UFC 82 Show Re-Cap/Thoughts

UFC 82

Pre-Show

John Halverson vs Jorge Gurgel

This one looks like a pretty even match-up through the first couple of minutes as they are exchanging on their feet. Halverson attacks about 3 minutes into the cage with a flurry of punches and then ties up Gurgel against the cage. Halverson’s got him in a guillotine but Gurgel gets out pretty quickly and is now on top in guard position. Really close first round. Gurgel finished strong in guard and got in a couple of good punches.

R2- An early low blow slows this one down as they break for recovery time. Halverson goes for a guillotine and then another submission but Gurgel ends up on top in guard and is starting to get in some good punches as he has Halverson up against the cage. Gorges getting in a lot of punches and is looking to finish Halverson. Halverson hangs on. Gurgel passes to side control with a minute and a half left in the round. He is now in basically a north/south position and is going for an arm submission. Now he’s going for an arm bar but Halverson slips out and is on top in guard and is throwing some punches. This round goes to Gurgel but Halverson showed a lot of guts in staying alive in the round and then getting in some offense at the end of the round.

R3- Halverson is the aggressor early and he hits some punches and backs Gurgel into the cage. They go to the mat and then back to their feet with Halverson again landing some punches. They are really going back and forth in the middle of the ring and then Gurgel takes him down with half the round left. Gurgel again laying in punches from the guard position. Gurgel hitting some elbows. The ref ends up standing them up with a minute left. Halverson is swining for the fences to get the win but Gurgel wraps him up.

Overall, this was a pretty decent fight. Gurgel gets the win via decision 30-27, 29-28, 29-28. Good decision IMO. Halverson fought a good fight but Gurgel just controlled the fight more and clearly dominated Round 2.

Welterweight- Dustin Hazelett (12-3) vs Josh Koscheck (11-2)

Haslett takes it right to Koscheck at the beginning and back him up to the cage and then Koscheck comes back after him in an exciting exchange to start the fight. Koscheck looking good early and is throwing a lot of punches and looking to be the aggressor but then Hazelett comes back and gets dsome good attempts in. Koscheck comes at him and pins him up against the cage. Hazelett goes for the guillotine and looks like he might be able to finish here but Koscheck gets out of it. Hazelett throws a big knee. Koscheck with a good combo. Koscheck takes him down but Hazelett goes for the triangle with 20 seconds left as the round ends. Really good first round with both guys looking real good. This was really even IMO, not sure who really won the fight. If I had to choose I would pick Koscheck because even though he ended the round at a disadvantage he had the most control of the fight throughout and seemed to me to get in more shots on his opponent and also got the only takedown of the round. Really close round, really a toss up.

Round 2- They are fighting for while pretty evenly but then Koscheck hits a real nice head kick and quickly follows it up with some punches and the ref stops the fight. Really nice finish from Koscheck who has really improved his stand up game since the Ultimate Fighter Season 1.

Welterweight- David Bielkheden (12-5) vs Diego Sanchez (19-2)

Sanchez quickly takes David down and gets in a couple of shots. He’s really working trying to get in position on top to do damage or to pass. Diego is getting in a couple of shots and is really in control early. Diego gets side control and hits some short elbows and is looking for a kimura. Diego moves into full mount and finally starts to get in some good shots on David and then just starts laying it in and gets the win via opponent tap. Diego just controlled this match and won decisively. Real good showing for Diego.

Heavyweight- Andrei Arlovski (13-5) vs Jake O’Brien (10-0)

Don’t know much about O’Brien except that he is undefeated. Arlovski has got to be the favorite here and he gets a real good reaction from the fans at introduction. Jake shoots in quick for the takedown but Arlovski holds him up and grabs a guillotine type hold but it’s not cinched in. They stand up and O’Brien shoots again but Arlovski keeps him at bay and grabs him again. They stand up again and O’Brien shoots again and again gets denied. Arlovski grabs him again but isn’t doing any damage. O’Brien finally takes him down on a 4th try. O’Brien is on top in the guard but not much is happening. Arlovski is actually getting in more clean shots from the bottom than O’Brien is from the top. First Round goes to Arlovski based on cage control, denying the takedowns and doing more damage. O’Brien has a cut on the top of his head.

