UFC Fight Night Goes Mile High
Alves vs. Parisyan
Apr 2, 2008
Someone figures to break through the glass ceiling of the UFC
welterweight division when MMA's premier judoka, Karo "The Heat"
Parisyan, takes on Brazilian muay Thai ace Thiago "Pitbull"
Alves.
That glass ceiling has kept both Parisyan and Alves from challenging the likes of Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Matt Hughes (Pictures), but a win here means a chance to break out of the contender role and stake a claim in MMA's most top-heavy division.
That's a reality Alves (13-3) has come to realize after being
regularly relegated to undercard status on several occasions
despite notching a half-dozen wins thus far in the UFC. While he
certainly didn't start his UFC career off on the best foot with
losses to Spencer Fisher
(Pictures) and Jon Fitch (Pictures), he did mix in a thrashing of
Ansar Chalangov
(Pictures) and an impressive comeback
over Derrick Noble
(Pictures) that had Joe Montana
blushing.
Those early flashes of potential gave way to a run of dominance. Alves found his stride with stoppage wins over Tony DeSouza (Pictures) and Kuniyoshi Hironaka (Pictures), which displayed his almost sadistic usage of leg kicks.
Known as much for his brash personality as his Newton-defying arsenal of judo throws, Parisyan (18-4) has made his living on MMA's senior circuit by becoming one of the few to adapt judo's gi reliant techniques to the less than friendly confines of the Octagon.
One of Gokor Chivichyan's prized pupils, he has posted a 9-2 mark in the UFC, but losses to Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Diego Sanchez (Pictures) have left many wondering if he is merely a solid contender who will never reach the deep end of the pool. Having already missed out on a title shot thanks to an ill-timed injury, another loss may keep Parisyan from ever reclaiming that opportunity, while a win could finally net him the high-profile bout he needs to relaunch his championship campaign.
Granted, Parisyan enters this bout a heavy favorite, but he's looked downright blasé in his last few UFC bouts -- a fact that doesn't bode well against the hyperactive Alves.
Unless Parisyan can slip Alves a few Ritalin pills during the pre-fight warm-ups, bank on Alves controlling the distance and peppering "The Heat" with leg kicks aplenty. As his legs continue to swell and buckle under Alves' endless fire, Parisyan will find balancing himself borderline impossible, never mind scoring a takedown.
Winning on the feet against Alves simply isn't an option for Parisyan, who drops a lopsided unanimous decision to "The Pitbull." For those of you wondering, Alves is officially the 2,346th mixed martial artist to use that nickname.
Tim Boetsch (Pictures) vs. Matt Hamill (Pictures)
In a light heavyweight division full of familiar faces, the tilt between Tito Ortiz (Pictures) protégé Matt "The Hammer" Hamill and human caber toss champion Tim "The Barbarian" Boetsch may just elevate the winner into the elite company that runs the division.
For those of you who don't skip work to attend Highland Games tournaments, the caber toss is basically the manliest thing ever. The gist of it involves lifting and flipping a 20-foot tall wooden pole while everyone in the crowd wonders, "How'd he do that?"
Boetsch (7-1) elicited the same reaction in his UFC debut when he took David Heath (Pictures) and treated him no better than he would a caber in taking a dominant TKO win. Flipping Heath like a cheap piece of real estate won "The Barbarian" plenty of new fans, although no one will confuse Boetsch for Conan anytime soon. It's a good thing, too, since all those fur underoos would have PETA up in arms with the quickness.
As with all overnight UFC stars, the question remains as to whether Boetsch is just another flash in the pan (paging David Terrell (Pictures)) or is he capable of carving out a spot for himself in the UFC's own murderer's row?
Few would be better equipped to answer that question for us than Matt Hamill (Pictures) (3-1), who has the sort of frustrating style that will test the patience of any opponent. TUF champion Michael Bisping (Pictures) learned that lesson all too well in what was supposed to be a showcase for Britain's favored son.
After three rounds of Hamill simply bullying the undersized Bisping all over the cage, it appeared as though the only thing left were the tears until a bit of questionable judging awarded a split decision to Bisping.
Undaunted, Hamill enters this bout determined to build on what was by far his most impressive MMA performance. In Boetsch, however, Hamill will not be facing an undersized striker that he can push around with impunity. Hardly a stranger to the wrestling mat himself, Boetsch competed at the D-1 level, which gives him the sort of strong amateur background needed to resist Hamill's attempts to drag this bout to the ground.
Of greater importance, though, is the idea that Hamill may have fallen in love with his striking based on his performance against Bisping. Such a move would end tragically for Hamill, who lacks the versatility and experience to handle Boetsch's varied striking attack.
That will be the tipping point in this bout, as Hamill's overstated wrestling pedigree gets exposed by Boetsch, who goes on to pick apart "The Hammer" en route to a second-round TKO win.
