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- UFC 3: The American Dream
UFC 3: The American Dream
Camron Gieschen
September 27, 2022
Setting The Stage:
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Venue: Grady Cole Center
TV Announcers: Brian Kilmeade, Jim Brown, Ben Perry
Ring Announcer: Rich “G-Man” Goins
Post-Fight Interviews: Herb Perez
Attendance: 3,000
PPV Buys: 90,000
MMA Bouts: 6
Preview:
After two competitions, twenty fighters trained in nineteen different styles entered the octagon as Royce Gracie dispatched every man he's faced exiting the champion both times. At UFC 3, Royce looks to defend his crown against a field that showcases some returning fighters and new faces to test the champ. This is also the first event where the referee (John McCarthy) can step in and stop the fight via TKO (Technical Knock Out).
Fight #1:
The opening bout of the evening features a shocking contrast in size between the two combatants. A real David vs. Goliath matchup as Kieth Hackney, listed at 5’11 200 lbs, faces off against Emmanuel Yarborough, listed at 6’8 616 lbs! At that size, Yarborough is the largest professional athlete in the world, and it shows as he almost falls trying to get into the cage.
The bell rings, and right away, the visual is shocking. Yarborough takes the center of the cage as Hackney bounces along the outside, looking for an opportunity to strike. Hackney sees his chance and fires a palm strike that lands on the temple of Yarborough and sends him crashing to the mat! Hackney then rushes in to finish his kill but perhaps too fast as Yarborough grabs hold of Hackney's leg and reverses the position taking his back and landing bombs against the side of his head. Hackney scrambles to his feet, and as Yarborough follows him up, he rams him through the octagon cage door and out of the Octagon! The crowd goes wild as the two return to the cage and reset to continue the fight. Hackney continues to circle the cage for a while throwing the occasional same palm strike that dropped Yarborough early. Hackney then throws a front kick to the leg that Yarborough catches! But before he can do anything with it, Hackney unleashes five straight uppercuts to Yarborough's face, which sends him tumbling down to the mat again! Hackney pounces again, throwing bomb after bomb with everything he has to put Yarborough away; after thirty uncontested strikes, John McCarthy calls a stop to the contest for the first TKO in UFC history.
Keith Hackney defeats Emmanuel Yarborough via KO/TKO at 1:59 of Round 1
Fight #2:
In the second bout of the evening, we get the return of fan-favorite Ken Shamrock vs. the newcomer Cristophe Leninger. While both men are grapplers, they enter the octagon with contrast in gear. Leninger enters with his traditional Judo Gi, while Shamrock enters in his signature speedo, but this time with wrestling shoes on, which means he is not permitted to throw kicks. Both men have a similar height, age, and weight which seems boring after the last circus fight.
The bell rings, and the feeling-out process begins; neither man is too anxious to make a mistake. About a minute into the bout Leninger shoots for a takedown but is stuffed and ends up with Shamrock firmly in his full guard. Leninger, however, keeps an active guard throwing little punches repeatedly while also looking for an escape. The battle goes for just under 5 minutes, with shamrock controlling the action but surprisingly not attempting any of his signature submissions. After some damage, Leninger eventually gives up by tapping due to strikes, and Shamrock moves on.
Ken Shamrock defeats Cristophe Leninger via Submission at 4:49 of Round 1
Fight #3:
The other side of the bracket features the night's first international fight, with Canadian Harold Howard fighting the local North Carolina kid Roland Payne. Howard enters the cage with a gorgeous mullet and the first “wife beater” we've seen so far, while Payne enters in his traditional Muay Thai trunks.
The fight begins with the guy in the beater taking it to the hometown kid as Howard lands a suplex followed by a shin to the face of Payne while he is on the ground. Payne ends up on top, but not being much of a grappler, is reversed and suplexed again by Howard! Payne scrambles back up and pushes Howard up against the cage in an attempt to control him but is met with a series of right uppercuts and hooks, the fourth of which turns out the lights of Payne and ends the fight in KO fashion.
Harold Howard defeats Roland Payne via KO/TKO at 0:46 of Round 1
Fight #4:
To finish off the opening round, we have the defending champ Royce Gracie facing off against the man they simply call Kimo. Gracie comes into the bout listed 6’0 176 lbs, while Kimo enters at 6’3 250 lbs. Kimo is also notably a minister with “Jesus” tattooed across his abdomen and a cross tattooed on his back. The ministry doesn't stop there as Kimo makes the most memorable walk to the cage we’ve seen yet, carrying a giant cross on his back.
