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Dewey Placard_complete_small
Dewey
May 30, 2008

MMA weekend preview: Elite XC and WEC

Sunday the Yard will be ringside at WEC 34, which pits challenger Jens Pulver against champion Urijah Faber. Watch our preview video here, and stay tuned for fight updates in the comments. Saturday there is a nationally televised Elite XC event featuring Kimbo Slice, who despite his growing popularity hasn't really fought anyone worth mentioning. The last guy he fought (Tank Abbot) has only one victory in his previous nine fights (spanning 10 years). Saturday night they've pitted Kimbo against James Thompson, who is 14-8 with two straight losses. One of those fights he lost 10 seconds into the first round. What kind of challenger is that? Absurd. Clearly the Elite XC has a vested interest in making sure Kimbo wins a few fights so they can build his brand and compete with the UFC. And Saturday night also features challenger Kaitlin Young against champion Gina Carano, who failed to make weight but will still fight (with a 12.5% purse penalty). The Sunday night fight, available free on Versus network, is going to be the best fight of the weekend, in my opinion. Jens "Lil Evil" Pulver has intense power with his left hand, and Urijah "California Kid" Faber is a ground-and-pound submission specialist. For more on this fight, watch the video, which features myself and Yardbarker colleague Andrew Machado dishing the dirt on Sunday's main event. In case you're wondering, yes, the video was filmed in a prison, and no, not everyone that works at Yardbarker looks like Mr. Clean. Machado (a.k.a. Mr. Machine) also breaks down the other top fights on Sunday night. KENNETH ALEXANDER vs. RAZOR ROB McCULLOUGH: Fresh off his loss to Jamie Varner, Razor Rob is ready to get back on a winning streak. What's interesting here is that Alexander stopped Rob back in 2002 via decision. Look for Razor to take this via knockout. CHUCK GRISBY vs. MARK MUNOZ: Grigsby comes strapped with one hell of a record (13-3). Currently he is riding an eight-fight losing streak. Munoz is way too new to the sport; expect Grigsby to submit this kid quickly. YOSHIRO MAEDA vs. MIGUEL ANGEL TORRES: Maeda brings a lot of experience to the table, but Torres is amazing. He seems stronger than everyone, faster than everyone, and possesses incredible submissions. This fight goes two rounds with Torres winning via triangle choke or armbar. ### ELITE XC: SATURDAY NIGHT (CBS): 9PM ET (6PM PT) WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING: SUNDAY NIGHT (VERSUS): 9PM ET (6PM PT) ### VIDEO PREVIEW : Champion Urijah "California Kid" Faber vs. Challenger Jens "Lil Evil" Pulver

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Replies (70)
  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said May 30, 2008

    I'm pumped to see The Manic Hispanic and Lil Evil this weekend.
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    • oflarity

      oflarity Placard_complete_small replied May 31, 2008

      I love your brain fart around 5:25 - hard to spit out Nogueira?
  • fat2rak005

    fat2rak005 said May 30, 2008

    I can't wait to see these fights live! ARCO ARENA HERE I COME!!!!
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  • Latinferno

    Latinferno Placard_complete_small said May 31, 2008

    I have it set on my TIVO. Only for the Slice fight mainly. He's been fighting washed up bums thus far. And it looks like another bum is on the menu tonight. Oh well. He's still pretty new at MMA so I don't fault them for pitting him up against top notch talent. He would be destroyed. Give him some experience and then we can see how good he is in the next year.
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  • GSWgirl

    GSWgirl Placard_complete_small said May 31, 2008

    Ringside?!
    I want your Job, Dewey.
    and how the hell do you fail to make weight when you have a weight class made just for you?! Should be fun to watch either way.
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  • tedhill

    tedhill Placard_complete_small said May 31, 2008

    KImbo, FTW!
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  • DMontana

    DMontana said May 31, 2008

    what channel is it on i got direct tv ?
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    • Dewey

      Dewey Placard_complete_small replied June 01, 2008

      Versus Network tonight.
  • etg4902

    etg4902 said May 31, 2008

    The ref stopped that fight way too early! He's the worst ref I've ever seen!
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    • GSWgirl

      GSWgirl Placard_complete_small replied June 01, 2008

      I totally agree.
      No one thinks it's fishy - though that Kimbo was getting his face pounded for about 30 straight punches (not hard ones - but he wasn't defending himself) and then the ref stopped the fight while the other guy was still standing?
      They should've let him finish it.
      • FSUx407

        FSUx407 replied June 01, 2008

        are you kidding? he was getting knocked to the point where he couldn't defend himself. You said yourself Kimbo was defending.

