This UFC event showed the level that MMA fighters have stepped up once again, as it was submissions all night long! It is always a sign of new development when fighters start consistently pulling out submissions at this level in the sport. This was a night of surprises. Many forums have been debating views on ex WWE star Brock Lesnar’s move to MMA and tonight it was time to really see what he could do. This was crunch time! Sylvia and Nogeuira would battle for the holy grail of the MMA, the UFC Heavy Weight Championship Belt.
Round 1
Gleison Tibau a star from the MMA super team, which is American Top Team, had a big task ahead of him to take on Tyson Griffin. Griffin is a full on balls to the wall MMA fighter and will always look to out work his opponents.
Griffin fired a straight right that found its target at the start of the fight. Inside leg kick lands. Both fighters showed good footwork early in the round, as they circled and connected with straight punches. Another right inside leg kick
Griffin used the left jab to control the distance and looked for a power right to the body. Quick Tie up knee from Griffin. Tibau shot for a double-leg, but Griffin avoided the takedown attempt well. More striking from the clinch. Griffin started to find his range with a low kicks Griffin was making most of the play with striking. Tibau looked hurt so his autopilot looked for the takedown, which he did very well.Tibau ended up working for a crucifix position, but Griffin seemed fine and got back to his feet without much problem. Back in a clinch, Tibau spins Griffin to canvas, but could not hold him down.
Griffin out worked Tibau and controlled the stand up action.
Round 2
The round started out with Griffin throwing hands but not really hitting his mark and Tibau looking for the takedown but not having his way either.
Tibau cracked Griffin with a straight left.The second part of the round both fighters got their games working, Griffin rocking Tibau with his strikes and Tibau having more success with his takedowns.The round looked to go to Griffin as his striking was better and even though Tibau did take him down it was never for long.
Round 3
The round started with good distance control from the light jab of Griffin, looking to set up a right cross. But then Tibau paid him for taking too long with a looping left hand.
Griffin stayed cool and maintained ring control. Griffin now has his distance and lets his hands go. Tibau has enough of the stand up pressure and scores a textbook takedown. This seems to be the game for this fight.Tibau passed to half-guard, as Griffin kept moving. Tibau took side body but Griffin moved well again and pulls back guard from where he sits out and gets up back to his feet again. He did take a few punches on the way back up, but they were not solid strikes.
Another takedown from Tibau, but Griffin gets up as quick as he got put down. Griffin is just able to keep the pace very high, which is making it hard for Tibau to keep up with. Tibau has to work hard for a takedown and doesn’t gain from it. Griffin lands a hard body shot to the Liver. They clinch and foots stomps are swapped.
Pressing Tibau on the cage Griffin uses a shoulder strike to make space for something to happen. Knees from Griffin give Tibau the chance to reverse position. He works for a takedown but to no avail.
Griffin breaks to the middle of the ring looking to set control again, but the round ends.
30-27 from all three judges for the winner - Tyson Griffin.
This was a tough and hard fight from two excellent fighters. Griffin controlled the stand up striking for most parts and Tibau did score some nice takedowns. But it was because Griffin was back up so quick and working well with his strikes that he took the rounds.
Ricardo Almerida vs. Rob Yundt
Yundt took the fight with 3 days notice. But when the UFC calls you can’t really say no!After a 4 years break from the UFC the Renzo Gracie Black Belt Ricardo Almerida is back. He is a submission specialist and with Renzo in his corner I am sure he is fully ready to step back in the octagon.
Round 1
The guys come out throwing making it look like it may be a stand up fight ahead. Yundt landed an uppercut, the first solid punch.
Classic over hand faint, then shoot in to score a double-leg takedown from Almeida.
Yundt showed his lack of ground game as he tried to come to his knees from the guard only to offer his neck at the same time. Something you cannot do with a BJJ Black belt! Almeida locked on a guillotine with an arm inside. Yundt tried to muscle out which ended with him being flipped and landing with Almeida on top. This allowed Almeida to really crank it on for the tapout at 1:08 of the first round.
