UFC 19: Quick, Fast and In Shape

Kevin Randleman

(Photo:ringsofpain.gr)

UFC 19 - Ultimate Young Guns  - Bay St. Louis, Miss. - Casino Magic - March 5, 1999

Kevin Randleman and Tito Ortiz are two of the featured "young guns" tonight.

Randleman will face former UFC heavyweight champion Maurice Smith, with the winner battling Bas Rutten  for the vacant title at UFC 20.

Ortiz will take on Guy Mezger in a rematch of their UFC 13 tournament final, which Mezger won.

Before the pay-per-view went on the air, Sione Latu beat Joey Roberts at 10:01 when the ref stopped the fight due to a cut.

Mike Goldberg is calling the action with Jeff Blatnick. Bruce Buffer is the ring announcer. Here we go!

1. Heavyweights: Pete Williams vs. Jason Godsey

Williams (4-1) upset Mark Coleman at UFC 17 but lost to Tsuyoshi Kohsaka at Ultimate Brazil. The debuting Godsey is 35 years old and is from Indiana. He is 4-3 and has beaten Steve Jennum, who won the UFC 3 tournament.

UFC 18: Bas Rutten Targets the Title

Bas Rutten (Photo: IMDB)

UFC 18 - Road to the Heavyweight Title - New Orleans - Pontchartrain Center - Jan. 8, 1999

Announcers  Mike Goldberg and Jeff Blatnick welcome the fans and thank those who have been lobbying to get UFC back on most pay-per-view carriers.

They also talk about the semifinal matches in the Road to the Heavyweight Title, which had been vacated by Randy Couture due to a contract dispute.

Before the pay-per-view went on the air, LaVerne Clark beat Frank Caracci via tapout to strikes at the 6:52 mark.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer fame is one of the judges. Bruce Buffer is the ring announcer and John McCarthy and Tony Mullenix are the referees. Here we go!

1. MIDDLEWEIGHTS - Darrell Gholar (Greco-Roman wrestling)  vs. Evan Tanner (Freestyle)

Both are debuting in the Octagon. Tanner, from Amarillo, Texas, is 16-1 in Pancrase and Extreme Challenge. Gholar is a two-time national Greco-Roman champion.  He is also a Hollywood screenwriter.