PRIDE FC 2 – 03.15.98

Pride Fighting Championships
March 15, 1998
Yokohama Arena

Previously In PRIDE FC…

I read your comments so I’m bringing you more PRIDE than a gay Klingon.

Thankfully Stephen Quadros and Bas Rutten are commentating again so even if this show sucks, it’s going to be a fun suck.

Royler Gracie vs. Yuhi Sano

Sano is a UWFi/Kingdom guy and a hell of a wrestler. I think PRIDE’s strategy is to keep throwing wrestlers at the Gracies until one of them avenges Takada. Ha, as if a pro wrestler could defeat a Gracie. Can you imagine?

Quadros thinks Sano will do his best to avoid going to the mat. Gracie gets a Greco-Roman clinch so Sano does his best to sit up and out of it. Gracie simply sweeps him into a butterfly guard while the camera shows Takada is seconding Sano. Oh that’ll help. Gracie does lots of moving around while keeping Sano on the mat to keep him guessing. Sano does manage to stand out of it and attempt a kind of Powerbomb but he loses the grip so it’s nothing. Well done anyway.

Quadros compares Royler to a rock climber because he can find something to grab onto even when there’s nothing there. Bas adds “yeah, and he looks like a rock climber!” I want Bas & Taz to team up. Royler holds onto Sano but doesn’t commit to anything with the Greco-Roman position to set up the next move. “Sano hasn’t done anything. Nothing!” blasts Quadros as Sano does nothing. I mean he’s defending but Royler’s waiting for him to do something so right now there’s not much to talk about. Quadros assumes Sano is more of a grappler because of his lack of striking, but he’s also trying to stay on the mat with a frigging Gracie. Royler sweeps him again as we get told this will be a no-judge fight. I’m glad they’re remembering to let us know what the rules are because they changed more than Spinal Tap drummers last time.

Royler gets the side mount to keep wearing out Sano as the crowd is so quiet you can hear a pin fall. Bas starts singing Simon & Garfunkel as we hit ten minutes. Royler changes mount and that kills a few minutes. Quadros asks if this is what people want to see, one guy mounting and the opponent doing nothing. Probably not mate. Royler’s waiting to counter something, anything but Sano gives him nothing. The silence gets broken up by cat-calls from the fans. “I don’t want to see this fight go for thirty minutes. This is boring. Ask me something else.”

Fifteen minutes in, Sano is still playing dead. Eventually Sano tries a sweep but Royler prevents it by going to the mount again. Royler gets a few weak taps to the head which causes Bas to laugh and wonder if they count as strikes. Quadros does his best to convince us that Royler is throwing deliberately soft strikes so Sano will stop blocking them and keep himself open for a proper one. You need an active imagination to commentate fights like this. “That was great, that fight where they lay on the mat fighting like insects” mocks Quadros, leading to Bas doing Tony Mantana impressions. “Dey looka like cockaroaches to me, mang.” I wonder if any PRIDE representatives ever heard this commentary.

Twenty minutes in, Royler still holding. I feel like Kent Brockman commentating on a Soccer match. Quadros talks about how fights like this are why wrestling became successful because you’re guaranteed entertainment. “If you went to a heavy metal concert and a band came on and played long, slow Blues songs, they would probably have things thrown at them. The mosh pit would collapse out of boredom!”

Twenty five minutes in and the crowd start applauding. “Probably because it means the fight is nearly over!” Sano escapes unexpectedly but decides to kneel next to Royler to try some strikes. So Royler wraps his legs around him and strikes Sano instead. Does Sano have any plan at all? Sano complains to the ref that Royler pulled his glove off, Royler apologies and lets him put it back on. You know a fight is exciting when that gets typed up. Bas doesn’t know why Sano isn’t throwing strikes and then mocks Sano’s “head between the thigh” technique comparing it to a black widow. Royler doesn’t appreciate the insinuation and headkicks from the mat. Sano’s nose is bust open so he tries for a heel hook but Royler pulls him into his strikes.

Sano leans over Royler taking strikes to the face as Quadros continues to bury Sano’s lack of strategy. A bloody Sano takes more headkicks so he finally gets away from Rickson…before going back to the exact same position for even more striking to the face. “What is his game plan? To work for Everlast as a heavy bag?” Royler attempts to stand up so Sano stops him and walks directly into yet another kick to the face. “Yeah take some more beating! This strategy worked so well!” Even if Bas wasn’t rinsing him, I’m sure everybody would be thinking the same.

