BIG BANG (PART 2)

This part two I’ll be covering UGP #2 held at the NRG Arena in Houston, Texas. We already had one big bang in Chicago and this would prove to be the twin brother. From the floor to the pavilion area not a seat was unoccupied to catch the latest edition of the newest force in MMA. 8,000 strong and even the pavilions were booked up to watch from the screens. I know some black men aren’t too hype on Texas but hey, I enjoy the food. Can’t go wrong with good food. Let's take it from the top.

AERON ROBERTS vs JEREMIAH FORD

Now he already wins with the worst nickname in Union GP right now but Jeremiah Ford came with a message to send. I’m sorry Bullfrog? Of all the names in the...nevermind.

At the UGP #2 press conference he clarified why he decided to move from Cruiserweight division to Light Heavyweight.

“To be honest, I really wanted to focus more on my skill set and less about making weight.”

He also spoke on the ability to fight at either weight but at this point I’d tell him, if it aint broke don’t fix it. From his showing in this fight it surely isn’t broke.

Aeron Roberts coming off the loss to Cristian Bonanno comes in with the need to make it an even 1-1. Motivation has to be at a high level at this point and I’ll admit she came into the cage with a lot more war in her eyes as compared to her first showing. Good signs to me I was more than ready to watch a good battle to start the night. The ground is where it goes in the beginning of the first round and with it a few stalls to “Quick Calls” Dusty Whittaker standing them back up. Let them work on the ground Dusty! Damn. Ford does well on the ground with Roberts in this ground making her work. Once on the feet Ford gets the better of Roberts. She’s working better than in the Bonanno fight but there’s still a long way to go for her to progress on the stand up game. Roberts tries to take back to ground after taking too many shots and gets him down looking to follow but once again Ford makes it hard for her with his escapes and movements. Ford ends the round with a submission attempt himself which surprised the hell out of me. Overall flat round although Ford gave her a slight fit in the standup a bit I believe Roberts more active submission on the ground edges it out.

Round two is where the feeling out stage ends and the fight really begins. Ford puts a much more substantial pause in on Roberts during the standup forcing Roberts to go ground again. Ford holds his own again on the ground getting a reversal in on Roberts and following that with sick elbows giving Roberts more pause until she forces out. Roberts goes to the well one too many times for a lock or takedown and Ford hits her with the fail the first two times. The third, knocks her with a hook. This is where I believe Roberts starts to panic. Realizing that the ground game isn’t going as she planned and Ford becoming a nuisance her technical know how seems to diminish. She does eventually get him to ground but as soon as she does Ford gains control. Dusty gets involved again bringing them back to their feet and from that point Ford just peppers her down like a waitress at Olive Garden. He also ends the round with an takedown stapling his win of round two to me.

Round three more of the same. Roberts tries for a takedown. Stuffed. Roberts tries to pull guard. Nope. Ford answering every single movement and ends one failed attempt with uppercutting Roberts. She couldn’t get a way with him and again the panic. She finally says to hell with it and swings with Ford on the feet. I’ll give her that even if it was caused by the irritation of not being able to bring him down she didn’t shy away from throwing hands. Roberts finally pulls guard and again Ford gives her no love. None. The ref stands them up again this one was no activity really so I can’t blame Dusty this time. The message I previously stated coming from Ford is him taking away Roberts ability on the ground. Now he comes in the clinch which is eventually broken up by Dusty, sigh. Roberts tries to bring Ford down and only catches a sprawl and more hands. She pulls guard later on and gets a good kneebar but Ford still, no love. Armbar, triangle...no love, no love. Ford’s movements on the ground keeping her off center. He keeps the dominant side of the ground ending the fight with a few elbows to Roberts side leaving it to the judges. Two 29-28s and a 30-27 in favor of Ford. I guess I’ll call him “Bullfrog” just this once due to the win.

This places Roberts at a harsh 0-2. Ford makes his statement in his debut. Dusty stop the stall calls.

