The event takes place June 18 from the TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In the main event, Rory MacDonald meets Stephen Thompson, while the co-main boasts Donald Cerrone and Patrick Cote.
Theodorou (11-1) suffered his first pro loss this past December, falling via decision to Thiago Santos. Alvey (26-7) had his three-fight win streak snapped by Derek Brunson last August.
While not that enticing on paper, Fight Night 61 actually delivered some highly entertaining moments over the course of its five-hour run time, which is more than you could say for the Oscars! #BoomRoasted #NailedIt #WhatsInTheBox
In the main event of the evening, four-fight-losing-streak GOAT Frank Mir looked like he wasn’t even riding a four fight losing streak when he quickly dropped Bigfoot Silva with a left hook and OBLITERATED the Brazilian with some follow-up elbows. The win was a much needed one for the former champion, to say the very least, and one that capped off a night in which ten straight underdogs walked away with a victory. Which, again, is more than you could say for the Oscars. #BirdmanRules #F*ckEddieRedmayne
Highlights from Mir vs. Silva are above, but join us after the jump to check out the rest of the evening’s highlights, including the co-main event scrap between Michael Johnson and Edson Barboza, Matt Dwyer’s superman punch KO, and Smilin’ Sam Alvey going HAM on Cezar Ferreira.
While not that enticing on paper, Fight Night 61 actually delivered some highly entertaining moments over the course of its five-hour run time, which is more than you could say for the Oscars! #BoomRoasted #NailedIt #WhatsInTheBox
In the main event of the evening, four-fight-losing-streak GOAT Frank Mir looked like he wasn’t even riding a four fight losing streak when he quickly dropped Bigfoot Silva with a left hook and OBLITERATED the Brazilian with some follow-up elbows. The win was a much needed one for the former champion, to say the very least, and one that capped off a night in which ten straight underdogs walked away with a victory. Which, again, is more than you could say for the Oscars. #BirdmanRules #F*ckEddieRedmayne
Highlights from Mir vs. Silva are above, but join us after the jump to check out the rest of the evening’s highlights, including the co-main event scrap between Michael Johnson and Edson Barboza, Matt Dwyer’s superman punch KO, and Smilin’ Sam Alvey going HAM on Cezar Ferreira.
Johnson vs. Barboza Highlights
Mike De La Torre vs. Tiago Trator
Alvey vs. Ferreira
Dwyer vs. Patolino
Complete Fight Night 61 Results
Main card
Frank Mir def. Bigfoot Silva via first-round KO (1:40)
Michael Johnson def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Sam Alvey def. Cezar Ferreira via first-round KO (3:34)
Adriano Martins def. Rustam Khabilov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Frankie Saenz def. Iuri Alcantara via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Sean Strickland via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Undercard
Marion Reneau def. Jessica Andrade via submission (triangle choke) (1st, 1:54)
Matt Dwyer def. William Macario via first-round KO (3:14)
Mike de la Torre def. Tiago Trator via first-round TKO (2:59)
Douglas Silva de Andrade def. Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Ivan Jorge def. Josh Shockley via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Perhaps you are part of the ever-diminishing group of people who chose to watch The Ultimate Fighter on a Friday night before going into town on a taxi, having a couple of drugs, having dinner, having a threesome, going home again, having a shower, going out again, more drugs, more threesomes – basically living the rock n’ roll lifestyle of the 18-34 year olds that this show targets. Or perhaps you are straight edge, in which case TUF serves as a warm-up for your night of Mr. Pibb (or some other beverage, if you enjoy missing all the cool things), lines of Pixy Stix and threesomes. You know, standard practice.
If you tuned in during the first episode, the good news is that you were treated to a night of actual fights instead of drunken arguments, disturbing pranks and more of the stuff you hate about the show. Sure, we still had multiple dudes entering the cage sporting Tatanka/Jorgensen hawks, but not everyone can pull off a normal haircut, I guess.
Right off the bat things get awkward between Dana White and Roy Nelson. Before the fights, Big Country informs the fighters that it’s important to entertain the fans, but winning should be their main priority. Dana White lets Shane Carwin address the UFC hopefuls before he tells the fighters how wrong Roy Nelson is for saying that. That moment probably would have been pretty effective in building interest in the Roy Nelson vs. Dana White storyline if Dana White hasn’t been telling everyone who will listen how fed up he is with Big Country.
