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 The much-heralded warriors of the United States Fighting Championship exceeded every expectation in the three-day spectacular that the organisation delivered in the hope of brightening up the dark days of late January.
Over the thirty fights, there was a remarkable twenty-five finishes. Multiple first round stoppages, and even a majority draw. The riotous New York audience was the perfect back drop as there infectious enthusiasm seemed to energise each fighter in turn. This lead to each pairing wanting to put on a better show than the tandem that preceded them. This escalated over the three days until each fight was a classic that will be played on compilation shows forever.
The opening night’s biggest attraction was the main event between Alberto Contador (4-1-0) and Bruce “Pain Train” Patterson (3-4-0). Many were disappointed with how this turned out due to the absolute dominance of Contador. The Spaniard showcased all of his great athleticism to punish Patterson with a stiff jab before “Pain Train” could get anywhere near the station. It was to no one’s surprise that Contador found a big finish once he had decided to press the action. The killer blow came in the form of a spectacular overhand right that Chuck Liddell would have been proud off.
Chang “Fung” Pi (3-1-0) was equally dominant in the co-main event with a late first round stoppage over Terrence Harris (2-2-0). Clearly being entangled in the Thai fighters clinch is a quick way to stare defeat in the face.
Further down the card Kunie Jones (4-2-0) took a razor close decision over Johnny General (3-3-0) in the Fight of the Night. Neither man could afford to lose so they threw everything at each other. This resulted in a series of exchanges that could have easily left one or both men seeing stars but somehow no one was able to land the all defining blow. In the end, Jones’s superior kicks caught the judge’s eyes but no one would have complained had the result gone the other way. General declared he was taking some time away from the sport after the fight to ‘consider his options’. This began a theme that would run through the weekend.
Elsewhere, The Chimaera (3-0-1) continued his unbeaten streak in the USFC with a highly unorthodox kick and punch combination that felled Great Bloodsport (1-3-0). Will “Briefcase Wanker” McKenzie (1-2-1) and Michael Chanderler (1-2-1) fought to a stalemate to produce the only draw of the weekend and Pierre “The Beast” Gagnon (2-0-0) took Knockout of the Night honours for a vicious uppercut that broke Xander “The Talon” Cetan’s (2-3-0) jaw in two places.
Friday was all about who would be next in line for a shot at the USFC’s much coveted Heavyweight Championship.
Both Soa Palelei (4-1-0) and Willie Jone (4-1-0) had been effortlessly finishing opponents via first round knockouts in the run up to the match, so the generally held belief was that there would be fireworks when the two met. This was certainly the indication as both men starred each other down in the middle of the cage and had to be forcibly separated by the referee. The auditorium filled with noise as the two men approached each other and then it was all over.
Palelei took Jone by the scruff of the next as the two met in a head long collision and proceeded to hit Jone half a dozen times. The previously unbeaten fighter fell to the floor with the referee to thank for not being hurt more. He was bloodied and broken but more than anything else, he was absolutely shocked. What surprised everyone else was Jone’s decision to retire in the post match interview. Only time will tell whether this is a haphazard declaration brought about by the moment or a more permanent decision. However that turn outs, Patelei won’t care as he now has a chance at the big gold belt and walked away with a nice bonus for Knockout of the Night.
Impressively, the whole night did not have a single decision on it.
TJ “Texas” Dilashaw (9-1-0) put on a Thai clinch clinic that broke Walter Jeremiah (3-2-0) both physically and spiritually. The final knees to the head made a dull thud that seemed so underwhelming for the horrifying damage which was clearly being caused. This win springs Dilashaw right into contender status.
