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LOS ANGELES - Brazil’s legendary Royce Gracie gained revenge against his former conqueror, former pro wrestler Brock Lesnar won his pro debut in mixed martial arts while former USC star Johnnie Morton was brutally knocked out in his pro debut and refused a drug test in a strange fight card on Saturday night.
It was the first taste of mixed martial arts at the Los Angeles Coliseum that saw the Fight Entertainment Group, ProElite and Showtime attempting to produce an American version of its popular Japan shows. More than 15,000 attended the event.
After a seven-year wait to enact revenge on Japan’s Kazushi Sakuraba (21-10-1), Brazil’s renowned jujitsu master Gracie finally got his victory. But the people booed the chess match fighting that took place for three five-minute rounds.
With former pro wrestler Sakuraba facing the legendary Gracie (14-3-3), the action that included strategic arm holds, attempted chokes and take downs was much expected. But to most of the crowd, many seeing their first MMA fight card, it was a snoozefest with little action.
After three rounds of grappling and counter moves the judges scored it 30-27, 29-28 twice for Gracie.
Former NFL and USC star Johnnie Morton returned to his former stomping grounds and promptly got stomped by Africa’s Bernard Ackah in 38 seconds of the first round. Morton lay unconscious for what seemed two minutes and left on a stretcher with his neck in a brace. He raised his fist as he was carried on a stretcher to an ambulance.
“Everything is ok,” said Armando Garcia, executive director for the California State Athletic Commission. “He was taken to the California Hospital for observation.”
Later, after most of the fights had been completed, Garcia said Morton refused to submit to a urine test required by the Commission.
“He (Morton) will not be paid and he is suspended indefinitely,” Garcia said. “He refused on the advice of his agent, whatever that means.”
Wrestlers prevailed most of the night against punchers, and Lesnar was no different in capturing his first pro MMA bout with a win by submission due to strikes at 1:09 of the first round against Korea’s Min Soo Kim (2-6).
“All my preparation is due to my amateur wrestling,” said Lesnar, who jumped on top of Kim and forced him to quit by pounding his face with left hands. “I was disappointed I couldn’t fight the big-headed guy.”
Kim was a replacement for Hong Man Choi, who failed medical examinations and was prohibited from fighting by the Commission.
Loma Linda’s Mighty Mo found his left hand effective against big Ruben Villareal in a heavyweight bout that ended in a technical knockout at 1:33 of the first round. Mo, whose real name is Siala Siliga, traded punches in the opening seconds of the fight. Both landed, but Villareal decided to try and take the fight to the ground. He was unsuccessful. Both traded again with Mo missing a big right but a follow up left hand caught the Sacramento fighter on the cheekbone and down he went. Villareal attempted to drag Mo down with him but failed. Mo pushed him down and fired another left hand that caught Villareal again. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight.
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