MMA Retro-Rants: PRIDE 2
Posted by Michael Huckaby on 04.05.2007
Saku and Tiger White give us a ground clinic while Branco Cikatic and Mark Kerr give us varying lessons on class and honor.
March 15th, 1998 at Yokohama Arena. Your announcers are Stephen Quadros and Bas Rutten.
- Match 1: Royler Gracie vs Yuhi Sano
Sano is cornered by Takada while Royler is cornered by Rickson. It should also be noted Sano has a 50lb weight advantage.
Round 1: They touch gloves and Royler looks tiny compared to Sano. Royler is sporting a half Keith Van Horn haircut, I only mention this because they were circling for 30 seconds. Rickson gets the clinch and falls to his butt, dragging Sano down, back up, and back down where he wants it. Royler is holding on for dear life and then makes a beautiful sweep to get top position. Royler works quickly and gets full mount but due to his small frame he's having difficulty keeping position. I'd like to state that Royler Gracie would stand a decent chance in a hairy leg contest against Robin Williams. The much larger Sano finally sweeps and gets top position but Royler immediately goes for the triangle. Sano stands, picks him up, and Royler lets go of the hold before he gets slammed. Royler stands up and we're back in the center of the ring. They get in a wrestling clinch at midring as Royler goes for a single leg but gets stuffed and goes down to his back into butterfly guard. As in most early Japanese vs Gracie matches, I'm wondering what the Japanese fighter's strategy is as they don't seem to want to strike or grapple. Strange grappling match on the mat as Royler is doing everything he can to cling to Sano like a snake and get him into guard. Now is a good time to mention Rickson is wearing a fantastic watch, rumor has it he received it for secretly killing Hitler and ending the Holocaust. To try and describe the position most of this match has been fought in, Royler is on his butt grappling with Sano who is on his knees directly in front of him. I don't believe one punch has been throw yet in this fight. Royler finally gets him down into his guard and then sweeps to get top position and into half guard. Royler looks to be working for a side choke as he drapes his knee over the stomach of Sano. He nearly has it but Sano is holding onto Royler's body for dear life, stopping him from moving his body to the side to finish the move. Royler is still looking for the hold but he can't pass the right arm of Sano, who is still holding on to Royler's back. Absolutely nothing happening at this point, "I don't want to see a fight like this for thirty minutes." Too bad Bas. Quadros asks if the fight is boring, Rutten says affirmative and we're 15 minutes in. Quadros bets Bas one million dollars that the fight won't end in a knockout, and it's due to their back and forth during some of these fights that viewers can stay sane. Sano finally pushes Royler off of full mount with pure strength but Royler stays on him like a glove and immediately works back to side mount. Several minutes later, Royler is back in full mount with no action as Quadros compares this to insects fighting. The announcers are doing random impressions at this point out of sheer insanity, Rutten's Tony Montana needs work. It's been another 5 minutes or so and Royler still has full mount and they're exchanging some baby punches with absolutely no improvement on the ground. Shockingly, after a PA announcement that 25 minutes have passed a decent amount of applause is heard in the crowd. Atleast I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. HEY, some action as Sano sweeps and gets top position but Royler is still more active punching from the bottom and attempting a triangle. Sano still throwing absolutely zero strikes as Royler peppers him from the bottom; Quadros comments that even if Sano has never thrown a punch he has to have atleast seen someone throw a punch at some point in his life. Royler lands an upkick and then more punches from the bottom. Sano stands, with a very bloody nose, and seems to look for a leg lock while Royler again strikes him from the bottom time after time. Royler is absolutely going nuts from the bottom on Sano's face as he realized Sano has absolutely no skill whatsoever to finish this fight. Sano stands, leaving Royler in the butt scoot as blood is all over Sano's face. A "Kids in the Hall" reference from Quadros ("I'm crushing your head, I'm crushing your head") makes me love him even more. When Sano stands again, Royler considers standing and then falls back in butt scoot and lands two or three brutal up kicks. I think Royler has realized he's a better striker from the bottom than he is standing up, especially against this opponent. Sano is basically dead on his feet at this point and looks ridiculously fatigued. Royler sweeps and gets top position again and full mount. Sano gives up and turns his back momentarily while Royler delivers two punches and then hooks on a nice armbar finally drawing a tap from the done Sano. Winner: Royler Gracie, submission (armbar), 33:14 of Rd1. Don't blame Royler for this being boring, he was aggressive for most of the fight and Sano did absolutely nothing but hold on and avoid.
