PPV & TV Events
Penick's Affliction:Banned PPV Report: Ongoing "Virtual Time coverage of inaugural event
By By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Jul 19, 2008 - 11:32:58 PM

-Here we go ladies and gentlemen, the long awaited "Best Fight Card in History" copyright John McCarthy. We open with Michael Buffer from an overhead camera and then Megadeth performing their song "Symphony of Destruction."

-The fighters on the card all come out during this performance and line up in fight order. It's something different, and I kind of like it. They have a decent enough video package to open this up.

-Jay Glazer introduces the show and it's time for our first fight of the Pay Per View.

FIGHT ONE: J.J. Ambrose vs. Mike Pyle (170 lbs)

ROUND ONE: Ambrose pushes Pyle to the corner immediately and begins throwing from knees and punches from the clinch. Pyle gets a nice takedown, gets side control and moves to mount immediately. Pyle takes his back. Pyle gets the choke locked in and it's a quick tap.

WINNER: Pyle via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:51 of the first round.

POST FIGHT: Pyle's got a likeable personality, and he comes off well in this interview. He says he'll take on anyone Affliction wants to give him. Then we get the obligatory sponsor thanks.

STAR RATING: (*+) That wasn't much of a fight, and it was completely one sided.

RAMIFICATIONS: Ambrose looked completely outmatched by Pyle here, and he'll be relegated to a lower card position on any future shows until he gains a couple of wins. Pyle looked dominant in the ground game and it's a good win for him and he'll always have the distinction of winning the first fight in Affliction's Pay Per View history.

-Jay Glazer brings in Frank Triggs and John McCarthy and they continue their overhyping of this show, including Trigg saying that if you take a bathroom break you'll miss one of the best knockouts in MMA history. Because that's something that you can guarantee a paying audience, if you didn't know. They then run down the remainder of the card. Don't get me wrong, this card is quite great on paper, but they're just setting themselves up for disappointing the fans with how much they're overhyping every aspect of this show.

FIGHT TWO: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Edwin Dewees (205 lbs)

PRE FIGHT: We get a sit down interview from Edwin Dewees, who just does not come off as intimidating in the least. Obviously that's not the case in the ring or the cage, but the interview isn't his strong point. Nogueira gets a quick video package as well.

Michael Buffer seems extremely bored to be here tonight. Seriously, he's just not into it at all.

ROUND ONE: Nogueira pushes Dewees a bit, but he responds with some kicks. Hard inside leg kick from Dewees. Nogueira gets him to the corner and they clinch. Dewees got himself backed up as he tried to avoid shots and he fell into a takedown. Nogueira just stands up after a little bit of being in the guard of Dewees. Nogueria lands some knees to the head, and then he separates and lands a few shots, finishing with a left hook that knocked Dewees down. He followed up with a few more shots and Herb Dean stopped it.

WINNER: Nogueira via TKO at 4:06 of the first round.

POST FIGHT: Kind of a rough interview with Nogueria, especially with the mouthguard still in, but it was endearing a bit.

STAR RATING: (**-) Nogueira looked good, but again outside of a short, exciting flurry at the end, this was another one-sided affair. Two quick one sided fights to start the show.

RAMIFICATIONS: Dewees was the one looking overmatched in this one, and he's got to rebound in his next fight. Nogueira got himself a nice knockout win, but we'll see who they match him up with at the next show.

-Jay Glazer sends it back to Big John for a report on Fedor, except he gives a report on Arlovski. The extended spots of dead air on this show so far have made it appear very minor league so far. I've liked it somewhat better than the Elite XC CBS show so far, but the come off very much like "amatuer hour."

FIGHT THREE: Fabio Negao vs. Matt Lindland (185 lbs)

PRE FIGHT: A couple more generic video packages for the fighters. They mention that Lindland's last fight was against Fedor.

ROUND ONE: Lindland knocked Negao down with a shot and then went right for a guillotine choke. Negao is fighting it, but he's not getting out of it. Lindland does a great job of holding onto it through a flip, but Negao eventually holds out and Lindland releases it. Negao pulls guard but gets a couple of shots landed hard from the top by Lindland. Lindland lands a massive elbow from the top. Great leg throw ass by Lindland to land another really hard shot. Negao gets back to his feet. Lindland lands a couple more shots and Negao gets in a nice inside leg kick before the round ends.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Lindland. Great job by Negao to survive that round, and he was able to land a couple of good shots in himself, but that round was all for Lindland.

