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Yokohama Arena
Pride 14:
Clash Of The Titans Results
& Fight Summaries
May 27, 2001 at Yokohama Arena
By Aaron Crecy

Fight One
Nino "Elvis" Schembri def. Johil de Oliveira by arm-bar submission, 7:17 of Round 1
Schembri looked very weak and awkward on his feet, attempting several unsuccessful takedowns in the opening minutes of the round. Meanwhile, de Oliveira landed some effective low kicks. However, Schembri eventually set up his takedown by throwing punches and succeeded in taking the fight to the ground. At this point, Schembri began to land punches from inside de Oliveira's guard. He thwarted an ankle lock and soon worked into a side mount before finally gaining a full mount. Schembri then brought the match to a sudden halt with a spectacular arm-bar.

Fight Two
Daijiro Matsui def. Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons by judges' decision
Pele was the aggressor from the onset, attacking Matsui with flying knees and punches. He had Matsui in trouble early, dazing him with a hard knee to the head and then taking Matsui's back. However, Matsui was able to recover and became the aggressor, proving to be superior from the guard. Pele received a yellow card in the first round for illegal elbow strikes, which would prove significant. Matsui slowly and calculatingly took control of the fight, scoring takedowns and working effectively from the guard. Pele tired visibly and was unable to hurt Matsui or mount a consistent offense. Of interest is that after earning the decision, Matsui took the microphone and issued a challenge to Vanderlei Silva.

Fight Three
Chuck Liddell def. Guy Mezger by KO, 2:21 of Round 2
This fight started with a vicious right hand from Liddell that seemed to daze Mezger. However, Liddell did not press the action and Mezger was able to recover, throwing combinations and landing several kicks. Mezger attempted to take the fight to the ground on a couple of occasions but could not beat Liddell's bodylock defense. While Liddell appeared to have the advantage in power, Mezger knocked him down late in round one with a stinging right. Mezger tried to end the fight, throwing the stunned Liddell to the ground in a bodylock. Liddell escaped upon impact and popped to his feet, halting Mezger's charge with a knee to the face. Though clearly winning the fight, Mezger looked the worse for wear as the fighters went to their respective corners between rounds. He had a large abrasion on his neck, a seemingly broken nose that bled profusely and was taking labored breaths. As soon as the second round was underway, Liddell attacked with his first combination of the fight, landing two rights and then a devastating right hook that rendered Mezger unconscious. It was one of the more violent finishes in Pride history--and very similar the Mezger's knockout loss to Silva. The mood was somber as Mezger went into convulsions and was taken out of the arena on a stretcher. Though he initially experienced short-term memory loss, Mezger was able to recover sufficiently enough to attend the post-fight gathering. Meanwhile, with his second consecutive knockout victory, Liddell has asserted himself as a force to be reckoned with in the light-heavyweight class.

Fight Four
Gary Goodridge def. Valentijn Overeem by submission (tapped out from knee to head), 2:39 of Round 1
Overeem opened the fight with two strong kicks before shooting a double-leg. Goodridge sprawled effectively and was able to score the takedown. Overeem went to his guard and waited patiently, eventually securing up a Kimura arm lock that seemed as though it would end the fight. Still on top, it looked for several moments like Goodridge's arm was going to break from the pressure. However, Goodridge was able to work his arm free and gained a side mount, leaving Overeem's head exposed. Listening to his corner, Goodridge unloosed a hard knee to Overeem's head, causing the Dutch fighter to roll to his stomach and tap while being assaulted with a flurry of punches. Goodridge initially seemed surprised that Overeem had tapped, but then shifted into celebration mode and played the crowd.

