IFL World Team Championships
From Moline, IL
September 23, 2006
By J.C. Weyand of MMAFury & MMANews.com
The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois
The MARK of the Quad Cities was jam-packed with nearly 7,000 fans anxiously anticipating the return of hometown hero Pat Miletich. The event was a great success for the IFL and also featured the reunion of commentating due Bas Rutten and Stephen Quadros. MMA News’ own J.C. Weyand was on site to bring you exclusive pictures and results.
SILVERBACKS VS PITBULLS
Bart Palaszewski (Silverbacks) vs. Marcio Feitosa (Pitbulls)
This started out without much action, but really took off in Round 2. Palaszewski landed several good shoots on his feet and even scored a takedown. Despite Renzo Gracie's complaint about unfair judging, Palaszewski was the clear winner of this fight.
WINNER: Bart Palaszewski by SPLIT DECISION
Rory Markham (Silverbacks) vs. Luke Stewart (Pitbulls)
Steward started out the fight with some great BJJ. He managed to get a heel hook on Markham, but Markham managed to roll out. After that, it was all Markham. He landed a big punch and followed up with some brutal GNP to get the win.
WINNER: Rory Markham by TKO (punches) in RD 1
Ryan McGivern (Silverbacks) vs. Fabio Leopoldo (Pitbulls)
This was the best fight of the night, in my opinion. The fight started off with some great back-and-forth action. Leopoldo looked amazing on the ground attempting submission after submission. He almost had a guillotine in the first round, but McGivern got out and started pounding away. The second round was much of the same with McGivern landing shots and getting the upper hand. Then, right when I thought Leopoldo was about he rolled into a beautiful knee bar and got the win. If you wanted to show someone some great BJJ in MMA, this is certainly the fight.
WINNER: Fabio Leopoldo by SUB via Knee Bar in RD 2
Mike Ciesnolevicz (Silverbacks) vs. Andre Gusmao (Pitbulls)
I've seen Mike fight before and this guy has unlimited potential. However, tonight was not his night. Gusmao was dominant right from the get go. He overpowered Ciesnolevicz and pounded his way to a victory.
WINNER: Andre Gusmao by TKO (punches) in RD 1
Ben Rothwell (Silverbacks) vs. Bryan Vitell (Pitbulls)
Wow. This fight is what the IFL envisioned at its inception. With the score tied up 2-2 it was all left to this fight to decide a winner. The Quad city crowd was electric in supporting their hometown Silverbacks and Ben Rothwell did not dissapoint. The fight started off with some back and forth stand-up action and ended with a bang. Three minutes into the round Rothwell blasted Vitell with a huge overhand punches knocking him out cold. The crowd errupted as the Silverbacks clinched the win.
WINNER: Ben Rothwell by KO (punches) in RD 1
RAZORCLAWS VS DRAGONS
Josh Odom (Razorclaws) vs. Rob Di Censo
Josh Odom looked great on his feet – world class kick boxing. His stand-up actually reminded me a of Mark Hominick. Odom basically outstuck Di Censo for 3 rounds en route to the victory.
WINNER: Josh Odom by KO(punches) in RD 3
Ray Steinbeiss (Razorclaws) vs. Claude Patrick (Dragons)
Claude Patrick looked dominant on his feet and on the ground. I expect big things from this guy. He started the fight with some great knees from the clinch, then landed a takedown. He then finished the fight with a guillotine – great striking, wrestling, and submissions.
WINNER: Claude Patrick by SUB via Guillotine Choke in RD 1
Ray Steinbeiss (Razorclaws) vs. Joe Doerksen (Dragons)
The world class fighter Joe Doerksen made his IFL debut tonight. However, Ray Steinbeiss made sure it wasn't an easy night for Doerksen. Steinbess actually came out and had Doerksen rocked. In fact Steinbess was so dominant in Round 1, I thought the ref might have to stop the fight. Doerksen, though, came out in Round 2 and managed to gain the upper hand. He took down Steinbeiss and mounted him. Steinbeiss rolled and Doerksen got his back for the RNC finish – great fight.
WINNER: Joe Doerksen by SUB via Rear Naked Choke in RD 2
Raphael Davis (Razorclaws) vs. Brent Beauparlant (Dragons)
This was a big fight for the Razorclaws, because if Davis lost so did they. Unfortunately Davis just didn't have the gas to go all 3 rounds. He dominated Beauparlant on their feet for the first round, but then Beauparlant came back to start winning the stand-up battle himself and The Dragons
WINNER: Brent Beau by SUB via Arm Bar in RD 1
Travis Wiuff (Razorclaws) vs. Wojtek Kaszowski (Dragons)
This fight was about as uneventfull as its repricussions. Wiuff outwrestled Kaszowski for 3 rounds and pounded his way to a decision. However, it was too late for the Razorclaws as the Dragons win 3-2.
