411's IFL: New Blood, New Battles Report 2.29.08
Posted by Randy Harrison on 03.01.2008
Three title fights headline the IFL's first card of the new season and their first card of 2008. Will there be any new champions, or will all three titleholders keep their belts? Click on through to find out about all the action from Las Vegas!!
Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten welcome us to the Orleans Arena and they talk about the team concept of MMA that the IFL has started and how they've changed things up, with the emphasis on camps rather than the teams. Bas says that it will make it easier to equate the fighters with their camps rather than just that they fight such-and-such team.
They touch on the McGivern/Horwich fight and Bas thinks that McGivern needs to keep this fight on the feet and stay away from the guard of Horwich. Horwich needs to get the fight to the mat and look for submissions as much as possible. Scherner and Nelson is up next and he thinks that Scherner should use his BJJ black belt and try to get the fight down, while Nelson should keep it standing and avoid going to the mat as much as he can. Rice calls the Schultz/Gunderson fight the closest fight of the night and Bas says that Schultz should try to use his ground and pound while Gunderson needs to look for submissions.
To the back with Ron Kruck, talking to Ryan Schultz and Matt Lindland. Schultz thinks he's better everywhere than Gunderson and that he doesn't see any way he's going to lose. Lindland says that Gunderson is a quality opponent but he agrees that Schultz is going to take it easily.
Match One: Middleweights
Leopoldo Serao (11-6) vs. Josh Haynes (8-9)
We all know Haynes from his time on TUF 3 and post-TUF in the UFC. He's 1-4 in his last five fights and he's desperate for a win tonight. Serao will be looking to get this fight on the ground and be looking for submissions when he gets it there because out of his eleven wins, ten of them are via submission. Better watch your neck there Josh.
Round One
Referee Josh Rosenthal gives them the instructions and we're underway. Tentative start until Serao flashes out a high kick. Haynes with a good combination that puts Serao on his back and Haynes lets him get right back up. More high kicks from Serao and Haynes hits him with another left. Serao looks for a takedown but can't get it, attempting a heel hook, but Haynes pulls out of it. back to the feet and Serao shoots again and Haynes sprawls out of it and avoids the ground altogether. Another shot from Serao and he pushes Haynes into the ropes, looking for the trip takedown. Serao pulls the guard and looks to be trying an omaplata or gogoplata but misses it. Haynes drops a good punch down and avoids the ground again, bringing Serao back to his feet. Serao tries a shot after a punch but misses it BADLY. I mean not even close. Haynes peppers him with kicks to the legs and avoids going to the mat as the crowd starts to boo loudly. Haynes circling and not letting Serao back up and Serao just buttscoots along. Haynes down to the ground now into the guard of Serao and Serao is looking for another gogoplata. Haynes works some punches to the body and the head and Serao tries an armbar but it won't sink as the round closes out. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for Haynes based on the knockdown and his control of the pace of the round.
Round Two
Haynes flashes the jab and connects on one, but they circle tentatively again for a good thirty seconds. Haynes closes the distance with a combination that somewhat lands and Serao goes right to his back again to try get the fight to the mat, but it's unsuccessful. Haynes defends well against another single-leg attempt by Serao and Serao tries to pull guard, also without success. Serao with another poor shot and the crowd is booing him LOUDLY. Rice even buries him on commentary a little. Serao on his back again after another shitty shoot attempt and Haynes keeps kicking the legs HARD, standing above Serao. The crowd is NOT amused at all. Serao keeps backing away and circling until Haynes catches him with a good right hand. Serao tries the high kick again but it doesn't connect. Haynes connects on a right hand that drops Serao again as he tries for another high kick but Rice and Bas call it a slip. Serao shoots and rolls to his back, taking Haynes with him. Haynes working some ground and pound from the top and Serao just kind of lays there and tries to move his guard around. Serao is fighting like he's still in a grappling competition and it sucks a dick. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for Haynes, just because he was able to connect on strikes, something that Serao apparently didn't train to do.
