Sherdog.com Preview: PRIDE GP Final Conflict Part I
David Abbott vs. Hidehiko Yoshida
Aug 24, 2005
ABBOTT: David Abbott carries a professional record of 9-10
in MMA. Abbott did do some college wrestling at Long Beach State
and is working with a boxing coach. He’s trained boxing for years
in a Westminster, Calif. gym and even cops to studying jiu-jitsu
these days.
We first got a glimpse of things to come at UFC 6 when Abbott knocked out 400-pound John Matua in 20 seconds and proceeded to dance over his convulsing body. He beat Paul Varelans and then lost via choke to Oleg Taktarov in the final.
Tank pounded Steve Jennum
and was battered by Dan Severn
(Pictures) at the Ultimate Ultimate
’95. He returned to UFC 11 and abused boxer Sam Adkins before meeting his match
(at least physically) in the form of “The Pit Bull”, Scott Ferrozzo.
This bout easily could’ve taken place in one of the pods on “Oz.” If Tank had beaten him, he would’ve battled Mark Coleman (Pictures) in the final and it would’ve been Abbott’s best shot at a tournament title as Coleman collected his second belt without having to fight a final match.
UFC 17 brought Tank his second Brazilian opponent in the form of Luta Livre fighter Hugo Duarte. Duarte, like Abbott, was known for finishing opponents quickly. Abbott wasted little time disposing of his opponent whom he’d referred to as “the man on the coffee can.”
In his final Octagon appearance before the comeback, Abbott traveled to Brazil for the UFC’s only Ultimate Brazil event to date to face then rising star Pedro Rizzo (Pictures). He had a few moments but Rizzo controlled the bout and knocked out Tank around the eight-minute mark.
Frank Mir (Pictures) went from a shoulder lock to a toehold and forced Abbott to tap without taking any damage at UFC 41. Kimo Leopoldo (Pictures) sunk the side-choke early at UFC 43.
Then there was the “Cabbage” saga. Abbott and Wesley Correira (Pictures) first battled at UFC 45 with “Cabbage” stopping “Tank” via a cut and inciting a riot in the cage. Abbott got his revenge at Rumble on the Rock 7, dropping the Hawaiian slugger on his own turf in the first round.
YOSHIDA: Judo stylist Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) is an Olympic gold medalist and World Games gold medalist with over 1,000 judo matches to his credit. He trains with Kazuhiro Nakamura (Pictures), Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (Pictures) and Shungo Oyama (Pictures) and has trained with K-1 fighter and trainer Chris Johnson. Hidehiko has a MMA record of 4-3-1 and makes his eighth PRIDE appearance (3-3-1).
Yoshida made his MMA debut against Don Frye (Pictures) in PRIDE 23 and won via armbar. He next fought on the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye New Year’s Eve show and beat K-1 fighter Masaaki Satake in just 50 seconds. He met former RINGS open-weight champion Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures) at the PRIDE Total Elimination 2003 show and defeated him using a gi-choke.
He suffered his first MMA loss to Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) in semifinals of the same 2003 tournament. Yoshida then faced Royce Gracie (Pictures) at the 2004 NYE Shockwave show in a rematch of their controversial grappling bout.
This time it was under full MMA rules and though most felt Royce dominated the contest, it was ruled a draw. At the 2004 Critical Countdown show, Yoshida submitted kickboxer Mark Hunt (Pictures) via armbar in just over five minutes.
He battled 2000 Olympic games Greco-Roman gold medalist Rulon Gardner last New Year’s Eve. The wrestler, with just a few months training with Team Quest, surprised most with his skills and took a unanimous decision over the judo champion.
Then in the opening round of this year’s Middleweight Grand Prix, Yoshida battled Silva for a second time. Yoshida was even more impressive in defeat, earning a split decision.
MY PICK: Yoshida.
