I got your Croatian Sensation right here
Wow. PRIDE knows how to party. And I’ll admit that I had both OWGP fights wrong. But I couldn’t be happier with the results. After a really terrific night of fighting, Mirko Filipovic is crowned PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix champ for 2006. It’s his first MMA title and well deserved. I’m a big fan of the striker and he left little doubt that he was bringing the house last night. I thought that Silva would get inside and take the fight to Mirko... keepin him off balance and out of his comfort zone. Maybe even getting him to the ground. Instead, he did the one thing that I (and just about everyone else) figured would give CroCop his best shot to win. And after wading in and finding Mirko waiting with an open can of whoop ass, Wand found himself rather the worse for wear. Then stunned, unsteady, and with his right eye swollen, the clock was ticking on Silva. CroCop read the situation and quickly dropped what is probably the single most lethal weapon in MMA today. And with apologies to Pat Travers, boom boom - out went the lights.
Once finished, Filipovic quickly departed the ring, confirming the rumored distaste he feels for Silva. This is a guy who disapproves of in-ring celebrations and after his fights goes to check on his opponent before leaving. It was near the end of his Grand Prix quarterfinal win against Hidehiko Yoshida that CroCop asked the referee to stop the fight as he had no wish to continue to damage a seriously injured opponent. When the referee refused, CroCop reluctantly finished him off as quickly as possible; making sure afterwards that he was alright. I don’t know how long he’s had these ill feelings towards Silva, but I’d hazard a guess that watching him bust up Kazuyuki Fujita without a care did little to lighten his mood. One thing is for certain… a striker like CroCop with a ground game? Welcome to the new world order folks.
The other match up saw Rodrigo Nogueira bring his black belt in against the refrigerator sized Baby-faced Assassin. I had this going to the ground with Minotauro working a sub on the big man. But give Barnett credit, he stayed on top and dealt out the punishment, all the while squirming out of everything Nog locked on him. I was surprised that this went the distance. And many were surprised that Barnett got the split decision. Did Nog stay on the ground too long waiting for his moment? Maybe. I think that this is can be a failing of guys who are mainly grapplers. That big submission can come in a flash but, if it doesn’t, you have to make sure you haven’t been on your back getting pounded in the meantime. Because when it goes to the judges, the beauty of a subtle, technically proficient performance is usually overshadowed by all those punches to your head.
This brought a battered Barnett to meet a fairly unscathed CroCop for the OWGP final. And the surprise of the night was a solid, powerful ground and pound from CroCop. Both fighters were bloodied, but it was Mirko who took command and dominated on the ground. And after a few heavy shots to Barnett’s face and eye, the big wrestler made the decision to tap out. I can only assume that realizing he was being dominated, and that didn’t have the gas to get out of it, Barnett did the smart thing. Not an easy thing to do for guys in this business, but it was the right thing to do. There is no shame in acknowledging that you’ve been beaten by a better man. This is their livelihood and it’s dangerous enough as it is. There is no reason to risk a broken bone or torn ligament, which will keep you out of the ring for months. There’s even less to risk an eye or head injury that would end your career. There will be other tournaments, other shots at the title.
As the Grand Prix was basically a battle to establish a Number One contender to face PRIDE champ Fedor Emelianenko, CroCop has earned himself a rematch against the big Russian. But will Fedor still have the belt? Fedor and Mark Coleman are set to tangle at PRIDE’s U.S debut in November and, while many feel that the 41-year old Coleman’s best days are behind him, he was giving Fedor all he could handle in their last meeting. It was only a nifty armbar that finally got Coleman to stop pounding on Fedor’s face. Don’t put he big fella out to pasture just yet. He is one guy who knows that he has to fight to eat (shaving commercials notwithstanding).
I’m not sure that this was the best choice for Fedor’s first back from surgery. As long as he’s not as tentative as he was against CroCop, Coleman has the power and experience to cause Fedor some problems. I’m not putting any money on it, but I won’t be surprised.
I just hope Wanderlei Silva has woken up by then.
Once finished, Filipovic quickly departed the ring, confirming the rumored distaste he feels for Silva. This is a guy who disapproves of in-ring celebrations and after his fights goes to check on his opponent before leaving. It was near the end of his Grand Prix quarterfinal win against Hidehiko Yoshida that CroCop asked the referee to stop the fight as he had no wish to continue to damage a seriously injured opponent. When the referee refused, CroCop reluctantly finished him off as quickly as possible; making sure afterwards that he was alright. I don’t know how long he’s had these ill feelings towards Silva, but I’d hazard a guess that watching him bust up Kazuyuki Fujita without a care did little to lighten his mood. One thing is for certain… a striker like CroCop with a ground game? Welcome to the new world order folks.
The other match up saw Rodrigo Nogueira bring his black belt in against the refrigerator sized Baby-faced Assassin. I had this going to the ground with Minotauro working a sub on the big man. But give Barnett credit, he stayed on top and dealt out the punishment, all the while squirming out of everything Nog locked on him. I was surprised that this went the distance. And many were surprised that Barnett got the split decision. Did Nog stay on the ground too long waiting for his moment? Maybe. I think that this is can be a failing of guys who are mainly grapplers. That big submission can come in a flash but, if it doesn’t, you have to make sure you haven’t been on your back getting pounded in the meantime. Because when it goes to the judges, the beauty of a subtle, technically proficient performance is usually overshadowed by all those punches to your head.
This brought a battered Barnett to meet a fairly unscathed CroCop for the OWGP final. And the surprise of the night was a solid, powerful ground and pound from CroCop. Both fighters were bloodied, but it was Mirko who took command and dominated on the ground. And after a few heavy shots to Barnett’s face and eye, the big wrestler made the decision to tap out. I can only assume that realizing he was being dominated, and that didn’t have the gas to get out of it, Barnett did the smart thing. Not an easy thing to do for guys in this business, but it was the right thing to do. There is no shame in acknowledging that you’ve been beaten by a better man. This is their livelihood and it’s dangerous enough as it is. There is no reason to risk a broken bone or torn ligament, which will keep you out of the ring for months. There’s even less to risk an eye or head injury that would end your career. There will be other tournaments, other shots at the title.
As the Grand Prix was basically a battle to establish a Number One contender to face PRIDE champ Fedor Emelianenko, CroCop has earned himself a rematch against the big Russian. But will Fedor still have the belt? Fedor and Mark Coleman are set to tangle at PRIDE’s U.S debut in November and, while many feel that the 41-year old Coleman’s best days are behind him, he was giving Fedor all he could handle in their last meeting. It was only a nifty armbar that finally got Coleman to stop pounding on Fedor’s face. Don’t put he big fella out to pasture just yet. He is one guy who knows that he has to fight to eat (shaving commercials notwithstanding).
I’m not sure that this was the best choice for Fedor’s first back from surgery. As long as he’s not as tentative as he was against CroCop, Coleman has the power and experience to cause Fedor some problems. I’m not putting any money on it, but I won’t be surprised.
I just hope Wanderlei Silva has woken up by then.
posted by Larry at 11:26 AM
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