What fights have you watched today?

UFC23.

Not a lot happens in terms of greatness rankings this month (November 1999)

Randlemann proved himself to be the best wrestler we've seen so far not named Mark Kerr due to his cardio and strength imo. I certainly think he beats Coleman, Severn and Frye anyways.

Other than that nothing else changes. Coleman wins against a no name but he's just doing what he's told by the promotion now. Couture falls a bit because he loses again.

Wanderlei wins another fight but not enough to move him up.

Sakuraba beats Royler though in a great fight. Royler cannot compete in the clinch or stood up and at one point he begs Sakuraba to join him on the mat which was pathetic.

Sakuraba forces him to stand, and then takes him down and locks in the Kimura.

That was painful watching as Royler wouldn't tap. More stupidity than bravery but it didn't half make me cringe.

Here's my ATG list as of November 1999

1 Kazushi Sakuraba
2 Royce Gacie
3 Ken Shamrock
4 Frank Shamrock
5 Igor Vovanchyn
6 Mark Kerr
7 Bas Rutten
8 Vitor Belfort
9 Pat Miletich
10 Dan Henderson
11 Tito Ortiz
12 Randy Couture
13 Kevin Randlemann
14 Mark Coleman
15 Dan Severn
16 Don Frye
17 Pedro Rizzo
18 Jeremy Horn
19 Evan Tanner
20 Kiyoshi Tamura
21 Wanderlei Silva
22 Chuck Lidell
23 Renzo Gracie
24 Carlos Newton

 

Yeah Royler refused to tap but the red ended it anyways. His arm could have snapped the Kimura was that locked in.

Yeah Rutten vs Randlemann was a previous main event. Kevin can take down anyone and dominate in the ground but he just doesn't do anything once there. He's a wrestler, not an MMA

 

UFC 24

Main event got cancelled and not a lot happened on this event. Jen's Pulver and Dave Menne both made appearances looking very good.

Over in Pride they've started their 2000 Grand Prix with Royce returning to action beating Takada in a very full affair. Sakuraba beat Mezger controversially. Coleman returns to winning ways and Vovanchyn and Kerr keep winning as well.

The biggest development is in the King of Kings 99 tournament. Dan Henderson takes home the prize to cement his place as one of the best MMA fighters to date. Sobrel makes some waves as well beating Timura. Renzo beats Maurice Smith but loses to Timura. Quite a lot of changes need to be made now.

As of March 2000 my list looks like this:

1 Kazushi Sakuraba
2 Royce Gacie
3 Dan Henderson
4 Frank Shamrock
5 Ken Shamrock
6 Igor Vovanchyn
7 Mark Kerr
8 Bas Rutten
9 Vitor Belfort
10 Tito Ortiz
11 Kiyoshi Tamura
12 Renato Sobrel
13 Randy Couture
14 Kevin Randlemann
15 Pat Miletich
16 Mark Coleman
17 Dan Severn
18 Don Frye
19 Pedro Rizzo
20 Jeremy Horn
21 Evan Tanner
22 Wanderlei Silva
23 Renzo Gracie
24 Carlos Newton
25 Chuck Lidell
26 Dave Menne
27 Jens Pulver

 

UFC 25

No real events outside of the UFC since the last one so any changes only affect UFC fighters. Jeremy Horn has lost a couple of fights though so he gets bumped out.

Two things of note happened tonight

The first is Murilo Bustamante enters the rankings with a very impressive display of BJJ to force a submission just into the second round.

The next is obviously the main event fight between Tito and Wand. If these two never fought I would swear blind that Wanderlei would over run him as Lidell did.

This is probably the last of Silva's big learning fights. He improved his stand up defence after the Belfort loss and any stand up exchanges here saw Silva in control.

That being said his takedown defence here is none and Tito even when being pounded can easily land a takedown and hold Silva down.

Despite what is said in my first paragraph here i find myself watching this and wondering how Silva manages to outpoint Hendo in Pride.

We all know Silva is about to go on one of the best runs in the MMA history but here tonight he looks dangerous but exceptionally beatable.