        Also, if you pay attention to any type of boxing or fighting, when there is excessive blood or when there is a chance of severe injury the fight should be called. Thompson's cauliflower ear POPPED, i think that is grounds for stoppage.

        ...now the fight where the guy got poked in the eye, that might have been a little early.
        • GSWgirl

          GSWgirl Placard_complete_small replied June 01, 2008

          where did I say Kimbo was defending himself? I said he wasn't.
          His ear popped awhile before they stopped it.
          And if you pay attention to MMA they do not stop fights unless the blood is getting in thier vision.
          I have seen fights continue when blood is spurting out like a fountain.
          And his ear was destryoed long before he got in the ring with Kimbo.
        • FSUx407

          FSUx407 replied June 01, 2008

          WWE? ignorance is bliss.
        • etg4902

          etg4902 replied June 01, 2008

          You must be one of those WWE fans who have crossed over because your analysis of the fight and why it was stopped tells me you're a new fan. Don't get mad about it either. You are an obvious Kimbo fan who is biased here. I'm sure Kimbo would have won during that round, but it WAS stopped too early.
  • theoneandonly

    theoneandonly Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Yea I agree with etg for once. He stopped the fight to soon, but Thompson was definitely going down after a couple more punches. The ref was a tool. As for everybody dissing on James Thompson, dont talk about things you dont know about. He has a great chin, a lot of people said he had a glass jaw. It was definitely the exact opposite. Kimbo needs to work on some stamina! This fight was a great fight for him to go back and watch and learn from his mistakes. His stand up was okay, he was sloppy, but definitely can throw some combos... I thought James was going down a few times, but he impressed me a lot more than I thought he would.
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    • etg4902

      etg4902 replied June 01, 2008

      Amen! Needs more combos and stamina. His ground defense was better than I thought, but his ground game attack wasn't up to snuff. He'll learn a lot from this fight. I'm glad it went more than a round. I actually though Kimbo would loose this one after watching him get hammer fisted for one straight minute. He looked like he gave up. The ref did jump in too soon and everyone that was over watching was mad. Well, we'll see what he learns before his next fight and we'll see if his stamina can increase. Now all the die hard Kimbo supporters, you know who you are, the ones who think he can beat anyone, now you can all shut your mouths. He almost lost to a so so fighter with a strong chin. Peace, I'm out.
  • FIVERINGS

    FIVERINGS Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Kimbo needed that knockout because if he would have on the ground again, he wouldn't have won that fight.
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  • Chuster33

    Chuster33 said June 01, 2008

    Jamesis known for having a glass jaw, and Kimbo couldn't knock him out with some solid shots. Now Kimbo's punching power might come into question along with his ground game. How bout that ear though!
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  • FSUx407

    FSUx407 said June 01, 2008

    There is no way you can question Thompson's chin. He took 4-5 major hits at the beginning of rounds 2 and 3. Kimbo, however, couldn't finish him due to his stamina being non-existant.

    That ear was not only gross after the fight, but before. A bunch of us were just laughing at it (due to us being grossed out) when he was standing there.

    As for the ref stopping it too early...HE DIDN'T. If he would have stopped it during the first few hits that made Thompson woozy then we would have an argument, but his cauliflower ear POPPED, that is not only gross but unsafe and dangerous for both fighters. Kimbo defended himself on the ground and the match kept going like it should, Thompson got woozy after the early round 3 punches + the ear popper = unsafe, match was ended.

    now, the guy who got poked in the eye, that ending might have been a little premature

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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    The Pulver/Faber fight will be better than anything we saw last night, save for maybe the Carano fight.
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  • sh74731962 said June 01, 2008

    Yeah the chick fight was the best skilled fight of the nght
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  • sh74731962 said June 01, 2008

    Kimbo needs alot of work before he fights for the Big-boy belt. He wouldn't even be in the top 20 Heavyweights in the UFC.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Dewey and I are live from Arco. Expect updates throughout the day. Go Pulver!
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    My prediction is Faber in the first. Undercard is scheduled to start in five minutes.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    First bout, Cruz nearly ended it in the first, heading into the third just about tied up.
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  • tylerdoney said June 01, 2008

    thanks dewey, keep the updates coming
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Back forth both guys just slugging it out. Charlie can't get passes the reach disadvantage. He is getting jabbed to death.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Cruz had too much reach, and Valencia lost by unanimous decision and took a beating in the process.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Alexandre Nogueria vs. Jose Aldo, who at 10-1 is nine years younger with more reach. But it's his first WEC fight and he looks nervous.
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  • tylerdoney said June 01, 2008

    who's up next...nogueira?
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Nogueria ran around the ring for 5 minutes. Round one all Aldo.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Nogueria went for the shoot with a minute left in the first, and failed, but otherwise spent the entire round in retreat.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Nogueria just did a backflip off the cage. It was absurd. Poor nogueria they are putting him back together after a ground and pound.
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    • Dewey

