Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
Tournament Reserve Bout

Round 1
Vov opens up with pawing jabs and is looking to set up a strike. They are both shooting out pawing jabs and Naka misses a hard high kick, then a shoot. He’s down and Igor pokes him a kick and then pushes into the guard. Igor is rotating around and trying to pass to side control. Hard rights to the head by Igor and Naka is on his back getting whacked to the ribs.

Nice control by Igor and he knees Naka to the ribs very hard. Naka trying to tie up the arms and Igor is almost in mount but Naka wraps him up in half guard. Igor is tied up pretty good and the ref orders them back to the middle of the ring in the same position. Igor hits him a couple shots and Naka is working, attempting to tie him up but he’s getting hit with steady chip shots. More body blows and then to the head by Igor. Very good work to the belly as Igor works from side control. Naka works a good sweep and is now in Igor’s guard.

Good sweep by Naka. Naka now hammer fisting to Igor’s ribs, and nice right. Then Igor goes for an ankle lock and Naka escapes it, falling back in his guard. Naka lands a nice right flush on the puss! Igor escapes and stands up. They’re back on the feet. Igor forces a clinch and gets a takedown. Naka working from Igor’s guard and they reverse off a sweep. Igor on top and working the half guard top position. Naka goes for a heel hook and Igor stand up out of it and falls back into side control. Igor passes into mount and Naka sweeps perfectly out, falling into Igor’s guard. Very tactical ground match with sporadic punching. Naka trying to get to side control, and Igor is holding him in half guard. Igor eats a shot and Naka moves over into side control.

Naka lands a couple belly shots from the top in side control. Igor rotating over and trying to keep position. Igor looking to escape a kimura and shucks his way out. Full mount for Naka! He goes for an arm bar and Igor escapes, bucking out perfectly.

Nakamura controls the round.

Round 2
Igor coming out aggressive and clearly looking to let hands go, but instead shoots in and gets full mount off a good takedown. Naka tying up the head and Vov is whacking him in the ribs. Very good, steady work by Igor. Naka goes for an arm and escapes into Vov’s guard. Punch to the face and another by Naka and they lay there for a bit, then the ref restarts them in same position, in the middle of the ring. Nice right by Naka and he slides around, trying to pass the half guard.

Naka seems a tad quicker now and to have more gas than Igor, who is looking a bit tired from the grappling and constant battles for positioning. Naka in side control and feints for a kimura, then hitting Vov in the face a couple times with soft punches.

Naka working a kimura and Igor pushes his shoulder, getting out of the hold. Naka spins over for an arm bar and Igor gets out of it! Very quick setup and sub attempt by Naka but Igor still showing his old headiness to escape a nicely attempted sub. Igor in the guard now with Naka working on his back and Igor hits him a couple punches. Punch to the ribs by Igor. They are restarted and Igor takes him down near the corner and rabbit punches him a dozen times.

Nakamura controls the round.

Official Result: The judges score the bout unanimously for Nakamura. InsideFighting also scores the bout for Nakamura.

Wanderlei Silva vs. Ricardo Arona
Tournament Semifinal Bout

Round 1
They open up eyeing each other, looking for range and openings. Low kick misses by Silva. Arona inching ahead and Silva misses another probing low kick. Nice inside left kick by Silva. Nice one two just misses by Silva. Hard low kick lands for Arona. Arona moving and circling slowly as Silva is inching ahead now. Low kick misses for Silva. A tense, probing fight at this point and Silva seems to be able to land the low kick at will. Nice inside leg kick and another one.

He’s really working Arona’s left leg with sweet Thai kicks to the knee. Arona misses a hard right and Silva misses a counter cross. Arona hasn’t tried a takedown just yet. Silva misses a big hook-cross combo. Hard low kick for Arona. Low kick by Silva. He’s really hammering Arona’s left leg. He’s landed at least a dozen kicks to the left leg, many to the knee area. Silva lands two more hard left kicks to Arona’s lead leg. Vicious leg kick again for Silva. Arona has only throw a coupe kicks and lands another one. But he seems outmatched in the standup department. Then Arona lands a monster right low kick and knocks Silva down! Arona comes into the guard and Silva is on his back.

