Ex-wrestler remains unbeaten in MMA
Published Monday June 29th, 2009
BILOXI, Miss. - Former pro wrestler Bobby Lashley improved to 4-0 in mixed martial arts by stopping veteran heavyweight Bob (The Beast) Sapp in the main event of "Ultimate Chaos" on Saturday night at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum.
Sapp, who entered wearing a white cloak with a feathered collar, rushed across the cage when the bell rang and Lashley promptly took him down, firing punches from above. In half guard, Sapp tried to defend himself but Lashley kept punching until Sapp (10-5-1) tapped after three minutes 17 seconds. It was not much of a contest, especially since Sapp seemed to have tapped earlier during the barrage.
"You've got to wear the big man down. He has a strong punch," said Lashley, explaining his ground and pound strategy.
The fight card was presented by Prize Fight Promotions and Fight Force International.
Earlier Canadian lightweight Chris (The Polish Hammer) Horodecki won, as did 42-year-old fight promoter Tom Attencio.
In the co-main event, Dutch heavyweight Gilbert (The Hurricane) Yvel knocked out former UFC fighter Pedro (The Rock) Rizzo at 2:10 of the first round.
Rizzo (16-9) caught a Yvel kick and took him down early. But Yvel (36-13-1) survived to get back on his feet, chasing Rizzo with wild punches before catching him with a head kick. A dazed Rizzo tried to save himself with a takedown, but instead found himself on his back absorbing five big blows from Yvel, who was coming off a loss to Josh Barnett on an Affliction card in July.
Rizzo took his time getting up.
Sapp, 35, came into the fight having lost two of his last three fights. The six-foot-four 322-pounder is a former NFL lineman - who saw limited action with four teams - and wrestler turned MMA fighter, mostly in Japan in K-1 and Pride.
"No excuses, hey he got me down today, he controlled it. Let's give it up for Bobby Lashley," said Sapp, adding he had been hurt in the eye early.
The 32-year-old Lashley, 6-3 and 255 pounds, last fought in the Maximum Fighting Championship in Edmonton where he recorded a 24-second submission of Mike Cook. He is a former NAIA wrestling champion at Missouri Valley College
The 21-year-old Horodecki, 16 years younger than his opponent, took William (The Bull) Sriyapai down early and improved his position until he was able to sink in a rear naked choke. Sriyapai (12-5), a former-four-time world Muay Thai champion, had to tap at 4:02.
"Everyone back in London (Ont.), I love you guys," Horodecki said before his first career submission win was formally announced.
Horodecki (13-1) had not fought since April 2008, the last of nine bouts in the International Fight League.
Attencio, vice-president of Affliction clothing and fight promotions, improved to 2-0 with a TKO win when opponent Randy Hedderick did not answer the bell for the third round.
Attencio was giving up 17 years to Hedderick, a card dealer at a local casino who was making his pro debut. And he took his lumps in early in the first round, surviving a knockdown.
Attencio took Hedderick down in the second, with a nifty trip. The promoter stuffed a Hedderick takedown later in the round but found himself on his back when he failed in an attempt to take his opponent's back. Attencio got back up and finished the round, punching Hedderick from above.
A battered Hedderick returned to his corner, his nose bloodied from an earlier big right. He did not emerge again.
Attencio and UFC president Dana White have traded barbs in the past and Attencio couldn't resist taking a shot at the rival promoter in the cage after his win.
"Randy, you're a tough kid," said Attencio, who weighed in at 160 pounds. "And hey Randy, screw Dana White for what he said about you, bro. Screw him. He's not in the ring."
Featherweight Javier (Showtime) Vasquez (13-2) needed just 59 seconds to choke out Mark Kergosien (2-1), a late fill-in for Din Thomas who failed to make weight.
Welterweight Waachiim (Native Warrior) Spirit Wolf (6-4) floored Brett Cooper (9-5) with a right to the jaw to win by KO at 3:41 of the first round.
Lightweight Brandon Harder (2-0) submitted John Harris (0-2) via arm triangle at 4:31 of the second round. It was the second fight in eight days for Harder, a firefighter in DeSoto County, Miss.
Welterweight Lance Thomson (5-3) tapped out strikes from Colin McKee of Northern Ireland (6-3) at 4:16 of the first round.
James Orso (9-3) won a unanimous decision over "The Ultimate Fighter" alumnus Danny Abbadi (3-5-0).
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