Anthony Johnson Outlasts Andrei Arlovski in World Series of Fighting 2 Main Event
Anthony Johnson appeared to injure Andrei Arlovski's jaw. |
Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Anthony Johnson dipped his toes in heavyweight waters for the first time and found them favorable.
Johnson punched, kicked and clinched his way to a unanimous decision over former Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Andrei Arlovski in the World Series of Fighting 2 headliner on Saturday at the Revel Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. All three judges arrived at the same verdict: 29-28 for Johnson (15-4, 2-0 WSOF).
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“Rumble” nearly finished Arlovski (19-10, 1-1 WSOF) near the end of the first round when he found the mark with a pair of short, devastating right hooks. Only the bell saved the Belarusian. Johnson’s pace slowed noticeably in the second and third frames, as fatigue set in and forced him to pursue clinches and takedowns.
“I hurt my right hand at the end of the third round, and I hurt my
right shin kicking him,” Johnson said. “He’s a wall. He’s a train,
you know what I mean? I was just doing what I had to do.”
Arlovski had his moments but not enough of them to stave off his first defeat in more than two years. Despite the success he enjoyed against “The Pit Bull,” Johnson claimed he had no immediate plans to compete at heavyweight again.
“These guys like Andrei Arlovski are too big for Anthony Johnson,” he said, “but if the World Series of Fighting asked me to do it, I would [fight as a heavyweight] again.”
Moraes Head Kick, Punches Finish Nam
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Moraes stopped Nam in round one.
Nam (12-5, 0-1 WSOF) never got in gear. Moraes attacked him with aggressive punches and kicks, particularly to the legs. The Florida-based Brazilian floored Nam with a grazing head kick, followed him to the canvas and put him away. Moraes has won four fights in a row.
“My game plan was to try to mix it up between boxing, takedowns and kicks,” he said. “It’s MMA. You can do everything. I was ready for the war. I was training really hard. I was thinking to fight the three rounds hard, and maybe this was the reason I knocked him out, because I was ready to fight the full 15 minutes.”
Branch Steamrolls Listless Filho
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Branch dominated Filho for 15 minutes.
Branch struck for takedowns in all three rounds and battered the Brazilian with punches and elbows to the head and body. Filho (23-5-2, 0-1 WSOF) offered virtually no resistance, and the scene grew more and more disturbing with each passing moment.
A Renzo Gracie protégé, Branch mounted Filho in the first and third rounds and nearly finished it in the second, where he trapped the former World Extreme Cagefighting champion in a topside crucifix and unleashed a series of unanswered blows.
Burkman Knee Waylays Simpson
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Burkman rocked Simpson with a knee.
Burkman (25-9, 2-0 WSOF) dropped the Power MMA Team export to one knee with a short right hand midway through the first frame and bloodied his nose and mouth with a series of knees from the clinch. Later in the round, “The People’s Warrior” flurried on the Arizonan, forced him into a crouched position against the cage and delivered
the fight-ending blow.
The 32-year-old Burkman has won his last four fights.
Gaethje Stops Cavalcante on Cut
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JZ was stopped by a cut.
Gaethje (8-0, 1-0 WSOF) came out firing and staggered his Brazilian counterpart more than once with right hands. He pinned Cavalcante (17-7-1, 1-1 WSOF) on the fence and went to work in the clinch, as he opened the cut that ultimately led him to victory.
Once one of the world’s premier lightweights, Cavalcante has not recorded back-to-back wins since September 2007.
Villefort Ekes Out Split Verdict
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Villefort outlasted McCray to earn the win.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt did some solid work on the ground but did the majority of his damage on the feet, as he left McCray battered and bloodied by the time their match was over.
McCray (8-5, 0-1 WSOF) did his best work in the second round, where he delivered a takedown, kept Villefort pinned on his back and later threatened him with a standing arm-triangle choke. Villefort answered in round three, as he racked up points with ground-and-pound, attacked McCray from the Thai plum and floored the American with a punch.
Roufusport’s Glenn Delivers Stunning Comeback
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Glenn rallied to shock Pimentel.
Pimentel (12-1, 0-1 WSOF) was in charge for the first 10 minutes, as he struck for takedowns and utilized some nifty grappling, including an attempted omaplata-rear-naked-choke combo in the first round.
However, Glenn did not allow himself to get discouraged and erased the Brazilian’s good work with his late volley.
Lowe Hook Wipes Out Dollar
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Lowe knocked Dollar down and out.
Lowe (14-4, 1-0 WSOF) put his heavy hands on Dollar throughout their brief encounter. The 32-year-old American Top Team representative faked a takedown and backed it up with the left hook that finished it. Dollar collapsed, forcing referee Keith Peterson to intervene.
Lowe has won four fights in row since being released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship following his submission defeat to Nik Lentz in March 2011.
Patishnock, Injury Thwart Gracie
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Gracie was injured in round one.
Gracie (5-4, 0-1 WSOF) controlled much of the first five minutes, as he grounded, stifled and ultimately mounted his 25-year-old adversary. With Gracie attached to his back, Patishnock (5-1, 1-0 WSOF) dived and rolled on multiple occasions in a desperate attempt to break free from the Brazilian’s clutches.
His last try proved fruitful, as he drove Grace’s face into the mat, escaped and let loose with hammerfists.
Dugulubgov Extends Winning Streak
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Dugulubgov overpowered Wade for three rounds.
The 24-year-old Dugulubgov turned to his ground-and-pound in the first round, wobbled Wade (5-1, 0-1 WSOF) with a counter left hand in the second and defended a late arm-in guillotine choke attempt in the third.
It was Dugulubgov’s first appearance outside the Cage Fury Fighting Championships promotion.
Hansen Flying Knee KOs Marcellino
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Hansen absolutely blasted Marcellino.
Hansen countered effectively throughout the bout, dropping Marcellino (4-2, 0-1 WSOF) in both rounds. Late in the second frame, the Hawaiian charged, leaped and delivered the flying knee that drew the match to a decisive close. Marcellino has suffered consecutive defeats after starting his professional career 4-0.
Algeo Choke Submits Buenafuente
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Algeo put away Buenafuente.
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