SARARIA KOA vs FERDINAND DIAO

At this point I’ll honestly pay one of you Heavyweights to make it to the second round. It’ll be like 5 bucks but still that’s paying. This is getting full on scary the power these men possess and on any given night the way you put someone out just might be the way you go out. Don’t believe me?

This fight is my proof. Diao said it best at the conference.

“Yes, I, umm, I need to keep my guard up.”

Apparently all of you need to. Yes, I agree but it wasn’t Diao that needed to heed this advice this time. It was Koa.

Diao gets Koa in the clinch within the very first few seconds of the fight getting him up against the cage and goes completely off! More combos than a fast food restaurant and Koa is eating them. Diao is force feeding him. Then out of nowhere the situations flips. Koa gets a hold of Diao presses him up against the cage and start giving him the number 3s extra cheese. I’ll admit I’m out of my seat at this point not wanting to blink and Diao fires back giving Koa a few shots while still against the cage. Just enough time to give Koa one of the meanest body shots yet. Sure it’s a short history for UGP but that particular punch will stand the test of time. Diao flips it right back around putting Koa back against the cage and well...curtains. Combos, desserts, apple pie, milkshakes, and an uppercut to end Koa’s night. Completely shreds him. No question.

I’ll say it again...5 bucks to each of you Heavyweights that make it to the second round.

This particular fight ending makes every bit of the Heavyweight Round Robin all the more interesting.

CRISTIAN BONANNO vs KIRA IZUMI

The Cleanest Counter winner from UGP #1 at it again. This time not so much on the feet. Cristian Bonanno coming off his win against Aeron Roberts to face Kira Izumi who is coming off a loss from Simon Bishop in the Light Heavyweight Round Robin. In the first round Bonanno fires off with a takedown and elbows from the deepest barrel of malice. Izumi fights back with a couple shots but that just seems to make matters worse for him when Bonanno returns fire. More elbows, more blood, and more screams from the 8,000 fans. Once Izumi starts to block the elbows he simply transitions to hammerfists and it gets worse from there.

You mean it can get worse from there?

Yes, yes it can.

A light fight for position and all Bonanno does is adjust and puts more weight on the elbows he resumes throwing. In desperation Izumi gives up his back.

*Cue shaking head gif here.* (Pick anyone you want. Trust me, it will fit)

The barrage continues with Bonanno bows with one hook in to Izumi’s head. He doesn’t take a breath and never pauses just over and over and over until Izumi basically collapses like a severe narcoleptic. Izumi fought but honestly never had a chance from the moment Bonanno fired out the gates. Izumi, known for his ground game was never able to really get started. Too much Bonanno. Bonanno climbs to 2-0 meanwhile Izumi falls to 0-2. Izumi still seems to have a shell shocked way about him when he’s in there not a stranger to combat sports as a wrestler himself but in these two appearances I’ve seen him in so far, he can walk but not exactly well. Bonanno on the other hand is looking to be one of the early favorites to win this tournament. Good on the feet and destructive when it comes to the ground and pound.

KENZI GREY vs ANNIE ZELLOR

Now I had to wonder with Grey not being the strongest on the feet as shown in her fight with Laughlin why in the blue hell would Zellor fire off and take her down in the beginning of the first round? Debut jitters maybe, a good point scored in a sense for her starting the round but even she said in the press conference she wanted no part of that kneebar but being on the ground with her is one step closer to it. Turns out not being that deadly of an endeavor for her though and they both find their feet shortly after. Didn’t know why ref Jordan Ripley had to halt action for them to stand to their feet but maybe he was just excited to be on TV. I felt that at UGP #1 so yeah. Then after numerous attempts Zellor brings Grey down again! Now I’m really thinking she’s asking for it but she holds well again both of them working for position. Zellor having to break a submission attempt. Ripley breaks them back to their feet and Zellor takes advantage edging the round out with her last flurry of punches. Kenzi did stall out a lot of Zellor’s takedown attempts but she wasn’t really able to gather anything on the ground. A few submission attempts but none of them close to dangerous.

