Modern Fighting

Greg DeSanctis discusses Danillo Villefort’s submission of Mike Massenzio on May 16th on IFL’s website.

 One of the big surprises to come out of the International Fight League’s most recent event on May 16 was Brazilian Danillo Villefort. He would top New Jersey’s rising star Mike Massenzio with a kneebar submission just 3:25 into the first round.

Riding a nine-fight win streak, Massenzio was heavily favored entering the match and was named to Sports Illustrated’s list of Top 10 Up-and-Comers just days before taking the ring. Villefort, on the other hand, was relatively unknown, especially in the United States as the majority of his previous wins had taken place overseas.   

It was an interesting matchup with Massenzio, an accomplished wrestler, versus Villefort who comes from a long pedigree of jiu jitsu black belts. Both fighters’ strengths played into the other’s weaknesses and it would be a matter of strategy to see who could overcome. Massenzio had the clear size advantage and right from the start, it was obvious that it was his game plan to take the Brazilian to the mat. He would use his power to try and overwhelm him, but he may have overlooked the guiding principle that jiu jitsu was designed for weaker fighters to defeat their larger opponents by basically outsmarting them.   

Massenzio was the one to force the fight to the mat but it was Villefort who would take control of the ground game. The Brazilian immediately went to work with several submission attempts and kept himself one step ahead of Massenzio at all times. As they rolled around, Massenzio seemed to sense what was coming but there was nothing he could do about it. Villefort is too slick. It was as if Massenzio knew the fight was over long before he actually tapped. When Villefort got a hold of the leg, there was this look of calm disappointment on Massenzio’s face. He would continue to fight but it was like a series of chain reactions had been put into place and all anyone could do was sit back and watch as it took place.  

The loss was a major setback in Massenzio’s career but it was surely not the last to be heard of the Jersey boy. He’ll have to spend some time and work his way back up the ranks and in the mean time Villefort will keep his eyes on that championship belt as a title fight inches closer to his grasp.   

You can view the video here: http://www.iflvideo.tv/ifl/launch.htm?type=fvod&id=106&catid=

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