‘Worlds Collide’ event ends with a bang

By Andy Samuelson

Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Former boxer Fernando Vargas’ future in the promotional part of the fight game looks pretty bright after his first foray Saturday night in Primm.

Then again, if Vargas’ predictions are going to be this accurate, the Oxnard, Calif., native might want to relocate to Las Vegas full time and become a professional handicapper.

The two-time world champ promised a massacre at the Star of the Desert Arena, and Jorge Lopez and Brent Cooper all but delivered on that bold bloodbath proclamation at the combined mixed martial arts and boxing event dubbed “Worlds Collide.”

Neither the Las Vegas-based Lopez, who pulled out the exciting victory by a narrow unanimous decision, nor Cooper, an Irvine, Calif., native, were able to talk about it though, because both left Buffalo Bill’s casino via ambulance to be checked out for precautionary reasons in Las Vegas.

“They both left it all in the ring and the fans were definitely loving it,” said co-promoter Roy Englebrecht, who said Saturday’s first show of a six-part tournament at the casino located about a half hour outside of Las Vegas was the first fight card to feature alternating boxing and MMA bouts.

“I think it was a tremendous success for our first show. The boxing fans seemed to be just as excited for MMA as they were for the boxing matches, and the MMA fans really seemed to be enjoying the boxing. That’s exactly what we were hoping it would be.”

Former WBA heavyweight champ Mike Weaver didn’t know what to expect having never seen an MMA match first-hand before.

“It was really cool,” said Weaver, who was cornering for Las Vegas-based fighter Herman Scott. “I think the fans really enjoyed the back-and-forth duality of both sports. I think this is probably the way of the future.”

Ultimate Fighting Championship star Wanderlei Silva agreed, saying he was impressed by the flow of the event.

“I think everyone who was here loves the fight game, and I don’t believe there’s as much separation as some people think,” said Silva, who has been training with Lopez for about a month. “People got to see a good show.”

There’s no question about that as the colorful Vargas made his grand appearance in a pimped-out navy blue suit and matching fedora, accompanied by an excited brown pit bull.

“You could have been anywhere in the world, but you chose to be here with me,” Vargas said with a big smile. “I appreciate that. And after the fights maybe we drink a little Patron, I don’t know.”

However, Vargas’ entrance didn’t even contain the best animal entourage of the night.

That honor went to Uganda-born fighter Sharif Bogere, who made his way to the ring dressed in a half lion costume complete with head while being carried inside a cage by four ripped men dressed in tribal African clothing.

“The lion represents his style,” said Bogere’s manager Jimmy Alex, who is also the executive director of operations for Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club in Las Vegas.

“He’s the king of the jungle and people love a big entrance. We’re trying to get his name out there, because he was one of the best fighters in Africa.”

The super featherweight Bogere backed up his lavish entrance early in his fight with Carlos Small, knocking him to the canvas twice in the first round.

Small, who slipped several times in the second round, managed to avoid the knockout and pushed the undefeated Bogere (6-0) to the full four-round limit in their special feature fight.

“I was trying to get that big punch early for the KO,” Bogere said. “But he was definitely a tough fighter til the end. I thought it was a good fight.”

One of the more entertaining MMA fights featured a pair of Las Vegas-based fighters in Jorge Molina and Dustin Phillips.

While Molina, who graduated from Green Valley High School, was introduced into the fight game through boxing, Phillips, a native of Topeka, Kan., got the unique opportunity to showcase his skills a year ago to legendary UFC fighter Randy Couture.

“He invited me in to train out here for a week,” said Phillips, who was a collegiate wrestler at Missouri Valley College. “He just treated me the best. Then my wife actually transferred out here for work.

“So I’ve been training with Team Couture since we got out here in October.”

Phillips, who proudly says he’s 5-foot-6, admitted he was a little nervous about Molina’s reach advantage, considering Molina is 6 or 7 inches taller.

“But my coaches from Team Couture just told me not to think about any of that stuff and to utilize what I thought would be my superior wrestling skills. They told me to remember the kind of guys I train against each day at the gym.”

The fight played out in Phillips’ envisioned fashion with Molina landing some impressive strikes in the first round, but Phillips’ take down and ground-and-pound skills proved to be the difference over the second and third periods as he won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).

“I guess the training and getting my butt beat everyday in that gym pays off when you can come out here and get a win,” Phillips said.

The fight of the night was the last bout between Lopez and Cooper.

The two wasted no time exchanging strikes, to the crowd’s delight.

By the second round both had blood on their faces. Lopez was able to take control with his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and ride Cooper for much of the round.

But the third and final stanza was an all out bloodbath. Knowing he was behind on the scorecards, Cooper unleashed several flurries that caught Lopez clean. Cooper had him backed up against the ropes and was unloading, but Lopez found a little space and time when he again countered with a takedown.

With 10 seconds left Lopez was hanging partially outside the ropes as Cooper delivered another big strike. But by the time the two fighters were reset, time had expired and the crowd showed their approval.

“I think he has a really bright future,” Silva said of the Mexican fighter.

And how about the longevity of dual sport shows?

“Yeah definitely,” Silva said with a smile. “People love to watch good fights and they got to see a good one right there. It was a fun night.”

Andy Samuelson can be reached at [email protected] or 702-948-7837.