Opens: 14:00 START 16:00
Place: Saitama Super Arena (Saitama-Pref , Japan)
Tom Erikson def. Tim Catalfo
by submission (rear naked choke), 2:35 R1
Erikson dominated this match-up from the outset, utilizing a considerable size and reach advantage to control the surprisingly timid Catalfo in the clinch. The swarthy wrestler soon scored a takedown off an impressive bodylock and patiently worked to pass the guard, eventually gaining a full mount before Catalfo gave up his back in a desperate attempt to escape. The former Olympic freestyle wrestling alternate then sank a rear naked coke, earning the submission victory after several subtle adjustments.
Alex Stiebling def. Wallid Ismail
by unanimous judges' decision
Though he gave up takedowns in every round, Stiebling controlled the pace of the fight and landed effectively from the guard despite breaking his right hand in the opening minutes. After spending most of the first round on the bottom, the brash American delivered a combination and several hard knees to begin the second round before Ismail completed a single leg takedown. But the dour Brazilian could not mount an offense as Stiebling peppered him with palm strikes and kicks to the face from the guard. In the third round, Stiebling nearly finished the affair with a series of stiff knees following an ungainly takedown attempt by Ismail. Though he eventually went to his guard once again, Stiebling continued to connect from the bottom, soundly defeating the game but overmatched Ismail.
Rodrigo Gracie def. Daijiro Matsui
by submission (guillotine choke), 2:10 R3
Aggressive from the opening bell, Gracie made a victorious Pride debut against the worn and rapidly declining Matsui. Lunging forward behind punches, the well-muscled Gracie scored takedowns at will. On the ground, the Brazilian showed more interest in a KO than a submission as he rained a barrage of strikes from inside the guard, bloodying and breaking Matsui's nose-and his resolve. A guillotine choke ended the fight midway through the third round-in the spirit of Royce and Renzo, Rodrigo held the choke even after the tap, squeezing until Matsui was unconscious.
Carlos Newton def. Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons
by submission (arm bar), 7:17 R1
Perhaps one of the most fast paced, spine tingling fights ever witnessed, there was constant action from the beginning as Pele looked for flying knees and Newton looked to avoid them, scoring improbable takedowns with impromptu judo throws. On the ground, the stronger Brazilian bulled his way out of Newton's early triangle and arm bar attempts, shaking his head as though to admonish his opponent for even entertaining the idea. Pele would go on to land a ferocious knee that left Newton dazed and disconcerted; however, the former UFC welterweight champion dropped to a single leg and held on until his head cleared. Meanwhile, the Chute Boxe mainstay seemed fatigued by the fight's frenetic pace and made little effort to add a finishing touch. A resolute Newton soon mustered the strength to complete the single leg takedown and quickly passed Pele's guard, looking for an arm bar once again. This time, there would be no escape as Pele was forced to tap after a brief struggle. Then, Newton delivered an oration in Japanese to an appreciative audience, undoubtedly earning himself scores of hot groupies.
Heath Herring def. Igor Vovchanchyn
by unanimous judges' decision
This was a seesaw battle with the maniac pacing that has become Herring's trademark. A dead heat through the first two rounds, the fight was not decided until the closing minutes. In the standup, Herring threw knees and kicks while Vovchanchyn answered with overhand rights, occasionally even catching the leg and finishing with a double leg tackle. On the ground, the Texan appeared relaxed and confident and was able to avoid absorbing many, if any damaging blows while attempting several submissions. Conversely, the Russian came away with a collection of deep facial bruises and scratches as Herring spent the majority of the third round delivering hammer-like blows to the head. A yellow card for stalling in the final minute finally put the fight out of reach for Vovchanchyn.
Don Frye def. Ken Shamrock
by split judges' decision (2 - 1)
Years in the making, this fight proved well worth the wait as Frye and Shamrock engaged in an epic battle of skills and wills. While much of the first round was spent with the two legends exchanging knees and body shots from the clinch, Frye began landing damaging rights in the latter half of the round. Not one to remain on the defensive, Shamrock secured a leg lock in the closing minutes and held it until the bell. Though both fighters say that Frye's knee popped twice during the exchange, there would be no tap. However, Shamrock took a foot to the face during the submission attempt and suffered a deep cut over his left eye. The second round brought more standup action as Frye tried to work the cut with his right hand. Shamrock kept his head away for the most part and the bleeding subsided as both men again scored with knees and body shots. The third round brought five minutes of heart-stopping action as Frye landed a left-right combination, a knee to the head several more rights, knocking Shamrock down and, apparently, out with the culminating blow. Shamrock slumped to the mat in a prone position but awoke as his head hit and instinctively pulled guard. Though Frye continued to score from the top, Shamrock soon regained his senses and gave up his back in an escape attempt. When Frye tried to sink a rear naked choke, Shamrock reversed him and looked for an opening to drop down to a heel hook. That opportunity arrived in the final two minutes, as Shamrock locked up the submission and tried in vain to finish the fight. Somehow, Frye was able to hold on until the final bell and earned the split decision. After the fight, the two gladiators shared a relieved and respectful embrace-each man having proved his point, they were finally willing to put the years of bad blood behind them.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Enson Inoue
by TKO (choked out with triangle), 6:17 R1
Displaying a vastly different strategy from when he dominated Heath Herring in the standup in Pride 17, Nogueira tried to take the fight to the ground from the start. However, an off-balance shot left the Pride heavyweight champion extended and vulnerable so he quickly pulled guard while Inoue low kicked. When the fight was restarted in the standup, Nogueira became aggressive with his strikes, driving Inoue into the corner and then securing a bodylock and tripping the Hawaiian to the mat. Nogueira nearly ended the fight with a keylock, but Inoue was able to escape and even reverse the Brazilian. Once on top, Inoue landed several hard punches, and an obviously uncomfortable Nogueira quickly initiated a dizzying series of submission attempts that caused jaws to drop throughout the arena. First, he swept Inoue from the guard, went to a shoulder lock, switched to a toehold, transitioned to a triangle, then to an arm bar and finally reapplied the triangle. As expected, Inoue refused to tap and soon passed out, remaining in a dreamlike state for what seemed like an eternity but what was in reality about 30 seconds. Nogueira showed a strong chin and a cool-as-ice demeanor under pressure, just as he had in his three previous Pride appearances.
Vanderlei Silva def. Kiyoshi Tamura
by KO (overhand right), 2:28 R2
While it might be unfair to say that a fighter did not impress when he has just knocked his opponent senseless with an overhand right, such is the standard that Vanderlei Silva has set for himself. His second consecutive uninspired performance, Silva appeared wary of Tamura's kicks and was anxious to take the fight to the ground in the first round. Though he landed effectively from inside Tamura's guard-even drawing blood from the nose-fight fans have become accustomed to seeing Silva look for the knockout from the opening bell. Instead, he was content to score several takedowns in the first round. Tamura opened the ensuing round with a solid kick to the liver and a left hook that opened a cut over Silva's right eye, which began to bleed heavily. His ire suddenly aroused, Silva bulled forward for a takedown. When the fight was restated in the center of the ring, he stood up and grazed Tamura with a kicked to the face that might have beheaded the RINGS veteran had it landed flush. Standing up when Silva lost his balance on the follow through, Tamura connected with another left hook, only to nearly be brained by a counter overhand right. Silva's fifth consecutive Japanese victim fell in a heap, face buried in the mat while the Brazilian celebrated the victory, his trademark bloodlust replaced with relief.
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