Tag: Aleksander Emelianenko

MMA Video Tribute: Josh Barnett’s Five Greatest Submissions


(Come on…hasn’t Mark Hunt suffered enough?)

Tomorrow night in San Jose, Josh Barnett will face the greatest challenge of his post-PRIDE career when he meets Daniel Cormier in the finals of Strikeforce’s World Heavyweight Grand Prix. (FYI, we’ll be liveblogging the Showtime main card starting at 10 p.m. ET, so don’t make any big plans.) Barnett’s comfort-level in the cage and catch-wrestling expertise have led him on a four-year winning streak, and one more victory could earn him an improbable return to the UFC. In honor of this pivotal moment for the Warmaster, we decided to round up his five greatest submissions. Enjoy, and shoot us your predictions for Barnett vs. Cormier in the comments section…

(Josh Barnett vs. Semmy Schilt; UFC 32, 6/29/01)

Barnett’s first submission in the Octagon came against gigantic kickboxer Semmy Schilt, who had made his UFC debut the previous month by smashing Pete Williams. Wisely, Barnett avoids the standup game entirely, immediately taking the Dutchman to the mat. Schilt is absolutely helpless underneath the Babyface Assassin, and eventually gives up mount. Barnett waits for the right moment then attacks Schilt’s arm, giving up position in the process. It doesn’t matter — Barnett sinks the armbar at the 4:21 mark of the first round and establishes himself as a fearsome heavyweight grappler.


(Come on…hasn’t Mark Hunt suffered enough?)

Tomorrow night in San Jose, Josh Barnett will face the greatest challenge of his post-PRIDE career when he meets Daniel Cormier in the finals of Strikeforce’s World Heavyweight Grand Prix. (FYI, we’ll be liveblogging the Showtime main card starting at 10 p.m. ET, so don’t make any big plans.) Barnett’s comfort-level in the cage and catch-wrestling expertise have led him on a four-year winning streak, and one more victory could earn him an improbable return to the UFC. In honor of this pivotal moment for the Warmaster, we decided to round up his five greatest submissions. Enjoy, and shoot us your predictions for Barnett vs. Cormier in the comments section…


(Josh Barnett vs. Semmy Schilt; UFC 32, 6/29/01. Fight starts at the 1:45 mark.)

Barnett’s first submission in the Octagon came against gigantic kickboxer Semmy Schilt, who had made his UFC debut the previous month by smashing Pete Williams. Wisely, Barnett avoids the standup game entirely, immediately taking the Dutchman to the mat. Schilt is absolutely helpless underneath the Babyface Assassin, and eventually gives up mount. Barnett waits for the right moment then attacks Schilt’s arm, giving up position in the process. It doesn’t matter — Barnett sinks the armbar at the 4:21 mark of the first round and establishes himself as a fearsome heavyweight grappler.


(Josh Barnett vs. Yuki Kondo; Pancrase: 10th Anniversary Show, 8/31/03)

Following his steroid-related exile from the UFC, Barnett headed to Japan where he’d spend the next five years of his career. His first big fight was this Pancrase openweight title match against Kempo black belt Yuki Kondo. Once again, Barnett exploited his opponent’s lack of grappling ability, at one point pulling off a double-suplex on the outmatched Japanese fighter. Kondo was a game opponent, but eventually succumbed to a rear-naked choke in the third round; skip to the video’s 14:30 mark for the finish.


(Josh Barnett vs. Aleksander Emelianenko; Pride Total Elimination Absolute, 5/5/06)

Barnett’s PRIDE career began disappointingly with a pair of losses to Mirko Cro Cop — one by injury, one by decision — but he hit his stride in 2006 with three consecutive submission wins. Here’s the second of that streak, against Aleksander Emelianenko in the opening round of PRIDE’s 2006 Openweight Grand Prix. Departing from his usual game-plan, Barnett spent the majority of the match standing and slugging with the Russian knockout artist, producing one of PRIDE’s most underrated classics. Eventually, Barnett goes back to his bread and butter, taking Aleks down, softening him up with knees to the dome, then finishing him with a keylock about two minutes into the second round.


(Josh Barnett vs. Mark Hunt; Pride Critical Countdown Absolute, 7/1/06)

You can thank Barnett for exposing the Super Samoan’s achilles heel; this was the beginning of depressing four-year stretch that saw Mark Hunt lose five out of six fights by some kind of armlock. At the time, Hunt had won five straight fights under the PRIDE banner, and went into the OWGP’s quarterfinal round with a reputation as an indestructible tank with a titanium-reinforced chin. But once Barnett scored the takedown, Hunt was operating on borrowed time. Babyface nailed the kimura, and made it look easy.


(Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov; Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov, 9/10/11)

In fact, all of Barnett’s fights have looked easy lately. His Strikeforce debut against Brett Rogers looked more like a light training session against an XXL Bubba grappling dummy, and during his most recent performance in the Strikeforce heavyweight GP semifinals, he put an end to Sergei Kharitonov’s brief resurgence in trademark fashion. After giving Kharitonov about 45 seconds to try to knock him out, Barnett clinches up, scores the trip takedown, and goes into boa-contrictor-playing-with-terrified-mouse mode. Kharitonov rolls to get out of mount — giving up his back — then rolls again, giving up his neck to an arm-triangle. At the video’s 17:02 mark, the camera cuts to Daniel Cormier who doesn’t look too confident about what he’s just witnessed. Now, Cormier is saying that Barnett’s mileage is starting to catch up with him. We’ll see about that, won’t we?

(BG)

Aleksander Emelianenko Doomed to a Pair of Can-Crushing Blue Balls

(Video courtesy of YouTube/limonadoss)

There is no greater crime than to be deprived of sharing your gift with the world. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but to let a god-given talent die on the vine is unforgivable, yet this seems to be the fate of one Aleksander Emelianenko. You see, after fighting in a series of meaningful, competitive battles, Aleks found his true calling as a can-crusher. Each morbid beatdown was a sight to behold, a gift to the masses. Sadly, we are now being robbed of that gift. Sure, he’s still standing across the cage from lesser competition, but they are a dangling carrot that he cannot bite, a mirage in the distance that he’ll never actually reach. Observe:

We first caught a glimpse of this phenomenon when Aleks squared off against Eddy Bengtsson. After a scant forty seconds, Bengtsson succumbed to a phantom punch and deprived Aleks the joy of a brutal finish. Fast-forward to last Friday evening, where Aleks took to punching heavybag journeyman Tadas Rimkevicius. To his credit, Rimkevicius seemed game to trade until Emelianenko really started to swang them thangs, which forced “The Lithuanian Bear” to dig deep into his bag of tricks (check out that rolling kneebar at 5:20 and tell me that Tadas isn’t the bastard child of Oleg Taktarov and Ryo Chonan). Ol’ Rimke actually catches Aleks with a left hand and drops him as the round draws to a close, which was possibly the closest anyone came to being legitimately put away in a bout that ended via TKO.

After the jump, Aleks gets cut off at ‘second base’.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/limonadoss)

There is no greater crime than to be deprived of sharing your gift with the world. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but to let a god-given talent die on the vine is unforgivable, yet this seems to be the fate of one Aleksander Emelianenko. You see, after fighting in a series of meaningful, competitive battles, Aleks found his true calling as a can-crusher. Each morbid beatdown was a sight to behold, a gift to the masses. Sadly, we are now being robbed of that gift. Sure, he’s still standing across the cage from lesser competition, but they are a dangling carrot that he cannot bite, a mirage in the distance that he’ll never actually reach. Observe:

We first caught a glimpse of this phenomenon when Aleks squared off against Eddy Bengtsson. After a scant forty seconds, Bengtsson succumbed to a phantom punch and deprived Aleks the joy of a brutal finish. Fast-forward to last Friday evening, where Aleks took to punching heavybag journeyman Tadas Rimkevicius. To his credit, Rimkevicius seemed game to trade until Emelianenko really started to swang them thangs, which forced “The Lithuanian Bear” to dig deep into his bag of tricks (check out that rolling kneebar at 5:20 and tell me that Tadas isn’t the bastard child of Oleg Taktarov and Ryo Chonan). Ol’ Rimke actually catches Aleks with a left hand and drops him as the round draws to a close, which was possibly the closest anyone came to being legitimately put away in a bout that ended via TKO.

The second frame saw Aleks connecting with hard shots to Rimkevicius’ dome. Then, before the big man fell, before he was even slightly wobbled, he turned away and buried his face in the top rope in defeat. That’s not why you’re here, Tadas! Poor Aleks seems doomed to a never-ending sequence of pugilistic foreplay; it’s a bunch of jabs and stiff ones but he can never fully unload. You’ve got to feel bad for the guy. Then again, maybe it’s wrong to blame these dudes for not going all the way. Better safe than sorry, right?

In Case You Missed It: The Emelianenko Brothers Worked a Bout Last Month [VIDEO]


(“Now insult my mother and tell me you want to slap her on the ass and make her cook you some borscht.”)

With today’s fighting landscape where we see teammates competing against one another like Gokan Saki fighting Golden Glory training partner Alistair Overeem in K-1 and Carlos Condit preparing to take on Team Jackson stablemate Georges St-Pierre, you’d think that brothers competing in a combat sambo match wouldn’t be a big deal.