It is hard to say whether Abbott will show up in fighting condition. He talks about the importance of showing up in shape and that he can beat anyone when he is in shape but does he mean it? This is Tank we’re talking about. He may have five minutes in his tank (no pun intended) but with a 10-minute round, Abbott will likely gas and be ripe for submission. I feel Yoshida may take some abuse in the opening exchanges but it he will weather the storm and submit Abbott in the first round.
We first got a glimpse of things to come at UFC 6 when Abbott knocked out 400-pound John Matua in 20 seconds and proceeded to dance over his convulsing body. He beat Paul Varelans and then lost via choke to Oleg Taktarov in the final.
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This bout easily could’ve taken place in one of the pods on “Oz.” If Tank had beaten him, he would’ve battled Mark Coleman (Pictures) in the final and it would’ve been Abbott’s best shot at a tournament title as Coleman collected his second belt without having to fight a final match.
Abbott made it to the final of Ultimate Ultimate ’96 (losing to
Don Frye (Pictures)) and a bout with “The Phenom” was
next. The newly unleashed Vitor Belfort (Pictures) was tagging everyone and Tank was
no exception.
UFC 17 brought Tank his second Brazilian opponent in the form of Luta Livre fighter Hugo Duarte. Duarte, like Abbott, was known for finishing opponents quickly. Abbott wasted little time disposing of his opponent whom he’d referred to as “the man on the coffee can.”
In his final Octagon appearance before the comeback, Abbott traveled to Brazil for the UFC’s only Ultimate Brazil event to date to face then rising star Pedro Rizzo (Pictures). He had a few moments but Rizzo controlled the bout and knocked out Tank around the eight-minute mark.
Frank Mir (Pictures) went from a shoulder lock to a toehold and forced Abbott to tap without taking any damage at UFC 41. Kimo Leopoldo (Pictures) sunk the side-choke early at UFC 43.
Then there was the “Cabbage” saga. Abbott and Wesley Correira (Pictures) first battled at UFC 45 with “Cabbage” stopping “Tank” via a cut and inciting a riot in the cage. Abbott got his revenge at Rumble on the Rock 7, dropping the Hawaiian slugger on his own turf in the first round.
YOSHIDA: Judo stylist Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) is an Olympic gold medalist and World Games gold medalist with over 1,000 judo matches to his credit. He trains with Kazuhiro Nakamura (Pictures), Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (Pictures) and Shungo Oyama (Pictures) and has trained with K-1 fighter and trainer Chris Johnson. Hidehiko has a MMA record of 4-3-1 and makes his eighth PRIDE appearance (3-3-1).
Yoshida made his MMA debut against Don Frye (Pictures) in PRIDE 23 and won via armbar. He next fought on the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye New Year’s Eve show and beat K-1 fighter Masaaki Satake in just 50 seconds. He met former RINGS open-weight champion Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures) at the PRIDE Total Elimination 2003 show and defeated him using a gi-choke.
He suffered his first MMA loss to Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) in semifinals of the same 2003 tournament. Yoshida then faced Royce Gracie (Pictures) at the 2004 NYE Shockwave show in a rematch of their controversial grappling bout.
This time it was under full MMA rules and though most felt Royce dominated the contest, it was ruled a draw. At the 2004 Critical Countdown show, Yoshida submitted kickboxer Mark Hunt (Pictures) via armbar in just over five minutes.
He battled 2000 Olympic games Greco-Roman gold medalist Rulon Gardner last New Year’s Eve. The wrestler, with just a few months training with Team Quest, surprised most with his skills and took a unanimous decision over the judo champion.
Then in the opening round of this year’s Middleweight Grand Prix, Yoshida battled Silva for a second time. Yoshida was even more impressive in defeat, earning a split decision.
MY PICK: Yoshida.
It is hard to say whether Abbott will show up in fighting condition. He talks about the importance of showing up in shape and that he can beat anyone when he is in shape but does he mean it? This is Tank we’re talking about. He may have five minutes in his tank (no pun intended) but with a 10-minute round, Abbott will likely gas and be ripe for submission. I feel Yoshida may take some abuse in the opening exchanges but it he will weather the storm and submit Abbott in the first round.
