Post by BobbyTheBrain on Jul 24, 2017 23:52:09 GMT -5
Pride 5
April 29, 1999
Fight 1: Minoru Toyonaga vs Egan Inoue
They go the ground where Inoue quickly is able to get the back of Toyonaga and almost locks a choke in on him, Toyonaga matches to escape though. They briefly wind up back on their feet, but before long they're on the mat again where eventually Inoue lands a few solid punches to Toyonaga. Toyonaga reacts in pain to some of the shots which prompts the referee to jump in and stop the bout...perhaps prematurely. But nevertheless, the result stands.
Egan Inoue TKO 1 (via punches on the ground)
Fight 2: Satoshi Honma vs Francisco Bueno
Honma looks completely different here than in his previous appearance in Pride shorter hair and sporting a beard this time. He's faced with a more dangerous opponent this time than he faced last time so he takes a more cautious approach. Perhaps having seen the beating he gave out last time made Bueno a bit too respectful as well as they're both very cautious in the early going, but finally the bigger man Bueno starts to attack and comes in firing away with punches. Several straight punches land on Honma, and he finally drops him to the mat after a barrage and the referee stops it! Bueno seemed quite nervous even while on the attack, but being the bigger, stronger man he was able to get it done.
Francisco Bueno TKO 1 (punches)
Fight 3: Igor Vovchanchyn vs Akira Shoji
A very stiff challenge for Shoji here as he's faced with the heavier Vovchanchyn who has a lot of experience in Kickboxing. Shoji has competed in every Pride event up to this point and continues to entertain thus continues to be invited back. Igor is very patient here, and shows Shoji a lot of respect. One big assault from Igor sees Shoji on his back in the kicking at Igor...he's eventually instructed to get back to his feet as this is stalling the action. Igor starts to land some leg kicks on Akira and throws a few power shots here and there, but continues to be very patient with Shoji who seems outmatched here. Shoji lashes out with a left hook counter at one point that finds the mark, but doesn't hurt Vovchanchyn. More leg kicks from Igor which leads to Shoji throwing some wild haymakers in response which miss. Igor attempts a takedown during the exchange, but it doesn't work. They return to a patient striking contest until the bell rings to end the round. You'd have to give the round to Vovchanchyn as he's the only fighter that did any noteworthy damage in the round.
Shoji is more aggressive in this round throwing more leg kicks at Vovchanchyn. Shoji is using the ring well in this round and staying out of range of Igor's attacks. A repeat of the 1st round as Shoji again winds up on his back throwing kicks at Igor's legs, and is eventually forced to stand. Igor eventually winds up getting a takedown, but Shoji is quickly able to get to his feet. Another situation occurs where Shoji is on his back, and stalling. He's told to stand again. Igor continues to stalk Shoji, but doesn't pull the trigger. A kick lands low by Igor, and there's a long pause as Shoji recovers, the foul was not intentional....the action resumes. More tentative action, and Shoji falls to the ground again. Clearly this is just a survival strategy. Igor eventually gets tired of it and attempts to pound away on Shoji on teh ground, Shoji quickly scrambles to his feet and they tie up in a clinch. A bit more patient action, and that's that.
They go to the scorecards, and Igor Vovchanchyn is awarded the decision. After 2, 10 minute rounds.
Fight 4: Enson Inoue vs Soichi Nishida
Nishida is the much heavier of the two, but Inoue is in much better shape. This fight is a complete mismatch as Inoue overwhelms this guy easy! Nishida goes down immediately from a few punches, and Inoue immediately takes his back and locks in the rear naked choke for the win. The commentators remark "Nishida just didn't even belong in the ring", and he definitely didn't.
Enson Inoue wins by easy 1st Rd. submission via rear naked choke
After this bout there's a brief Jiu Jitsu demonstration from Royler and Rickson Gracie. They just stand in the ring, and show off the practical uses of their Jiu Jitsu techniques in a sparring type setting. They even involve weapons at one point to simulate a street fight setting, and the way it could be used to effectively disarm an attacker. After that Rickson gets on the microphone and basically talks up Jiu Jitsu as the greatest thing ever and how much it's meant to his life.
Fight 5: Kazushi Sakuraba vs Vitor Belfort
They circle each other cautiously to begin. Saku shoots for the takedown, but Vitor stuffs the attempt and begins to throw several punches at Sakuraba, most of which are blocked. Eventually Sakuraba gets his leg and gains the advantageous position on the ground. After a short burst of ground and pound from Sakuraba he stands and begins to kick Vitor's legs. Vitor is kicking up at him from the ground, but it's having little effect. After shouts of "Action" from the referee Saku starts to really get busy with leg kicks and starts to develop noticeable bruising on Vitor's legs by the end of the round. Vitor finally gets back to his feet just as the round ends. Sakuraba controlled he round.
