Pezão na montada. Foto: Dan Rod.

O corpo e o olhar eram parecidos. A explosão e a rapidez, não.

O mito Fedor Emelianenko, de 34 anos, pisou na jaula do Strikeforce esta noite, em Nova Jersey, buscando provar que ainda era o favorito para o título do Grand Prix, o renovado formato de torneio em que ele se acostumou a brilhar – e a vencer – no Japão, nos tempos do Pride.

Mas Antonio Pezão estava no seu caminho. Com uma montada eficaz, quedas eficientes e especialmente uma calma de arrancar aplausos, o gigante paraibano castigou o rosto de Fedor no segundo assalto. Não adiantaram as tentativas de escorregar e fugir da montada, estratégia que havia dado certo até com Minotauro em priscas eras (leia-se, em 2004).

Contra Pezão, Fedor ficou. As marretadas não foram suficientes para o juiz interromper, mas causaram danos severos no olho direito do ex-Imperador, olho que se fechou quando soou o gongo do segundo assalto. Após a interrupção do médico, enquanto Pezão fazia a festa e tentava conter as lágrimas, emocionado, Fedor falou ao microfone no meio do palco.

Disse, em russo, que talvez seja a hora de parar, sim. Se o pessoal do Strikeforce for sagaz, como costuma ser, arma uma luta de despedida milionária.

Pezão, por sua vez, prossegue. O faixa-preta da ATT agora enfrenta o vencedor de Fabricio Werdum x Alistair Overeem (atual campeão dos pesados), luta marcada para abril.

Na primeira luta do GP de pesados, Andrei Arlovski vinha bem na trocação e contava com o apoio do público. No entanto, Sergei Kharitonov mostrou por que era uma das grandes pedreiras do Pride. Depois de acertar o queixo de Arlovski, socou o oponente ao chão até a interrupção. O juiz separou aos 2min49s do R1.

Dois combates que antecederam o GP trouxeram muita emoção. Shane Del Rosario, aluno de Giva Santana, seguiu os ensinamentos do mestre, rei do armlock. Finalizou bonito com a posição Lavar Johnson aos 4min31s da primeira etapa e arrancou muitos aplausos do público, prova de que o americano também gosta de Jiu-Jitsu no MMA. Já Chad Griggs e Gian Villante trocaram para valer, com socos e chutes. Qualquer um dos dois poderia cair a qualquer momento e quem levou a pior foi Villante, nocauteado aos 2min49s do assalto inicial.

Na primeira luta do card principal, entre dois strikers, Valetijn Overeem surpreendeu contra Ray Sefo. Depois de uma breve trocação, Overeem tratou de derrubar, chegou do lado e finalizou em apenas 1min37s de combate. Mérito do holandês, que aprimorou o Jiu-Jitsu. Já a Sefo, recomenda-se umas aulinhas de chão.

Na preliminar mais aguardada, Igor Gracie não deu brechas e faturou a terceira vitória no MMA. Depois de levar um susto com uma joelhada logo no início, Igor aplicou uma bela queda, pegou as costas e terminou a primeira etapa montado no oponente. No segundo assalto, o Gracie tratou de derrubar, montou e apertou no katagatame, golpe que acabou com as chances de Salgado para a alegria do mestre Renzo, ao lado do Cage.

Confira todos os resultados:

Emelianenko com o olho ao estilo "Rocky Balboa". Cena inédita, captada por Dan Rod.

Strikeforce
Nova Jersey, EUA
Dia 12 de fevereiro de 2011

Antonio Pezão venceu Fedor Emelianenko por TKO (intervenção médica) no intervalo para o R3
Sergei Kharitonov venceu Andrei Arlovski por TKO aos 2min49s do R1
Shane Del Rosário finalizou Lavar Johnson com um armlock aos 4min31s do R1
Chad Griggs venceu Gian villante por TKO aos 2min49s do R1
Valetijn Overeem finalizou Ray Sefo com um estrangulamento lateral a 1min37s do R1
John Cholish venceu Marc Stevens com uma leglock aos 3min27s do R2
Igor Gracie finalizou John Salgado com um katagatame aos 3min4s do R2
Sam Oropeza venceu Don Carlo-Clauss por TKO aos 4min10s do R1
Anthony Leone venceu Josh Labarge por TKO (interrupção médica) no intervalo para o R2
Jason Maclean venceu Kevin Roddy em decisão dividida

Big Foot in full mount / Photo: Dan Rod

The body and stare were similar. The explosiveness and speed wasn’t.

