UFC Unleashed 4/16 TV Re-Cap

UFC Unleashed 4/16


Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara

R1- They really mix it up early and Sakara grabs him and takes him down but Alexander gets back to his feet quickly. They are going after each other pretty good and Alexander nails Sakara and drops him and is now pounding him and the ref stops it in what seemed to be under 2 minutes. Just a real quick aggressive fight. Alexander looked dominant here and not like the same guy that just got dropped at Fight Night.

Winner: Houston Alexander by KO R1 1:01

Rashad Evans vs. Michael Bisping

R1- This is hyped by Mike Goldberg was the battle of Ultimate Fighter 2 and 3. Evans is unbeaten at 15-0-1 (with a draw against Tito Ortiz). Evans is the aggressor early and goes for a take down as he backs Bisping against the cage. Evans works him down against the cage but Bisping gets back to his feet. Evans hits a couple of punches and goes back in after the take down. The ref separates them and Rashad hits some punches and they tie-up again against the cage. Evans seems to be the dominant fighter but not a lot of damage being done by either guy. Bisping goes for a kick and Evans grabs his leg and takes him down and falls into Bisping’s guard. Evans stands up and throws a big punch. Evans has side control now. Bisping slips out and they are up against the cage again. Bisping grabs a clinch and gets a knee. Rashad with some elbows and Rashad takes him down again and is now in half guard. Evans controlled this round and definitely won it. Bisping did a good job in getting out of some bad situations but needs to come off with some offense if he wants to have a chance in this one.

R2- Evans with a takedown attempt and then slams Bisping to the mat. Evans is in Bisping’s guard. Evans tries some punches. Bisping doing a good job on defense. Not much going on right now as they are on the mat and the ref stands them up with 3 minutes left. Bisping gets a jab after a couple of Evans misses. Bisping starting to get some shots in now but he eats a punch from Evans. Pretty even stand up fight going on right now. Evans goes for a take down but Bisping defends with a clinch and a knee. Evans seems to be a little winded here. Bisping grabs a clinch and nails a knee to the mid-section. Evans grabs Bisping and moves him against the cage. Nothing doing and they stand back up in the middle of the ring. Bisping with a knee and then gets a slam after the buzzer. This round was very even. I could see it going either way.

R3- They start out pretty even. Evans grabs a leg and then takes down Bisping. Evans has him up against the cage. Bisping reverses and Evans is up against the cage now and now they stand back up with Bisping having Evans against the cage and now they stand up in the center. Evans with a combo but he looks real winded. Evans shoots in for a take down and has Bisping up against the cage. They stand up and then Evans goes for another take down but it’s defended. Neither guy really going for the win here. Now they start to mix it up again. Evans goes for a take down with 10 seconds left to solidify his win and gets it.

Not a real exciting fight. Both guys looked OK but neither guy looked like a top contender in there. Evans definitely has the tools but he doesn’t have the cardio right now as he was wasted in the last two rounds and just barely hung on here and should pick up a unanimous decision. 29-28 Evans, 29-28 Bisping, 29-28 Evans. Not sure how that one judge got Bisping as the winner but that’s why you have to finish your fights.

Winner: Rashad Evans by Decision (Split)


Middleweight Title Match: Anderson Silva © vs. Rich Franklin

R1- This is the re-match and it’s in Franklin’s hometown of Cincinnati. Long feeling out process to start. Franklin trying to exchange. Anderson going for the clinch. Doesn’t get it but has Franklin against the cage. Anderson with some knees. Franklin gets the takedown and is in Anderson’s guard but Anderson is real active and they are standing up again with Franklin holding one of Anderson’s legs. Franklin has him up against the cage now. Anderson with some knees. They separate. Anderson with a spinning back kick. They are exchanging on their feet now. Anderson with a nice kick and some punches and knees. Anderson is taking it to him now. Franklin looking at the clock and trying to survive. Franklin with a couple knees. Anderson responds with a knee. Franklin is cut. Franklin with an attempted combo and Anderson dances around it. Anderson with a huge knee and some nice punches and Franklin gets destroyed with a punch at the end of the round and needs help getting back to his corner. Round to Silva- period.

R2- Franklin with some jabs, Anderson goes for the Muy Thai Clinch but misses. Anderson destroys Franklin with a knee and is now pelting him with kicks, knees and punches and it’s over.

Anderson Silva is just so impressive. He waits for his spot and when he attacks he’s so overwhelming. He’s got to be the best fighter in the world right now.

Winner: Anderson Silva by TKO R2 1:07