Apparently Fedor Emelianenko disagrees.

The former PRIDE and WAMMA heavyweight champion competed in his beloved Russian mat sport last month and when he found himself paired with younger brother Aleksander in the heavyweight final, the fix was in.

Instead of squaring off, Alecks, who is a four-time Sambo champ, embraced Fedor, allowing himself to be thrown and submitted by his brother with an armbar, in what looked more like a demo than a bout.

The brief display made Bob Sapp look like a gamer.


(“Now insult my mother and tell me you want to slap her on the ass and make her cook you some borscht.”)

With today’s fighting landscape where we see teammates competing against one another like Gokan Saki fighting Golden Glory training partner Alistair Overeem in K-1 and Carlos Condit preparing to take on Team Jackson stablemate Georges St-Pierre, you’d think that brothers competing in a combat sambo match wouldn’t be a big deal.

Apparently Fedor Emelianenko disagrees.

The former PRIDE and WAMMA heavyweight champion competed in his beloved Russian mat sport last month and when he found himself paired with younger brother Aleksander in the heavyweight final, the fix was in.

Instead of squaring off, Alecks, who is a four-time Sambo champ, embraced Fedor, allowing himself to be thrown and submitted by his brother with an armbar, in what looked more like a demo than a bout.

The brief display made Bob Sapp look like a gamer.


(Video courtesy of RT.com)

Here’s what Fedor said about “winning” the championship:

“I’m glad to take part in the Russian championship,” he told RIA-Novosti. “I always try to come out here when I have no professional fights, like this time around. I think combat sambo is the best kind of martial art – it combines boxing, wrestling and sporting sambo. As for the final bout, my brother gave in to me today. He always gives in to me. Did I give 100 per cent? Let’s not talk about that today.”

Maybe his training wasn’t as intense as it was for past events.

They could have at least made it interesting for the fans who were at the event. It’s not like they haven’t sparred with each other before and they wear headgear.

2006

(Video courtesy of Smotri.com)

2010

(Video courtesy of YouTube/namsu22)

MMA Video Tribute: 9 ‘Falling Tree’ Knockouts

(Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Francisco Bueno @ PRIDE 8, 11/21/99. Josh Barnett makes the tree-analogy at the 0:41 mark.)

Edson Barboza‘s spinning heel-kick knockout of Terry Etim at UFC 142 wasn’t just an instant-classic because of the technique itself — it was also unforgettable because of the devastating effect it had on Etim, who stiffened up and toppled straight to the mat in slow motion like a felled spruce. The “falling tree” knockout is a rare, brutal moment in combat sports that always gets a rise out of fans. Here are nine of our favorite examples from MMA fights, in no particular order.

(Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim @ UFC 142, 1/14/12)


(Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Francisco Bueno @ PRIDE 8, 11/21/99. Josh Barnett makes the tree-analogy at the 0:41 mark.)

Edson Barboza‘s spinning heel-kick knockout of Terry Etim at UFC 142 wasn’t just an instant-classic because of the technique itself — it was also unforgettable because of the devastating effect it had on Etim, who stiffened up and toppled straight to the mat in slow motion like a felled spruce. The “falling tree” knockout is a rare, brutal moment in combat sports that always gets a rise out of fans. Here are nine of our favorite examples from MMA fights, in no particular order.


(Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim @ UFC 142, 1/14/12)


(Ray Mercer vs. Tim Sylvia @ Adrenaline MMA 3: Bragging Rights, 6/13/09)


(Rory Markham vs. Brodie Farber @ UFC Fight Night 14, 7/19/08)


(Hayato Sakurai vs. Olaf Alfonso @ PRIDE Bushido Survival 2006, 6/4/06)


(Rashad Evans vs. Sean Salmon @ UFC Fight Night 8, 1/25/07)


(Brad Kohler vs. Steve Judson @ UFC 22, 9/24/99)


(Dan Hornbuckle vs. Akihiro Gono @ Sengoku 9, 8/2/09)


(Aleksander Emelianenko vs. Ricardo Morais @ PRIDE Bushido 6, 4/3/05)


(Honorable mention: Buakaw Por Pramuk vs. actual tree)

Did we leave out any good ones? Let us know in the comments section…

CagePotato Tribute: The Failure to Intimidate


(Gina Carano, rising above her fears. Pic: MenVersus.com)
When signing a business contract, one must be acutely aware of the fine print. Companies often try to sneak in language and terms which may later allow them to catch the other party off guard and emerge victorious in the battle for the almighty dollar.

