• Kazushi Sakuraba continued to assert his dominance over top competition by dispatching of Canadian rising star Carlos Newton, who would eventualy win the UFC welterweight strap.
(PRIDE never die…)
PRIDE 3 went down 13 years ago.
Why it matters:
• Mark Kerr was still in his prime, which was how we want to remember “The Smashing Machine.” He easily handled IVC and IVF champ Pedro Otavio.
• Kazushi Sakuraba continued to assert his dominance over top competition by dispatching of Canadian rising star Carlos Newton, who would eventualy win the UFC welterweight strap.
• Prior to the Saku-Newton bout, Sebastiaan “Bas” Rutten made a special appearance in the ring to talk about his upcoming UFC 18 title bout with Randy Couture and to announce that after that fight his intention to fight Rickson Gracie under the PRIDE banner. Neither bout ever happened. Couture forfeited his UFC HW strap because of a contract dispute, so Rutten instead fought and defeated Tsuyoshi Kohsaka at UFC 18 in May 1999 by TKO at the 14:15 mark (there were no rounds or time limits at that time). After defeating Kevin Randleman four months later at UFC 20 to win the vacant heavyweight title, Rutten promptly retired because of ongoing issues with his knees, so the fight with Gracie never materialized.
PRIDE 3
June 24, 1998
Nippon Budokan,
Tokyo, Japan
Akira Shoji and Daijiro Matsui fought to a draw after four rounds. Daiju Takase Emmanuel def. Yarborough by submission (punches) 3:22 R2. Kazushi Sakuraba def. Carlos Newton by submission (kneebar) 5:19 R2. Gary Goodridge def. Amir Rahnavardi KO (punches) – 7:22 R1 Mark Kerr def. Pedro Otavio by technical submission (kimura) – 2:13 R1 Nobuhiko Takada def. Kyle Sturgeon by submission (heel hook) – 2:18 R1
MMA’s version of Rocky, Randy Couture was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame 5 years ago.
Why it matters: *See below*
(Videos courtesy of YouTube/ItownBob47)
The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale went down five years ago.
Why it matters:
• Michael Bisping, who was actualy a fan favorite on the show, won the light heavyweight side of the bracket, while Kendall Grove took home the glass trophy for winning the middleweight side of the competition. Both fighters were from Tito Ortiz’s team, which bolstered the opinion that Ken Shamrock was one of the worst coaches in the show’s history.
• The show participants were Mike Stine, Kendall Grove, Rory Singer, Danny Abbadi, Kalib Starnes, Solomon Hutcherson, Ed Herman, Ross Pointon, Michael Bisping, Noah Inhofer, Josh Haynes, Matt Hamill, Jesse Forbes, Kristian Rothaermel, Tait Fletcher and Mike Nickels.
• Of the 16 contestants, only three remain under UFC contract (Hamill, Bisping and Herman)
• Bisping went on to coach opposite Dan Henderson on TUF 9 and was knocked out by the former PRIDE champion at UFC 100. He is slated to appear on the next season of the SPIKE TV reality series opposite Jason “Mayhem” Miller.
(Listen, Dana…Do you think you can say I was with you the night the heist went down?)
Lee Murray was released from a Morroccan jail 2 years ago.
Why it matters:
Although his freedom was short-lived (as in two days), it may be the only time the former UFC middleweight, who was sentenced to an additional 10-25 years for his part in the publicized Securitas heist in the UK, may taste freedom in the next two decades.
Ivan Salaverry retired from MMA three years ago…sort of.
Why it matters:
Salaverry announced that he was done fighting on this day in 2008, but later revealed (as illustrated in the interview above from Matt Lindland’s ‘Fighting Politics’ documentary) that his decision was brought on by the way he felt he and other fighters were mistreated by UFC president Dana White. Since there was a loophole in his UFC contract that stated that retirement nullified his agreement after a specified amount of time, after sitting out for nearly three years from his last bout at UFC 84, Salaverry pulled a Randy Couture and returned to action May 21 of this year to face Matt Ewin at Bamma 6. Unfortunately for the 40-year-old whose version of the mounted crucifix holds a special place in the heart of UFC commentator Joe Rogan, the long layoff and his age did him no favors as he lost the bout by unanimous decision.
