When we announced that ONE FC’s second event would feature professional publicity stunt Bob Sapp fighting against UFC veteran (sigh) Rolles Gracie, we offered you a question about the fight: Bad idea, or worst idea? On paper, this meant pitting a one-dimensional, subpar kickboxer fighter impersonator against a one-dimensional grappler. Factor in the complete lack of cardiovascular endurance that both men have exhibited, and we were in for an ugly affair.
Well, that fight went down today in Jakarta, Indonesia. And it was everything that you expected it to be.
After going 0-7 in kickboxing and MMA in 2011, Bob Sapp decided that he needed to change his traditional game plan of “start out strong, get tired, get knocked out”. This time around, Bob Sapp attempted to start the fight early during yesterday’s weigh ins. Like the obese guy who orders medium fries with his twenty piece nuggets and large milkshake instead of large fries, we guess we can applaud him for at least changing something.
When we announced that ONE FC’s second event would feature professional publicity stunt Bob Sapp fighting against UFC veteran (sigh) Rolles Gracie, we offered you a question about the fight: Bad idea, or worst idea? On paper, this meant pitting a one-dimensional, subpar kickboxer fighter impersonator against a one-dimensional grappler. Factor in the complete lack of cardiovascular endurance that both men have exhibited, and we were in for an ugly affair.
Well, that fight went down today in Jakarta, Indonesia. And it was everything that you expected it to be.
After going 0-7 in kickboxing and MMA in 2011, Bob Sapp decided that he needed to change his traditional game plan of “start out strong, get tired, get knocked out”. This time around, Bob Sapp attempted to start the fight early during yesterday’s weigh ins. Like the obese guy who orders medium fries with his twenty piece nuggets and large milkshake instead of large fries, we guess we can applaud him for at least changing something.
From that point on, it’s a typical Bob Sapp fight: He manages to do absolutely nothing before Rolles Gracie transparently attempts a takedown that almost immediately puts Sapp on his back. To his credit, “The Beast” managed to get out of an ankle lock in the opening minute. Of course, it would have been far more impressive if he managed to do something other than give up after eating three, maybe four punches from Rolles Gracie. But did you really expect this fight to end differently?
Congratulations, Rolles Gracie: You’ve improved to 6-1 in your MMA career, with all victories coming by first round submission. Likewise, congratulations, Bob Sapp: You’re still getting paid for a job you don’t even pretend to take seriously. We should all be so lucky.
Today, CagePotato is brought to you by the letter R. Specifically, R for retirement.
If the name Peter Aerts doesn’t immediately bring to mind a cavalcade of classic kickboxing matches against a list of opponents that reads like a who’s who of the sport, then might we recommend you do a little research on one of the greatest combatants to ever don the heavy gloves. After collecting over 100 victories in a career that spanned nearly 25 years, kickboxing legend Peter Aerts has announced that his June 30th match against #7 ranked heavyweight kickboxer Tyrone Sprong will be his last.
In a true testament of his character, Aerts will be going out in the same fashion in which he came, by taking on the best; his first professional fight saw him square off against fellow legend Ernesto Hoost, and now he will be going out, win or lose, against a top prospect in Sprong. Known for his trademark head kick finishes that earned him the nickname, “The Dutch Lumberjack,” Aerts built his reputation through vintage battles with the likes of Hoost (five times), Jerome Le Banner (four times), Semmy Schilt (five times), and Ray Sefo (three times). Having competed in every K1 tournament except for 2009, Aerts also earned the moniker “Mr. K1,” taking home tournament gold in 1994, 1995, and 1998, and placing second in 2001, 2006, 2007, and 2010.
Aerts’ crowning achievement by far was his devastating run through the 1998 K1 World Grand Prix, in which he dispatched all three of his opponents in 6 minutes and 43 seconds, a record that held until 2009, when it was broken by Semmy Schilt. As a HUGE fan and close follower of his career, I would personally like to wish Mr. Aerts all the best in his future endeavors on behalf of everyone here at CagePotato, and have compiled a brief look back at some of his greatest hits below, starting with his first rematch against Hoost that took place at the 1993 K1 Quarterfinals.
(Stay classy.)
Today, CagePotato is brought to you by the letter R. Specifically, R for retirement.
