Knuckle Down: UFC 74 in the Books
Mike Fridley Aug 28, 2007
Apparently being a middle-aged fighter handicapped by a 25-pound
disadvantage wasn't enough of a test for Randy Couture (Pictures). No, confirmed the UFC
heavyweight champion, he had to fight his way past Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) with a broken left arm as well on
Saturday.
In the aftermath of his third-round stoppage, The Fight Network reported Monday that "The Natural" endured a broken forearm after blocking the same Gonzaga high hick that knocked Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) out cold in April.
Couture won't be forced into a cast, and instead will wear a splint
for six weeks.
Throughout his two-plus-round fight, Couture battered Napao, at one point forcing a break of Gonzaga's nose after picking up and slamming the challenger to the canvas.
Couture did not learn until Sunday that a bone was broken.
Mind over matter
After a dominating performance against Josh Koscheck (Pictures) Saturday night in Las Vegas at UFC 74, Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) reflected on the win and shared some insight into his pre-fight mindset with TJ De Santis and Josh Gross Monday afternoon, as heard on the Sherdog Radio Network.
"My game plan was to put him on his back," stated St. Pierre, who took the bout on the strength of his takedowns and control.
"I knew that he was not going to submit me, but my concern was if I would able to hold him, because it's very hard to hold a good wrestler on his back," said the former welterweight ace.
With his impressive showing over Koscheck, St. Pierre has no doubt that the victory put him in contention for a chance to duel the winner of Matt Hughes (Pictures) versus 170-pound UFC king Matt Serra (Pictures).
"I'm glad to be back for a title shot," he said. "You're going to see me be champion very soon."
Though many consider "Rush" to be as skilled as any mixed martial artist on the planet, St. Pierre gave credit to an overlooked element to his recent triumph.
"I was very well prepared," declared the Canadian, who spent time with sports psychologist Brian Cain following his shocking loss to Serra at UFC 69.
"I thought people who were working with a sports psychologist is because they were crazy or they were weak," he said. "That's what I thought before. But I was wrong.
"This guy really helped me. The mental part of the game. He changed the whole thing for me. He made me see things in a different way."
St. Pierre continued: "Athletes spend so much time training their body, training their skill. The most important part is their mind, and some people forget about it.
"If your mind is not there -- because of issues -- your body will not follow. Because your mind dictates your body."
Yahya takes aim at Beebe
Abu Dhabi champion Rani Yahya (Pictures) took time out of his busy training schedule to speak with Sherdog.com's Greg Savage, just two weeks out from his title clash with World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight ace Chase Beebe (Pictures) on Sept. 5's Zuffa-promoted WEC card.
Yahya made quick work of featherweight Mark Hominick (Pictures) at WEC 28 back in June, so it's no surprise that the Rickson Gracie-mentored fighter lacks no confidence in dropping weight to face Beebe with a belt on the line.
"I don't believe too much in underdog and this kind of thing," said the Brazilian challenger. "Anything can happen in a fight."
"What I believe in is hard work and training," he continued. "That's what I've been doing my whole life."
Though he has shown little but pure BJJ in his brief 13-bout professional mixed martial arts career, Yahya intends to offer a more diverse game against the decorated wrestler from Purdue University.
"I will be comfortable anywhere the fight goes," he declared. "If my back's on the ground, on top or standing up, or wrestling, I will be happy to fight."
Spike's Season six contestants announced
UFC 170-pound champion Matt Serra (Pictures) and former welterweight king Matt Hughes (Pictures) will lead Spike TV's popular mixed martial arts reality show, which returns on Sept. 19 with a new cast of welterweights vying for a shot to be crowned the next "Ultimate Fighter."
Notable contestants include former King of the Cage and Gladiator Challenge lightweight champion Mac Danzig (Pictures), who took on a much heavier Hayato Sakurai (Pictures) in a losing effort at PRIDE 33; Hammer House Muay Thai coach Dorian Price (Pictures); and Sacramento native Billy Miles (Pictures), who for years has been a training partner for Capital City Fighting Alliance talent like James Irvin (Pictures) and Urijah Faber (Pictures).
Rounding out the roster is: Matt Arroyo, Daniel Barrera, Blake Bowman, Paul Georgieff, Richie Hightower (Pictures), John Kolosci (Pictures), Troy Mandaloniz (Pictures), Billy Miles (Pictures), Roman Mitichyan, Jared Rollins (Pictures), Ben Saunders, Joe Scarola, George Sotiropoulos (Pictures), and Tom Speer (Pictures).