Round 2- O’Brien shoots in quickly but again is denied. And then again. And again. And again. It happens again but O’Brien fights through and gets on top. Not much happening in this round. They are standing up and Arlovski has him in a bear hug and goes down on top of O’Brien and starts to pepper him with punches. Ref calls the fight.

Pretty boring fight until Arlovski got on top in Round 2 and ended it quickly.

Main Card:

Welterweight- Jon Fitch (20-2-1)vs Chris Wilson (12-3-1)

They feel each other out and then Wilson grabs a brief clinch but Fitch gets out. Wilson went for a punch and got pushed into the cage but they are back in the center now. Fitch with a couple of jabs and sprinkling in kicks. Wilson whiffs on a punch and Fitch grabs him but Wilson battles out and catches him with a punch. Wilson is hitting some strikes now but Fitch grabs him and is trying to take him down. Fitch finally gets Wilson off his feet. Fitch does nothing on the ground so the ref stands them up. They are exchanging some soft strikes. Fitch takes him down off of a kick and is in full guard on top of Wilson. Fitch is laying in some punches, Wilson trying to get some elbows from the top and the round ends. Pretty even round. I think Wilson got more on their feet but Fitch got two takedowns so I'll give him the round due to Wilson not really getting much damage despite getting in more shots.

"The most boring aspect of Mixed Martial Arts is still more exciting then the best part of baseball"- Joe Rogan

R2- Fitch goes for a quick takedown by grabbing the leg but Wilson squirms out. Wilson misses an uppercut and Fitch goes for another takedown and eventually gets it. He's in half guard now on top of Wilson and moves to full guard. Fitch is switching between half and full guard and hitting some body punches. Fitch gets side control and starts to hit some elbows to the side of the head and then follows with some punches. Fitch gets in the mount position with 1:20 left in the round but Wilson gets him into half guard. Fitch is getting some punches and elbows in, nothing that's going to end the fight but they will take their toll. They scramble but Fitch stays on top. Nothing exciting about this round but Fitch controlled it and is winning the fight 20-18 in my book.

R3- Not much going on here in round 3. Fitch finally hits a combo about a minute in. Wilson gets in a couple of shots after another Fitch combo. Fitch with another punch. Fitch is winning the exchanges in this round. Crowd is lightly booing. Fitch takes down Wilson again and is on top. Fitch throwing some punches down on Wilson, who is pinned against the cage. Wilson is going for a triangle with about 20 seconds left and apparently has it but Fitch holds on. Fitch wins this round also as he just dominated the entire round but the last 20 seconds.

I think Fitch wins this in very un-exciting fashion 30-27. Fitch is a good fighter and really controlled this one but he just has no flair which is a big selling point for the fighters in UFC.

Decision: Jon Fitch by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Middleweight- Yushin Okami (22-4) vs. Evan Tanner (34-6)

Tanner seems to be the aggressor early but no clear advantage. Okami sticks him with a punch and Tanner goes down and Okami jumps on him but can’t finish and Tanner takes him down and they quickly go back to their feet. Good recovery from Tanner. Okami trying to get some knees in. Not a real exciting first round. I felt that Tanner controlled the fight but Okami got the only knockdown of the first down.

R2- Okami with some nice kicks in the first minute. Okami seems to be taking over this fight here in the second round. Tanner backs him into the cage. Okami destroys Tanner with a knee and gets the win. Not an overly exciting fight but Okami looked really good and in control in Round 2 and hit an impressive finish.

Winner: Yushin Okami via KO Round 2 (3:00)

Big Dave Batista is in the house.

Middleweight- Chris Leben (17-4) vs. Alessio Sakara (16-6-1)

Both guys swinging pretty freely early. Leben seems to be moving forward and in slight control. They are still throwing pretty good at one another with no one with a clear advantage. Leben continues to move forward on Sakara as they exchange. Sakara gets in a couple of good shots but then eats a knee. Leben with a nice inside leg kick and then body kick. They tie up on the cage but then release. Leben gets in some punches and Sakara is rocked on the cage and Leben is on top of him landing punches and the ref stops the fight. Leben has Sakara's blood on him and is the victor. Leben got in some good punches and then rocked Sakara with 2 punches and then got on top and started punching and the ref stopped the fight.

