My Take On MMA 9.29.08: Final ShowXC Elite Challenger Series (9.26.08) Thoughts
Posted by Larry Csonka on 09.29.2008
The ShowXC Elite Challenger Series returns and not only crowns the first ever Elite XC Bantamweight Champion, but also delivers their best show to date!
WELCOME~!:
Welcome back to another edition on My Take on MMA! Thanks to all that were with me during that DREAM show and that had kind words to say about the coverage. It was a bit of a chore, but I am glad so many people enjoyed it. I am back this time to discuss the latest offering from ShowXC, Elite's minor league so to speak. We had five fights on tap, including a fight to crown the First Ever Elite XC Bantamweight Champion! How was the show? Read on to find out.
A reminder, stay tuned to 411 for LIVE coverage of Friday's Strikeforce event as well as Saturday's CBS/EliteXC Saturday Night Fights!
Final ShowXC Elite Challenger Series (9.26.08) Thoughts
The Fight: WELTERWEIGHT BOUT: Matt Makowski (3-0) vs. Eric "Bad" Apple (9-1) The Result: Eric Apple via RD2 (2:04) Submission Final Thoughts: 7.0 Larry's Enjoyment Index: We had a welterweight bout to kick off the show, Matt Makowski (3-0) vs. Eric "Bad" Apple (9-1). Apple had not fought since March of 2007, where he suffered his first and only loss to WEC fighter Brock Larson. With such a lay off, cage rust is always something to think about, but I have to say that Apple showed no signs of this and looked as if he had been fighting a regular schedule for years. The fight went to the ground almost immediately, and this was to the advantage of Apple. He dominated, clearly dominated round one on the ground with several submission attempts and constantly working the body shots. Apple looked great here, and when round two started he slipped and ended up in a guillotine that was pretty deep, but he was able to escape and work the guard. This led to him getting the back of Makowski and then the rear naked choke for the win. After a long layoff I have to compliment Apple for looking so good here. Any rust or hesitation would have been expected, but he went out there and took care of business. I look forward to seeing him fight again, and soon. This was a good fight to kick off the night.
The Fight: MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT: Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana (11-0) vs. Jaime Jara (19-5-1nc) The Result: Jamie Jara via Split Decision (29-28 Jara, 29-28 Santana, 29-28 Jara) Final Thoughts: 7.5 Larry's Enjoyment Index: Next up was middleweight action as Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana (11-0) faced off with Jaime Jara (19-5-1nc). I have to admit that I was never very impressed with Jara as a fighter, and am a big fan of the Arm Collector. Outside of some good body shots, Santana easily controlled the first round when they got to the ground. At times it seemed as if he was playing with Jara as he had he back 3 to 4 times, but refused to go for a choke. He kept swinging to try and get mount because he wanted the arm bar. He didn't get it, but he did take the round convincingly. Santana would regret not going for another submission in round two because Jara completely turned around the fight with superior striking. This is the best I have ever seen Jara right here, I have to admit that I was impressed. With the fight even up we went to round three, and I have to say that this was a very close round that I could have seen go either way. Jara controlled the round mostly, and was aggressive but Santana was able to counter well and cut Jara. He also threw a lot of good kicks, I suspected a split decision, and that's what we got. While I had it for Santana, I had no issues with Jara taking the decision as it was that close. I think that Santana will regret for a long time his mistakes of round one. Another good fight here.
The Fight: FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT: Malaipet Team Diamond (3-2) vs. David "Tarzan" Douglas (5-1) The Result: David "Tarzan" Douglas via RD3 (2:51) TKO Final Thoughts: 8.0 Larry's Enjoyment Index: Time for the featherweights as we had Malaipet Team Diamond (3-2) vs. David "Tarzan" Douglas (5-1). Malaipet was coming off of a DQ loss to Thomas Denny, and was looking to get back on the winning track against Caesar Gracie student David "Tarzan" Douglas. These guys went out there and had a completely insane first round, one of the best of the year as they went out there and while cliché, they left it all in the cage. Douglas looked to have a submission, but Malaipet had a great escape and by the time the first round ended, Malaipet was in control and making Douglas look bad. It was a close call, but I went with Malaipet. Round two saw Douglas dead tired, and while sloppy at times, he was able to control with takedowns and at the end of the round he had side control and was landing a ton of punches on Malaipet, unfortunately they didn't have power behind them and Malaipet survived. Round three saw Douglas still very tired, but he got Malaipet down, cut him with strikes and continued to punish as he did in round two, but this time he was able to do enough to Malaipet to get the stoppage. A very fun and action filled fight that was a joy to watch. Douglas needs to drop his "warrior" shtick he has going until he learns some cardio. Had he been in there with an experienced fighter, he wouldn't have had this same luck. But I award him bonus points for him trying to pull off an Ace Crusher.
