The Sprawl and Brawl Video Review 10.15.07: World Fighting Alliance: WFA 1
Posted by Randy Harrison on 10.15.2007
Rich Franklin main events, a boxing announcer looks the fool, the referees drop the ball, and there's more lasers than a tank full of sharks with frickin laserbeams attached to their heads, as the WFA makes their debut. Can the fight club really meet the night club and be successful? This week's Sprawl and Brawl will tell you..Now click it....I said CLICK IT!!
This Saturday, Rich Franklin gets set to step into the cage in Cincinnati to try to regain the UFC Middleweight Championship, but before he emerged on MMA's biggest stage, he was fighting anywhere he could on smaller events to gain experience. This week we'll be looking at one of those smaller events in the World Fighting Alliance's premiere event WFA 1. The WFA was formed in Las Vegas by former fight trainer John Lewis and night club impresario John Huntington in late 2001. Their concept was to take the entertainment and athleticism of mixed martial arts and add to it the elements of a night club with the music, lights, dancing and beautiful people. They were hoping to bring the best of both worlds together and create their own niche in the MMA universe that could someday compete with their crosstown rivals the UFC. Whether they could or not remains to be seen and that's what we'll find out as we're off to The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on November 3, 2001 for WFA 1.
By the way, before we start out this week, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish myself a Happy Birthday, as I will be turning 27 on Wednesday. I'm sure I will have an awesome birthday because let's face it, I'm awesome. I realize it might be bad luck or tempting fate to give myself best wishes but I think I should be safe as there aren't any storm clouds around that would allow me to be struck by lightning and any other damage, mental or otherwise that could be done to me was probably done around 28 years ago when my little genetic cocktail was shaken up. That said, it's time for some fights!!
World Fighting Alliance: WFA 1
The dvd opens with a nice seizure-inducing rave sequence interspersed with highlights from the evening's fights with more highlights coming from the interpretive dancers in fight gear and do-rags as well as the thumping techno beats and a TON of piped in crowd noise. They're really playing up the night club atmosphere with a laser-light setup and everything that comes on above the crowd and the cage. I wonder if it's too late for me to drop some E or something so I can fully appreciate the spectacle I'm about to witness. The action starts for the live crowd with Bruce Buffer in the center of the cage, doing his usual pre-fight hype spiel stating that the WFA is “where the fight club meets the night club” which was the hook that the WFA was using as their catchphrase. To his credit though, Bruce is trying just as hard to get over his own catchphrase using at least three or four of them like “Viva Las Vegas” and his now familiar “It's TIME!”, but they still don't have the same pizazz as his older brother Michael's “Let's get ready to rumble!!”. It should be noted that they are using a circular cage not unlike the one being used by Elite XC today, but also that it looks very primitive, not unlike the cage used in the original UFC 1. Just think of lots of gray foam rubber and a million zip ties on every bar of the cage, top, bottom, sides and doors.
Match One: Welterweights
Paul Rodriguez (8-4-2) vs. Tiki Ghosn (4-1-2)
The announcers for the event tonight are Dave Bontempo, best known for his work as a boxing analyst on ESPN which could result in some problems switching over to MMA, and Maurice Smith, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion. There are LOTS of random cuts to the crowd during the introductions which makes it almost like Blair Witch in its ability to make one's stomach feel terribly ill and one's head ache. Rodriguez gets introduced to more piped in crowd noise and Tiki gets introduced with Tito Ortiz's gigantic head bobbing in the background like an ocean buoy. Smith predicts that Tiki will be wanting to make this fight a stand-up fight and that he'll be pushing the pace. By the way for all of you who wonder what exactly it is I think of every time I see Tito Ortiz's watermelon head on my screen....enjoy.
