December 31st, Pride FC brings you Shockwave from Japan! Arguably their most important show of every year, this years card will not disappoint. A 5 hour spectacular!
Wanderlei Silva vs Ricardo Arona: These two fought a few months ago in the tournament where Arona got the upset win via decision. That ended an absurdly long win streak by the current light heavyweight champion Silva. This time it will be for the championship! So many people are saying it is time for Silva to be dethroned. Don't believe the hype. Just because he has finally had his streak broken, doesn't mean he is over. They say you're only as good as your last fight, forget that and watch Wanderlei return to greatness. I predict Silva will bounce back with a decision win or TKO.
Correctamundo. A great close battle ends with Silva retaining his title via split decision.
Fedor Emelianenko vs Zulu: Zulu gets the fight of his life against the seemingly unstoppable and pound for pound best fighter in the world! Pride heavyweight champion battles the Brazilian giant. Look, Zulu gets a title shot because he is huge and the Japanese love the freak show. He has no buisness being in the ring with the pound for pound best fighter in the world. Fedor wins easy.
Fedor did win easily with a KO.
Mirko Cro Cop vs Mark Hunt: There is a lot of bad blood and history between these two heavyweights. Mirko defeated Hunt years ago over in K-1 via decision. Cro Cop is upset over Hunt calling him out last New Year's Eve but avoiding him all year long. How funny is it that for once Cro Cop will be the better man on the ground? This is not K-1. Hunt is in for a rude awakening. Mark can throw hands but so can Mirko. The difference is Cro Cop has more MMA experience (which is vital) and Hunt can do nothing on the ground. Cro Cop wins in a landslide.
Mark Hunt gets the upset of the night with a split decision victory over Cro Cop. I look forward to a rematch!
Takanori Gomi vs Hayato Sakurai: The finals of the Lightweight tournament pits two amazing fighters against each other. Both are popular fighters who promise to deliver an exciting fight for the championship! Hayato has got to be the favorite but I am picking with my heart. Gomi has enough heart and determination for all of Japan. I believe Gomi will find a way to become the first lightweight champion! This fight is not for betters as either man could come away with the victory.
Gomi finds a way, KOing Sakurai to become the first lightweight champion!
Dan Henderson vs Murilo Bustamante: The finals of the Middleweight tournament bring us these two great fighters. Murilo a former UFC middleweight champion faces off against Team Quest member Henderson. Bet heavily on Henderson. He has the size and stand up advantage. He has also fought and hung with the best in the world. Before the tournament Bustamante was on a losing streak. He is better at submissions but will be overpowered. Barring a submission, I see Dan winning pretty easily.
A tough match where Bustamante showed great stand up skills. In the end, the knees of Henderson gave the Team Quest member the Middleweight championship through a split decision.
Hidehiko Yoshida vs Nayoa Ogawa: These two fellow Japanese fighters will square off in a heavyweight fight. Ogawa's only loss is to Fedor. There is no shame in that. Yoshida has fought the very best in the world like Silva twice. Both times he has fared well. I just believe Yoshida will find a way to win. Still, Ogawa is impressive. An even bout betters should stay away from.
Yoshida wins with an armbar.
Sanae Kikuta vs Makoto Takimoto: Kikuta a former King of Pancrase and Takimoto a judo gold medalist will deliver a great fight. Kikuta is a newcomer facing off against the man with 34 professional fights. I don't like fighters with little experience. Both will fight in the gi, and I pick Kikuta.
Kikuta wins with a unanimous decision.
Yuki Kondo vs Kazuhiro Nakamura: Legendary fighter Yuki Kondo takes on a rising star named Nakamura. Nak has good wins over Vovchanchyn, Randleman, and Bustamante on his resume. But this is Yuki Kondo. The man has 65 pro fights! Still, I go back on what I say and pick the more inexperienced fighter. Nakamura for the KO win.
It goes the distance with Nakamura winning with a unanimous decision.
Aleksander Emelianenko vs Pawel Nastula: Nastula is food for Fedor's little brother. The guy has had only one fight which he lost. Soon he'll have two. Aleksander KO win.
Aleksander shows good all around game winning by submission in the first round.
"The Punk" Minowa vs Sakuraba: Now this is an interesting fight. Sakuraba the hero of Japan who's career is winding down. Minowa trying to replace Sakuraba as the most popular fighter in Japan. Both of these guys are good and coming off big career wins. I believe Sakuraba will outlast the shoddy cardio work that Minowa always brings. Yet, Minowa could KO Sak if he gets close enough. An entertaining fight that should go to Sakuraba.
Sakuraba wins by submission. Sak is back and on a roll!
James Thompson vs Paulo Cesar Silva: I guess James only fights freaks. "Giant" Silva hardly ever wins and this should be no exception. "Colossus" will win by KO or doctor stoppage. This may set up and rematch with Aleksander Emelianenko who already beat him.
Thompson gets the TKO win smashing down the giant.
Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett vs Ken Kaneko: "Krazy" always lives up to the name. This time he will be fighting a Japanese TV star (yes seriously). Supposedly Kaneko has been training for a while now. I just can't see him beating the always tough Bennett who has heavy, heavy hands.
Krazy Horse beats the TV star with an armbar in the first round.
2005 is over and Pride put on a great Shockwave card! We went 11 for 12 with our picks with only the upset win by Mark Hunt suprising us and Cro Cop.
Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva showed why he is still the man to beat by defeating a very game Arona. Silva controlled the fight when they were on their feet while Arona controlled the ground game. Silva did get some good strikes from his back and a take down on Arona that I believe put him over on the score cards. It will be interesting to see who Silva fights next for the championship. Possibly, a rematch with Vitor Belfort!?!
Fedor the heavyweight champ won easily over Zulu suprising no one. The only question is whether anyone will be able to even hand with Fedor in the coming year.
What has Cro Cop done? Seemingly on his way to another title shot, he has stumbled again against an opponent he should have easily beaten. Though Hunt has now beaten Silva and Cro Cop, I still don't think he is that good of an MMA fighter. Someone needs to take this guy down and reveal his weakness. Cro Cop will go back down the rankings.
Takanori "The Fireball Kid" Gomi continues to rise as he KO'd a great fighter in Sakurai. Gomi just continues to impress and get better. Now who wants a shot at the new champion? I'd like to see Yves Edwards get a chance.
Dan Henderson now holds 2 victories over Murilo Bustamante. I must admit Murilo did a lot better than I thought, and showed great improvement with his hands. Henderson almost got the KO win but a decision still gave him the Middleweight championship! Maybe now Henderson will meet Sakuraba!?!
Aleksander Emelianenko continues to show how good of a heavyweight he is. Still, where does he go from here? He is not going to fight his older brother for the belt. He's already beaten up and comer James Thompson via KO. I wish he would head to UFC and challenge the heavyweights there.
Congradulations to all the fighters for putting on a better show than rival K-1. We look forward to more great PPV's from Pride this year!