As for the actual fights, we’ve got results after the jump, including team selections.
Meh.
Perhaps you are part of the ever-diminishing group of people who chose to watch The Ultimate Fighter on a Friday night before going into town on a taxi, having a couple of drugs, having dinner, having a threesome, going home again, having a shower, going out again, more drugs, more threesomes – basically living the rock n’ roll lifestyle of the 18-34 year olds that this show targets. Or perhaps you are straight edge, in which case TUF serves as a warm-up for your night of Mr. Pibb (or some other beverage, if you enjoy missing all the cool things), lines of Pixy Stix and threesomes. You know, standard practice.
If you tuned in during the first episode, the good news is that you were treated to a night of actual fights instead of drunken arguments, disturbing pranks and more of the stuff you hate about the show. Sure, we still had multiple dudes entering the cage sporting Tatanka/Jorgensen hawks, but not everyone can pull off a normal haircut, I guess.
Right off the bat things get awkward between Dana White and Roy Nelson. Before the fights, Big Country informs the fighters that it’s important to entertain the fans, but winning should be their main priority. Dana White lets Shane Carwin address the UFC hopefuls before he tells the fighters how wrong Roy Nelson is for saying that. That moment probably would have been pretty effective in building interest in the Roy Nelson vs. Dana White storyline if Dana White hasn’t been telling everyone who will listen how fed up he is with Big Country.
As for the actual fights, we’ve got results after the jump, including team selections.
Full Results from Episode One:
Dom Waters def. Kevin Nowaczyk via KO (punch), Round One
Michael Hill def. Lev Magen via KO (punch), Round One
Bristol Marunde def. George Lockhart via submission (guillotine choke), Round One
Mike Ricci def. Jason South via TKO (punches), Round One
Julian Lane def. Diego Bautista via unanimous decision
Igor Araujo def. Cortez Coleman via submission (triangle choke), Round Three
James Chaney def. Jerel Clark via submission (triangle choke), Round One
Cameron Diffley def. Zane Kamaka via submission (armbar), Round One
Neil Magny def. Frank Camacho via unanimous decision
Jon Manley def. Ricky Legere Jr. via unanimous decision
Colton Smith def. Jesse Barrett via unanimous decision
Matt Secor def. Mak Griffin via submission (triangle choke), Round Three
Eddie Ellis def. David Michaud via submission (arm-triangle choke), Round Two
Joey Rivera def. Saad Awad via unanimous decision
Nic Herron-Webb def. Tim Ruberg via submission (armbar), Round One
Sam Alvey def. Leo Kuntz via KO (punch), Round One
When it’s time to pick teams, Roy Nelson wins the coin toss, but offers Shane Carwin the chance to pick the first fighter in exchange for the chance to pick the first matchup. After watching him practically zombify 14-1 fighter Leo Kuntz with a right hook, Carwin selects Bellator veteran Smilin’ Sam Alvey with the first overall pick. Roy Nelson choses Dom Waters with his first selection. When it was all said and done, the team rosters looked like this:
Team Carwin: Sam Alvey, Bristol Marunde, Mike Ricci, Neil Magny, James Chaney, Eddie Ellis, Igor Araujo, Matt Secor Team Nelson: Dom Waters, Michael Hill, Cameron Diffley, Colton Smith, Jon Manley, Nic Herron-Webb, Joey Rivera, Julian Lane
Try not to act too surprised, but the episode ends with Dana White saying that Shane Carwin appears to have the better team, but anything can happen. Cool reality show, bro. Let me know who wins it.
It’s easy- perhaps even a bit lazy- to compare the embattled MMA fighter Drew Fickett to the similarly troubled Scott Hall. In their primes, both men performed on their respective sport’s biggest stages against recognizable names. In Fickett’s case, this meant a run in the UFC and notable victories over Dennis Hallman, Kenny Florian, Josh Neer, Josh Koscheck and Kurt Pellegrino.
Yet it’s arguable that both men are more famous for their self-destructive, chaotic lifestyles outside of sport than they are for their accomplishments. Both men have well documented struggles with addiction, have been fired from major promotions over their drunkenantics and have attempted to stay relevant in their respective sports with increasingly tragic results.