Round Three
More circling to start the third round and Haynes connects with another right hook. Superman punch from Serao just misses and they're back to circling. Haynes with a combination that lands and Serao tries for the single-leg after bouncing off the ropes. Haynes sprawls out of it and Serao pulls him into his guard. Serao tries for a leglock but can't get it and Haynes makes a big mistake, not pulling away far enough, allowing Serao to get him down and take his back. Haynes defends well against the rear naked choke attempt from Serao and they lay there and spoon for a little, with no strikes from either fighter. Serao continues to try for the choke as Haynes tries to get his hooks out. The crowd cheers as Haynes gets out of another choke attempt and then lands a strike over his own head to the face of Serao. Serao has to give up the back mount as Haynes turns into him and gets it back to full guard. Haynes backs out of it and stands back up, bringing Serao to his feet. The crowd roars for that. BIG combination from Haynes and a couple of hard right hooks land and Serao tries another shot as the bell rings to end the fight. 411mania scores the round for Serao for the back control, but overall, the fight goes 29-28 in favor of Haynes
They interview Sean Faris, the star of Never Back Down, as they count up the scorecards. I tune him out to post this update.
Winner: Josh Haynes, Unanimous Decision
Match Two: Heavyweights
Alexandre Ferreira (15-5) vs. Lew Polley (9-1)
Ferreira is riding a four-fight winning streak, and is making his IFL debut. He has some experience with team-based MMA, having fought in the Brazilian MTL league. Polley is coming in with a winning streak of his own, with three in a row on the W side of the ledger. This is going to be his first test on the bigger stage of MMA, as he makes his IFL debut.
Round One
Ferreira lands a good combination that stuns Polley and he catches a guillotine, jumping guard into a standing guillotine and Steve Mazzagatti stops the fight. Polley is staggering around almost passing out on his feet. WOW. That was tremendous.
Bas between the fight and the official announcement is fantastic, singing Ferreira's nickname to the tune of La Cucaracha.
Winner: Alexandre Perreira, submission (standing guillotine) at 0:20 of Round One
Pat Miletich joins Rice and Rutten and he says that Ellenberger is more well-rounded but Healy has heavy hands. He picks Ellenberger to win the fight based on the work that he did in the gym. Miletich talks about Ryan McGivern as well, touching on how he's helped to improve McGivern's stand-up game slowly but surely.
Match Three: Welterweights
Jake Ellenberger (16-3) vs. Pat Healy (18-12)
Healy has the experience edge in this fight and he has fought in both the IFL and the UFC, and is 2-1 in his time in the IFL. He's an exciting stand-up fighter who is known for being in wars. Ellenberger is also a veteran of the IFL and is coming off of a win in another organization against Jose Landi-Jons.
It's worth noting that in Ellenberger's corner, Ken Shamrock looks great in preparation for his Cage Rage fight next Saturday.
Round One
Ellenberger with a good combination and Healy shoots in for the takedown, with Ellenberger sprawling against the ropes. The referee stops the fight as Ellenberger gets caught in the ring. Ellenberger lands a few more solid punches and then gets a takedown against the ropes. Mario Yamasaki moves them to the middle of the ring and Ellenberger starts working the ground and pound from the full guard of Healy. Hard elbow to the body lands and Ellenberger works to the head with lefts and rights before going back to the body. Ellenberger postures up but misses his power punches and Healy is looking for a kimura to try to sweep perhaps. Healy with a high guard as Ellenberger keeps landing punches A HARD shot from Ellenberger lands and Healy looks to be bleeding from his nose. Another kimura attempt from Healy and Ellenberger passes into half-guard to avoid any submission. Hard right hand from Ellenberger lands and Healy hits an up kick while on his back. Healy shoots for the takedown and Ellenberger shows textbook sprawl to get away from it, punching hard to the body of Healy and the round ends with Ellenberger stuffing the shot and landing more body shots. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for Ellenberger for the takedown defense and the solid striking.
