Royce Gracie avenged his loss to Kazushi Sakuraba in a battle of MMA legends while professional wrestler Brock Lesnar won his MMA debut on Saturday’s “Dynamite USA” card at the L.A. Coliseum. Meanwhile, former NFL wide receiver Johnnie Morton suffered a brutal knockout defeat.
Gracie outworked his old nemesis to capture a three-round unanimous decision in a tactical bout that at times resembled their previous May 2000 encounter. Both men were able to neutralize the other’s grappling technique, but the Brazilian attempted more takedowns and was the busier striker. Official scores were 30-27 and 29-28 (twice).
Lesnar made quick work of Min Soo Kim (2-6), making the Korean tap out from strikes at the 1:09 mark of round one. Lesnar got a quick takedown and proceeded to smother his opponent while landing short punches to the head from Kim’s half guard. The former WWE star soon moved into mount position and landed a pair of short left hands, forcing
Kim to surrender. After the bout Lesnar, a 2000 NCAA wrestling champion, gave credit
to amateur wrestling for helping him make the transition to MMA.
“All my preparation has been due to my amateur wrestling background,” he said. “I want to thank everyone for coming. I was disappointed I couldn’t fight the bigheaded guy (original opponent Hong-man Choi), maybe in the near future. I want to keep fighting.”
Morton was demolished by the unheralded Bernard Ackah in round one of their heavyweight bout. After the two traded strikes early, Morton attempted a takedown but couldn’t keep the Ivory Coast native down on the mat. The two started to trade again, with Ackah (2-0) connecting with a wicked right over the top as Morton stepped in with a punch.
The Ackah right knocked the former NFL star flat on his back unconscious, and it was a nervous moment as doctors looked over the disoriented Morton while he remained on the canvas. Fortunately, Morton soon regained his wits and was talking to doctors and moving his hands before being carried from the ring on a stretcher. Reportedly, he was transported to a local hospital.
In other action, Korean judoka Dong Sik Yoon (1-4) withstood an opening round assault from Melvin Manhoef (16-4-1) before submitting the Dutch fighter with an arm bar in the second round of their light heavyweight bout. “Mighty Mo” Siliga won by referee stoppage over Ruben Villareal in round one of a super heavyweight bout. Hideo Tokoro submitted Brad Pickett with an arm bar in the first round of a lightweight bout that featured some entertaining grappling action.
UNDERCARD
There were four other bouts not featured on the Showtime PPV telecast. Consensus top ten welterweight Jake Shields (18-4-1) quickly disposed of Ido Pariente (6-3), defeating the Israeli by rear naked choke at 2:06 of the first round.
Jonathan Wiezorek (11-1) upset the touted Tim “Big Perm” Persey (10-2 with 1 no contest), winning by referee stoppage in round 2 of their heavyweight bout. Wiezorek was able to neutralize the hard-hitting Persey’s power in the first round by staying in the clinch for much of the stanza before scoring a late takedown. In the second, he took Persey down early and got the big man’s back, sinking his hooks in and flattening Persey out before proceeding to hammer the side of Persey’s head. With Persey unable to intelligently defend himself, referee Dean stopped the bout at the 50-second mark.
2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Katsuhiko Nagata’s takedowns and ground control earned him a three round split decision victory over Isaiah Hill in a lightweight contest. Nagata, who earned his medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, ups his record to 3-1 while Hill evens out at 4-4.
Brazil’s J.Z. Calvan quickly disposed of Strikeforce veteran Nam Phan, winning by TKO at the 26 second mark of the first round. Calvan took Phan down with a leg trip from the clinch and got back up before unleashing some bombs on a prone Phan. Referee Mario Yamasaki quickly intervened. Calvan, who was docked 20 percent of his purse for weighing in 3 pounds over the 155 pound limit, improves to 12-1-1. Phan falls to 12-4.
The Shields-Pariente and Wiezorek-Persey bouts were televised by Showtime and promoted by EliteXC.
F.E.G., the Japan-based company that promoted the main card, kept the fans entertained during the show with performances that included drummers, a trumpeter, and Brazilian themed dancers. DJ Hapa from the KTLA Channel 5 morning show hosted the event.
Newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was in attendance, championship belt strapped around his waist. Other MMA fighters in attendance included ExC fighters Gina Carano and Charles “Crazy Horse” Bennett, and veterans Tank Abbott, Ricco Rodriguez, and Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge.
