One of the greatest attributes of mixed martial arts is that everyone eventually loses, and when an opportunity for revenge rears its head, fans become fanatics.

The competitive spirit of Pat Miletich has given him the taste for redemption against Renzo Gracie since September 2006 when Gracie defeated Miletich via guillotine choke in the first round of their highly publicized IFL Super Fight. 

One year later, September 20th 2007, would mark the date for The IFL World Championships... and the opportunity for Miletich to face Gracie again, this time in team format for the IFL finals. The location would be the southern coastal city of Hollywood Florida at the glamorous Hard Rock Live. The stakes would be gold at the true Super Bowl of team-based mixed martial arts.

Ironically, after growing up wrestling, boxing, and training karate, it was a Renzo Gracie Seminar in the early 1990's that sparked Miletich's interest in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. The Silverback coach, and former UFC Lightweight tournament / Welterweight Division Champion, coached the Silverbacks to a regular season team record of 2-1, with individual records totaling 9-6, which ranked the Quad Squad 4th overall in team standings.

Meanwhile Gracie's Pitbulls finished the season with an undefeated regular season team record of 3-0, with individual records totaling 10-5, placing them 2nd seed of the league. Gracie has displayed martial artists' tenacity throughout the season, his team plagued with injuries and mad scrambles to secure alternate fighters. This event would be no different however, as The Pitbulls were forced to provide a Lightweight alternate in Deividas Taurosevicius, as well as a Heavyweight alternate (Ricco Rodriguez).

Preliminary Bouts
205 lbs: Jamal Patterson (3-1) DEFEATS Chris Baten (5-3) @ 0:56 of Rd 1
The fight card started fast and furious as Patterson initiates an immediate takedown, moves to side mount, and chokes Baten unconscious at :56 seconds of the First Round.

265 lbs: Rolles Gracie (0-0) DEFEATS Sam Holloway (4-0) @ 1:49 of Rd 1
Next up was Rolles Gracie's MMA debut... facing the tough undefeated wrestler "Big" Sam Holloway. Rolles open with a takedown from clinch and lands in Holloway's half guard. Gracie passes guard and throws a couple strikes, forcing Holloway to roll over. Gracie gladly takes Holloways back and sinks the Rear Naked Choke at 1:49 of the First Round.

170 lbs: Brad Blackburn (10-9) vs. Travis Cox (4-5-1) - Ruled NO CONTEST @ 2:03 Rd 1
With Maurice Smith and Benji Radach in his corner, "Bad" Brad Blackburn from Seattle extended his hand to Cox as a sign of good sportsmanship at the beginning of Round One, and Cox chose to throw a right cross over it. Trading knees & strikes from clinch the Blackburn landed an accidental groin strike. Shortly after that, he unintentionally kneed Cox in the face when Cox was downed. By IFL Rule Guidelines, an unintentional foul that prevents an opponent from returning within the first two rounds due to injury is ruled a No Contest.

155 lbs: Ryan Schultz (16-9-1) DEFEATS Aaron Riley (23-9-1) by Unanimous Decision
The audience reaction for American Top Team fighter Aaron Riley was almost deafening. The crowd had a feeling this would be a stand-up war. After trading strikes through the first half of Round One Schultz gets a takedown and a little Ground-n-Pound from side control. Riley stands back up and the two stand toe-to-toe for the remainder of the round. The Second Round was all stand-up, with Schultz landing some strong knees and Riley putting his precise kicks on display. Round Three opened with a Shultz takedown, but Riley stood before Schultz could do any damage. During an exchange of strikes, Riley landed an unintentional groin strike on Schultz. After Schultz recovered he started throwing some hard rights. Schultz got another takedown, but couldn't do any damage before Riley escaped. After three rounds the judges awarded Schultz with a Unanimous Decision, each scoring the bout 30-27.

