Yeah I’m not sure what to think of this. Actually, I think I’m OK with it. I know some people get pissed that a couple of 12 year olds are fighting, but whatever, it appears they are fighting under a more controlled environment than I ever did as a 12 year old.

Bas Rutten Discusses The Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson Fight

I think it’s safe to say that Kimbo Slice would not be able to hang with the current top MMA heavyweights. Judging from his performance tonight, Kimbo has a long way to go, as he himself admitted. Luckily, Kimbo has Bas Rutten training him. Any of the top heavyweights such as Randy Couture, Fedor, Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett, Ben Rothwell, Roy Nelson, and many more would be able to handle Kimbo fairly easy, if tonight is any indication. Hell, even Dana White may have been right when he said BJ Penn would beat Kimbo. However, James Thompson came to fight, as he always does. Somehow, Thompsons chin survived the fight, although he was wobbled several times, he was able to take the fight to the ground and control it there for the most part. I actually gave rounds 1 and 2 to James Thompson. What the hell was up with his cauliflower ear though? That thing was gnarly. Anyway, Kimbo popped Thompsons ear and wobbled him with more punches, when referee Dan Miragliotta foolishly stopped the fight. Bad call, ref.

The ref’s stoppage further shows me that MMA is probably quite a bit safer than boxing. If that were a boxing match, I don’t think it would’ve been stopped, I think Thompson would’ve gotten a standing 8 count and been allowed to continue fighting. I imagine non-MMA fans watching tonights show and seeing a popped ear, thinking “wow that is brutal” or maybe even arguing about the shots Thompson was taking to the head, but all of those things happen in boxing as well.

This should be a great event. I’m watching Dream III right now. I’ll do Play-By-Play as long as I’m awake and feeling like it. Maybe Jason Miller will have an awesome ring entrance. Also, it has the old PrideFC lady announcer with an awesome voice. I’m hoping to Nick Diaz, Jason Miller, Kawajiri, and Caol Uno win their fights. I also think I’d like to see Eddie Alvarez get a win. Wanna say something? Sign up on our MMA Forum and start a conversation!

1. Shoji Maruyama vs. Takeshi Yamazaki
   Round One: Some ground n pound (mostly slapping) from Yamazaki in round one. Bas saw some liver shots. He mentioned the Liver Shot drinking game. Every time he says “liver” someone should take a drink. Shoji Maruyama has some decent defense, and he hits back once in a while. They’re back on their feet and Shoji Maruyama takes down Yamazaki now and kneed him in the face, but now it was reversed again and Yamazaki is back in side control, and now full mount. Wow, now a strong reversal by Maruyama and he’s on top in Yamazakis guard, Shoji hits hard and they’re back on their feet for now. Yamazaki is holding Shoji in the corner and hoping to take the fight back down to the mat, and he is successful, now in Shoji Maruyama’s half guard. The referee drags them to the middle of the ring. Back to their feet for a second and Maruyama lands a nasty knee to the body (or as Bas Rutten says again, the liver). Dude that round ended nicely, Maruyama ended up in an armbar somehow and fought his way out of it, his arm looked like it would be over but he escaped. Bas said “no beer drinking with the left arm tonight.” — Round 1 is over.Round 2: starts and Shoji Maruyama goes for a flying knee but misses. He is now in Yamazaki’s half guard and looking for strikes but lets Yamazaki reverse, and now Yamazaki is in Shoji’s half guard. Yamazaki is took a kick to the face, and is taking several punches to the face in an attempt to score a takedown by clinching with Shoji. As the fight ends, Yamazaki scored some good takedowns and a good submission attempt, but ate alot of hard strikes from Maruyama. The judges score the fight with Yamazaki as the winner.
2. Jason “Mayhem” Miller vs. Katsuyori Shibata
   Round 1: Jason Miller comes out showcasing his breakdancing skills. I think he already used up alot of his cardio during the ring entrance. he came out with a fat gold chain and hip hop style. The dude he’s fighting is wearing Dan Severn’s underwear. Jason Miller begins the fight in a karate stance, and at one point while in full mount lands a mongolian chop with a KIA sound I think. Also, HOLY SHIT this fight is brutal. Jason Mayhem Miller just totally destroyed homeboy. I even heard Shibata groan in pain after a few of the strikes. The dude’s face took a severe beating via hard knees and undefended punches, and Shibata wouldn’t tap out or be knocked out. I felt sorry for Shibata, it was painful to watch. The referee finally stepped in and stopped the fight (TKO) in round 1. Mayhem Miller spoke after the fight and said in Japanese “I am a demon, I am a ghost, I am a Super Monkey”.
3. Melvin Manhoef vs. Dae Won Kim
   Round 1: Dae Won Kim presses the action against Manhoef and and looks for a takedown. The ref breaks it up and theyre on their feet. Manhoef throws blows but gets knocked upside the dome by a right hand from Dae Won Kim. Manhoef eats some more punches and ends up on the ground and gets mounted. Manhoef escapes and gets side control. OUCH a hard knee to the head of Kim. Follwed by hammerfists, the referee stops the fights at 4:08 of round 1. Melvin Manhoef winner.

