UFC Wired 4/19 Re-Cap

Middleweight Fight- Rich Franklin (22-2) vs. Jason McDonald (19-7)- UFC 68- 3/3/07

R1- McDonald went for an early take down and almost got it but then Franklin peppered him with punches. They battled a lot up against the cage for position. Franklin pretty much controlling when they were on their feet. Franklin gets him to the ground and really goes after him. McDonald got a take down with 20 seconds left but did nothing and Franklin flipped it over and got a couple of elbows in. R1 to Franklin.

R2- The story of the early part of this round is McDonald trying to take down Franklin and Franklin trying to keep it on their feet. McDonald gets him down and gets a submission and is trying to tap Rich but doesn’t quite have a triangle. Franklin escapes and is now in the dominant position. Franklin gets full mount with 2 minutes left and gets in some good punches. With 1 minute left Franklin is again peppering him and is now punching him as he has his back. McDonald not doing much here at all in this round. Franklin dominating. The round ends as Franklin is just dominating McDonald and punching him for the last 10 to 15 seconds of the round in full mount. Franklin wins this round and McDonald actually taps out after the round is over and that’s the fight.

Winner: Rich Franklin via TKO (Corner Stoppage) R2 5:00

Heavyweight Fight- Mirko Cro Cop (22-4) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (7-1)- UFC 70- 4/21/07

Not much action in the first minute and a half but Gonzaga blocks a Cro Cop kick and takes him down. Gonzaga hitting some elbows. Gonzaga pretty much dominating but then the ref stands them up. Gonzaga then just DESTROYS Cro Cop with a knockout kick. I’ve seen this before but seeing it again it’s still just an amazing kick.

Winner: Gabriel Gonzaga via KO R1 4:51

Middleweight Fight- Travis Lutter (12-3) vs. Anderson Silva (17-4)- UFC 67- 2/3/07

R1- This is a non-title match due to Lutter’s inability to make weight. Silva is pretty much the best P4P fighter in the world. This is Silva’s first fight since he won the title. Long feeling out process. Anderson hits a flying knee but Lutter gets in Anderson’s guard. Anderson is a great fighter from the guard and is very hard to take advantage of. Anderson gets up with very little damage if any but Lutter takes him back down. Travis got side control and then got full mount and was pounding on Silva but Silva brilliantly reversed it. Lutter ends the round on the ground. Really close first round. Silva did a great job in fighting and defending from the bottom and Lutter got in the one really good series of punches from the mount but it was quickly reversed. Almost too close to call.

R2- Lutter takes him down but Silva hits an up kick then grabs a triangle and is choking Lutter out from the bottom. Anderson hits elbows and Lutter taps. What a brilliant reversal by Silva. He’s just too tough a defender and counter attacker.

Winner: Anderson Silva by

Welterweight Title Fight: Matt Serra (15-4) vs. Georges St-Pierre © (13-1)- UFC 69- 4/7/07

Pretty even to start out for the first minute as they exchange. Still real even through the first 2 and a half minutes. Serra nails St-Pierre at the 2 minute mark and from that point St-Pierre was in trouble and was back peddling and Serra just stayed on him and finished him with the full mount. Great flurry by Serra and killer instinct as he hurt St-Pierre and quickly followed up.

Winner and new champion: Matt Serra by TKO R1 3:25