MAIN CARD - IFL 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Quad City Silverbacks vs New York Pitbulls

Welterweight: Delson Heleno-Pitbulls (11-3) DEFEATS

Jake Ellenberger-Silverbacks (15-2) via Armbar at 3:45 of Rd 2
As the two welterweights clinched they each landed clean knees & strikes and continually jockied for the takedown. Almost the entire First Round was spent in-clinch. In Round Two Ellenberger jumped for a Guillotine Choke & brought Heleno down into his guard. Heleno passed guard to mount, to be reversed by Ellenberger. Elleberger dropped some bombs and Heleno then reversed to the top North-South position and maneuvered for an armbar to finish.
Pitbulls 1 - Silverbacks 0

Lightweight: Deividas Taurosevicius-Pitbulls (8-2) DEFEATS

Bart Palaszewski-Silverbacks (28-8) by Armbar at 1:30 of Rd 2
Round One started with some solid exchanges until Taurosevicius got a punishing takedown and fed Palaszewski some ripened red leather from guard. After Palaszewski stood up, the two lightweights traded body blows from clinch for the remainder of the round. Taurosevicius delivered some brutal strikes in the opening of Round Two, then Palaszewski got a smooth takedown. From the bottom Taurosevicius transitioned to an armbar. There is some controversy as to whether Palaszewski tapped, but he sure got a foot in the face after the ref stopped the bout. The southern Florida fans let the ref know they did not see a tap in instant replay, but the call would stand giving Taurosevicius the victory at 1:30 of Round Two.

Pitbulls 2 - Silverbacks 0

Heavyweight: Ben Rothwell-Silverbacks (26-5) DEFEATS

Ricco Rodriguez-Pitbulls (26-6) by Unanimous Decision
When Silverback heavyweight Tom Sauer would have to be replaced due to injury, Gracie recruited former UFC Heavyweight Champ and ADCC Gold medalist Ricco "Suave" Rodriguez. Although Rodriguez arrived in poor looking shape, he's been on a five-fight win streak. Rothwell looked at trim as ever, and was ready to face his most challenging opponent tto date.. The two heavyweights threw leather and knees, but didn't put much together for combos or damage. Rodriguez attempted a jump-to-guillotine & pulled Rothwekk into his guard, but Rothwell escaped and was now able to pass pass guard. Ricco turtled, stood, and Rothwell literally chased him down and blasted him. They tied up, and finished the round in-clinch. Ricco threw a couple nice kicks to open the Third Round, then Rothwell backed him into the corner. Rodriguez tries a standing head-and-arm choke, then falls into guard to apply the leverage. Rothwell pulled out & briefly punished Rodriguez from top again. The Third Round ended with hard strikes being traded, along with some smack talk. But the judges would decide the fate of the fighters as neither could finish the other. The judges each scored the bout 29-28, rightfully giving the Unanimous Decision to Ben Rothwell. Rothwell has certainly proven that he is absolutely, without a doubt, a world-class MMA fighter.

Pitbulls 2 - Silverbacks 1

Middleweight: Ryan McGivern-Silverbacks (10-5) DEFEATS

Fabio Leopoldo-Pitbulls (5-2) by KO at 1:35 of Rd 2
Lepoldo looked as though he couldn't get his game together as McGivern dropped him with a straight right in the 1st, again at the beg/ of Rd 2, and then again at 1:35 to finish by KO.

Pitbulls 2 - Silverbacks 2

Light Heavyweight: Andre Gusmao-Pitbulls (4-0) DEFEATS

Mike Ciesnolevicz-Silverbacks (13-2) by KO at :53 seconds of Rd 1
The World Championship now resting on the Light Heavyweights, and they took it very seriously. The fast pace played out well for Gusmao though, as he rocked Ciesnolevicz early, then again a second time with a Muay Thai knee strike at :53 of Round One, finishing by Knock Out in a vicious fashion and giving the Pitbulls the Championship.

Pitbulls 3 - Silverbacks 2

For the first time, Militech's Silverbacks are denied a World Championship, as the Pitbulls dominate in Southern Florida. Miletich's redemption will have to wait... for now.

Catch the main card of The World Championship on Fox Sports Net this Sunday September 23rd, and on MyNetworkTV on Monday September 24th.