Round two gets a little more feel into now between the fighters. Zellor opens up on her stand up here’s where I say about time! All sarcasm aside this is where the fight leans Annie’s way. She pulls guard though and I realize quickly that she wants this hardship and face Grey in her element. An extremely daring move but at the same time I respect it. If she outworks Grey on the ground then it’s easy street but biggest takeaway from that for me is she has to be more busy while she’s down there. Jordan Ripley has to put them back on the feet due to it. Zellor gets the best of the standup once again and Grey goes to the sweep taking her down. A great reversal to full mount by Zellor but then more inactivity. Gotta keep busy. The round pretty much ends on that note. Unlike Whittaker, Ripley is actually timing the breaks pretty well giving both time to work.

Third round Zellor makes that right decision after Grey falls to the ground. Giving Grey all the space she needs to get back to her feet but soon pulls guard shortly afterward. More ground work with a great reversal by Zellor but she rises back up and want’s Grey to meet her. Jordan Ripley halts the fight for no reason really but once on the feet Zellor keeps that bread buttered with a few good shots but Grey is showing good movement in dodging a few. Zellor tries another takedown Grey doesn’t give in and Zellor pulls. Now this is where I’ll be honest gameplan wasn’t the best. This isn’t where you want to be if you are dodging a kneebar. This time around after a few transitions Grey goes for a Americana and nearly makes history repeat with how much Grey put on it. Zellor gets out saving herself but nothing much after as both get put on the feet. Zellor goes again with a takedown attempt but Grey sprawls out on it. When Zellor falls and I see Grey coming for that knee, man tell you I really thought it would be UGP #1 all over again but Zellor gets out and ends the fight in top position.

Now the unanimous decision win being in the favor of Zellor I don’t have a problem with at all as I do believe she won the fight overall. But 30-25? Little strong there judges. There were glimpses of good with Grey not enough to take the win but definitely more than a 30-25 score but judges always have different views. I'd say the regular 30-27s. It wasn't a complete thrashing you know those are different all the way around. You start taking pity before round 2 ends. Yeah Grey was losing but no one was screaming "Throw the damn towel" like a Rocky movie either. Grey falls to 1-1 and Annie Zellor victorious in her debut. Zellor fought it well with more experience she’ll be able to make those key decisions that make her even tougher.

DERRICK LA’BELL vs DONNIE CALABRESE

Calabrese seems to be in the same field as Izumi to me. Not to say that either of them don’t have the ability to fight. I personally believe they do but I think they are still once under the lights and look like deer in the headlights. They haven’t found the comfort yet and it’s costing them. No excuses though because once you are in the cage you have to be ready but all of us can probably remember those first fights. The jitters and the butterflies. I threw up before all of my first 3 fights. Won 2 and lost 1. Here it just seems La’Bell has an edge in his experience as well as preparation. From the first takedown it seems Calabrese’s eyepoke was intentional just overwhelmed trying to defend himself. Once they are reset back to the feet there’s no need for eyepokes just taking cover. The mauling La’Bell puts on drops Calabrese and although I figured he’d stay on his feet wait for the groggy Calabrese to rise, he goes for it driving through to the guard. Elbows reminiscent of Bonanno to Izumi follow. Night time.

It’s why I correlate both fighters at this time in Izumi and Calabrese. They haven’t really shown what they can do yet in their two fights. They’ve more or less been steamrolled. Once they can find their footing and really not allow the scene to get to them I believe we will see better performances out of both. Some professional athletes (and this has been said in all professional sports) some athletes just can’t get out of their own way. Calabrese at 0-2 needs to. Stop thinking and start reacting with your game plan. Same for Izumi.

La’Bell almost assures his shot at the Heavyweight Championship with this win. Now it’s the mindset of him still keeping his form and not resting on his laurels. Maintain the dominance he’s had so far in this early stage in Union GP. He’s definitely staking his claim but he has to remain diligent to keep it.