(“Listen, Dana…Do you think you can say I was with you the night the heist went down?”)
Lee Murray was released from a Morroccan jail 2 years ago.
Why it matters:
Although his freedom was short-lived (as in two days), it may be the only time the former UFC middleweight, who was sentenced to an additional 10-25 years for his part in the publicized Securitas heist in the UK, may taste freedom in the next two decades.
Ivan Salaverry retired from MMA three years ago…sort of.
Why it matters:
Salaverry announced that he was done fighting on this day in 2008, but later revealed (as illustrated in the interview above from Matt Lindland’s ‘Fighting Politics’ documentary) that his decision was brought on by the way he felt he and other fighters were mistreated by UFC president Dana White. Since there was a loophole in his UFC contract that stated that retirement nullified his agreement after a specified amount of time, after sitting out for nearly three years from his last bout at UFC 84, Salaverry pulled a Randy Couture and returned to action May 21 of this year to face Matt Ewin at Bamma 6. Unfortunately for the 40-year-old whose version of the mounted crucifix holds a special place in the heart of UFC commentator Joe Rogan, the long layoff and his age did him no favors as he lost the bout by unanimous decision.
Alistair Overeem made his heavyweight MMA debut 4 years ago.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/StillW1ll)
Why it matters:
“The Reem” made his successful heavyweight MMA debut at the K-1 World Grand Prix in Amsterdam in 2008 by defeating Michael Knaap by guillotine. Although Knaap was by no means a world beater, a draw with Cheick Kongo and a win over Roman Zentsov proved he was no pushover. In spite of criticisms that the only truly competitive opponent he has faced since moving up in weight was Fabricio Werdum and that, sure he beat him, but he didn’t win convincingly (seriously, some people will complain about anything), Overeem has only lost once since becoming “Ubereem.”
“The Demolition Man” has finished all but two of his opponents (Sergei Kharitonov, who he lost to by KO and Mirko Filipovic, who he notched a no-contest against after several knees to the groin left “CroCop” unable to continue) in that span. His heavyweight victims list includes Todd Duffee, Brett Rogers, Kazuyuki Fujita, James Thompson, Gary Goodridge, Mark Hunt, and Paul Buentello.
Kimbo Slice made his MMA debut 4 years ago.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/Kimbosliceschannel)
Why it matters:
Had he lost against Ray Mercer at Cage Fury Fighting Championship 5, we may never have seen the former backyard brawler crash and burn as an MMA fighter when pitted against apt opponents. In spite of being a 4-2 can-crusher, Slice, AKA Kevin Ferguson was one of MMA biggest draws. Still, infamy couldn’t help him keep a job with the UFC.
After tallying a 1-1 official and 1-0 exhibition record in the Octagon with a debatable win over Houston Alexander, a TUF 10 prelim loss to Roy Nelson and a UFC 113 routing by Matt Mitrione, Slice was given his walking papers by the UFC. The 37-year-old hasn’t fought since and is said to be waffling over starting a pro boxing career.
• The event marked Jens Pulver’s last UFC fight in which he lost by rear-naked choke to longtime nemesis BJ Penn. Penn was criticized for holding on to the sub longer than necessary.
• Nate Diaz (who handed Gray Maynard his only loss of his career, albeit an unofficial one, via guillotine in the semi-finals) became the season’t Ultimate Fighter with a win over Manny Gamburyan in the final. Gamburyan injured his shoulder and was unable to continue the bout.
• Of the 16 contestants on this season of the show, only six are UFC fighters. They are Gray Maynard, Matt Wiman, Joe Lauzon, Nate Diaz, Manny Gamburyan and Cole Miller.
PRIDE 21 went down 9 years ago.
Why it matters:
• Although the match-ups were nothing to write home about, the card that took place in 2002 in Saitama, Japan featured a list of notables including Anderson Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, Don Frye, Gary Goodridge, Semmy Schilt, Jeremy Horn, Renzo Gracie and Gilbert Yvel.
• Emelianenko defeated Schilt at the event, but was unable to finish the big Dutchman.