- Match 2: Akira Shoji vs Juan Mott
Round 1: The two circle at mid-ring to start the fight with Mott taking slightly dominate position in center. Nice leg kick from Mott is responded to in kind by Shoji. Mott switches to southpaw and delivers another leg kick followed by a missed punch. Shoji jabs and then trip takedowns Mott, who fails at a guillotine attempt on the way down. Shoji has full mount and holds for awhile, measuring out his next move. Shoji sits up on his knees and delivers a couple strong strikes to Mott's face, causing Mott to flip over on his belly, Frank Trigg style. Shoji delivers a couple strong punches to the side of Mott's head and then sinks in the hooks and a beautiful rear naked choke for a tapout victory. Winner: Akira Shoji, submission (RNC), 3:47 of Rd1. Mott looked calm and secure in the fight, he was just outmatched by a better fighter.
- Match 3: Vernon "Tiger" White vs Kazushi Sakuraba
Sakuraba, new to mixed martial arts and in his PRIDE debut, is coming off of his tournament win at UFC: Ultimate Japan (which coincidentally was the first UFC for announcer Mike Goldberg).
Round 1: Vernon White starts with a huge left hand that rocks (sorry Rogan) Sakuraba and causes him to shoot and get a takedown. He immediately goes for an arm but White fights it and Saku is in side mount. Saku is still working for an arm and almost has a hammerlock but White pops out and sprawls, eventually leading to Sakuraba in White's half guard. Saku fights and gets full mount but White with a beautiful sweep (Saku was too high) gets top position and then stands back up. White allows Saku back to his feet…. and it should be pointed out that Tiger White's little black trunks are starting to give him a wedgie, making them look a bit like a thong. I feel sick. Another strong strike by White and Saku shoots in, grabbing a leg, and gets the takedown into side mount. He circles around and gets sidemount on the other side as Quadros notes that Saku's knee wrap might be a previous injury (sure). White flips out and Saku goes for an armbar (Saku's butt to White's head) but White picks him up (arm caught) and eventually escapes the hold. Saku flips and gives his back but White screws up a RNC attempt and Sakuraba ends up on top and is now in north-south position. White tries to stand up but Saku charges in and keeps him down, landing on top and getting side mount. Saku again targets an arm and the PA guy announces we're 7 minutes into the first round. Saku against in his popular standing above position and then goes in and begins working for an armbar but White has exceptional defense. White sweeps and now suddenly has Sakuraba's back. Nice punch to the head but he stands up, allowing Sakuraba to grab a single leg and a nice takedown. Quadros says both guys seem to be getting lazy, though he doesn't know this is easily the most technical fight of the night. Sakuraba moves forward and gets the full mount, which means little on this card, and the first round is over. Nice technical first round that I give to Sakuraba.
Round 2: They touch gloves to start the round as Quadros says he wants more than just technique in the second round. I don't know what he was watching, I really enjoyed the first round. Both guys come out as southpaws, exchanging jabs. Saku shoots for the takedown, White sprawls, but the takedown occurs and ends with Saku in side mount and then immediately to full mount. White bucks but Saku remains in position, holding White's hands and looking for his next move. Saku again works for an armbar, going so far as to grab the arm, but White grabs Saku's foot and avoids a bad position. White gains his back and begins punching the side of the head, looking for the choke. Saku of course avoids a RNC and sweeps to top position. White holds a very loose guard and then bucks up and gets a sprawl position on Saku, landing shots to his side before grabbing his back. Then back to the feet, White still holding Saku's back, when Sakuraba flips down right into an armbar attempt, "that was beautiful" remarks Quadros. White is showing great sub defense as Saku again works for an armbar which is unsuccessful. White hops back up, gets Saku's back, then Saku again flips down to the ground into an armbar attempt. This is submission technique at it's best by Sakuraba. Saku fails and again openly gives his back to White, who wants to strike but with Saku covered up he's having trouble finding a spot. White goes for the RNC but Saku flips him and gets back to top position and for the 4,000th time goes for an armbar. White again slips out and gets Saku's back, rinse repeat rinse repeat. Failed RNC again by White leads to Saku shooting and a double underhook by White who has total control. Double underhooks and north-south position by White, who wishes it was 10 PRIDE's later where he could land knees. Knee to the shoulder by White and they're back on their feet with White holding Saku's back. Saku looks for a kimura (Saku/Renzo style) and White punches his way out of it back to the feet. Saku takes him down again and gets in half guard, working to full guard. "One of the most technical grappling matches up to this point that I've ever seen in mixed martial arts," says Quadros. He's correct, I just don‘t know why he was complaining in the first round. Sakuraba has full mount and he's trying to control White's arms as he once again looks for an arm but White pulls out the backdoor and now he has Saku's back. White looks for his 2,500th RNC as the bell rings, end of round two. Great technical grappling match.
