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Rampage Rewrites the Law
Quinton Jackson Earns Decision Over Lindland, While Rutten Scores Win After 7-Year Layoff |
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Written by Eddie Malone |
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 Bas Rutten (right) delivers a powerful right to Ruben 'Warpath' Villarreal
 and then glances back after a leg kick sent his opponent down for good.
| INGLEWOOD, California - For their comeback event at the Forum in Inglewood, California, the World Fighting Alliance (WFA) put together a star-studded card to rival any organization. Not only had they wrestled Quinton "Rampage" Jackson away from Pride and signed the free agent Matt Lindland, CEO Jeremy Lappen and company had convinced Bas Rutten to re-enter the cage seven years into his retirement.
As any promoter intimately knows, however, things seldom go off without a hitch in MMA, and the promotion faced a challenge just two days before the event when Kimo Leopoldo, Rutten's original opponent, tested positive for steroids. So began a mad scramble for a replacement, with the veteran Ruben "Warpath" Villarreal coming to the rescue at the 11th hour. Rutten, at a lean 214 pounds, was already going to be at a size disadvantage with Kimo. Now he faced an even bigger challenge, physically at least, with the 260-pound Warpath.
All in all, it's hard to complain about a seven-fight main card in which the majority of the fights did not go the distance. However, the co-main event was the best, as "Rampage" and "The Law" put on a show.
A review of the card follows.
Fighters: Martin Kampmann and Edwin Aguilar
Winner: Kampmann
How: TKO (2:43 of 1st round)
The Fight: The Denmark native was a last-minute replacement for Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons. He controlled the action early, taking Aguilar down into side control. Once Aguilar gained his feet, a flurry of punches by Kampmann sent him plunging to the canvas for good.
Analysis: With a 12-2 record, the Dane might be one for the future. For a more accurate gauge of where he's at, he needs to face top-level competition.
Fighters: Jorge Oliveira and Marvin Eastman
Result: Draw
The Fight: This fight stayed standing for three rounds. Neither fighter showed a desire to finish the fight, though Eastman at times threw caution to the wind and rushed in to close the distance, trying to overcome a height and reach disadvantage.
In the second round, Oliveira turned aggressor as Eastman backed up, apparently hurt. But Eastman countered with a big right hand that bloodied the Brazilian.
In the third, Oliveira came out aggressively again, but neither he nor Eastman could stamp any authority on the bout. A draw seemed fair.
Analysis: Oliveira is still pretty green. He's only fought four times, but all four opponents were "name" fighters. With his athleticism and skill set, he shows promise but needs to develop the killer instinct.
Eastman, on the other hand, has to be disappointed. The journeyman fighter has racked up a number of wins in the last year. He remains in the pack of middling light heavyweights.
Fighters: Rob McCullough and Harris Sarmiento
Winner: McCullough
How: Unanimous decision
The Fight: McCullough stayed true to a strategy of launching leg kicks and avoiding the ground. In the first round, the muay Thai specialist's kicks made serious noise, and you had to wonder how long Sarmiento could take such a barrage. But the Hawaiian veteran showed great resilience, though he did little to impose his will.
In the third, "Razor" Rob sought to end the fight after catching Sarmiento's kick and following him to the mat. He landed several punches, but couldn't keep the Hawaiian from getting to his feet.
Analysis: McCullough connected with more frequency and did more damage. A talented lightweight, he needs to face elite competition, which may not happen with the WFA. The UFC and Pride have snatched up so many of the world's best at lightweight.
Fighters: Ricco Rodriguez and Ron Waterman
Winner: Rodriguez
How: TKO (Doctor stoppage between 1st and 2nd round)
The Fight: Waterman gassed after a lengthy session of trying to take the 300-pound Rodriguez to the mat. The former UFC heavyweight champ caught Waterman with a glancing right hand, followed up by knees and a flurry of punches. Waterman survived the onslaught, but between rounds his left eye was rapidly swelling shut. The ringside doctor would not allow it to go another round.
Analysis: With a waistline that has swelled considerably since his heyday as champ, Rodriguez has become a symbol for the rapid decline that can befall even the most talented in this sport.
