Last week’s episode of Battleground was a repeat so I reported my predictions for the IFL Moline, IL battles pitting the Tiger Sharks against the Red Bears and the Lions against the Silverbacks. As promised, here’s how I did.
The beauty of MMA is there are no guarantees. As those who watched UFC 69 learned, anything can happen.
TS vs. RB
I picked Shad Lierley (TS) to win over Mike Corey RB). I was correct on this one but Lierley had to work for it.
I picked TS welterweight Brad Blackburn to beat Mark Miller but I was mistaken. Miller won the decision.
Bristol Marunde fought RB’s John Kading instead of Chris Albandia. Marunde, hungry for a win, KO’d Kading for the win.
Allan Goes predictably beat Homer Moore.
Reese Andy took the win from Adam Maciejewski, to my surprise. I guess I’m not so clairvoyant.
Lions vs. Silverbacks
A preliminary fight between Lions’ Rick Reeves and Silverbacks’ Luke Johnson ended with Reeves submitting Johnson with a rear naked choke. While this fight counted for the fighters, it did not count for the team.
Rory Markham had to work hard for his win against Pat Healy but finally secured a third round knock-out but not before getting a pretty decent beating from Healy first.
Ryan McGivern won a decision over Dan Molina. I actually didn’t see that coming.
As predicted, veteran Vernon “Tiger” White submitted Sam Hoger by rear naked choke. The Moline crowd did not like it, either.
Ben Rothwell, known for his first round knock-outs, battled three full rounds with Roy Nelson before winning the decision.
Another lengthy and exciting fight raged between Silverbacks’ Bart Palazewski and Lions’ John Gunderson. Palazewski won by split decision. Well, what are you going to do? They were in Moline, IL, Miletich’s hometown.
I’m going back to my Battleground beat.
The Inside Pulse
On a personal level, I’m a Lions fan. I strongly respect Pat Miletich and his Silverbacks but I can’t help but wonder if some of those decisions wouldn’t have gone to the Lions if they were in Oakland or some place other than Moline, IL.
I guess we’ll see what the Lions are really made of when they take it to the Scorpions in Reno on June 16.