WINNER: Travis Wiuff by UNANIMOUS DECISION
Pat Miletich vs. Renzo Gracie
The crowd was incredibly pumped for this fight. When Pat Miletich came out every single person in the arena was literally on their feet. The fight started out with a feeling out proccess and Miletich throwing a couple punches. Gracie then went for the takedown, but was blocked by Miletich with relative easy. In a shocking move, Gracie pulled guard and sinched a standing guillotine. Miletich seemed fine, but then could not get out of it and was forced to tap three minutes into the first round. The crowd was not only shocked, but outraged. As Renzo's team stormed the ring, hundreds of Quad City fans stormed out of the arena. Then, members of Gracie's team proceeded to taunt the crowd and Gracie himself got on the microphone and complained about unfair judging. He finished his interview by saying that none of the bogus judging mattered, because “Like the saying goes: I came, I saw, I conquered.” I honestly thought there was a chance of riot. To quote my colleage Tim Kaysar, “This is just like taking a knife and stabbing it in the heart of the city.”
Despite the hometown dissapointment, the IFL put on a tremendous show in Moline. Nearly all the fights were exciting and the hometown feel of team combat was electric. They also announced in the show that Mark Kerr would be taking on Mike Whitehead in a superfight on the next IFL show in Portland, OR and that Don Frye and Marco Ruas would be coaching teams in the 2007 IFL schedule. I want to thank Jerry and all the rest at the IFL for really making us feel at home and putting on a great show. As the IFL World Team Tournament continues, I forsee it getting even better.
Full Results:
Superfight
Renzo Gracie (180 lbs) def. Pat Miletich (183.5 lbs) via guillotine choke at 3:37 of the first round.
Silverbacks def. Pitbulls 3-2
155 lbs: Bart Palaszewski (Silverbacks) def. Marcio Feitosa (Pitbulls) via split decision after 3 rounds.
170 lbs: Rory Markham (Silverbacks) def. Luke Stewart (Pitbulls) via TKO at 3:58 of the first round.
185 lbs: Fabio Leopoldo (Pitbulls) def. Ryan McGivern (Silverbacks) via knee bar at 2:49 of the second round.
205 lbs: Andre Gusmao (Pitbulls) def. Mike Ciesnolevicz (Silverbacks) via TKO at 1:01 of the second round.
265 lbs: Ben Rothwell (Silverbacks) def. Bryan Vitell (Pitbulls) via KO at 3:17 of the first round.
Dragons def. Razorclaws 3-2
155 lbs: Josh Odom (Razorclaws) def. Rob Di Censo (Dragons) via TKO at 1:47 of the third round.
170 lbs: Claude Patrick (Dragons) def. Ray Steinbeiss (Razorclaws) via guillotine choke at 3:12 of round 1.
185 lbs: Joe Doerksen (Dragons) def. Brian Foster (Razorclaws) via rear naked choke at 3:40 of the second round.
205 lbs: Brent Beauparlant (Dragons) def. Raphael Davis (Razorclaws) via unanimous decision after 3 rounds.
265 lbs: Travis Wiuff (Razorclaws) def. Wojtek Kaszowski (Dragons) via unanimous decision after 3 rounds.
Alternate Bouts
Delson Heleno (Pitbulls) def. Ben Uker (Silverbacks) via TKO at 3:14 of the first round.
Dennis Hallman (Dragons) def. Jeff Quinlan (Razorclaws) via majority decision after three rounds.
Bonus Awards for the Night
1st Bracket: Silverbacks vs. Pitbulls
Knockout of the Night: Ben Rothwell, Silverbacks
Submission of the Night: Fabio Leopoldo, Pitbulls
Most Exciting Fight: Bart Palaszewski, Silverbacks, vs. Marcio Feitosa, Pitbulls
2nd Bracket: Dragons vs. Razorclaws
Knockout of the Night: Josh Odom, Razorclaws
Submission of the Night: Claude Patrick, Dragons
Most Exciting Fight: Joe Doerksen, Dragons, vs. Brian Foster, Razorclaws
“Heart of a Lion”: Brent Beauparlant, Dragons
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