Fight of the Night was handed to “Undead” Eddie Alstot (3-1-0) who forced Tony “Rock” Stones (3-5-0) to tap out to strikes. This was all the more dramatic considering that there was less than 15 seconds to go in the fight when Stones called mercy. This was a surprise as the contest had previously been a back and forth affair with submissions high on both fighters list of priorities. In fact, they attempted an amazing 31 submissions between them that often lead to a whirling dervish of limbs akin to Taz of Tazmania. Therefore it was a delicious irony that the submission came not from a carefully orchestrated crank of a neck or snap of an arm, but to the brute force of being punched repeatedly in the head. Stones will not be proud of such a decision but sometimes it is better to live and fight another day.
Alstot was not the only one to pull of a dramatic win just before a round ended. Bradley Franco (4-6-0) ended Randy “The Finishing Touch” Dragon’s (3-8-0) hopes with six seconds of the second round to go. Nick “NickZai” Zai (7-2-0) bettered that by having only three seconds of the first round left before landing a huge haymaker on Reece “Garzilla” Jackson (1-2-0). Yet he was also trumped as Ferenz Balas (5-0-1) who left Sergio “The Spartan” Lopez (2-2-0) sparked out on the canvas as the closing bell started to reverberate around the arena. All will look to use such noteworthy performances to press for bigger fights in the upcoming weeks.
Titles were the name of the game for the weekend’s huge conclusion.
Light Heavyweight champion Divock “Belgian Beast” Origi (9-0-0) completed the weekends festivities with a breathtaking 21 second annihilation of Javier Martinez (4-2-0). The first significant punch opened a nasty gash over Martinez’s left eye that saw blood pouring down his face. Martinez wasn’t given a moment to register this though as he was sent crashing to the floor by a huge right hook and then finished off with the corresponding shot with the left.
Most fighters don’t look as bad as Martinez did after three full rounds. To have that happen in less than 30 seconds just increases the legend that now surrounds Origi. Unsurprisingly the champion was awarded Knockout of the Night honours for such a brutal showing.
The co-main event was won in equally dominating style by reigning Heavyweight champion Corey “Punishment Walk” Parker (5-0-0).
There was a swell of support for his opponent L Manning Vimes (3-1-0) before the fight. Many expected the tricky grappler to pull guard early and expose the champion as a limited ground fighter. Sadly for Vimes, the clinch was his undoing as Parker was able to smash three gorgeous straight right hands through his guard that should have ended the fight then and there. Why the referee did not step in will be a mystery to all who viewed it. Nether-the-less, Parker used this opportunity to show he is no slouch on the ground by passing Vimes guard and finishing the fight will hellish ground and pound.
Parker will now turn his attention to colossal power of Soa Patelei who he will meat at USFC 21. That has classic written all over it.
Perhaps the most awe inspiring finish game in the first title fight of the evening. Jerome “Little Jerry” Seinfeld (3-2-0) sprinted the breadth of the cage before leaping crane-like to crash a knee into the jaw of Kenneth Keats (4-3-0). Englishman Keats crumpled to the floor and needed helping to the back due to the trauma caused from the blow.
Remarkably, that was the only significant strike of that entire contest. Both men were still feeling the other out. Obviously Seinfeld decided he had finished with such niceties.
Outside these fights was a Submission of the Night victory for “Action” Ozzie Price (2-1-0) who pulled of a picture perfect kimura that forced the tap out of Sam Slapper (2-2-0). This was a highly surprising result for a fighter believed to be a striker but then it goes to prove that being well rounded is key in mixed martial arts. Fight of the Night went to Brain Buro (3-1-0) and Chang “Khan” Ryu (3-2-0) who decided to channel rock ‘em, sock ‘em robots for their featherweight clash. They wailed on each other for the full fifteen minutes without pause for breath. Buro walked away with his hand held high but both men’s reputation will be greatly enhanced after such a great fight.
This truly was a wonderful weekend of fights for the United States Fighting Championship. The cheers may have died away but the memories will live on. Hardcore fans will cherish the experience forever while many new converts will be able to point to this event as the beginning for them. The perfect way for an organisation to truly put themselves on the map.
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