411 Live Event Preview: World Cage Fighting Organization: The Return
Posted by Randy Harrison on 01.09.2008
The WCO makes its return to MMA with an event aptly titled "The Return". Renato Sobral makes his return to fight on US soil after the controversy at UFC 74, Mark Kerr looks to make his return to his past glories and the WCO tries to help families affected by the San Diego wildfires return their lives to normal. It looks like a win-win situation for everyone.
WCO: The Return....The Preview!
This Saturday night in beautiful San Diego, CA, the World Cage Fighting Organization will be putting on their next supercard, The Return, featuring a main event of Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Vernon "Tiger" White for the WCO Light Heavyweight Championship and a card stocked full of stars like Joe Riggs, Ricco Rodriguez, David "The Crow" Loiseau and Mark Kerr. 411Mania will be at the event live and in person and I will be filing reports from the weigh-ins along with a complete rundown of the event after it happens, along with perhaps some audio/visual aids to enhance the experience as well. In this preview I'll take a look at just where the WCO has come from, where they plan to go, and give some analysis into some of the main fights and fighters that make up one of the largest independent MMA cards in recent memory. So without any further adieu let's take an in-depth look at WCO: The Return.
The WCO
The WCO is a relative newcomer to the world of MMA with only one previous card under their belt, which took place in November of last year. Their goal seems to be to put on the best card possible with top-notch talent, while maintaining an accessibility with fans, media and fighters alike that may be missing from some of the larger promotions both in the United States and internationally. Founded by former heavyweight boxer and San Diego-area promoter Bruce Bellocchi, the WCO is looking not only to help fighters earn checks and keep fight fans entertained, but also to help the communities they visit to put on their shows. A case in point is the upcoming show being held at the San Diego Sports Arena, where just months before smoke billowed from some of the worst wildfires California has seen in decades. A portion of the proceeds from the live event gate, as well as from the internet PPV stream, which can be purchased at RingsideJunkie.com, will be donated to families who lost their homes during the wildfires. Future plans are to have each event coincide with donations from the event proceeds to be made to a charitable cause in the host city of the event. With their hearts in the right place and their minds on putting on some of the best fights available outside of the UFC, the WCO is looking to make a huge impact with their second fight card "The Return". Let's take a look at some of the action!
WCO Light Heavyweight Championship:
Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Vernon "Tiger" White
The main event of the evening pits two former UFC Light Heavyweight contenders against one another with the WCO Light Heavyweight title belt on the line as Vernon "Tiger" White will square off with Renato "Babalu" Sobral. This will be Babalu's first fight back in the United States after his controversial win over David Heath at UFC 74, followed by his subsequent release from the company, and he will be chomping at the bit to get back into the cage and score a huge win over White to earn the title and silence some of his critics. Sobral will be looking to regain his footing in the rankings of the 205 pound division after losing some respect after his performance at UFC 74 and collecting a clean, decisive victory and a title belt Saturday night could be a great way to start.
White, whose MMA record of 25-32-2 may look unimpressive, is in fact a VERY competent fighter, with most of those losses coming against top-notch talent like Chuck Liddell, Bas Rutten, Kazushi Sakuraba, and Lyoto Machida. Unfortunately for White, his past couple of years have been rough, leading to a 1-5 record since 2005. He will have to step it up, put the losing string behind him, and find the hunger to climb back on top after suffering through such adversity. Both men will be looking to the mat and both love the submission game when on the floor, and I'm looking for Babalu to land a solid shot to the jaw of White to knock him down, and then turn it into a submission once the fight hits the ground.
Heavyweight Attraction:
Mark Kerr vs. Rick Roufus
This one should be interesting as the former UFC and PRIDE veteran Mark Kerr will be making his second appearance for the WCO, fighting MMA newcomer and K-1 kickboxing legend, Rick Roufus. We know that Kerr is going to be looking to take down Roufus and that Roufus is going to want to keep this fight standing and it's simply going to be a matter of which guy can execute his gameplan the best. Kerr knows what it's like to fight on the mat, as he does the majority of his work and his best damage from the ground, while Roufus will be a bit of a fish out of water when it comes to being on his back on the floor. I think that Kerr is going to be able to avoid Roufus' dangerous hands and feet, shoot in for a takedown and then control until he either pounds out a TKO victory or snatches Roufus in a choke or submission and gains the tapout. Roufus has a puncher's chance of course with his background, but I just can't see him pulling it off with his lack of experience in the MMA realm.
Middleweight Showdown:
Joe "Diesel" Riggs vs. Gustavo "Ximu" Machado
Joe Riggs will be looking to continue his hot streak since moving up to 185 pounds when he faces off with tough Gracie Barra fighter Gustavo Machado. Riggs looks like an absolute killer at 185, last fighting against Eugene Jackson at the Strikeforce Playboy Mansion show, finishing that fight in under 4 minutes. He'll be looking to keep that momentum going with a big win over Machado in San Diego Saturday night. Machado is going to be a tough opponent for Riggs though as Riggs has shown a penchant for getting caught in submissions in his previous losses and Machado, the Brazilian, will of course have some skills when it comes to the submission game. Ultimately it looks like size is going to play the biggest factor in this fight though as Riggs comes in at his now customary 185, while Machado is looking like he is going to move up from his usual fighting weight of 170 for this fight. Riggs will use that size advantage to bully Machado, keep him off balance and take him down. Riggs has a definite advantage in the stand-up game as well and will be looking to exploit that as well. It might take some time but I can see Riggs coming out on top in this one.
Battle of the Behemoths:
Wesley "Cabbage" Correira vs. Jimmy Ambriz
This one is going to be quick and it's going to be violent. Ambriz and Correira are both two guys that love to stand and bang, and both men, Cabbage especially, have granite chins when it comes to taking shots. There's not going to be a lot of technique or a lot of groundwork involved in this fight. It's going to be two huge heavyweights swinging for the fences and the first one to connect flush will take home the winner's purse. Correira has had a rough patch recently, losing five of his last six fights since the beginning of 2006, and Ambriz could be just what the doctor ordered to get him back on the winning track. Ambriz, for his part, will be looking to gain what would be his biggest win to date by defeating the popular Hawaiian heavyweight. This one should produce a highlight-reel KO and I'm looking for Cabbage to be the one to deliver it because honestly, if Tim Sylvia couldn't knock him out, I don't think that Jimmy Ambriz is going to be able to get the job done.
There are plenty more great fights on this card, featuring former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Ricco Rodriguez, David Loiseau, Mike Kyle, and many more, along with a women's bout as well. The event takes place at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, CA, this Saturday night and there are plenty for great seats available at Ticketmaster. For those not fortunate enough to be in the area, I will remind you that there will be a streaming PPV on the internet at RingsideJunkie.com and that a portion of the proceeds from the live event tickets and the internet PPV sales will be going to families who lost their homes in the San Diego wildfires of last fall. It's a great cause and a great night of fights so I'd love to hear about a ton of money being donated to help the needy families and a great attendance for the event so that there can be more events like this one in the future. Remember, 411mania.com will be covering this event live and will have a complete post-fight report. Thanks for reading everyone and you stay classy San Diego!! What? I had to say it..it was in my contract.