Silva ate the kick and went down hard, because he was off balance. Arona is in Silva’s guard and has a big opportunity in front of him here. Arona whacking to the ribs and Silva trying to tie him up and fend him off. Arona keeping a good base and just hammer fisting Silva to the face. He’s evening up the round. Silva working from his back and drills Arona a couple nice rights while on hi back. Nice cross by Arona! Very good shot! Very hard stuff by Arona. Body shots by Arona and Silva is getting dealt a lot of punishment. Big shots by Arona as he postures up and rains down by Silva, and Silva moves his head enough to avoid most. Arona lands a big right hand. Silva takes it well but Arona is working him hard. Small shots by Silva from the bottom. He is active in the guard.

Silva gets a yellow card for inactivity. Silva misses a big cross and they clinch and Arona kicks him and Silva falls to his back, wrapping up Arona in guard! Very good counter leg strike by Arona! Arona rabbit punches him twice with solid shots to the face. Another hard shot by Arona. Silva is planted on his back and can’t seem to escape. Good four punch combo by Arona and a couple land. He’s really ground and pounding nice as Arona is just working steadily. Big opening round by Arona. Big wind up hammer fist by Arona. He’s very tough to get off and Silva can’t escape. Arona lifts up for the slam and Silva escapes and gets out of it! They are swinging wildly at one another at the bell!

Arona controls the round.

Round 2
Silva needs a big round to turn the fight his direction. Big overhand cross misses for Silva. Arona seems like he is looking to counter and play off Silva’s aggression. Nice left inside kick by Silva. Another one but it misses. Nice low kick for Silva. Another right. He’s piling up points with them but he will need more than that. He’s got to land more instead of driving home piecemeal left kick. Big right by Arona but Silva drills him with a perfect counter.

Nice left by Silva and another one! Arona wobbles for a second. Best punch so far for Silva. Low kick by Silva. Low kick again by Silva. He’s firing the left lead kick very fast and Arona has no counter for it, except when he times a right counter kick that Silva leg-checks. Hard right counter kick by Arona! Silva eats it hard on his left leg, but does not go down. He may have made the proper adjustment to keep balance when hit with that counter.

Arona shocked everyone by knocking down an off-balance Silva with a leg kick

Arona gets a yellow card for stalling! Nice low kick by Silva, Arona charges forward, and the scramble ends up with Arona in Silva’s guard. But the ref moves them back into the center of the ring. Tons of rabbit punches by both men and they’re really battling hard with Silva on his back. Arona keeping busy and drives home a double hammer fist. Silva battling like crazy but he doesn’t have much leverage and only opens himself up to more hammer shots by Silva. Ten seconds left. Big hammer fist by Arona to end it and they are still scrapping at the bell, as the ref separates them!

Silva controls the round.

Official Result: The judges score the bout, by unanimous decision, for Ricardo Arona! Arona advances to the finals. InsideFighting also scores the bout for Arona because of the big the big opening round.

Mauricio Rua vs. Alistair Overeem
Tournament Semifinal Bout

Round 1
They clinch and Overeem works double underhooks into a nice trip takedown. He goes for the guillotine but Shogun stands up out of it and blocks a hard kick to the face. Shogun misses a trip takedown and Overeem falls into his guard. Shogun working from the bottom and Overeem working to hit, landing a nice right. Overeem back on top and Shogun stands u. They are in a clinch and Overeem is working lots of knees. Overeem throws Shogun down and etas a knee to the head, then another! Knees from Overeem and very hard stuff from Overeem.

Shogun is turtled up and powers out! Very nice escape. Quick reversal out from the turtle position by Shogun! He stands it up and clinches, pushing Overeem into the corner. Very fast pace just two minutes in, with tons of action. Shogun working a single leg! Overeem works a guillotine falling to his back and nearly has it! Bug Shogun hangs tough and powers out of it! Shogun is very tough, he nearly bought the farm with that one!

Shogun in Overeem’s guard now and Shogun hits him a string of rabbit punches. Shogun stands up and soccer kicks Overeem! Overeem stands up and forces a clinch with double underhooks and works a trip takedown but Shogun scrambles out and is on top, in half guard. Very tough battle at a breakneck pace. Shogun working elbows from the side. He’s now setting up a kimura but can’t get it. Shogun puts knee on belly and soccer kicks Overeem. Overeem grabbing his leg and trying to work a desperate single leg takedown, and Shogun is holding on to the ropes to stay up. He falls into Overeem’s guard. Shogun passes a leg over. He seems stronger at this pint as Overeem’s has taken some hard kicks and is getting worn down with Shogun’s intense grappling. Vicious knee to the head by Shogun as Overeem is caught on the bottom. Full mount for Shogun!

