Jackson Wins at the Wire; Rutten Enjoys Return
Jackson Wins at the Wire
Josh Gross Jul 23, 2006
INGLEWOOD, Calif., July 22 — In the weeks leading up to tonight’s
World Fighting Alliance pay-per-view at The Forum, Quinton Jackson (Pictures) repeatedly said that he hated the
idea of having to fight Matt
Lindland (Pictures).
It seems he understood exactly what he was in for.
At the close of three highly competitive rounds, neither Jackson
nor Lindland could know for certain which fighter had done enough
to earn the judges’ favor.
Twice Lindland threatened Jackson with submissions that attacked his neck. Jackson responded with slams that put the Olympic Greco-Roman silver medalist to the floor. Then there was the battle on the feet, which saw “Rampage” wing wild punches when Lindland wasn’t working in the clinch or flinging kicks.
Jackson scored the fight’s first salvo, picking up and dropping Lindland hard to the canvas. But as he would do throughout the 15-minute contest, Lindland stood and battled out of bad spots.
Taking Jackson’s back, Lindland appeared close to ending the bout via rear-naked choke. However the 28-year-old Memphis, Tenn. native refused to concede at his American coming out party. Rather, he gutted through the tunnel vision inducing submission and frenzied the crowd, which filled what looked like just a third of the venerable building (no official attendance numbers were released).
Midway through the second period Jackson slammed Lindland head first into the canvas. While Jackson’s strength began to pay dividends, Lindland never allowed him a moment’s relaxation.
“He’s got really powerful hips,” Lindland said of Jackson. “That’s how he gets those nice lifts and slams.”
By the third, it was clear that both men had come to fight and that an outcome would likely not be known until the judges’ cards were tallied.
As the clock ticked down, Lindland countered a takedown effort with a guillotine choke, a tactic that for the Gresham, Oregon-based fighter had proved extremely effective in recent contests. Once again, Jackson refused to capitulate and he squirmed his way out of trouble.
“I think I could have snapped his head down and stayed on top, or at least stay on the feet and kept him in a position where I was controlling the fight,” Lindland said. “I looked over to the corner and I said ‘I’m gonna go for this. I’m gonna try and win the fight.’ And I went for the choke slam. It was on. He was doing some of my tricks. He was bending my fingers back underneath and twisting my hands up. I think he popped a couple knuckles out.”
The remaining moments played out with Lindland fighting from his back and Jackson offering heavy strikes, which brought forth a trickle of blood from the bridge of his nose.
“I was hoping to knock him out,” a disappointed Jackson said.
Judges Josh Rosenthal and Hector Hernandez saw it two rounds to one for Jackson, while Alejandro Rochin scored it 29-28 for Lindland.
RUTTEN WINS
As Bas Rutten (Pictures) stood in the cage ready to fight competitively for the first time in seven years, he looked skyward and, as he’s done since before winning his first King of Pancrase title, pointed rather intently through the rafters to Jan Van Kalsveek, a close friend who passed away in a car accident before he could watch “El Guapo” win his first belt.
Many moons and titles later, Bas was afforded the opportunity to point to the heavens.
Standing across from him was Ruben Villarreal, a last-minute replacement for Kimo Leopoldo (Pictures) after the Hawaiian tested positive for steroids during a pre-fight examination conducted by the California State Athletic Commission
Rutten was able to score at will.
He opened with crisp right hands that connected to the chin of his game foe, though they appeared to have little influence in the outcome of the fight. Rather, it was leg kicks that led to an early night for Rutten.
After tearing his groin, destroying an ACL and badly dislocating a rib while preparing for tonight’s bout, Rutten said he was reluctant to lift his legs. But with adrenaline coursing through his veins and a partisan crowd cheering him on, Rutten dismissed the injuries and went after the much larger “Warpath.”
“He’s very tough,” Rutten said of Villareal. “It was exactly the game plan. If he didn’t get knocked out in the first two and a half minutes I would go for the legs. If that didn’t work I would try to take him out and go for an armbar. That was the game plan at least.”
Three solid low kicks forced Villareal into a limp, and a fourth, albeit it glancing, dropped “Warpath” to the canvas, where he remained until referee Josh Rosenthal waved off the contest.
Afterwards, Rutten said he’d like to compete again.
