UFC 9: Motor City Madness

Author

Camron Gieschen
November 11, 2022

Setting The Stage:

Date: Friday 05.17.1996

Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Venue: Cobo Arena

TV Announcers: Bruce Beck, Don Wilson

Ring Announcer: Rich Goins

Post-Fight Interviews: Jeff Blatnick

Attendance: 10,000

PPV Buys: 141,000

MMA Bouts: 7

Preview:

I mentioned last week the drama unfolding around UFC 8 and its sudden relocation to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The drama continues here at UFC 9 with then Arizona Senator John McCain's crusade against the “brutal spectacle” of no holds barred fighting.

After a legal battle in the Detroit courts up until 4:30 p.m. on the day of the show, the UFC was allowed to continue, but with modified rules. There were to be no closed-fisted strikes (eye roll) and no headbutts (fair enough). John Mccarthy is tasked with enforcing these rules, and fighters were warned that they could be arrested for throwing the close-fisted stikes, so this should get interesting…

With all that going on in the backdrop, I almost forgot that this was also the first UFC event that was not a tournament! Just some dudes getting locked in a cage fighting for the hell of it, but wait, no punches! There still is a “World Title Super-Fight” between Dan Severn & Ken Shamrock headlining the card, but again it will be under essentially Pancrase rules.

Fight #1:

This fight was not on the broadcast though there is no tournament and thus no alternates.

Steve Nelmark defeats Tai Bowden via KO/TKO at 7:25 of Round 1

Fight #2:

A veteran of UFC 6, Cal Worsham (0-1 UFC) returns to face off against UFC 1 vet Zane Frazier (0-1 UFC). Though Zane is 6’6 and Cal is just 5’10, they are similar in weight. Both men are previous losers, and one will leave a winner; let's see how it shakes out.

The fight starts, and the two feel each other out before Worsham shoots for a takedown and lands in half guard. He lands some headbutts and closed-fisted strikes to the displeasure of McCarthy, but the action continues. Worsham continues to land blatant headbutts and strikes until Frazier taps!

I knew this would be a strange night of fights, and it starts off that way, with Worsham breaking every rule and still winning the fight. Let's just hope he isn’t handcuffed backstage.

Cal Worsham defeats Zane Frazier via KO/TKO at 3:14 of Round 1

Fight #3:

Carino is a big boy at 6’8, 245lbs making his UFC debut. Anderson, a training partner of former UFC champ Steve Jennum, is 6’2, 225lbs and making his debut as well.

The fight starts, and Carino lands a quick takedown into side control though Anderson regains his guard quickly. Carino postures a few times but fails to land anything significant. Carino then moves to mount, where he unloads some heavy close-handed strikes as Mcarthy yells at him and then just decides to stop the fight after a cut opens up on Anderson's head.

Carino ran right through him as a significant skill gap was visible from the first bell.

Rafael Carino defeats Matt Andersen via KO/TKO at 5:32 of Round 1

Fight #4:

Schultz comes in making his UFC debut at 5’10, 203lbs. He's going up against “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge, coming off a run at the title at UFC 8, losing to Don Frye. Schultz has a background in wrestling and took the fight on a day's notice, so we will see what he can do here.

The fight starts, and the two circle for a moment before Schultz shoots and lands a takedown, landing in half guard. Goodridge holds on tight as Schultz lands short shots where he can. Schultz passes Gary's guard and moves into side control as blood trickles from the eye of Goodridge. Gary grabs his pants to neutralize Schultz, and Mccarthy stands them up. Back on the feet, Schultz shoots immediately and lands another takedown as he moves to half-guard. Schultz works some ground and pound as Goodridge spits out his mouthpiece, and Mccarthy calls the doctor to look at his cut. After being cleared, they resume on the feet, where Schultz takes him down again with a big slam! Schultz moves to full mount and rains down some blows before running out the clock and winning the fight via stoppage, as Mcarthy says there will be no OT.

A classic striker vs. wrestler matchup where the wrestler just took control and dominated the fight.

Mark Schultz defeats Gary Goodridge via KO/TKO at 12:00 of Round 1

Fight #5:

Hall is a UFC vet coming into the evening with a record of 2-1. Kitao is a sumo wrestler making his UFC debut at a whopping 6’7, 390 lbs. I have no idea what's going to happen here. Let's find out together!

