Cage Rage 10 Report
Cage Rage 10 Report
Pedro Wrobel Feb 27, 2005
LONDON, Feb. 26 – A few hours have passed since the end of Cage
Rage 10 and I've still got some questions in my head. On paper, it
looks like this card had everything. Of 13 scheduled fights, only
four fights went to the judges—and the majority of these were not
boring lay-and-pray style match-ups. All the other fights finished
in thrilling fashion and yet ... well, it's hard to say.
Perhaps I was a little spoiled by the spectacular behemoth that was Cage Rage 9, but I thought that this offering lacked a little something: an X-factor. Possibly it had something to do with the way that the crowd, depleted by the massive public transport inconveniences and bullied by an unnecessarily petty and authoritarian Wembley staff, rarely really got going. Or perhaps I'm just a misery guts who doesn't appreciate the quality of what is on offer.
Maybe, but I can only say things how I see them.
It's hard to pick an outstanding performer so I'll pick three. At the weigh-in, I remember how impressed I was by the intimidating presence of Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos. I remember thinking how, were I to spill that guy's pint in a pub, I'd probably either run or start crying. Fortunately, Antony Rea did neither of those. In fact, the Frenchman completely dominated the tattooed Brazilian from start to finish in their match-up. And he did so in such an impressive fashion that I couldn’t fail to mention him here. Joining him for my “coveted” picks are “Babalu” and Melvin Manhoef. The latter impressed everyone with his explosively destructive style, and the former just highlighted, once again, the gulf in quality between good fighters and a real star.
I can't say that this was a pretty fight, but it certainly was a statement of intent. Guillet was a game opponent but as soon as these two big men got together, the difference was plain to see. Babalu's opening shot was a low kick that sounded like a cannon. Boom! Guillet visibly winced but stayed on his feet for a moment before Babalu forced the issue, shooting for a takedown and putting Guillet on his posterior, his back against the cage.
A short scramble ensued with Guillet trying to retain some form of defense as the Brazilian forced him onto his back and passed to half guard. From here on in it's hard to convey just quite how much damage Babalu was doing. His left fist came up and down like a barrage of missiles, detonating into the hostile territory of Guillet's head. Mercifully soon, it was all over with Guillet tapping out from the punishment 1:57 of the first round and the referee, Grant Waterman, having to physically pull Babalu from his opponent.
"I thought I was going to have to clock him," Waterman commented. "It was in the eyes—I grabbed him and he turned to me with those mean eyes." A lucky escape for the ref as, during the post-fight interview, Babalu announced his intention to take the title … any title. Hopefully we'll see him back soon.
Curtis Stout’s knockout of Sol "Zero Tolerance" Gilbert was ugly. Really, really ugly. (Or beautiful, depending on your stance on the sort of KO that will be a mainstay on highlight reels for years to come.)
The first round opened up in a fairly hectic manner with both men looking for strikes. Gilbert was throwing the better hands, with Stout showing a wider variety of attacks. As Gilbert advanced, Stout went low, bundling his opponent with a clumsy takedown, forcing him against the side of the cage. For the rest of the round, this was a story of ground-and-pound as the American did well to hold Gilbert down, stacking him as the latter tried to position for an armbar.
The second round was brief. Gilbert, clearly frustrated from the last round, looked for an opportunity to unload. Unfortunately he left himself open as he advanced, and Stout caught him with a beautiful left hand after just 0:20 of the round.
The replay showed just how brutal it was, as Gilbert was literally knocked flying. I don't know how to describe this—Stout just put out his lights and the Englishman, limp and floppy as he fell to the canvas, had his neck bend at an unnatural angle before coming to rest against the fence.
The ambulance crew poured into the cage as Stout celebrated and there was a hush amongst the crowd. It was fortunate that Gilbert did go limp like that because had he been tense when his head hit the fence, I'm sure that this could have been really bad. As it was, Gilbert was up and about in short order, clearly gutted by the loss, but looking none the worse for his ordeal.
Perhaps I was a little spoiled by the spectacular behemoth that was Cage Rage 9, but I thought that this offering lacked a little something: an X-factor. Possibly it had something to do with the way that the crowd, depleted by the massive public transport inconveniences and bullied by an unnecessarily petty and authoritarian Wembley staff, rarely really got going. Or perhaps I'm just a misery guts who doesn't appreciate the quality of what is on offer.
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It's hard to pick an outstanding performer so I'll pick three. At the weigh-in, I remember how impressed I was by the intimidating presence of Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos. I remember thinking how, were I to spill that guy's pint in a pub, I'd probably either run or start crying. Fortunately, Antony Rea did neither of those. In fact, the Frenchman completely dominated the tattooed Brazilian from start to finish in their match-up. And he did so in such an impressive fashion that I couldn’t fail to mention him here. Joining him for my “coveted” picks are “Babalu” and Melvin Manhoef. The latter impressed everyone with his explosively destructive style, and the former just highlighted, once again, the gulf in quality between good fighters and a real star.
As soon as the main event was announced, Babalu's head appeared on
the big screens with a warning for his opponent. "I'm going to kick
your f___ing ass,” he asserted. Perhaps he is a psychic because
that, my friends, is exactly what happened.
I can't say that this was a pretty fight, but it certainly was a statement of intent. Guillet was a game opponent but as soon as these two big men got together, the difference was plain to see. Babalu's opening shot was a low kick that sounded like a cannon. Boom! Guillet visibly winced but stayed on his feet for a moment before Babalu forced the issue, shooting for a takedown and putting Guillet on his posterior, his back against the cage.
A short scramble ensued with Guillet trying to retain some form of defense as the Brazilian forced him onto his back and passed to half guard. From here on in it's hard to convey just quite how much damage Babalu was doing. His left fist came up and down like a barrage of missiles, detonating into the hostile territory of Guillet's head. Mercifully soon, it was all over with Guillet tapping out from the punishment 1:57 of the first round and the referee, Grant Waterman, having to physically pull Babalu from his opponent.
"I thought I was going to have to clock him," Waterman commented. "It was in the eyes—I grabbed him and he turned to me with those mean eyes." A lucky escape for the ref as, during the post-fight interview, Babalu announced his intention to take the title … any title. Hopefully we'll see him back soon.
Curtis Stout’s knockout of Sol "Zero Tolerance" Gilbert was ugly. Really, really ugly. (Or beautiful, depending on your stance on the sort of KO that will be a mainstay on highlight reels for years to come.)
The first round opened up in a fairly hectic manner with both men looking for strikes. Gilbert was throwing the better hands, with Stout showing a wider variety of attacks. As Gilbert advanced, Stout went low, bundling his opponent with a clumsy takedown, forcing him against the side of the cage. For the rest of the round, this was a story of ground-and-pound as the American did well to hold Gilbert down, stacking him as the latter tried to position for an armbar.
The second round was brief. Gilbert, clearly frustrated from the last round, looked for an opportunity to unload. Unfortunately he left himself open as he advanced, and Stout caught him with a beautiful left hand after just 0:20 of the round.
The replay showed just how brutal it was, as Gilbert was literally knocked flying. I don't know how to describe this—Stout just put out his lights and the Englishman, limp and floppy as he fell to the canvas, had his neck bend at an unnatural angle before coming to rest against the fence.
The ambulance crew poured into the cage as Stout celebrated and there was a hush amongst the crowd. It was fortunate that Gilbert did go limp like that because had he been tense when his head hit the fence, I'm sure that this could have been really bad. As it was, Gilbert was up and about in short order, clearly gutted by the loss, but looking none the worse for his ordeal.
