By: William Holmes
The UFC brings another pay per view extravaganza featuring the return of Wanderlei Silva, perhaps the last fight in the UFC for Tito Ortiz, and a bantamweight title fight between Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz. The UFC has a tendency to put on very exciting cards when they lack a major title fight, and hopefully this card is one of those.
Preliminary Card Quick Results
Donny Walker (14-6) vs. Jeff Hougland (9-4); Bantamweight
Jeff Hougland defeated Donny Walker by unanimous decision.
Anthony Njokuani (14-5) vs. Andre Winner (12-5-1); Lightweight
Anthony Njokuani defeated Andre Winner by unanimous decision.
Brad Tavares (7-0) vs. Aaron Simpson (8-2); Middleweight
Aaron Simpson defeated Brad Tavares by unanimous decision.
Brian Bowles (9-1) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (14-5-2); Bantamweight
Brian Bowles defeated Takeya Mizugaki by unanimous decision.
George Sotiropoulos (14-3) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos (14-4); Lightweight
Rafael Dos Anjos defeated George Sotiropoulos by TKO in round 1.
Melvin Guillard (45-9-3, 1NC) vs. Shane Roller (10-3); Lightweight
Melvin Guillard wins by KO in round 1.
Main Card Results:
Carlos Condit (26-5) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (14-0-1); Welterweight
Round 1:
Both fighters come out to the center of the octagon with Kim holding the center. Kim throws a high kick by Condit easily blocks it. Kim ducks under a Condit strike and takes Condit down. Condit sweeps Kim and looks for a guillotine choke. Both fighters back to their feet. Condit with a nice high kick to the head of Kim. Condit throws a superman punch but misses. Condit throws a hard front kick, and goes in and gets caught with a left hand. Condit steps in with an inside leg kick. Condit in with a jumping knee and follows with some strikes and knocks him out. Beautiful knockout by Condit.
Tito Ortiz (16-8-1) vs. Ryan Bader (12-1); Light Heavyweight
Round 1:
Fighters touch gloves and go out to the center of the octagon. Ortiz lands a short jab. Bader throws a hard right and connects. Ortiz in with a nice 1-2 combination. Bader lands an inside leg kick. Ortiz with a right but hits Bader’s arm. Ortiz with another inside leg kick. Ortiz with a hard right hand and knocks Bader down and hurts him. Ortiz now with a guillotine choke locked in and gets the tap from Bader. Ortiz with a huge upset victory, and lives to fight another day in the UFC.
Dennis Siver (18-7) vs. Matt Wiman (13-5); Lightweight
Round 1:
Siver with an early leg kick. Siver with another inside leg kick, and follows it with a right cross. Siver wildly throwing hooks, and Wiman shoots in for a low inside single but Siver stuffs it easily. Wiman with a nice body shot to Siver. Siver with a nice 1-2 combination on WIman, and follows it with a hard outside leg kick. Wiman with an inside leg kick, and Siver throws a leg kick head kick combination. Wiman with a nice body lock takedown, but Siver bounces right back up. Wiman has Siver pressed against the cage and is in on anoutside single. Wiman goes out the back door but Siver is able to get back to his feet. Wiman is having trouble bringing the fight to the ground. Siver seperates from Wiman, and both fighters back to the center of the octagon on their feet. Siver with a hard outside leg kick, and follows with a switch high kick. Siver now with a takedown of his own on Wiman. Wiman tries to set up a kimura on Siver, but Siver goes back to his feet. Wiman against on a single but Siver shows good balance and stays on his feet. Wiman finally completes a takedown into side control, but it is too little too late. Siver wins the round 10-9.
Round 2:
Siver with an inside leg kick 1-2 punch combination. Wiman shoots in on a deep double leg against the cag, but again has trouble finishing the takedown. Siver with some hammer fists on Wiman against the cage. Referee might want to consider separating the fighters if no progress on the takedown is made. Wiman readjusts his level to go back in on a single leg takedown, but Siver’s takedown defense is too strong. Wiman again goes out the back door to complete the takedown, and Wiman now on top position in Siver’s full guard. Siver has a cut over his eyebrow. Wiman trying to ground and pound Siver from the top position and lands a few elbows. Wiman again lands some more elbows on Siver, further cutting up Siver. Siver is bleeding profusely. Wiman landing some solid ground and pound from inside Siver’s guard. Wiman may have cut Siver in more than one spot on his face. Wiman trying to throw double hammer fists now, and ends the round on top. 10-9 round for Wiman, wouldn’t be surprised if some judges score it 10-8.
Round 3:
Last round starts and Siver mixing up his leg kicks and punches early. Siver throws a push kick and Wiman catches it and attempts a takedown. Wiman attempting to turn the curner while in on the low outside single. Siver is able to avoid the takedown and both fighters get back to their feet. Siver again with an inside leg kick, and follows it with a high kick that Wiman blocks. Siver throws a spinning back kick but Wiman is able to avoid it. Wiman probably needs to be a little more aggressive this round as I have the fight tied at one round a piece. Siver lands a jab on Wiman, and Wiman follows with a leg kick. Siver with a leg kick, and Wiman follows with a hard hook. Wiman again shoots in on an outside single leg, but Siver is able to stuff it. Siver lands some short hammer fists. Siver back to his feet and has Wiman against the cage. Wiman goes in for a guillotine choke but is unable to pull it off. Wiman has a bloody nose. Wiman catches Siver’s leg and takes him down to the ground. This takedown may have won Wiman the round. Siver back to his feet, and knocks Wiman down with a hard leg kick. This is a very tough round to score, but I think Wiman did enough on his feet coupled with the takedowns to win this round. 10-9 Wiman.