To tap someone with the arm in on a guillotine showed his black belt level.
Both Black belts in BJJ! This fight was set to be either a stale mate or a master class. Nathan training with the Greg Jackson camp, which is having great success of late. With the likes of UFC Welterweight Champ GPS, Light Heavy weights fighters Keith Jardine and Rashad Evens as training partners, Nathan would have a lot to prove. Jeremy Horn is a well-respected fighter with a vast experience in MMA. This was all set to be a real battle.
Round 1
The fighters clinch up, Horn tries to spin out but Marquardt throws Horn to the ground and blasts him with some heavy hands.
With Horn forced to his back and close to the cage, he didn’t have much room to move. But Horn did try to climb his hips in search of locking down a submission. Marquardt’s had his number and neutralised Horn’s counter attacks.
Marquardt did look to pass but decided to stand and bring the fight back up.
They clinched up again and Horn attempted whizzer, but Marquardt was too strong. Horn ends up back with guard again, but not for long.
Back to a stand up fight and Marquardt landed an uppercut followed by an elbow.
Horn was hurt from this and shot in to take away the striking distance and was briefly caught in a head and arm control. Marquardt let go and went back to strikes, as he knew Horn was hurt and avoiding a trade of blows at this point.
Horn ends on his back again, but does work some elbow strikes from his back.
The strikes from his back do help Horn position for an omaplata (shoulder lock) and transition to a gogo-plata (Shoulder control with the shin under the neck, which means be pulling the opponents head down you can choke them out), but Marquardt is strong and savvy which allowed him to escaped.
Horn scored a sweep and gains top control as the round ends.
Good fight so far. Both fighters showing their depth of experience in the sport.
Round 2
Starts with jabs from both fighters. Marquardt slipped while throwing a low kick, which allowed Horn to take the top position on the ground. Horn landed an elbow that opened up a small cut above Marquardt’s eye. Not the best place to get cut.
Marquardt must have thought it wise to get up and quickly escaped to his feet. At this point Horn rushed in for the takedown but left his neck open as he did in the first round.This time Marquardt locked in a very strong standing guillotine pressing Horn to the fence, which allowed him to crank on Horns neck for the tapout.
Good fight. Again showing how dangerous the submission game really can be, even for experienced grapplers
This was the surprise fight of the night. Bosetsch who has a wrestling and JKD background only had a weeks notice for this fight.
Round 1
Bosetsch and Heath both traded jabs. Bosetsch controlled the clinch well and landed some good knees. Bosetsch showed excellent ring control He used a strong front kick to set up his attacks and break Heath’s game up. It worked very well! Bosetsch landed a right hand that dropped Heath showing his power. Bosetsch tried to finish the job. Heath got to his feet and returned fire, showing his toughness. But Bosetsch looked very game and controlled the pace again using his front kick to set up his punches. Heath was backed up and looked lost at this point at what to do. Then all of a sudden Bosetsch threw Heath down to the mat like a rag doll! Heath landed on his head and seemed stunned. Bosetsch went in to finish his opponent so the referee jumped in at 4:52 of the first round.
Great fight! Tim Bosetsch stepped up and showed he was a good late choice. I am sure we will see him again soon. This was an exciting war!
A champion wrestling background and ex WWE star Brock Lesnar has dedicated the last 2 years to MMA training for this moment. With only one quick win in MMA so far has he jumped in the deep end a bit to quick or is he a beast ready to be unleashed?Ex UFC Heavy weight Champion Frank Mir is a talented fighter with excellent ground skills, but doesn’t always turn up with his ‘A’ game. This is what will make all the difference in this fight. Mir was in good shape at the weigh in and walking out for the fight looked to have the right look in his eyes. Lesnar a physical beast filled the octagon as he entered. He could easily be a character from a Marvel comic book! They introduced Mir first which was weird as Mir has been UFC champ and Lesnar has had only one fight! Which was not even with the UFC. Maybe they where thinking that Lesnar was the big seller, as he has a whole WWE fan base to bring with him.
Round 1
Mir landed a low kick, which Lesnar caught and drove Mir down like a truck to the mat, showing his wrestling skills.
