Jungle Fight VII from Manaus to Sloveniaauthor Denis Martins Images: Marcelo Alonso / TATAME MagazineSlovenia shook at the December 17th’s night when Jungle FC boarded its seventh edition in this old continent’s country. For the first time into its story, the popular Brazilian event held an international edition, and the Slovenian capital, Liubjiana, was the stage for this. Mixing kickboxing, boxing and MMA in 10 fights, Wallid Ismail filled the European show with 6 Brazilians, who had a positive score of 4 victories and 2 defeats,
With the audience nearly taking all the capacity of Dvorana Tivoli Arena, two Brazilian stars shined in the MMA combats. While the Pride and UFC veteran Assuerio Silva split decisioned Igor Pokrajac of Cro Cop Squad in a tough battle, where the Brazilian ate a knockdown and managed his victory on the ground. Pokrajac was a real danger to the Brazilian on the feet and if Silva was not versed on the ground, the outcome could be different.
In the other bout, super BJJ champion, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, featured the main event and did not have troubles to dispatch the Israeli Renzo Gracie’s Haim Gozali. Jacare took Gozalli down and passed the Israeli’s guard quickly, so Jacare reached the side control and sunk an arm-triangle. Gozalli defended but, Jacare kept the pressure and choked Gozalli out in less than 2 minutes of first stanza.
“I had a tough training, so I did what I trained and I think this was why the fight was so quick” explained Jacare to the local tv.
BJJ black belts get smoked
Danilo Rodacki and Klemen Fister had a tough fight when, Rodacki survived at the early moments of the fight when Fister dictated tough pace. However Rodacki used his ground control to submit Fister via rear naked choke. Protagonist of the most brutal andbeautiful KO of whole event, the Brazilian Vitor Miranda put kung-fu specialist Dany Marold to sleep with a high kick in one of the three kickboxing matches of the night,
The jiu-jitsu black belts, Rodrigo “Riscado” Gripp and Leonardo Pecanha both fighters of Campos. Pecanha faced Steven Cantwell and his 20kilos of advantage and while Pecanha had stamina he got good positions and had good chances, but when the Cantwell landed a right-cross which connected, the doctors stopped the fight due to the huge cut in the right eyebrow of the jiu jitsu fighter. Riscado had in his front the veteran Antony Rea, who did not let any chance to the Brazilian. Rea kicked, punched and smashed Riscado’s strategy beating the bjj black-belt up by TKO in round #1.
With a huge focus from the local media and a good audience, the Jungle FC 7th was clearly a success in the Slovenian territory. This was the first event of JFC concept held outside Brazil and with this success reached we stay in doubt if the event will be held in Brazil again, mainly with rumors of JFC being organized in Canada in 2007.
Jungle Fight Championship 7December 17thDvorana Tivoli Arena – Slovenia
MMA
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza def. Haim Gozali by armtriangle – R1
Assuerio Silva def. Igor Pokrajac by split decision
Antony Rea def. Rodrigo “Riscado” Gripp by TKO – R1
Danilo Rodaki def. Klemen Fister by rear naked choke – R1
Steven Cantewell def. Leonardo Pecanha by TKO
Dalibor Anastov def. Richard Montgomery by rear nakedchoke – R1
Kickboxing:
Vitor Mirand KO’d Dany Marold – R1
Ninic Drazenko def. Leonard Sipolex by unanimousdecision