The Fight: HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT: Shane Del Rosario (4-0) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (4-0) The Result: Shane Del Rosario via RD2 (1:07) TKO Final Thoughts: 7.0 Larry's Enjoyment Index: Action turned to the heavyweights as we saw Shane Del Rosario (4-0) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (4-0), and as they say, someone's "0" must go! Seumanutafa had a 15+lb weight advantage at the weigh-in, and that would help him out in round one. Rosario would lock in a triangle, but Seumanutafa was able to keep it from being the end, escaped, and then worked for an arm bar. Rosario did well working from the bottom, but while it was not spectacular, Seumanutafa was able to control and with the riding time likely took round one. Round two would see Rosario stuff a shoot, let Seumanutafa back up and then he would miss a Superman punch. Rosario would rock him with a left, drop him and follow up with more punishment and get the stoppage. A fun and active heavyweight bout right here, and Rosario is a guy to keep an eye on right now.
The Fight: ELITE XC BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BOUT: Wilson Reis (5-0) vs. Abel "The Silent Assassin'' Cullum (11-1) The Result: First Ever Elite XC Bantamweight Champion Wilson Reis via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46) Final Thoughts: 8.5 Larry's Enjoyment Index: Some background for the main event. Bao Quach was scheduled to face Reis, but he had to pull out due to suffering facial injuries in training. Bao Quach is 15-8-1, and while not a stellar record, he has 9-straight victories, including two on ShowXC. Abel Cullum is a King of the Cage titleholder @ 135 (flyweight) and comes up in weight to challenge for the title, and had the 11-1 record. While Quach has been on a roll, I have to say that Cullum ended up being a great replacement. Round one was all Reis' fight, and by that I mean they fought his style. He got the takedown, worked over Cullum and was able to control to take the round, despite Cullum being busy from the bottom. Round two was even better than round one as it was a much closer round, Reis was able to control the majority of the round, but Cullum did well for himself and again had great work from the bottom. I could have seen this round going either way, but I gave it to Reis. Round three was where Cullum finally got into the fight in my opinion. While Reis was still getting his game to work, Cullum's work from both the top and the bottom was well executed, and I felt he took it to get the fight closer, and possibly tied depending on how you scored round two. Unfortunately for Cullum, that success wouldn't carry on into round four. Reis again fought his fight and scored a ton of riding time. Cullum worked hard and kept avoiding Reis taking his back, but just couldn't get on the offensive. Round five would be more of the same and that allowed Reis to become the first ever Elite XC Bantamweight Champion. Reis looked like a star and also answered a lot of critics here that said he had no cardio. In the loss first ever Elite XC Bantamweight Champion looked very good and I hope to see more of him. Reis takes the title and now I figure that they move onto the fight with Bao Quach. This was a great main event to cap off a great night of fights.
The Overall: Best Fight(s): ELITE XC BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BOUT: Wilson Reis (5-0) vs. Abel "The Silent Assassin'' Cullum (11-1) 8.5 Worst Fight: Nothing Bad Final Thoughts: I have to say without doubt that this was the best ShowXC event to date. It felt like a WEC show, and I mean that as a compliment because WEC has been the most consistent promotion as far as delivering good TV cards. The event was well paced, the card laid out well, all of the fights were good to great and they did a good job all through the night of building to the main event. The main event came off as big time and was a great closing to the show. While the future of Elite is up in the air with the financial problems and the possible buy out, it is good to see them delivering such a good show. Now we have to see if the October 4th CBS/EliteXC Saturday Night Fights can deliver. If you missed the show, catch a replay, you'll enjoy the show.
