Video of the Day - Tank v. Cabbage

Here is Tank Abbott v. Wesley "Cabbage" Correira II from Rumble on the Rock 7 which took place in Hawaii on 5/7/05.

Tank and Shamrock Win at Wargods

Here are the results of War Gods: Valentine's Eve Massacre. With Ken Shamrock and Tank Abbott both coming out victorious, it would seem a bout between them will come to fruition. TUF 3 runner-up Josh Haynes won his second fight in a row.

Ken Shamrock def Ross Clifton via Sub (Armbar) R1, 1:00- Shamrock and Clifton circled before Clifton threw some punches. Ken backed off then steped into an overhand right that dropped the 350 pound Clifton. Ken then got into side control before transitioning to an armbar. In his post fight interview, Ken called out Tank Abbott for a fight and told him to put down his beer and get in the gym.

Ron Kessler def Darrin Freeman via Dec (Unanimous)
Zoila Frausto def Karina Hallinan via Dec (Split)
Josh Haynes def Rafael Real via Dec (Split)
Issac de Jesus def Ashe Bowman via Dec (Unanimous)
Rick Reeves def Nathan James via Sub (Rear-Naked Choke) R3, 2:07
David "Tank" Abbott def Mike Bourke via KO (Punches) R1, 0:29
Mike Moreno def Gary Padilla via Dec (Unanimous)

Elite XC "Street Certified" Results

I have yet to see all the fights from Elite XC's biggest event to date. Apparently they had a sell out crowd present in Miami. The Kimbo v. Tank fight went exactly as how I thought it would with Tank gassed and knocked out in the first. There were two strange stoppages, one because of strikes to the back of the head when Tank was on all fours and another when something made its way into the arena. After being saved, Tank took a big shot to the face and was dropped like a sack of potatoes.

If you haven't already, watch the Yves Edwards v. Edson Berto fight. While Edson Berto had a deep single leg in, Yves clobbered Berto with his opposite knee. One of the most athletic KO's I have seen. I wouldn't call it a flying knee like I have seen listed, but it was awesome.



James Thompson's game plan of pushing Brett Rodgers around didn't work. After being taken down and let up, Rodgers smashed Thompson right on the chin and got the KO. Thompson tried to grapple with the ref afterwards and had no idea what planet he was on.

Undercard
Moyses Gabin def Jirka Hlavati via TKO R1, 2:32
Lorenzo Borgomeo def Mike Bernhard via Sub(triangle) R2, 4:11
Eric Bradley def Mikey Gomez via Unanimous Decision
Dave "Pee Wee" Herman def Mario Rinaldi via (TKO) R3, :33
Yosmany Cabezas def Jon Kirk via Sub (RNC) R2, :58
Rafael Feijao def John Doyle via TKO (knee) R1, 2:17

Main Card
Brett Rogers def James Thompson via TKO (punches) R1, 2:24
Yves Edwards def Edson Berto via KO (knee KO) R1. 4:56
Scott Smith def Kyle Noke via KO (punch) R2, :07
Antonio Silva def Ricco Rodriguez via Split Dec
Kimbo Slice def Tank Abbott via KO (punch) R1, :43

EliteXC "Street Certified" Card Announced

Elite XC Review - This fight card will take place on February 16, at the Bank United Center in Miami, Florida.

Tank Abbott (9-13) vs. Kimbo Slice (1-0)- Look for this fight to be over by the three minute mark with one of these two seeing stars. Kimbo has been training for this fight with MMA legend Bas Rutten. Kimbo looked imposing in his win over an intimidatd Bo Cantrell.

Tank will not be scared and come out guns blazing like he always does, swinging for the fences. Tank was actually winning in his last bout against Gary Turner (4-0) landing punches and getting a takedown. But, when they got on their feet at the 2 minute mark Tank was completely gassed and basically gave up.
*Prediction- Kimbo via KO R1.