**I’m starting to get sleepy. It’s nearly 5am here. I might lay off the PBP for now and just sit back and watch the fights until I fall asleep.

4. Daisuke Nakamura vs. Bu Kyung Jung
   Round 1: Jujitsu, dawg. Chess. This fight will probably go to a decision. These dudes are working hard, going for all kinds of armbars and submissions, sweet takedowns, leglocks and stuff, i’m sleepy, kick to da face. side control.
   Round 2: More of the same, but wow, the fight ended by KO, Nakamura is the winner by punch upside the chin.
5. Nick Diaz vs. Katsuya Inoue
   Round 1: I wonder if Nick Diaz is able to score weed in Japan? Inoue says he’s going to beat Diaz with Ground ‘n Pound. Nick Diaz is wearing an EliteXC shirt to the ring. THE FIGHT STARTS, fast paced, a lot of punching and kicking from Nick Diaz, although he does get hit himself at times. Inoue is bleeding from his nose now. Nick Diaz is liking to throw body shots tonight, and it’s working for him. Ouch, he just nailed homeboy with 5 or 6 good shots to the body. Now he is on top in a weak Inoue half-guard, and Diaz is throwing blows down. Back to their feet now and against the ropes. Referee breaks them up for the doctors to look at Inoue’s nose. Action continues and they start hitting each other again. Back against the rops and now this is weird, Inoue was doing a handstand while Nick Diaz held his feet in a wheel-barrow position. The ref just handed a penalty out for something, I have no idea what. These dudes are slugging again now. Diaz got nailed by some punches but I think he’s OK. Nick Diaz continues to go for body shots. A lot. Uh oh now he’s landing shots to Inoue’s head and it looks like the fight is almost over. Inoue is out on his feet and getting tagged over and over. This is target practice for Nick Diaz now. Here comes the towel. Inoue’s corner threw in the towel.
6. Luiz Firmino vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
   Kawajiri by decision
7. Eddie Alvarez vs. Joachim Hansen
   Round 1: The fighters are just kinda feeling each others gameplans out right now, Eddie Alvarez lands a good low kick and a right hand, uh oh Joachim Hansen hits the mat. He seems to be ok and pulls guard, looking for a submission, gogoplata? Alvarez is back to his feet. More punches, Hansen tries a takedown unsuccessfully, he seems to be punching well now. Hansen pulls guard for a second but both fighters are standing up agai, Hansen got hit again with the right hand! Hitting each other in the body now. Eddie Alvarez has a bloody nose, another good right hand from Alvarez to the body of Hansen.. both dudes are hitting each other now and Alvarez gets another takedown, hetakes an upkick from Hansen, Hansen lands a straight left hand to Alvarez jawpiece, more punches are traded and Joachim Hansen actually looks to be in better shape right now.
   Round 2: Joachim Hansen lands a knee to the body and trips Eddie Alvarez to the mat. Eddie gets back to his feet but is stuck in a guillotine. He’s out of the choke but Hansen is looking for armbars and submissions from his guard. Damn Eddie Alvarez’ arm is bending he might be in trouble, he escapes though. Joachim Hansen still trying submissions. They’re back to their feet, Eddie Alvarez pushes Hansen against the ropes and tries for a takedown. BIG right hand from Eddie Alvarez at the end of the fight. This is a tough one to call, Eddie Alvarez clearly got the best strikes though. The ringside judges give Eddie Alvarez a unanimous decision victory, even though Joachim Hansen won round 2.
8. Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Caol Uno
   Caol Uno by submission (Rear Naked Choke)