ROUND TWO: Lindland lands some good shots as he pushes Negao to the corner. Negao gets knocked silly a bit by an elbow and Negao is now pushing the action. They have a great exchange of punches in the corner with both of them landing shots. Lindland then takes Negao down in the corner. Lindland gets another drop down shot in. Lindland's getting some nice elbows in here in this position. Another good leg throw into a dropping punch. Negao snuck his head through the ropes and the ref pulled him back in. Lindland landed a couple of shots again as the round ended.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Lindland. Exciting round there, that picks the show up a bit.

ROUND THREE: Lindland pushes the action again. Nice hard knee to the gut from Lindland. They both look a bit gassed here, as it's getting sloppy and there doesn't seem to be much behind any of these punches in here. Negao got in a knee to the body of his own. Lindland went for a takedown, and Negao fell through the ropes and landed on the table on the outside. Lindland lands a good knee to the head of Negao. Negao almost got a throw takedown at the end, but it was too little too late.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Lindland. He pushed the action and landed plenty of shots. Negao showed heart, but it wasn't enough to take any of these rounds.

WINNER: Lindland via decision.

POST FIGHT: Big John asked Negao if hitting his head on the table affected him. His interpreter relayed that he thought going through the ropes that they would restart in the middle but that wasn't the case. They're having microphone issues here. Lindland is almost completely out of breath in his interview.

STAR RATING: (***) That was a fun fight. It got very sloppy during the third round, but they had a really good second round and some good stuff in the first as well.

RAMIFICATIONS: Negao hung in there, and he looked decent in the loss. It's a step back into the game for Lindland after nearly a year off, but it was a good deserved victory for him, and he'll just get better if he can fight more frequently.

FIGHT FOUR: Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Mike Whitehead (205 lbs)

PRE FIGHT: They're doing the separate video packages with the fighters entering after their video, and I'm not sure I really like this format. If what Trigg is saying is true, and Whitehead was up around 270 as close as April, then that is astonishing that he made it to 206. Sobral gets his video package too. Way too much dead air being allowed by Glazer, Trigg and McCarthy on this show.

ROUND ONE: I think Whitehead should have just bought a pair of shorts that fit instead of these ripped ones. Babalu with a hard leg kick. Whitehead pushed into the corner. Whitehead breaks out of the clinch with a shot. They get back to the clinch again and this really drags on for a bit. Whitehead gets a nice uppercut in there. Babalu gets a takedown but Whitehead gets himself right back up.

Penick's Scorecard: Tough round to score. There wasn't much with the excessive clinch, and while Whitehead landed a good uppercut, Babalu may have landed more shots with the leg kicks involved. I'm leaning 10-9 Whitehead due to the pressing of the action and that uppercut.

ROUND TWO: Whitehead back to the clinch early. They break out after a bit. Whitehead finally gets a takedown, although it was more of a fall by Babalu. Babalu pulls guard. Babalu went for an armbar, but Whitehead pulled out of it. The ref stood them p right after this. Babalu threw some knees from the clinch. Some more knees in the corner and Babalu took this round.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Sobral. Despite the takedown, Sobral actually controlled from his back on the ground and did more on his feet. He took that one.

ROUND THREE: Whitehead went for a takedown and we get our second fighter through the ropes, as Babalu actually had a guillotine choke hooked. Bad break. Whitehead keeps going for this takedown and he puts Babalu through the ropes again. Whitehead is not at all doing well with these takedown attempts. They start exchanging shots a bit and as Whitehead went for yet another takedown, Babalu almost caught another guillotine. Babalu attempts a couple of submissions from his back to no fruition. They get stood up and Babalu presses. He lands a couple of shots in the clinch. Babalu lands a straight kick to the face and then he wiped his feet on the ground. He lands a leg kick up high as well. Babalu attempts another takedown and then just threw a few inside knees to the leg to finish the round.

