Planet Tapout 9.18.07: IFL Finals Preview
Posted by Lotfi Sariahmed on 09.18.2007
IFL Finals! This Thursday Night! Silverbacks v. Pitbulls! Rothwell v. Rodriguez! Ciesnolevicz v. Gusmao! Palaszewski v. DT! Go crazy folks! 411Mania's Lotfi Sariahmed previews the IFL Finals card and gives you This Week in Fight Picks in the latest edition of Planet Tapout!
Welcome to the MMA column doesn't underestimate his opponents! I am Lotfi Sariahmed and this is the Planet even a mother can love. Before we get into this week's topic let's rummage around in the mailbag shall we?
Mailbag!
David from Dallas wrote in with his less than pleasurable thoughts on the Bisping v. Hamill decision from UFC 75.
I enjoy your columns and for the most agree with your opinions but have
never written in to you. After this past Saturday night, I have no choice.
How in the did Mike "Count Chocula" Bisping pull that decision off
against Hamill? I know that was not complete domination, but Hamill at the
very least dominated for 2 1/2 rounds easily. I almost had a movement in my
pants when I heard that decision. I love the UFC, but this really stinks
like so many of the boxing matches in history where someone dominated the
entire fight & then lost the decision.
Well David you've echoed the same sentiments many fans have following that fight at UFC 75. After I first watched the fight I think Bisping was granted a gift decision as well. But it wasn't the worst of decisions and I wouldn't start comparing this decision to questionable boxing decisions either. Lets not go too crazy. The issue here is over the 2nd round. I think Hamill won the first and Bisping won the 3rd. I thought Hamill won the 2nd and Mr. Csonka, who was doing the PBP for us for that event, thought so as well. But you have to remember Hamill fought that fight looking to prove something as opposed to looking to win. There have been many pundits (myself included) who said going in that his striking was inept at best. Well, he fought that fight looking to tell people that he could stand up and strike with some of the best. But he did that at the expense of putting away the fight. He can't let Bisping stand up and restart the fight on its feet. He should have finished the bout. It's his own fault leaving the bout to go to the judges and I can't go too crazy with the judges giving Bisping the 2nd round. In the end, the Bonnar v. Jardine decision was more outrageous and this is just another bout I simply disagree with.
Planet Tapout's inbox is always open. Don't be afraid to write. MMA related or not, send me your thoughts. The email address isPlanetTapout@gmail.com . Now lets get things started.
IFL Finals: New York Pitbulls v. Quad Cities Silverbacks
This Thursday night marks the culmination of the IFL's team season with the appropriately named IFL Finals in Florida. As if you'd expect anything less from 411Mania and yours truly, this is the part of the show where I break down the entire card for you. So lets get started with the prelim bouts.
Rolles Gracie v. Sam Holloway
Hey look it's a Gracie in MMA! How many is that 37? Rolles gets into MMA following time competing in jiu-jitsu and submission grappling tournaments. The Gracie, son of Rolls, will be taking on Holloway who is 4-0 in MMA and will be making his IFL debut. While Holloway is of Wild Bill's Fight Night fame, the match-up seems to favor Gracie given his jiu-jitsu and grappling advantages.
Winner: Rolles Gracie
Jamal Patterson v. Chris Baten
For those of you who don't know the story yet, allow me to quickly recap. When Bryan Vetell (Pitbulls heavyweight) went down with a training injury, there was talk of Jamal Patterson moving up to take the bout with Silverbacks heavyweight Ben Rothwell. So Andre Gusmao, who was going to be in this fight, moved up to the team bout to take on Mike Ciesnolevicz. So when the Florida Athletic Commission didn't approve of Patterson's move up in competition, he was left without a spot in the team bouts. Now he's fighting Chris Baten on the prelims. Barring any unforeseen nagging injuries Patterson isn't telling anyone about, he'll outclass Baten in every aspect of this fight.