Post-UFC 74 mailbag
What's next for Gonzaga? - Ryan, Springfield, Mass.
It will be several months before we hear anything, as the Brazilian was medically suspended for 60 days by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the damage he sustained to his nose against "The Natural." However, I wouldn't mind seeing UFC matchmaker Joe Silva pit Gonzaga against PRIDE vet Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) or former heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) on the promotion's Dec. 29 card. Another possibility would be the loser of Brandon Vera (Pictures)-Tim Sylvia (Pictures), who square off on Oct. 20 in Cincinnati.
I think the same way that Couture got an immediate rematch against Vitor Belfort (Pictures) in 2004 (due to an accidental cut in his eye), Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) should be given an immediate rematch against the champion.
The broken nose completely changed the path that the fight was going.
People were betting on whether or not Gonzaga would get tired in the championship rounds, not the opening period like we saw Saturday night.
Anyone who watches that fight again will see that the fight was very even until the broken nose. After that it was lopsided.
In my opinion, Gonzaga should have claimed he was in no condition to fight after the head butt. But as you saw the guy was a warrior and did not stop until the end. - Guilherme, Los Angeles, Calf.
While I do agree that the injury sustained by Gonzaga played a major factor in the outcome of the match, it's hard to compare a 49 second bout stopped by a grazing punch to a one-sided contest that extended into the third frame. Couture was clearly superior that night, and I don't see a rematch unfolding much differently.
I just re-watched the Randy and Gabriel fight this morning and contrary to what Randy said in the interview I think it was Gonzaga's own knee that broke his nose.
If you watch the slam in slow motion, Randy's head was not near Gonzaga's nose on the take down or slam. His head was on Gonzaga's chest. Gonzaga's own knee came back and down and hit him in the face. I know Randy said he thought they head butted and he heard his nose crunch, but in reality he did hear Gonzaga's nose crunch, but it was Gonzaga's knee that did it.
Please get this information out there after a little research so the truth will be known. - Daryle, Panama City, Florida
Sorry, I'm not buying it. While Gonzaga's knee did come down and slap his own face on impact, the real carnage occurred a split second before when Couture's full body weight came crashing down directly on the Brazilian's beak.
Upon further review of the footage, I suggest you forward your findings to Tim Millis, Executive Director of the National Football League Referees Association. I'm sure he could find use for another set of poor eyes on his staff.
Drop Mike Fridley a line via [email protected].
In the aftermath of his third-round stoppage, The Fight Network reported Monday that "The Natural" endured a broken forearm after blocking the same Gonzaga high hick that knocked Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) out cold in April.
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Throughout his two-plus-round fight, Couture battered Napao, at one point forcing a break of Gonzaga's nose after picking up and slamming the challenger to the canvas.
"The Natural" looked at home in the clinch, connecting with solid
punches and elbows on the inside. And in the third, after absorbing
the bone-breaking kick, Couture put Gonzaga on the canvas where he
wailed away until referee Herb
Dean (Pictures) jumped in to stop the fight.
Couture did not learn until Sunday that a bone was broken.
Mind over matter
After a dominating performance against Josh Koscheck (Pictures) Saturday night in Las Vegas at UFC 74, Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) reflected on the win and shared some insight into his pre-fight mindset with TJ De Santis and Josh Gross Monday afternoon, as heard on the Sherdog Radio Network.
"My game plan was to put him on his back," stated St. Pierre, who took the bout on the strength of his takedowns and control.
"I knew that he was not going to submit me, but my concern was if I would able to hold him, because it's very hard to hold a good wrestler on his back," said the former welterweight ace.
With his impressive showing over Koscheck, St. Pierre has no doubt that the victory put him in contention for a chance to duel the winner of Matt Hughes (Pictures) versus 170-pound UFC king Matt Serra (Pictures).
"I'm glad to be back for a title shot," he said. "You're going to see me be champion very soon."
Though many consider "Rush" to be as skilled as any mixed martial artist on the planet, St. Pierre gave credit to an overlooked element to his recent triumph.
"I was very well prepared," declared the Canadian, who spent time with sports psychologist Brian Cain following his shocking loss to Serra at UFC 69.
"I thought people who were working with a sports psychologist is because they were crazy or they were weak," he said. "That's what I thought before. But I was wrong.
"This guy really helped me. The mental part of the game. He changed the whole thing for me. He made me see things in a different way."
St. Pierre continued: "Athletes spend so much time training their body, training their skill. The most important part is their mind, and some people forget about it.
"If your mind is not there -- because of issues -- your body will not follow. Because your mind dictates your body."
