Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov, should be interesting. Sergei spending most of round one under Barnett’s mount. Ground and pound. Sergei rolls and gives up his back and turtles up. Barnett flattens him out, secures an arm triangle and gets a tapout victory.

Like I said in my previous post, it’s been awhile since I did any blogging…but tonight I’m watching the Strikeforce HW Grand Prix by myself — well, I just got home, so I’m starting a bit late, and I’ve missed all but the Barnett/Rogers and Werdum/Overeem fights.

Josh Barnett just pretty much dominated Brett Rogers the entire time, before tapping him out in the 2nd round by arm-triangle choke.

Wow, the Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum fight was strange. The judges haven’t announced the winner yet, but I am guessing, WERDUM takes the fight. I think he actually got the better of the striking, and obviously Overeem didn’t want any on the ground. I think overall, Werdum was more offensive.

Holy cow, a unanimous decision for Overeem. Was I ever wrong.

Wow, Dana White wins.

After Josh Barnett tested positive for a banned steroid earlier in the week, the company scrambled to find a replacement to fight Fedor Emelianenko. There were rumors about Vitor Belfort, but evidently nothing ever happened, and now the entire event is cancelled.

This is the final blow for Affliction, I don’t think they will ever succeed. I also think it was a stupid move to cancel the entire event, unless there are circumstances we don’t know about (Showtime or other sponsors pulling their money out?)

In a news release, Affliction Entertainment Vice President Tom Atencio said “Finding an opponent for the number one-ranked MMA heavyweight champion in such a short period of time was a huge endeavor, and I’m thrilled at the amount of fighters willing to take on this challenge, but in the end, we just didn’t have enough time to promote a new fight to our standards.”

Is that true, or are there other reasons? Did Fedor’s management not want him to fight someone else on such short notice? Are they protecting him? I know there are many fighters who would be glad to step up and fight Fedor, even on short notice, just for the chance.

I would also say this definitely takes away some of Fedor’s bargaining power when it comes to dealing with the UFC. Where else will he fight?

From the Sengoku PBP Post:

Josh Barnett vs. Jeff Monson
U WA SHOCK!
These dudes are good friends, they shook hands and even almost hugged during the staredown. They’re both standing up, attempting some decent strikes but nothing significant landing. Good low kicks by Josh Barnett, whoa spinning back kick by Barnett, working his jab and using his reach, another low kick lands for Barnett, and another one. Those are probably getting Monson’s attention. Monson needs to close the distance to negate Barnett’s reach advantage, he does, the fighters clinch but then separate again. 2 minutes left in the round. Barnett shoudl work a thai clinch and knee Monson in the grill. Decent punch combo thrown by Barnett, but Monson answers strongly with some punches of his own. End of the round.

Round two is starting. Fighters touch gloves. Wow, great spinning back kick from Barnett again sends Monson into the ropes, but doesn’t seem to be hurt too bad. Monson is now pressing Barnett into a corner and scores a single leg takedown. Josh Barnett working from his back, Monson trying to pass into side control. Monson has to be careful of a triangle here. He’s safe now and in side control over Josh Barnett. Jeff Monson has some sick grappling skills, this could be dangerous territory for Barnett but he rolls out of it easy, that was NICE! He gets back to his feet and now has Monson on his back, working from guard, Monson with an upkick, back up Barnett and Monson sits up to try to take a leg, Barnett sprawls to avoid it, lands a knee to the head and Monson is on his back again working from guard. 30 seconds left in round 2, fighters are back on their feet, knees from Barnett, there is the thai clinch! Round two is over.

Here is round three. Fighters are clinched against the ropes, Barnett still throwing occassional knees, Monson looking for a single-leg takedown, Barnett rolls him into side control now and lands more knees and punches to the body, falls back for a leglock but misses and both fighters are back to their feet now, against the ropes. Referee calls for action, so do I. I should’ve went to bed. Barnett clinches and lands a couple of knees, though not the hardest I’ve ever seen for sure. Barnett is in Monson’s half guard, lazy hammerfists, more knees to the body. One minute left and this fight is headed for a decision. Barnett jumps over Monson and tries for a toe hold, but the round is over. Barnett wins via decision.

I might not give the most accurate play-by-play, because I’m multi tasking and trying to do other stuff at the same time as I watch Sengoku II and post this.

I say “kinda” because I don’t know how long I’ll be awake. I’m in the United States and it’s 4:20am right now as I start this post. I’m coming into this Sengoku event a little bit late, I see that Mike Pyle has already won by submission in round one (rear naked choke). Also, Satoru Kitaoka was victorious in round one by guillotine over Ian James Schaffa. Eiji Mitsuoka also just choked Kwang Hee Lee in the first round.

