The IFL has been hammered for many things by fans, and often justifiably so. The tape delays on the broadcasts made them difficult to become immersed in, and the regional team format never exceeded the exalted rank of ‘cheesy.’ This Grand Prix has answered the call. Tournaments are the most definitive way to determine who is the best (just ask any LSU or Hawaii Football Fan) and MMA fans get gleefully nostalgic when thinking about the UFC’s early days.
The IFL took a page out of PRIDE’s old playbook and put this one together for us and the final card is solid. Not only do we see the culmination of the tournament, but there’s five title fights. Yep, that’s right; five. Hard to find that anywhere. In addition to that, it’s free if you got the right cable package! Good stuff all around and with the exception of the light heavyweights, every division will be active. Five men will join Vladimir Matyushenko as inaugural IFL champs in their respective weight classes and we can drink it all in without spending any more money than we already have.
The Title Fights
Featherweight: Wagnney Fabiano (8-1) vs. L.C. Davis (9-0)
The two 145lbers both sport a spotless record in the IFL, and only one loss beyond it; combined. The WEC has proven that the lighter weight classes are exciting as hell, and Fabiano and Davis are no exception.
Davis brings the patented Miletich offensive, a headstrong approach with a foundation of strong wrestling, good conditioning and judicious hands. Davis has gone on record saying he can handle Fabiano on the feet and he’ll keep it there. By my estimation, he’d better. The 5’6” Brazilian has shown surprising strength, and combined with superior jiu-jitsu skills is on a 4-0 tear behind four submissions.
Aggressive wrestling has played into the hands of the slick jiu-jitsu artists before, and I look for the same to happen here. The Carlos Newton trained fighter will be the strongest opponent Davis has tangled with. Fabiano’s recent move from lightweight down to his natural 145lb world will make him the IFL’s first Featherweight champ.
My Pick: Fabiano by Armbar, Round 2
Lightweight: Chris Horodecki (11-0) vs. Ryan Schultz (17-9-1)
The entire MMA world is well aware of who Horodecki is by now. The IFL posterboy possesses that strange cocktail of boyish looks and deadly fighting ability that is tough to resist. At just 20 years of age, the Polish kickboxer is poised to be an MMA superstar. There’s only one man standing in his way, and that’s Schultz.
The scrappy Schultz hails from Team Quest and should look to employ a grinding ground and pound attack. These two faced off in November ’06 and Horodecki finished the Oregon native early in the second frame. He no doubt wants that to happen again, and as Shad Lierley proved Chris is at his least dangerous when he’s on his back.
The records of the two fighters are trending in polar opposite directions; Horodecki with eleven straight wins and the ten year elder Schultz posting a 6-5 record. The discrepancy is a little misleading. Schultz has fought much tougher competition, notably recent UFC contender Hermes Franca and Rich Clementi over his last eleven. He also has wins over the UFC’s great Hispanic hope Roger Huerta, Jason Dent and took ‘JZ’ Calvancante to a draw.
All signs point toward The Polish Hammer being another A-Class 145lber, and he’ll hand the Gresham native his tenth loss of his career. The Hammer’s striking shoots in from all angles, and the especially swift right leg of Horodecki will wear down the wrestler for the first eight minutes, paving the way for a late TKO win. The IFL will crown its first LW champ, and top-ten lists everywhere will be forced to take notice.
My Pick: Horodecki by TKO, Round 3
Welterweight: Jay Hieron (13-4) vs. Delson Heleno (13-3)
These two 170lb warriors offer the most hotly contested fight in any of the five divisions bestowing belts. Both are skilled ground fighters, with the major difference being what each has shown on the feet. Hieron has demonstrated some dangerous hands that can keep pace with tough wrestling. The Extreme Couture camp raves about Hieron’s athleticism, and his 5-2 run has bore it out.
Heleno is a submission stud and the Brazilian will enter the ring with his 6-2 IFL record draped over his shoulders. “Pe De Chumbo” was an integral part of Renzo Gracie’s Championship Pitbulls, losing just once to Antonio Mckee in the Semifinals. Heleno has managed all this success despite presenting any striking ability whatsoever. The wrestling ability of Hieron is too good, and without respectable striking to be concerned about any takedown attempts will be forced.
The one dimensional offense won’t be able to contain the strength of the New York born Hieron. In the mold of Rashad Evans, Hieron’s mix of athleticism, wrestling and strength will be too much to handle. The Anacondas will own a second belt after Hieron progressively batters Heleno over 12 minutes.
