Here we go…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
It’s time. No more countdown, no more previewing. It’s time for EliteXC: Unfinished Business. Our first three bouts are on Showtime with coverage switching over to CBS at 8 p.m.
Fight #1: Wilson Reis vs. Bryan Caraway. Excellent fight to start the broadcast. It was a close one-sided decision, if that makes any sense. Caraway’s strength was the standup, and he landed a solid knee to the side Reis’ head, busting Reis open.
Reis controlled the ground game. What Reis did such a great job at was getting inside without incurring too much damage. This was supposed to be a coming out party for Reis, but Caraway refused to just be an opponent. Good start. Tough, hard-fought win for Reis.
Reis is only 5-0 and definitely showed some flaws, which makes him more marketable, in my opinion. You see someone like him and you starting thinking ‘I can beat this guy.’ If Caraway really fought with a dislocated kneecap, wow. Seriously, I don’t know if there are degrees of disolocations, but not having two good wheels may have been why Reis was always able to get Caraway back on the ground.
Decision: Reis 30-27 on all three cards. 30-27 on Boneman’s card.
Fight #2. Rafael Feijao vs. Travis Galbraith. Feijao took control with the knees. He landed four crisp shots and Galbraith had no chance. Galbraith only took this fight on two weeks notice, so he wasn’t nearly as sharp as he needed to be. Take nothing away from Feijao who did what he was supposed to do. Feijao did a great job of not getting flustered in the first couple of minutes. Things weren’t really going his way early, but he stuck with it and finished it in fine form.
Feijao by KO at 3:01 of the first round.
Fight #3: Antonio Big Foot Silva vs. Justin Eiliers. Big Foot? More like Big Head. Guy has a massive cranium. Anyway, Silva did what was expected. Even with the point deduction in the first round for hitting the back of the head, you knew it wasn’t going to matter. Silva closes the show impressively in round 2 to win the EliteXC heavyweight title.
Silva by KO in the second round.
Fight #4: Cristiane Cyborg vs. Shayna Baszler.
What an appropriate name for a fighter, Cyborg. Baszler did a pretty good job in round one. Had some near submissions, but if it wasn’t going to happen early, then it just wasn’t going to happen. Cyborg pummeled Baszler into the ground in round two and thought the fight was over cuz her opponent fell. Eh, rookie (just kidding, Cyborg). I was actually more impressed by the stoppage after that because that was a lot of energy she released when she initially thought she won. This could set up a HUGE women’s money fight with Cyborg and Gina Carano (who was in attendance).
Cyborg KO 2.
Fight #5: Nick Thompson vs. Jake Shields. Shields took control early and got into full mount faster than I ever thought would happen. It didn’t take long for Shields to put in that guillotine choke. Game, set match, Shields is your new champion.
Shields KO 1.
Fight #6 Thomas Denny vs. Nick Diaz. And Stockton is giving Diaz an unreal home crowd advantage. Denny took the fight to Diaz early, but that appeared to be all he had in the arsenal. Diaz did enough to win round one and battered Denny throughout round two before it was mercifully stopped. I don’t know how big Diaz can be in terms of a star, but he’ll always be the man in Stockton; that much is obvious.
Diaz KO 2.
Fight #7 Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith. Ooh boy, here we go with the rematch. Don’t quote me, but I think they went the entire first round without going to the ground. I gave Lawler the slight advantage. Round two, umm, no question. Lawler attacks furiously out of the gate. Lands some devastating knees and some more and that’ll do it. Lawler is your new middleweight champion.
Lawler KO 2.
Overall thoughts: Excellent show for CBS. There was skill, heart, no controversies. This is how you build an audience. Phenomenal job. More thoughts Sunday.
Bonus: The Boneman also weaseled his way to seeing the Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto boxing fight on PPV. I’ve said it before but great boxing beats great MMA all the time. I don’t want to hyperbolize anything, but this was sensational. Margarito eventually took out Cotto in the 11th to give Miguel his first loss. It was pressure, pressure and more pressure. Finally, Cotto wilted. He had no more to give. For the record, I had Margarito up 96-95 entering the 11th round. Also, more on this classic Sunday.
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