The Ultimate Fighting Championship VI: Clash of the Titans!
– Live from Casper, WY, July 14 1995
– Your hosts are Bruce Beck, Jim Brown and Jeff Blatnick. Michael Buffer does the ring announcing here, so you know they’ve got some cash to throw around now.
This is a HELL of a draw tonight, plus Severn v. Shamrock. I’m pumped.
– We get footage of Joel Sutton and Anthony Macias winning prelims, but Sutton is injured so Guy Mezger gets the alternate slot instead. Wow, an alternate to an alternate.
Open Weight tournament quarterfinals:
David “Tank” Abbott (Pitfighting) v. John Matua (Hawaiian Freestyle)
First appearance for Tank here, and few had any idea what kind of star power was about to be unleashed on the UFC world. Tank charges in and KNOCKS HIM THE FUCK OUT and we’re done at 0:18. Holy SHIT. Matua is out cold and not moving.
Paul “Polar Bear” Varelans (Trapfighting) v. Cal Worsham (Tae Kwon Do)
Varelans of course became infamous later for doing a worked match with Taz in ECW. Huge slugfest and Varelans seemingly has nothing, but lands a fluke elbow to the back of the head after absorbing punishment for a full minute, and knocks Worsham out at 1:06. Short but tremendously entertaining.
Rudyard Moncayo (Kenpo Karate) v. Pat Smith (Kickboxing)
Smith flattens him with a running boot in an awesome start, then hooks in the guillotine choke, but he’s only got one arm in. Smith takes him to the ground and just destroys him with a rear naked choke at 1:13. Another great fight in a series tonight.
Dave Beneteau (Wrestling) v. Oleg Taktarov (Sambo)
I’m hoping Oleg puts in a better showing than he did at UFC 5, because he looked really weak there. Beneteau shoots in and Oleg calmly goes to the guard, but Dave slugs on him and then takes him down with a suplex, but Oleg hangs onto the neck and wins with the choke at 1:10. That was SLICK.
Open Weight tournament semi-finals:
Tank Abbott v. Paul Varelans
This should be wonderfully ugly. And again Tank drives in like a psycho and puts Varelans on the mat, then just unloads on him. Tank has this great look of enjoyment on his face as he drops knees on Varelan’s head, and Big John stops it at 1:51. Varelans’ face is a MESS and Tank is a star. Tank’s post-match interview (“I’m starting to get sexually aroused, you’d better turn that off.”) only solidified his new drawing power, I’m thinking. Tank, who eschewed the usual sportsmanship and instead chose to play to the crowd pro wrestling style, may not have been a good fighter, but he was money.
Anthony Macias (alternate) v. Oleg Taktarov
Darn, I was hoping for Guy Mezger to replace the injured Pat Smith. Macias previously lost to Severn at UFC 4 and there’s no shame there, but he’s way over his head here. And indeed he charges in like an idiot and runs right into the choke and it’s over at 0:12. Geez, if you’re gonna shoot in for the takedown, at least protect your neck.
And we take a quick break, as Jeff Blatnick chats with new UFC fighter Marcos Ruas, who of course goes on to greatness.
Superfight: Dan Severn v. Ken Shamrock
Nice lavender tights on Shamrock, sheesh. Grappling to start, which already way more contact than their later fight would involve. Shamrock throws a knee and Severn backs off and they try striking instead. Back to the grapple and Shamrock nearly gets the choke, but Severn fights to the fence…and Shamrock hooks in the guillotine at 2:18. Wow, Shamrock actually wins something in the UFC, who knew? His post-match interview perfectly breaks down Severn’s weakness, as he points out that Severn leaves the neck exposed when he shoots for the legs.
Open Weight tournament finals: Tank Abbott v. Oleg Taktarov
Tank is the obvious crowd favorite, but you have to think they’re gonna be disappointed. Still, what an awesome final. I don’t think they could have booked it any better if they tried. Tank actually gets the takedown, but lets him up. I guess he wants the standup fight. So they throw down and Tank traps him on the fence, but Oleg shoots in for the leg and Tank is gassed. Oleg throws punches again and chokes him out, but Tank escapes! He’s still totally winded, but he’s on top in full mount. Tank’s in full cuddle mode because he’s out of gas. Oleg nearly suckers him into an armbar, but Tank manages to slip out again, showing the SKILLS. I’m impressed, actually. And Tank stands up again! They trade strikes and Oleg tries the guillotine, but Tank takes him to the fence. Oleg takes him down with a single-leg and goes back to the guard again. Tank actually passes the guard, but he’s still got no finish. Tank goes for the simple choke by leaning on Oleg’s neck, but he can’t hold it. Big John threatens a restart, so Tank bridges up and rains down with strikes, but nothing with any great effectiveness. So it’s a restart. Tank pounds him on the fence, but gives up the neck and Oleg guillotines him, then floats over and tries the rear choke. Tank gives up the neck again and we’re done at 17:47. What a fight! Total starmaking performance from Abbott there, despite Taktarov winning the tournament. The crowd’s passion for Tank negated whatever sloppiness the fight might have had.
A brilliant early show for the UFC, and one that you shouldn’t hesitate to pick up if you find it in the UFC Classics series of DVDs somewhere.