1 Kazushi Sakuraba
2 Royce Gacie
3 Dan Henderson
4 Frank Shamrock
5 Ken Shamrock
6 Igor Vovanchyn
7 Mark Kerr
8 Tito Ortiz
9 Bas Rutten
10 Vitor Belfort
11 Kiyoshi Tamura
12 Renato Sobrel
13 Randy Couture
14 Kevin Randlemann
15 Pat Miletich
16 Mark Coleman
17 Dan Severn
18 Don Frye
19 Pedro Rizzo
20 Evan Tanner
21 Murilo Bustamante
22 Wanderlei Silva
23 Renzo Gracie
24 Carlos Newton
25 Chuck Lidell
26 Dave Menne
27 Jens Pulver

 

Yeah we'll it's not far off from Silva V Henderson and I can't wait to see his adjustment from the way in which Tito dominated him.

I'm gonna watch the full 2000 grand Prix actually. Can't wait to sit for an hour an half watching Gracie V Sakuraba. A fight that epic has no losers.

Also looking forward to the comeback of Mark Coleman.

 

Watching Grand Prix 2000 ATM.

Too long to watch in one sitting though.

Vovanchyn won a back and forth battle with Big Daddy. Showed a very good guard and proved himself to be the best striker yet again.

Couldn't find the Coleman Vs Shoji fight anywhere.

Kerr as we all know now is a druggie who struggled with life after the Igor KO.

Gracie Vs Sakuraba round 1. Ironically this is the best Gracie I've ever seen and the rule changes hindered him here as he clearly won this round for me.

He was stronger in the clinch and a much better striker than Sakuraba. He controlled the full round in the clinch but almost fell victim to a leg bar at the end of this round.

Thats all I've seen for now but how different MMA history could have been without the extra rules. Sakuraba lost the first round to Mezger and the first round to Gracie. Very fortunate to still be in the tourney next round full stop.

 

Gracie Vs Sakuraba round 2.

Another dominant round for Gracie, again the stronger man in the clinch, the more active striker and the clear ring general.

Gracie tries pulling guard but Sakuraba blocks it and they return to the clinch. Whilst clowning trying to pull Gracie's Hi over his head Sakuraba gets a bit lax and Gracie maneuovres in place for a guillotine. Sakuraba appears to tap twice before trying to pull Gracie's belt off. Gracie drops the guillotine and gets it in stronger but the round comes to an end.

Sakuraba is conserving his energy here quite well and although the two rounds have been thrown away it doesn't matters because there's no decision being rendered here. Brave tactics but ultimately they pay off in the end.

 

Gracie Vs Sakuraba round 3.

This is the change. The round begins as usual but then Sakuraba lands a low blow and Gracie has a rest for a few minutes. You can see the anger and passion in Gracie's face, this man who's shattered his family's aura has just low blowed him. Sakuraba is just calm and collected.

Gracie comes back firing and they exchange punches in a clinch, Sakuraba drops him. For the first time Royce looks vulnerable in an MMA fight. And for the first time Sakuraba looks like maybe the hype is real.

By now Sakuraba has already compiled an excellent resume in Newton, Belfort, Marcia's and Royler but against Mezger and the first two rounds here he looked far less than elite.

Now though, he's looking in control. Crazy how he's only at this point due to Shamrock being crazy stubborn and Royce demanding special rules. But here we are, 45 minutes into the fight and he looks in control of the man who's arguably the greatest in history.

 

Gracie Vs Sakuraba round 4

More of an even round this as both men enjoy success in quite a back and forth round.

Great defence shown by both men throughout, if i had to score it to anyone it would be Kazushi due to a nice solid combi he landed early in the round but over 15 minutes it seems crazy to split them over a 3 punch combo.

Can't believe how fresh both men look, Sakuraba definitely belongs at this level.

He's been fortunate the way Belfort broke his hand and the afore mentioned situation in this Grand Prix, but to be fighting on even terms for 60 minutes against the greatest UFC champion in history so far is incredible.

The way Gracie is fighting after such a long lay off and with Muay Thai added to his repertoire is also incredible.

This fight itself is incredibly incredible and I have it even after 4 rounds.

 

Round 5, almost the entire round is spent in Gracie's guard but Sakuraba able to get through with unorthodox attacks and his conditioning here is clearly superior to Gracie's as he's taken 3 rounds n the trot.

He avoided any lengthy submission battles and kept everything in the clinch and stand up whilst making Gracie work to attempt takedowns.

Giving those early rounds seems like a master gameplan now. He knew he could not out grapple Gracie but it looks like he's sure out thought him here.