Yet it’s arguable that both men are more famous for their self-destructive, chaotic lifestyles outside of sport than they are for their accomplishments. Both men have well documented struggles with addiction, have been fired from major promotions over their drunkenantics and have attempted to stay relevant in their respective sports with increasingly tragic results.
Before the fight, MMAJunkie.com revealed that, aside from moving from Arizona to Florida to enter a rehabilitation facility and train at American Top Team, Fickett was in very real danger of becoming homeless if he did not receive a win bonus for his performance. And while Fickett walked to the cage with a sign proudly proclaiming his forty two days of sobriety, he did not last one minute into the fight. Fickett was caught with a head kick early and covered up until the referee stopped the fight.
As depressing of a result as this is for Drew Fickett’s 60th professional fight, “Night Rider” believes that he could retire with 100 fights under his belt.
In far less depressing news, John Gunderson quickly submitted Karo Parisyan by guillotine choke. After being taken down early by “The Heat”, Gunderson caught Parisyan with a huge left knee. Parisyan desperately dove in for a takedown, and was caught in the fight-ending guillotine for his efforts. Gunderson improves to 34-14, while Parisyan has lost four of his last five fights.
TUF 3 champion Kendall Grove won the ShoFIGHT middleweight title last night as well, earning a split-decision victory over the previously undefeated Derek Brunson. Brunson took the fight on only four days’ notice, as the original challenger, noted punching bag Terry Martin, was not cleared by the Missouri Office of Athletics to fight. Because of this, the bout was only three rounds, and at a catchweight of 190 pounds.
Grove was taken down often, yet remained busy from his back, attempting multiple submissions. When Grove landed an illegal upkick in the third round, the referee stood up the fight (?!), and Grove was able to pick apart Derek Brunson as the fight came to an end. Grove is now 15-10 with the victory.
Also of note, former Strikeforce lightweight Lyle Beerbohm battered and bloodied Marcus Aurelio on his way to a unanimous decision victory that all three judges saw 30-26. Aurelio was simply no match for “Fancy Pants” throughout the fight, being taken down at will and unable to threaten with any submission attempts. Beerbohm has now won three straight fights since being cut from Strikeforce.
Full Results:
Main Card:
John Gunderson def. Karo Parisyan by submission (guillotine choke), 2:04 of Round One
Kendall Grove def. Derek Brunson by split decision
Lyle Beerbohm def. Marcus Aurelio by unanimous decision
Mike Wessel def. Matt Kovacs by TKO (strikes), 4:50 of Round Two
Jonatas Novaes def. Drew Fickett by TKO (strikes), 0:51 seconds of Round One
Chris Greutzemacher def. Roli Delgado by TKO (elbows), 3:24 of round 3
Preliminary Card:
Sevak Magakian def. James Reese by unanimous decision
Chris McDaniel def. Charles Bennett by submission (triangle choke), 2:52 of Round One
Lucas Lopez def. Sam Alvey by TKO (strikes), 1:37 of Round One
Dustin Phillips def. Allen Gibson by unanimous decision
Matt Lucas def. Lucas Overcast by unanimous decision
Mike Brazzle def. Karen Darabedyan by TKO (strikes), 4:15 of Round One
Jacob Ritchie def. Robert Saborudden by TKO (strikes), 3:28 of Round Three
Jason Ignacek def. Gary Michaels via unanimous decision
“Man, I just can’t tell you how much stronger I feel since I got my leukocyte count under control, you know? I feel like I could do this all day!” PicProps: Keith Mills for Sherdog
Since we all know that you didn’t watch Bellator last night, how about a recap? Come on inside for accounts of the event, plus videos of the middleweight tournament bouts, courtesy of Zee2TehPee and ArnForgesArn.com — massive props to those guys. Boo boo on the crowd in Hollywood, Florida, which seemed just a little too quick to rain down boos on a good night of fights. Come on inside and I’ll tell you all about it.
“Man, I just can’t tell you how much stronger I feel since I got my leukocyte count under control, you know? I feel like I could do this all day!” PicProps: Keith Mills for Sherdog
Since we all know that you didn’t watch Bellator last night, how about a recap? Come on inside for accounts of the event, plus videos of the middleweight tournament bouts, courtesy of Zee2TehPee and ArnForgesArn.com – massive props to those guys. Boo boo on the crowd in Hollywood, Florida, which seemed just a little too quick to rain down boos on a good night of fights. Come on inside and I’ll tell you all about it.
