Banged Up Sabres and Silverbacks Battle in IFL
Scott Holmes Aug 2, 2007
More than a few of the fighters that helped their International
Fight League squads into the postseason failed to hit the scales
Wednesday. The team concept is still in its infancy and one of the
pitfalls will be situations such as this, where it's impossible for
the IFL to keep all of their combatants healthy at the same
time.
Between the Tokyo Sabres, New York Pitbulls, Los Angeles Anacondas and Quad-Cities Silverbacks, seven of the 20 fighters competing in the IFL semifinals Thursday at the Continental Airlines Arena have been replaced by substitutes, some of whom are replacing other subs.
In an ironic twist, tonight could see IFL stars take a back seat
and let some newbie's become heroes.
The battle between Tokyo and New York was particularly affected by the injuries, including some that occurred just days before the playoff showdown.
Savant Young (Pictures) wasn't himself during his last fight with Ryan Schultz (Pictures), losing some of his trademark tenacity thanks to an illness that had him "nasonexed" all week prior to the bout. Now that he's had time to get well, he's eager to get back in the ring and do his thing.
While Young was preparing for Erik Owings (Pictures), a late injury yanked the Pitbull lightweight off the card. Stepping in is Deividas Taurosevicius (Pictures), a Lithuanian grappler with a good submission game.
Owings would probably be a little more willing to stand and trade with Young, which is what the Sabre fighter wants. However, Young will now have to adjust a tad knowing that Taurosevicius will probably want to take him down at all costs.
Antonio McKee (Pictures) (Sabres) vs. Delson Heleno (Pictures) (Pitbulls)
This could be the MMA purist's sleeper fight of the night. Antonio McKee (Pictures) is one of the most underrated fighters in the game. He's won nine fights since his last loss to Karo Parisyan (Pictures) over four years ago while being criticized at times for relying on his superior wrestling skills by laying and smothering more than praying; these are the same skills that a dominant Sean Sherk (Pictures) would get heaps of praise for.
McKee has a knack for limiting his opponent's options down to one, staying right where he wants them. There's no doubt that McKee will take Heleno down, but will he be able to mount enough offense to close out the fight.
Delson Heleno (Pictures) has been flawless so far in his IFL run, but when he meets McKee it will be his most formidable foe to date. Heleno has shown some flashy jiu-jitsu but McKee should be able to give him fits on the ground. While they may be near equals on the ground, Heleno's ability to attack and finish may keep McKee from grinding out his usual decision win.
Dave Phillips (Sabres) vs. Dan Miller (Pictures) (Pitbulls)
Both Fabio Leopoldo (Pictures) and Kaz Hamanaka procured injuries in their last bouts that will keep them off the New Jersey card.
It's a devastating loss for the Sabres since Leopoldo has been one of the IFL's burgeoning stars and barring disaster would have given them an easy win over Hamanaka, who hasn't found a way to win yet.
Instead, filling in for the two fighters will be Dave Phillips and Dan Miller (Pictures).
Miller is a Cage Fury veteran with pedigree in the submission game that will face a journeyman fighter in Phillips. It's a bout that will have both men anxious to display their skills while receiving national exposure. Since both teams are sending in a sub for this weight class, the Sabres and Pitbulls might find themselves chewing some fingernails while awaiting the outcome between these two replacements.
Vladimir Matyushenko (Pictures) (Sabres) vs. Tim Boetsch (Pictures) (Pitbulls)
It's gotten to the point that it almost doesn't matter who is pitted against him -- Vlady is as close as a sure win as you can get in the IFL. He's obviously in a class of his own and it will be hard to find anyone that can best him at 205 pound in the IFL … or anywhere else for that matter.
Despite being ready to go last week, Jamal Patterson (Pictures) was curiously absent from the weigh-ins and in his place will be Tim Boetsch (Pictures), who stands at 6-0 outside of the IFL.
Matyushenko knows Boetsch, a good wrestler in his own right, has won by KO before, so his best chance against a staunch vet like Vlady is to swing away and hope for the best.
Wayne Cole (Pictures) (Sabres) vs. Bryan Vetell (Pictures) (Pitbulls)
Wayne Cole (Pictures) is a KO artist but will step into the ring with a little bit of rust on those hands. His last bout in the IFL was in March and ended with a knockout -- his own. Luckily for Cole, Thursday's opponent hasn't been in the ring lately either, so it will be a good chance for the scrappy Sabre heavyweight to put some early punches on Vetell and try to keep the fight on the feet, where he's got a chance to end it quickly.
Vetell's a great wrestler and grappler but having been knocked out twice in three IFL fights it's clear that he can be disposed of if you rock his noggin. His opponents' biggest successes have come when fists fly so it would be in the best interest of the Gracie trained fighter to take Cole down ASAP. The longer this fight lasts the more it benefits Vetell and his grappling cardio. If Vetell can last through the first round he should be able to increase his odds greatly.