Fighters: Ivan Salaverry and Art Santore
Winner: Salaverry
How: TKO (strikes, at 4:18 of the Round 2)
The Fight: Salaverry's stand-up was smooth, fluid and, in the end, devastating. He was noticeably quicker than the Team Quest fighter and landed kicks consistently to the legs and body in the first round.
In the second round, Santore came out aggressively, putting the UFC veteran on his back briefly. Once standing again, Salaverry rocked his opponent with a kick to the face. A left hook dropped Santore, whose face was a bloody mess in the end.
Analysis: Having not fought in nearly a year, Salaverry showed no ring rust. He looked very comfortable standing. It would be instructive to see him fight the best at middleweight again.
Fighters: Jason "MayheM" Miller and Lodune Sincaid
Winner: Miller
How: Submission (rear naked choke at 4:29 of Round 1)
The Fight: MayheM wasted no time clinching, throwing knees and then taking Sincaid to the mat where he quickly won back mount. He couldn't get his hooks in and after a couple of minutes Sincaid nicely reversed the position. But seconds later he was reversed himself, and this time MayheM got his positioning right, sinking the choke and ending the bout.
Analysis: MayheM is proving to be a methodical, efficient fighter. Considering he was fighting up in weight against a guy on a decent run of form, this was an impressive performance.
Fighters: Lyoto Machida and Vernon White
Winner: Machida
How: Unanimous decision
The Fight: White closed the distance right away, throwing punches and forcing his Brazilian opponent to the ground. Machida worked for a triangle but White recognized the danger and slammed his way out.
Apart from that sequence, the only dramatic moment of this fight arrived in the third round when Machida first got mount then back mount. He stretched White out but couldn't sink the choke. Ultimately, Tiger twisted his way out to get top position. Machida must have done something to justify the judges' decision, but it was hard to see from this vantage point.
Analysis: It was a fight that justifiably tried the patience of the crowd. Machida, the only man to have beaten Rich Franklin, preferred to avoid full-on engagement with the Lion's Den Fighter. With this performance, his U.S. debut, he has a lot to prove.
Fighters: Bas Rutten and Ruben "Warpath" Villarreal
Winner: Rutten
How: TKO at 3:24 of the 1st round
The Fight: Rutten looked sharp as he put on a clinic with his hands. He changed strategy after discovering Warpath's iron chin. Hard leg kicks saw Villarreal limping toward his opponent. The final leg kick barely connected, but it didn't have to. Villarreal was all but finished.
Analysis: Ever the showman, Rutten didn't disappoint. He didn't look like a guy who hadn't fought in seven years. But then again, he was facing an opponent who entered the fray on two days' notice and has never truly shone as a fighter.
Post-fight, Rutten revealed that he was struggling with rib, groin and ACL injuries. The MMA legend would like to fight again, but will his body allow him to? If he does, let's hope he tests himself against a top-level fighter at 205.
Fighters: Quinton Jackson and Matt Lindland
Winner: Jackson
How: Split decision
The Fight: The Team Quest fighter did not want a stand-up war. He clinched from the get-go, trying to wrestle "Rampage" to the ground. When Lindland launched a knee against the fence, Jackson grabbed his leg and delivered a trademark slam to the crowd's delight. Lindland impressed by getting to his feet and then winning top position. He got Jackson's back and his rear naked choke looked tight, but Jackson fought it, stood up and slipped out.
The second round saw Lindland searching for his signature move, the guillotine choke slam. Rampage countered by slamming the Olympic medallist to the ground again.
More clinch work ensued in the final round. Rampage managed to find some distance and had Lindland in trouble with his striking, but the latter grabbed hold and regained his senses. Lindland again looked to finish the fight, and his guillotine choke appeared deeper and more dangerous than his previous submission attempts. However, Rampage never gave up and nearly ended the fight on his own terms, delivering elbows and opening up a cut on the bridge of Lindland's nose.
Analysis: Easily fight of the night. Lindland again showed himself to be a world-class competitor. A true middleweight, he's fought at light heavyweight his last couple of fights and never looked out of his depth. He quickly disposed of veteran Mike Van Arsdale and some would say got the better of Jackson, once considered the world's second-best at 205.
As for Jackson, he can't be pleased that he failed to finish a middleweight, albeit one of the best in that weight class. His ability to finish fights has been in question for a while now. A bid for stardom in the U.S. will require him to start finishing opponents with authority, like the Rampage of old.
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