IFL Playoffs Set with Pitbulls Victory
LAS VEGAS, June 16 -- The International Fight League capped its
2007 regular season Saturday in Las Vegas with two of the league's
four playoff spots still on the line.
The playoff hopes of the 2006 champion Quad Cities Silverbacks hung in the balance as the New York Pitbulls squared off against the Toronto Dragons.
When Marcio Cruz
(Pictures) was made a member of the
Pitbulls, Renzo Gracie
(Pictures) probably envisioned that
the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and UFC veteran could be a
difference maker.
As it turns out, he was.
Cruz, fighting in the deciding match of the five-bout contest, capitalized in round two when Feijao slipped through the ropes as he sprawled. The UFC veteran scored decisively for the first time and took that momentum into the third round with his team one win away a spot in the IFL playoffs.
Prior to the heavyweight fight, the Toronto-New York clash was a back-and-forth affair.
Middleweight Brent Beauparlant (Pictures) secured an early, albeit short-lived, lead for the Dragons, landing a third-round stoppage versus Fabio Leopoldo (Pictures), who left the ring nursing his right shoulder.
Andre Gusmao (Pictures) evened things up at one apiece when he dominated Wojtek Kaszowski (Pictures), submitting the light heavyweight via choke at 3:53 of the first.
Toronto retaliated on the strength of lightweight Wagnney Fabianio, who planted Erik Owings (Pictures) on the canvas and in a flash transitioned from mount to armbar. The tapout came just 58 seconds after the opening bell.
Welterweight Delson Heleno (Pictures) kept New York alive by finishing veteran Chicago fighter Gideon Ray (Pictures).
Following a competitive first round during which Heleno took control on the floor, the Brazilian continued his assault. Working from half-guard, Heleno quickly passed from side-control to mount. A scramble ensued and Heleno entangled Ray's right arm in a keylock, which he torqued until the limb popped at the elbow, setting the table for Cruz's fight versus Feijao.
All that led to the final bout between the teams. And as action moved in to the third and final period between the Brazilian heavyweights Cruz finally began to assert control, staying active with ground-and-pound despite the Toronto corner calling for Yamasaki to stand the fighters.
With the Las Vegas Hilton crowd of 3,200 vocalizing its displeasure due to a lack of action, Feijao landed an illegal kick to Cruz's head. Yamasaki immediately deducted a point, but that didn't prevent Feijao from doing the same thing when the fight restarted.
Incredulous, Yamasaki stood over the fighters before disqualifying Custodio and sealing New York's playoff spot. The Pitbulls, a perfect 3-0 in the regular season, will face the similarly undefeated Tokyo Sabres in the opening round of the IFL playoffs, Aug. 2 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The league championship on September 20 has been moved from Los Angeles to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., the IFL announced Saturday.
Due to head-to-head records, the Pitbulls have earned the No. 2 seed behind the Los Angeles Anacondas. New York will face the Tokyo Sabres while the Anacondas take on 2006 IFL champion Quad Cities.
The loss knocked Toronto out of playoff contention.
Lion pride helps Nevada top Tucson
While both Nevada and Tucson were eliminated from any shot at the playoffs, the teams' coaches -- Ken Shamrock (Pictures) and Don Frye (Pictures) -- would be on display for the world to see.
Shamrock, through the proxy of his Nevada Lions, won the bout's first four contests before Mike Whitehead (Pictures) prevented a sweep by stopping veteran Vernon White.
While "Tiger" White fell short, his Lions teammates Roy Nelson (Pictures), John Gunderson (Pictures), Pat Healy (Pictures) and Dan Molina (Pictures) all made the evening enjoyable for Shamrock.
Molina opened the contest by taking a submission victory via heelhook at 1:32 of the opening period.
Pat Healy (Pictures) took a tight split decision over Mike Guymon (Pictures), who broke both his hands during the three-round tilt and was forced to the hospital afterwards. Judge Abe Belardo was the only official in Guymon's corner, while Gene Le Bell and Patricia Morse Jarman saw it 29-28 for Healy.
In an exciting lightweight clash, John Gunderson (Pictures) outlasted Gabe Casillas to win by rear-naked choke submission at 2:58 of the second period.
Judges Jeff Collins, Tony Weeks and Le Bell felt Nelson dominated his bout against Shane Ott (Pictures), enough so that each man awarded the contest 30-27.
Only Whitehead brought a smile to Tucson coach Don Frye (Pictures), as the light heavyweight dominated Vernon White.
In alternate action, Nevada Lions welterweight Rick Reeves (Pictures) went three hard-fought rounds with Tucson Scorpions Chris Kennedy (Pictures) to earn a unanimous 29-28 decision win.