Penick's Scorecard: I have that 10-9 Sobral. He may take this 30-27, and I wouldn't be surprised, but I think Whitehead took round one. Whitehead did not look good in the last two rounds.

WINNER: Renato Sobral via unanimous decision. Not surprised at all.

POST FIGHT: Babalu said it was kind of hard to work his submissions, but it was hard for him to do that to try to finish his fight. He said he's getting old, he name dropped Randy Couture and then joked that he's not that old. Nice. Big John asked why he went back to the wrestling when his stand up was doing good. He said he couldn't put it together.

STAR RATING: (**-) There were a couple flashes of excitement in the third round, but otherwise that was a pretty boring fight. Whitehead continued to go for the takedown and came up empty almost every time, and it just didn't look good.

RAMIFICATIONS: Sobral will get another fight here, but I don't know what's in store for Whitehead. He just did not look good in this fight.

FIGHT FIVE: Mark Hominick vs. Savant Young (145 lbs)

ROUND ONE: These guys look tiny in this huge ring from this camera angle. Nice superman punch after a minute or so of quick in and out posturing back and forth. Hominick avoids a takedown. Both men doing a good job of fighting off and avoiding flurries. Hominick is pressing pretty good here and lands a couple of jabs. Young lands a good body shot.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Hominick. Fast action from both guys, but nothing connecting much. Hominick pressed the action and landed a few shots during that round.

ROUND TWO: More of the same in the early going, with neither gaining an advantage. Young finally gets a takedown. Hominick rolled through and got a triangle locked on. Young fought it out and picked Hominick up for a slam. Hominick got back on top. Hominick is doing some good work from the bottom. Young dropped down with a hard shot. Hominick almost gets and armbar, then tries to turn it into a triangle. After working on that a bit, he caught young with the arm bar and he was forced to tap.

WINNER: Hominick via submission (arm bar) at 4:25 of the second round

POST FIGHT: Hominick said he's been know as a stand up guy, but he hopes he's shown a bit more tonight. He pandered to Trump to sponsor him.

STAR RATING: (**) There wasn't much going down until the last couple of minutes, which were very good. Good submission attempts, a nice slam, and ultimately a good armbar submission from Hominick.

RAMIFICATIONS: I'm intrigued to know what the future is for the smaller fighters with Affliction, but Hominick looked very good in his win here.

-More dead air for about thirty seconds until Michael Buffer introduced Megadeth once again. Bathroom break time.

FIGHT SIX: Josh Barnett vs. Pedro Rizzo (Heavyweight)

PRE FIGHT: Better interview package for these two guys.

ROUND ONE: Barnett with a nice jab early. Rizzo lands a nice shot in an exchange. Good straight leg kick to the body by Barnett. Nice roundhouse attempt by Barnett and then they have another flurry exchange before slowing it down again. This is a bit tentative here and the crowd voices their displeasure with the slow pace. Barnett gets the roundhouse kick to land in Rizzo's gut. Rizzo lands a kick up high at the end of the round.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Barnett. Not a great round there. Barnett pressed the action and landed more, but there wasn't much going on.

ROUND TWO: Again they go back to more of the same early. Barnett goes for some more straight leg kicks. Gigantic left hand from Barnett drops Rizzo and he follows up with one shot and the fight is done! Wow.

WINNER: Barnett via KO at 1:44 of the second round.

POST FIGHT: Barnett gives Big John some shit about him saying he'd get knocked out if he kept it on his feet. He said they threw out some names for him for this show and when they threw Rizzo's out, he wanted the win back. He said he'll take on any fighter "dumb enough to sign that dotted line." He pretty much cut a wrestling promo here challenging anyone that wanted to step up. Highly entertaining.

STAR RATING: (**+) That's almost all for that knockout, as that was just nasty. What a left hook, just an absolute highlight reel shot.

RAMIFICATIONS: Barnett got his revenge win here, and I don't know if Rizzo's got another fight left in him or not.

FIGHT SEVEN: Andrei Arlovski vs. Ben Rothwell (Heavyweight)

PRE FIGHT: Back to the separate videos for each fighter. The videos have been ok, but they come off as UFC lite.