Afterward, expect Boetsch to drive the fans wild with a flawless mathematical proof for the riddle of steel. Arnold Schwarzenegger eat your heart out.
That glass ceiling has kept both Parisyan and Alves from challenging the likes of Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Matt Hughes (Pictures), but a win here means a chance to break out of the contender role and stake a claim in MMA's most top-heavy division.
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Those early flashes of potential gave way to a run of dominance. Alves found his stride with stoppage wins over Tony DeSouza (Pictures) and Kuniyoshi Hironaka (Pictures), which displayed his almost sadistic usage of leg kicks.
As is turns out, the Marquis De Sade has nothing on Alves, who went
on another leg kick spree against Chris Lytle (Pictures) en route to a cut stoppage win.
While Lytle was all too willing to stand toe to toe with Alves,
that is not a luxury the young Brazilian should expect against
Parisyan.
Known as much for his brash personality as his Newton-defying arsenal of judo throws, Parisyan (18-4) has made his living on MMA's senior circuit by becoming one of the few to adapt judo's gi reliant techniques to the less than friendly confines of the Octagon.
One of Gokor Chivichyan's prized pupils, he has posted a 9-2 mark in the UFC, but losses to Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Diego Sanchez (Pictures) have left many wondering if he is merely a solid contender who will never reach the deep end of the pool. Having already missed out on a title shot thanks to an ill-timed injury, another loss may keep Parisyan from ever reclaiming that opportunity, while a win could finally net him the high-profile bout he needs to relaunch his championship campaign.
Granted, Parisyan enters this bout a heavy favorite, but he's looked downright blasé in his last few UFC bouts -- a fact that doesn't bode well against the hyperactive Alves.
Unless Parisyan can slip Alves a few Ritalin pills during the pre-fight warm-ups, bank on Alves controlling the distance and peppering "The Heat" with leg kicks aplenty. As his legs continue to swell and buckle under Alves' endless fire, Parisyan will find balancing himself borderline impossible, never mind scoring a takedown.
Winning on the feet against Alves simply isn't an option for Parisyan, who drops a lopsided unanimous decision to "The Pitbull." For those of you wondering, Alves is officially the 2,346th mixed martial artist to use that nickname.
Tim Boetsch (Pictures) vs. Matt Hamill (Pictures)
In a light heavyweight division full of familiar faces, the tilt between Tito Ortiz (Pictures) protégé Matt "The Hammer" Hamill and human caber toss champion Tim "The Barbarian" Boetsch may just elevate the winner into the elite company that runs the division.
For those of you who don't skip work to attend Highland Games tournaments, the caber toss is basically the manliest thing ever. The gist of it involves lifting and flipping a 20-foot tall wooden pole while everyone in the crowd wonders, "How'd he do that?"
Boetsch (7-1) elicited the same reaction in his UFC debut when he took David Heath (Pictures) and treated him no better than he would a caber in taking a dominant TKO win. Flipping Heath like a cheap piece of real estate won "The Barbarian" plenty of new fans, although no one will confuse Boetsch for Conan anytime soon. It's a good thing, too, since all those fur underoos would have PETA up in arms with the quickness.
As with all overnight UFC stars, the question remains as to whether Boetsch is just another flash in the pan (paging David Terrell (Pictures)) or is he capable of carving out a spot for himself in the UFC's own murderer's row?
Few would be better equipped to answer that question for us than Matt Hamill (Pictures) (3-1), who has the sort of frustrating style that will test the patience of any opponent. TUF champion Michael Bisping (Pictures) learned that lesson all too well in what was supposed to be a showcase for Britain's favored son.
After three rounds of Hamill simply bullying the undersized Bisping all over the cage, it appeared as though the only thing left were the tears until a bit of questionable judging awarded a split decision to Bisping.
Undaunted, Hamill enters this bout determined to build on what was by far his most impressive MMA performance. In Boetsch, however, Hamill will not be facing an undersized striker that he can push around with impunity. Hardly a stranger to the wrestling mat himself, Boetsch competed at the D-1 level, which gives him the sort of strong amateur background needed to resist Hamill's attempts to drag this bout to the ground.
Of greater importance, though, is the idea that Hamill may have fallen in love with his striking based on his performance against Bisping. Such a move would end tragically for Hamill, who lacks the versatility and experience to handle Boetsch's varied striking attack.
That will be the tipping point in this bout, as Hamill's overstated wrestling pedigree gets exposed by Boetsch, who goes on to pick apart "The Hammer" en route to a second-round TKO win.
Afterward, expect Boetsch to drive the fans wild with a flawless mathematical proof for the riddle of steel. Arnold Schwarzenegger eat your heart out.
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