UFC 75

The UFC was back in town. This time bringing its slick set up to life in London’s O2 arena. With a card line up that would be every fight fan’s dream. The charismatic Quinton Jackson, tough Dan Henderson, Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic, Cheick Kongo, the UK’s own crowd favourite Michael Bisping, the new big hitter on the block Houston Alexander. As always you can never be sure what will happen when fighters of these calibre’s come head to head. They can sometimes become fights to remember or end up neutralizing each other. This was a night of close fights and high tension! It was a sell out crowd for this event. Mixed with hardcore fight fans and the new wave of MMA followers. The sport of Mixed Martial Arts is now in the mainstream!The biggest crowd roar of the night was for the introduction of the one and only Randy Couture. I talked to the MMA legend after the event; he was in good spirits as always. Dana White even took time to go out and meet the fans before the main event. UFC 75 was to be the most watched UFC event to date! It looks like UFC have now built a solid brand, which is here for the long haul.

The Main Fights:

Gleison Tibau vs Terry Etim
Terry Etim has a good following and a good UK fight record. He’s a tough guy with good striking and a sound ground game. I did think that stepping up to fight a solid Brazilian would be a problem fight for him. He’s at his best when someone wants to trade and mix it up. In his last UFC fight he showed great heart by turning his opponents shoot into a submission finish, but only after a hard time on his back for a lot of the fight. That time his opponent was a strong wrestler with less of the submission skills that he would face on this match up.

Round 1
Tibau rushes to clinch and work the takedown as foreseen. The Brazilian worked from in Etim's guard, as he worked his punches. Towards the end of the round Etim escapes and lands a few nice shots. Not a great round to watch.

Round 2
Again Tibau shoots and takes the fight to the ground. He passes Etim’s guard looking for an armbar. Etim tough’s it out and gets to his feet and tries to strike but gets slammed. The referee stands them up in the final minute of the round. Etim puts out a low kick and a hard kick to the body. Another sure round to Tibia.
Round 3

Etim knows he is behind and goes for broke in the opening of this round. He throws some good shots and started to rock Tibau, but then puts a knee in which gives way for the Brazilian to take him down again. This gave Tibau time to clear his head and advanced to side-control and mount. Tibau controls the rest of the fight with his positioning and strikes.Winner - Gleison Tibau

Houston Alexander vs Alessio Sakara

Round 1
Alexander has caused quite a stir in the light heavyweight division with his quick TKO finish of Keith Jardine 48 seconds at UFC 71.

Both fighters come out swinging for the fences. Alexander snaps Sakara's head back with a vicious right knee. Sakara takes Alexander to the mat, but he is able to get back to his feet. Alexander then drops Sakara with another heavy knee strike. He puts on the strikes from the top position until referee Yves Lavigne pulls him off of Sakara at 1:01 of the first. Not as quick as his last fight! But still, a very quick display of this striking power! Winner - Alexander

Marcus ‘The Irish Hand Grenade’ Davis vs. Paul Taylor

Round 1
This was set to be a tough fight. Davis is always explosive and Taylor is a sharp striker. They clinched up early. Taylor worked his striking to move off the cage landing good shots. Taylor dropped Davis with a right head kick, and then jumped on him with strikes. But Davis is a tough opponent and hung on in. Davis recovered and reversed positions with Taylor. Davis lands some right hands from the top. Davis holds mount on Taylor and pounds away. Taylor bucks to escape, but he caught in an armbar. Excellent fight! Taylor had a great start and really hurt Davis. It was shame for him that he couldn’t finish the job. You have to give great respect to Davis; he turned it around and showed the heart it takes to be in the cage. Winner – Marcus Davis

Cheick Kongo vs Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic

Many people thought this would be a war and Cro Cop would be back to his normal lethal self.

Round 1
Kongo started working the legs and lands a knee to the body. Then Mirko fired a few body kicks. Kongo pushed forward and put Mirko against the cage and worked knees to the legs. Kongo put in a body kick and is taken down. Cro Cop landed an elbow from half-guard and worked some body shots. Mirko passed to take mount and worked his ground and pound skills. Kongo escaped in the last few seconds of the round. Good round for Mirko.

Round 2
Kongo came out with some hard body kicks. Mirko returned with a strong left leg to Kongo's midsection. Kongo managed to take Mirko down with a single-leg. Kongo elbowed the head from side-control. Kongo then pay’s back some elbows from the first round. Mirko pulled guard trying to kick Kongo back. Kongo stood over Mirko and puts in an axe kick to the body. Mirko kicked the taller fighter off and works to his feet. They clinch and knees to the body put by KongoMirko seemed to slow down in this round. It did look like Mirko was caught with a knee to the giron which was not picked up my the ref. This may have been the start of his problems.