And sure enough, Sano goes back to the exact same position which allows Royler to turn him over onto the mat with Royler able to play with him and finally submit with an armbar at 33:14. Bas mocks Sano’s tapping out and suggests those were his idea of strikes.

Brutally uninteresting fight and an embarrassing performance from Sano who fought like he had one plan and one plan only, and that was “don’t die.” Commentary was wonderful though.

Akira Shoji vs. Juan Mott

Shoji was one of the few highlights from PRIDE 1. He does yoga stretches during the introductions so I’m expecting the same from him tonight.

Juan throws a low kick so Shoji pauses before throwing his own. The logo on the mat is peeling away because the previous fighters spent half an hour grinding against it. Shoji trips Juan to the mat and maintains the guard. Shoji starts throwing punches to the head, causing Juan to turn away and get stuck in a rear-naked choke. Juan tries to resist by straightening his legs, looking like the Wicked Witch Of The East which somehow doesn’t help so he taps at 3:47 to give Shoji his first MMA victory.

Shoji is likeable so I enjoyed him squashing a guy who decided giving his opponent his unprotected back was a sound strategy. Juan wouldn’t return.

William van Roosmalen vs. Ralph White

Ralph was the recipient of a massive hematoma at PRIDE 1 so he’s back for more. Bas stresses that Roosmalen may not look like he’s in shape but he is. If he’s Dutch and looks like a sad crack addict, you don’t mess with him.

We get updated that it’s under kickboxing rules so hopefully both lads can resist the urge to kick a downed foe. Low kicks are traded as Bas keeps on insisting Roosmalen is tough, not all hard Dutch fellas resemble Van Damme. Roosmalen looks like he bought a quarter bag from Van Dam. First round is brief and mostly low kicks as they feel one another out. Ralph tries some jabs to end the first round.

Koji Kitao is shown watching from the crowd, where he belongs.

Round two focuses more on jabs and overhead rights. Kickboxing is fun to watch but a bitch to type about. Roosmalen tries to keep control with kicks at leg and waist height, so Ralph kicks him in the head. Roosmalen rolls away from it so it isn’t as devastating as it looked. Quadros wonders if the goblin tattoo Roosmalen has on his chest is designed to distract his opponents. Ralph limps back to the corner for the end of the round as Bas suggests they give him a cane. Replay shows it was a knee to the thigh at the very end there.

They show some guy in the crowd that neither commentator recognises so Bas dead-pans “my God, it’s a Samurai.”

Ralph sticks to jabs but takes another knee to the same leg as last time. Roosmalen sweeps Ralph to the mat but it’s not deemed a knockdown. Roosmalen’s knees are really wearing out Ralph. It helps that Bas is yelling “hey!” whenever any of them connects. Roosmalen is easily winning this on points to end Round Three.

Quadros explains how when he would train kickboxing, he’d come home and his ex-wife would think he was crazy because he was so bruised. Bas adds “it’s that missing chromosome!” Ralph is not keen about leaving his stool to continue this fight. Roosmalen lands more knees to set up a liver shot to end it at 0:38.

Bas’ enthusiasm for body shots is infectious. This was an alright kickboxing fight, not great but not bad. Neither man would return.

Vernon “Tiger” White vs. Kazushi Sakuraba

Crowd were silent for the previous fight but they explode at the sight of Sakuraba, the winner of last year’s UFC Japan. Vernon’s a Lion’s Den dude. All I know is that means he’s mental. This was originally scheduled as Sakuraba vs. Royler but that Gracie wisely wanted someone less gifted.

Sakuraba starts with low kicks, leading to Vernon landing an overhand left which Sakuraba absorbs before immediately going for a single leg. It’s hard to describe that but it’s like Sakuraba “sold” into the takedown.

Sakuraba maintains half-guard but can’t get the hammerlock he’s attempting. Vernon nicely pops out but can’t quite escape Sakuraba’s clutches. Vernon rolls out and smartly lands one punch before standing up and out of Sakuraba’s reach. Vernon allows Sakuraba to stand up and is rewarded with another immediate takedown.