Winner: Jamal Patterson
Brad Blackburn v. Travis Cox
If you only look at Brad Blackburn's record in MMA (10-9) and the IFL (3-2), there's not a whole lot to be impressed by. But he lost to two fighters in Rory Markham and Mark Miller that could be consistently considered as the top welterweights in the division. On top of that Blackburn is coming off his biggest win in MMA to date. He knocked out Jay Hieron 40 seconds into the first round in his last bout in June. After the news that Antonio McKee was forced out of the Grand Prix, Blackburn has since stepped in as an alternate in the division. This bout against Travis Cox should give him the opportunity to showcase his skills prior to potentially getting in the Grand Prix.
Winner: Brad Blackburn
Ryan Schultz v. Aaron Riley
This is easily the most entertaining fight on the undercard. In a division that's already chalk full of good talent, Ryan Schultz is a lightweight who just manages to fly under the radar. Schultz is 3-2 in the IFL and his two losses just so happen to be to the best two lightweights in the division (Chris Horodecki and Bart Palaszewski). He made a big statement in his last fight when he beat up the favored Savant Young to take home a unanimous decision victory. He's an aggressive fighter and a bout with Mr. Iron Chin Aaron Riley should make for some nice action. Riley comes into this bout having lost his last two fights to quality competition in Eddie Alvarez and Spencer Fisher. This will be his first fight of 2007 and both guys will throw some bombs. I like Schultz just a little bit more in this fight. I don't like long layoffs for fighters in between fights and I think Schultz is better versed on the ground than Riley. So I'm taking the lightweight from the Portland Wolfpack.
Winner: Ryan Schultz
Now lets turn to the team bouts to determine who gets the ring.
Bart Palaszewski v. Deividas Taurosevicius
This is a very compelling bout. Palaszewski really hasn't been tested much in the IFL outside of his back-to-back bouts against Horodecki and Gunderson. In his semifinals bout against Harris Sarmiento, he had to prepare for the former STRIKEFORCE veteran in only a few days and that affected his performance. Palaszewski was cut in the fight but none worse for wear as he ended up submitting Sarmiento in the 3rd round. On that same card Taurosevicius (DT) surprised more than a few people in only his second fight in the IFL. DT quieted the normally aggressive Savant Young and beat him by unanimous decision to help the Pitbulls lock up its spot in the Finals. If there's one thing Team Miletich does well it's prepare for opponents. I've talked to Palaszewski, Mike Ciesnolevicz and Ben Rothwell leading up to the finals and they've all said the same thing. Miletich prepares them for every opponent like they are well versed in everything. There is no surprise for the Silverbacks going into Palaszewski's bout with DT either. They'll be prepared and in the end it will come down to who's the more talented fighter. It'll be a very entertaining fight because I think DT could give Palaszewski some fits. But I think "Bartimus" pulls this fight out.
Winner: Bart Palaszewski
Jake Ellenberger v. Delson Heleno
An injury in an individual bout usually doesn't mean a whole lot. You look to replace the fighter and move forward. The bout usually isn't of the same quality but you deal with it. But with Jake Ellenberger replacing Rory Markham on the card, this bout could impact who walks away with the rings at the end of the night. Markham couldn't take the fight because he broke his hand in the semifinals against Chris Clements. Ellenberger steps in as his replacement and all he has to do is beat the best welterweight in the IFL this season. Easy right? To be fair, Delson was made to look human in his last fight against Antonio McKee. Then again McKee has some absurd wrestling skills, even if that does just mean he takes a guy down and keeps him there. Ellenberger has a blue print but it'd be a shocker if he could compete with Heleno's jiu-jitsu on the ground.
Winner: Delson Heleno
Ryan McGivern v. Fabio Leopoldo
This is a bout that the casual IFL fan, if one does exist, would simply look over and think Leopoldo. He's a very talented fighter and only missed out on the Grand Prix because of injury. As it is Leopoldo is an alternate in the tournament. He has a very dangerous ground game and more than serviceable striking skills. But every time I talk to someone about Ryan McGivern or hear someone talk about Ryan McGivern they always say the same couple of things. He hits absurdly hard and he has so much potential. Well, the Silverbacks might need him to exude some of that potential in this fight. Neither fighter fought in the semis for different reasons. Leopoldo was injured McGivern was getting married. Both fighters are also coming off losses as well. Leopoldo suffered an arm injury his last bout in a loss to Brent Beauparlant. Tim Kennedy choked McGivern out. Don't forget this bout is also a rematch between these two fighters. Leopoldo won the last fight by submission in September of 2006. Barring an unforeseen knockout, Leopoldo will win the rematch one year later.