Mir worked to half-guard as Lesnar blasted away punches. Lesnar looks in a rush to take Mir out, but at the same time looked a bit too wild.
Referee Mazzagatti took away one point after Lesnar repeatedly hit Mir to the back of the head.
Back on their feet Lesnar dropped Mir with a very powerful right hand then jumped on him with punches once again. You can see Mir is hurt and cut and Lesnar is in a rush to finish the job at hand. Mir went for an armbar but Lesnar escaped and rained hammer fists. Lesnar sat up with posture from another arm bar attack, then stands. He looked to pass, but walks into Mir’s open guard. Mir swings his legs into a sweep to knee bar forcing Lesnar to tapout. At 1:30 of the first round.
Lesnar lost and showed a lack of experience in the BJJ ground game department. But you could see he has a lot of raw power and would be hard to deal with in the wrong position. With more training he could be a tough guy to beat. I am sure leg lock defence will now be high on his list of things to do when he hits the gym again. Mir showed heart under fire, which has been questioned in the past. I am sure he was very happy with the result!
Round 1
Both fighters start off trading jabs. Sylvia landed some shots then Nogeuira pulled guard looking to bring the fight to his world. Nogeuira looked to work for half-guard, but Sylvia stood back up wanting to keep the fight standing.
Sylvia press. Nogueira landed a right hand that snapped Sylvia's head back.
They trade punches, good upper cut landed from Sylvia.
Nogueira takes a powerful right hand from Sylvia, which knocks him to the canvas.
Nogeuira shows he is tough as nails and sucks up the follow up blows from Sylvia.
Nogueira now bleeding took more hard shots then pulled guard. Sylvia worked his elbows from Nogueira’s half guard, but then Sylvia stands knowing being on the ground with his opponent is always a risk.Sylvia stood up again and landed another good uppercut. Nogueira landed a jab and started to look for a takedown. A good plan at this point, as he is looking a bit ragged.
Sylvia defending well with under hooks and distance control.
Great combination from Nogeuira, but Sylvia pays him back and keeps the pressure on. Nogeuira droved for a single-leg takedown and got it just at the end of the round.
Sylvia’s round.
Round 2
Both started again with jabs and control of the distance. Both fighters worked a slower pace to start with. The first round showing its wear on them both.
Nogeuira looked again for a takedown but Sylvia is ready and waiting for that.
They clinch up and throw punches in close. Another single leg attack from Nogeuira but Sylvia is able to use his size and weight well to defend.
Sylvia worked the body. Nogueira jabbed then looked for a single again, but Sylvia once again sticks to his plan and kept the fight standing working punches.
Nogueira is boxing off his jab again, but trading them for right hands and looks hurt.
Solid left hook from Nogueira and second wind from die hard fighter.
Closer round, but Sylvia’s still managed to keep the fight on his terms.
Round 3
Inside leg kick from Nogueira to start the round. Right hand from Sylvia to set up his game again. Nogueira looking for the takedown once again. But to no avail. Trade of blows and Sylvia landed a heavy right, which Nogueira used as a cue to pull guard.
Sylvia took the bait and ended up in the half guard of Nogueira. This happened in the first round but Sylvia didn’t play ball that time. This time he played too long and Nogueira applied his master craft with a 101 half guard swept taking side control. Within seconds Nogueria had Sylvia in a head and arm guillotine and with a small twist of the wrist the choke tapped out Sylvia.
The head and arm submissions are in vogue in BJJ at the moment when your opponent tries to escape from the bottom. That’s why having good up to date BJJ skills go a long way.Sylvia had a good plan and was on course, but Nogueria is well known for pulling it out of the bag at the seventh hour. That is why he is such a dangerous fighter.
Nogueira is now the UFC Heavyweight Champion. The question now is will this be enough to tempt the legend that is Randy Countre back into the UFC octagon? That would be a great match up! A great fight card full of high drama and excellent displays of skill.
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 81: Breaking Point
- by Alan Orr: Photos courtesy of UFC