If the name Peter Aerts doesn’t immediately bring to mind a cavalcade of classic kickboxing matches against a list of opponents that reads like a who’s who of the sport, then might we recommend you do a little research on one of the greatest combatants to ever don the heavy gloves. After collecting over 100 victories in a career that spanned nearly 25 years, kickboxing legend Peter Aerts has announced that his June 30th match against #7 ranked heavyweight kickboxer Tyrone Sprong will be his last.
In a true testament of his character, Aerts will be going out in the same fashion in which he came, by taking on the best; his first professional fight saw him square off against fellow legend Ernesto Hoost, and now he will be going out, win or lose, against a top prospect in Sprong. Known for his trademark head kick finishes that earned him the nickname, “The Dutch Lumberjack,” Aerts built his reputation through vintage battles with the likes of Hoost (five times), Jerome Le Banner (four times), Semmy Schilt (five times), and Ray Sefo (three times). Having competed in every K1 tournament except for 2009, Aerts also earned the moniker “Mr. K1,” taking home tournament gold in 1994, 1995, and 1998, and placing second in 2001, 2006, 2007, and 2010.
Aerts’ crowning achievement by far was his devastating run through the 1998 K1 World Grand Prix, in which he dispatched all three of his opponents in 6 minutes and 43 seconds, a record that held until 2009, when it was broken by Semmy Schilt. As a HUGE fan and close follower of his career, I would personally like to wish Mr. Aerts all the best in his future endeavors on behalf of everyone here at CagePotato, and have compiled a brief look back at some of his greatest hits below, starting with his first rematch against Hoost that took place at the 1993 K1 Quarterfinals.
Aerts vs. Hoost 2 – K1 Grand Prix Quarterfinals ’93
Now this…makes us nervous. Many of you probably remember the inaugural ONE FC: Champion vs. Champion event that took place back in early September, which featured a plethora of previously unheard of talent in addition to a ton of great fights. Shortly thereafter, CEO and owner Victor Cui announced that his promotion had big plans for 2012, which included adding over 23 gyms and 15 promotions to their partnership and scheduling three events in three different countries. Though it wouldn’t do much to detract from the UFC’s ever-expanding market, many of us looked at ONE FC as the spark that could possibly reignite the Asian MMA scene, a flame that had long been quelled since the demise of PRIDE.
If the above poster for ONE FC’s second event, entitled Battle of Heroes, says anything, it’s that PRIDE is back. Unfortunately, it might not the epic, blood soaked glory PRIDE that we were all hoping for, but rather, the ridiculous, freak show fight filled PRIDEthat we both loved and silently resented for all those years.
Now this…makes us nervous. Many of you probably remember the inaugural ONE FC: Champion vs. Champion event that took place back in early September, which featured a plethora of previously unheard of talent in addition to a ton of great fights. Shortly thereafter, CEO and owner Victor Cui announced that his promotion had big plans for 2012, which included adding over 23 gyms and 15 promotions to their partnership and scheduling three events in three different countries. Though it wouldn’t do much to detract from the UFC’s ever-expanding market, many of us looked at ONE FC as the spark that could possibly reignite the Asian MMA scene, a flame that had long been quelled since the demise of PRIDE.
If the above poster for ONE FC’s second event, entitled Battle of Heroes, says anything, it’s that PRIDE is back. Unfortunately, it might not the epic, blood soaked glory PRIDE that we were all hoping for, but rather, the ridiculous, freak show fight filled PRIDEthat we both loved and silently resented for all those years.
Featuring none other than perennial punching bag Bob Sapp pasted atop its logo, it’s safe to say that this poster has surpassed Lindsay Lohan’s Playboy photos as the most disappointing thing we have seen in quite some time. No, we are not providing a link to Ms. Lohan’s photos. They’re really not worth your time anyway.
Now, we understand that ONE FC is in the early stages of its life, and that bringing in wider audiences is the number one goal of any promotion; you have to get your name out there, one way or another, and bringing in someone like Bob Sapp is surefire way to get you some attention. But Bob Sapp does not bring the kind of attention that a young organization may necessarily want. The man is a black hole (no pun intended) in the MMA universe, a publicity stunt of a fighter if there ever was one. Let us not forget that this is the man who once fought a Japanese cartoon character.
Worst of all, Sapp is scheduled to face Rolles Gracie. Yeah, the same Rolles Gracie who disgraced his family’s name in one of the most pathetic octagon appearances of all time back at UFC 109. So, not only do we get Bob Sapp, but now we have to sit through a match in which he won’t even be dispatched via some satisfying form of KO or TKO? To quote Will Ferrell, “WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?!”
