UFC Wired 5/31 Re-Cap

UFC Wired 5/31 Re-Cap


Lightweight Fight- Tyson Griffin (9-1) vs. Thiago Tavares (16-0)- UFC 76- 9/22/07

R1- Tyson seems to be the aggressor early and then shoots in for a take down. Griffin landed a good shot while on the ground and then they sprawl to their feet. Thiago hits a nice knee. Thiago just missed a throw and Tyson got back on top. Tyson coming down with some punches. Thiago trying to work a submission from the guard and then briefly gets Tyson’s back and then Tyson gets back on top and lands some nice shots. Round 1 goes to Tyson 10-9 but still anybody’s fight.

R2- Thiago nailed Tyson with a flying knee and then jumped into Tyson’s guard. Thiago moves into full mount and Tyson gives up his back. Thiago goes for a choke and Tyson rises to his feet and he is carrying Thiago. Tyson pulls him over and gets on top and is hitting hammer punches but Thiago grabs an arm bar on Tyson but Tyson gets free and once again is in Thiago’s guard. Great round so far. Tyson has Thiago pressed up against the cage and is striking Thiago. Thiago goes for another arm bar but misses but rolls over and is now on top. Thiago takes Tyson’s back again. Tyson slams Thiago on his head and sprawls back on top. This was a really good second round and almost impossible to score. Tyson did more damage to Thiago’s face but Thiago almost finished Tyson a couple of times with different submissions and controlled as much of the fight as Tyson did.

R3- Tyson presses him against the cage and hits him with some shoulders but Thiago reverses and takes him down and has Tyson in an arm position. Tyson sprawls and takes the lead. Great sequence. Once again they are tied up against the cage. Thiago takes Tyson down with a throw but they get right back to their feet. Griffin hits some shots. Griffin has him in a clinch against the cage. Tyson with a knee. Thiago gets Tyson’s back again but Tyson again slips out.

Really good and close fight. I think Tyson’s going to get the nod but I could see a split decision from the judges. Really tough fight to score. First round clearly went to Tyson, the other two rounds are highly debatable. 29-29, 30-27 and 29-28 Tyson Griffin gets the decision.

Winner: Tyson Griffin by Decision (Unanimous)

Welterweight Fight- Marcus Davis (18-4) vs. Jess Liaduin (12-8)- UFC 80- 1/19/08

This was also on the UFC Unleashed 5/14 Show.

R1- Davis has won 10 straight fights going into the one. Jess with some kicks early. Davis just nails Jess with a solid left about one minute into the fight and this one is over. Great punch.

Winner: Marcus Davis by KO R1

Heavyweight Fight- Gabriel Gonzaga (8-2) vs. Fabricio Werdum (9-3-1)- UFC 80- 1/19/08

Gonzaga is trying to avenge a loss to Werdum from earlier in his career.

R1- Gonzaga gets a quick take down but gives up his position as he doesn’t really do anything. Gonzaga with some leg kicks. Gonzaga floors Werdum with a big leg kick. Gonzaga with two more leg kicks, one of which takes down Werdum again. Werdum catches Gonzaga on a leg kick and has a dominant position on the mat. Werdum getting some shots in from half guard position. Werdum with 3 successive elbows. This was a pretty close round. Gonzaga controlled the first 3 and a half minutes and Werdum the final minute and a half. Gonzaga landed some good leg kicks and Werdum landed some good punches.

R2- Werdum comes out and lands some punches to start the round but then gets stuffed on an attempted take down. Gonzaga got caught going for a take down and Werdum hit some punches. Gonzaga with a couple more leg kicks. Werdum with a couple of punches. Gonzaga landed a body kick. Gonzaga sweeps Werdum down but doesn’t want to go to the mat with him. Gonzaga takes down Werdum again but still doesn’t want to follow up. Werdum landed a good knee and it looks like Gonzaga is hurt as Werdum follows up with some punches and hits two more knees. Werdum with another knee and then some jabs. Werdum with more knees. Gonzaga is slumping down in the corner. Werdum is on top of Gonzaga and is just punching him over and over and over and this one is over. Good second round for Werdum and a good win for him.

Winner: Fabricio Werdum by TKO (strikes) R2