Round 3: Glove touch. Saku is semi-beaten up while White looks perfectly fine. Back-to-back leg kicks by Saku and White returns the favor. Saku shoots in and gets the takedown, he's standing and moving the legs looking for the best position. He moves into White's half guard and flips over to side mount where he works for his next move. Saku slides into full mount and lands a left hook to the downed Tiger White. He's now controlling the arms and looks to be setting up an armbar, moving slightly to White's right side. Saku flips to White's back and moves to a beautiful armbar but White is showing great defense and flips out of it, getting Saku's back. That was a GREAT escape. Saku does two flips but White retains his back and we're five minutes into the third round. Saku sweeps and now he's on top, north-south, and is looking for yet another armbar. White flips over to his stomach but Saku retains his position grabbing ahold of the arm. Saku tries to flip him and after multiple White flips Vernon winds up face down and on his knees with Saku over his head working for that arm. White flips one more time but Saku holds the arm beautifully and gets the great armbar and White is forced to tap. Winner: Kazushi Sakuraba, submission (armbar), 6:53 of Rd3. That was an amazing technical grappling match for those that are fans of such things.
Both men bow to one another after the fight. "Who is this guy?" asks Quadros. Excellent fight.
- Match 4: Renzo Gracie vs Sanae Kikuta
Round 1: Renzo comes out, throws a strike, and immediately clinches. After a few seconds, Kikuta pulls guard as Renzo tries to pass. Renzo stands in the guard as Kikuta pushes back and gets back to his feet. We're back to the clinch in the corner with Renzo attempting a takedown but he's reversed and taken down by Kikuta who has top position. Renzo works to full guard and the two men play the patience game. After more than two minutes of no action, Quadros states he'd like to see a rule where the referee could restart fighters if they weren't active on the ground. Crazy Quadros and his wild ideas. Renzo is the more active fighter from the bottom using heel strikes and punches to the side while Kikuta is in the pray position (head tucked down into hands on the chest). Nice precise shots from the bottom by Renzo as he's landing several shots to the same spot on the ribs and mixing in ear punches. End of round one, which was horribly uneventful. Kikuta got a couple of takedowns but did absolutely nothing while Renzo was active from the bottom. I'll call it a draw, possibly very slightly favoring Renzo. It all depends on how much you favorite top position.
Round 2: Kikuta starts the round by throwing a right hand. Quadros comments, "by that right hand you'd think he hasn't trained that much in boxing." Renzo lands a solid left jab, causing Kikuta to immediately charge forward looking for the takedown. Renzo sprawls and gets Kikuta into the corner standing. After some takedown attempts both ways, Renzo begins throwing solid knees to the gut of Kikuta. Now would be a good time to mention Renzo has a face on his trunks directly over his left butt cheek. The two finally separate from the corner and Renzo lands a couple of shots before clinching again in the center and pushing Kikuta back to the corner. After some time, Kikuta flips the position and takes Renzo to the mat in Gracie's full guard. After three minutes of no action, Kikuta gets back up and throws a couple of leg kicks before going back down into Renzo's full guard. "Now is a good time to joke or something," says Rutten as Kikuta is still doing nothing from the top and is beginning to bore them. End of the round, which clearly belonged to Renzo despite not really doing any damage.