Yuki Sasaki vs. Jorge Santiago
Now up is Yuki Sasaki (Grabaka) vs. Jorge Santiago (American Top Team). Santiago is making his ring entrance now. Yuki Sasaki is entering to Tupac Shakur music. Nice. Fighters have stared down and are ready to fight. They touch gloves and Santiago looks to slowly close distance on Sasaki, has him backed in a corner but neither fighter has struck yet. They’re just getting comfortable right now I think, Sasaki is still in the corner and both fighters trade low kicks, Sasaki throws a couple more, still in the corner though. He circles and is now in another corner still throwing little kicks. Santiago just threw the first punch I recall seeing so far in the fight. Santiago throws kick and Sasaki catches it and scores a takedown, he has Santiagos back and is trying to sink a RNC but it looks like Jorge will escape. He did, and rolled over, Santiago is now in Sasaki’s guard trying to throw elbows. 2 minutes left in the round. Sasaki is keeping a high guard, but not being able to do anything with it yet. Santiago is landing some heavy sounding punches and elbows to the body, and a few to the head probably but Sasaki is handling them well. The referee is now standing the fighters back on their feet. They trade kicks again and Santiago slips to his back, where Sasaki right away gets side mount and looks to be going for a submission before the bell rings to end round 1.

While you’re reading this, you should sign up on our MMA Forum and help get some conversations started.

Round two is going now and both fighters are staying on their feet so far, I think Jorge Santiago is scoring better with the striking. Sasaki just went to his back now and Santiago just tried a nasty looking stomp to the face but I’m not sure how clean it landed. He ended up in Sasaki’s guard , where Sasaki is looking for subs. Jorge Santiago stands back up and wants Sasaki back on his feet as well. Santiago goes for a flying knee that almost connected but Sasaki answers with a flurry of punches and Santiago drops to grab Sasaki’s ankle, Sasaki has his back again, now in full mount and Sasaki has a nasty looking arm triangle or Anaconda choke or something, gives that up and goes to set up an armbar right as the round ends. I think Santiago was saved by the bell this round.

Here comes round three. Santiago looks fairly fresh still, actually both fighters do. Still on their feet, doing some kickboxing, Sasaki clinches for a takedown, lands in Santiagos guard and that was a bad decision. Jorge gets a quick armbar and forces Sasaki to tap out.

Yoshihiro Nakao vs. Jim York
LOL @ Yoshihiro “Kiss” Nakao, they’re telling us in Japanese about his kiss with Heath Herring, which of course you probably know ended in a pre-fight knockout, with Nakao asleep on the canvas and Heath Herring proclaiming “He tried to kiss me…I’m not a homosexual”.

The dude he’s fighting is “Big Jim York” from New Zealand, and I’m picking him to win. I’ve never seend dude fight though. I really don’t know who he is.

Nakao is entering the ring to Pomp and Circumstance music, I think he is graduating. Nakao did not try to make out with his opponent during the staredown this time. He throws a couple of kicks that don’t connect. Both fighters are lobbing strikes that dont land. Nakao is showboating and shaking his ass. Throws a haymaker that doesn’t land. Big Jim York looks like he could be a badass if he would get active. I should’ve gotten up to take a piss during this round. Jim York should try a flying knee, I think he could connect with Nakao’s dome.

Round two opens up, damn I just got back from taking a piss and I see Nakao knock Big Jim york the hell out. It started with Nakao attempting a single leg takedown, Jim York turned his back a bit and tried to run a couple steps but Nakao connected with a hook from behind. Yoshihiro “Kiss” Nakao victorious by TKO.

I think I just heard them say there will be a 15 minute intermission. The cameras are following Nakao backstage.

Kevin Randleman vs. Ryo Kawamura
Beware the Randleplex. And staph infections. He says he’s recovered from three years of almost dying twice, and “it was rough”. Yeah, that might be an understatement. Almost dying might suck, and so would having a giant staph hole in your armpit.

On a sidenote, Kevin Randleman (an American) entered the ring wearing a Japanese bandana, and Kawamura (Japanese) entered the ring wearing a red, white & blue vest with stars on it.

Both fighters are friendly and shake eachothers hands during the staredown. No touch of gloves after the bell rings though. Randleman fakes a takedown and lands a left hook, but then immediately drops for a double leg takedown and gets it. Randleman has Kawamuras back now, and would like to pick him up and slam him on his head but isn’t able to yet. Kawamura is turtling and holding Randleman’s hands, Randleman is keeping control and stands him up for a small slam back to the mat, where he retains back control. Kawamura rolls in to attempt a kneebar, good try, but unsuccessful and they end up right back in the same position, with Randleman having back control, standing in the corner. The referee separates the fighters and they square off in the middle of the ring again. Betcha Randleman shoots. He thought about it and Kawamura landed a little leg kick that caused Randleman to change his plans. Both fighters still on their feet, Randleman just backed away after the ref re-start. That’s the end of round one.

