Rumble on the Rock 6 - Preview
Kaku/Melendez, Ebanez/Hallman, Sims/Hardonk
Nov 18, 2004
Kaynan Kaku vs. Gilbert Melendez
KAKU: Undefeated Hawaiian fighter Kaynan Kaku out of BJ Penn's MMA camp has a record of 5-0. "Da Monsta" (a.k.a. "The Barbarian") Kaku is a four-time ROTR veteran and has beaten solid competition in the form of RITC/KOTC veteran Santino Defranco and KOTC/Superbrawl veteran Harris Sarmiento.
MELENDEZ: Cesar Gracie fighter and WEF Lightweight Champion
Gilbert Melendez is
7-0 in MMA and a three-time World Extreme Cagefighting veteran. You
can get a look at the colorful lightweight on the Rumble on the
Rock 4 DVD on sale here at Sherdog.com. He took the upset victory
over Stephen Palling,
stopping "Bozo" via strikes from the mount with just a few ticks
left in the second round. Gilbert also stopped WEC poster boy
Olaf Alfonso with strikes
on the ground in the third round to take the lightweight title. His
style, much like his look, is somewhat wild but he possesses good
takedowns and uses his elbows effectively on the mat.
MY PICK: As the saying goes, "one of the 0's has to go." Both fighters have comparable experience and have faced more seasoned competition that the opponent in front of them, so it may take few rounds to settle this one. Melendez is riding high and I feel he has the edge.
EBANEZ: Also fighting out of BJ Penn's MMA camp is Ross Ebanez. Ross "Da Boss" (these guys must all be Chicago Bears fans or something with all "da" monikers) is 6-1 in MMA with his biggest wins coming over Pride veteran Shannon Ritch and Hallman stable-mate Eddy Ellis. Ebanez's only loss came at the hands of then 808 Fight Factory member Nassor Lewis by decision at ROTR 1.
HALLMAN: Newly recognized American Top Team fighter Dennis Hallman is on board as a late replacement for Antonio Inoki fighter Luciano Nogueira. Hallman has an extensive MMA career with a record of 52-9-4 and three UFC appearances. The 1994 Washington state wrestling champion and Ultimate Ring Challenge promoter is a former member of the AMC Pankration camp and originally a student of Matt Hume. "Superman" Hallman has been training with Benji Radach, Aaron Riley, Paul Purcell, Joey Guel and Eddy Ellis as part of the Victory Athletics team and will now help UFC veteran Jeff Monson run the new ATT location in Washington.
Hallman is best known for his pair of impressive submission wins over UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes. And when Dennis loses, it usually takes one of the best in the division to beat him. The list includes Jens Pulver, Dave Menne, Caol Uno and Frank Trigg (twice). Hallman has scored two submission victories since his UFC loss to Trigg last June.
MY PICK: With Ebanez's penchant for stopping people with strikes and Hallman's ability to pull submissions out of a hat, we could have a scrap worth remembering. Even with the short notice, I have to think Hallman's experience will shine through.
Wes Sims vs. Antoni Hardonk
SIMS: "The Project" Wes Sims attempts to end 2004 on a positive note as he recovers from a four-fight slide. Sims got back on the winning track in September at Extreme Fighting Challenge 9 (just five days after his knockout loss to Ricardeau Francois at the Apex show) by beating Joe Mellotte with strikes.
The Hammer House wrestler trains with Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman and brings a 7-5 record in MMA. With his four consecutive losses dating back to his DQ loss to Frank Mir at UFC 43, his most recent win prior to the EFC bout dates back to December of 2002. There he won the HOOK'n'SHOOT Absolute Fighting heavyweight championship by defeating UFC veteran Marcus Silveira. Sims has shown some rare skills for a big man, the ability to apply submissions and proven difficult to submit. He also works to finish the bout, having only gone the distance once in his debut against UFC triple-crown winner Dan Severn.
HARDONK: Antoni Hardonk trains in Holland at the Johan Vos Gym with Ernesto Hoost, Jerrel Venetiaan, Ivan Hippolyte and Clyde Petres. Hardonk was an accomplished swimmer in his youth and took up kickboxing and jiu-jitsu at age 16. At 9-3, "The Monk" has a fair amount of MMA experience and has fought for both the RINGS Organization and K-1 MMA.
