Tag: MMA fight videos

Fallon Fox Gets TKO’d, Holly Holm and Henry Cejudo Stay Undefeated [VIDEOS]

(Fallon Fox vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith highlights, via AXS TV Fights)

There was a considerable amount of combat sports action this weekend. Timothy Bradley took a split decision over Juan Manuel Marquez, retaining his WBO welterweight title. Tyrone Spong avenged a past draw against Nathan Corbett with a vicious left hook knockout in the second round at Glory 11. But this is CagePotato; we deal in MMA here. And while most of the focus was on Bellator this weekend (which is to say, there wasn’t a lot of focus this weekend), there were three other notable MMA fights that warranted attention. Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo notched yet another victory, and both Holly Holm and Fallon Fox, WMMA prospects fan-favorities celebrities fighters who you know about, fought this weekend. While the results were different for the three, each took a step towards fulfilling what potential they possess. For better or worse.

We’ll start with Fallon Fox, just to get her out of the way. Despite the publicity she’s received, Fox isn’t what you might call a “good” fighter. Her opponents thus far have been terrible, and the supposed advantage she possesses from being transgender is looking tenuous at best after her appearance at Championship Fighting Alliance 12 in Coral Gables, Florida on Saturday. Although Fox had her moments in the first round, her opponent Ashlee Evans-Smith ramped up the pressure in the second and it paid dividends. Smith, in just her second professional fight, managed to take Fox down and almost finish her in the second round before the bell sounded. There was some controversy, as the crowd was so enthusiastic (“virulently transphobic” could also work here) that it was unclear at what point the bell had rung and whether the fight had been stopped. Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Evans-Smith simply repeated the process in the third round, putting Fox away with punches from the mount position.


(Fallon Fox vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith highlights, via AXS TV Fights)

There was a considerable amount of combat sports action this weekend. Timothy Bradley took a split decision over Juan Manuel Marquez, retaining his WBO welterweight title. Tyrone Spong avenged a past draw against Nathan Corbett with a vicious left hook knockout in the second round at Glory 11. But this is CagePotato; we deal in MMA here. And while most of the focus was on Bellator this weekend (which is to say, there wasn’t a lot of focus this weekend), there were three other notable MMA fights that warranted attention. Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo notched yet another victory, and both Holly Holm and Fallon Fox, WMMA prospects fan-favorities celebrities fighters who you know about, fought this weekend. While the results were different for the three, each took a step towards fulfilling what potential they possess. For better or worse.

We’ll start with Fallon Fox, just to get her out of the way. Despite the publicity she’s received, Fox isn’t what you might call a “good” fighter. Her opponents thus far have been terrible, and the supposed advantage she possesses from being transgender is looking tenuous at best after her appearance at Championship Fighting Alliance 12 in Coral Gables, Florida on Saturday. Although Fox had her moments in the first round, her opponent Ashlee Evans-Smith ramped up the pressure in the second and it paid dividends. Smith, in just her second professional fight, managed to take Fox down and almost finish her in the second round before the bell sounded. There was some controversy, as the crowd was so enthusiastic (“virulently transphobic” could also work here) that it was unclear at what point the bell had rung and whether the fight had been stopped. Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Evans-Smith simply repeated the process in the third round, putting Fox away with punches from the mount position.

As for fighters with actual ability, Henry Cejudo kept his unblemished record in MMA with a dominant decision over Ryan Hollis at Legacy Fighting Championship 24, Friday night in Dallas. (You can check out some rather poor-quality black-and-white footage from the fight here.) The first round was close, as Hollis managed to avoid the takedowns of the decorated freestyle wrestler. While Hollis’ will never wilted, his takedown defense did. Cejudo took Hollis to the canvas in both the second and third rounds, achieving dominant positions and landing ground and pound at will. He upped his record to 5-0, and at the age of 26 seems primed for a jump up in competition soon. Considering his pedigree, it would be a shame if he waited much longer.

Speaking of pedigree, Holly Holm, a former welterweight champion boxer, also maintained her perfect record. Fighting on the supporting card of LFC 24, Holm brutally dispatched her outmatched opponent Nikki Knudsen, who never stood a chance. From the first round on, Holm was merciless with her punishment; Knudsen was battered throughout the round, unable to mount any offense of her own. To her credit, she endured, but not for long. Holm injured Knudsen with a kick to the body in the second round, before swarming with knees and punches, forcing a TKO stoppage at 1:18 of round 2. Video of the full fight is here; highlights are at the end of the post.

