Down goes Sylvia: Fedor claims WAMMA belt

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By Eric Page | Sunday, July 20, 2008 12:35 AM CDT | () comments

Fedor Emelianenko didn’t waste any time.

The world’s top-ranked heavyweight mixed martial artist came out swinging Saturday night, knocking Tim Sylvia to the ground with a vicious series of strikes to the head before working a rear-naked choke to force a submission 36 seconds into the highly anticipated matchup at Affliction: Banned. The win at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., improved the Russian’s record to 28-1 and made him the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts champion of the world.

Sylvia, the Miletich Fighting Systems vet and two-time UFC champ, fell to 24-5 and now has lost three of four fights.

At 6-foot-8, Sylvia figured to be able to keep the 6-foot Fedor at arms length. But that strategy faltered just seconds into the match when the Russian landed a left hook to Sylvia’s head. A right followed, then a pair of upper cuts and a furious flurry that sent Sylvia to the floor. Fedor then worked his legs in and secured the rear-naked choke.

“I’m very happy about the fight,” Fedor said through a translator. “I’m very happy about my performance.”

After the fight, Fedor expressed an interest in fighting three-time UFC champ Randy Couture, who was on hand and said he’d like to work out a match later this year.

Earlier in the night, MFS heavyweight Ben Rothwell had his 13-fight winning streak snapped, losing by technical knockout to Andrei Arlovski. Rothwell (29-6) had not lost since 2005, including a 9-0 mark in the International Fight League.

Meanwhile, MFS middleweight Rory Markham had a successful debut with the UFC, knocking out Brodie Farber in the first round with a kick to the head in a preliminary bout on the undercard of the Anderson Silva-James Irvin fight. Markham improved his record to 16-4 with the win.

UFC: Silva vs. Irvin

At the Palms Resort and Casino

Las Vegas

Anderson Silva def. James Irvin (KO, 1:01 first)

Brandon Vera def. Reese Andy (unanimous decision)

Frank Edgar def. Hermes Franca (unanimous decision)

Cain Velasquez def. Jake O’Brien (TKO, 2:02 first)

Kevin Burns def. Anthony Johnson (TKO, 3:35 third)

CB Dollaway def. Jesse Taylor (submission, 3:58 first)

Tomothy Credeur def. Cale Yarbrough (TKO, 1:54 first)

Rory Markham def. Brodie Farber (KO, 1:37 first)

Nate Loughran def. Johnny Rees (submission, 4:21 first)

Brad Blackburn def. James Giboo (TKO, 2:29 second)

Shannon Gugerty def. Dale Hartt (submission, 3:33 first)

Affliction: Banned

At the Honda Center

Anaheim, Calif.

Fedor Emelianenko def. Tim Sylvia (submission, :36 first)

Andrei Arlovski def. Ben Rothwell (TKO, third)

Josh Barnett def. Pedro Rizzo (KO, second)

Mark Hominick def. Trenell Young (submission, 4:25 second)

Renato Sobral def. Mike Whitehead (unanimous decision)

Matt Lindland def. Fabio Negao (unanimous decision)

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Edwin Dewees (TKO, 4:06 first)

Mike Pyle def. JJ Ambrose (submission, 2:51 first)

Vitor Belfort def. Terry Martin (KO, 3:12 second)

Paul Buentello def. Gary Goodridge (unanimous decision)