Fight Five
Vitor Belfort def. Heath Herring by judges' decision
In the most controversial fight of the night, Vitor Belfort grappled his way to victory over the noticeably larger Heath Herring. Belfort took the fight to the mat immediately, shooting in for a takedown off a Herring kick. Belfort spent much of the fight using his guard, which Herring was for the most part unable to pass. There were times when Herring gained a side mount and even a rear mount, but he was unable to use those positions effectively. That being said, Herring was clearly the aggressor for most of the fight, attacking when on his feet and throwing punches when in Belfort's guard--however, that attack did not damage Belfort and was devoid of strikes from the stand-up position. Herring was issued a yellow card for holding the ropes in the second round, which may ultimately have served to sway the judges in Belfort's favor. While also throwing very few strikes, Belfort did display adequate jiu-jitsu skills versus a heavier opponent, as well as impressive takedown abilities. But while Belfort was awarded the decision, this fight could easily have gone either way.

Intermission

Fight Six
Dan Henderson def. Akira Shoji by TKO (referee stoppage due to punches), 3:18 of Round 3
Known for his ability to withstand severe punishment, Akira Shoji finally reached his limit against Henderson. After opening the fight with a huge overhand right that dropped Henderson, Shoji seemed to expend most of his energy while trying to finish his opponent from the full mount. After absorbing several more punches, Henderson regained his wits and successfully separated himself from Shoji, butt-scooting away while Shoji attempted kicks. The fight was re-started with both fighters on their feet and the beating was on--from that point forward, Henderson delivered an onslaught of excruciatingly hard punches, knees and kicks, battering and bloodying Shoji. Though hurt and unable to mount any sort of offense, Shoji gamely continued. He was yellow carded for inactivity in the second round, which proved to be irrelevant as Henderson continued the carnage in round three. Working from a full mount and side mount, Henderson rained blow after blow upon Shoji's head, with several hard knees mixed in for good measure. It was such a one-sided thrashing that the crowd was almost relieved when the referee jumped in to halt the fight. By earning a TKO victory over Shoji, Henderson thus accomplished a singular feat unmatched by Mark Coleman or Igor Vovchanchyn.

Fight Seven
Vanderlei Silva def. Shungo Oyama by TKO (referee stoppage due to punches), :30 of Round 1
In classic Vanderlei Silva fashion, this fight was short and violent--but perhaps too short and not quite violent enough. Silva opened with a flurry of punches that rocked Oyama, who then mustered the strength to unleash a big overhand right that dropped the Brazilian to a knee. As has become his custom, Silva shot a single leg and recovered quickly before popping up to throw a left hook that spun Oyama completely around. With his back to Silva and reeling from the blow, Oyama appeared in danger, sufficiently so that the referee stopped the fight. However, those in attendance would likely agree that while the outcome would undoubtedly have been the same, this fight was halted prematurely.

Fight Eight
Igor Vovchanchyn def. Gilbert Yvel (rear naked choke), 1:52 of Round 1
Igor was all too happy to take this fight to the ground early, avoiding a flying knee and shooting a singe leg. Once on the mat, Vovchanchyn worked from inside Yvel's guard, throwing several punches and waiting patiently for an opportunity to pass the guard. That opportunity presented itself in short order as Vovchanchyn passed the guard and then went to rear guard. After his initial attempt at a rear naked choke failed, Vovchanchyn locked it up again and submitted Yvel soon after. It was not the fight that the crowd had expected, but the Russian completed his work in spectacular fashion nonetheless. However, it was Yvel's second consecutive subpar performance in Pride, this on the heels of his uninspired loss to Fujita in Pride 12.

Fight Nine
Kazuyuki Fujita def. Yoshihiro Takayama by choke (passed out from judo choke), 3:10 of Round 2
A fight that had all the makings of a work proved to be an exciting match-up with a rousing finish. Though in poor physical condition, Fujita was able to mount a sustained attack against the larger Takayama, who clearly came to fight. Fujita calmly completed a series of takedowns, landing knees to the head when the opportunity presented itself, which was often. Fujita worked from a side mount on several occasions, throwing some punches and generally having his way with an aggressive Takayama. After an active first round, the pace continued into round two in much the same fashion. However, Fujita brought the fight to a abrupt halt--and the crowd to its feet--when he managed to lock up a judo choke that rendered Takayama unconscious. But although the crowd was enchanted with the victory, Fujita needs to take his preparations to a far higher level if, as expected, he is to face Mark Coleman in an upcoming Pride event.

Heath Herring

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