Round 3
Kongo starts strong sending a knee to the body and a straight punches. They clinch and Kongo knees Mirko in the groin not I think for the first time in this fight. But it’s the first time that ref "Big" John McCarthy sees. He then stops the contest to warn Kongo. Big John gives Mirko some time to recover. They restart, but Mirko is not in the game and holds out for the end.It’s hard to say, but if the groin strikes had not have happened then would this fight turn out the same? Or has the years of fighting taking Mirko Cro Cop sting away? Mirko did look in good shape for this fight, so I have to say the groin may have played a big part it this fight. If you have ever been kicked in the groin you will agree for sure!Winner - Cheick Kongo

Michael Bisping vs Matt Hamill

Just as with Bisping’s last fight, this could have been the main event. The crowd went crazy when the Count made his way to the octagon.

Round 1
Hamill came out swinging; Bisping caught him with a couple of shots. Bisping works the jab and keeps on the move. Hamill missed a big flying knee. Bisping puts in a couple of low kicks and uses good footwork in circling the cage. Hamill shot a perfect single-leg takedown, but Bisping was quick to get to his feet. Hamill rocked Bisping with a right hand. Bisping looks hurt and was bleeding. Hamill works some strikes while Bisping is recovering. Mike lands a strong right hand. Hamill keeps up the heat and throws Bisping down.Looks like first round to Hamill, but he may not paced himself well. Bisping showed his toughness in this round.

Round 2
Bisping put in a low kick and got taken down. Bisping had a high guard and locks in his position looking for the arm bar. Hamill stands back up and Bisping back on his feet hits home a strong one-two. Hamill shot another perfect takedown. Bisping got to his feet and throws sound strikes. Hamill is now looking tired. Sloppy double jab lands for Hamill. Bisping unloads with a flashy combo but nothing lands. This was the hardest round to score. Bisping takedown defence was very good at times. Hamill did score a couple of nice takedowns, but did nothing after and Bisping was able to take back the fight. Hamill looked tried and lack striking sharpness, Bisping looked stronger with his strikes and showed more aggression.This is the round that could have gone either way, but I think Bisping edged it.

Round 3
Bisping started the final round strong with good strikes an uppercut landed on its mark for Bisping. Hamill shot a few times but Bisping stopped them well. Hamill kept trying and got the takedown in the end. Bisping put Hamill in his half-guard then into his full guard. Bisping was looking for the armbar. Bisping once again got back on his feet. Bisping then connected with a flying knee but Hamill took him to the mat. Bisping had a good guard and Hamill worked no offence. Bisping punched from the bottom with his heels on hips of Hamill. They scramble, Hamill hits Bisping with a right hand. Bisping stopped another takedown and lands more strikes.This was Bisping’s round. Hamill only worked for takedowns and looked tried when striking. Bisping showed good takedown defence and looked more in control of the stand up. On the ground Bisping attacked from his back and looked in no danger.It was a split decision and like all split decision the fight could have gone either way. Winner – Michael Bisping

Bisping was very excited he got the win and the crowd was equally excited.Emotions where high on this fight and some fans did feel Bisping didn’t give Hamill the respect he was due after the fight. Also on the Internet some fans feel that Hamill won the fight. To be fair it was a close fight and if you where fan of one or the other then you would feel torn. Mike posted this on his web site concerning the fight:

As most people will have seen the fight with me and Hamill was a close one. I have seen the controversy surrounding the decision so obviously have to reply. I personally feel he won round 1 and I took rounds 2 and 3. That said it was close and can I understand how some people would think differently. On the night I was given the decision and he wasn’t, on another occasion it could of been different.
Looking at message boards it appears that some (major understatement) people are pissed off about my comments after the fight. Looking back I should of given Hamill more credit as he fought a great fight and has improved his all round game a hell of a lot. What you have to remember is though the adrenalin was running through my veins; I had fought a hard fight and was obviously happy to get the decision. I would like to take this opportunity to say well done to Matt for fighting great and bringing the fight to me big time, I should have commented on this on the night.
I have contacted the UFC and stated I would like to rematch Hamill at everyone’s earliest convenience as I’m sure most of you know, no fighter wants a win when the decision is debateable. I am happy for the fight to take place where ever, and look forward to settling the score once and for all. I personally feel we put on a great fight for the fans and perhaps people should focus on this more. I apologise to all my fans that feel let down by anything at the weekend, hey I’m a young man with a lot of emotion and sometimes say things in the heat of the moment. I’d like to say thanks to everyone who has sent me their messages. There’s been to many to reply to them all. I will say this though, if Matt Hamills gonna cut me next time he might need a carving knife as I’ve definitely got thicker skin over the last few days.
After the fight I had a few beers with my friends and made my way home with all my team. I’d like to say thanks to everyone at the Wolfslair for their continued help and support. Thanks to Team rampage for all their help at big bear and thanks to all my sponsors (tapout, Affliction, premier security and xyience). Right now I’m spending some quality time with my kids as it’s been hard being away from them for so long. Gonna take a week or so off (gotta let the bruises heel) and then its back to the gym.

