PRIDE Bushido 2 Preview

MARIO SPERRY: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stylist, known as "The Zen Machine" and "Ze Mario", 3-time World Jiu-Jitsu (Mundial) Champion, 2-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Absolute (Brasileiro) Champion, 1998 Abu Dhabi 98kg Absolute Division Champion, 1999 Abu Dhabi Superfight Champion, 2000 Abu Dhabi Superfight Champion, Extreme Fighting veteran, MARS veteran, Caged Combat veteran, Colleseum veteran, UFO veteran, trains with Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Liborio, Ricardo Arona, Rodrigo and Rogerio Nogueira and the rest of the Brazilian Top Team, with a record of 12-3 in MMA, making his 5th appearance (2-2) in the ring of the PFC

Abbreviated Fight History: Sperry began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Carlson Gracie Sr. at 13 years old. He lost just one bout as a blue belt and was awarded the Brazilian State Championship and Blue Belt of the Year award by the Brazilian Federation of Jiu-Jitsu. He repeated these feats as both a purple and brown belt. The nickname "Zen Machine" also came from his blue belt days. It started as "Ze Machine" when he would compete in multiple divisions at the same time and could be seen running around the event to make all of his fights. Eventually it evolved to "Zen Machine" because of his calm fighting state. He is also the first competitor to ever make a Gracie family member submit. Sperry faced Royler Gracie in the 1998 Brazilian State Finals and defeated him in four minutes. Mario broke away from the Gracie camp in 2000 with Luis Buerto Duarte, Murilo Bustamante and Ricardo Liborio to form the Brazilian Top Team. This allowed them to be more creative in their training and preparation for MMA fighting. Below are some of Sperry's more significant contests.

Sperry/Igor Zinoviev: We first saw Sperry in John Perretti's all too short-lived Battlecade: Extreme Fighting event. There he walked through an inexperienced Rudyard Moncayo and faced an unknown Russian grappler named Igor Zinoviev. Well, Sperry's vaunted 272-1 record had a new nick in it. Zinoviev landed a well-placed knee to the forehead of Sperry and cut him open and ended the bout.

Sperry/Igor Vovchanchyn: Sperry had been away from the MMA ring for almost four years before he resurfaced at Pride 17 to face Igor Vovchanchyn. He was able to do the unthinkable; submit the indestructible Ukrainian fighter in just under 3 minutes. We all know Igor has been running on empty and was likely burnt out at the time but it doesn't change

Sperry/Hiromitsu Kanehara: Mario competed at the Collesseum 2000 event and faced Japanese submission grappler Hiromitsu Kanehara. Sperry won the decision but it was a boring match for the most part. I'm not trying to take anything away from Sperry's grappling. It was spectacular as always, it's just that's all he did. Sperry continuously worked for the takedown and there was virtually no striking in the entire match. It was fought under modified RINGS King of Kings rules, which don't allow striking on the ground, but there was no real attempt to strike on the feet either.

Sperry/Murilo Rua: At Pride 20, Rua did his part to defend the Chute Boxe camp's honor and took a decision win over the Brazilian Top Team's leader Mario Sperry. Rua was devastating, nearly KOing the "Zen Machine" in the first round. By his own admission Sperry said he was out of the fight at that point and simply held on for the 20-minute duration.

Sperry/Yuki Kondo: Sperry shadowed Kondo early, working for takedowns from the clinch and eliminated any space for Yuki to operate. After a few minutes, Kondo countered the tactic and made Mario pay with knees to the head. Mario was cut up and a big gash near his eye caused the stoppage early in the first round.

Also worthy of note: Sperry battled Vernon White (win/decision), Chris Haseman (win/submission) and Wataru Sakata (win/decision)

Strengths And Weaknesses: Sperry's grappling and submissions are superior. He is a technician on the mat and can easily school experienced jiu-jitsu players. Mario's striking has improved with the help of Murilo Bustamante but it has never been his strongpoint. Given his prowess on the ground, his stand-up game coupled with his age (he's 38) would have to be considered his greatest weaknesses.

How He Can Beat Bencic: On the mat. With Bencic's stand-up abilities, Mario would be foolish to keep this standing any longer than it needs to be. Sperry should be able to ground Bencic and use his striking abilities to finish strong.