DANIEL FISK vs MAD MAXINE

I was actually going into this fight thinking with Fisk is someone I’ve heard of before. He’s had a couple showings in Japan while I was still writing there so I know about him. Then there’s Mad Maxine being someone I don’t think he’s had to deal with before. Someone who matches him in power and strength and honestly could give him trouble.

THEN BOOM!!!

Max is gone with one punch. The only punch in the whole fight.

Walk off KO. That’s how you come back into the cage. Hanako in UGP #1 with a kick. Fisk in UGP #2 with a punch. Power lurks deep.

JORDAN PARKER-KANE vs LAUREN MOORE

This was fight of the night. Yes I know I know I didn’t agree with the last card but they got it right on this one. Constant back and forth. From the floor to the feet I enjoyed how this battle played out and Houston definitely agreed just with their reaction. Now when it comes to the beginning of first round I believe the control goes to Moore. There are many moments where Parker-Kane is looking for the clinch and Lauren doesn’t allow it. A few good reversals in the name of Kane as well but Moore seems to be the one with more impact shots while on the ground and better transition. Most times when Parker-Kane would have the dominant position he wouldn’t get off as strong as Moore did when the tides change. Once they are standing though toward the end of the round Parker-Kane does start getting into the clinch and working his way from there making Moore even stumble after a series of hooks and body shots. This is an example of starting slow but finishing strong to edge out a round. Moore had him subdued for most of the beginning but once Parker let go, he let go. Ending the round with a few damaging elbows in the clinch before the buzzer sounds.

Round two starting it seems like they both are wanting the same thing to fight in the clinch then at one point Parker-Kane tries to release and Moore doesn’t allow it then Moore wants to release and Parker-Kane doesn’t allow it. Then we get action as Parker-Kane lets go in that clinch with more hooks and body blows. Takes Moore out of her element trying to scramble. She recovers in the clinch not letting go while Parker-Kane wants the distance. They almost stalemate inside the clinch but Moore shows some skill with a knee tap takedown. Very quick in how she pulls it. On the ground Parker-Kane gets a triangle attempt but it was loosely locked which Moore slips out of to get back to her feet. When Parker-Kane gets back up I felt things were starting to slow down for both fighters but then they explode in a trade that Moore gets the most of.

They get to the ground shortly after with Moore stuffing Parker-Kane’s attempt and firing off with her own. Now here I’ll say again we all have our preferred place as a fighter but if you are already taking advantage of the standing by God keep taking advantage of it. Going to the ground doesn’t help Moore in this case as Parker-Kane gets more control of the movements there ending up with Moore taking knees to her ribs. Moore does turn it around though even from the bottom position making Parker-Kane uncomfortable and wanting to stand. Once they do get to the feet Parker-Kane is stuffed on another takedown attempt. Pulling guard toward the end of the round Parker-Kane just stays more busy again. More submission attempts, a great reversal to get full mount, and all the things you need to see to finish the round well. That said I think it is a little late in this surge toward the end of the round with the work and takedowns in mind from Moore. She had a lot more going in comparison to the first. The hooks and body blows in the very beginning doesn’t make up for the return fire when they stood back up nor the stuffs and control Moore regained on the ground. This might be my background talking but I give credit when damage is done from the back. To most that’s not a dominant position but Moore made Parker-Kane slow from the bottom. That’s not something to pass by. Edge to Moore.

Round three is that throw in the whole tank and blow it up with a gunshot round. Any fighter that’s sincere knows you have to put your stamp in the final round. Unless it’s a five round fight you better be throwing in like it’s your last. That’s exactly what I think started this round. Moore wanting it just as much as Parker-Kane. Brings a good round of Moore’s ground and pound to Parker-Kane before both of them coming up standing. Parker-Kane was regaining his bearings on the ground and wisely enough Moore saw that coming to stand up. The back and forth on the feet is good Parker-Kane I believe getting the better which Moore takes to the ground to try her luck there. There’s a good battle on the ground both looking for better position before Parker-Kane gets an RNC in and has it in well but Moore still able to escape.