Big shots from the mount! Overeem is getting hammered! He’s covering up and is getting battered. Shogun has hit him with about thirty punches, slow and steady, raining them down again and again! Finally after a brutal string of shots, Overeem is saved by the referee! Big performance by Shogun as he rallies from some serious adversity to pull out the win.

Official Result: Shogun Rua is the winner by TKO in the first round. He advances to the finals against Ricardo Arona.

Fabricio Werdum vs. Roman Zentsov
Heavyweight Bout

Round 1
Werdum opens with a flying knee that misses. Werdum gets a takedown and drives Roman into the corner. He’s in full mount! Very nice by Werdum. Werdum has top position and looks to be setting up shots. A couple of small ones to the head and Roman escapes, turning into Werdum’s guard. Werdum on bottom and is trying to set up a triangle.

Roman is surviving and avoiding subs from top position and lands a right hand. Roman is getting tied up a lot, though, and Werdum goes for a triangle and misses it. Werdum falls into side control and is working to look for a sub. He’s setting up a kimura but can’t get it as Roman guard well, but Roman is mounted now and give sup his back. Fabricio rolls over and can’t get the rear naked choke and is now on his back, with Roman in his guard. Werdum works a triangle-arm bar combination and Roman taps out! Very nice sub by Werdum.

Official Result: Werdum is the winner by submission in the first round.

Hidehiko Yoshida vs. David Abbott
Heavyweight Bout

Round 1
The big question is whether or not Yoshida will try and exchange with Abbott, or try and take it to the ground. They open and Tank misses a jab. Nice high kick by Yoshida and Tank fires into him, taking him down and in Yoshida’s guard. Yoshida working a triangle and trying to set it up. He’s working the leg and Tank denies him, going back into full guard. Very slow and Tank’s hands tied up in the guard and he has not thrown a single meaningful punch. Yoshida has him tied up and tank is looking pretty ineffective here. Tank misses a sloppy right. Big right by Tank to the chin. Yoshida takes it well.

They are restarted in the center. Tank needs to get his hands free and posture up to strike but he seems to be completely unable to get his hands free. Tank fires a cross and Yoshida is sinking in an arm bar right now. Tank is defensive and trying to avoid a triangle arm bar combo. He’s out! Tank is in side control. Two shots by Tank as Yoshida is on his back with Tank in side control. Right cross by Tank and he stumbles back into Yoshida’s guard. Two big rights by Tank to the body.

They are restarted in the center of the ring. Big right to the body again by Tank, and another two. Very hard stuff. Three Tank postures up and can’t land a left, missing. Stalemate for the most part on the ground, with Yoshida looking to sink an arm bar. Finally, they are stood up.

Both are issued yellow cards. Tank misses a hard cross. Nice combo by Yoshida and Abbot is buzzed, falling into a clinch and then a scramble down into the ground. Tank is working a single as Yoshida is standing, trying to roll him over. Tank is turtled and eats two knees. Tank is in trouble here. Two more knees. Yoshida moves around and is sinking home a rear naked, using the gi to sink it in. Tank looks very discouraged and taps out fairly quickly.

Official Result: Yoshida is the winner by rear naked choke in the first round.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Filipovic
Heavyweight Championship Bout

Round 1
Fedor pushing forward and Cro Cop is circling to his left. Big cross misses for Fedor and they clinch and Fedor can’t get anything out of it, and Cro Cop pushes out of it. Big middle left kick by Cro cop lands. Big leaping hook by Fedor, and it drives Cro Cop back. Nice left by Cro Cop.

Fedor pushing forward and Cro cop circling. Nice left just falls short by Mirko. Both miss huge crosses. Fedor seems like he wants to stand with Cro Cop! This is very surprising and he lands a nice looping hook. Big counter left by Cro Cop as Fedor throws a kick. Big shot by Cro Cop and Fedor shows a bit time chin.

Vicious kick to the belly by Cro Cop. Brutal left kick by Cro Cop to the face. Fedor comes back with a brutal standup flurry and just won’t be discouraged. Huge high left kick by Cro Cop and Fedor shoots and instead nearly falls out of the ring. Hard right kick by Cro Cop! Great action so far.

Big left by Cro Cop partially lands. Hard left by Cro Cop. Nice overhand cross by Fedor! Very good shot. He’s pushing the pace and this is like Randy Couture –Chuck Liddell I, with the grappler pushing the standup fight and spoiling the other guy’s rhythm, but Cro Cop is landing some good shots despite being pushed at a pace he doesn’t seem to like. Fedor misses a sweeping right hand, and then another. Big left by Cro Cop. Fedor is hurt but lands a massive cross to drive Cro Cop almost off his feet! Fedor standing in Cro Cop’s guard and the ref stops it to look at Fedor’s badly bleeding nose! Great action. Intense exchanges in the standup here.

