The first round began. Baroni ducked a right and got a big double into guard. He landed big thudding body shots, six or seven. He landed three right hands and a pair of big body shots. He passed to side control and nearly had the back. Nishijima rolled back to side control. Baroni landed a hammerfist. Baroni worked to isolate the arm. Baroni was working briefly for a kimura. He landed four right hands and five more. Baroni was briefly on knee on belly. He passed over to the other side with a missed arm triangle. Nishijima regained half-guard. Baroni landed three big body shots. He landed a big left and another and a pair of rights and another pair. Baroni passed to side control. He got the crucifix. He landed four left hands. He landed five more. Baroni worked towards a kimura. He really began twisting it. It was tight. Nishijima wasn't tapping though. Baroni had it behind the back ripping with it. Nishijima was shaking his head saying 'nope.' Baroni stepped over and he was really looking for it there. He was back to regular side control. Nishijima kneed the body twice. Baroni stepped over really cranking it behind the back. 'He's gonna break the arm.' Baroni stepped over the head and it was tight and the panicked referee finally stopped it.
Another Viewpoint[]
The New York BadAss Phil Baroni was back to his old self as he strutted down the aisle of the Pride ramp, grabbing his crotch to a rap/dance cadence of "This is my rifle, this is my gun" from Full Metal Jacket, laughing at himself as he approached the ring. Surprisingly, Baroni put on a dominating performance on the ground, taking down the tough Japanese fighter Yosuke Nishijima and pounding him from side guard. Jumping across Nishijima's body, he transitioned to an arm triangle choke, then used his legs and right arm to trap Nishijima in a crucifix position, reminiscent of Matt Hughes' recent conquer of BJ Penn. Working back to side guard, he settled patiently for a Kimura that ended the fight at 3:30 of the 1st round. It was a dominating performance, and Baroni was not shy about expressing his love for US audiences. "I love every fuckin' one of you!", he screamed after picking up the ring girl who presented him with his trophy. Asked where the submission moves came from, he joked, "I don't know any moves. What was the name of that move? I watched it on TV the other day."