Victor O’Donnell vs Brian Rogers
Man, Victor O’Donnell looks like the little brother of Bronan the Barbarian. Ok, there was a bit of a stoppage controversy on this one, kids, but it’s the kind where you kind of feel bad for everyone involved. Brian Rogers has a streak going of putting a quick smashing on his opponents, so when he wobbles O’Donnell with a headkick and a flurry of hooks, then follows him to the canvas with hammerfists, you can’t really blame referee Troy Waugh for diving it to stop it. Unfortunately, O’Donnell still has plenty of fight left in him, since he was busy establishing guard and wrist control when Waugh waves it off. Brian “The Predator” Rogers scores another TKO victory (referee stoppage due to strikes) at 1:56 in the first, but the crowd turns on him, booing the stoppage. Rogers, who comes off as an extremely nice guy, goes full-on heel with them in the interview. Very strange fight.
Sam Alvey vs Vitor Vianna
Speaking of strange fights, there’s this. Sam Alvey has his model girlfriend in his corner, gloves on and everything. Vitor Vianna has BJJ championships like Joe Johnson has shoes, but he doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to take Alvey down and introduce us all to the Portuguese Pretzel Choke. So they stay standing, but neither fighter shows much in the way of killer instinct, and 90% of the action is in the last two minutes of the fight. Alvey moves forward most of the fight, defends takedowns well, and scores some damage on Vianna, but Alvey winds up losing a split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29). The crowd turns on Vianna as well, who seems to have learned English from Wanderlei, if nothing else. Poor fella. Vianna promises better next time, and I hope so.
Bryan Baker vs Jared Hess
The Battle of Dudes Fresh Off of Expensive Surgeries was going to be a lose-lose for me, because I like both of them. Both Baker and Hess had tune-up fights for the tournament, but this would be their first real competition, and it turned out to be a fantastic fight: a really technical grappling exchange with a good tempo. Hess did not look like his pre-surgery self — the limitless gas tank that helped him grind through opponents started to run out by the end of the first, he made quite a few technical errors on the ground, and he did look wobbly and awkward on his feet through the second and third. True to form, though, Hess never quit. The referee stopped the fight because Baker had him back mounted, hooks in, fully extended and dropping big hooks to his cranium region. (Oh, and Baker’s wife still wails like a banshee in the crowd the entire damn fight, and this time she had back-up.) Bryan Baker defeats Jared Hess by TKO (referee stoppage due to ground and pound) at 2:52 of round 3.
Zelg Galesic vs Alexander Shlemenko
Alexander Shlemenko lied to our faces … and I have new respect for him. The Russian whirlwind has expressed open disdain for submission grappling on the ground pretty much anytime someone comes near him with a camera and a translator, and he chases knockouts . Then he comes out to fight Croatian kickboxer Zelg Galesic and goes for a clinch like he’s a heat seeking judo missile. It took less than two minutes for Shlemenko to secure a nasty standing guillotine/neck crank that was right up there with Dan Miller’s. Props to Shlemenko for actually working to improve and roundout his skill set, plus more props for playing it close to the vest. More props on top of that for that monster submission. The big knock against The Storm has been that he was one-dimensional and anyone with some high school wrestling could take him down. If Shlemenko can bring his wrestling and submission defense up to par, suddenly that crazy striking style of his becomes a whole lot scarier. Alexander Shlemenko defeats Zelg Galesic via Submission (Standing Guillotine/Neck Crank) at 1:55 of round 1.
Spike.com Card
Brett Cooper defeats Valdir Araujo via TKO (punches) at 0:35 of round 3.
Radley Martinez defeats Brian van Hoven via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3).
Ailton Barbosa defeats Ryan Keenan via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:55 of round 1.
Christian Souza defeats John Kelly via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3).
J.P. Reese defeats Martin Brown via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3).
Marcelo Goncalves defeats Dietter Navarro via submission (armbar) at 2:01 of round 1.
Shah Babonis defeats Marcos de Matta via KO (punch) at 2:04 of round 3.