MY PICK: Hardonk is not as big as Sims (about 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds), but he has the same amount of experience and may be the better overall athlete. Is big Wes back on track or will his bad luck against seemingly overmatched competition continue to haunt him? Sims needs the win. That's why I think he'll find a way to fall to the Dutchman.
KAKU: Undefeated Hawaiian fighter Kaynan Kaku out of BJ Penn's MMA camp has a record of 5-0. "Da Monsta" (a.k.a. "The Barbarian") Kaku is a four-time ROTR veteran and has beaten solid competition in the form of RITC/KOTC veteran Santino Defranco and KOTC/Superbrawl veteran Harris Sarmiento.
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MY PICK: As the saying goes, "one of the 0's has to go." Both fighters have comparable experience and have faced more seasoned competition that the opponent in front of them, so it may take few rounds to settle this one. Melendez is riding high and I feel he has the edge.
Ross Ebanez vs. Dennis Hallman
EBANEZ: Also fighting out of BJ Penn's MMA camp is Ross Ebanez. Ross "Da Boss" (these guys must all be Chicago Bears fans or something with all "da" monikers) is 6-1 in MMA with his biggest wins coming over Pride veteran Shannon Ritch and Hallman stable-mate Eddy Ellis. Ebanez's only loss came at the hands of then 808 Fight Factory member Nassor Lewis by decision at ROTR 1.
HALLMAN: Newly recognized American Top Team fighter Dennis Hallman is on board as a late replacement for Antonio Inoki fighter Luciano Nogueira. Hallman has an extensive MMA career with a record of 52-9-4 and three UFC appearances. The 1994 Washington state wrestling champion and Ultimate Ring Challenge promoter is a former member of the AMC Pankration camp and originally a student of Matt Hume. "Superman" Hallman has been training with Benji Radach, Aaron Riley, Paul Purcell, Joey Guel and Eddy Ellis as part of the Victory Athletics team and will now help UFC veteran Jeff Monson run the new ATT location in Washington.
Hallman is best known for his pair of impressive submission wins over UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes. And when Dennis loses, it usually takes one of the best in the division to beat him. The list includes Jens Pulver, Dave Menne, Caol Uno and Frank Trigg (twice). Hallman has scored two submission victories since his UFC loss to Trigg last June.
MY PICK: With Ebanez's penchant for stopping people with strikes and Hallman's ability to pull submissions out of a hat, we could have a scrap worth remembering. Even with the short notice, I have to think Hallman's experience will shine through.
Wes Sims vs. Antoni Hardonk
SIMS: "The Project" Wes Sims attempts to end 2004 on a positive note as he recovers from a four-fight slide. Sims got back on the winning track in September at Extreme Fighting Challenge 9 (just five days after his knockout loss to Ricardeau Francois at the Apex show) by beating Joe Mellotte with strikes.
The Hammer House wrestler trains with Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman and brings a 7-5 record in MMA. With his four consecutive losses dating back to his DQ loss to Frank Mir at UFC 43, his most recent win prior to the EFC bout dates back to December of 2002. There he won the HOOK'n'SHOOT Absolute Fighting heavyweight championship by defeating UFC veteran Marcus Silveira. Sims has shown some rare skills for a big man, the ability to apply submissions and proven difficult to submit. He also works to finish the bout, having only gone the distance once in his debut against UFC triple-crown winner Dan Severn.
HARDONK: Antoni Hardonk trains in Holland at the Johan Vos Gym with Ernesto Hoost, Jerrel Venetiaan, Ivan Hippolyte and Clyde Petres. Hardonk was an accomplished swimmer in his youth and took up kickboxing and jiu-jitsu at age 16. At 9-3, "The Monk" has a fair amount of MMA experience and has fought for both the RINGS Organization and K-1 MMA.
MY PICK: Hardonk is not as big as Sims (about 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds), but he has the same amount of experience and may be the better overall athlete. Is big Wes back on track or will his bad luck against seemingly overmatched competition continue to haunt him? Sims needs the win. That's why I think he'll find a way to fall to the Dutchman.
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