Vernon blocks anything further but Sakuraba merely spins out and into a half-mount. Sakuraba is so much better than Sano that it’s barely the same sport. Sakuraba continues to respond to Vernon’s wriggling by following him and locking in an armbar. Vernon attempts to escape the armbar by pulling up Sakuraba’s entire body but the whole “armbar” thing makes him put him down. Vernon goes for the exposed head instead which makes Sakuraba release. His back is wide open but Vernon’s rear naked choke doesn’t have the required holding to lock in so Sakuraba escapes easily. Sakuraba keeps Vernon grounded as he figures out what he’s going to do to him. Sakuraba decides on an armbar from a half-mount.

The fighters get moved by the refs because they’re under the ropes for the last three minutes. Sakuraba looms over Vernon, waiting for an opening from his leg kicks. And gets it, as he enters the guard to go for the armbar again but Vernon’s defence game is too good and ends up with Sakuraba’s back. Vernon wisely punches him in the face once then gets vertical so Sakura can’t reverse it, but he gets cocky and fakes a soccer kick. Sakuraba ducks it and tries for a takedown which Vernon practically set himself up for. “That was not a good move.” Sakuraba goes for the armbar again while Bas talks about pretzels. That ends the first legitimately great Round in PRIDE.

Neither are willing to commit to anything at the start of Round Two. Sakuraba’s takedown is blocked by Vernon so they grapple over the guard. It’s done very well with both men repeatedly changing their position to second-guess their foe. Sakuraba tries for the deadly armbar again but Vernon rolls out of it. Bas points out Vernon is missing out on the opportunity to strike Sakuraba when he’s open and it’s a good point because Sakuraba absolutely will and can throw strikes while on the mat. Vernon has the waistlock but Sakuraba wonderfully rolls into a Kimura, except Vernon at least blocks it for the time being. Vernon is able to stand him up while still holing him but Sakuraba nonchalantly takes him down into the same armbar. What a freak. Vernon is great at defending himself but he doesn’t want to commit to any strikes. Sakuraba twists out of whatever Vernon was wanting to do to him. Vernon butterflies Sakuraba but releases the hold to the commentators’ confusion. A knee to Sakuraba doesn’t appear to do anything as Sakuraba sprawls out of another takedown attempt. Vernon tries for a choke as the second round ends, not as impressive as the first but still great.

Round Three sees Vernon attempting riskier strikes but Sakuraba throws some high kicks right back. Sakuraba fakes a kick to take Vernon down in another impressive moment because he absolutely nailed the timing there. Sakuraba keeps the guard on until Vernon rolls out of it to continue to pop the commentators. “Technically you can’t get better than this.” Vernon keeps on Sakuraba’s back until he attempts a face crank, with Sakuraba rolling out of it to put Vernon on his back and into the armbar, with Vernon trying to roll but ending up putting himself into the exact position Sakuraba was looking for to lock in a perfect armbar at 6:53. “My God, who is this guy?”

It’s easy for me to type that Sakuraba looked like a star with the benefit of decades of hindsight but even when simply comparing him to a lot of the roster you can tell he’s a different breed of fighter. The non-stop fenagling out of holds and rolling out of position was impressive enough but to roll his opponent into the exact hold he had been going for all fight was an amazing way to end it. Recommended!

Renzo Gracie vs. Sanae Kikuta

Renzo drew with Shoji last time which he looked visibly annoyed at so I’m expecting a bit more out of him this time. Kikuta is a Pancrase guy.

The lads fight in the corner until Kikuta tries to take Renzo to the mat. Renzo blocks it, takes the guard. Kikuta releases so Renzo chases him into the corner. Kikuta frantically tries to grab the ropes to block another takedown so the refs have to move the human pieces to get them away from the ropes. Renzo then holds Kikuta close to him to prevent any offence. That kills a few minutes. “I want to see action! I’m the voice of the people!” yells Bas. It’s cruel having this fight follow the previous blinder. Quadros hypothesises that many fighters are star struck by the Gracie name. The fans aren’t, as no-one applauds the end of the dull first round.

Renzo lands a left hand to start the second. Quadros explains how this shows Renzo is trying hard as many Gracies don’t believe in striking but he recognises the multi-skilled fighters are going to have more of an advantage going forward. I agree, the Gracies are multi-skilled: they can bore you, tire you, annoy you etc. Meanwhile both men jockey for position in the corner for three minutes. Kikuta tries some strikes but Renzo shoves him into the corner again. Kikuta blocks a hip throw to land on top of Renzo which isn’t what anyone wants because it lasts for minutes again. Quadros says Kikuta is fighting like a newcomer despite his experience. I enjoy these guys trying to come up with reasons for the lack of skill. Kikuta ends stood up looming over Renzo while trying to throw kicks but goes back to the lifeless guard when he figures out he can’t do those well. “Maybe this is a good time for a joke or something.”

