The following is from the Sports Ticker:
Pitbulls, Silverbacks advance to Fight League finals
August 3, 2007
By Anthony Malakian Special to PA Sportsticker
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) — You've probably heard the old saying that goes something like, “It's not the size of the dog in a fight that matters, but rather the size of the fight in the dog.” The New York Pitbulls proved just that in Thursday's International Fight League semifinals.
The second-seeded Pitbulls used the adrenaline brought on by a partisan crowd at the Continental Airlines Arena to pull off a 3-2 victory over the third-seeded Tokyo Sabres.
With the win, New York advanced to face the defending champion Quad City Silverbacks in next month's final.
“Fighting at home is a different ballgame,” New York coach Renzo Gracie said. “I feel like New York and New Jersey is my home. I was in a state of ecstasy with the crowd tonight.”
Dan Miller, who was fighting for the first time in the IFL, got things rolling for the Pitbulls. The Sparta, New Jersey native found himself in a precarious position midway through the first round as Tokyo's Dave Phillips locked in an armbar.
Miller used all his strength, however, and with Phillips engulfing his left arm, he picked his opponent up to chest level and slammed him to the mat. With the hold broken, Miller locked Phillips in a guillotine choke to end the fight by way of submission.
“The armbar was on, but it wasn't that tight,” Miller said. “I guess it was exciting and helped set the tone.”
The win did prove to be a sign of what was to come.
Heavyweight Bryan Vetell followed Miller and held on to win a hard-fought unanimous decision over Wayne Cole. Lightweight Deividas Taurosevicius then pulled off a minor upset, outworking the Sabres' Savant Young to take a unanimous decision.
For Tokyo, light heavyweight Vladimir Matyushenko and welterweight Antonio McKee each won decisions.
The Silverbacks followed a similar path as the Pitbulls in the opening semifinal bout. No. 4 Quad City won its first three fights against the top-seeded Los Angeles Anacondas en route to a 4-1 triumph and a spot in the finals for the second straight year.
Heavyweight Ben Rothwell put the proverbial cherry on the cake for Quad City with the quickest knockout in IFL history a 13-second destruction of Krzysztof Soszynski.
“People said that it looked easy tonight,” Rothwell said. “But someone once said that when you do things right, it looks easy. I have to give all the credit to our coaches.”
Light heavyweight Mike Ciesnolevicz won his second straight split-decision over the Anacondas' Alex Schoenauer to put the Silverbacks ahead. Welterweight Rory Markham scored a first-round stoppage over Chris Clements, and Bart Palaszewski won his lightweight bout over Harris Sarmiento by submission.
Middleweight Benji Radach was the only victor for the injury-riddled Anacondas as he knocked out Gerald Harris.
With its victory, Quad City is now looking forward to winning another championship ring.
“Having established gyms where we all work together shows why (Gracie's) team and my team are in the finals,” Silverbacks coach Pat Miletich said. “In the gym, my IFL guys and (Ultimate Fighting Championship) guys are warring every day. It shows the young guys the level you have to be at.”
The Silverbacks and Pitbulls will square off in the finals on September 20 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
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