Battle of Heroes is set to go down February 11th in Jakarta, Indonesia.
What do you think of this, Potato Nation? Bad idea, or worst idea?
Ole Laursen vs. Felipe Enomoto headlines One FC 2 as part of a five-fight main card, the promotion announced Wednesday.
The event, dubbed “Battle of Heroes,” takes place Feb. 11 at the Sports Mall Kelapa Gading in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Laursen, a Danish Muay Thai striker, was set to headline the inaugural One FC event last September, but was forced out due to injury. Felipe Enomoto is another standup fighter and the younger brother of M-1 welterweight champ and Sengoku veteran Yasubey Enomoto.
The lineup is below.
Lightweight: Felipe Enomoto (Enomoto Dojo) vs. Ole Laursen (Legacy Gym)
Featherweight: Bae Young Kwon (Team Posse) vs. Eric Kelly (URCC)
Welterweight: Rodrigo Ribeiro (Evolve MMA) vs. Rustam Khabilov (Jackson’s MMA)
Bantamaweight: Soo Chul Kim (Team Force) vs. Gustavo Falciroli (Mach 1)
Heavyweight: Rolles Gracie (Team Renzo Gracie) vs. Bob Sapp (Team Beast)
The preliminary card, consisting of around five bouts, is to be announced.
Filed under: News, ONE FCOne-time UFC competitor Rolles Gracie will aim to extend his win streak to three when he faces former Japanese MMA superstar Bob Sapp at One FC on Feb. 11 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
One-time UFC competitor Rolles Gracie will aim to extend his win streak to three when he faces former Japanese MMA superstar Bob Sapp at One FC on Feb. 11 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Gracie announced the matchup late Sunday and Sherdog.com was first to report of the matchup.
All five of Gracie (5-1)’s MMA wins have come by either an arm-triangle choke or a rear-naked choke. In February 2010, Gracie made his UFC debut at UFC 109 and was released shortly after the disappointing loss to Joey Beltran. In 2011, he scored first-round wins by arm-triangle choke against Braden Bice and Lee Mein.
More than ever, Sapp (11-9) in recent years has been fighting strictly for the paycheck. He lost all of his fights in 2011 (three in MMA and three in kickboxing) and has dropped seven of his last nine MMA fights. Outside of his epic fight against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in 2002, all of Sapp’s MMA fights have ended in the first round.
Igor Gracie, Ole Laursen, Kevin Belingon, Yodsanan Sityodtong, Yuya Shirai and Youne Victorio Senduk are also slated to compete on the Feb. 11 card.
ONE FC held its inaugural event last September in Singapore and in November announced a partnership with DREAM to co-promote and exchange fighters.
I don’t know what it is about Slavic nations, but they seem to share a rich appreciation for the musclebound and untalented. We’re assuming that’s how Bob Sapp found himself in Croatia last night competing against Maro Perak on the Noc Gladijatora 6 card.
The bout begins with Sapp standing in the center of the ring in full defensive mode, performing a killer impression of that big, hairy orange thing from Looney Tunes. As soon as he opened up with a punch, Sapp was taken to the canvas where he nearly ended the fight by triangle choke before seamlessly transitioning to an omaplata. Nah, just kidding–he wildly kicked at the air and looked as if he’d never trained from his back before. After absorbing a few punches, hammerfists and knees to the dome (legal, we assume?), the big man decided he’d earned his paycheck and stopped moving until the referee intervened.
Tough loss, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back soon. In fact, I hear there’s an opening in Japan…
I don’t know what it is about Slavic nations, but they seem to share a rich appreciation for the musclebound and untalented. We’re assuming that’s how Bob Sapp found himself in Croatia last night competing against Maro Perak on the Noc Gladijatora 6 card.
The bout begins with Sapp standing in the center of the ring in full defensive mode, performing a killer impression of that big, hairy orange thing from Looney Tunes. As soon as he opened up with a punch, Sapp was taken to the canvas where he nearly ended the fight by triangle choke before seamlessly transitioning to an omaplata. Nah, just kidding–he wildly kicked at the air and looked as if he’d never trained from his back before. After absorbing a few punches, hammerfists and knees to the dome (legal, we assume?), the big man decided he’d earned his paycheck and stopped moving until the referee intervened.
Tough loss, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back soon. In fact, I hear there’s an opening in Japan…
One-time 