A sold out crowd at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle was set to bare witness to an exciting night of top-level MMA action. BJ Penn was all set to restart what he once set out to do in the UFC, which was to become the legend he was destined to be. Penn being a gifted martial artist has in the past made him a touch lazy in his approach to MMA. He would be the first to tell people that in the past he had gone into fights that he didn’t fully prepare for in the professional manner that is now standard for the top level of MMA. Even with that in mind he has still produced some great performances. But his conditioning has often robbed him in the end. The news is BJ Penn is now taking the sport very seriously and is on a mission to show why he is know as ‘The Prodigy’.
I’ve been waiting for someone to enter the Octagon to the track ‘The king returns’ from the film the 300 from the moment I watched the film. Alessio ‘The Legionarius’ Sakara did the honours and set the tone for an action packed night of MMA. Sakara has a good boxing back ground, but his ground game has been his weak point in the past. Of late he has been working with American Top Team who have become one of the best training teams in MMA. With James Lee being more of a wrestler, this was all set to be the old challenge of striker vs. grappler.
Round 1
Lee looked for the takedown. Driving at Sakara he pressed and ran for the shoot. But Sakara showed new skills with a solid takedown defence. Sakara controlled Lee’s head and turned and kicked his leg free of the attack. Sakara looked to strike. Lee looked for the shoot again, this time taking Sakara down. But Sakara, making good use of his hips made space to get back to his feet. Lee again scored a takedown. Sakara worked to stand up and within the scramble Lee gives his back. With Lee on all fours Sakara peppered hammer fists to the head and as Lee was not defending himself referee Dan Miragliotta had to step in and stop the fight.
It looked has if Lee had maybe injured his back at some point in the fight as he lost power very quickly after the scramble. This fight did show that Sakara has now developed a takedown defence, which will be no doubt down to his training with American Top Team.
This fight looked set to be a war. Both tough lads looking to make a home with the UFC. It was time for the British fighters to show what a good old fashion tear up really was!
Round 1
Both fighters came out all guns blazing! At a pace which could not last the round. So savvy Taylor pulled guard and went for the guillotine choke. Kelly showed he was well prepared and escaped. Taylor elbowed and fought well from the bottom and looked for submissions, but Kelly controlled the pace from the top with solid ground and pound skills. Exciting first round!
Round 2
Again both fighters looked to set the pace and make a mark. Taylor again took the fight to the ground and ended up with Kelly's back. Taylor looked for the choke, but a game Kelly escaped and started a ground and pound attack. Again Taylor worked well from his back. He looked for submissions and was busy. But Kelly was very strong in the top position and really made it work for him. Close round, but still Kelly in charge so far.
Round 3
Much of the same in the third round. Kelly pressed his powerful wrestling skills and Taylor did well from his back, but not enough to turn the fight around. The heavy pressure and top game of Kelly controlled the pace of the round. All three judges scored the bout 30-27 for Paul Kelly.
This was the fight of the night! To be able to say that on a card which includes the likes of BJ Penn, just shows the level that British MMA has now reached.Both fighters showed hearts of Lions. Great fight.
Interesting match up. Kendall a real loose cannon and Jorge a quiet and humble sounding guy.
Round 1
Kendall looked to strike as Jorge shot in and scored a takedown. Jorge looked to control position and land heavy punches. Kendall normally good on his back looked a bit lost. Jorge showed patience and landed nice clean shots. This made Kendall give up his back to avoid the strikes but Jorge layed on the pressure as he saw his chance to end the fight. Referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight at 1:20.
Good fight for Jorge. He showed a real professional game.
Marcus Davis vs. Jess Liaudin
Liaudin had upset Marcus before this fight with his pre fight comments. So Marcus said he wanted to punch a hold through Liaudin. Maybe he shouldn’t have upset him!
Round 1
Marcus has good boxing skills and both fighters looked to control the distance to start.
Liaudin worked the inside low kicks with some good success to start. Davis turned a nice body kick and a few fists fly.
Marcus sets up a great punch with a kick first, which catches Liaudin low on the side of the head. Marcus rushes in leaving Liaudin out cold.
The referee does a good job jumping in to stop the fight 1:04
Marcus is showing a lot of potential. It will be interesting to see his development as he steps up a level. With his punching power he has something to bring to any table.