      Dewey Placard_complete_small replied June 01, 2008

      Celebratory flip, of course. Not during the fight.
  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Nogueria is lucky to be alive. Got his arm pinned and took about 12 blows to the head at close range. Fight called in the second.
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  • tylerdoney said June 01, 2008

    wow
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Sapo vs. Serdyukov.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Sapo slips and falls down. Alex jumps on him gets mount and pounds him until the bell sounded. Sapo is unable to continue.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Next up Lang vs McKenzie.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Mckenzie has the mohawk braided and is ready to give Lang his first loss.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Lang dominated. MckenIe did elbow him from bottom position and cut him real bad. Round one Lang ten to nine.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    What a round. Lang shoots and takes Mckenzie down. Gets a rear naked choke but mckenzie escapes. He gets the choke again and again Mckenzie escapes but turns it over and now he is in his guard. Pounding ensues until Lang scrambles to his feet. Round is too close to call.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Lang just gave him a nut shot to kick off round three. Time out. Mckenzie hits a knee as Lang shoots in. Lang is rocked and Mckenzie hits a guillotine and puts Lang too sleep!

    What a comeback!
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    next up Will Ribeiro versus Chase Bebe. Let's see if Bebe gets back on the winning track after losing his belt to Torres.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    I cannot believe what I just witnessed. More details tomorrow, but in short: Lang could have won this fight, but he let McKenzie escape two guillotine holds, and after receiving a cheap shot to the nuts, McKenzie recovered and choked Lang cold. It is a shame they did not televise that fight. McKenzie demonstrated toughness equal to anything that I have ever seen.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Rebeiro showing some awesome kicks. Had Bebe in two guillotene chokes. Chase rolls the second into full guard reigns down punches and elbows. Scramble back to feet. Ribeiro lands spinning backfist bebe is hurt. Round over.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Bebe looks to be outmatched. He is losing the battle on his feet and is barely surviving on the ground. I say round two might be for Bebe just do to him pushing the action on the ground.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    The crowd is getting hostile toward the cameramen, who block 1/4 of your view from some seats.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Decision coming but Bebe lost round three. 29-28 Rebiero 29-28 Bebe 29-28 Rebiero. Split decision win.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Jeff Curren versus Mike Brown up next.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Faber sporting cornrows tonight. Just showed him on the big screen. Curran/Brown is pretty below average so far. I'd give the first round to Brown because he had better positioning, but neither fighter threatened victory in the first.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Brown took Curren down and seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges. Round one Brown.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Brown takes round two.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Curran had a chance to choke out Brown at the end of the third, but Brown was saved by the bell. Unanimous decision, Brown wins. Snooze.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Brown won the decision of the judges. Snnnnoooooze
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    chuck Liddell just walked by.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    local boy danny castillo versus donald cerrone. Last fight before its live.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Local boy lost via armbar. The winner is wearing a cowboy hat
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    its fight time. This place is defening. Short skirts and the begining of tv coverage.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    That last fight lasted only 30 seconds. They're playing a bunch of hype videos and everything from here on out is on Versus. Tune in.

    Team Faber is nearby, and they look amped. The event is not sold out but it's nearly full. Probably 95% or more.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Rage against the machine blarrin through the arena. The entire crowd has a crush on Urijah Faber.
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    anyone got thoughts on razor rob's tattoos?
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Tito in Razor Rob's corner!
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  • pelechati

    pelechati Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    chuck Liddell walked by again. Due to the awfulness that was round one everyone turned to see chuck.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Not sure I agree with that split decision. I think Alexander should have won that fight.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    Best sign so far: URIJAH THE GODS ARE IN YOUR FABER.
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  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    First fight in the crowd. Surprised it took that long.
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    • fat2rak005

      fat2rak005 replied June 02, 2008

      did you see when the guy pushed the other guy while he was being escorted by the cops. I was sitting behind the press section with some great seats.
      • Dewey

        Dewey Placard_complete_small replied June 02, 2008

        I missed that.
  • Dewey

    Dewey Placard_complete_small said June 01, 2008

    They're taking Grisby out on a stretcher. Larry Holmes' former manager turned to me after the knockout, and said: "Not very classy, is it?" Correction: Grisby was able to walk out on his own two legs. He does not look good, though.
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