• Frye’s win over Yoshihiro Takayama claimed the number one slot Fox Sports Network’s “Best Damn 50 Beatdowns” and was named “2002 Shoot Match of the Year” by Dave Meltzer’s The Wrestling Observer newsletter.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/jaruswiatekmma)
Nick Thompson was born 29 years ago.
Why he matters:
Although he isn’t to be mistaken with The G.O.A.T, The Goat had some respectable wins in his eight-year 53-fight MMA career over the likes of Brian Gassaway, Josh Neer, Eddie Alvarez, Mark Weir and Paul Daley. Although he came up short against fighters like Yushin Okami, Jake Shields, Tim Kennedy and Karo Parisyan, the former BodogFight welterweight champion was a gamer who was known for taking whatever fights were offered to him. Thompson retired earlier this year to focus on managing fighters and his career as a licensed attorney.
Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni went down 4 years ago.
Why it matters:
• Frank Shamrock became Strikeforce’s inaugural middleweight champion after he defeated Phil Baroni at the EliteXC co-promoted event held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California by choking “The New York Badass” unconscious with a rear-naked choke. Shamrock was criticized for “kicking” Baroni off of him after the bout. He explained the incident at the post-fight press conference. “He was heavy on top of me… he was squishing the life out of me… he was laying on my leg and on my chest… that’s it. And I thought it looked better on camera.” Shamrock would lose the strap one fight later to Cung Le.
• Following the bout California State Athletic Commission test results revealed that Baroni tested positive for Boldenone and Stanozolol steroid metabolites. He was fined $2,500 and suspended for a year from competing in California — a suspension that would be observed by every member agency in the Association of Boxing Commissions. Baroni denied any wrongdoing and appealed the decision and on October 31, 2007 Baroni’s suspension was reduced to 6 months without a even a shred of evidence presented that exonerated him.
• Murilo Rua defeated Joey Vilasenor to become the first EliteXC middleweight champion. He would lose it in his next fight with Robbie Lawler.
• Carter Williams was found by the CSAC to have tested positive for cocaine. As a result he was fined $1,000 and suspended for six months.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/Stemerm1)
Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni went down 4 years ago.
Why it matters:
• Frank Shamrock became Strikeforce’s inaugural middleweight champion after he defeated Phil Baroni at the EliteXC co-promoted event held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California by choking “The New York Badass” unconscious with a rear-naked choke. Shamrock was criticized for “kicking” Baroni off of him after the bout. He explained the incident at the post-fight press conference. “He was heavy on top of me… he was squishing the life out of me… he was laying on my leg and on my chest… that’s it. And I thought it looked better on camera.” Shamrock would lose the strap one fight later to Cung Le.
• Following the bout California State Athletic Commission test results revealed that Baroni tested positive for Boldenone and Stanozolol steroid metabolites. He was fined $2,500 and suspended for a year from competing in California — a suspension that would be observed by every member agency in the Association of Boxing Commissions. Baroni denied any wrongdoing and appealed the decision and on October 31, 2007 Baroni’s suspension was reduced to 6 months without a even a shred of evidence presented that exonerated him.
• Murilo Rua defeated Joey Vilasenor to become the first EliteXC middleweight champion. He would lose it in his next fight with Robbie Lawler.
• Carter Williams was found by the CSAC to have tested positive for cocaine. As a result he was fined $1,000 and suspended for six months.
Brian Bowles was born 31 years ago.
Why he matters:
• Bowles is the former WEC bantamweight champion
• He holds wins over Charlie Valencia, Miguel Torres and Damacio Page.
• All nine of his wins came by KO, TKO or submission giving him a 90% finish rate — one of the best in the UFC.
Randy Couture was born 48 years ago. (Video courtesy of YouTube/UFCEdit)
Why he matters:
If you don’t know, you’re on the wrong website.
What Captain America has accomplished in his storied MMA career will likely never be duplicated.
• The three-time All-American Greco-Roman wrestler from at Oklahoma State University is the only UFC fighter to win both the heavyweight and light heavyweight straps. Couture won both belts twice and the interim light heavyweight belt once.
• He successfully defended the heavyweight belt three times, but never defended the light heavyweight belt.
• Although his 19-11 record betrays what just how much he accomplished in his career, the majority of his losses came against current, future or former champions including Chuck Liddell (x2), Vitor Belfort, Ricco Rodriguez, Josh Barnett, Lyoto Machida and Brock Lesnar.
