UFC 99: "The Comeback" Unaired Fights Re-Cap

UFC 99: “The Comeback” Unaired Fights
6/13/09
Cologne, Germany
Lanxess Arena

Lightweight Fight- Terry Etim (12-2) vs. Justin Buchholz (9-2)

The last time I saw Buchholz was at UFC 86 where Buchholz beat Corey Hill via Rear Naked Choke in the second round. Buchholz trains with Urijah Faber. Etim has won two straight in the UFC after losing to Rich Clementi and Gleison Tibau in consecutive fights.

R1- Both guys are actively throwing strikes in the first minute of the fight. Buchholz caught an Etim kick and landed a good punch that floored Etim. Buchholz jumped on top and landed some Ground and Pound. Etim attempted an arm bar and Buchholz powered out of it and went back to trying to finish with Ground and Pound. Etim switched positions with two minutes left in the round but Etim is bleeding. Etim tried to take the back but slid off. Etim grabbed a knee bar but couldn’t finish. This was a really good first round that went to Buchholz 10-9. Rogan is saying Etim broke his nose in the first round.

R2- Etim looked like he hurt Buchholz with a leg kick to the shin or knee. Etim is landing some good strikes in this round and grabs a clinch and lands some knees. Etim got Buchholz to the ground and finished him with a choke. Good fight.

Winner: Terry Etim by Submission (Choke) R2 2:38

Welterweight Fight- John Hathaway (11-0) vs. Rick Story (7-2)

At UFC 93 Hathaway defeated Tom Egan by first round TKO and looked very good in the process. This is Story’s debut in the UFC.

R1- Hathaway worked a take down from the beginning of the fight and got a brief mount but was quickly turned over by Story. Hathaway sprawled back to mount and then Story reversed again and then they went back to their feet. Story slammed Hathaway to the mat. Hathaway tried a kimura from the guard position but the cage and the bell saved Story. Good, competitive first round.

R2- Hathaway got a take down and Story grabbed a guillotine but could not hold on to the submission. Lots of mat work in this round. Looks like Hathaway is up going into the final stanza.

R3- Hathaway got a takedown but Story over powered him and got a kimura but lost it and ended up on top of Hathaway. Both guys got really tired toward the end and Story was opened up by an elbow. I’ve got Hathaway 29-28 in this fight.

Judges score cards: all judges score the fight unanimous for Hathaway.

Winner: John Hathaway by Decision (Unanimous)

Lightweight Fight- Paul Kelly (9-1) vs. Roli Delgado (8-3-1)

Delgado has a 7” reach and 6” height advantage. This should also mean that Kelly is going to be the much stronger fighter. Kelly has fought the majority of his fights at 170 pounds.

R1- Roli was able to take Kelly down in the first couple minutes of the fight but Kelly was able to turn Roli onto his back without taking any damage. Not a lot of action in the first round, pretty much a toss up.

R2- Kelly hit a left and then grabbed a guillotine. Delgado took Kelly down and Kelly eventually released the submission attempt. Roli controlled Kelly by taking his back but Kelly was able to turn him over without taking any damage. Delgado went after a knee but didn’t get it. Kelly lands some Ground and Pound. Kelly won this round 10-9. I’m scoring Round One 10-10 (since no one stood out) so I’ve got Kelly up 20-19 going into the third.

R3- Kelly hit a couple punches and then swept Roli down to the ground up against the cage but then let him up. Roli went in for a take down but Kelly countered by mounting him and landed some good Ground and Pound but Roli locked him up and Kelly let him to his feet again. Roli went for another take down and Kelly stuffed it again. Roli went for an arm bar but couldn’t lock it in place and Kelly lets him to his feet again. Roli went for another take down and was stuffed again with Kelly landing on top. Kelly landed some Ground and Pound and brought Roli to his feet again. Roli pulled guard and Kelly went for a choke but couldn’t get it. Kelly clearly dominated this round. Kelly took this round 10-9 and I’ve got him winning 30-28.

Judges score cards say: all judges score the fight for Paul Kelly (but they don’t list the scores)

Winner: Paul Kelly by Decision (Unanimous)

Lightweight Fight- Dennis Siver (13-6) vs. Dale Hartt (6-1)

Siver is from Germany so he’s the crowd favorite for this one. Hartt trained with Greg Jackson before this fight and Siver trained for a month with Xtreme Couture before the fight. Siver is a German Kick Boxing Champion.

R1- Siver hit a good combo that stunned Hartt about a minute and a half into the fight. Hartt got a take down right after the combo since Siver didn’t follow up. Siver went for an arm bar but Hartt slammed him to get out of the submission but Siver ended up in Hartt’s guard. Siver took his back and submitted him with a Rear Naked Choke. Good showing from Siver.

Winner: Dennis Siver by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) R1 3:23

Welterweight Fight- Paul Taylor (9-4-1) vs. Peter Sobotta (8-1)

Sobotta has a 3” reach advantage in this fight. Sobotta is another German fighter so obviously he’s the fan favorite.

R1- Sobotta went for a take down but was stuffed. Taylor got a take down after some stoppages due to low blows. Taylor landed some strikes, got take down but quickly rolled it over and took Sobotta’s guard. Taylor took the first round 10-9.

R2- Sobotta got an early take down but Taylor got up before any damage could be done. Taylor hit some good shots and then avoided a take down. Taylor landed a leg kick that tripped up Sobotta. Taylor looked really good in this round and is up 20-18 going into the final stanza.

R3- Not much action in round three but Taylor does end with a flurry. Taylor clearly takes this fight.

Winner: Paul Taylor by Decision (Unanimous)

Heavyweight Fight- Denis Stojnic (12-2) vs. Stefan Struve (20-3)

Struve is 6’11” and has a 1 foot height and 9 inch reach advantage. Struve is only 21 years old. Both fighters are fighting out of The Netherlands.

R1- Struve went for a take down but ended up on his back and Stojnic landed some Ground and Pound. Struve went for a triangle but Stojnic popped out. Stojic spends the majority of the round on top and really started to land some good Ground and Pound with about 30 seconds in the round. Struve starting bleeding like crazy. Stojnic clearly took this round.

R2- Stojnic immediately took Struve down and started hitting him with hammer fists again and his wound opened but he was able to reverse and get on top of Stojnic. Struve grabbed a Rear Naked Choke and Struve was just bleeding all over the mat and couldn’t hold the move but he clamped it on again and Stojnic got out. Struve clamped in another Rear Naked and won the fight.

“Oh my god, this is a horror movie. This is crazy…We’ve got to get this fight over before Struve bleeds to death.”- Joe Rogan

Winner: Stefan Struve by Submission R2 2:37