My Pick: Hieron by Unanimous Decision
Middleweight: Benji Radach (17-3) vs. Matt Horwich (20-9-1)
Some classic situations never get old: people falling down, dogs in outfits, Will Smith in a futuristic setting, and the striker vs. grappler matchup. To make it even more interesting, each is adept at nullifying the others specialty. Radach, the striker, has never been submitted. Horwich, the wily submission fighter, has never been stopped by strikes.
Radach’s hands are powerful and have stopped four out of five of his IFL opponents. American Top Team is reputed for their striking acumen and Benji is no exception. His last four opponents have failed to survive four minutes in the ring with the Washington State native. The first win of Radach’s IFL career was a convincing TKO over Ryan McGivern in the second, and all five IFL wins have come in 2007.
Horwich has been healthy and consistently active as well having already fought four times this year. “Suave” is in the running for the best nickname in the sport and couldn’t be more fitting when seeking to describe the ground game of Horwich. 18 of the 20 times the Team Quest fighter has had his hand raised, it was a result of a submission. The awkwardness of Horwich’s movements will be tough for Radach initially.
I’m thinking we’ll see history here, and Horwich may finally find himself staring up at the lights when all is said and done. Radach is a the proverbial ‘bull in a china shop’ in the 185 pound division and behind a series of smashing right hands will give the snakes from L.A. yet another belt.
My Pick: Radach by TKO, Round 2
Heavyweight: Roy Nelson (10-2) vs. Antoine Jaoude (8-2)
These are two enormous heavyweights in this one. Nelson at 6’0”, 258 lbs and Jaoude at 6’3” and 253 lbs means that that ring will be dealing with over 500lbs of human being; not including the referee.
The two are very similar fighters and both like the action to be on the mat. Nelson is credited with giving Ben Rothwell his toughest test in the ring, and many feel ‘Big Country’ was robbed of a decision victory in that fight last April. In that 12 minute battle Nelson showed decent hands and possibly the best cardio I’ve ever seen for a man with his physique.
Jaoude also appears to have a little bit of everything in his bag of tricks, his 4-0 IFL record has come via submission, striking and decision victories. But his bread and butter is wrestling. The Brazilian is a Pan-Am silver medalist who knows how to use every ounce of his ability.
The Jiu-Jitsu of Nelson has been praised in the past, so what we may see play out is a meticulous game of cat and mouse on the floor. I give the advantage on the feet to Jaoude, as well as in the clinch. I see Jaode being slightly better over the full twelve minutes.
My Pick: Jaoude by Split Decision
Other Action on the Card
Tim Kennedy (8-2) vs. Elias Rivera (3-2)
I know. It seems like there’s a Kennedy around every corner, but this one isn’t a politician with an annoying New England accent. This is the one you just saw two weeks ago on HDNet, scrapping it out with Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller. Despite ultimately losing the contest, Kennedy looked great all through the rematch. Striking ability and submission offense and defense were all there for the middleweight.
Elias Rivera is no Mayhem either. He hasn’t shown a particularly iron chin so far in his career, surrendering two KO losses to fighters much less capable than Kennedy. Barring exhaustion from the quick turnaround time, Kennedy should take this fight. The striking that gave Mayhem fits will end Rivera’s evening in early.
My Pick: Kennedy by TKO, Round 1.
Rory Markham (12-2) vs. Brett Cooper (6-4)
Cooper, like Rivera, has been handed a difficult bout for his IFL debut. Markham is the IFL’s KO artist in the welterweight division and has six KO or TKO wins in the promotion. The Milietich boys always come ready to bring it, and their school’s pride should fuel Rory’s fire. Cooper is the first of the IFL draftee to make an appearance in the ring. No matter how short it may be, he can at least be proud of that. Despite a noteworthy win over TUF alumnus Jason Von Flue four weeks ago, Cooper gets canned in this one.
My Pick: Markham by KO, Rd 1
Marcello Salazar (6-1-2) vs. Alex Cook (8-5)
These two IFL newcomers met before last year, and Cook banged out a TKO win over the Brazilian. Since that loss Salazar has gone undefeated going 4-0 with four submission wins. The 6’1” Brit is looking to rebound from a loss in Cage Rage, and will have the recently announced new coach Ian Freeman in his corner.
I’ll be honest here, I’ve never seen Salazar fight before. A fruitless search of the internet yielded only a myriad of submission wins. Cook on the other hand I have seen and he’s susceptible to the sub, as evidenced by his last fight. I’m going with the Jiu-Jitsu wiz in this undercard fight.
My Pick: Salazar by Submission, Round 3.