YAMMA DEBUTS; TAKTAROV & SMITH VICTORIOUS

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YAMMA DEBUTS; TAKTAROV & SMITH VICTORIOUS
Saturday, April 12, 2008 - by Logan Novatnack, photos by Len Campbell- special to MMAWeekly.com





To say that the YAMMA PIT itself is unique sight would be a gross understatement. With it’s canvased mat that ramps three feet up into the cage on a twenty eight degree angle, and fluorescent lights on the back of every turnbuckle, the “PIT” made it an interesting night for both fighters and fans alike.


YAMMA just didn’t just give the sport of MMA a new Thunder Dome, it found time to bring back some of the sports’ most endeared legends. A Russian Bear, a Smashing Machine, the king of the four round fight, and a man that just goes by the name of Pat Smith. YAMMA also found a way to bring back the grueling eight man tournament which included former UFC heavy weight champ Ricco Rodriguez and UFC vetereran Travis Wiuff.


YAMMA’s main event pitted Pat Smith against Eric “Butterbean” Esch. Butterbean’s only moment in the sun during this fight was the walk to the arena as the crowd couldn’t help but scream his name. This was a classic boxer vs. brawler fight in which the boxer (Smith) landed countless rights and lefts, while Butterbean was unable to land a single punch.


Smith resembled the likes of Apollo Creed as he bounced in and out peppering Butterbean with jabs while confusing the big man. Smith followed with a leg kick that sent Butterbean to the canvas and forced Butterbean to tap three minutes and seventeen seconds in the very first round.


In the co-main event Mark Kerr took on the Oleg “The Russian Bear” Taktarov. Kerr started the fight stalking Oleg like a hunter while trying to find his range with jabs. Kerr went for a shot and secured a takedown. Shortly after Oleg was able to get to his feet, but Kerr came right back at him and landed a big right and followed up with another takedown.


Kerr found himself moving towards Taktarov’s back trying for a rear naked choke, but Taktarov was able to roll out of it and caught Kerr in a knee bar ending the fight in one minute and fifty seconds in the first round.


YAMMA’s eight man tournament consisted of one five minute round for the quater-final and semi-final fights. The final was the more conventional three five minute rounds where Chris Tuchscherer took on the very tough Travis Wiuff.


Tuchscherer found his way to the finals by scoring a decision over Tony Slyvester and another decision victory over Olexey Oleinik, both in the first round of course. Wiuff paved his way to the finals by beating Marcelo Pereria by decision and an upset victory over highly favored Ricco Rodriguez again by decision.


The stage was set for the first ever YAMMA tournament final as Travis Wiuff came out and lateral dropped Tuchscherer to the canvas. Wiuff enjoyed side mount for a little while landing a few short elbows before Tuchscherer was able to get back to his feet. Wiuff landed two big rights that left smirk on Tuchscherer’s face. Wiuff was able to score another big takedown but the fight was stood up due to inactivity. Just as the fight was stood up Wiuff landed a huge right that dropped Tuchscherer. Tuchscherer popped right back up only to be knocked down again by a right. Wiuff quickly jumped on top to finish the fight but ran out of time.


The second round started off with Tuchscherer giving a lot respect to Wiuff’s right hand as he tried his best to keep his distance, but ended up on his back after Travis scored another takedown. Not much action in this round as Wiuff spent most of it Tuchscherer’s guard trying to be offensive but to no avail.


In the start of the third round Wiuff was able to get his third takedown of the fight, but again because of inactivity the fight was stood up. The tables started to turn as Tuchscherer got a takedown of his own but was short lived due to Wiuff’s ability to get right back to his feet. Wiuff landed a solid right which was answered by Tuchscherer with a right of his own, and in the last minute of the fight both fighters put show on for the crowd. Neither fighter wanting to leave anything in the pit as they were going punch for punch.

For the first time in the fight Tuchscherer was getting the better of the exchanges landing big shots that put Wiuff in a daze. But in the final ten seconds Wiuff secured a takedown and eventually the first ever YAMMA tournament belt.

Final Results:

-Lamont Lister def. Oleg Savitsky by TKO (strikes) at 0:34 of round 1

-Brian Vatell def. Antwan Britt by unanimous decision

-Olexey Oleinik def. Sherman Pendergarst by choke at 4:18 of round 1

-Chris Tuchscherer def. Tony Slyvester by unanimous decision

-Travis Wiuff def. Marcelo Pereria by unanimous decision

-Ricco Rodriguez def. George Bush by unanimous decision

-Oleg Taktarov def. Mark Kerr by submission (knee bar) at 1:50 in round 1

-Chris Tuchscherer def. Olexey Oleinik by unanimous decision

-Travis Wiuff def. Ricco Rodriguez by unanimous decision

-Pat Smith def. Eric “Butterbean” Esch by submission (strikes) at 3:17 in round 1

-Travis Wiuff def. Chris Tuchscherer by unanimous decision