Last night in New Jersey, Fedor Emelianenko, 34, the myth, stepped into the Strikeforce cage looking to prove he was still the favorite to take the Grand Prix title, again competing in the tournament format he used to shine in – and win in – in Japan, back in the days of the Pride FC event.

But Antonio “Big Foot” Silva had his own plans. With a stalwart mount, efficient takedowns and a cool air about him, the giant from the Brazilian state of Paraiba punished Fedor’s face in the second round. His attempts to slip away and escape the mount were in vain, no longer effective like they were against Minotauro in the days of old (circa 2004).

Against Big Foot, there Fedor stayed. The hammer fists weren’t enough to cause the ref to stop the battle, but they did cause enough damage to the former emperor’s left eye that is closed up completely as the bell ending the second round sounded. Following intervention from the doctor, while Big Foot fought to contain his tears of joy, Fedor spoke through the microphone.

In Russian, he said perhaps it was time. If the Strikeforce gang has its wits about them – like they tend to – they’ll set up a big-money farewell fight.

Now Big Foot forges ahead. The ATT black belt will now face the winner of the April bout between Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem (current heavyweight champion).

In the first fight of the heavyweight GP, Andrei Arlovski was doing well in the standup action and had the crowd behind him. However, Sergei Kharitanov showed why he was at the top of the heap at Pride FC. After landing a punch square to Arlovski’s chin, he pounded away on his downed opponent until the referee stepped in, 2:49 minutes into the opening round.

Two bouts preceding the GP brought loads of excitement. Shane Del Rosario, a Giva Santana student, followed the teachings of his teacher (the king of the armbar) to the T. He did a swell job finishing off Lavar Johnson with the hold 4:31 minutes into the first round and drew applause from the crowd, showing how Jiu-Jitsu is growing in the good graces of the American MMA-viewing public. Now Chad Griggs and Gian Villante went balls to the wall with punches and kicks. Either one of the two could have fallen at any moment and the won who did was Villante, knocked out 2:49 minutes into the opener.

In the first fight of the main card, between two striking specialists, Valentijn Overeem had a surprise in store for Ray Sefo. After a brief standup exchange, Overeem went for the takedown, made it to side control and submitted his quarry in 1:37 minutes of fighting. Props to the Dutchman, who did a good job with his Jiu-Jitsu. Now Sefo could follow suit and take some classes himself.

In a much-anticipated preliminary fight, Igor Gracie left nothing to chance in notching his third MMA win. After a scare from an early knee, Igor landed a sightly takedown, took back mount and ended the first round mounting his opponent. In the second, Gracie got the takedown, mounted and squeezed out an arm-and-neck choke, ending Salgado’s chances, to the joy of his master Renzo, who was cageside.

Fedor Emelianenko looks like Rocky Balboa for the first time in his career. Photo: Dan Rod.

Check out the complete results:

Strikeforce
New Jersey, USA
February 12, 2011

Antonio Pezão defeated Fedor Emelianenko via TKO (doctor’s intervention) in the break after R2

Sergei Kharitonov defeated Andrei Arlovski via TKO at 2:49 min of R1

Shane Del Rosário submitted Lavar Johnson via armbar at 4:31 min of R1

Chad Griggs defeated Gian Villante via TKO at 2:49 min of R1

Valetijn Overeem submitted Ray Sefo via side choke at 1:37 min of R1

John Cholish defeated Marc Stevens via kneebar at 3:27 min of R2

Igor Gracie submitted John Salgado via arm-and-neck choke at 3:04 min of R2

Sam Oropeza defeated Don Carlo-Clauss via TKO at 410 min of R1

Anthony Leone defeated Josh Labarge via TKO (doctor’s intervention) in the break after R1

Jason Maclean defeated Kevin Roddy via split decision