UFC Unleashed 6/18 Re-Cap

UFC Unleashed 6/18 Re-Cap

Looks like we’ve got 5 fights on tap night. I’ve already seen a couple of them but I’m looking forward to seeing Brock/Mir again.

Middleweight- Chris Leben (17-4) vs. Alessio Sakara (16-6-1)- UFC 82- 3/1/08

This is from the UFC 82 show and is also on the UFC Wired 6/28 show.

R1- 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.

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

Lightweight Fight- Ryan Roberts (14-2-1) vs. Marcus Auriello (15-5)- UFC Fight Night 13- 4/2/08

R1- Auriello takes him down quick and then taps him with an arm bar. This one was over before it started. Auriello just dominated. His celebration took longer than the fight did.

Winner: Marcus Auriello by Submission (Arm Bar) R1 0:16

Welterweight- David Bielkheden (12-5) vs Diego Sanchez (19-2)- UFC 82- 3/1/08

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.

Winner: Diego Sanchez by Submission (punches) R1 4:43

Middleweight Fight- Alan Belcher (9-2) vs. Kendall Grove (9-3)- UFC 69- 4/7/07

This is a fight with some really young fighters as Belcher is only 22 and Grove is 24 as of this fight.

R1- Belcher takes him down about 30 seconds in and gets side control. Grove did a good job getting out and threw some knees. Kendall seems to be the aggressor as he hits some knees and gets a take down. Kendall gets some shots in and then stops a take down at the end of the round. This was a good, close round that I think Kendall took 10-9.

R2- Kendall gets a real nice knee in early in the round and Belcher goes for a take down but gets it stuffed. Grove just starts to nail Belcher with some elbows and he took some skin off of the top of Belcher’s head with those elbows. Kendall hits a really nice combo as he gets a kick and then a punch and follows it with some good looking knees. Grove is getting some big shots in on Belcher and then hits a big slam on Belcher. Kendall has half guard and is getting in some good shots on Belcher. Kendall finishes Belcher with a nice submission from half guard. Kendall just looked great in this fight. This was definitely the best that I’ve seen him look.

Winner: Kendall Grove by Submission (Brabo Choke) R2 4:42

Heavyweight Fight- Frank Mir (10-3) vs. Brock Lesnar (1-0)- UFC 81- 2/2/08

R1- Lesnar takes down Mir immediately. Lesnar gets some nice shots in but the ref calls a timeout due to a shot to the back of the head and they take a point away from Lesnar without a warning. I didn’t see anything bad based on the other MMA fights that I’ve seen. Lesnar hit him in the back of the head a couple of times but I’ve seen a lot worse without points taken away and without even a warning given. Mir was getting overwhelmed at this point so it was a real interesting call by the ref. Brock hits Mir again and starts pounding on him on the ground. Mir almost gets an arm bar. Mir gets to the guard position. Mir caught Lesnar in a knee bar with a very nice wily veteran type move and tapped him. Lesnar let down his guard and it cost him.

This was a real interesting fight, especially watching it again. Lesnar just dominated but made some real mistakes due to his inexperience. Lesnar’s offense looked awesome. I’m very interested in seeing Lesnar fight again. Great job my Mir in holding on and finding Lesnar’s weakness and taping him but I just can’t see Mir beating Noguiera.

Winner: Frank Mir by Submission (Knee Bar) R1 1:30