Round One
Good overhand right from Rodriguez and Tiki goes for the Thai clinch and lands a hard knee right up the middle. They clinch against the cage and Tiki lands more knees to the body before Rodriguez pulls guard and drops to his back in what Bontempo calls “an interesting maneuver” and to him it would be since I can't ever recall seeing Mike Tyson drop to his back and drag someone down with him. Honestly that would have been better than some of the things he's done in his career but I digress. Tiki tries to crossface and land elbows but Rodriguez is protecting himself well, controlling Tiki's body despite being pressed up against the cage. Bontempo asks what Tiki can do from the mount to finish the fight and Smith has to correct him that they're in guard at the moment. Poor Dave seems a little overwhelmed at this point but he's trying his best. Tiki still on top trying to strike but can't get anything going and referee Larry Landless stands them back up. Tiki hits another knee up the middle though I can't be certain since the camera switches to an angle that appears to be from a surveillance camera mounted to the ceiling judging from how far away it is from the action. Tiki misses with a high kick but scores with another knee to the face of Rodriguez, who has had enough of Tiki standing and shoots for a takedown. Some clinching against the cage with nothing happening leads to them pushing for a separation and a leg kick from Rodriguez which Tiki comes over the top of with a straight right hand and a high kick that glances against Rodriguez's face. Rodriguez badly telegraphs a shot from the outside and Tiki sprawls to avoid it and almost catches Rodriguez in a guillotine. Audio problems keep us from hearing much of Maurice Smith's color commentary during the round and he cuts out here almost completely. They're clinched against the fence, trading knees before Rodriguez tries for a throw but misses it, ending up on the bottom in full guard. Tiki shows that he's been training with Tito Ortiz, immediately pushing Rodriguez up against the cage but unable to land much of note before time runs out in the first round.
Not much of note happened, but what little action there was favored Tiki and he easily gets the first round on my scorecard. Between rounds we're treated to a couple of replays of the stand-up action in round one but there's no rhyme or reason to them and no analysis by Smith to tell us what we're actually seeing.
Round Two
Rodriguez with a leg kick that Tiki checks and Rodriguez fakes the takedown attempt and comes over the top with a solid right hand. Tiki responds with a hard leg kick of his own and Rodriguez rushes into him, grabbing a bodylock and clinching Tiki against the fence. Rodriguez pulls guard again and Smith makes the point on color commentary about it looking bad to the judges and the viewers at home to be on the bottom because you're not in control but Dave Bontempo redeems himself slightly, bringing up that it's possible that being on the bottom can be a good spot, although not always, which is pretty insightful for someone with a strictly boxing background. Tiki still not striking or trying to pass, just sort of pressing Rodriguez against the cage and not really doing anything offensive. The referee sees the inaction and stands them back up with Tiki landing a leg kick and Rodriguez throwing a combination and rushing at Tiki again. More clinching against the cage leads to another Tiki takedown, and we're back to Tiki pressing him against the cage, landing small body shots and nothing else. Again the referee stands them back up and it's starting to get frustrating. A leg kick from Rodriguez lands and he uses it to try shoot for a single-leg, leaving his head exposed for Tiki to attempt a guillotine. Tiki lets go of the choke but scores with another wicked knee to Rodriguez's face. The round closes out with them clinched against the cage again.
Again there was relatively little action, but what there was favored Tiki so he's up two rounds to none at this point. The between rounds stuff consists of about five seconds worth of a random replay from the round and then about forty seconds worth of a ring card girl strutting her “stuff”. Careful on the ring steps with those stripper heels honey, I'm willing to bet they aren't giving you insurance benefits for this gig.
Round Three
Tiki starts the final round landing a leg kick, and he throws a high kick that Rodriguez ducks under, shooting for the takedown and finally getting it after Tiki sprawled for a moment but was unable to avoid it. Rodriguez turning the tables and pressing Tiki against the cage now, trying to land some shots and scoring with a couple of elbows to the head and some hard body shots. He's doing more striking from the top than Tiki was but not by much so far. Rodriguez lands a few power punches and stands above Tiki, still essentially in the guard but not for long as Rodriguez drops back to the mat, passing into side control before giving the guard right back to Tiki. Rodriguez with another elbow and a short slam as Tiki lands a couple of good right hands from the bottom and uses his legs to push Rodriguez off and get back to his feet. Rodriguez shoots for another double leg, lifting Tiki off of the ground, forcing Tiki to grab the fence which only delays the takedown instead of stopping it, as Rodriguez still manages to get Tiki airborne and slam him to the mat. They're back in Tiki's guard and Tiki throws a couple of little shots and elbows from the bottom as a VERY small Tiki chant starts up from the crowd. Nothing happening again on the mat with twenty seconds left in the round so the referee stands them back up. Combinations thrown by both men in the closing seconds as they both land right hands and Tiki follows it up with a good knee from the clinch as the horn sounds.