• His trilogy of fights with Chuck Liddell are three of the best selling cards in UFC history.
• It’s unlikely any other fighter will fight until they are 47 with the rate of success that Couture had.
The event marked the final fight of former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner before his untimely death in the Paolo Verde, California desert. In spite of a close split-decision loss to Kendall Grove on the card, Tanner would give perhaps his last and most harrowing interview that provided an eerie foreboding soundbite that fans will forever make wonder if it was in reference to his career or his troubled life. “I’m feeling off, flat, can’t move. Maybe it’s…you know…Maybe my day is done.”
The event also saw the first TUF winner with no professional fighting experience crowned. Amir Sadollah, who has since racked up a respectable 5-2 record in the Octagon defeated the more seasoned former Arizona State wrestling standout CB Dollaway by first round submission.
One of the night’s winners, Diego Sanchez, would make an ill-fated decision he may now regret in retrospective. Following his win over Luigi Florvanti, Diego announced that he would be dropping to light weight to take a run at a title in the lighter class. After racking up a pair of wins over Joe Stevenson and CLay Guida, “The Nightmare,” as he was known back then, lost via decisive fifth-round TKO stoppage to then-lightweight champion BJ Penn at UFC 107. After a one-year stint as a lightweight, the TUF 1 middleweight winner decided to move back up to welterweight where he has since compiled a 2-1 record with a loss to John Hathaway and a pair of wins over Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago.
(RIP Evan Tanner.)
Well, it wasn’t the most MMA history-steeped day, but there were a few noteworthy events that took place on this day in MMA.
The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale went down 3 years ago.
The event marked the final fight of former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner before his untimely death in the Paolo Verde, California desert. In spite of a close split-decision loss to Kendall Grove on the card, Tanner would give perhaps his last and most harrowing interview that provided an eerie foreboding soundbite that fans will forever make wonder if it was in reference to his career or his troubled life. “I’m feeling off, flat, can’t move. Maybe it’s…you know…Maybe my day is done.”
The event also saw the first TUF winner with no professional fighting experience crowned. Amir Sadollah, who has since racked up a respectable 5-2 record in the Octagon defeated the more seasoned former Arizona State wrestling standout CB Dollaway by first round submission.
One of the night’s winners, Diego Sanchez, would make an ill-fated decision he may now regret in retrospective. Following his win over Luigi Florvanti, Diego announced that he would be dropping to light weight to take a run at a title in the lighter class. After racking up a pair of wins over Joe Stevenson and CLay Guida, “The Nightmare,” as he was known back then, lost via decisive fifth-round TKO stoppage to then-lightweight champion BJ Penn at UFC 107. After a one-year stint as a lightweight, the TUF 1 middleweight winner decided to move back up to welterweight where he has since compiled a 2-1 record with a loss to John Hathaway and a pair of wins over Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago.
Iroquois MMA Championships went down 3 years ago.
Why it Matters:
The event, which took place just outside Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on native land saw Gary Goodridge fight at home in Ontario, Canada for the first and last time in his career before he retired. Although the bout didn’t go as planned for ”Big Daddy,” as he lost by unanimous decision, the fact that fans in his home province got to watch the Barrie, Ontario native compete live before he called it a career more than made up for it.
Ring of Fire 5: Predators went down 9 years ago.
Why it matters:
(Back before Diego proved he was more than just a pretty face.)
The otherwise un-newsworthy event saw a 20-year old fighter take the first step in an impressive career. Diego Sanchez defeated fellow MMA newcomer Michael Johnson (no, not the TUF 12 runner-up) at the event that took place at the Radisson North Graystone Castle hotel in Denver, Colorado. Thanks to his appearance on TUF 1 and his ferocious fighting Style, Sanchez (23-4) has grown to become a favorite of UFC fans.
Pancrase: Advance 8 went down 13 years ago.
Why it matters:
UFC 13 tournament winner Guy Mezger faced off with kickboxing juggernaut Semmy Schilt in a moneyweight bout. Although Mezger would lose via TKO at the 13:15 mark of the first round, the fight would go down as one of his most memorable (for those who have seen it) of Mezgar’s storied career.
