A Big Week For American Top Team: Monson, Lashley, Miller, Gouveia,
Saunders and Fioravanti All Victorious
Posted by Jason F.
Hatcher on December 14th, 2008

The second week of December brought with it a big week in mixed martial
arts competition as equally as it delivered a big week of success for the
increasingly impressive American Top Team gym headquartered in Coconut
Creek.

From the UFC’s “Fight for the Troops” on Spike TV Wednesday night in
Fayetteville to the debut of Mixed Fighting Alliance in Miami, American
Top Team set the pace of champions. ATT fighters scored big as well at CQC
“In the Cage” in Charlotte and during the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter Season 8
Finale in Las Vegas Saturday night.

“Snowman” Jeff Monson (25-8) defeated “Suave” Ricco Rodriguez (30-9) via
unanimous decision Saturday night during the main event at the Mixed
Fighting Alliance debut in Miami.

“I am happy with the win but I was a little sloppy tonight.
” Monson told Fighters. com following the fight.

The main event battle at MFA “There Will Be Blood” was a full round war
with each fighter going the distance but Monson winning on all cards in
the end. Monson, famous for his blunt honesty, had criticism for his
performance.

“A win is a win but I need to improve.
” The Abu Dhabi and UFC veteran told Fighters. com.
“My jiu-jitsu felt good in the fight but my boxing was a little weak.”
Monson continued, “I need to spend more time in the American Top Team gym
here in Florida. You know, I need to work with more guys down here to
prepare for fights.
”

When asked what the future holds beyond the World Grappling Championship
in Switzerland 20 December and a fight at Sengoku in March 2009, Monson
responded, “I’d really like a shot at Affliction eventually. I think I’d
do well there.
”

Monson’s teammate and former WWE star Bobby Lashley (1-0) won his MMA
debut at MFA in Miami as well when he defeated Joshua Franklin (0-1) in
devastating fashion with a TKO stoppage due to strikes in the first round.
Lashley quickly raced forward scooping Franklin up and slamming him down
into the canvas followed by a barrage of ground-and-pound cuing the
referee to step in and stop the action.

Saturday night brought another big win for American Top Team when Micah
Miller (10-2) defeated Jason Palacios (6-6) via submission at CQC: “In the
Cage” in Charlotte to become the featherweight champion.

When asked about the victory, Miller told Fighters. com, “It was a good
win but tonight I went out and fought conservatively. In the fight I lost
against Josh Grispi (12-1) I was too aggressive. I think in the future I
need to find a happy medium between the two.
”

The championship bout at CQC was a war where Miller expressed respect for
the punching power of Palacios. Miller stated, “Jason [Palacios] hits
hard. Tonight he didn’t hit me flush but I could feel the wind and power
from his punches.
”

Miller powered through himself and defended the attacks of Palacios to
score a strong rear naked choke for the win at the 4:23 mark of the second
round. Miller revealed, “Eventually Jason [Palacios] slipped on his feet
in the second round and as he was getting up, I jumped on his back and got
the the choke.
”

In other action Saturday night, American Top Team saw additional success
during The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 Finale in Las Vegas when Wilson
Gouveia (12-5) submitted Canadian middleweight “The Athlete” Jason
MacDonald (19-11) with elbow strikes during the opening round.

Although Gouveia missed weight for the fight he vowed to never let it
happen again when questioned by Joe Rogan.

“Killa B” Ben Saunders (7-0-2) set the tone of things to come from
American Top Team for the second week of December when he defeated Brandon
Wolff (5-3-0) via TKO stoppage at 1:49 of round one Wednesday night at
Fort Bragg during the UFC’s “Fight for the Troops” event.

Saunders’ performance was brutally efficient and triggered comparisons to
UFC middleweight champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (23-4).

American Top Team fighter and Ultimate Fighter alumnus Luigi Fioravanti
(14-4) stayed in theme for the week by defeating Brodie Farber (12-5) via
unanimous decision on the undercard of UFC’s “Fight for the Troops” event
as well.

At minimum, such a streak of wins by one gym in a span of one week speaks
to the strength and competitiveness of American Top Team positioning the
Coconut Creek institution as one of the best mixed martial arts training
centers in the world.