It’s only a matter of time before Holm and Cejudo make their way to higher-profile organizations. In Holm’s case, she’s already 31 and doesn’t have as much time left as Cejudo does. Given the relatively small talent pool in the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division, it wouldn’t be surprising if she made her way into the promotion sooner rather than later. As for Fox, her influence in the sport will remain consigned to her status as a barometer for social tolerance amongst the sport’s fanbase, and as a controversial figure regarding her right to fight — but it won’t extend beyond that. For Holm and Cejudo, however, opportunity awaits.

— George Shunick


(Holly Holm vs. Nikki Knudsen highlights, via AXS TV Fights)

Insane Submission of the Day: The ‘Modified Americana,’ a.k.a The ‘Inverted Twister Cruciplata’

(Props: themmaclinic via MiddleEasy)

Grappling arts have existed for millennia, and yet human beings continue to find new and exciting ways to fuck each other up. The latest example of mind-blowing grappling ingenuity comes to us from Cage Warriors 60 on Saturday, where a lightweight submission artist named Ivan “Buki” Buchinger tapped Mick Sinclair in the second round with a…well…it’s hard to say, really.

Sherdog ID’s the move as a “scarf-hold armlock,” which is basically true — and more descriptive than the ring-announcer’s vague claim of a “modified Americana” — but the positioning of Buchinger’s body, and the way that he sets up the hold by trapping Sinclair’s right arm with his legs before cranking on the neck makes this submission unique and kind of astounding.

Side note: Buchinger got his ass handed to him by Conor McGregor when they fought last December. But still, good sub, mate.

Previously: Omo-Peruvian-Necktwister Inventor Coty Shannon Hits a Sideways-Peruvian-Gogo-Bowtie in Second MMA Fight


(Props: themmaclinic via MiddleEasy)

Grappling arts have existed for millennia, and yet human beings continue to find new and exciting ways to fuck each other up. The latest example of mind-blowing grappling ingenuity comes to us from Cage Warriors 60 on Saturday, where a lightweight submission artist named Ivan “Buki” Buchinger tapped Mick Sinclair in the second round with a…well…it’s hard to say, really.

Sherdog ID’s the move as a “scarf-hold armlock,” which is basically true — and more descriptive than the ring-announcer’s vague claim of a “modified Americana” — but the positioning of Buchinger’s body, and the way that he sets up the hold by trapping Sinclair’s right arm with his legs before cranking on the neck makes this submission unique and kind of astounding.

Side note: Buchinger got his ass handed to him by Conor McGregor when they fought last December. But still, good sub, mate.

Previously: Omo-Peruvian-Necktwister Inventor Coty Shannon Hits a Sideways-Peruvian-Gogo-Bowtie in Second MMA Fight

Insane Submission of the Day: The ‘Modified Americana,’ a.k.a The ‘Inverted Twister Cruciplata’

(Props: themmaclinic via MiddleEasy)

Grappling arts have existed for millennia, and yet human beings continue to find new and exciting ways to fuck each other up. The latest example of mind-blowing grappling ingenuity comes to us from Cage Warriors 60 on Saturday, where a lightweight submission artist named Ivan “Buki” Buchinger tapped Mick Sinclair in the second round with a…well…it’s hard to say, really.

Sherdog ID’s the move as a “scarf-hold armlock,” which is basically true — and more descriptive than the ring-announcer’s vague claim of a “modified Americana” — but the positioning of Buchinger’s body, and the way that he sets up the hold by trapping Sinclair’s right arm with his legs before cranking on the neck makes this submission unique and kind of astounding.

Side note: Buchinger got his ass handed to him by Conor McGregor when they fought last December. But still, good sub, mate.

Previously: Omo-Peruvian-Necktwister Inventor Coty Shannon Hits a Sideways-Peruvian-Gogo-Bowtie in Second MMA Fight


(Props: themmaclinic via MiddleEasy)

Grappling arts have existed for millennia, and yet human beings continue to find new and exciting ways to fuck each other up. The latest example of mind-blowing grappling ingenuity comes to us from Cage Warriors 60 on Saturday, where a lightweight submission artist named Ivan “Buki” Buchinger tapped Mick Sinclair in the second round with a…well…it’s hard to say, really.

Sherdog ID’s the move as a “scarf-hold armlock,” which is basically true — and more descriptive than the ring-announcer’s vague claim of a “modified Americana” — but the positioning of Buchinger’s body, and the way that he sets up the hold by trapping Sinclair’s right arm with his legs before cranking on the neck makes this submission unique and kind of astounding.

Side note: Buchinger got his ass handed to him by Conor McGregor when they fought last December. But still, good sub, mate.