Sakuraba is more aggressive to start the 2nd. He lands a punch and then a spinning back kick on Vitor who then goes down to the mat the way Shoji had earlier in the night against Vovchanchyn. No idea why. Belfort eventually gets back to his feet, but continues to look lethargic. Sakuraba attacks with a front kick to the body. Vitor drops down to the mat again, after a moment he jumps back up and goes for a takedown which leads to a long clinch and little else. Back to the standing position where Vitor falls back down to the mat of his own volition. Saku begins punching the bruises on Vitor's legs. Vitor gets back to his feet, and gets outpunched by Sakuraba on the feet. Vitor falls down again, and Saku attacks with what would go on to be one of his highlight reel moments with the jumping double stomp on the downed Belfort. Twice he attempts this, and lands a little bit with it, but it at least brings an exciting conclusion to the bout.
Kazushi Sakuraba wins a Decision after 2, 10 minute rounds.
Fight 6: Nobuhiko Takada vs Mark Coleman
This fight is widely believed to be fixed, and everything about it seems to indicate that this is indeed the case right down the commentators reactions to the finish. Here's what happened.
Round 1...Coleman controls the action from the outset he goes for a takedown early, Takada holds the ropes to prevent a takedown drawing a yellow card warning from the referee. They get back to the center of the ring and Coleman takes him down again. He spends a long time in control pounding away on Takada mostly to the body. The round ends with Coleman having enjoyed the advantage throughout.
In Round 2 Takada begins with leg kicks, after a tricky exchange where Coleman stands for no apparent reason after getting a takedown and the commentators wonder allowed as to why he would do that, he winds up getting caught in a heel hook leg lock from Takada and submitted. The commentators are absolutely in shocked and say this result defies reality. With my opening comment I think you can infer what you will from that.
Nobuhiko Takada wins by Submission in the 2nd round with a heel hook
Best fight on the card: Frankly this was a pretty unspectacular card. I suppose I'd have to give the honors to the Satoshi Honma vs Francisco Bueno fight, but that one wasn't especially exciting either.
April 29, 1999
Fight 1: Minoru Toyonaga vs Egan Inoue
They go the ground where Inoue quickly is able to get the back of Toyonaga and almost locks a choke in on him, Toyonaga matches to escape though. They briefly wind up back on their feet, but before long they're on the mat again where eventually Inoue lands a few solid punches to Toyonaga. Toyonaga reacts in pain to some of the shots which prompts the referee to jump in and stop the bout...perhaps prematurely. But nevertheless, the result stands.
Egan Inoue TKO 1 (via punches on the ground)
Fight 2: Satoshi Honma vs Francisco Bueno
Honma looks completely different here than in his previous appearance in Pride shorter hair and sporting a beard this time. He's faced with a more dangerous opponent this time than he faced last time so he takes a more cautious approach. Perhaps having seen the beating he gave out last time made Bueno a bit too respectful as well as they're both very cautious in the early going, but finally the bigger man Bueno starts to attack and comes in firing away with punches. Several straight punches land on Honma, and he finally drops him to the mat after a barrage and the referee stops it! Bueno seemed quite nervous even while on the attack, but being the bigger, stronger man he was able to get it done.
Francisco Bueno TKO 1 (punches)
Fight 3: Igor Vovchanchyn vs Akira Shoji
A very stiff challenge for Shoji here as he's faced with the heavier Vovchanchyn who has a lot of experience in Kickboxing. Shoji has competed in every Pride event up to this point and continues to entertain thus continues to be invited back. Igor is very patient here, and shows Shoji a lot of respect. One big assault from Igor sees Shoji on his back in the kicking at Igor...he's eventually instructed to get back to his feet as this is stalling the action. Igor starts to land some leg kicks on Akira and throws a few power shots here and there, but continues to be very patient with Shoji who seems outmatched here. Shoji lashes out with a left hook counter at one point that finds the mark, but doesn't hurt Vovchanchyn. More leg kicks from Igor which leads to Shoji throwing some wild haymakers in response which miss. Igor attempts a takedown during the exchange, but it doesn't work. They return to a patient striking contest until the bell rings to end the round. You'd have to give the round to Vovchanchyn as he's the only fighter that did any noteworthy damage in the round.
