Kimbo: Victim of the Cage?

Never was there a night of fights that better displayed the true nature of the cage than EliteXC’s card for Oct. 4, live on primetime.

In the night's showcase fights we saw Gina Carano use the cage to her advantage and avoid the aggressive takedown attempts from Kelly Kobold all night.  She was able to use her size, strength, and balance on the fence to avoid all but one Rodin.  The ongoing effort of Kobold weakened her over the course of the fight, and opened her up to effective strikes from Carano, who got an easy decision victory. 

We witnessed a lack of cage knowledge from title contender Paul Daley, who decided not to use the fence as a way to stand-up from the WW champion and BJJ expert Shields.  In full top mount and being rained down on from Shields, Daley’s only way out was to wiggle and turn ever so slightly and begin to push his way up the fence to get to his stand-up advantage.

Never having fought an opponent with ground game like Shields's, it appeared he had no answer or counter plans.  Daley tapped only seconds later, as he had nowhere to go.

In a sudden change to the much-hyped main event pitting internet and street fighting legend Kimbo Slice against mixed martial arts icon and Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, we were given last-minute replacement fighter Seth Petruzelli.

An experienced fighter with well over 10 fights, including a decision win over MMA icon Dan Severn, Petruzelli is no stranger to the cage or to administrating knockouts. 

It’s been said relentlessly that it’s different in the cage.  The nature of that beast can make or break any fighter at anytime.  On that night the cage made one individual and may have begun to break another.

Kimbo instantly sliced in and cut the ring off.  With his trademark pounce and wide stance, Kimbo placed his opponent exactly where he needed him to be: on the fence with nowhere to run or hide.  With a menacing overhand right steaming in, Petruzelli did what no other has been able to do, and that was to strike first.

Many are wondering how Kimbo dropped with what appears to be a light jab.  I’m sure many in his camp will be wondering as well.  Questions will linger for months on his chin; the MMA purists are enjoying every second and the internet sheep are shaking their heads, senseless.  The truth of the matter is Kimbo was prey to the cage.

With his thought to be victim backed on the steel, Kimbo instinctively threw for the fences.  With his head coming down and his overhand right passing through, it was like Kimbo was throwing the ninth inning two-out World Series high heat or tossing a javelin to record feats. 

With his hips pivoted and his power and balance mounted solely on his left leg, it was only a second before doomsday.  Petruzelli, who did appear easily pushed and tentative, did the only thing that made sense and jumped up to avoid immediate contact and threw what is now the single most important kick of his career. 

Petruzelli’s innocent right push kick was the factor, because he was pushed up the fence and unable to throw a stronger strike.  He utilized a smart right kick to Kimbo’s only center of gravity: the left leg.  This simply pushed Kimbo’s leg back and up, and with his right coming up and his head driving down and through,  Petruzelli's follow-up jab caused Kimbo’s body to switch off in defense upon being hit.

Kimbo relied on the fence; he felt comfort in the fact that his power could drive a KO or eventually control.  He placed all his knuckles in that glove and gambled.  Never has he ever had an opponent who elusively countered and used the fence to his advantage. 

Kimbo, in any other form, open street or boxing ring, would have postured up and planted his feet, throwing with a little more control and substance.  He would have been more aware of closure and attacked cerebral.  Kimbo banks on his opponents eventually being flat footed and swinging with little power as he drives in with proper footwork and aggression.

On this night the fence gave him some false hope and Seth Petruzelli was able to use some basic principles of Karate to his advantage.   The importance of balance in the martial arts and life is paramount.  On Oct. 4, Seth Petruzelli took a chance on himself to restore balance in his life and career.  On that same night, the irony of Kimbo Slice losing balance off the one leg in which he has stood through his MMA career might speak volumes if he can land his career and life on two solid feet.