Pitbulls Hold Off Silverbacks to Win IFL Title

Thanks to Andre Gusmao's right knee, the New York Pitbulls have championship rings around their fingers.

Gusmao's 53-second knockout of Quad City Silverbacks light-heavyweight Mike Ciesnolevicz gave the Pitbulls a 3-2 victory Thursday night to capture the IFL 2007 team title before 3,470 fans (2,614 paid) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

The 205-pound Ciesnolevicz, who also lost to Gusmao via TKO in September 2006, crumbled after being hit in the face by a knee.

Afterward, the ring filled with Pitbulls fighters who lifted coach Renzo Gracie into the air in celebration.

Gusmao improved his career record to 5-0; Ciesnolevicz fell to 13-3.

The Silverbacks fought back from a 2-0 deficit with victories by heavyweight Ben Rothwell and middleweight Ryan McGivern.

Rothwell scored the biggest win of his MMA career with a unanimous 29-28 decision over former UFC heavyweight title-holder Ricco Rodriguez. The 265-pound Rothwell escaped two Rodriguez guillotine attempts and enjoyed a clear advantage in striking.

The fight became especially heated late in the third round after Rodriguez spit on Rothwell's chest during one exchange. The two later shook hands and Rothwell praised Rodriguez for accepting the fight on only four days notice after original opponent Tom Sauer suffered a torn biceps last weekend during training.

"It's a big step for me to fight him," Rothwell said in his post-fight interview. "I hope this shows the rest of the world the IFL is for real. He's fought some scary guys and beat them."

The 185-pound Ryan McGivern defeated Fabio Leopoldo via knockout at 1:35 of the second round. McGivern, who rocked Leopoldo toward the end of the first round with an overhand right, scored again with a right uppercut followed by a straight right to floor his opponent and prompt the stoppage. With the victory, McGivern avenged a submission loss to Leopoldo on an IFL card in September 2006.

Delson Heleno paced New York to a 1-0 lead by defeating Jake Ellenberger in a battle of 170-pound welterweights. After taking control on the ground, Ellenberger had his positioning reversed and submitted to a Heleno armbar at 3:45 of the second round.

Pitbulls lightweight Devidas Taurosevicius then scored an upset over fellow 155-pound fighter Bart Palaszewski with a controversial second-round armbar submission. Referee Jorge Alonso ruled Palaszewski had tapped out although replays showed he might have instead placed his hand on Taurosevicius' leg while trying to free his arm.

The IFL team championship finale will air at various times Sunday on local FOX Sports Net affiliates.

In preliminary bouts:

Jamal Patterson (205 pounds) defeated Chris Baten via choke in 56 seconds of the first round.

Rolles Gracie (265 pounds) defeated Sam Holloway via rear naked choke in 1:49 of the first round.

Brad Blackburn (170 pounds) vs. Travis Cox was ruled a no contest at 2:32 of the first round. Cox was unable to continue after Blackburn received what referee Troy Waugh ruled was an unintentional knee to the face while on the ground.

Ryan Schultz (155 pounds) defeated Aaron Riley via unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 30-27 in Schultz's favor.

Source: msn.foxsports.com