Official scores are 29-28 by all three judges for Dennis Siver. Last round was close, but I’m surprised not a single judge scored it for Wiman.
Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1, 1NC) vs. Chris Leben (21-7); Middleweight
Round 1:
Fighters come out to the center of the cage and Silva with a quick right cross. Wanderlei Silva with a nice combination, but Leben follows with a left hand and multiple left uppercupts and Wanderlei falls to the ground. Leben follows with some ground and pound and the referee stops the fight. Leben wins by KO in the first round. Very impressive victory for Leben.
Dominick Cruz (17-1) vs. Urijah Faber (25-4); Bantamweight
Round 1:
Cruz comes right in with a right cross that lands flush. Faber gets a body lock and attempts to get a takedown. Both fighters now pressed against the cage, and Cruz is able to avoid the takedown. Faber with a leg kick, and comes in with a right hook. Cruz comes in with a high knee attempt but misses. Cruz bouncing in and out on Faber keeping up a very high pace. Faber with a nice jab that lands flush on Cruz. Faber drops Cruz, but he bounces back up. Faber catches Cruz with a left hook. Cruz with a hard leg kick to Faber. Cruz with a hard uppercut on Faber. Faber comes in with an overhand right. This fight is very fast paced. Cruz with another hard leg kick to Faber. Very fast paced round, and Faber hits a nice short elbow on Cruz against the fence. 10-9 round for Cruz.
Round 2:
Faber opens up the second round with a quick right hand. Faber shoots in on a takedown but Cruz quickly stuffs it. Cruz lands a nice left hook, and follows with a right uppercut that lands flush. Cruz lands a hard leg kick on Faber, and Faber answers with a hard right hand. Cruz’s leg kicks appear to be starting to hurt Faber. Cruz with a lead left hand on Faber. Cruz with a nice body head combination. Cruz with a nice high kick leg kick combination. Cruz is keeping an incredible pace. Cruz lands a hard jab to Faber. Faber with a right hand that drops Cruz, but Cruz quickly pops back up. Cruz with a nice takedown towards the end of the round. Both fighters back to their feet, Cruz with a nice leg kick, high kick, two punch combination. 10-9 round for Cruz.
Round 3:
Cruz with nice right hand to start off the round. Cruz with a nice body kick, and has been able to bounce in and out beautifully so far. Cruz comes in with a quick two punch combination. Cruz with a hard uppercut that snaps Faber’s head back. Faber comes running in and lands a hard body shot. Cruz answers with a hard leg kick. Faber shoots in on a takedown attempt and lands it, but Cruz quickly turns position and reverses. Faber connects with a hard left hand as both fighters get back to their feet. Cruz comes in with a jumping knee attack, and lands a hard jab to Faber’s chin. Cruz with a hard right hand on Faber. Cruz has been mixing up some gorgeous combinations so far. Cruz lands a very nice straight right. Faber catches Cruz with a nice right hand as he tries to come in, and Cruz answers with a nice jab on Faber. Cruz in on a takedown but Faber is able to stuff it. 10-9 round for Cruz.
Round 4:
Faber lands a lead left on Cruz, and Cruz answers with two hard right hooks on Faber. Cruz is continuing to bounce in and out on Faber. Faber lands a hard right hand that rocks Cruz and both fighters scramble. That was the best shot of the night for Faber. This is a great fight. Faber in on a takedown, misses, but hits Cruz with a combination as he seperates. Cruz with a nice four shot combination on Faber. Faber comes in with a nice two punch combination on Cruz. Cruz shoots in on a takedown and Faber is able to stuff it. Fighters do a brief exchange and Faber gets the better of Cruz. This is Faber’s best round so far. Faber comes in with a nice body head combination. Cruz hits Faber with a hard right knee to the head. Faber catches Cruz coming in with a short left hook. 10-9 round for Faber.
Round 5:
Faber needs a knockout this round to win the fight. Cruz catches Faber with a jumping knee, and Faber comes back attacking. Cruz goes in on a takedown and finishes it. Faber back to his feet and the fighters are pressed against the cage. Cruz lands a decent jab, and almost gets a takedown. These fighters are both in incredible condition. Cruz shoots in and gets a takedown but Faber quickly pops back to his feet. Cruz in with a right hand lead again and quickly takes Faber down who bounces back up. Fighters are stsanding and back on their feet. Cruz comes in with a two punch combination to the body of Faber. Cruz with a hard leg kick to Faber. Faber catches Cruz coming in with a hook to the chin. Cruz with a quick takedown, and Faber bounces back to his feet, and Cruz takes him down again. 10-9 round for Cruz.
The winner by 50-45, 49-46, and 48-47 and by unanimous decision is Dominick Cruz.
Stars of the Night:
Chris Leben: Chris Leben and Wanderlei Silva wasted no time in going after each other, and Leben knocked out Silva with some beautiful left hands. Leben defeats a legend and perhaps becomes a legend himself.
Tito Ortiz: Everybody, including this author himself, believed Tito Ortiz was going to lose his fight against Ryan Bader. Ortiz proved everyone wrong and scored a huge upset victory. With many MMA legends such as Ryan Couture and Chuck Liddell retiring recently, it is nice to see one MMA legend staying alive in the sport. Can this lead to another UFC title run for Ortiz? I have my doubts, but Ortiz has the opportunity to prove me wrong.
Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber: This was probably one of the best fights I have ever watched. Neither fighter should be disappointed with their performance, and I would love to see a rubber match.