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02/07/2007 Archived Entry: "The IFL is a hit in Houston"
The IFL is a hit in Houston
By Karl Hegman
Photos by Jesus Gomez
HOUSTON, Tex. –The International Fight League rolled into the Space City Friday night, February 2nd before a near sellout crowd at the Reliant Arena and brought its share of pomp and violence along with it. The event pitted the teams of The Scorpions from Tucson vs. the Sabres from Tokyo and the Silverbacks from Quad Cities vs. the Anacondas of LA.
The Sabres prevailed 3-2 and the results are as follows:
Antonio McKee (Sabres) W TKO 2 Gabe Rivas (Scorpions)
Southpaw McKee won when Rivas injured leg and could not continue in the welterweight division
Vladimir Matyushenko (Sabres) W Submission 1 (arm bar) Dwayne Compton (Scorpions)
Vladimir got the upper hand early and never let up
Chad Griggs (Scorpions) W TKO Round 3 over John Marsh (Sabres)
Brutal and hard hitting heavyweight affair
Savant Young (Sabres) W Unanimous Decision ED West (Scorpions)
Muscular lightweight Young too strong for game West
Matt Ver Halen (Scorpions) W Unanimous Decision Masaaki Azena (Sabres)
Better conditioned Ver Halen wins back alley brawl
The Anacondas prevailed over the Silverbacks 3-2 and the results are as follows:
Ben Rothwell (Silverbacks) TKO’d Matt Thompson in 2 (Anacondas)
Rothwell too powerful and good for Thompson in Heavyweight fight
Jay Hieron (Anacondas) W Submission Round 1 Victor Moreno (Silverbacks)
Welterweight Hieron wins going away
Benji Radach (Anacondas) W TKO 2 Ryan McGivern (Silverbacks)
Almost knocked out early in the first round, come backing Benji annihilates McGivern in Middleweight donnybrook
Chris Horodecki (Anacondas) W Split Decision Bart Palaszewski (Silverbacks)
Smooth boxing Horodecki knocked out of the ring and onto the steel apron at the end of the first round rebounds to win split decision in a savage encounter in the fight of the night (lightweights)
Mike Ciesnolevicz (Silverbacks) W Split Decision Alex Schoenauer (Anacondas)
Crowd boos controversial decision in hard fought heavyweight fight
Matt Lindland (left) takes it to Carlos Newton
In the Main Event “Superfight” Matt Lindland won by submission in Round 2 over Carlos Newton
The crowd certainly got its money’s worth in this extravagant attraction that went on for nearly four hours. The event was rivaled in its presentation only by major world championship fights in professional boxing. One thing is certain: the IFL has major financial backing and sponsorship behind it, and its sights seem locked on taking over the lion’s share of the market of Mixed Martial Arts fighting from the UFC. Everyone involved in the IFL was very courteous and professional, and the company gave out complimentary programs and popcorn to the paying customers, and free XBOX 360 video games to several lucky ticket holders as well.
I developed a newfound respect and appreciation for the athletes in this brutal sport after getting an up close and first hand look at the carnage in the squared circle last Friday night. It was a genuine privilege meeting the great Champion Don “The Predator” Frye (the coach of the Scorpions) and swapping fighting anecdotes with him as well.
The only damp spot of the evening occurred when photographer Jesus Gomez and I encountered a very unfriendly, unattractive, and obese female usher in a yellow shirt who denied us entrance to a part of the building. I was about to give this unprofessional part time Reliant temp a verbal dressing down and have a talk with her supervisor, but everyone on the IFL’s side had been so courteous to us, I decided to let it slide this time and not cause a scene.
The production was very well organized and put together and was to be televised on the Fox Sports Network after fairly heavy promotional efforts during the past couple of weeks leading up to the event, and had to be considered a success for the company.
The participants entered the ring from a lighted ramp followed by spotlights, strobes, and laser lights in very surrealistic and dramatic ring entrances. The fighters did not disappoint as they all fought hard and tried their best, and there seemed to be no hard feelings amongst the men after they had just tried their best to cripple and maim one another during the cause for victory. After every three round four minute bout, the competitors go to the outside apron behind their respective ring corners and root their teammates on, adding a nice touch of camaraderie to the combat atmosphere.
It was such a good time for a lifelong fight buff that if the IFL ever finds its way back into town again, I will definitely ask Jerry Milani (Public Relations Manager for the IFL) to put me on the free list when their series of sponsored savagery begins anew.
The CBZ's Karl Hegman (left) and Don "Predator" Frye.
Of his conversation with Frye, Karl said, "I told him that the fight with Takayama was up there with Dempsey-Firpo, Foreman-Lyle, and Hagler-Hearns, and he said 'That is the biggest compliment I ever got!' (He was a) super nice guy."