It didn’t stop at the fight that night. At the post fight press conference Bisping seemed upset and not himself. Posted on www.mmauniverse.com Nobody knows what happened before the press conference" he told us, "Just before I walked in, I got a phone call saying that my dad had been attacked in the car park by several people." Bisping tried to come to his father's aid, but was unable to find him. "A security guard came down on a moped and I jumped on the back of the moped and we were flying around looking for him and we hit a road block." Not the ideal situation to meet the press after a controversial decision. So when reports suggested he lost the fight, Bisping lost control a little bit. "It wasn't the right thing to say, but there was things that went on beforehand." he explains, "The guys that asked the questions, I apologize to them but I had just been in a spin for the last 10 minutes."

After such a big event people forget that the fights often need some come down time. It’s easy to sit in the sideline and give your ‘expert’ opinions. As MMA is growing we will have more and more people with a viewpoint that they will want to air. At the event itself you could hear people giving view on fights with no clue at all. That’s the small price to pay if the sport is to grow. I talked to Mike a few days after the fights and he wanted to thank his fans for their support. I think he is will grow from this fight and it was a good point in his career for him to face new tasks.

Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson vs Dan Henderson

This was such a big fight to be held in the UK. Both fighters are well respected in the fighter’s circles and loved by fight fans. This type of fight is so wanted you can hardly watch it!

Round 1
Rampage came forward, throwing bombs. Henderson landed strikes before they clinched. As they are both strong wrestlers it was hard for either one to take control. Henderson worked a few knees. Both fighters exchange again. Henderson takes an inside trip and puts Jackson down and works more strikes. Jackson made it to a scramble and got to his feet. Henderson chases him with a knee to the body and then more punches.Good first round for Henderson

Round 2
Henderson hit a strong body shot. Jackson was a bit wild with his haymakers. Henderson clinched with Jackson and pulls off another excellent inside trip to take him down. Jackson gets back to his feet. Henderson tried to trip Jackson again, but Jackson is becoming wise to it and gains the top position. Jackson finished strong but
Henderson has the round.

Round 3
Jackson landed a low kick and a great power body shot. More good punching from Jackson who then takes the fight to the ground. He then worked good knees the body from side-control. Henderson looked for the kimura from the bottom in half-guard but Jackson defended well. Henderson used a kimura attack to pull off an excellent reversal. Both fighters end up on their feet and traded blows for the last minute of the round Jackson round but it’s a close fight.

Round 4
Henderson slipped and Jackson worked the hammer fists. Henderson tried to lock in an arm bar but Jackson escapes to side-control. Now in half-guard, Jackson continues to control the position. Jackson worked a few more strikes then the ref re stands them. Henderson looked a bit tried as Jackson works more strikesJackson is taking control now.

Round 5
Jackson starts landing punches. Both fighters are tried and clinch against the fence. Big exchange of strikes from these two warriors. Jackson puts in some solid strikes. Henderson answers with a big right and a body-lock to a takedown. Jackson got back to his feet and defended a second takedown attempt. Jackson then returned the earlier flavour and trips Henderson to the ground. Rampage finished strong with big shots and control of the end round. Jackson’s round to win the fight.Winner – JacksonThis was a very close fight. Henderson lost no face in this fight at all; he still remains one of the top MMA fighters around. Jackson is a great character for the sport to have. He always has a fun word or more to say! At the press conference after the fight he had everyone laughing with his quick wit. The amount of top draw fighters in the UK right now is at an all time high, which can only mean more big events to come!This was a big night for the UFC in the UK. It proved the market for MMA is growing fast.

Alan Orr is a disciple of Robert Chu Sifu and the European representative of the Chu Sau Lei Wing Chun system. Teacher of Tui Na Chinese Massage Therapy

He is also the UK representative for Guro Mark Wiley in the Filipino martial arts and Sensei Eddy Millis of Shark Tank in NHB/Grappling.

Web:
www.alanorr.com
www.thechinesemedicineacademy.co.uk
www.warriorfunctionaltraining.com

For further information Tel: 07958 908 196 or email: info@alanorr.co.uk