ROUND ONE: Arlovski throws a couple fo good leg kicks early. He sticks with the leg kicks for a couple more shots. Arlovski avoids a flurry and pushes Rothwell into the corner. Arlovski gets a takedown from the clinch and as Rothwell tried to roll out he almost got caught in a heel hook and the both stand back up. Another hard leg kick from Andrei. Arlovski lands some nice shots and smells blood. He attacks and lands some more shots as he pressed Rothwell back. Rothwell survived the flurry. Arlovski landed another hard leg kick before eating a shot to the face at the end of the round.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Arlovski. Good, exciting round, and Arlovski nearly ended it a few times in there. Good heavyweight round.

ROUND TWO: Andrei again lands some hard shots to the head of Rothwell. He lands a gigantic flurry and then takes Big Ben down. He had the mount, but Rothwell did a really good job to immediately get out of the mount. Arlovski postures up from within the guard and drops a few shots onto Rothwell. Andrei went for a heel hook, but Rothwell slipped out and he got on top of Arlovski. Rothwell's bleeding quite a bit, but he's dropping some elbows down onto Arlovski. The ref stood it up after a bit. Arlovski immediately attacks and just absolutely rains punches and a flying knee to the jaw but Rothwell will not go down.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Arlovski. He has it early and stole it back late. What a fight so far, this is Arlovski back to his best here, and this has been two great rounds.

ROUND THREE: Rothwell pushes Andrei into the corner and the clinch. The fans do not want this in this fight at all, and they start booing early. Arlovski breaks the clinch with a right hand. Arlovski throws a couple more and lands the knockout punch on Rothwell and he just goes down. Another great knockout.

WINNER: Arlovski via KO at 1:13 of the third round.

POST FIGHT: Arlovski soaked up the cheers from the crowd. He's hard enough to understand when he's not winded.

STAR RATING: (****) That was a hell of a fight. Wow, I don't know where that Andrei Arlovski has been, but he's back. That was some of the best punching exchanges in a heavyweight MMA fight that I've seen in a long time. Arlovski just brought everything he had, and Rothwell could only hold on for so long. Great fight.

RAMIFICATIONS: Arlovski's back, and he should get the first shot at the main event winner. Rothwell held his own and did the best he could, but he couldn't handle all of weapons coming at him from the hands and legs of Andrei Arlovski.

-Megadeth time again, hit the bathroom.

FIGHT EIGHT: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia (Heavyweight)

PRE FIGHT: More video packages, what do you expect. It's time to get this fight under way. Enough Michael Buffer. He's just bored, and going through his motions.

ROUND ONE: Fedor rocks Sylvia with a flurry early, drops him. He takes his back, straps on the choke, and that's your fight, people.

WINNER: Fedor Emelianenko via submission (rear naked choke) at :36 seconds of round one.

POST FIGHT: Buffer makes the claim the Fedor should be recognized as the "Undisputed" Heavyweight Champion. I'd have to disagree with that. Fedor says his desired opponent would be Randy Couture. Big John brings Randy Couture in, who says he's got some things work out with the UFC, but he hopes he can do that fight this year.

STAR RATING: (***+) That's just incredible. He just unlaunched on Sylvia and completely destroyed him to knock him down and finish it with the choke. Great excitement, and yet, all of that hype for 36 seconds?

RAMIFICATIONS: That pretty much establishes that Tim Sylvia is not able to hang with the elite of the elite in the Heavyweight division anymore. Fedor establishes himself as the man, and I can't wait to see him against someone better than Tim Sylvia. Bring on Randy Couture, make that happen.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Well, Affliction delivered with a pretty damned good show from a fight standpoint. There was a bit to be desired in the commentary and the overall presentation, which came off as amateurish and minor league at times, although it wasn't embarrassingly bad as was the case with Elite XC in February for parts of it. Andrei Arlovski is back, and that was absolutely the fight of the night. Fedor annihilated Tim Sylvia, and while you'd hope for a longer fight for such a much hyped main event, it's good to see Fedor step up to the hype on his part.

-Check out Shawn Ennis' "Not-so-Live" coverage of the show tonight as he covers it, and check back tomorrow for my thoughts on UFC Fight Night 14 (DVR issues, people, Comcast sucks) and look for a post-shows audio sometime early this week.

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