Round Three and yes, we got to the exact same position with both commentators expressing boredom. “I’m speechless right now. Let’s see if this guy has anything else going for him other than laying on Renzo. Zero game plan.” Neither commentator knows if this will be a draw if the fight ends without a decision. Renzo is throwing strikes from the mat but they’re so ineffectual Quadros asks if Bas has ever tickled a guy mid-fight before. “I have thought about it.” Kikuta finally tries a leglock of some kind to set up Renzo in position for something else, which results in Kikuta going back to the same hug. Well done. Kikuta tries kicking Renzo but GOES BACK TO THE GUARD. “Why did he go back to that? He must have no confidence in his strikes.” Crowd is again silent as the commentators wonder why there’s been no stand-up, theorising that Vale Tudo does not have that rule so PRIDE don’t have it yet. But should due to how boring this fight is, describing this fight as a “sport-killer.”

Bas: “Uh oh, that wasn’t the end?” Quadros cruelly informs us it’s Unlimited Rounds. Fucking Gracies and their cheat codes.

Round Four, back in the corner for some holding. And then a trip sees Kikuta on top of Renzo for the same hug again. You could lap this fight in a golf kart. Commentators have officially given up. Quadros asks Bas if he remembers what the longest MMA fight was. “I had a long fight with my ex-wife but that was more mental.” There’s a time-out as Kikuta is warned for apparently hitting Renzo in the back of the head. Both commentators scoff at that but it means we re-start with both lads stood up and jabbing the air to end the round. “There are no words.”

Round Five and again they start in the corner with a bodylock. Kikuta attempts the same trip he’s done every round but Renzo somehow predicts it’s coming and shoves him into a guillotine complete with knees. Renzo falls backwards to lock it in fully but Kikuta pops his head out to take the hug on the mat again. Back to the stale-mate. This is probably what Shane Douglas vs. Tully Blanchard felt like.

“A fight that is making us wonder “what is this point?”” Round Six starts with Kikuta’s glove getting fixed. Kikuta charges with some very ill-defined strikes and falls directly into a guillotine for the tap-out at 0:43 seconds which shocks Renzo so much that the ref has to pull him off the hold. Or maybe he’s just a dick.

Bas points out that the crowd didn’t even react to the finish because everyone was asleep. Dog shit fight that did nothing for Renzo’s rep.

Tasis Petridis vs. George Randolph

More kickboxing? Oh you shouldn’t have.

George is massive and has no issues shoving his weight into Tasis’ body. He’s got technique to go with that too. Typing about kickboxing is hard. George dominates with his large legs as the commentators think Tasis’ best strategy is to wait for him to tire out then strike. If you wanted to tire a guy out, you’d show them the previous fight. Tasis nails George with a big right which he doesn’t seem to flinch at but then limps back to the corner.

George is really aggressive starting Round Three. Tasis pushes through to land low kicks to noticeably frustrate George. Tasis follows with some lovely hooks also to take us into Round Four. Tasis doesn’t wait for George to try some stuff now, going right for him and nailing his hooks with ease. George gets so tired that Tasis starts throwing high kicks and hook combos.

Round Six sees George nearly punching Tasis over the top rope and it’s crazy he got as close as he got. Tasis lands a spinning back kick because he’s thrown everything else at him so why not. Tasis goes back to the low kicks with George so worried he hits Tasis low. It doesn’t affect him though as he tells the ref he wants to continue. George blocks a high kick to end the the fight.

And it’s an easy decision win for Tasis, much better kickboxing fight with a Bret Hart vs. Bam Bam feel to it.

Marco Ruas vs. Gary Goodridge

UFC 7 winner Marco Ruas makes his PRIDE debut after requesting a fight with the Gracies (who didn’t want anything to do with him). Ruas lost to Oleg at Ultimate Ultimate, and Goodridge made bread out of Oleg’s face at PRIDE 1 so this looks fun on paper.

