UFC Wired 4/26 Re-Cap

UFC Wired 4/26

Heavyweight Fight- Mirko Cro Cop (22-5-2) vs. Cheick Kongo (20-3-1)- UFC 75- 9/8/07

R1- Cro Cop is coming off of a knockout at the hands of Gonzaga and Kongo is coming off of a win. Cro Cop got a pretty good ovation at introduction. Mirko is kind of stalking him early- continually moving forward- and got in a couple of punches. Kongo slipped and Mirko jumped all over him but didn’t get any damage as they clinched against the cage. Mirko takes him down and is in control as he slides him up against the cage. Mirko gets full mount with about 50 seconds left in the round. Kongo is doing a pretty good job defending and actually reverses the position at the end of the round. R1 goes to Mirko as he controlled the cage and got more damage. Not a dominate performance but a good first round from him. Still anybody’s fight.

R2- Kongo is the aggressor in Round 2 as he’s throwing jabs and kicks. Kongo gets a take down on Mirko. Kongo controlling the round but not inflicting too much damage. Kongo with some nice knees while in the clinch. This round was all Kongo as he controlled from start to finish.

R3- This round will decide the fight. Kongo gets some nice strikes in right off the bat. Kongo with some knees and there is a low blow by Kongo and we have a break. Kongo with more kicks and jabs. Mirko trying to come back with a couple of kicks but Kongo is the aggressor again in this round. One minute left and Kongo with some knees and a nice kick and ties up Mirko on the cage. Kongo controlled this round and I’ve got him with a 29-28 win on my scorecard. Judges scorecards are all 29-28 in favor of Kongo

Rogan puts over that Kongo broke one of Cro Cop’s ribs in the first round.

Winner: Cheick Kongo via Decision (unanimous)

Light Heavyweight Fight- Keith Jardine (12-3-1) vs. Houston Alexander (6-1)- UFC 71- 5/26/07

This is Alexander’s UFC debut and they put Jardine over as being heavily favored coming off of his win against Forrest Griffin.

R1- Jardine starts off with some shots and gets Alexander down. He charges but Alexander catches him and just swarms on him laying down a ton of punches and a knee and more punches and Jardine just crumbles. Alexander takes time to scream at him after he’s knocked out. Just a wild one minute fight. Alexander landed a ton of brutal shots.

Winner: Houston Alexander by KO R1 0:41

Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin

This was on the UFC Unleashed 4/16 show.

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