Round Two
They touch gloves and trade combinations with Ellenberger landing a couple of good knees to the body. A great combination lands on Healy's face and Ellenberger is just picking him apart on the feet. Another right hook and a HARD knee up the middle sends Healy's mouthpiece flying. Ellenberger shoots for the takedown and gets it in close to the ropes. Yamasaki stops them again and replaces Healy's mouthpiece before restarting them in the middle. Ellenberger keeps working the top position, scoring body punches and shots to the head. Healy is looking to set up an armbar but Ellenberger avoids it and continues to pound on Healy. Posture up and a hard right hand from Ellenberger and Healy is looking overwhelmed at this point. Healy pushes Ellenberger away and the fight comes back to its feet. Good right from Ellenberger and another shot into another takedown, into Healy's half-guard. Healy is looking really banged up and Ellenberger is in full control. The action slows a little and Healy tries to cover up and hold Ellenberger for a stand-up. Nothing going on and the round ends on a VERY slow note. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for Ellenberger, again due to the takedowns and the striking.
Round Three
Bas is CRACKING ME UP on commentary. They touch gloves again and Ellenberger continues to land strikes, just missing a high kick and Healy shoots in while Ellenberger is off-balance. Healy gets the takedown and starts peppering Ellenberger with left hands and hammerfists. Healy with a guillotine that misses and Ellenberger regains his feet, eating some punches and taking Healy down to the mat. Ellenberger takes his back and Healy reverses it to move into side control. Healy moves back to the full guard of Ellenberger and starts to land a bunch of punches. Ellenberger is cut and he regains his feet, shooting in for a double-leg and taking Healy down again. Ellenberger on top in half-guard and Healy stands up, allowing Ellenberger to take the back. Healy spins out of it and they're clinched against the ropes. Good knees traded and Ellenberger gets another double-leg takedown. Ellenberger lands two or three good punches and takes Healy's back again, sinking in a hook, but Healy has already turned out of it and is in the guard. Back to the feet and they trade combinations to get a little rise from the crowd. Ellenberger with a combination and he stuffs a Healy takedown attempt as the fight comes to an end. 411mania scores the round 10-9, and the fight 30-27 for Ellenberger. This round was closer but it was still too much Ellenberger on the feet and on the mat.
Winner: Jake Ellenberger, Unanimous Decision
We get a video package for Ryan Schultz and they show him analyzing his win over Chris Horodecki, and he talks about howhe thought he was a better fighter than Horodecki and that the whole gameplan of the fight was to put him on his back and that his ground game was MUCH better than Horodecki. He breaks down how he stopped the fight and how he put the fight where he wanted it, which is a really neat touch to see a fighter breaking down his own fight techniques. He ends the package saying that he's expecting fireworks in this fight and that he doesn't expect to lose. A really innovative video package which I hope is a regular feature of IFL broadcasts.
Video package for Gunderson now and Ken Shamrock calls him one of the top 155 pound fighters in the world. Gunderson thinks it's going to be an exciting fight and that he's going to have to fight smart and outthink and outstrike Schultz. A lot shorter video package for Gunderson, which is a shame, since it would have been cool to see him breaking down his fight footage as well.
Match Four: IFL Lightweight Championship
John Gunderson (15-5) vs. Ryan Schultz (18-9-1)
They cut to a wide shot as Schultz makes his way to the ring and it looks like there's a TON of empty seats in the Orleans Arena. That's not good news for the IFL in such a fight-hungry town like Vegas. Schultz stalls a little getting into the ring to try to psych out Gunderson.
Round One
They touch gloves and circle as Gunderson shoots right in for a takedown, with Schultz sprawling against the ropes. They stay in this position for almost 45 seconds with no real movement and the crowd gets a little restless. Schultz takes a knee to the body and they're bodylocked against the ropes now. Schultz gets a trip takedown and moves to side control with a HARD knee to the body. Gunderson takes back half-guard and Schultz isn't moving too much on the top. Gunderson tries to get out from underneath and Schultz pushes him up against the corner turnbuckle pad. Schultz lands a short elbow and the referee stops them to pull them back to the middle of the ring. The crowd boos a little and Schultz keeps pushing Gunderson down as he tries to fight out from underneath. Schultz lands a good right hand and throws a small flurry that mostly misses. Schultz with another right and a HARD body shots that lands. Schultz uses a standing pass to get to side control but Gunderson gets it right back to half-guard. A couple of rabbit punches for Schultz and the round is over. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for Schultz, but there wasn't a lot of action in it. Almost none.