From that point they get to the standing Moore brings it back down to the mat. Works a little nothing overly effective. Parker-Kane gets another submission attempt in and Moore bails back to the feet. In the lasting minutes of the round I thought this would be where Moore wanted to be. She does a bit of good starting off but again finishing the round such a big thing with the judges once again Parker-Kane surges out within the clinch and although Moore did get good shots in the beginning of this clinch sequence Parker-Kane gets the better of the overall exchange with significant shots that does leave Moore wobbled. That matters, especially in the lasting moments of a close fight. Overall the takedowns are taken into account but unlike round two when they stood Parker-Kane really took it to Moore a little more in my opinion in addition to the submission attempts more work was done here with Parker-Kane than Moore. He edged out this round and consequently the fight in general.

Parker-Kane with the edge in a split decision moving on in the tournament and Moore with a close disappointing loss but I don’t see her saying down and out too long with this performance. Great showing just in need of slight adjustments and finishing off rounds.

NATHAN LUCAS vs. VIKTOR VOLKOV

"The Battle on Mount Olympus.” Must admit I like that tagline. Volkov being a name you know well if you’ve had any experience in boxing overseas. MMA being my key coverage but of course you’d know of any Olympic boxer who made waves in the media. Definitely looked forward to this main event for that reason. Sure transition to wrestling was nice but to me this is where he belongs. Now that the pleasantries is over. A couple jabs and a right hook. All it took. A couple jabs and a right hook. To end Volkov’s night early. Those hammerfists afterwards I believe was just to secure the win. Volkov was still moving after hitting the floor but that could’ve easily just been the body still coming to rest after that jolt of shock. Yes, it was that jolting of a shock. Lucas gets his first win in short order to face another in Daniel Fisk who got his win earlier in the night in short order. The power game begins and a exciting way to end UGP #2. I can’t really analyze this at all similar to all the other flash KO’s nothing can be said really other than ‘damn.’

Let’s get to the Harpies!

HARPIE AWARDS

HOLY S**T MOMENT OF THE NIGHT: Daniel Fisk and Nathan Lucas making short nights of things. Harsh short nights of things. FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Easily Jordan Parker-Kane and Lauren Moore. Close fight with steady work that really shown either one could’ve pulled it out. Those are the best fights because it brings more out of you. SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: None to be given on this particular night peoples. PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT: Cristian Bonanno and Derrick La’Bell. Those were simply maulings. Not to far behind being Ferdinand Diao but Koa at least gave him a little something to think about. Bonanno and La’Bell’s fights were steamrolls. CLEANEST COUNTER: The “mmmm, tasty” goes to Jeremiah Ford. Why? That round 3 uppercut in the very beginning of the round. Like desperation was already showing in Roberts movements but something about that punch made Roberts literally say F THIS and go for it. Completely bringing out a wild exchange and a momentary pause in her best judgement with Ford getting the better of the standup most of the night. It’s moments like those, shaking the fighter than can secure a winning fight. THROWDOWN TAKEDOWN: Lauren Moore’s knee tap takedown. Like I said before power and skill in it. The power was decent as more knee taps aren’t going to have the most explicit level of force in it but you all saw how slick that was, don’t lie. It’s those glossy moments I enjoy most.

Closing thoughts:

I feel a way about these judges scorecards at times. I know they are seeing the fight but maybe they are only seeing certain parts of the fights. We all know we never leave it to the judges as fighters but there’s gotta be a line here.

If you have some time and some words to say during the show come see about me. I’m here to interview. Gotta earn this paycheck you know.

Why are we stopping the fight for the other ground fighter to get up refs? If they want to battle that guard let them do so and if they are allowing them to get up let them. Pop a valium or something. You get your introduction before the fight begins and you are on TV. Chill and keep our fighters from getting hurt. Other than that grab some bench guys.

You will see my current rankings on my next column which will cover the first Boss Fight Card and my predictions for those fights. The big bang is here ladies and gentleman. Glad you are along for the ride. Until next time. Once again feel free to contact @HarperTUGP or just hit the cell phone at 821-330-800...kiddin kiddin. We were in Houston, had to do it.