Cro Cop on his back and Fedor needs to work the ground and pound here. Fedor stands up and etas a body kick but can’t connect on a leaping cross. He falls into Cro Cop’s guard. Big left by Fedor. The ref stops the bout again to wipe off both men from all the blood coming out of Fedor’s nose and right eye. Fedor in the guard trying to work and lands a couple mugging lefts. Fedor stands up and eats a couple left kicks right in the face! Very good up kicks by Cro Cop. Hammer fists from Co Crop as he’s on the bottom! Big shot by Fedor hits the belly! Fedor pushes through and is on top in north south position. Cro Cop is scrambling really good and gets back in guard as Fedor perhaps tried to set up an arm sub. Mirko doing pretty good from his back so far. Fedor misses a couple huge shots as Cro Cop uses his guard very well to push the legs up and deflect Fedor’s shots.

InsideFighting gives Cro Cop the edge in the round.

Round 2
Quick exchange and nice dirty boxing by Fedor in the clinch. Fedor lands a head kick that Cro Cop partially blocks. Both guys looking for openings as Fedor seems willing to push the standup to wear Cro Cop down.

Another clinch, Fedor pushing him against the ropes. Big right by Fedor. Knee from Fdor and they fall down with Fedor in Cro Cop’s guard.

Fedor works slow and steady ground and pound, as Cro Cop is trying to immobilize his arms while improving his position. Pretty slow pace compared to the opening round as Cro Cop looks tired and can’t seem to dislodge Fedor.

Fedor clearly controls the round.

Round 3
Big right hook by Fedor. Cro Cop seems tired and not his sharp self from the standup. Cro Cop seems hurt by the body shot and falls in a scramble to his back. Fedor is in his guard. Very intense ground pressure by Fedor. He’s just working from the guard and burning energy off Cro Cop. Smacking left by Fedor. Nice left by Fedor. Another big left. Very hard hooks by him as Cro Cop lays on his back and can’t seem to dislodge Fedor from the top position. Cro Cop tries an arm bar but Fedor drills him a half-dozen hammer fists, flush on face. Nice left by Fedor. Another right. Cro Cop is getting pounded here.

Cro Cop needs to get it back on the feet. He’s getting beaten up here and worn down. Restarted on the feet, and Cro Cop gets a yellow card. But Fedor takes him down very quickly and falls into the Cro Cop guard. Smart move by Fedor to bring it down immediately.

Mirko tries an elevator sweep but Fedor defends, flying up into the air as Cro Cop pushes his hips up. Fedor just grinding it out, with short lefts and body shots with the right. One minute left. Nice trade of kicks as Fedor lands a nice counter but eats a men liver kick. Cro Cop barely can keep his hands up and they clinch. Fedor throws him down and Fedor falls into his guard. Rabbit punches from Cro Cop to the back of the head.

Fedor again controls the round.

Official Result: The judges score the bout unanimously for Fedor, who retains his heavyweight title. InsideFighting also scores the bout for Fedor.

Mauricio Rua vs. Ricardo Arona
Tournament Final

Round 1
Shogun inching forward and Shogun misses a spinning wheel kick, then Arona falls into his guard and is working a hard omo plata but Arona wiggles out of it! Very hard sub attempt by Shogun, and Arona's arm is badly bent. Very hard stuff and tons of knees by Shogun. He’s really going right after Arona and Arona ties him up and is trying to cook the pace down a bit.

Arona ties him up for nearly a minute and is trying to get his pace. Good knee from Arona. Sweet trip takedown by Shogun. Arona has Shogun in half guard and Shogun gets the left leg out. Brutal side control elbows to the ribs by Shogun! Arona is really getting hammered. Knees to the head by Shogun! Shogun is standing now and lands a flying drop kick. He lands in mount and hammer fists Arona right in the face! Again and again! More hammer fists and Arona is out! Arona is hurt and not responding or defending! Five vicious hammer fists and Arona is out! The fight is stopped!

Shogun Rua is the winner by knockout, and the winner of the Pride Grand Prix Light Heavyweight tournament!

Official Result: Shogun Rua is the winner by knockout! He wins the Pride Grand Prix Light Heavyweight tournament!