I’d like to think that signing a contract for an MMA bout is a bit more straightforward. You’re told upfront in no uncertain terms that the opposing party’s objective is to physically hurt you. It’s a special breed that can accept those terms and believe in themselves enough to sign on the dotted line.

Despite that rampant self-confidence—or perhaps because of it—many fighters attempt to psyche out their opponent and gain the upper-hand before the first punch has even been thrown. When successful, it makes for an easier night’s work. When it fails, the would-be intimidator is left looking foolish. The comeuppance may come in a laugh at his expense or a lop-sided asswhooping, but either way it’s a sight to behold.

Join us for a closer look at what happens when fear is not a factor in mixed martial arts.

 


(Gina Carano, rising above her fears. Pic: MenVersus.com)

When signing a business contract, one must be acutely aware of the fine print. Companies often try to sneak in language and terms which may later allow them to catch the other party off guard and emerge victorious in the battle for the almighty dollar.

I’d like to think that signing a contract for an MMA bout is a bit more straightforward. You’re told upfront in no uncertain terms that the opposing party’s objective is to physically hurt you. It’s a special breed that can accept those terms and believe in themselves enough to sign on the dotted line.

Despite that rampant self-confidence—or perhaps because of it—many fighters attempt to psyche out their opponent and gain the upper-hand before the first punch has even been thrown. When successful, it makes for an easier night’s work. When it fails, the would-be intimidator is left looking foolish. The comeuppance may come in a laugh at his expense or a lop-sided asswhooping, but either way it’s a sight to behold.

Join us for a closer look at what happens when fear is not a factor in mixed martial arts.

 

Bonello’s Bark Proves Worse Than His Bite

Tony Bonello walked into his bout with Murilo Rua with an undefeated 15-0 record and a massive chip on his shoulder. With allegations of worked fights in his native Australia, Bonello was looking forward to a breakthrough performance that would put him on the map in the US scene and prove that he was more than a can crusher.

Bonello’s trash talk in the staredown was as unwarranted as it was aggressive. But tough talk can be tough to back up when directed at a seasoned product of the Chute Boxe Academy. As Bonello barked slurs in his direction, the calm, wide smile on Ninja’s face reflected great confidence in what he had planned for his foe. Though it only lasted a scant three minutes and fifteen seconds, the bout couldn’t have ended quickly enough for Bonello. “The Gun” failed to fire a single round before Rua began a violent drubbing chock-a-block with indignities such as passing the black belt’s guard, elbows from the crucifix position, full mount, and the always popular knee-on-belly/rape choke combination.

Weekend Results: Bobby Lashley Wins Belt, A. Emelianenko Suffers Quick Loss

Filed under: NewsFormer WWE superstar Bobby Lashley became a titleholder in MMA on Friday, beating Karl Knothe to win the Shark Fights heavyweight title at Shark Fights 21 in Lubbock, Texas.

Lashley, who had to endure four opponent changes for his pro…

Filed under:

Former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley became a titleholder in MMA on Friday, beating Karl Knothe to win the Shark Fights heavyweight title at Shark Fights 21 in Lubbock, Texas.

Lashley, who had to endure four opponent changes for his promotional debut with the Texas organization, won by keylock submission over Knothe (20-7) at three minutes and 44 seconds of the first round.

With the win, Lashley improved to 7-1 and is on a two-fight win streak since losing to Chad Griggs at a Strikeforce event in August 2010. Lashley has two more fights with Shark Fights.

In addition to the historic UFC on FOX event on Saturday, other MMA action took place over the weekend and we’ll take a look at some notable fights after the jump.

— PRIDE veteran Aleksander Emelianenko was knocked out in 23 seconds by Magomed Malikov (4-1) on Saturday in the main event of M-1 Challenge 28 in Russia. In his first punch of the fight, Malikov timed an overhand right to level Emelianenko against the ropes.

The setback put Emelianenko (17-5) in a position of back-to-back losses for the first time in his eight-year career.

Aleksander’s older brother Fedor, 35, fights this Saturday against Jeff Monson in Moscow.

— On Saturday, Douglas Lima earned a title shot against Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren by stopping Ben Saunders in the second round with strikes at Bellator 57 in Rama, Ontario, Canada.

At the same Bellator event, Alexander Shlemenko won this season’s Bellator middleweight tournament and will rematch Bellator champion Hector Lombard at a later date. Shlemenko on Saturday took a unanimous decision over Vitor Vianna.

— UFC veteran Rich Clementi bounced back from his May loss to Shinya Aoki in DREAM by defeating Ronnie Rogers Saturday at a Victory Promotions event in Lowell, Mass. The 34-year-old Clementi won with a rear-naked choke in the second round.

 

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