MOLINE, Illinois - Add another courageous moment to sports history.

In his Superfight with Renzo Gracie at the 2006 International Fight League World Championship quarterfinals, Pat Miletich battled the BJJ superstar even though a physician told him he was at risk of paralysis. Miletich, the coach of the Silverbacks, suffered the initial neck injury 4 years ago, but opted to fight Gracie this past September.

As more than 6,000 fans watched, Gracie (Holmdel, N.J.) submitted Miletich (Bettendorf, Iowa) via guillotine choke in the first round of their Superfight, which followed the team competition. In the story that follows, Miletich talks about the injury and the risks.

Although Miletich lost, his team, the Silverbacks edged the Pitbulls, who train in New York, 3-2, while the Dragons, Carlos Newton's team, topped the Razorclaws, based in San Jose, 3-2.

Following is an overview of the action, as well as some thoughts from Carlos Newton, coach of the Dragons.

Rolling the Dice: Pat Miletich

RENZO He did a great job. I hurt him badly with a knee when he shot in. [Because of that strike], he said he could not see for a while after that, but he hung onto my leg for dear life. He did a good job. I had planned on clipping him with a knee to knock him out. When I got him with the knee, he had a poker face and did not let me know he was hurt.

After the knee, I pushed him into the ropes and wanted to make him wrestle with me and take me down. I wanted to tire him in the first round and finish him in the second. But he did a good job, and he climbed up my body. I found out my neck is not as strong as it used to be, and he's got an incredible guillotine. He worked and worked for it and caught it.

THE REPLAY If I fought him again, I'd plan on hitting him a lot more. My game plan was just to walk toward him. If he shot on me, that would have been fine. I just did not hit him enough to do any damage. When I hit opponents, they generally fall down.

THE HEALTH REPORT I had a neck injury before the fight. My hands had been numb for a month, and they are worse now. My neck is jacked up. I need to get an MRI so I know what kind of condition I'm in, to see how bad it is and to see where the discs are.

WILL I FIGHT AGAIN? If I am not risking paralysis, yeah, I will fight again. However, a neurosurgeon said I would be risking paralysis by doing this [fighting Renzo Gracie], but it was a great honor to fight him. He is a great guy, and I consider him a friend and would not want to fight anyone less than a guy whom I always considered the best fighter in the family. I came out of a 4-year retirement to fight him, and I did not want to fight a tomato can. I wanted someone who is dangerous and good.

Renzo and I also have a vested interest in the IFL. Thus, it was important for him and I to fight so we could help establish the young guys on our team, so they can move on to become stars.

WHAT ABOUT RICKSON? Rickson is the best jiu-jitsu guy in the family, but Renzo is definitely more well-rounded in MMA.

PARALYSIS Well, a fighter is always rolling the dice, no matter how healthy he is. I was nervous about it [paralysis] and the thought crossed my mind when he was hanging onto my head for a minute and a half.

THE NECK PROBLEM The neck problem is a result from trauma over the years. The problem occurred 4 years ago when I was training to fight Frank Trigg. I got hit with a left hook out of the blue. I got hammered, and it blew a disk in my spinal cord. Actually, it almost severed it. It was ugly at the time. It was the first time in which I said, "Oh, s***! This is serious." It scared me, but I did not want to have an operation. I used rehab and came back to train with the guys and thought I could take the punishment.

TWO ROLES What was it like to fill two roles simultaneously? It took away from my concentration on the team, and I was not able to coach as much. In the past, I could stand there and tell them what they are doing right and wrong. If the practice for my fight occurred at the same time, I could not do that. At the same time, I enjoyed getting in there and working out intensely. Overall, I had mixed feelings.

Of course, after watching these guys fight and hearing the crowd roar, that inspired me to get in there and have fun. The roar of the crowd was a blast. I was not nervous at all. It was nice to have the opportunity to get in there and do it again. It was a blast to mix it up. Although I lost, it was a blessing, a great experience and I am very happy.

THE TEAM Obviously, we are very happy about the team victory. Renzo's team came to fight. They are a tough team with skilled guys, and my guys did what they had to do to win.

KEYS TO TEAM VICTORY Our experience and endurance made the difference. Our guys had more experience in the ring, and our strength is always our endurance. For the most part, the guys from Renzo's gas out in a tough battle. Thus, they can't execute like they normally would.

FULL-COURT PRESS In the World Championships semi-finals, we will be facing the Toronto team. Our game plan is to put pressure on them, and my team is fully committed to going undefeated in that show and wear people out. Our endurance will be better. We will wear them down and beat them.

A Moment With Carlos Newton

BATTLE LINES DRAWN The win felt great. It was a lot of fun being out there, and it was the greatest energy I have ever felt during a competition. Thus, it was easy to do my job and have fun. Seeing the other coaches and the team jerseys, it was awesome. It felt like a real battleground.

THE RED CARPET With all the fighters wearing team jerseys, the thought that crosses your mind is, "What army does he belong to?" It was that type of posturing and finger-pointing atmosphere. It was kind of like going to a red carpet session in which you know all of the fighters.