Gabriel Gonzago vs. Fabricio Werdum
These guys are both BJJ Black Belts, which sets out to be either a very interesting display of skills or a very boring match where both guys cancel each other out.
Round 1
Both the big guys looked for range. Werdum landed a right hand but Gonzaga scored the takedown off it. Werdum took half-guard, so Gonzaga struck down with elbows. Werdum pulled full guard back. Gonzaga stood back up looking more interested to stay on his feet. Both exchanged blows. Gonzaga looking for another high kick finish and Werdum playing safe with low kicks.Powerful inside kick from Gonzaga puts Werdum on the mat. He takes the fight to the ground and holds top position over Gonzaga. Werdum works from the top but Gonzaga attacks for a knee bar to counter Werdums movement. It was more to stop Werdums progression than a real submission attempt. Round ends with both fighters locked together.
Round 2
Werdum again landing nice strikes then looking to shoot. Gonzaga controlled well. Again Werdum wanted to be on the ground and Gonzaga wanted to stay on his feet working some leg kicks.All of a sudden Werdum picked up the pace and went to work with some hard knees to the face. Werdum pressed Gonzaga to the fence. Gonzaga now taking knees and punches to the chin looked hurt and fatigued. He dropped to the mat and Werdum took control of his back to rain down punches.Gonzaga had no answer so the Ref stopped the fight at 4:34 of the second round.
Hard to say much about this fight, as it seemed they could fight a few times and each time it could go a different way. Time will tell for these guys.
This is the fight everyone was waiting for. Which BJ Penn was going to show tonight? When he walked to the Octagon the crowd when crazy! Which shows the respect people have for BJ Penn. Sean Sherk was in attendance to see who would be taking home his belt after he had to give it up. A positive drug test put the now ex champ on the bench to wait out the result of this fight to see who would be up against in order to claim it back. BJ Penn as been quite vocal on his views against drug use in the sport and made clear his mind concerning Sean Sherk. I would think a fight between these two warriors would bring the house down. When Penn walked into the Octagon we all new he will ready to show why he is the Prodigy. He looked in his best ever shape, which could only mean one thing. He was 100% ready. Stevenson is a strong fighter and also looked to bring his ‘A’ game. This was a true edge of your seat moment.
Round 1
Both fighters looked good to go. Penn immediately put Stevenson down with an uppercut. Penn jumped on top and took control. He landed some blows from the half-guard. Taking his time Penn worked to pass to full mount. Showing excellent 101 BJJ skills. Stevenson showed game and good defence in getting to half-guard. Penn stood up and really blasted Stevenson then took side-control. Stevenson pulled full guard and showed he was under pressure by really grunting with his punches to Penn’s body. Penn looked relaxed and in control. Penn landed a slicing elbow, which cuts Stevenson on the middle of his forehead. Blood is pumping out. Penn keeps the pressure on and works Stevenson over with more strikes.
Round one is All Penn.
Round 2
Stevenson knows it’s a bad cut and is ready to rock and roll. You can see the fire in his eyes as he comes out throwing his hands. Penn looks focused but relaxed and counters with a nice jab. Stevenson still had blood pumping out from his cut so Referee Herb Dean called a time out to have the doctor check the cut. It’s bleeding a lot, but it’s not in his eyes so the fight goes on.Stevenson shows a lot of heart and is trying to stay in the game, but Penn is a step ahead each time and beats him to each punch. Another punch puts Stevenson on the mat. Penn chases him to pass guard and took the mount. Penn sends down heavy hands, which makes Stevenson give up his back. Penn locked in the rear-naked choke, which causes a game Stevenson to tap at 4.02 of the second round.
What can I say? This was a pure master class from BJ Penn! His BJJ is just in another league, which was just too much Stevenson. It does look like we may have a new era of BJ Penn if he keeps up with his new disciplined approach to MMA.
BJ Penn is now the new Lightweight UFC Champion!
So it looks like Sean Sherk and BJ Penn will get a chance to meet in the octagon after all. That looks to be a war of a fight. Penn is very hard to take down and Sherk is a run away truck! I’m on the edge of my seat already!
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
UFC 80: Nemesis
- by Alan Orr: Photos courtesy of UFC, Cover pic by Alan Orr