Ricco Rodriguez (27-7) vs. Antonio Silva (9-1)- This fight should be the main event, but Tank and Kimbo have more reckognizable names than these two. Antonio Silva is an absolute massive opponent who has beaten down his two opponents in Elite XC. Former UFC Heavyweight Champ Rodriguez is looking for his second victory in a row since his loss to Ben Rothwell (29-5).
*Prediction Antonio Silva via TKO R3

Kyle Noke (14-3-1) vs. Scott Smith (12-5)- The Aussie Kyle Noke is looking for his second straight victory in Elite XC. Former UFC competetior and TUF 4 contestant Scott Smith is looking for his second win in a row. Smith will stand and trade, while Noke will probably look to take the fight to the ground.
*Prediction Kyle Noke via submission R2

Yves Edwards (32-13-1) vs. Edson Berto (13-4-1)- The creator of Thugjitsu Yves Edwards is looking for his third win in a row and second at Elite XC. Yves has the experience edge and a better resume, but anything can happen. Berto is also looking for his second victory in a row. In Berto's previous Elite XC bout he lost to 160 pound champ KJ Noons.
*Prediction Yves Edwards via KO R2

Brett Rogers (5-0) vs. James Thompson (14-7)- Rogers is looking to keep his undefeated streak alive against Englishman James "Colossus" Thompson. Rodgers sported a mohawk in his previous Elite XC win over Ralph Kelly (3-4) and is largely untested. Thompson will come in with more fights in bigger venues. This will be a slugfest.
*Prediction Thompson via KO R1

PRELIMINARY CARD

Dave "Pee Wee" Herman (9-0) vs. Mario Rinaldi (6-2)- Pee Wee is an interesting heavyweight prospect with 9 straight stoppages. He is 6'5" and 250 pounds, we will see how he does as this is his first fight on a big stage.

Rafael Feijao (4-1) vs. John Doyle (6-2)
Jon Kirk (10-2) vs. Yosmany Cabezas (4-0)
Eric Bradley (2-1) vs. Mikey Gomez (6-3)
Mike Berhard (3-0) vs. Lorenzo Borgameo (2-0)


*Gif of Edwards KO high kick of Josh Thomson at UFC 49.

Elite XC Rumored to be Pulling a Tourney Together

Thoughts by the MMA Blaster

The website mmascoops.com is reporting that Elite XC is trying to stage a 4 man tournament. While there is no confirmation of this on Elite XC's website, it got me to thinking what the tourney would look like. It is rumored to be an open, no weight limit, tournament with Tank Abbott, Kimbo Slice, Butterbean, and Bob Sapp are supposed to be invited.

The odds of all these four accepting the invite to the rumored tournament is at tops 5%. Tourney's are fun, but I'd like to see Elite XC try to find some better fighters. The only one out of those four I'd expect to show up is Kimbo Slice (under contract). Here are some bio's on these four larger than life personalities:

Kevin Ferguson aka Kimbo Slice (1-0)- Legendary streetfighter turned mixed martial artist. Clips of him KO'ing fools is popular on Youtube. He TKO'd a scared looking Bo Cantrell (10-11) in his debut fight. Kimbo would be the lightest fighter of the group, have the best cardio, but the least experience.



Bob Sapp (9-2)- Sapp was a former pro football player who ventured into MMA. His popularity has been the highest in Japan where he was a pro wrestler, K1 kickboxer, tv star(youtube), and MMA fighter in Pride then K1. Sapp put a beatdown on Bobby Ologun (2-2) overwelming him with huge punches in the first round in K-1 Dynamite. That was his first MMA fight in two years.



Tank Abbott (9-13)- Tank Abbott was a crowd and fan favorite in the early UFC's. In UFC 6, he destroyed John Matua and Paul Varelens and lost an exciting final to Oleg Taktarov. Tank also made it to the final of UU96, where he destroyed Cal Worsham and Steve Nelmark before losing an exciting final against Don Frye. There are rumors that Tank is taking training seriously again, but that has been said before.



Eric "Butterbean" Esch (10-4)- Butterbean was an exciting boxer in his day, having extremely heavy hands. He has fought in Cage Rage and Pride at around 400 pounds. He keylocked the massive Zuluzinho, had a controversial KO stoppage against James Thompson and a win over Cabbage Correia. Cardio is probably the biggest thorn in the side of Butterbean, also getting up from the canvas after a takedown.