Rodriguez takes the third round with his slams and position control but it won't be enough after his lackluster first two rounds. More random replays of moments in the third round with nothing interesting going on until we get some other replays that actually make some sense like Rodriguez's slam on Tiki in slow motion. All three judges have it 29-28 for Tiki in a rather boring start to this new MMA venture.
Winner: Tiki Ghosn, Unanimous Decision
Between fights before the fighters have cleared the ring, the lasers come back on and wow the drunken club crowd. There's also a montage of pictures on the video screens including what looks to be the man from the sign on the restroom door breakdancing. I don't have enough drugs to make that up OR to comprehend what the hell it means and we're treated to more fake enthusiasm from the crowd.
Match Two: Lightweights
Vitor Ribeiro (1-0-1) vs Charlie Kohler (9-1-1)
Ribeiro comes into this one as a highly touted submission specialist from Brazil and is very inexperienced at this point. Kohler has more experience in events like King of the Cage, and is sporting a very impressive record though it's been acquired against some dubious competition. This should be a big step up for Kohler in terms of skill level and whether Ribeiro can live up to the hype.
Round One
Mario Yamasaki is our referee in this one and he gets us underway as both fighters touch gloves to start out before Ribeiro shoots in for a takedown that gets stuffed by Kohler, but Kohler can't separate quick enough and Ribeiro locks in a bodylock and gets the takedown. Ribeiro into Kohler's half-guard and Kohler is landing some good right hands from the bottom and controlling the body, not allowing Ribeiro to get anything off as they trade some weak strikes. Yamasaki threatens to stand them up as there's relatively little going on and Ribeiro stands up out of Kohler's guard to gain some separation and lands a hard left hand before Kohler scrambles to regain his feet. Ribeiro with a hold of Kohler's head and he uses that to hit him with a good knee before he changes levels and shoots to take Kohler down again. Kohler sprawls effectively against the cage but Ribeiro pulls his legs out from under him and gets him back down to the mat. Kohler tries to use the butterfly guard to kick Ribeiro away but isn't able to do it, eating a couple of shots as Ribeiro grabs onto the back of his head and starts firing in elbows. One well placed elbow just EXPLODES against the side of Kohler's face splitting him wide open and drawing a lot of blood instantly. Ribeiro goes into shark mode and throws some relentless ground and pound at Kohler as the cameras get a close-up on the cut and it looks huge. Yamasaki stops the action again, this time to let the doctors check in on Kohler. The doc says no go and the fight is over.
The post fight replays show the flurry of elbows that ended the fight including the massive one that busted Kohler's eyebrow apart. A very impressive performance from Ribeiro in this one with great takedowns, great ground and pound and some razor sharp elbows.
Winner: Vitor Ribeiro, Doctor's Stoppage (cut) at 3:15 of Round One
This time between fights there's still plenty of rave effects but no breakdancing men's room sign. I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed by that.
Match Three: Welterweights
Tony DeSouza (4-1-1) vs. Chatt Lavender (8-1)
DeSouza of course you'll recognize from his appearances both in the UFC and as one of BJ Penn's assistant coaches on Ultimate Fighter Season Five and actually has BJ in his corner for this one. Lavender comes into this one fresh off of a loss to Matt Hughes at an Extreme Challenge event a few months previous and quite possibly has the gayest name in the history of Mixed Martial Arts. I mean sixth member of Queer Eye gay..
