UFC Fight Pass hosted the first of two huge events this past Saturday evening. A heavyweight bout with “The Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (23-10-0) taking on Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (18-6-0) alongside a co-main event featuring lightweights Gleison Tibau (39-10-0) and Piotr Hallmann (15-3-0).
Here’s the recap!
First up, action in the women’s bantamweight (135 pound) offering. Late replacement fighter Larissa Pacheco (10-1-0) had her hands full from the opening bell in her match against 10th ranked Jessica Andrade (12-3-0). Andrade scored a takedown early in the round and was completely dominant thereafter. Pacheco had little offense from the bottom while Andrade used effective ground-and-pound to set up a guillotine finish at 4:33.
In the men’s bantamweight division, Iuri Alcantara (31-5-0, 1NC) wins in a somewhat controversial decision over Russell Doane (14-4-0). [Fair Warning: I’m about to mount a soapbox] This was the kind of decision that makes me hopeful for the future of MMA judging. I say this for one reason and one reason only: Takedowns DO NOT WIN FIGHTS! A fight should be judged by a number of factors. Among those factors are indeed takedowns, but also what the fighter does with the takedown after the fact. One needs only to look at GSP’s face after the Hendricks fight to see what I mean. This fight swings the pendulum back toward what the MMA game should be about. Execution of a game plan, cage control, dominance, and overall damage. One of the most infuriating things to me in MMA scoring/judging is the exclusion of leg-kicks as a ‘significant strike’. If you cannot stand, you cannot fight…period. But I digress… The reason this fight gives me hope is that regardless of the fact that Doane hit a total of seven takedowns over three rounds…he did absolutely NOTHING with them. Alcantara brutalized Doane’s body with kicks before the takedown in the first and then reversed and threatened with a serious rear-naked choke. More body kicks and some stunning striking combinations came in the second, three takedowns from Doane, but Alcantara hit a beautiful butterfly-guard escape to the feet on one and almost hit an omaplata from the guard on another. A pair of TDs from Doane in the third were not enough. In the judges (and my) eyes, Iuri Alcantara wins unanimously.
With an impressive record of 24-7-0, Wendell “The War Machine”* Oliveira meets TUF: Brazil 2 alum Santiago Ponzinibbio (19-2-0) in a welterweight clash. Both men, known for their aggression in the octagon come out guns blazing. Oliveira landing heavy hands and legs early. To his credit, Ponzinibbio weathers the storm and lands a left hook that stuns his opponent. Seeing the opening, Ponzinibbio lets fly a barrage of punches that ultimately put Oliveira out.
*A nickname of disreputable note: In a compassionate and smart move, the UFC forced Wendell Oliveira to expunge his now tainted moniker of The War Machine following the alleged actions of Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver in August. Though Oliveira was in no hurry to change his name after Koppenhaver made a mockery of it, he did have this to say:
“That was awful. When the news came out, a lot of friends called me asking what happened because the stories had no photo in Brazil. I’m in Brazil, he’s in the United States. We’re not the same person. I won’t change my nickname because I’m the real ‘War Machine.’ I finish my fights, that’s who I am. He’s not a ‘War Machine.’ I honor this name, he doesn’t honor the sport. He has to find a new nickname for himself.”
Oliveira has a ton of potential and I hope that we see more of what he can do in the future.