Here’s round two. Not much so far. Leg kicks from Kawamura, backing up for Randleman, failed shots, lazy hooks and jabs. I think they’re warning Randleman because he isn’t doing shit. Finally he shoots for another takedown and has back control again, same as first round, in the corner. Kawamura trying for an armlock but didn’t get it. Fighters separate and are back in the middle of the ring squaring off. I think Randleman is tired. End of round two. I predict this fight is going to end with a decision, or with Randleman getting KTFO.

Round 3 is starting, not much action until Kawamura kicks Randleman upside the head, Randleman decides to clinch and hold Kawamura in the corner. Referee breaks them up and they start back in the center of the ring, Randleman gets tagged, throws a haymaker right hook of his own, shoots and fails, but then has a guillotin attempt on Kawamura, Kawamura escapes and is sitting up in the corner with Randleman just holding him there. Two minutes left in the fight. Kawamura forces his way out of the corner and tries to take the fight to Randleman, striking ensues, leg kicks, Kawamura would like to finish this fight, but it looks like it’s going to a decision because they’re back in the corner with 30 seconds left. BOOOO. Bring on the next fight. The judges score the bout for Kevin Randleman, winner. Kevin says he has one more fight in him, and tries to get the crowd to chant “ONE MORE TIME” with him, I think I heard 12 people chant with him.

Yuki Kondo vs. Roger Gracie
This should be an interesting fight. It’s an open-weight match, Roger Gracie is quite a bit larger than Yuki Kondo. Yuki is entering the ring to Enya music. Awesome. Have you joined our MMA forum yet? Here we go with round ONE. Damn Gracie is a lot taller. The fighters clinch against the ropes, Kondo has underhooks, Kondo is backed into a corner and now Roger Gracie has underhooks, Gracie got the takedown and is in Kondo’s half guard now. This fight might not last long now. Roger Gracie has side control. Now full mount on Yuki Kondo. Roger Gracie is taking his time, now sitting up punching Kondo to get his back, Kondo turned his back and Gracie is sinking a choke, it’s over now, Roger Gracie is winner via rear-naked choke, ROUND one.

Josh Barnett vs. Jeff Monson
U WA SHOCK!
These dudes are good friends, they shook hands and even almost hugged during the staredown. They’re both standing up, attempting some decent strikes but nothing significant landing. Good low kicks by Josh Barnett, whoa spinning back kick by Barnett, working his jab and using his reach, another low kick lands for Barnett, and another one. Those are probably getting Monson’s attention. Monson needs to close the distance to negate Barnett’s reach advantage, he does, the fighters clinch but then separate again. 2 minutes left in the round. Barnett shoudl work a thai clinch and knee Monson in the grill. Decent punch combo thrown by Barnett, but Monson answers strongly with some punches of his own. End of the round.

Round two is starting. Fighters touch gloves. Wow, great spinning back kick from Barnett again sends Monson into the ropes, but doesn’t seem to be hurt too bad. Monson is now pressing Barnett into a corner and scores a single leg takedown. Josh Barnett working from his back, Monson trying to pass into side control. Monson has to be careful of a triangle here. He’s safe now and in side control over Josh Barnett. Jeff Monson has some sick grappling skills, this could be dangerous territory for Barnett but he rolls out of it easy, that was NICE! He gets back to his feet and now has Monson on his back, working from guard, Monson with an upkick, back up Barnett and Monson sits up to try to take a leg, Barnett sprawls to avoid it, lands a knee to the head and Monson is on his back again working from guard. 30 seconds left in round 2, fighters are back on their feet, knees from Barnett, there is the thai clinch! Round two is over.

Here is round three. Fighters are clinched against the ropes, Barnett still throwing occassional knees, Monson looking for a single-leg takedown, Barnett rolls him into side control now and lands more knees and punches to the body, falls back for a leglock but misses and both fighters are back to their feet now, against the ropes. Referee calls for action, so do I. I should’ve went to bed. Barnett clinches and lands a couple of knees, though not the hardest I’ve ever seen for sure. Barnett is in Monson’s half guard, lazy hammerfists, more knees to the body. One minute left and this fight is headed for a decision. Barnett jumps over Monson and tries for a toe hold, but the round is over. Barnett wins via decision.