Previously: Omo-Peruvian-Necktwister Inventor Coty Shannon Hits a Sideways-Peruvian-Gogo-Bowtie in Second MMA Fight

‘WTF?’ Video of the Year Candidate: Brazilian Fighter Quits Match by Jumping Out of Cage, Leaving Arena

(Props: Zona de Ataque)

OK, watch the above video and please tell us if you can figure out what in the Sam Hell just happened. Evilasio Silva and Claudinei Angelo met at JF Fight Evolution in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, on Saturday and things were going as MMA fights normally do — both men fighting inside an enclosed space — until, for some reason, Angelo decided he had had enough.

“When Angelo clearly spat his mouthpiece to recover from the punches, the referee refused to stop the fight,” wrote MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, who first brought this strange fight to our attention. “Angelo went on and asked for a ‘time out.’ Silva and [the referee] didn’t understand what he was asking for, but Angelo decided to quit. The door was locked, so his only way out was jumping off the fence and leaving the arena.”

And, he did. Now, we didn’t see the entire match and Cruz has more description of what happened before Angelo decided to hit splitsville, but it doesn’t seem as if the quitting fighter was upset about some supposed unrecognized fouls on the part of his opponent or anything like that.

Angelo simply broke free from the clinch, tried to call a time out by making the sign with his hands that is universally recognized in sports where participants are actually allowed to call time outs, tried to open up the cage, and when that failed, he climbed the chain-link and then walked out of the arena. As Angelo did that, boos cascaded down on him from the confused crowd.


(Props: Zona de Ataque)

OK, watch the above video and please tell us if you can figure out what in the Sam Hell just happened. Evilasio Silva and Claudinei Angelo met at JF Fight Evolution in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, on Saturday and things were going as MMA fights normally do — both men fighting inside an enclosed space — until, for some reason, Angelo decided he had had enough.

“When Angelo clearly spat his mouthpiece to recover from the punches, the referee refused to stop the fight,” wrote MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, who first brought this strange fight to our attention. “Angelo went on and asked for a ‘time out.’ Silva and [the referee] didn’t understand what he was asking for, but Angelo decided to quit. The door was locked, so his only way out was jumping off the fence and leaving the arena.”

And, he did. Now, we didn’t see the entire match and Cruz has more description of what happened before Angelo decided to hit splitsville, but it doesn’t seem as if the quitting fighter was upset about some supposed unrecognized fouls on the part of his opponent or anything like that.

Angelo simply broke free from the clinch, tried to call a time out by making the sign with his hands that is universally recognized in sports where participants are actually allowed to call time outs, tried to open up the cage, and when that failed, he climbed the chain-link and then walked out of the arena. As Angelo did that, boos cascaded down on him from the confused crowd.

This might be the strangest scene in a cage since Paulo Filho started having a conversation with his accountant during his second fight against Chael Sonnen. We don’t know what Angelo was feeling, but it didn’t appear as if he was in any particular danger or taking an inordinate amount of punishment. Also, it isn’t as if this was his MMA debut. The guy is a veteran and it is bizarre for him to suddenly want nothing to do with a fight.

What’s your best guess, ‘Taters?

– Elias Cepeda

Classic UFC Fight: Cain Velasquez Beats Bejesus Out of Brock Lesnar, Wins Heavyweight Title

(Fight starts at the 3:03 mark. Props: YouTube.com/UFC)

With UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez set to make his Octagon return next month at UFC 166, the UFC has released the video of his first-ever title fight, which took place at UFC 121 on October 23rd, 2010. His opponent that night was Brock Lesnar, the reigning champ who had proven his toughness the previous July with a classic comeback win against Shane Carwin. Lesnar was gigantic, athletic, and had legit talent as a wrestler. To stand a chance at winning, Velasquez would need to be faster, more efficient with his striking, and more willing to take abuse before giving it back. And that’s exactly what happened.

After some rather hoarse-voiced introductions from The Buff, Lesnar bull-rushes the smaller challenger right away, hoping to establish himself as alpha-male. And it actually works, at first. Brock stuffs some knees into Velasquez’s midsection (including a flying knee), and Cain has to retreat momentarily. He storms back with some punches but Lesnar responds by nailing a takedown and landing on top — a position that had spelled doom for the majority of his past opponents. But Cain gets to his feet immediately.

Brock struggles to put Velasquez’s back on the mat once again, and momentarily succeeds, but Velasquez is up even quicker the second time, and deftly escapes Lesnar’s grasp. It’s here that the momentum shifts. Velasquez begins popping Lesnar with punches, showing off his significant advantage in striking technique, before single-legging Lesnar to the mat and firing down some punches from above as Lesnar is turtled. Eventually he escapes to his feet, but he looks much worse for the wear, hunched over, dazed, swatting at Velasquez in panic.