Round One
Leg kicks back and forth and Lavender throws a right hand that DeSouza manages to duck under and DeSouza rushes forward securing a bodylock takedown and ending up in side control. Short elbows from DeSouza and Lavender rolls out of side control, turtling and giving up his back. DeSouza gets both hooks in and flattens out Lavender landing hard lefts and rights to the back of his head. Lavender turtles again and DeSouza flattens him right back out, as Lavender rolls over to his back allowing DeSouza to mount and throw more hard punches to the face. Lavender tries to buck DeSouza off but just ends up giving up his back and then mounted again. The squeamish announcer keeps saying “this should be stopped” as DeSouza lands a HUGE right hand and begins teeing off on Lavender's head but nothing is really landing flush so I think he's just being a bit of a weak-heart. A NASTY elbow lands from DeSouza and ref Steve Mazzagatti stops things so the doctor can get a look at the cut. It's right on the top of the head near the hairline similar to the faucet that Gideon Ray opened up on Edwin Dewees in TUF 4. The doc determines that it won't affect vision and we're back to the fight. Lavender throws a high kick and a low kick as Maurice Smith brings up a salient point on commentary about DeSouza circling to his right which would put him in Lavender's blind spot as the blood is flowing into his left eye. Lavender gets underhooks and tries for a takedown but DeSouza stuffs it and reverses, regaining full mount on the mat. More hard elbows from DeSouza and Lavender is turning into a bloody mess and Mazzagatti decides to get the doctor back in for another look and MAN is that cut looking worse and worse. Blood all over Lavender's face and after some replays of DeSouza's takedown and subsequent ground and pound that opened the cut to kill some time while the doctor checks out Lavender, we find out that in fact the doctor has stopped the fight giving us two straight doctor stoppages in a row.
A good fight for DeSouza to win, but I think he was probably expected to by the promoters. There wasn't a lot of time to see all of his skills, but his wrestling looked good and he was aggressive once he had top position instead of laying on the guy and doing nothing.
Winner: Tony DeSouza, Doctor's Stoppage (cut) at 3:24 of Round One
We're between fights so you know what that means. More lasers, more strobe lights and more jarring and shaky camera shots set to thumping techno music. Pass the Gravol.
Match Four: Bantamweights
Joao Roque (1-1-3) vs. Stephen Paling (5-3-0)
Not much is known about Roque except that he has great BJJ and is a submissions expert. Paling is notable because he lets us know in his pre-fight blurb that Jesus loves us all. We'll see how much he loves you once the fight is over with.
Round One
They circle starting out for the first twenty or thirty seconds of the round and Paling shows the first signs of life, going for a kick but Roque catches it and uses it to end up taking Paling down. Roque holds onto the leg still after the takedown and uses it to slingshot himself past Paling's guard and into side control. Roque moves into full mount and manages to land some punches before Paling tries to control the body and before you can say flash submission, Roque cinches in a nice deep armbar after a beautiful setup and forces Paling to tap out.
Roque shows some good sportsmanship in letting go of the hold immediately after feeling the tap even though Mario Yamasaki was a little out of position and probably didn't see it. I guess Jesus doesn't love Paling as much as Paling loves him. That's always so awkward for everyone involved when one person's feelings are stronger than the other's. Hopefully Paling learns a valuable life lesson out of this. Never rely on Jesus for anything that involves you beating up another of his creations and possibly crippling it.
Great submission from Roque there and he lived up to his billing as a submissions expert with the super quick finish, and slick armbar.
Winner: Joao Roque, Submission (armbar) at 1:39 of Round One
Match Five: Welterweights
Antonio Mckee (12-2-1) vs. Jason Black (14-0)
Mckee comes into this one looking like Kevin Randleman with the bleached blonde do and even matching the goatee with it too along with some leopard print trunks, while Black is rocking the Wolverine look tonight. If nothing else at least their looks are entertaining. Mckee has Marc Laimon in his corner for the fight and Black counters with Pat Miletich, Matt Hughes, Jeremy Horn and what looks to be Jens Pulver. Wow..advantage Black I'd say.
Round One
Tentative start from both fighters in the opening seconds before Mckee finally shoots in for a takedown, but Black is able to stuff the attempt into a bodylock. Mckee lands a knee up the middle to Black's gut and uses his underhooks to force Black down to the mat against the fence. Black immediately closes up his guard and lands some shots from the bottom and prevents Mckee from posturing up for any power shots of his own. Black catches Mckee's head under his arm and tries to use it to stand up but Mckee lifts him into the air and slams him hard back down. Black still landing some strikes from the bottom and Mckee is still pushing Black against the fence but not doing much of anything else. This fight is BEGGING for a standup and thankfully the referee obliges. Black is throwing out the jab repeatedly but coming nowhere near close to landing it and finally he rushes forward with a combination but Mckee clinches him and gets another takedown off of it at the end of the round.
