The first fight featured Dolgursuren “Blue Wolf” Serjbuddee, who happens to be the brother of sumo Yokozuna Asashoryu, against former U.S. green beret Tom Howard. While we realize that sumo probably means nothing to MMA fans in the U.S., we can assure you that in Japan and especially Mongolia, the Blue Wolf and his bro are huge, more popular than Shrek.
While Howard looked to be the far stronger fighter at the outset – to put it bluntly, he was ripped, and the Wolf looked soft, it didn’t make any difference. The Wolf took command from the opening bell and totally dominated, opening a cut on Howard’s head early in the first round that turned his bleached blond locks bright red. He then proceeded to throw knee after knee after knee until Howard’s corner threw in the towel in round two. After it was over, we all needed an Advil.
During the postfight press conference, the Japanese and Mongolian press swarmed the Wolf, and of course, asked him the obligatory question, “Will you fight Bob Sapp?” While he said yes, that matchup would become much less appealing later in the evening. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Howard was ever-gracious in defeat, despite the fact he was beaten to a pulp. (In fact, our ace photographer Nicolas Van Hoecke said he looked like Popeye on the receiving end of a beating from Brutus – check out his picture). “I’m impressed with his strength,” said Howard of the Wolf, “He is a determined fighter, and I give him all the credit in the world for that.” Reflecting on what he had “learned”, Howard joked, “I learned I could take a lot of pain, but not much else.” He added that he had taken “about 50 knees to the head, and I’ve got ten staples holding my head together.”
All in a day’s work, I guess. Howard promised he’d be back. We’d like to see that, because he’s a good guy, and after all, a Green Beret. But we hope he convalesces for a few months first. And eats his spinach.