(Fight starts at the 3:03 mark. Props: YouTube.com/UFC)

With UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez set to make his Octagon return next month at UFC 166, the UFC has released the video of his first-ever title fight, which took place at UFC 121 on October 23rd, 2010. His opponent that night was Brock Lesnar, the reigning champ who had proven his toughness the previous July with a classic comeback win against Shane Carwin. Lesnar was gigantic, athletic, and had legit talent as a wrestler. To stand a chance at winning, Velasquez would need to be faster, more efficient with his striking, and more willing to take abuse before giving it back. And that’s exactly what happened.

After some rather hoarse-voiced introductions from The Buff, Lesnar bull-rushes the smaller challenger right away, hoping to establish himself as alpha-male. And it actually works, at first. Brock stuffs some knees into Velasquez’s midsection (including a flying knee), and Cain has to retreat momentarily. He storms back with some punches but Lesnar responds by nailing a takedown and landing on top — a position that had spelled doom for the majority of his past opponents. But Cain gets to his feet immediately.

Brock struggles to put Velasquez’s back on the mat once again, and momentarily succeeds, but Velasquez is up even quicker the second time, and deftly escapes Lesnar’s grasp. It’s here that the momentum shifts. Velasquez begins popping Lesnar with punches, showing off his significant advantage in striking technique, before single-legging Lesnar to the mat and firing down some punches from above as Lesnar is turtled. Eventually he escapes to his feet, but he looks much worse for the wear, hunched over, dazed, swatting at Velasquez in panic.

Lesnar stumbles across the cage after botching a takedown attempt, and Velasquez moves in for the kill, landing a vicious knee to the body, and following Lesnar down to the mat with punches and elbows. The fight is close to being stopped right then, but Lesnar stays active in defending himself against the onslaught, and manages to make it to his feet for two or three seconds, before Velasquez scores another knockdown and swarms him for the TKO finish.

“Complete, total domination!” Joe Rogan says. “That was a matter of technique vs. horsepower, and technique just won in a big way.”

Since that night, Velasquez lost his title to Junior Dos Santos, beat up Antonio Silva, won his belt back from Junior Dos Santos, beat up Antonio Silva again, and will be fighting Junior Dos Santos for the third time next month just for the hell of it. Hopefully Velasquez vs. Dos Santos 3 will put their rivalry to bed — at least temporarily — and Velasquez can throw down against some new opponents next year.

Knockout of the Day: The Standing One-Elbow KO [VIDEO]

(Props: AXS.tv via RedditMMA. Be sure to stick around for the slow-mo replays at 4:45-4:58.)

With a perfect record of 14-0 (all by stoppage, 13 in the first round), Brazilian featherweight Thomas de Almeida is one of the hottest prospects in the sport. The 22-year-old Chute Boxe product last competed Friday night for the Standout Fighting Tournament in Sao Paulo, where he scored a TKO against Cemir Silva, and he’ll be returning to action on December 6th in the co-main event of Legacy FC 26.

To give you a taste of de Almeida’s fearsome striking ability, check out the above video of his last appearance for Legacy FC in November 2012, in which he put Cody Williams* to sleep with a standing overhand elbow. Usually, elbow-stoppages are the result of cumulative damage. (See: Melendez/Kawajiri, Mein/Cyborg). That’s what makes this one-elbow dinger so special; Silva vs. Fryklund comes to mind, and that’s about it. So enjoy, and keep your eye out for this kid.

* No relation to Tater.


(Props: AXS.tv via RedditMMA. Be sure to stick around for the slow-mo replays at 4:45-4:58.)

With a perfect record of 14-0 (all by stoppage, 13 in the first round), Brazilian featherweight Thomas de Almeida is one of the hottest prospects in the sport. The 22-year-old Chute Boxe product last competed Friday night for the Standout Fighting Tournament in Sao Paulo, where he scored a TKO against Cemir Silva, and he’ll be returning to action on December 6th in the co-main event of Legacy FC 26.

To give you a taste of de Almeida’s fearsome striking ability, check out the above video of his last appearance for Legacy FC in November 2012, in which he put Cody Williams* to sleep with a standing overhand elbow. Usually, elbow-stoppages are the result of cumulative damage. (See: Melendez/Kawajiri, Mein/Cyborg). That’s what makes this one-elbow dinger so special; Silva vs. Fryklund comes to mind, and that’s about it. So enjoy, and keep your eye out for this kid.

* No relation to Tater.