Round Two
Schultz with a one-two that hits Gunderson's forearms and Gunderson misses a combination in response. Gunderson shoots for the takedown and Schultz sprawls out of it again, but Gunderson finally gets a double-leg to work into a takedown. Gunderson in the full guard of Schultz and Schultz looks like he's trying to slip in a guillotine but he's not all the way under the throat yet. Schultz keeps inching it closer and closer to being locked in, but Gunderson moves to half-guard to ease the pressure. Gunderson pops his head out and works some hard punches to the body. A front facelock for Gunderson as he keeps peppering with body shots until Schultz pops up out of it and takes Gunderson down, with Gunderson jumping guard as well, into the half-guard. The pace SLOWS again, reminding me of Gracie/Shamrock and Schultz again pushes Gunderson into the turnbuckle in the corner. There is literally no action except for some grappling and body control. The bell mercifully ends the round and 411mania has it 10-9 for Gunderson. He actually did some striking from the top position and got the solid takedown at the beginning of the round. They're one round apiece heading to the third.
Round Three
Schultz with a one-two and he rushes into a takedown attempt but Gunderson hits him with a good knee. Schultz gets the takedown finally but Gunderson reverses into a takedown attempt of his own. Gunderson pulls guard instead and we're back to grappling on the mat, with Schultz landing some short punches to the body. Gunderson in half-guard and lands some strikes with a good knee to the body on the ground. Hammerfists from Schultz and he continues controlling Gunderson on the mat. More short rights to the head by Schultz as Schultz AGAIN tries to push Gunderson into the corner. Gunderson almost scores with a guillotine attempt but he lets it go and we're back to Schultz on top and doing the little patty-cake punches. The crowd is starting to turn on it just the smallest bit and Schultz continues to just control the top position and land some short hammerfists. Schultz starts turning it on a little with a couple of hard hammerfists to the head, but that's just a short burst and the round closes out with Schultz on top. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for Schultz since he held top position for almost the whole round.
Round Four
Bas hopes that they're both going to turn it up a little bit, but it doesn't look like it early on as they just circle for the first forty seconds. Gunderson flashes out a combination then lands one as Schultz hits one to the body and head of Gunderson. Gunderson shoots for the takedown but Schultz sprawls out again. Gunderson is tenacious, holding onto the double and getting the takedown on Schultz. Working from the full guard of Schultz and Gunderson is trying to pass out of it but can't get by. Gunderson with body shots and shoulder strikes as Schultz sits up into another guillotine attempt on Gunderson. Gunderson avoids and Schultz walks up the ropes to get back to his feet. Gunderson with another takedown, tripping Schultz to the mat and he starts to work some ground and pound. This fight is making molasses in January jealous with how slow it's moving. Gunderson still on top but nothing is happening. Can we get a stand-up PLEASE? Fuck Josh Rosenthal, he sucks as a referee big time. Gunderson and Schultz are just kind of laying on the mat with some patty-cake strikes. Gunderson lands some knees from the clinch as Schultz regains his feet and the bell rings. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for Gunderson and that puts the fight at two round apiece heading into the fifth and final round.
Round Five
The crowd gives them a big hand to start the round and Schultz shoots in for the takedown immediately sith Gunderson grabbing a guillotine choke, locking in the guard and closing it off. Schultz is hanging on and avoiding the real damage of the choke and he pops his head out to applause from the crowd. That was the closest someone's come to ending it thus far. A small "Ryan" chant breaks out as he is working from the top in Gunderson's half-guard with some strikes and knees to the body. Again there's nothing happening and they just kind of grapple on the mat. Schultz with a handful of body shots and he just holds Gunderson down. Bas calls the fight methodical. I call it dead-ass boring. Potato, potahto. Rosenthal FINALLY stands them up with a minute left in the round. Good job, jackass. Gunderson lands a combination and Schultz closes the distance to get the takedown again. Schultz passes to side control and again just lays on top of Gunderson. He is literally laying on him. That's IT. Schultz strikes to the body a couple of times and he postures up with ten seconds left but can't land a punch before the bell rings to end the fight. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for Schultz and the fight 48-47 for Schultz.