The fight starts, and Kitao walks hall down before hall lands a front kick to the body and a solid right hand! Kitao presses Hall against the cage in a clinch where he takes hall down, and the fight ends as Kitaos nose is shattered and blood is leaking all over the place. Yikes!

Tough for Kitao as he got Hall right where he wanted him, but his nose was busted up badly, and the fight had to be stopped.

Mark Hall defeats Koji Kitao via KO/TKO at 0:40 of Round 1

Fight #6:

Don Frye, the Champion of UFC 8, returns (3-0 UFC) against jiujitsu specialist Amaury Bitetti making his UFC debut. Bitetti gets the call-up after winning the 1996 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. We will see if he can pull something out of his hat here.

The fight starts, and the two get to grappling in heated exchanges where Frye lands some big shots that stun Bitetti, and after shooting for a stuffed takedown, Frye ends up on top. Bitetti is able to scramble to his feet, but Frye blasts some big shots to the face and four knees to the head as the crowd goes wild! Frye breaks him down and scrambles around the back and into half-guard as Bitetti rolls over. Frye lands some elbows on the ground as Bitetti regains his guard. After some time, McCarthy stops the fight to have a doctor examine the cut on Bitetti. After getting cleared, the two start on their feet, and Bitetti immediately shoots and is stuffed, and Frye is back on top. Frye lands some thumping elbows as Bitetti seems to be completely exhausted. Mccarthy stops the fight again for the doctor to look, and miraculously the battle continues. Back on their feet, Bitetti shoots and is stuffed by Frye. Frye then lands some knees to the head and elbows to the back, followed by more knees to the head, and McCarthy finally stops the fight.

In my opinion, the best fight to date in the UFC, as it was mad scrambled from the beginning. As Bettis's cardio failed him, it turned into a beating, but he certainly had the heart of a warrior.

Don Frye defeats Amaury Bitetti via KO/TKO at 9:22 of Round 1

Fight #7:

The main event of the evening is here as Severn will look to get his revenge against Shamrock, who submitted him back at UFC 6. Since that event, Severn went on to win UFC 7.5 and has more than earned his rematch vs. Shamrock, who is coming off a kneebar victory over Kimo at UFC 8. Now every fighter has thrown closed-fisted strikes to this point, but it is worth pointing out that Shamrock has extensive experience in Pancrase fighting, which uses open-palmed strikes, so I don’t expect him to be breaking the rules. Let's see how it shakes out.

The fight starts, and neither guy throws a strike for quite some time. The broadcast brings up how both men are wearing shoes and cannot throw kicks which means this is essentially a slap boxing match until someone shoots. Mccarthy urges the action as nothing has happened yet. Minutes pass, and Severn lands a glancing counter shot that cuts Shamrock, most likely just a fingernail cut. Nine minutes in and barely any strikes thrown, McCarthy sends both fighters back to their corner and yells at them to pick it up; let’s see if that does anything. It doesn't, and the two circle as a fan throws some trash into the Octagon. Shamrock lands a couple of strikes but nothing significant. A few more minutes go by, and the crowd chants, “Boring…Boring…Boring,” and I can’t blame them; I am having Thug rose vs. Esparza flashbacks. Severn shoots for a takedown, and the crowd goes wild! Shamrock scrambles and escapes, and they are back to circling. The crowd starts cheering, “Lets go, Red Wings,” as Severn shoots and grabs Shamrock's leg and ends up on the bottom with Shamrock mounting him! Severn holds on tight, preventing anything too big from landing; after a few minutes, Severn bucks turns and gives his back to Shamrock, who slips into Severn's full guard! Severn begins landing some blows sprinting to the finish with a minute to go! Shamrock's face is busted up as time expires, and they will go to overtime. As overtime begins, not much happens, but as the round goes, the two trade shots and Severn lands a takedown right at the buzzer that may have just won him the fight.

An all-time snoozer that had some action near the end but, all around, a pretty boring display. Severn calls out Royce Gracie for UFC 10. We will have to see if that materializes.

Dan Severn defeats Ken Shamrock via 1 Round Split Decision.

P.S. No fighters were arrested for throwing punches after the event.