4 W's
Who: The IFL
What: 2006 World Championship quarter-finals
Where: Moline, Illinois
When: Sept. 23
Web site: www.internationalfightleague.com

And the Winners Are ...
Alternate Bouts
• Delson Heleno (Pitbulls) defeated Ben Uker (Silverbacks) by TKO, 3:14 in Round 1, (strikes)
• Dennis Hallman, Dragons, defeated Jeff Quinlan, Razorclaws, by majority decision after three rounds

Silverbacks (Quad Cities) defeated Pitbulls (New York), 3-2
• LW/155: Bart Palaszewski (Silverbacks) defeated Marcio Feitosa (Pitbulls) by split decision
• WW/170: Rory Markham (Silverbacks) defeated Marcelo Azevedo (Pitbulls) by TKO, 3:58 in Round 1 (ref stoppage)
• MW/185: Fabio Leopoldo (Pitbulls) defeated Ryan McGivern (Silverbacks) by submission (kneebar), 2:49 in Round 2
• LH/205: Andre Gusmao (Pitbulls) defeated Mike Ciesnelovicz (Silverbacks) by TKO, 1:01 in Round 2 (ref stoppage)
• HW/265: Ben Rothwell (Silverbacks) defeated Bryan Vetell (Pitbulls) by knockout, 3:17 in Round 1

Dragons (Toronto) defeated Razorclaws (San Jose), 3-2
• LW/155: Josh Odom (Razorclaws) defeated Rob Di Cenzo (Dragons) by TKO, 1:47 in Round 3 (ref stoppage)
• WW/170: Claude Patrick (Dragons) defeated Ray Steinbeiss (Razorclaws) by submission, 3:12 in Round 1 (guillotine choke)
• MW/185: Joe Doerksen (Dragons) defeated Brian Foster (Razorclaws) by submission, 3:40 in Round 2 (rear naked choke)
• LH/205: Brent Beauparlant (Dragons) defeated Raphael Davis (Razorclaws) by unanimous decision after three rounds
• HW/265: Travis Wiuff (Razorclaws) defeated Wojtek Kaszowski (Dragons) by unanimous decision after three rounds

Superfight

• MW/185: Renzo Gracie defeated Pat Miletich by submission, 3:37 in Round 1 (guillotine choke)

Bonus Awards

Silverbacks vs. Pitbulls

Knockout of the Night: Ben Rothwell, Silverbacks
Submission of the Night: Fabio Leopoldo, Pitbulls
Most Exciting Fight: Bart Palaszewski, Silverbacks, vs. Marcio Feitosa, Pitbulls

Bonus Awards


Dragons vs. Razorclaws
Knockout of the Night: Josh Odom, Razorclaws
Submission of the Night: Claude Patrick, Dragons
Most Exciting Fight: Joe Doerksen, Dragons, vs. Brian Foster, Razorclaws
Heart of a Lion: Brent Beauparlant, Dragons


Gracie vs. Miletich

Pre-Fight Notes, Quotes and Observations

By Noah Fowle
• At 40, Renzo Gracie balked at the thought of slowing down and displayed a youthful exuberance when speaking of the fight. Gracie admitted that his first 20 days of training were grueling, but he hit his stride.
"Training only gets easier as you get older," he says. "You train smarter and more effectively because the technique is already mastered."
• Practicing his mat game, Gracie betrayed his age well. A compact ball of muscle, he moved with precision and speed, and often opted for a more acrobatic passing of the guard over a display of his strength. Gracie adapts his strategy for each fight depending on his opponent, and Miletich, a former UFC champion, is no exception. Although Gracie was reticent to give any details regarding his plan, he said fans should expect to see something different from him as he works to submit Miletich.
"Pat is a very tough opponent," he says. "I am looking to take this fight to the mat where I can finish him."
• Although he has not competed himself, Miletich has been on a role. He coached both Matt Hughes and Tim Sylvia to UFC championships, along with capturing the first IFL team title as coach of the Silverbacks.
• In July, the 38-year-old Miletich increased his workouts while maintaining a steady regime of sparring.

"I focused from my mid-thighs up to my chest with core exercises," he says. "I added some extra flexibility training, in addition to hitting pads and rolling three times a week. Over the years, I've learned how to put my body back together and keep it in one piece."
• Miletich admitted he feels a slight advantage because he will be the hometown favorite, but he added that Gracie presents a difficult package.

"Obviously, I'd like to finish the fight off quick, but Renzo is the best all-round fighter in the Gracie family," he says. "Knocking him out is a tall order, but I'm going to try. It will help to have the crowd on my side, but when it comes down to it, I won't have a gang inside the ring to help me."

• While the MMA world buzzes with talk about a growing rivalry between the Gracie and Miletich camps, heightened when Miletich's top student Matt Hughes defeated Royce Gracie at UFC 60, the two men speak about each other with the utmost respect and prefer to focus on advancing MMA.

"I consider Renzo a good friend, so it will be a little awkward trying to punch him in the face," says Miletich. "But this fight is good for the sport, and it's a smart business decision for both of us."
• Gracie says that his fight with Miletich is just further proof that MMA will only continue to grow.

"Everything in this sport is becoming connected," he says. "We are all helping it to be more professional. It's a lot like surfing was a few decades ago. It is now in the rights hands to take it forward. You can see MMA in fashion and fitness. It's everywhere."
• Denying that his cousin's recent loss added any drama to the fight, Gracie says, "All of my fights are personal. Afterward, sure Pat and I can grab a drink together. But until the fight is over, I will never stop."

Fighters' Words
• "The roar of the crowds gets the fire in me going." - Ben Rothwell (Silverbacks) following his victory

• "I'm very proud of everyone." - Carlos Newton, coach of the Dragons, whose squad won its IFL debut

• "I set him up for the choke, but at first I didn't have it. He didn't take me down, so I raised up and locked it. I knew I wasn't going to let go." - Renzo Gracie, who recorded his first victory since 2001 and is now 11-6-1

• "I had a blast getting ready for the fight. Training with my team really motivated me. I just didn't trust my neck [following injury] to take him to the ground there." - Pat Miletich

- The IFL contributed to this report.