Winner: Ryan Schultz, Unanimous Decision
We get the What's Up With IFL segment and Ron Kruck is with Chris Horodecki. Horodecki calls the last fight a technical chess match, and that there wasn't the fireworks that he expected there to be. Kruck reminds Horodecki of his first loss and he asks if he's learned anything from that loss. Horodecki says he lives and learns and he talks about his next fight in April in New Jersey and he thinks it's going to be an exciting fight.
We get to see the highlights from the previous fights as Bas and Rice give their thoughts on what has taken place so far on the card. Bas calls the last fight "not that exciting" which shows just how good a company man Bas is, because he could have easily called it the drizzling shits. Because it was.
Match Five: IFL Heavyweight Championship
Fabiano Scherner (7-5) vs. Roy Nelson (11-2)
Nelson defends his title for the first time against Scherner and both fighters are known for their submissions and ground games, with Nelson also adding KO power to his list of attributes as well. This should be a great chess match between these two, with power and quickness in abundance for both men.
Video package for Nelson and he feels like a lot of people underestimated him when he made his debut. His goal is to be the best fighter in the world and that he wants to see himself as number one in all the magazines. Ken Shamrock says that he thinks that people don't take Nelson seriously because of his look in the ring. Scherner says the same thing and he thinks that he needs to make this fight a war to get the win. I hope that it's a lot better fight than the last fight was, that's for sure.
Round One
They circle a little with nothing happening until Nelson shoots in for a takedown, clinching Scherner in the corner and taking him down to the mat. Scherner pushes Nelson away with a foot into Nelson's bulbous gut and Nelson falls on top of him, landing a few hammerstrikes but that's it. Another slow start to this fight and Scherner is just turtling and pushing his face into the groin of Nelson to avoid taking any strikes. This fight has slowed to a real crawl and the crowd lets them both know it. Scherner scrambles and gets back to his feet, but is taken right back down by Nelson. Nelson finally manages to land some strikes, throwing some hard lefts and he stands and drops A HUGE RIGHT HAND and another that look like they've put Scherner out cold. Steve Mazzagatti steps in to save Scherner and the fight is over.
Winner: Roy Nelson, TKO at 3:20 of Round One
Video package for the McGivern/Horwich fight is on and they both talk about how they want to win. They talk about their last fight and Horwich says it's an honor to fight McGivern again.
Match Six: IFL Middleweight Championship
Ryan McGivern (11-5) vs. Matt Horwich (21-9-1)
Horwich will be looking to defend his title and avenge his earlier loss to McGivern. He's fresh off of his huge upset of Benji Radach in the IFL Grand Prix Finals last year, and has a bit of a chip on his shoulder when it comes to McGivern.
Round One
Horwich with kicks to open up and McGivern is peppering combinations in on him until they clinch against the ropes. McGivern gets a trip takedown into side control in the middle of the ring and starts trying to work to the other side. Horwich gets it back to half-guard and there's not a lot of striking as McGivern backs out of the guard and gets the fight back to the feet. They're back to the clinch and Horwich lands a couple of knees to the midsection. McGivern knees back to Horwich's stomach and they clinch, falling to the mat but scrambling right back up. Mario Yamasaki calls for action and they stand and clinch some more, with no strikes until Yamasaki resets them. Horwich with a solid body kick and McGivern with an uppercut that lands and a right hand before they're back into the clinch in the corner of the ring. Knees to the stomach from McGivern and another uppercut that glances. Horwich tries the Thai clinch but can't get it and they just trade and scrap, throwing combinations before they clinch again to end the round. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for McGivern because of the uppercuts and the better positions in the clinch.