Gary lands some bombs to start which Marco absorbs to miss some spinning shots. Crowd ooooos. Marco is so much faster and fluid than Gary The Human Wall that he’s able to get out of the way of those damn punches. Oh then Marco ends up in the corner and takes some shots so Marco takes him down. Marco is bleeding from the eye as he attempts to prevent Gary from punching him directly in the face. Gary proceeds to punch him directly in the face. Marco takes more shots as Quadros wanders if Marco has ever been hit that hard before. Marco obtains Gary’s wrist while they’re on the mat but it only slows down the punches. Gary goes for the leg as Bas tries to talk him out of it. “Marco should let him take it!” Commentators are speculating Ruas is waiting for Gary to tire out but right now Gary appears to be doing a good job of worrying Ruas with his face breakers. Gary stands up and sportingly allows Ruas to stand also. Ruas circles Gary but he’s still able to find him with shots in the corner but Gary slips over something on the mat and stands up holding his leg? Ruas seizes on it and wraps Gary in a heel hook for the tap out at 9:09.

Oh man what an unfortunate way for Gary to lose a fight he’d been dominating. That finish was something you’d see from a Dean Ambrose PPV match in 2014.

Branko Cikatic vs. Mark Kerr

This was supposed to be Kerr vs. Royce Gracie but he was injured so Kerr get the other big heel from PRIDE 1 instead. Branko went from a no contest to the main event? Huh. Better to be lucky than good.

Bas Rutten is seconding Kerr, just like in the film! Bas doesn’t comment on himself, sadly. Kerr has a big, goofy grin on his face as he holds his hands high. No wonder Dan Frye called him a goof. Kerr tries for a takedown but Branko grabs the ropes to block while throwing elbows to the back of the head, requiring three referees to stop him. Eventually the fight is re-started away from the ropes which sucks because Kerr had hold of him so that decision benefited Branko. Kerr tries a takedown again with Branko again holding the ropes and landing elbows to the back of the head after being warned to not do that exact thing. Kerr this time gets furious and launches shots to the back of Branko’s head while he’s still in the ropes. The refs have to separate the two of them with Kerr fuming…and the fight is ended at 2:14???

Crowd make the most noise of the entire show as they can’t believe the main event is over after two exchanges. Commentators thankfully explain that Branko has been DQ’d (again) for repeatedly breaking the rules. Branko wouldn’t return after PRIDE realised he was a complete waste of time.

Kerr and Branko hug as the crowd boos the hell out of this mess. I didn’t realise there was a worse 1998 PPV main event than Al Snow vs. Shane Douglas but they managed it.

Note-Worthy Or Interesting Stuff From The Observer

Rumors coming out of Japan from the press conference included talk of a match with Ruas vs. Mark Kerr, although we’re told that there is almost zero percent chance of that match happening, and a first round tournament match with Abbott vs. Nobuhiko Takada plus a superfight involving Belfort, likely against a Japanese opponent. As strange as the Takada-Abbott match sounds, that match was very much being seriously talked about for a number of reasons, among them the belief there is still some drawing power left in Takada, that he personally needs redemption and that this show needs a pro wrestler for mainstream coverage and drawing power in Japan, and also the belief that under UFC rules that Abbott would beat him it would give Abbott a win that UFC wants him to have since they believe for marketing purposes he still has value to the company, which has always been a different controversial issue. (We nearly got Takada vs. Abbott??? Given his level of experience, I’d give Tank the advantage there so it’s for the best that didn’t happen. But still!)

Mark Kerr looks to be off the show and is still talking like he’s going to do the Pride show, although SEG is going to court to try and prevent that from taking place. The Kerr situation for the 1/21 show is weird in and of itself. Some sources in NHB were calling the Pride press conference almost a double-cross on a very minor scale of the Bret Hart deal. Both Kerr, and presumably Royce Gracie, were going to Japan expecting Pride to announce them against one another in the main event, but instead at the press conference, the promoters announced both would be on the show against different but unnamed opponents. (Kerr had a hell of a fight just to get to the show given that he also had to go to court to get out of his SEG contract which they assumed gave them worldwide rights to Kerr’s fights. It didn’t, and Kerr wouldn’t fight for UFC again.)

The crowd was announced at 11,860, but that figure is highly inflated as there appeared to be around half that in the building, and the paid attendance was closer to 3,000. (The crowd was not lit at all so this sounds about right.)

Overall: Sakuraba vs. White is worth your time but the rest is cannon fodder for the commentators to mock. Ruas getting a fluke win, two of the worst Gracie fights, and a rubbish DQ main event. Only stick this on if you’re suffering from insomnia.

I’ve been Maffew and I suffer from insomnia.