More than anything, his return to active fighting was rooted in proving something to himself. Under the watchful eyes of his angel in the sky, Rutten’s performance was wonderful to witness.
It seems he understood exactly what he was in for.
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Twice Lindland threatened Jackson with submissions that attacked his neck. Jackson responded with slams that put the Olympic Greco-Roman silver medalist to the floor. Then there was the battle on the feet, which saw “Rampage” wing wild punches when Lindland wasn’t working in the clinch or flinging kicks.
“You know, he did a good job,” Jackson said. “He surprised me with
some stuff I wasn’t looking for: spinning back-fist, kick to the
head. I was like, damn, what the hell is he doing. He’s supposed to
be trying to hug me.”
Jackson scored the fight’s first salvo, picking up and dropping Lindland hard to the canvas. But as he would do throughout the 15-minute contest, Lindland stood and battled out of bad spots.
Taking Jackson’s back, Lindland appeared close to ending the bout via rear-naked choke. However the 28-year-old Memphis, Tenn. native refused to concede at his American coming out party. Rather, he gutted through the tunnel vision inducing submission and frenzied the crowd, which filled what looked like just a third of the venerable building (no official attendance numbers were released).
Midway through the second period Jackson slammed Lindland head first into the canvas. While Jackson’s strength began to pay dividends, Lindland never allowed him a moment’s relaxation.
“He’s got really powerful hips,” Lindland said of Jackson. “That’s how he gets those nice lifts and slams.”
By the third, it was clear that both men had come to fight and that an outcome would likely not be known until the judges’ cards were tallied.
As the clock ticked down, Lindland countered a takedown effort with a guillotine choke, a tactic that for the Gresham, Oregon-based fighter had proved extremely effective in recent contests. Once again, Jackson refused to capitulate and he squirmed his way out of trouble.
“I think I could have snapped his head down and stayed on top, or at least stay on the feet and kept him in a position where I was controlling the fight,” Lindland said. “I looked over to the corner and I said ‘I’m gonna go for this. I’m gonna try and win the fight.’ And I went for the choke slam. It was on. He was doing some of my tricks. He was bending my fingers back underneath and twisting my hands up. I think he popped a couple knuckles out.”
The remaining moments played out with Lindland fighting from his back and Jackson offering heavy strikes, which brought forth a trickle of blood from the bridge of his nose.
“I was hoping to knock him out,” a disappointed Jackson said.
Judges Josh Rosenthal and Hector Hernandez saw it two rounds to one for Jackson, while Alejandro Rochin scored it 29-28 for Lindland.
RUTTEN WINS
As Bas Rutten (Pictures) stood in the cage ready to fight competitively for the first time in seven years, he looked skyward and, as he’s done since before winning his first King of Pancrase title, pointed rather intently through the rafters to Jan Van Kalsveek, a close friend who passed away in a car accident before he could watch “El Guapo” win his first belt.
Many moons and titles later, Bas was afforded the opportunity to point to the heavens.
Standing across from him was Ruben Villarreal, a last-minute replacement for Kimo Leopoldo (Pictures) after the Hawaiian tested positive for steroids during a pre-fight examination conducted by the California State Athletic Commission
Rutten was able to score at will.
He opened with crisp right hands that connected to the chin of his game foe, though they appeared to have little influence in the outcome of the fight. Rather, it was leg kicks that led to an early night for Rutten.
After tearing his groin, destroying an ACL and badly dislocating a rib while preparing for tonight’s bout, Rutten said he was reluctant to lift his legs. But with adrenaline coursing through his veins and a partisan crowd cheering him on, Rutten dismissed the injuries and went after the much larger “Warpath.”
“He’s very tough,” Rutten said of Villareal. “It was exactly the game plan. If he didn’t get knocked out in the first two and a half minutes I would go for the legs. If that didn’t work I would try to take him out and go for an armbar. That was the game plan at least.”
Three solid low kicks forced Villareal into a limp, and a fourth, albeit it glancing, dropped “Warpath” to the canvas, where he remained until referee Josh Rosenthal waved off the contest.
Afterwards, Rutten said he’d like to compete again.
More than anything, his return to active fighting was rooted in proving something to himself. Under the watchful eyes of his angel in the sky, Rutten’s performance was wonderful to witness.
