UFC 115: Preliminaries 6/12 Re-Cap

UFC 115: Preliminaries
GM Place
Vancouver, British Columbia
Spike TV
June 12, 2010

Tonight we will see Chuck Liddell step into the cage against Rich Franklin. But first we've got free fights on Spike TV. Mac Danzig fights Matt Wiman and Tyson Griffin takes on Evan Dunham.


Lightweight Fight- Mac Danzig (20-7-1) vs. Matt Wiman (11-5)

Wiman has a 2" height advantage but Danzig has a 3" reach advantage.

R1- Danzig was able to get Wiman down after an early exchange. Wiman grabbed a choke from the bottom and flipped Danzig over and applied some good pressure to his neck. Danzig got out but Wiman moved his weight onto Danzig and Yves Lavigne called for the bell. As soon as Yves called for the bell it was obvious that Danzig was not unconscious and that it was a horrible stoppage.

"This is a huge, huge, huge mistake. Let me tell you something, you cannot choke a guy unconscious when the side of his neck is loose. Yves Lavigne is moving his arm but Mac Danzig is just relaxing. This is a tremendous mistake."- Joe Rogan

Post fight both guys show a lot of class.

Winner: Matt Wiman by TKO (Yves Lavigne) R1 1:45


Welterweight Fight- Ricardo Funch vs. Claude Patrick

R1- Lots of clinching against the cage to start the fight. Patrick got a take down 90 seconds into the fight. Funch grazed Patrick's head with a kick while he had a knee on the ground and the ref immediately separated them and took a point away from Patrick despite the kick not fazing Funch. UFC 115 "Bad Officiating". Patrick landed a couple of good strikes from the top. Patrick stayed on top for the rest of the round. Patrick went for a guillotine towards the end of the round and Yves Lavigne wasn't the ref so Funch lives to see a second round. Patrick 10-8 since Funch had a point deducted by the ref. Funch has a cut under his left eye going into the second round.

"That was the babiest kick to the head ever"- Joe Rogan

R2- They clinched against the cage again. Patrick grabbed a guillotine and pulled guard and Funch tapped out. Good showing in his UFC debut for Patrick.

Winner: Claude Patrick by Submission (Guillotine Choke) R2 1:48


Lightweight Fight- Tyson Griffin (14-2) vs. Evan Dunham (10-0)

Dunham's last win was a submission victory over TUF winner Efrain Escudero. Griffin is coming off of a big win against Hermes Franca. Dunham has a 4" height and 4" reach advantage. Tyson should have a good strength advantage. Both guys have trained together at Xtreme Couture. Dunham trained elsewhere for this fight but will return to Couture after this fight.

R1- Dunham went for a take down but ate some good strikes from Griffin. Griffin has landed some good leg kicks. Griffin misses a punch and Dunham was able to grab Griffin's back. Dunham had a tough time after taking Griffin's back because of his height advantage. Close round. Probably goes to Dunham due to the dominant position he had for the end of the round.

R2- Dunham grabbed a take down in the first minute of the round. Griffin tried to grab a guillotine on the way down but couldn't lock it in. Dunham tried to grab a choke of his own but he couldn't and Griffin escaped to his feet. Dunham got another take down half way through the round. Dunham took Griffin's back again. Tyson got to his feet with Dunham still on his back and Tyson fell forward head planting Dunham into the mat. Dunham held on and Griffin stood back up with Dunham still on his back. Dunham 20-18.

R3- They both throw leather early in the round. Dunham whiffs on a take down and ate a good strike. Dunham landed a kick that briefly floored Griffin and Dunham took Griffin's back and got him to the ground. Griffin again got to his feet with Dunham still on his back. Tyson tried to slam Dunham again but Dunham held on.

Dunham is going to take this fight 30-27. Really good win for Dunham.

Judges score cards: 30-27 Dunham, 29-28 Griffin (huh?), 29-28 Dunham

Winner: Evan Dunham by Decision (Split)