Round Two
McGivern scores a takedown off of the bell and tries to pass out of Horwich's half-guard. Side armbar being attempted by McGivern as he tries for a kimura, but Horwich defends it well. More inaction as McGivern lands a shot or two to the body and keeps working for that kimura. The crowd boos as there's NO action. I'm not even exaggerating. Literally NO action at all. McGivern stretches out the arm of Horwich but can't get anything out of it. McGivern passes to side control and gets the knee to the belly, trying for full mount. McGivern gives it up and stays in side control, laying and controlling Horwich. Horwich takes back his full guard and throws up a rubber guard to try for a gogoplata. He transitions to an omaplata and they're in a WEIRD position with McGivern's arm caught between Horiwch's legs and his back against the side of Horwich's body. Horwich landing some hammerfists and Horwich tries to crucifix him but the bell rings to end the round. Horwich thinks he won the fight, but the bell ended the round first. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for Horwich as he had the near-submission, despite spending most of the round on his back.
Round Three
They trade combinations and clinch against the corner and into the ropes. McGivern tries a trip takedown out of it but can't get it. Horwich drops to shoot for a single-leg and McGivern stuffs it well. Good right hand lands for McGivern and they move right back to the clinch. Horwich with a Thai clinch but can't land a knee and they're back into the bodylock until Horwich pushes him away. McGivern with a good combination that lands and Horwich tries another high kick that just misses. Horwich with a kick to the body and McGivern just misses his hard uppercut. Back to the clinch they go, in the corner with McGivern in control. God, what a night for slow fights. Seriously, this isn't very entertaining at all. More clinching in the ropes and McGivern does some striking on the inside. Horwich with another kick to the body and they clinch again. Horwich with the high kick that nearly lands and they trade in a flurry of punches with no one landing anything flush. More clinchy goodness and Horwich just misses another high left kick. They push apart to separate and McGivern hits a hard body kick to end the third. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for McGivern with the combinations and the control of the clinch.
Round Four
Horwich rushes forward with a combination that lands into another clinch. Horwich with the kick to the body agan and McGivern lands some really good punches, with Horwich firing back with combinations of his own. Back into the clinch and Horwich lands a knee before pushing away. Horwich tries the body kick again and they're back to clinching on the ropes. Knees to the stomach from Horwich and McGivern gives as good as he's getting. McGivern with a HUGE uppercut that stuns Horwich and McGivern keeps landing some right hands as Horwich shoots for the takedown. Horwich switches around and takes McGivern's back standing. McGivern moves to the top position as the fight slowly moves down to the mat. Yamasaki moves them back into the middle of the ring and McGivern is on top in the half-guard, laying on him for the most part. McGivern is trying to get out of the half-guard and pass to mount but he can't make it happen. McGivern again looking for one of Horwich's arms and they scramble to their feet, clinching against the ropes to end the fourth round. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for McGivern, with the uppercut and the strikes throughout the round.
Round Five
McGivern with the uppercut again to start the round and he's really starting to control the fight on its feet. He lands combination after combination and hits a great jab followed with a straight right hand. They clinch against the ropes again and McGivern lands some knees to the body. Clinching in the corner and McGivern again with the knees to the body and thighs of Horwich. The action is still just slow, slow, slow and Yamasaki finally pulls them back to the center of the ring. McGivern landing some more punches and a straigh left before putting some hurting on Horwich's body with some punches. McGivern still controlling the stand-up and lands more punches until Horwich clinches him into the corner. Knees on the inside from both guys and they're just clinching and clinching. Yuck. They trade strikes and Horwich misses the high kick again as they separate. Horwich eats another uppercut and McGivern is landing punches at will it seems, moving to the body and again to the head. Horwich tries to tun the tide but can't and eats another uppercut, before taking more shots to the body. McGivern ends the fight in the clinch and it looks like he's going to win the title. 411mania scores the round 10-9 for McGivern and the fight 49-46 for McGivern.
Winner: And NEW, IFL Middleweight Champion, Ryan McGivern, Unanimous Decision
Kenny and Bas run down the results of the night's fights and we get the Fight of the Night which is chosen to be the Nelson/Scherner fight, with highlights of Roy Nelson dropping the bombs that put Scherner out for the night. They talk about the new titleholder Ryan McGivern and how he turned it around after being saved by the bell in round two. Bas thinks that he's the first fighter to ever outwork Matt Horwich and they talk about how he stuck to the gameplan to pull out the win. They talk over the highlights of the fights and give some final thoughts as the credits roll and we're outta here folks!!