This was a VERY slow round with next to no action at all. I'd be shocked if there were any replays from the round as nothing happened. Hard to score as a first round because Mckee scored the takedowns but on the ground Black had better striking from the bottom.
Round Two
Mckee with a low kick and Black throws a straight right that Mckee ducks under, shooting for the takedown. Black gets ahold of his head and sprawls to avoid it and they're standing again. More circling and feinting as both men show their wrestling backgrounds with absolutely terrible striking so far. Mckee shoots in for a double leg and takes Black down again as Black lands a good short elbow from the bottom. Mckee misses his own elbow from the top in response, and throws himself off balance allowing Black to slide out from under him and get back to his feet. A leg kick lands from Black and Mckee gets off a stiff jab and they're back to clinching against the cage. Black tries a leg trip that Mckee blocks but Black uses his knees and lands a couple to Mckee's face. Mckee tries a throw from the clinch and Black kind of falls off balance onto the mat with Mckee on top of him in side control. Black trying for the arm again to reverse positions and Mckee is still just laying on top of him and doing virtually no striking. Black with knees to the body from the bottom and Mckee finally lands something from the top catching Black with a hard elbow as the round finishes out.
Jesus..another really slow round and another one that's tough to call because of the inactivity. Neither fighter is taking control of this fight and it could easily be one round apiece or perhaps two to none in favor of either guy at this point.
Round Three
Black pushes the pace to start the final round, forcing Mckee to back up by throwing a ton of jabs and landing a few of them. An overhand right also lands for Black and Mckee ducks under the jab that follows, trying for another takedown, but Black defends it and avoids it. Black is still stalking Mckee through the cage but not really able to land anything and Mckee shoots for another takedown but Black is able to sprawl out of it and maintain his footing. A sloppy shot from the outside from Mckee and Black avoids it easily, pushing him away and landing a good punch off of the miss. Hard left hook and right hand from Black and he stuffs another takedown attempt with a great sprawl. Mckee is starting to look gassed as he pushes Black away and then bends over with his hands on his knees. Mckee again with a takedown attempt and this time Black adds body punches to his sprawl and avoids it again. Mckee hits a good jab, drawing a little blood from Black's nose before Black cocks back and loads the right hand, landing a doozy on Mckee's face. Black sprawls again on another Mckee takedown attempt and forces Mckee over onto his back. Black into side control and catches one of Mckee's arms trying for the crucifix position to land some strikes. Mckee sweeps and reverses and they're back against the fence as Black just misses with a left hook. Another sprawl from Black and some right hands land now as Black continues the takedown defense actually locking in a guillotine with ten seconds left but Mckee pops his head out and survives it and the fight is over.
Replays of the third round action and back down to Dave Bontempo and Maurice Smith while we wait for the judges and Maurice makes the big mistake of speaking of the excitement in the crowd, turning to them and seeing everyone sitting calmly in their seats or not in them at all, either in the bathroom or buying another surely overpriced beverage. The scorecards have been tallied and it's a draw with one fighter each getting a 29-28 score and one judge scoring it 28-28. The crowd really doesn't like that decision and for possibly the first time we hear an ACTUAL crowd reaction as they boo loudly.
Winner: No one, fans included. (Draw)
Match Six: Welterweights
Frank Trigg (7-1-1) vs. LaVerne Clark (11-8)
Trigg is somewhat early in his career and just short of making his UFC debut here, already having fought in Pride, defeating Fabiano Iha, and on other Vale Tudo shows in Japan. Clark is already a UFC veteran having appeared on 5 cards, trading victories with the same Iha, as well as losing to Matt Hughes on an Extreme Challenge card in between UFC appearances. This is the classic wrestler vs. striker showdown as Trigg will be looking to get this fight to the ground and Clark will want to keep it standing and banging.
Round One
Trigg throws a HUGE head kick right off the bat that misses, causing him to slip and lose his balance before popping right back up. Both men circling as Trigg shoots in for the takedown finally getting it after Clark stops holding onto the fence. Trigg pushes him up against the cage but isn't doing a lot from the top yet. Clark controls Trigg's upper body and tightly closes off his guard, holding on until referee Steve Mazzagatti stands them back up. Clark loads up on a right hand but Trigg easily ducks under it and shoots for another takedown, holding onto a single-leg as Clark peppers him with right hands. Clark gets back to his feet and they're clinched up against the cage. Clark reverses Trigg against the cage and scores with a takedown of his own. Trigg works the same body control game on Clark, not allowing him to get any strikes off. Clark moves Trigg up against the fence as Trigg lands a solid elbow from the bottom and Clark scores with a glancing right hand. Trigg loses body control, allowing Clark to throw some wild haymakers that mostly miss before he backs off and lets Trigg stand back up. They circle and the horn sounds for the end of round one.