The playoff hopes of the 2006 champion Quad Cities Silverbacks hung in the balance as the New York Pitbulls squared off against the Toronto Dragons.
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As it turns out, he was.
Stuffed on takedown attempts and beaten to the punch, the
heavyweight endured a difficult opening round against Rafael Feijao, who was
clearly ahead before referee Mario Yamasaki penalized him a point
for grabbing the ropes.
Cruz, fighting in the deciding match of the five-bout contest, capitalized in round two when Feijao slipped through the ropes as he sprawled. The UFC veteran scored decisively for the first time and took that momentum into the third round with his team one win away a spot in the IFL playoffs.
Prior to the heavyweight fight, the Toronto-New York clash was a back-and-forth affair.
Middleweight Brent Beauparlant (Pictures) secured an early, albeit short-lived, lead for the Dragons, landing a third-round stoppage versus Fabio Leopoldo (Pictures), who left the ring nursing his right shoulder.
Andre Gusmao (Pictures) evened things up at one apiece when he dominated Wojtek Kaszowski (Pictures), submitting the light heavyweight via choke at 3:53 of the first.
Toronto retaliated on the strength of lightweight Wagnney Fabianio, who planted Erik Owings (Pictures) on the canvas and in a flash transitioned from mount to armbar. The tapout came just 58 seconds after the opening bell.
Welterweight Delson Heleno (Pictures) kept New York alive by finishing veteran Chicago fighter Gideon Ray (Pictures).
Following a competitive first round during which Heleno took control on the floor, the Brazilian continued his assault. Working from half-guard, Heleno quickly passed from side-control to mount. A scramble ensued and Heleno entangled Ray's right arm in a keylock, which he torqued until the limb popped at the elbow, setting the table for Cruz's fight versus Feijao.
All that led to the final bout between the teams. And as action moved in to the third and final period between the Brazilian heavyweights Cruz finally began to assert control, staying active with ground-and-pound despite the Toronto corner calling for Yamasaki to stand the fighters.
With the Las Vegas Hilton crowd of 3,200 vocalizing its displeasure due to a lack of action, Feijao landed an illegal kick to Cruz's head. Yamasaki immediately deducted a point, but that didn't prevent Feijao from doing the same thing when the fight restarted.
Incredulous, Yamasaki stood over the fighters before disqualifying Custodio and sealing New York's playoff spot. The Pitbulls, a perfect 3-0 in the regular season, will face the similarly undefeated Tokyo Sabres in the opening round of the IFL playoffs, Aug. 2 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The league championship on September 20 has been moved from Los Angeles to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., the IFL announced Saturday.
Due to head-to-head records, the Pitbulls have earned the No. 2 seed behind the Los Angeles Anacondas. New York will face the Tokyo Sabres while the Anacondas take on 2006 IFL champion Quad Cities.
The loss knocked Toronto out of playoff contention.
Lion pride helps Nevada top Tucson
While both Nevada and Tucson were eliminated from any shot at the playoffs, the teams' coaches -- Ken Shamrock (Pictures) and Don Frye (Pictures) -- would be on display for the world to see.
Shamrock, through the proxy of his Nevada Lions, won the bout's first four contests before Mike Whitehead (Pictures) prevented a sweep by stopping veteran Vernon White.
While "Tiger" White fell short, his Lions teammates Roy Nelson (Pictures), John Gunderson (Pictures), Pat Healy (Pictures) and Dan Molina (Pictures) all made the evening enjoyable for Shamrock.
Molina opened the contest by taking a submission victory via heelhook at 1:32 of the opening period.
Pat Healy (Pictures) took a tight split decision over Mike Guymon (Pictures), who broke both his hands during the three-round tilt and was forced to the hospital afterwards. Judge Abe Belardo was the only official in Guymon's corner, while Gene Le Bell and Patricia Morse Jarman saw it 29-28 for Healy.
In an exciting lightweight clash, John Gunderson (Pictures) outlasted Gabe Casillas to win by rear-naked choke submission at 2:58 of the second period.
Judges Jeff Collins, Tony Weeks and Le Bell felt Nelson dominated his bout against Shane Ott (Pictures), enough so that each man awarded the contest 30-27.
Only Whitehead brought a smile to Tucson coach Don Frye (Pictures), as the light heavyweight dominated Vernon White.
In alternate action, Nevada Lions welterweight Rick Reeves (Pictures) went three hard-fought rounds with Tucson Scorpions Chris Kennedy (Pictures) to earn a unanimous 29-28 decision win.
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