Goodridge gets the mount

and starts picking his punches straight into Van Dams face. After a few well placed punches to the face, the

referee stops the fight in the first round. Winner Goodridge by TKO.

 

Semmy Schilt vs. Ernesto Hoost (K1 Rules)

This was a great fight. Both men were in incredible shape. Schilt with the obvious height and reach

advantage at 7'1" versus Hoost at 6'5". Schilt controlled the first round with his front kicks and front jabs. In

the second round, Hoost seemed more comfortable landing some of his own jabs and kicks. This was a

great technical fight - both men picking and landing their punches. I would have loved to have seen one of

these guys just go for it all in the last round. It seemed both men had a lot of respect for each other and they

knew that one slight mistake would mean a knockout so both were cautious till the end. Five round Draw.

 

Don Frye vs.  Jerome Le Banner (K1 Rules)

Frye rushes Le Banner with rights and lefts. Le Banner blocks most of them. Le Banner, coming out of the

K1, was very calm and composed. He's been under this kind of pressure many times before. At one point, it

looked like Frye was getting ready to slam Le Banner to the ground but he remembered this was a K1

match, not a Pride rules match. La Banner took Frye's best and turned the tables. It was Le Banners turn to

rush Frye. Unlike Frye, Le Banner landed many of his punches and some kicks forcing Frye into the ropes

where he landed a jab and followed it up with a right cross right to Frye's jaw Knocking him out in the first

round.  Winner Le Banner by K.O.

 

Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera vs. Bob Sapp

This was the fight I personally was waiting for. Bob Sapp is a monster going against the Pride heavyweight

champion. This was a incredible fight. This fight alone was worth the money. Round one saw Noguiera shoot

immediately but runs into a tree trunk (Sapps leg). He was unable to take Sapp down.  Sapp grabs Noguiera

around the waist and pile drives Noguiera right on his head and shoulder. Sapp lands on top and starts

pounding on Noguiera face .To Noguiera credit, he took it. Noguiera even attempted a triangle choke but

Sapp just lifted him up and slammed him. At one time, Noguiera attempted a knee bar while Sapp was

standing. Sapp just crushed Noguiera as he bent his leg forward. Sapp just manhandled Noguiera throughout

the first round. As the bell rang, Noguiera looked really beat up. Round two saw Noguiera deliver a right hand

that landed but had no affect.  He also delivered a Thai kick to the leg of Sapp but once again, Sapp didn't

seem to notice. Sapp delivered a left jab of his own that stuns Noguiera. Noguiera shoots for a single leg,

grabs the leg but cannot hold on. Noguiera doesn't have enough strength to take Sapp down. Sapp just lands

on top of Noguiera after a few minutes of Noguiera attempting submission after submission. Sapp is just to

strong for Noguiera to submit him from his back. Finally, Noguiera gets the mount but Sapp just pushed him

off. Noguiera fighting for the top position, lands the side mount. Noguiera grabs Sapp's left arm and pushes

him on his side, sliding his knee on Sapps back. Sapp was unable to lay flat. Noguiera grabs Sapps left arm

in a kimura, utilizing both hands - grabs and very quickly goes for the arm bar. He gets the arm bar but Sapp

is holding his left hand with his right hand. Noguiera struggles to break his hands apart and does so. 

Noguiera grabs with both hands the left arm of Sapp and leans back making Sapp tap in the second round. 

Winner Noguiera by submission (tap out - arm bar).

 

Kazushi Sakuraba vs.  Mirko ''Cro Cop'' Filipovic

Round one saw Sakuraba immediately shoot on "Cro Cop". He stops the shoot and pushes Sakuraba back.

Sakuraba circling to "Cro Cops" left. "Cro Cop" delivers a good Thai kick to Sakuraba's leg. Sakuraba pulls

back and starts circling again and once again "Cro Cop" delivers another low Thai kick to Sakuraba's leg.

Finally, Sakuraba shoots and gets the leg and takes him down. "Cro Cop" holds Sakuraba tight. Toward the

end of the round, Sakuraba is able to land a good right hand . Round two saw "Cro Cop" immediately land a

high kick to Sakuraba's head . Sakuraba wanted no part of the stand-up game so he shoots and takes "Cro

Cop" down.  "Cro Cop" puts him in the guard toward the end of the round. Sakuraba unleashes a variety of

punches. "Cro Cop" pushes Sakuraba back with his feet (on Sakurabas thighs). "Cro Cop" quickly stands

up, Sakuraba shoots again and takes "Cro Cop" down with a single leg. The bell rings to end the second

round. Sakuraba does not go back to his corner. He stays down complaining about his right eye. Winner

"Cro Cop" by doctor stoppage due to possible broken eye bone.

 

 

Talk to you after the fights,

Al

(9/2/02)

 

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