"There's the left hook that put him on queer street"- Joe Rogan

Winner: Chris Leben via TKO Round 1 (3:16)

Heavyweight- Heath Herring (27-13-1) vs. Cheick Kongo (21-3-1)

Herring comes right out and just nails Kongo and he goes down quickly. Herring has him up against the fence but Kongo reverses and takes Herring down. Herring has a kimura but Kongo slips out and lands some shots on the back of Herring. They are now mixing it up on their feet and Kongo takes him down again. Herring reverses and they sprawl a bit. Herring stays on top as he corners Kongo on the cage but Kongo gets to his feet. Herring has him in a guillotine type hold. Kongo using his knees to try and get out. Kongo takes him down again and is in full mount against the cage. Kongo hitting some punches to the side of Herring. Herring rolls over on top but Kongo gets back to his feet and Herring has him up against the cage. Herring tries to take him down but Kongo rolls over and is landing punches. Kongo in a dominant position now but not doing much with it. This was a good first round. Pretty close, I'm going to give it to Kongo due to him seemingly controlling the majority of takedowns and he landed more damage in the round.

R2- Herring again looks to come out quick but Kongo is quickly on top and throwing punches. Kongo is in half guard on top and working some punches into the side of Herring. Herring hits an upkick. Ref stands them up. Herring charges at Kongo and they are up against the cage now. Kongo picks him up and dumps him down and Herring is giving up his back but Kongo doesn't attack it as he hasn't when he's had the opportunity. Kongo finally rolls over and attempts to take his back. Gets in a couple of shots. Herring rolls over and is in a North/South position and is landing punches to Kongo's body. Herring moves to side control. He lands some knees. More knees by Herring. Herring continues to hit knees as the round ends. This round goes to Herring as Kongo dominated early but didn't do much damage and Herring just dominated the last minute and a half and hit a bunch of big knees to Kongo's body. I've got it 19-19 going into Round 2.

R3- Herring goes right at Kongo and lands a big kick but Kongo lands on top and hits a couple of punches and now has Herring's back. Kongo tried for a choke but Herring rolled out and they are on their feet. They wrestle and Kongo gets him down and again has his back. Herring rolls over and is on top. Herring in side control and is landing some punches. Herring lands a knee and is now hitting some knees. Herring with some punches to the body. Herring now in full mount and is laying in some body punches until the round ends.

This is the second time I watched this fight. The first time I though Kongo won but watching it again I give Kongo the first round and Herring the last two as he inflicted more damage in those rounds and ended both rounds in a dominant position. My pick is Herring 29-28 in a close one but not one that I would necessarily like to see a re-match for.

Decision: Heath Herring by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Middleweight Championship- Anderson Silva (c) (20-4) vs Dan Henderson (22-6)

Feeling out process in the early going. Henderson finally goes in after about a minute and we start to see some action now. Silva throwing some kicks now but not doing damage with them. Henderson grabs Silva and takes him down. Silva grabs a headlock and Henderson isn't doing anything on top. Henderson starting to get in a couple of punches but Silva still has him in a headlock which is limiting the damage that can be inflicted. Henderson has side control with 30 seconds left but Silva spins out and Henderson is now in full guard. Round One comes to an end with what seems to be little damage inflicted by either fighter. Henderson wins the round due to cage control and his take down. 10-9 Henderson.

R2- They are trading some jabs and kicks early. Sliva starting to get some kicks in. Silva takes down Henderson. They are up and against the fence. Henderson is controlling Silva against the cage in a greco clinch. Henderson with a knee. They trade some punches and Silva is dominating with punches and gets on top. Nails an elbow, Henderson grabs Silva and is trying to get out. Silva has half guard. Silva has his back and is throwing punches. Silva is delivering punches and has him in a body triangle. Silva throwing punches. Silva trying to flatten out Henderson but they roll over and Silva's got the rear naked choke clamped on and Henderson taps.

Good fight. Silva really dominated the second round

Winner and still champ: Anderson Silva via tapout from Rear Naked Choke Round 2 4:52