Yahya takes aim at Beebe
Abu Dhabi champion Rani Yahya (Pictures) took time out of his busy training schedule to speak with Sherdog.com's Greg Savage, just two weeks out from his title clash with World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight ace Chase Beebe (Pictures) on Sept. 5's Zuffa-promoted WEC card.
Yahya made quick work of featherweight Mark Hominick (Pictures) at WEC 28 back in June, so it's no surprise that the Rickson Gracie-mentored fighter lacks no confidence in dropping weight to face Beebe with a belt on the line.
"I don't believe too much in underdog and this kind of thing," said the Brazilian challenger. "Anything can happen in a fight."
"What I believe in is hard work and training," he continued. "That's what I've been doing my whole life."
Though he has shown little but pure BJJ in his brief 13-bout professional mixed martial arts career, Yahya intends to offer a more diverse game against the decorated wrestler from Purdue University.
"I will be comfortable anywhere the fight goes," he declared. "If my back's on the ground, on top or standing up, or wrestling, I will be happy to fight."
Spike's Season six contestants announced
UFC 170-pound champion Matt Serra (Pictures) and former welterweight king Matt Hughes (Pictures) will lead Spike TV's popular mixed martial arts reality show, which returns on Sept. 19 with a new cast of welterweights vying for a shot to be crowned the next "Ultimate Fighter."
Notable contestants include former King of the Cage and Gladiator Challenge lightweight champion Mac Danzig (Pictures), who took on a much heavier Hayato Sakurai (Pictures) in a losing effort at PRIDE 33; Hammer House Muay Thai coach Dorian Price (Pictures); and Sacramento native Billy Miles (Pictures), who for years has been a training partner for Capital City Fighting Alliance talent like James Irvin (Pictures) and Urijah Faber (Pictures).
Rounding out the roster is: Matt Arroyo, Daniel Barrera, Blake Bowman, Paul Georgieff, Richie Hightower (Pictures), John Kolosci (Pictures), Troy Mandaloniz (Pictures), Billy Miles (Pictures), Roman Mitichyan, Jared Rollins (Pictures), Ben Saunders, Joe Scarola, George Sotiropoulos (Pictures), and Tom Speer (Pictures).
Post-UFC 74 mailbag
What's next for Gonzaga? - Ryan, Springfield, Mass.
It will be several months before we hear anything, as the Brazilian was medically suspended for 60 days by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the damage he sustained to his nose against "The Natural." However, I wouldn't mind seeing UFC matchmaker Joe Silva pit Gonzaga against PRIDE vet Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) or former heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) on the promotion's Dec. 29 card. Another possibility would be the loser of Brandon Vera (Pictures)-Tim Sylvia (Pictures), who square off on Oct. 20 in Cincinnati.
I think the same way that Couture got an immediate rematch against Vitor Belfort (Pictures) in 2004 (due to an accidental cut in his eye), Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) should be given an immediate rematch against the champion.
The broken nose completely changed the path that the fight was going.
People were betting on whether or not Gonzaga would get tired in the championship rounds, not the opening period like we saw Saturday night.
Anyone who watches that fight again will see that the fight was very even until the broken nose. After that it was lopsided.
In my opinion, Gonzaga should have claimed he was in no condition to fight after the head butt. But as you saw the guy was a warrior and did not stop until the end. - Guilherme, Los Angeles, Calf.
While I do agree that the injury sustained by Gonzaga played a major factor in the outcome of the match, it's hard to compare a 49 second bout stopped by a grazing punch to a one-sided contest that extended into the third frame. Couture was clearly superior that night, and I don't see a rematch unfolding much differently.
I just re-watched the Randy and Gabriel fight this morning and contrary to what Randy said in the interview I think it was Gonzaga's own knee that broke his nose.
If you watch the slam in slow motion, Randy's head was not near Gonzaga's nose on the take down or slam. His head was on Gonzaga's chest. Gonzaga's own knee came back and down and hit him in the face. I know Randy said he thought they head butted and he heard his nose crunch, but in reality he did hear Gonzaga's nose crunch, but it was Gonzaga's knee that did it.
Please get this information out there after a little research so the truth will be known. - Daryle, Panama City, Florida
Sorry, I'm not buying it. While Gonzaga's knee did come down and slap his own face on impact, the real carnage occurred a split second before when Couture's full body weight came crashing down directly on the Brazilian's beak.
Upon further review of the footage, I suggest you forward your findings to Tim Millis, Executive Director of the National Football League Referees Association. I'm sure he could find use for another set of poor eyes on his staff.
Drop Mike Fridley a line via [email protected].
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