Bloody Elbow is the premier MMA community, and it is because every single user brings something to the table whether in the form of humerous banter or expert knowledge in a one of the martial arts. Being a huge fight fan, i believe this is my contribution to the BE community. LATE NIGHT FIGHTS as a series was created in order to highlight great classics and those fights that are often cited but rarely seen as well as the past, present and future legends of MMA in their early non UFC or non MMA bouts. - KJJ

2000, seems so close and yet so far. The Devils had upset the defending champion Dallas Stars, 15 year old Michael Phelps finished 5th in the 200 meter butterfly at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. And Matt Serra was scheduled to fight at PRIDE 9, however....

The show got off to a disasterous start as Johil de Oliviera was severly burned on the way out by the pyrotechnics. He suffered burns on at least his face, chest, and abdomen, resulting in nasty water blisters. Instead of fighting Renzo Gracie protege Matt Serra, he had to be rushed to a Nagoya City hospital where he'll be recouperating for 2-3 weeks. Mori****a said that would be the end of the pyro on PRIDE shows because it's not worth risking another accident

Fascinating stuff! But tonight we first step outside the Octagon and onto the mats where a legend was born. Jay Dee Penn was one of three sons named Jay Dee Penn, why? I will never know. But in order to make life easier the Penn we all know and love was nicknamed BJ. Lets let wikipedia give us some insight on early BJ

BJ would recently cite his training with AKA telling Jon Fitch

And [he] has to do is look on the wall [at AKA]. Whose picture is on the wall holding the belt? That’s all Jon Fitch has to know."

Ouch!

BJ Penn at the Mundials 2000 (via TeflonMaster)

Lets get to the meat & potatoes now: Randy Couture was a powerful wrestler winning 1991 Pan-Am Gold in Havana. I always like to keep this handy when people cite Randy as a "non athletic guy who made it work"

Randy Couture – (8-2)

Notable Wins:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (D-Unanimous)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Kevin Randleman (TKO - Punches)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Maurice Smith (D-Majority)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Vitor Belfort (TKO-Punches)

Notable Losses:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Enson Inoue (SUB – Armbar)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Mikhail Ilyukhin (SUB – Kimura)

Valentijn "The Python" Overeem (18-11)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Renato Sobral (SUB – Toe Hold)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Chris Haseman (D-Majority)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Kiyoshi Tamura (SUB – Verbal)

Notable Losses:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Antonioo Rodrigo Nogueira (SUB-Keylock)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Gilbert Yvel (Injury)

Randy Couture vs Valentijn Overeem (via BootlegFightVideo)

Valentijn is on a 6 fight win streak, including his victory over Yamamoto earlier tonight. Couture 4 in a row witn a 3-0 Record in RINGS. Round 1 starts. Randy with a big overhand right and then a quick takedown into Overeem’s half guard. Valentijn threatens with a guillotine and that allows him to get back up. And he takes that guillotine and jumps guard! Really torquing it tight and gets the tap. Valentijn Overeem is your RINGS King of Kings 2000 winner.

Crazy stuff, Valentijn would be the last fighter ever to tap out Couture by choke or lock (Ricco won by a submission to strikes). Valentijn is also the only fighter ever to tap out Babalu Sobral. Not a bad resume for a journeyman

Other Recent LNF Installments:

LNF 25: The G.O.A.T versus The P4P Champ. PLUS: UFC on Beavis n' Butthead

LNF 24: Georges St Pierre vs Mayhem Miller

LNF 23 :Late Night Fights 23: Aaron Asham vs Jay Beagle

LNF 22: Late Night Fights 22: Evan Tanner vs Rich Franklin

LNF 21: SF Dallas Primer: Alistair Overeem running away from punches Lesnar style, Barnett vs Schlit. Overeem v Kharitonov 1, 2 and vs Werdum. Wedrum v JOE and Rogers v Warpath