SAN JOSE SHOCKER; Werdum makes Fedor tap out in first
Fabricio Wedum scored one of the biggest upsets in MMA history as he made the man who widely regarded as the number-one Pound for Pound fighter, Fedor Emelianenko tap out in the first round of their scheduled three round Heavyweight bout at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Emelianeko knocked Werdum down early in round one and then jumped on Wrdum. Werdum was able to get a triangle choke combined with an armbar that made the legend tap out for his first loss in over ten years.
The time of the stoppage was 1:09 for Werdum, 238 1/2 lbs of Marina Del Ray, CA and is now 13-4-1 with eight submissions. Emelianenko, 229 lbs of Stary Oskol, Russia and is 31-2-1.
“I am so very, very happy,’’ the six-foot-four Werdum said. “He is such a strong man. He is a great fighter. I would be glad to fight him again.’’
“One that doesn’t fall doesn’t stand up. I was concentrating on the strikes and made a mistake,’’ Fedor said. “I will have to go back and analyze what happened.’’
Werdum may also have earned an immediate shot at STRIKEFORCE heavyweight world champion, Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem, whom he’s already defeated once. “I am ready to fight anybody,’’ Werdum said.
Cung Le got revenge as he stopped Scott Smith in round two of their scxeduled three round Middleweight fight.
Le nailed Smith with a spinning kick to the body that sent Smith down. Le jumped on Smith and punched Smith until referee Jason herzog stopped the bout at 1:46. Le, 184 3/4 lbs of San Jose avenges his only defeat and is 7-1 with all wins coming by stoppage. Smith, 184 3/4 lbs of Elk Green, CA is now18-7-1
“I want to thank Scott Coker and SHOWTIME. I know what happened last time and was determined not to have it happen again. I knew I was in shape. I was pushed really hard during training. I was totally focused. I didn’t eat pizza. I didn’t eat chocolate for six or seven weeks.
Cris Cyborg retained the woman’s Middleweight title with a savage two round beating over a game Jan Finney.
Cyborg bloodied and battered Finney for most of the fight as she landed countless punches and knees but Finney showed no quit until the referee stopped the bout at 2:56 of round two of the scheduled five round bout. Cybor landed a staggering 146 strikes in the almost eight minute fight.
Cyborg, 144 1/2 lbs of Curitba, Brazil is now 11-1 with eight knockouts. Finney, 143 1/2 lbs of Springfield, OH is now 8-8.
“I was really surprised the fight wasn’t stopped in the first round,’’ said Cyborg after her 10th consecutive victory. “I know she was trying hard, but I could tell I was hurting her, especially when she was down and covering up like she was. But it is my job to keep fighting until the fight is over.’’
“I think this, being a world title fight, could have gone on a little longer,’’ she said. “If I was really hurt, I would have tapped.’’, said Finney
Josh Thomson choked out Pat Healy at 4:20 of round three in their scheduled three round Lightweight bout.
Thomson attempted to choke out Healy several times from multiple positions over the first two-plus round before locking in a rear naked choke in the final minute of the bout.
Thomson of San Jose is now 17-3-1 with nine submissions. Healy of Portland, OR is now 13-16