In the fourth bout of the night, twice cut winner of TUF Season 8, Efrain “Hecho en Mexico” Escudero (23-9-0) looks to regain his footing in the lightweight division. Standing in his way is BJJ legend and TUF: Brazil 2 winner Leonardo Santos. The first round went to Santos. He showed some good hands, got the takedown, and the mount. Escudero came alive in the second. He scored a knockdown with a nice uppercut/hook combo and finished the round with a takedown. The tide flowed back to Santos in the third after a TD from which he moved to the mount and, eventually, Escudero’s back where he nearly finished with a rear-naked choke. Santos gets the win* by decision on the night of the fight. (*Though the decision was in favor of Santos during the broadcast, both fighters’ UFC profiles reflect their records previous to the match and the winner is not identified on the post fight standings. I’m not sure what this information, or lack thereof, means. But it is highly suspect and could ultimately change the outcome…or it could be nothing. Updates will follow)
In light of the earlier Alcantara/Doane decision, the co-Main Event might seem like a contradiction in judging. It wasn’t. Gleison Tibau (39-10-0) has seen the inside of The Octagon more times than any other Brazillian ever. In the opposite corner stood Piotr Hallmann (15-3-0). Looking at both men, you’d like to think that the ultra-explosive and hulking (for his weight class) Tibau would run Hallmann into the ground. Wrong. In the first round Hallmann showed great composure weathering an early flurry from Tibau and went toe-to-toe with the larger man in the clinch. He landed some solid kicks to the body and got immediately up from Tibau’s two takedowns and finished the round with a solid combination. In the second Hallmann lost his way due to a couple of timely TDs from Tibau. Though he got back to his feet without incident, Hallmann offered little offense and caught a spinning back-fist. The third was more of the same. TDs from Tibau, Hallmann getting to his feet. Piotr landed a strike that cut Tibau, but Gleison edged out the win after the final bell. Despite the close decision, keep an eye on Piotr Hallmann.
And now…IIIIT’S TIIIIME!
The Main Event of the evening. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva versus Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski!
When you look through the UFC heavyweight roster of the past, there are a few names that you can’t miss: Frank Mir, Minotauro Nogueria, Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett, and UFC Hall of Famer Dan “The Beast” Severn. All of these men command a legendary status among MMA fans around the world. I contend that there is a name missing from this list. That name is Andrei Arlovski. He’s had some struggles since 2009, losing 3 straight fights in Strikeforce (one to Bigfoot by decision). However, since his UFC debut in 2000, The Pitbull has managed some decisive wins over the likes of Tim Silvia (R1 submission for the UFC title, successfully defended against Justin Eilers (KO) and Paul Buentello (KO), Vladimir Matyushenko (KO), Fabricio Werdum (decision), Big Ben Rothwell (KO), and Roy “Big Country” Nelson (KO). Arlovski enters this rematch with the number 4 ranked Bigfoot after his shaky split-decision win over Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub. The question on everyone’s mind: Will the Arlovski of old re-emerge?
Answer: Oh…oh, yes.
One thing that tends to slip most fans’ minds is just how big Arlovski is. He’s cruising around at 6’3″ and 245 pounds, give or take. Compare that to Bigfoot’s 6’4″ but having to cut weight to get under 265. We’re used to seeing Andrei look up into the eyes of 6’8″ Tim Sylvia (before the 265 pound weight limit on fatties). Brock Lesnar, 6’3″, Cain Velasquez, 6’2″, Shane Carwin, 6’2″. How does he fare? He’s eye-to-eye with the competition, literally.
Arlovski showed great footwork in the first round. He moved effortlessly in-and-out of Silva’s range, landing good punches. Bigfoot was able to land a few kicks and counters but looked like he was trying to menace more than engage. Arlovski ripped the body early, also landed a good right to the chin at 4:12. The advantage in speed was clearly Arlovski’s as the round wound down through the 3 minute mark. At 2:04, The Pitbull lands a hard right hand followed by another that knocked Bigfoot to the canvas. Silva, stunned and on his back, was unable to defend against Arlovski’s repeated hammer-fist strikes. Arlovski puts Bigfoot to sleep at 2:01 in the first round.
Now, there’s a very interesting post-script to this article. That P.S. is in reference to the SECOND of the two huge events being hosted by UFC Fight Pass. Bigfoot v. Arlovski being the first. The second is Roy “Big Country” Nelson vs. Mark Hunt. As of today, the UFC heavyweight rankings show Roy Nelson at 8th in the world and Mark Hunt at 6th. Who do you think might have shot through the ranks to 7th this weekend? His name rhymes with Dandrei Darlovski.