Shoji is more aggressive in this round throwing more leg kicks at Vovchanchyn. Shoji is using the ring well in this round and staying out of range of Igor's attacks. A repeat of the 1st round as Shoji again winds up on his back throwing kicks at Igor's legs, and is eventually forced to stand. Igor eventually winds up getting a takedown, but Shoji is quickly able to get to his feet. Another situation occurs where Shoji is on his back, and stalling. He's told to stand again. Igor continues to stalk Shoji, but doesn't pull the trigger. A kick lands low by Igor, and there's a long pause as Shoji recovers, the foul was not intentional....the action resumes. More tentative action, and Shoji falls to the ground again. Clearly this is just a survival strategy. Igor eventually gets tired of it and attempts to pound away on Shoji on teh ground, Shoji quickly scrambles to his feet and they tie up in a clinch. A bit more patient action, and that's that.
They go to the scorecards, and Igor Vovchanchyn is awarded the decision. After 2, 10 minute rounds.
Fight 4: Enson Inoue vs Soichi Nishida
Nishida is the much heavier of the two, but Inoue is in much better shape. This fight is a complete mismatch as Inoue overwhelms this guy easy! Nishida goes down immediately from a few punches, and Inoue immediately takes his back and locks in the rear naked choke for the win. The commentators remark "Nishida just didn't even belong in the ring", and he definitely didn't.
Enson Inoue wins by easy 1st Rd. submission via rear naked choke
After this bout there's a brief Jiu Jitsu demonstration from Royler and Rickson Gracie. They just stand in the ring, and show off the practical uses of their Jiu Jitsu techniques in a sparring type setting. They even involve weapons at one point to simulate a street fight setting, and the way it could be used to effectively disarm an attacker. After that Rickson gets on the microphone and basically talks up Jiu Jitsu as the greatest thing ever and how much it's meant to his life.
Fight 5: Kazushi Sakuraba vs Vitor Belfort
They circle each other cautiously to begin. Saku shoots for the takedown, but Vitor stuffs the attempt and begins to throw several punches at Sakuraba, most of which are blocked. Eventually Sakuraba gets his leg and gains the advantageous position on the ground. After a short burst of ground and pound from Sakuraba he stands and begins to kick Vitor's legs. Vitor is kicking up at him from the ground, but it's having little effect. After shouts of "Action" from the referee Saku starts to really get busy with leg kicks and starts to develop noticeable bruising on Vitor's legs by the end of the round. Vitor finally gets back to his feet just as the round ends. Sakuraba controlled he round.
Sakuraba is more aggressive to start the 2nd. He lands a punch and then a spinning back kick on Vitor who then goes down to the mat the way Shoji had earlier in the night against Vovchanchyn. No idea why. Belfort eventually gets back to his feet, but continues to look lethargic. Sakuraba attacks with a front kick to the body. Vitor drops down to the mat again, after a moment he jumps back up and goes for a takedown which leads to a long clinch and little else. Back to the standing position where Vitor falls back down to the mat of his own volition. Saku begins punching the bruises on Vitor's legs. Vitor gets back to his feet, and gets outpunched by Sakuraba on the feet. Vitor falls down again, and Saku attacks with what would go on to be one of his highlight reel moments with the jumping double stomp on the downed Belfort. Twice he attempts this, and lands a little bit with it, but it at least brings an exciting conclusion to the bout.
Kazushi Sakuraba wins a Decision after 2, 10 minute rounds.
Fight 6: Nobuhiko Takada vs Mark Coleman
This fight is widely believed to be fixed, and everything about it seems to indicate that this is indeed the case right down the commentators reactions to the finish. Here's what happened.
Round 1...Coleman controls the action from the outset he goes for a takedown early, Takada holds the ropes to prevent a takedown drawing a yellow card warning from the referee. They get back to the center of the ring and Coleman takes him down again. He spends a long time in control pounding away on Takada mostly to the body. The round ends with Coleman having enjoyed the advantage throughout.
In Round 2 Takada begins with leg kicks, after a tricky exchange where Coleman stands for no apparent reason after getting a takedown and the commentators wonder allowed as to why he would do that, he winds up getting caught in a heel hook leg lock from Takada and submitted. The commentators are absolutely in shocked and say this result defies reality. With my opening comment I think you can infer what you will from that.
Nobuhiko Takada wins by Submission in the 2nd round with a heel hook
Best fight on the card: Frankly this was a pretty unspectacular card. I suppose I'd have to give the honors to the Satoshi Honma vs Francisco Bueno fight, but that one wasn't especially exciting either.
