Newton Robbed at IFL World Team Championship Finals
By Jim Genia

Miletich

(December 29th, Uncasville, Connecticut) At the Mohegan Sun Arena, a crowd of 6,825 witnessed it all: the showdown between Pat Miletich’s Silverbacks and Matt Lindland’s Wolfpack, including another dominating performance by an emerging heavyweight star, a face-punching party between two brawling lightweights and a crowd-pleasing welterweight upset, all of it ending in a team victory for men with gorillas on their jerseys. But the one thing that will no doubt stick in the minds of those present was the crime perpetrated after the marquee bout, a rematch of jiu-jitsu legend Renzo Gracie and former champion welterweight Carlos Newton. For while their first meeting ended with Gracie giving up the controversial split decision at Pride’s inaugural Bushido event three years ago, this evening’s outcome certainly helped restore a bit of karmic balance to the universe. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight Newton was robbed — and when the always-classy Gracie took the microphone and addressed the audience, even he agreed.

Gracie

• The sharp and dangerous striking of Silverback Ben Rothwell as he took less than one round to dispatch Devin Cole with a kick to the head.
• The melee between Bart Palaszewski and Ryan Schultz, which ended when "Bartimus" found a home for his right hook on Schultz’s chin.
• The unbridled respect Newton and Gracie showed one another before, during and after their bout. This time around, with the controversial split decision going his way, it was Gracie who put Newton on his shoulders and paraded him around the ring.

Newton

Full Results

Intra-League Superfights

Renzo Gracie (Pitbulls-184lbs) vs. Carlos Newton (Dragons-185lbs)
Gracie via split decision.

Mike Whitehead (Scorpions-262lbs) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (Anacondas-235lbs)
Whitehead via unanimous decision.

Jamal Patterson (Pitbulls-204lbs) vs. Reese Andy (Tiger Sharks-205lbs)
Andy via ref stoppage due to unanswered strikes at 3:24 of Round Two.

Brent Beauparlant (Dragons-205lbs) vs. Andre Gusmao (Pitbulls-205lbs)
Gusmao via unanimous decision.

Erik Owings (Pitbulls-154lbs) vs. Ed West (Sabres-151lbs)
Owings via unanimous decision.

World Team Championship Finals

Wolfpack (coach: Matt Lindland) vs. Silverbacks (coach: Pat Miletich)

Ryan Schultz (155lbs) vs. Bart Palaszewski (155lbs)
Palaszewski via KO at 2:16 of Round Three.

Chris Wilson (170lbs) vs. Rory Markham (169lbs)
Wilson via ref stoppage due to unanswered strikes at 2:14 of Round One.

Matt Horwich (186lbs) vs. Ryan McGivern (184lbs)
McGivern via unanimous decision.

Aaron Stark (204lbs) vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz (205lbs)
Ciesnolevicz via guillotine at 1:03 of Round Three.

Devin Cole (237lbs) vs. Ben Rothwell (264lbs)
Rothwell via ref stoppage due to unanswered strikes at 3:16 of Round One.