Winner: Fabio Leopoldo
Mike Ciesnolevicz v. Andre Gusmao
This is the swing bout of the team bouts. The last time these two fought, Gusmao won by TKO over Ciesnolevicz in the 2nd. Now the Silverbacks swear up and down, including Ciesnolevicz, that the second fight will be different because they weren't ready for the first. Ciesnolevicz went in there looking to bang with Gusmao but it just so happens that he's Renzo's Muay Thai instructor for his academy. I know fighters change from fight to fight and in the span of a year, there's no doubt Ciesnolevicz has improved as a fighter. But Gusmao probably has as well don't you think? Ciesnolevicz is a very good light heavyweight but I think he'd have to finish Gusmao to win this fight and I don't know if he can. I don't think he could finish the fight either. Gusmao is obviously a stronger muay thai fighter and Ciesnolevicz would have an advantage bringing the fight to the ground. But he's only had three submission victories in his career. I think Gusmao shocks Ciesnolevicz again in this bout.
Winner: Andre Gusmao
Ben Rothwell v. Ricco Rodriguez
So for those of you keeping score at home, it went from Vetell to Patterson to Sauer and now to Rodriguez. But outside of a potential fight with Vetell none of it really matters. Now this fight against Rodriguez provides the biggest draw of the potential heavyweight bouts. He's still a nice name and it'll attract more attention to the event. But Rodriguez is the guy going into this fight looking to make a name for himself, not Rothwell. Rothwell is undefeated in the IFL and of his 26 wins; only one has come via decision. Rodriguez is still looking to come back to prominence after ballooning up in weight. Rothwell will get that fight against an experienced opponent but he shouldn't have too hard of a time against Rodriguez.
Winner: Ben Rothwell
Looking at each of the team bouts, the Silverbacks should score wins at heavyweight and lightweight barring another big performance out of DT. On the other side the Pitbulls should have the bouts at welterweight and middleweight barring a crazy knockout from Ryan McGivern. So it will come down to light heavyweight and for as much as things change the more they stay the same.
Winner: New York Pitbulls
This Week in Fight Picks! UFC Fight Night
Jonathan Goulet over Dustin Hazelett
Kuniyoshi Hironaka over Thiago Alves
Gray Maynard over Joe Veres
Leonard Garcia over Cole Miller
Edilberto de Oliveira over Luke Cummo
Nate Quarry over Pete Sell
Nate Diaz over Junior Assuncao
Terry Martin over Chris Leben
Din Thomas over Kenny Florian
UFC 76
Matt Wiman over Michihiro Omigawa
Scott Junk over Christian Wellisch
Diego Saraiva over Jeremy Stephens
Diego Sanchez over Jon Fitch
Kazuhiro Nakamura over Lyoto Machida
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua over Forrest Griffin
Tyson Griffin over Thiago Tavares
Chuck Liddell over Keith Jardine
That's it for this week on Planet Tapout! As always send me your love and loathing to PlanetTapout@gmail.com .
Make sure you come back next Tuesday for another edition of the Planet! This week in MMA is HUGE! On Wednesday we have UFC Fight Night with a main event of Kenny Florian v. Din Thomas. Then after that event we have the debut of The Ultimate Fighter Season 6 with Team Serra taking on Team Hughes. Then on Thursday we have the IFL Finals with the Silverbacks taking on the Pitbulls. Then, as if all that weren't enough, UFC 76 is this Saturday with Chuck Liddell taking on Keith Jardine, "Shogun" Rua taking on Forrest Griffin and Diego Sanchez taking on Jon Fitch. Enjoy the fights everybody.