Clark takes that one for me with a little crisper striking and a takedown of his own on the wrestler, as well as being a little more active when he actually had the top position going. No replays but at this point that's not all bad since most of them have been random, pointless operations anyhow.
Round Two
They start out circling and Trigg hits a solid leg kick while Clark is still flashing the jab out there trying to find his range with little success. There's about a minute's worth of circling before Trigg finally wakes the fuck up and misses a high kick but lands a good front kick to the body of Clark. Clark with a HUGE roundhouse right to the body that whiffs and he throws another couple of combinations that also miss, with Trigg ducking under the last one for another takedown attempt. Clark holds the fence again but it just delays the inevitable and Trigg takes him down and moves into side control. Trigg lands some shoulder strikes while he's on top and Clark manages to spin out from underneath him, although he leaves his head out and Trigg comes close with a guillotine attempt. Trigg on the bottom now from the submission attempt and they're both trading weak strikes with Clark moving to push Trigg back against the cage again. Clark lands a couple of body shots but again makes no attempt to pass Trigg's guard, as Trigg is still doing a great job controlling Clark's body, not allowing him to get off punches with any real power. Clark throws some haymakers trying desperately to land anything but everything misses and we're through with two rounds.
There's not a lot of anything happening in this one so far and neither guy is looking very impressive. Trigg is using his superior wrestling to score the takedowns, but Clark isn't showing any of his boxing skills which he could be using to pick apart the more inexperienced striker. Trigg takes this round with the takedowns and his submission attempt but just barely, evening them at a round apiece heading into the third.
Round Three
Bontempo on commentary calls this one “a beauty” at the beginning of the round, making me wonder what kind of circus freak he goes home to at night, because this thing is about as far from beauty as it could be. Trigg stalking down Clark and Clark again loads up that huge right hand to the body and whiffs it. Trigg rushes him off of it and scores another takedown against the fence. Trigg presses a seated Clark against the fence and lands seven or eight left hands in a row before finally getting Clark all the way down to the mat, working the body with some hard shots and ending up in the mount on top of Clark. Clark bucks to try and reverse it but gives up his back to Trigg and Trigg starts landing some VICIOUS elbows to the back of the head of Clark from the rear mount, raining hard strikes in with both hands until Clark taps out.
Trigg finally snapped to life in the third round, leaving you to wonder why he didn't do that sooner unless his strategy was to avoid the boxer's heavy hands and tire him out before doing his damage on the ground. A very unimpressive performance by both guys in the first two rounds but at least Trigg showed some of his potential looking like a monster in the third. The replays show the ground and pound that ended the fight as well as Clark's tap, but Clark only tapped once leaving a little doubt in my mind and apparently Clark's as well as to whether it was an actual submission, but it's over and a win is a win.
Winner: Frank Trigg, TKO at 2:15 of Round Three
Match Seven: Middleweights
Jermaine Andre (14-3) vs. Ron Jhun (12-5-1)
Jhun is primarily a fighter who has fought in Hawaii and is coming into the fight with a seven fight win streak, his last two victories being over current UFC lightweight contender Joe Stevenson, and former UFC fighter Pete Spratt. Andre looks to have spent most of his career up to this point on smaller shows in the Midwest and he also comes into the cage sporting what looks to be a mop on his head, with a pronounced set of dreadlocks that would make any Rastafarian jealous.