Round 3: I should mention these are ten minute rounds. Kikuta runs out to start round three and takes Renzo to the mat. Bas says he's speechless and wonders aloud if Kikuta can do anything other than lay on Renzo. Quadros asks Rutten if he's every tickled someone during a fight…. this should give you an idea of the action in the ring. Renzo begins working his hips to the side looking to slip out and get Kikuta's back; this is only being stopped due to a headlock by Kikuta. Sanae scoots out and gets side mount but Gracie immediately goes back to half guard. Kikuta then stands up and over Renzo once again, throwing a couple leg kicks before diving right back into full guard. Kikuta is basically just bear hugging Renzo from the top for long periods of time. Renzo actually has a rainbow colored bruise on his thigh from the few leg kicks but this doesn't matter as he doesn't have to stand up. Bas notes, "fights like this could kill the sport." End of the round.
Round 4: Bas asks "how many rounds is this fight" and Quadros says unlimited. They trade a couple of blows before Kikuta clinches Renzo into the corner and Renzo reverses him. I've noticed the play-by-play is decreasing with each passing round. By round five I might just type "kill me". Kikuta gets a nice trip takedown and he's back in Renzo's full guard but atleast he's throwing a couple of punches this time between bear hugs. Rickson, in Renzo's corner, is talking to him. They could be talking about anything over there, Renzo is in no trouble. Perhaps a board game or quantum physics. One of the officials at ringside that drags guys back to the center of the ring has his elbows on the apron and his head in his hands almost as if his wife is shoe shopping. Renzo starts slipping to the side, working an omaplata, but Kikuta shifts back into Renzo's full guard. Renzo complains that Kikuta is punching to the back of his head and the ref warns Sanae and stands them back up while I have Frank Shamrock flashbacks. Kikuta with sloppy strike attempts as Renzo lands a nice hook. They continue missing strikes and that is the end of round four.
Round 5: Kikuta charges forward wildly as Renzo grabs him and places him in the corner. I'll say for the second time, these are ten minute rounds. Finally some action as Renzo places Kikuta in a guillotine attempt and lands multiple knees to the head. A perfect knee connects as Renzo falls to his back with the guillotine attempt but Kikuta pops out and is on top once again. Three or four minutes later and we're still in the same position with no action. Renzo is trying to do some things from the bottom but Kikuta is having none of it and just holds his base, laying still. Stephen and Bas are openly asking if people in attendance will come back to watch another show after this display. End of round five. "What is the point?" ponders Quadros.
Round 6: Kikuta charges at Renzo, who gets him in a nice guillotine and falls back into guard for the second time in the fight. This time he's actually got him and Kikuta has no choice but to tap out. Thank you God. Winner: Renzo Gracie, submission (guillotine choke), 0:43 of Rd6. They note Renzo held on to the choke a little longer than necessary but for once in my life I really don't mind. It's one thing to lose over 50 minutes of your life, it's another to lose it again.
- Match 5: Marco Ruas vs Gary Goodridge
Ruas, the UFC 7 champion, vs Goodridge, the UFC 8 runner-up. Ruas of course now trains fighters, including Pedro Rizzo and Justin Levens, at Ruas Vale Tudo while Goodridge is still active in K-1.
Round 1: Gary takes the center of the ring with Marco circling. Gary throws a couple vicious bombs so Ruas goes in for the shot but is unsuccessful. Ruas peppers some shots as Gary stalks him down into the corner. Gary throws some absolutely ridiculous punches so Ruas tries to shoot for the third time already but it fails. Marco eventually tries to get Gary down but Goodridge flips over and ends up in top position at side mount. Ruas, now holding Goodridge in half guard, has a pretty bloody cut flowing down his left eye. Gary sits up and continues to throw very powerful punches down at Marco, who is trying to cover up. Three or four more huge punches land but Ruas is able to work back to full guard. After fighting off a couple can opener attempts by Goodridge it looks as though Ruas is finally able to get some control over Goodridge's huge arms. Ruas delivers a couple punches from the bottom but this apparently pisses Goodridge off and he unloads a couple more big right hands down to Marco. Goodridge sits back up and looks to be looking for a leg but Marco wiggles out and we're back in half guard. Marco makes a figure four attempt but Gary pulls out and throws more punches. Ruas has some bumps and bruises as well as the cut but he looks calm and composed on the bottom. Goodridge stands back up over Ruas and lets him up, sending us back where we started in the center of the ring. Goodridge stalks Ruas in circles around the ring as Marco's face begins to swell. During an exchange, Gary slips a bit and then goes limp as if he pulled a hamstring so he tosses Ruas to the mat and sloppily follows only to get caught in a heel hook. After Marco works it for a few seconds, Gary angrily taps knowing he can't get out. Winner: Marco Ruas, submission (heel hook), 9:09 of Rd1. A lightly mustached Pedro Rizzo congratulates Ruas, that's just strange looking. Excellent fight, who knows what would have happened had Goodridge not slipped and tweaked something.
