UFC 8 David Vs Goliath
Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum,
San Juan, Puerto Rico
UFC is back. After the disappointment of Ultimate Ultimate 95 The UFC tries a new approach.- Its still and 8 Man Tournament but there are 7 new fighters and only one returning fighter.
- The event is named David Vs Goliath as each first round fight see a big size difference between both opponents.
- The first two rounds have a 10 minute time limit. The finals and Superfight have 15 minutes. If they go the distance Judges will decide who wins.
There is also a Superfight. Ken Shamrock v Kimo Leopaldo.
Before the main card there is one alternate match. Sam Adkins defeats Keith Mieike within one minute by submission due to strikes.
Quarter Finals
Don Frye v Thomas Ramirez
Ramirez is the Goliath in this fight out weighing Frye by 150 lbs. He is also the home town boy and the fans favourite.
They both meet in the centre of the Octagon. Frye throws a left right combination and the second punch lands clean on the jaw and sends Ramirez to sleep in a record 8 seconds.
Joe Morrera v Paul Varlaens
Varlaens is the only returning fighter. He is fighting a tough Brazilian fighter. He out weighs him by 100lb and is 9 inches taller.
Both fighters are very cautious. Morrera is very wary of the size advantage, he throws leg kicks but is constantly moving backwards. Varlaens is always coming forward but wants to keep this fight on the feet and uses his jab. On a few occasions they clinch and when the clinch breaks Morrera throws a big right which continues to land but seems not to affect Varlaens. Another tool Morrera uses in the clinch is the foot stomp. This is a very slow fight to watch and it does go the distance and Varlaens wins by decision. The deciding factor being that he constantly comes forward.
Jerry Bohlander v Scott Ferrozzo
Ferrozzo is the bigger man and he out weighs Bohlander by 100lbs. Ferrozzo is a Pit fighter which is the same back ground as the infamous Tank Abbott. Bohlander is the first guy to come from under Ken Shamrock and the notorious Lions Den.
From the start Ferrozzo uses his size a bull rushes Bohlander up against the fence. He then grabs Bohlander around the waste and throws him down to the ground. He then switches to his back and lands a much better throw. On this throw Bohlanders head accidently hits Ferrozzo's eye and cuts it just under and causes a big mouse. Ferrozzo still has Bohlanders back but they are now on the ground. Ferrozzo works round to the front of Bohlander and sinks in a guillotine choke from the front. With Bohlanders training from the Lions Den he comfortably defends this attempt and gets back to his feet. Ferrozzo holds him against the fence, there is a bit of a struggle and Bohlander lands with a head butt then is able to hook his own guillotine choke in from the front with his legs wrapped around Ferrozzo's midsection being supported up against the fence. Ferrozzo stays calm and fights out of this hold before swinging Bohlander down to the ground and ending up in his guard. There is a stalemate in the guard. ferrozzo throws some headbutts and Bohlander throws punches from his back but neither fighter cause any damage.
The fight is then restarted on the feet. Ferrozzo again pushes Bohlander up against the fence. Bohlander tries to use the straps of Ferrozzo's singlet wrestling top to cut off his air supply by pulling it against his windpipe. With neither fighter making progress they are once again restarted. From the restart Ferrozzo once again pushes Bohlander up against the fence. Bohlander then uses both his hands and uses both straps of Ferrozzo's vest and once again starts to strangle him with it. This is basically a slow choke and you can tell that it is bothering Ferrozzo. Ferrozzo struggles out of this position and only when both fighters hit the ground does Bohlander let go of the vest. On the ground Bohlander is quicker to react and lands with a knee flush into Ferrozzo's face and then sinks in a guillotine. With one minute to go a tired Ferrozzo taps in what was a dramatic and sudden finish.
Paul Herrera v Gary Goodridge
Goodridge is the Goliath in this fight out weighing Herrera by 100lb. Herrera fights from Tank Abbotts camp.
Herrera shoots straight away. Goodridge sprawls and lands in a crucifix position with both of Herrera's arms trapped. Goodridge then throws EIGHT unanswered elbows to the side of Herrera's head. The second elbow actually ko'd him but the elbows were that quick that by the time Big John stepped in the elbows had already landed.
Semi Finals
Don Frye v Sam Adkins
We are told that Paul Varlaens is unable to continue as he broke a bone in his foot in his first fight.
Both fighters have a boxing back ground and start by feeling each other out with punches. This is very even so Frye takes Adkins down and finishes the fight with punches from side control.
Gary Goodridge v Jerry Bohlander
Both of these fighters looked very impressive in the first round. Goodridge is the bigger fighter out weighing Bohlander by 50lbs. It is also pure muscle with the extra weight that Goodridge holds over Bohlander.
Goodridge closes the gap straight away and uses his strength to push Bohlander up against the cage. Bohlander drops to try and take Goodridge down and Goodridge hooks in a standing guillotine. Bohlander is able to break the hold but is still not able to distance him self from Goodridge. To avoid being thrown Bohlander drops to the floor with Goodridge on top of him. Goodridge instantly jumps to side control. He bides his time before trying to get the full mount which Bohlander defends and is able to get full guard. Amazingly from this position Bohlander uses the butterfly guard and elevates Goodridge and ends up in top position. Bohlander works to the mount and throws punches from the mount. Goodridge blocks some of the punches and makes a few attempts to reverse but is unsuccessful. He then just powers through and is able to reverse Bohlander and end up in his guard. From that position Goodridge stands up and uses the fence to balance himself. He then hovers over Bohlander who is trying to create space by pushing Goodridge away with his feet. Goodridge defends that by continuing to hold on to the fence and then lands a big downward right punch to end the fight.
Superfight
Ken Shamrock v Kimo Leopaldo
Shamrock is back to defend is Superfight belt against the man who shocked the MMA world by pushing Royce Gracie to his limit.
Kimo starts by throwing a kick and Shamrock blocks the kick and then takes Kimo down. Shamrock works to the full mount but decides not to throw any strikes and attempts a choke. Kimo defends this and is able to reverse Shamrock and end up in his half guard. Kimo lands with a big punch and then Shamrock grabs Kimo's leg and works for a leg lock. Kimo tries to wriggle out of it but is unsuccessful and Shamrock sinks in a knee bar and forces Kimo to tap.
Final
Don Frye v Gary Goodridge
On paper this looked like being a very exciting final. Both fighters had looked very impressive and very aggressive in their fights.
Frye comes out and straight away lands with punches and pushes Goodridge up against the fence. Goodridge is then able to wrap his arms around Frye and take his back while standing. Frye throws backwards elbows before Goodridge picks up Frye and throws him to the ground. He then tries to soccer kick him but Frye reacts quickly and gets back to his feet. They then clinch and Frye uses effective dirty boxing and rocks Goodridge with a couple of uppercuts. Goodridge then pushes him against the fence to stop the punches. Goodridge uses his strength and picks up Frye who holds on to the top of the fence. Goodridge has Fryes legs in the air and Frye lets go of the fence and falls to the ground. Goodridge quickly takes Frye's back while is on the ground but Frye reacts quickly and comes back through Goodridge's legs and then takes Goodridge down. Frye throws punches from the top position and Goodridge taps.
Overall this was a great event with some very exciting action. We also saw the introduction of some recognisable faces, Don Frye, Gary Goodridge and Jerry Bohlander.
Bonus Awards
KO of the night Gary Goodridge v Paul Herrera
Tapout of the night Jerry Bohlander v Scott Ferrozzo
Fight of the night Jerry Bohlander v Scott Ferrozzo
Fighter of the night Don Frye
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