Jerry Milani sent along the following:
DRAGONS, PITBULLS WIN AT INTERNATIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE IN CONNECTICUT
Newton’s Dragons Move Back Into Playoff Mix; Pitbulls Strengthen
Position
UNCASVILLE, Conn., April 13, 2007 — The Dragons and Pitbulls made big
statements in the push for the International Fight League playoffs,
earning victories at the IFL event before 6,131 at the Mohegan Sun Arena
in Uncasville, Conn. The Dragons, coached by Carlos “The Ronin”
Newton and based in Toronto, topped Don Frye’s Scorpions, based in
Tucson, by a 4-1 count. The Pitbulls, led by Carlos Newton and based in New
York, got by the Portland-based Wolfpack, trained by Matt Lindland and
tonight led by substitute coach Kevin Jackson of USA Wrestling, by a
3-2 margin.
Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) started things in the right
direction for the Dragons (1-1 team, 6-4 individual composite) with a
first-round side choke of Cam Ward (Tigard, Ore.) in the lightweight bout
for a 1-0 lead for Newton’s Canada-based unit. Welterweight Gideon
Ray (Roselle, Ill.) doubled the advantage to 2-0 with a first-round TKO
over Gabe Casillas (Tucson, Ariz.), using a flurry of punches to subdue
the Scorpion, in the IFL debut for both athletes. At 185 lb, Brent
Beauparlant (Montreal, Quebec) clinched the Dragons’ win with a
unanimous decision over Seth Baczynski (Phoenix) in an entertaining
middleweight bout. Mike Whitehead (Central Point, Ore.) got the Scorpions (0-2,
3-7) on the board with a dominant first-round TKO over Wojtek Kaszowski
(Winnipeg, Manitoba) in the light heavyweight fight to remain unbeaten
(3-0) in IFL competition. Shane Ott (Reading, Pa.), a substitute who
joined the Dragons on Thursday after an illness felled the team’s
starting
heavyweight, earned a surprising first-round submission victory over
Chad Griggs (Tucson, Ariz.) to give the Dragons the final, convincing
margin.
In the night’s second matchup, Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.)
grinded out a unanimous decision over Joe Sampieri (New York) to stake the
Wolfpack (1-1, 4-6) to a 1-0 edge. Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil) answered with a unanimous decision of his own over Mike Dolce
(Belmar, N.J.) at 170 lbs. to even the score at 1-1. Middleweight Fabio
Leopoldo (Sao Paulo, Brazil) moved the Pitbulls (2-0, 8-2) in front 2-1,
using a variety of submission attempts to earn a split decision over
Gerald Harris (Portland, Ore.). Jamal Patterson (Hoboken, N.J.) finished
things much faster in the light heavyweight matchup, giving the Pitbulls
the victory with a quick tap-out over Matt Horwich (Gresham, Ore.),
securing a guillotine choke. Devin Cole (Medford, Ore.) won the
heavyweight tilt via TKO over Bryan Vetell (New York) to complete the 3-2
margin.
The Dragons’ win moves Newton’s squad into a tie for fifth place
with the Tiger Sharks and Silverbacks. The Pitbulls now sit in second
place and in strong position to advance. The top four teams advance to
the IFL playoffs, set for August 2 in East Rutherford, N.J. (semifinals)
and September 15 in Los Angeles (finals). Each of the 12 IFL teams has
one match remaining in the regular season.
In the preliminary matchup which featured the alternate fighters,
Deividas Taurosevicius of the Pitbulls scored a first-round submission win
over Zac George (Norman, Okla.).
The IFL next visits the Sears Centre in Chicago on May 19, when the
host Red Bears challenge the defending IFL Champion Silverbacks, and the
Razorclaws battle the Condors.
About the IFL
International Fight League (IFL) is the world’s first professional
mixed martial arts sports league. IFL has its headquarters in New York,
NY and offices in Las Vegas, NV. For more information about IFL,
please see: www.ifl.tv
– IFL –
International Fight League
Mohegan Sun Arena, April 13, 2007
Dragons (1-1 team, 6-4 indiv.) def. Scorpions (0-2, 3-7), 4-1
155 lb: Wagnney Fabiano, Dragons, def. Cam Ward, Scorpions, via
submission (side choke), 3:24, 1st
170 lb: Gideon Ray, Dragons, def. Gabe Casillas, Scorpions, via TKO
(strikes), 2:39, 1st
185 lb: Brent Beauparlant, Dragons def. Seth Baczynski, Scorpions, via
decision (unanimous), after 3 rounds
205 lb: Mike Whitehead, Scorpions, def. Wojtek Kaszowski, Dragons, via
TKO (strikes), 2:43, 1st
265 lb: Shane Ott, Dragons, def. Chad Griggs, Scorpions, via submission
(kimura), 1:09, 1st
Pitbulls (2-0, 7-3) def. Wolfpack (1-1, 5-5), 3-2
155 lb: Ryan Schultz, Wolfpack, def. Joe Sampieri, Pitbulls, via
decision (unanimous), after 3 rounds
170 lb: Delson Heleno, Pitbulls, def. Mike Dolce, Wolfpack via decision
(unanimous), after 3 rounds
185 lb: Fabio Leopoldo, Pitbulls def. Gerald Harris, Wolfpack, via
decision (split), after 3 rounds
205 lb: Jamal Patterson, Pitbulls, def. Matt Horwich, Wolfpack, via
submission (guillotine choke), 0:37, 1st
265 lb: Devin Cole, Wolfpack, def. Bryan Vetell, Pitbulls, via KO
(strikes), 1:42, 2nd
Preliminary Bout
155 lb.: Deividas Taurosevicius, Pitbulls, def. Zac George, Wolfpack,
via TKO, 1st
IFL Standings Through April 13
Team Overall Match
Anacondas 2-0 8-2
Pitbulls 2-0 7-3
Sabres 2-0 6-4
Dragons 1-1 6-4
Silverbacks 1-1 6-4
Tiger Sharks 1-1 6-4
Condors 1-1 5-5
Wolfpack 1-1 5-5
Lions 1-1 4-6
Scorpions 0-2 3-7
Razorclaws 0-2 2-8
Red Bears 0-2 2-8
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