Hard to say who will win between these two teams, especially with all the wildcard fighters involved, but no matter who ends up on top it will be dogfight in the finals once -- if -- everyone is healthy.
Between the Tokyo Sabres, New York Pitbulls, Los Angeles Anacondas and Quad-Cities Silverbacks, seven of the 20 fighters competing in the IFL semifinals Thursday at the Continental Airlines Arena have been replaced by substitutes, some of whom are replacing other subs.
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The battle between Tokyo and New York was particularly affected by the injuries, including some that occurred just days before the playoff showdown.
Savant
Young (Pictures) (Sabres) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius
(Pictures) (Pitbulls)
Savant Young (Pictures) wasn't himself during his last fight with Ryan Schultz (Pictures), losing some of his trademark tenacity thanks to an illness that had him "nasonexed" all week prior to the bout. Now that he's had time to get well, he's eager to get back in the ring and do his thing.
While Young was preparing for Erik Owings (Pictures), a late injury yanked the Pitbull lightweight off the card. Stepping in is Deividas Taurosevicius (Pictures), a Lithuanian grappler with a good submission game.
Owings would probably be a little more willing to stand and trade with Young, which is what the Sabre fighter wants. However, Young will now have to adjust a tad knowing that Taurosevicius will probably want to take him down at all costs.
Antonio McKee (Pictures) (Sabres) vs. Delson Heleno (Pictures) (Pitbulls)
This could be the MMA purist's sleeper fight of the night. Antonio McKee (Pictures) is one of the most underrated fighters in the game. He's won nine fights since his last loss to Karo Parisyan (Pictures) over four years ago while being criticized at times for relying on his superior wrestling skills by laying and smothering more than praying; these are the same skills that a dominant Sean Sherk (Pictures) would get heaps of praise for.
McKee has a knack for limiting his opponent's options down to one, staying right where he wants them. There's no doubt that McKee will take Heleno down, but will he be able to mount enough offense to close out the fight.
Delson Heleno (Pictures) has been flawless so far in his IFL run, but when he meets McKee it will be his most formidable foe to date. Heleno has shown some flashy jiu-jitsu but McKee should be able to give him fits on the ground. While they may be near equals on the ground, Heleno's ability to attack and finish may keep McKee from grinding out his usual decision win.
Dave Phillips (Sabres) vs. Dan Miller (Pictures) (Pitbulls)
Both Fabio Leopoldo (Pictures) and Kaz Hamanaka procured injuries in their last bouts that will keep them off the New Jersey card.
It's a devastating loss for the Sabres since Leopoldo has been one of the IFL's burgeoning stars and barring disaster would have given them an easy win over Hamanaka, who hasn't found a way to win yet.
Instead, filling in for the two fighters will be Dave Phillips and Dan Miller (Pictures).
Miller is a Cage Fury veteran with pedigree in the submission game that will face a journeyman fighter in Phillips. It's a bout that will have both men anxious to display their skills while receiving national exposure. Since both teams are sending in a sub for this weight class, the Sabres and Pitbulls might find themselves chewing some fingernails while awaiting the outcome between these two replacements.
Vladimir Matyushenko (Pictures) (Sabres) vs. Tim Boetsch (Pictures) (Pitbulls)
It's gotten to the point that it almost doesn't matter who is pitted against him -- Vlady is as close as a sure win as you can get in the IFL. He's obviously in a class of his own and it will be hard to find anyone that can best him at 205 pound in the IFL … or anywhere else for that matter.
Despite being ready to go last week, Jamal Patterson (Pictures) was curiously absent from the weigh-ins and in his place will be Tim Boetsch (Pictures), who stands at 6-0 outside of the IFL.
Matyushenko knows Boetsch, a good wrestler in his own right, has won by KO before, so his best chance against a staunch vet like Vlady is to swing away and hope for the best.
Wayne Cole (Pictures) (Sabres) vs. Bryan Vetell (Pictures) (Pitbulls)
Wayne Cole (Pictures) is a KO artist but will step into the ring with a little bit of rust on those hands. His last bout in the IFL was in March and ended with a knockout -- his own. Luckily for Cole, Thursday's opponent hasn't been in the ring lately either, so it will be a good chance for the scrappy Sabre heavyweight to put some early punches on Vetell and try to keep the fight on the feet, where he's got a chance to end it quickly.
Vetell's a great wrestler and grappler but having been knocked out twice in three IFL fights it's clear that he can be disposed of if you rock his noggin. His opponents' biggest successes have come when fists fly so it would be in the best interest of the Gracie trained fighter to take Cole down ASAP. The longer this fight lasts the more it benefits Vetell and his grappling cardio. If Vetell can last through the first round he should be able to increase his odds greatly.
Hard to say who will win between these two teams, especially with all the wildcard fighters involved, but no matter who ends up on top it will be dogfight in the finals once -- if -- everyone is healthy.
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