The bell rings, and Kimo charges forward, showing little respect for Gracie and his accolades. Royce presses him against the cage, and a grappling battle ensues that stays on his feet for a while before Gracie attempts a throw that results in Kimo taking the Jiu Jitsu masters back! Gracie shows patience in the position and reverses Kimo slipping into full mount, but as Gracie does so, Kimo bucks and returns the favor, reversing Gracie and ending up in his full guard! Gracie gains control of Kimo by grabbing a handful of his hair and peppering him with shots. Kimo stands up in his guard, allowing Gracie to escape. Still, Kimo quickly grabs hold of Gracie's waist and drags him up against the cage, where Gracie drops for a Kimura attempt before bailing and transitioning for an armbar that he sinches in to finish the fight! Both men are visibly exhausted and must be carried out by their respective teams.
Royce Gracie defeats Kimo Leopoldo via Submission at 4:40 of Round 1
Fight #5:
Ken Shamrock vs. Felix Mitchell (Replacing Keith Hackney)
Before the first semi-final fight of the evening, it is announced that Keith Hackney has withdrawn with a broken hand that likely happened somewhere in the thirty punches he landed on the behemoth Emmanuel Yarborough. Stepping in his spot is Felix Mitchell, a kickboxer out of Nashville, Tennesee standing 5’11, weighing in at 220 lbs. Similar in size to Shamrock and by far the fresher fighter, Mitchell should prove to be a formidable opponent for Shamrock. Mitchell enters the cage wearing MMA gloves which is a first, but then for some reason, abandons the gloves before the start and goes bare knuckle.
The fight begins, and Mitchell approaches with his arms straight out in front of him, inviting Shamrock to shoot for a takedown. Mitchell fends off the takedown and finds himself pinned up against the cage, where the two spend the next 3 minutes exchanging positions and small shots back and forth. Finally, after four grueling minutes of grappling up against the cage, Shamrock is able to execute a trip that lands him into half guard. Shamrock then transitions into full mount, where Mitchel quickly turns and gives up his back. With Mitchell flattened out on his belly, Shamrock locks in the rear naked choke and finishes the fight.
Ken Shamrock defeats Felix Mitchell via Submission at 4:34 of Round 1
Fight #6:
Harold makes his way to the cage, looking confident as ever despite the opponent he is about to face. Gracie enters, and it is clear that something is off with him; his head is down, shoulders slumped, and he appears unable to fight. However, Gracie enters the cage, and the doors close behind him.
Rich Goins begins his introductions and announces Howard, who is bouncing up and down, ready to fight. The camera then shifts to Gracie's corner, where Royce appears wholly defeated, and a towel flies in before Rich can make his announcement. Then, in a childish display of ignorance, Kimo and his manager rush into the cage shirtless to celebrate their “victory” over Royce. A UFC final will be fought without Royce Gracie for the first time.
Harold Howard advances via corner stoppage.
Fight #7
Steve Jennum (Replacing Ken Shamrock) vs. Harold Howard
In a shocking turn of events, it is announced before the walkouts that Ken Shamrock has also withdrawn from his fight due to injury, and Steve Jennum steps up in his place. Jennum, a police officer from Omaha, is trained in Ninjutsu and, more importantly, in his first bout of the night and fresh as can be. Howard makes his way to the cage looking even more fired up than the last time. He seems poised to put on a show!
The final begins, and Howard presses forward, throwing a few faints before barreling into the first-ever rolling thunder kick we've ever seen! The kick is way off the mark, but Howard bounces right back to his feet and lands a lovely right hand on Jennum. Jennum then presses forward, initiating a clinch that Howard uses to latch on a tight standing guillotine choke that sends Jennum down to the mat in search of air! After a mad scramble, Jennum finds himself in half guard while Howard continues to squeeze with everything he's got! Jennum circles his way to side control which pops his head free, and the two exchange blows while rising to their feet. With blood streaming down Jennums face, he grits his teeth and growls at Howard in a display of dominance. Howard attempts a right hand at the scowling face of Jennum that misses. Jennum then closes the distance and trips Howard down to the mat. Howard, now completely exhausted, finds himself on his back with Jennum raining shot after shot on him until the corner finally throws in the Towel! Just like that, Steve Jennum shocked the world and became the third champion in UFC history.
Steve Jennum defeats Harold Howard via Submission at 1:27 of Round 1