MIKE BENCIC: American born Croatian muay Thai kickboxer, boxer, 15-0 amateur kickboxing record, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stylist, Croatian Submission Wrestling Champion, kung fu practitioner, known as "Bat Man" and as "The Croatian Sensation", 21st Century Warriors: A Night of Champions veteran, trains with Igor Kolakusic, Igor Pokrajac, Mirko Filipovic and the rest of the Cro Cop Squad Gym, with a record of 8-1 in MMA, making his 2nd appearance (0-1)in the ring of the PFC

Abbreviated Fight History: Mike "Bat Man" Bencic, also known as the "Croatian Sensation" (ala Pat Miletich) is an American born Muay Thai fighter who grew up in Croatia. He became a Croatian Submission Wrestling Champion while serving in the military during the Serbia/Croatian war. Mike acts as Muay Thai trainer to fellow countryman and Pride and K-1veteran Mirco "Cro Cop" Filipovic on the Cro Cop Squad. Mike has also studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with World Champion Stephen Maxwell. Bencic was offered a bout with Chute Boxe Academy fighter and Pride veteran Assuerio Silva but negotiations broke off. In recent competition Mike took part in the 21st Century Warriors: A Night of Champions in August of 2002. The event was broadcast on PPV and featured Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Dan "The Beast" Severn and Henry Matamoros against Royler Gracie under Abu Dhabi rules. He debuted in the PFC at Pride 26: Bad to the Bone and quickly fell at the hands of Alistair Overeem. Below are some of Bencic's more significant contests:

Bencic/Jose Tabora: Mike took part in the 21st Century Warriors: A Night of Champions in August of 2002. There he faced Rickson Gracie blue belt, Shorekick Karate instructor and Atlantic City black jack dealer Jose "Bad Boy" Tabora. The Honduran born fighter had little ground defense and Bencic easily took the victory.

Bencic/Alistair Overeem: They clinch from the bell and Overeem pushes forward allowing Bencic to fall to guard. Bencic attempts an armbar but Overeem pulls out of it and knees him in the back of the head while establishing side mount. Mike gets guard back but is just hanging on. Overeem eventually gets to his feet to cup Bencic's head and just misses a knee to the face. For some reason, Alistair goes back down to the mat and fights from inside Mike's guard. Just like before, Bencic goes for an armbar and Overeem pulls out, punches him in the head and goes to side mount. Overem stands and meets Bencic coming in with a flying knee to the body. It hurts Bencic as he writhes in pain on the mat. Alistair sees his opportunity and jumps on top of Mike in a sort of half mount pounding him in the head. When Bencic rolls to his knees, Overeem unloads on the back of his head and the referee stops the contest.

Strengths And Weaknesses: Bencic is a Croatian Submission Wrestling Champion but his true strength is in the stand-up game where he utilizes his muay Thai skills. Mike has to trade with "Cro Cop" on a regular basis so his Thai skills have to be sharp. He has a ground game but with the slow developing mat work of Filipovic (and he is his coach), it likely isn't where it needs to be to compete at this level. His greatest weakness may be his lack of experience with highly rated opponents.

How He Can Beat Sperry: Standing. Mario doesn't have the years of muay Thai training Bencic has to work with. If Bencic's takedown defense is on par with Filipovic's, Mike can avoid Mario's rush and pound him in the clinch. If they stay on the feet, Bencic can chop Sperry down and finish him like Kondo did.

MY PICK: Sperry. Mario is too good to play into Mike's strengths and stand with him. It only takes one shot. Sperry will likely commit to the takedown as teammate Rodrigo Nogueira did and bring Bencic into his world. I feel it will be Sperry by submission late in the 1st Rd.

DOWN THE ROAD:
Sperry/Don Frye: It was rumored to take place in a previous PFC and could still be an entertaining battle. Both are nearing the end of their fighting days and a victory for one over the other could be a nice parting gift.

Sperry/Ken Shamrock: Ken is scheduled to fight "Tank" Abbott in April. Will that be his final appearance or would he be interested in one more sweet payday from Pride?

Bencic/Mark Kerr: Kerr had a freak happening in his return. He is definitely better than that and needs another shot. If Bencic could beat a healthy, competitive Kerr, it benefits a relatively unknown Cro Cop Team.

Bencic/Norihisa Yamamoto: If Mike losses to Sperry and wants to keep fighting on this level, Yamamoto is a likely opponent.