- Match 6: Branco Cikatic vs Mark Kerr
The ever classy Branco Cikatic, a kickboxer making his MMA debut, is fresh off of his no contest at PRIDE 1 after kicking his downed opponent in the head during a kickboxing match and leaving a Hasim Rahman-esque golfball-sized growth on his forehead. We'll see even more class from Cikatic in this one as he battles Mark Kerr, making his PRIDE debut fresh off of destroying his competition at UFC 14 and UFC 15 going a combined 4-0 in less than 5 total minutes on the two cards. Bas Rutten is cornering Mark Kerr so Quadros is playing the game that he's alone in the broadcast booth. Which is cute because I believe in future PRIDE events you see Rutten in someone's corner (but not prominently) while he's announcing with Quadros.
Round 1: Kerr is respecting Cikatic's striking abilities and keeping some distance as he circles for the first minute or so. Kerr finally shoots in and looks to have the takedown, except Cikatic begins illegally elbowing like mad to the back of the head and spine of Kerr, all the while holding on to the ropes. The ref gives a warning, though I'm not sure for which illegal act Branco committed. They're restarted in the center and the second Branco throws a punch, Kerr shoots down and grabs a leg, looking to again have the takedown except Branco again gives him wild illegal elbows and continues to hold the ropes. This time however Kerr does not take it lightly and begins unloading bombs on his head while Branco hangs outside of the ropes and refs try desperately to break it up. This is beginning to resemble a Kimbo Slice parking lot boxing match. Quadros calls Branco's antics a "never say die attitude" while I call it a "punk ass bitch attitude". The bell rings and the fight has been stopped. Poor, polite Mark Kerr is walking around the ring making sure he's not going to be DQ'd just for responding to Cikatic's bullshit. Then all of the sudden Bas Rutten jumps in on the commentary (while still miraculously in the ring next to Kerr) saying Cikatic should be DQ'd. So is Bas in the ring with Kerr or did he just stay really, really quiet for the entire fight? I don't mind either, but they should pick one and stick with it. I like continuity. It looks as though they just told Cikatic he has been DQ'd and for some crazy reason (he's a really good man), Kerr actually shakes his hand while Branco appears to be explaining his side of things. However that is humanly possible. Winner: Mark Kerr, disqualification, 2:14 of Rd1.
The audience doesn't like the result as this was a huge main event fight and neither do I, I think everyone would love to see a restart and Mark Kerr ground-and-pound Cikatic until he remembers what the words class and dignity mean. Kerr takes the mic and apologizes for it not being a spectacular fight, that's right up there with Don Frye saying something positive about Gilbert Yvel after he tried to dig his eyeballs out. Kerr, again a REALLY great guy, thanks the fans and bows to the crowd who cheer him. Cikatic, meanwhile, probably left the arena, raped children, and beat up old women. That's how he rolls. Branco takes the mic directly after Kerr and is boo'd before he can even say anything. He simply says, "I want to fight" and shrugs his shoulders to boos. Class act that guy.
FUN FACT: Branco Cikatic had one movie role, playing a co-lead with Anna Nicole Smith in the film "Skyscraper", which I just saw is on Showtime in 4 hours. I'm so tivo'ing that. I hope he dies in it.
The 411: 5/10 I'd have to say as I struggle for a rating. If you get the DVD and simply don't hit play for Royler/Sano and Rickson/Kikuta then go ahead and bump it to 8/10 but I think I have to judge on an overall basis. Saku/White was a ground masterpiece, Goodridge/Ruas was fun, and the main event was just silly. Entertaining show…. well, entertaining four fights.