Round One
Glove touch to start here, as the announcers touch on Jhun's second chance and tell the story of him spending time in prison for assaulting a police officer. Jhun lands a hard right and a few good knees to the head and body and he works Andre over onto the mat, moving into his half guard. Jhun landing a shot to the body and a hard right to the head before trying to pass and missing, ending up back in half guard. Jhun works punches to the body and head, pressing Andre against the fence, but not staying active enough to avoid having the referee stand them up after a while. Good leg kick from Andre, but he follows it with a sloppy shot in, eating some knees from Jhun as a result. Jhun switches to the Thai clinch to land a few more knees before going back to the conventional clinch and scoring more knees to the body as Andre tries to land an uppercut inside. Two more hard Thai knees from Jhun but Andre finally catches him with an overhand right and follows it up with a straight left hand that lands flush as well. Jhun goes back to the Thai clinch trying some more knees and Andre counters that, showing off his sambo skills with an absolutely beautiful throw takedown, into side control and then right into the mount. Andre is throwing tons of lefts and rights that Jhun is managing to defend and Mario Yamasaki steps in and calls the fight? What the fuck was that??
The crowd is booing loudly as both announcers feel it was a bad call and I'd agree with them on that one. A replay of the throw and Jhun defending the strikes is shown and in slow motion it looks even worse for Yamasaki to have stopped it as barely any of those punches were landing. A horrible call in a night where the refereeing has been shady at best, and it's a shame as this one looked to be on pace to be the most exciting fight of the night.
Winner: Jermaine Andre, TKO at 3:11 of Round One
Main Event
Match Eight: Light Heavyweights
Rich Franklin (13-0) vs. Marvin Eastman (4-1-1)
Franklin makes a step up here, fighting for the first time on a national stage, as up until this point he'd been plying his trade on regional shows in the Midwest trying to make a name for himself and succeeding with his unblemished record. Eastman for his part has been predominantly fighting in King of the Cage and is putting together a pretty good record of his own so this should be a dandy main event.
Round One
Franklin looks really quick here for 205, as opposed to his current fighting weight of 185, with constant hand and head movement which Eastman ducks under with a jab and he moves in for a bodylock. Franklin lands some knees to the body and head before Eastman pushes him away trying to find his range with a short right hook. A good leg kick lands from Franklin and they exchange combinations with Eastman getting the best punch with another short right hand. Franklin grabs the Thai clinch and tries to work some knees but Eastman catches the leg and uses it to take Franklin down to the ground against the fence. Eastman tries to work an elbow in but goes too far with it, throwing himself off balance and allowing Franklin to snatch one of his arms. He cranks back on it and Eastman slaps the mat once, bringing Larry Landless in to break them up and stop the fight.
Winner: Rich Franklin, Submission (armbar) at 1:02 of Round One
Eastman is instantly denying the tap and he is PISSED. Franklin had the armbar set and it seemed like only a matter of time before the tap would have been coming, but I can understand Eastman's frustration here as it didn't look like a tap to me, and the refereeing has been completely awful all night. Eastman is still pissed and still protesting the entire way out of the cage and we cut to a replay of Eastman's big takedown, leading us to an interview with our winner Rich Franklin. He says that he trained for a stand-up fight and wanted to use his reach, and that he was expecting the takedown and to get a submission perhaps in the later rounds but he's happy to get it done quickly. Bontempo asks what type of move it was that he used for the submission and Rich does a quick double-take at the stupidity of it before answering him. Rich says he didn't see the tap but he felt Eastman's elbow pop a little and let go when the ref pulled him off.
Bruce Buffer thanks everyone for coming out to the premiere of the World Fighting Alliance and we're back to a little old-school cage breakdancing and techno, along with a roar from a crowd that sounds to be in the neighborhood of about 80, 000 or so. I mean if you're going to sweeten the crowd at least make it believable guys, seriously.
That's it for this edition of the Sprawl and Brawl, thanks for reading and be sure to come back next week as we take a look at the IFL's latest DVD release, Greatest Knockouts & Extreme Action. Thanks again for stopping in for the review and if there's anything you like or dislike or any questions or anything, feel free to hit up my contact at the bottom. In the meantime, and in between time, I'll see you all next time for another Sprawl and Brawl Video Review.
The 411: While I'm sure it looked like a great concept on paper, the whole night club/fight club deal didn't really work and came off as kind of forced. The fights that went the distance slowed the show to a crawl and the ones that didn't were sometimes ended before they had a chance to get exciting (or in the case of Jhun/Andre, remain exciting). Add to that the hideous editing and rave effects, along with sketchy announcing and I'd have to say that the WFA was a bit of a disappointment for me in this one.
