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Ufc: Battle for Gold [VHS]

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Randy Couture's decision not to defend his UFC heavyweight title led to 18 months of no heavyweight champion. The main event of this card would finally introduce the new champ; but not without controversy.

UFC 20 (aka Battle for Gold) was a good card from start to finish. The night kicked off with an intriguing matchup between Laverne Clark and Fabiano Iha. Clark was back to add a victory over a world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu warrior in Iha. The fight was quick with a bloody conclusion.

Next up we would see the return of Thai fighter Vanderlei Silva. With his UFC debut being a bust(ko'd by V.Belfort), Silva was out for redemption. Tony Paterra would be the aggressor against Silva, but the end was no suprise.

A new Brazilian fighter, Marcelo Mello would debut against a very tall and skinny fighter, David Roberts. Billed as a wrestler, Roberts looked more like a sophmore baskeball player. Textbook BJJ was needed to dispose of the "stilt"

Lions Den fighter Pete Williams was back against the "MMA Iron Man" Travis Fulton. Williams at this point of his career seemed all but destined for some gold. Fulton while not being the most skilled(or toned) fighter certainly had experience in his corner. A good fight with some good reversals and submission attempts and finish.

Because being friends with Bas Rutten, Pedro Rizzo all but passed at his chance of UFC gold. But this young Brazilian was back with business in mind. At the other corner, Tre Telligman stood ready to stop Rizzo. The fight was suprisingly fast-paced up until a good KO for the winner.

The Main Event was a classic grappler vs. striker matchup. Kevin Randleman's unstoppable takedowns and punishing strikes vs. legendary kickboxer Bas Rutten. The fight as expected was a true war, with a broken nose involved in the mix. After regulation and overtime, the new champion was announced.....the controversy began. While about 75% of the I know did not agree with the decision, after watching the fight carefully, it was a closer fight than the first time. A good fight otherwise.

This was the best UFC I've seen. I didn't recognize all of the fighters that competed but every fight was good. Heavyweight Pete Williams (from my state, Texas) really impressed me in his bout against Travis Fulton. If you leave the room to get some popcorn you could miss the lightning fast ending. The light and middle weight bouts were both solid as well. The championship was between Bas Rutten and Mark Coleman student Kevin Randleman. This fight went the distance and the only bad part of the whole card was the decision at the end. I won't say who won but in my opinion it was the wrong man. That shouldn't prevent you from buying this tape, though, because it's the best UFC since the Gracie, Shamrock days.

May 7, 1999
Boutwell Auditorium
Birmingham, Alabama

Laverne Clark vs. Fabiano Iha:
Clarke is a straight-up boxer, while Iha is versed primarily in Jui Jitsu. This should be interesting... and it is. It's stopped early due to a cut.

Wanderlei Silva vs. Tony Petarra:
In Silva's UFC debut at Ultimate Brazil, he was devastated immediately by a young Vitor Belfort. Those of us who have followed his career since may call that fight something of a fluke.. In this, his second UFC appearance (the first in the US), Silva is determined to make a better showing. He does and the fight ends in classic Wanderlei Silva fashion.

David Roberts vs. Marcello Mello:
This one didn't get me all that fired up. It ends quickly by way of ground and pound. Nothing of note to speak of here.

Pete Williams vs. Travis Fulton:
Fulton, although still young, is one of the most experienced veterans in all of mixed martial arts. Pete Williams is the young gun out of the Lion's Den camp. The fight is fairly entertaining, with both fighters doing well when it ends abruptly by way of a submission.

Pedro Rizzo vs. Tra Telligman:
There are fireworks in this fight. Telligman blazes out early with a flurry on Rizzo. Rizzo then turns the tides. He get to see two great strikers go at it on their feet until one man finally falls. Great fight.

Bas Rutten vs. Kevin Randleman:
I was very excited to see Bas Rutten in action again in the UFC after his war against Kohsaka in his debut. Much hype came attached to Rutten and it was time to see if he could measure up.

Randleman controls early with the use of his power and body weight. It is clear that he wants no part of Rutten standing, so he tries to keep Bas down as best he can. Rutten suffers a broken nose while grinding it out with Randleman for the better part of the first round. Rutten's face grows messier as the fight wears on, with Randleman seemingly in control. He lies on top of Rutten for most of the fight, with Rutten doing his best to strike from the bottom and Randleman occassionally striking down on Rutten. Whenever the fight does go to the feet, the formula goes like this: Randleman stalks, Rutton kicks, Randleman takes him down and lies on top of him. It's somewhat frustrating to watch. I would have loved to see more standup, but Randleman played it smart and kept the fight on the ground.

The fight goes to a decision and the outcome is pretty shocking. It causes a stir of controversy in the arena... This is a decent UFC event, not a great one.

you will like the video. the fights are good. it be nice if bas rutten down the road challenges mark coleman, but this fight did not occur, because in the video pedro rizzo went against mark coleman and bas rutten went against kevin randall. the fight was good between randall and rutten but it would have been nicer if the fight was up standing as compared to being on the ground.

I think UFC 20 is one of the best UFC's in fact for me all the UFC's are cool being that i am a fighter myself and future MMA fighter i like any kind of ufc but lets get down to the reiview.starting with laverne clark and Fabiono Iha a good stand up fight were laverne wants to keep it standing Iha wants to take it to the ground a must see if you like a classic grappler:vs:striker then Vanderlei and ole Tony Petarra square off in a middle weight fight were it was once again a grappler:vs:striker and in that fight somebody impressed the mma world. then the third fight back into the lightweights david roberts took on marcello mello and in this fight good takedown and good finish after that fight it was to the heavyweights first off pete williams took on travis fulton the iron man great fight standing up and on the ground both warriors showed great skill standing up and on the ground and on the ground is were it ended then next up was pedro rizzo taking on tra the trauma telligman great fight all stand up it was as both fighters exchanged blows had nothing to do with the ground game and in the end one fighter of the two was knocked out and then finally what ever one was waiting for BAS RUTTEN took on KEVIN RANDLEMAN for the UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP of the world this fight was little times did it stay on the feet becuase bas was looking for a knock out but it went to the ground and the ground is were both fighters stayed for most of the fight bas suffered a broken nose but it looked liked kevin randleman was starting to suffer from fatiguness and bas still looked fresh after the regulation period and into the two over time periods bas would connect with a high kick and a kick to the midsection but he didn't get to score no knockout as the fight ended up going to the judges score cards so to decide you the new heavyweight champion was going to be the judges had the call first judge scored the fight randleman the second judge scored the fight rutten and the third judge scored the fight for the winner and new UFC heavyweight champion of the world well can't say will ruin the excitiement you'll have to find out for one thing though the winner of that fight did deserve the title. but UFC 20 is just another proof that the UFC is the best MMA sport out there a must buy for any MMA fan ENJOY.

This was the best!! buy it buy it!!