UFC 88

Philips Arena in Atlanta was the setting for another action packed night of MMA. This card was not short of big names with the ‘Ice Man’ Chuck Liddell, Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson ready to rock and roll. All these guys have been champions and where looking to step back up in order to be able to challenge for titles again. Their opponents where also looking to take names and make their own names for the very same reason. So a lot on the line tonight for everyone!

Martin Kampmann vs. Nathan ‘the great’ Marquard

Round 1

Marquardt used his jab to control the distance and Kampmann looked to unload.
A few kicks for both fighters, but nothing very clean lands.
Marquardt landed a hard body shot but in return took a solid right hand. He stayed in tight and traded.
Marquardt recovered and gained payback with a right leg head kick that clipped Kampmann and dropped him. Both fighters clinched and Kampmann worked his knees to the body and uppercuts in tight.
Marquardt lands a strong power body shot which opened up Kampmann. Marquardt capitalized on the moment and rained his punches until the Ref stopped the fight.

Winner: Nathan ‘the great’ Marquardt

Dan Henderson vs. Rousimar Palhares

Henderson needs a win to get back on track. He is a legend in the sport and his last fights have been with the best of the best of MMA. So with that in mind Henderson is still at the top of his game.

Rousimar Palhares is a BJJ black belt from American Top Team, that’s two reasons for this guy to be a tough opponent any day of the week. He is known for excellent BJJ skills but can he put them to use against the likes of Dan Henderson? Henderson has beaten some of the best BJJ guys in the world and many of them where more well rounded than Palhares.

Round 1

The fighters calmly size each other up in the center of the Octagon taking their time.
Palhares leaned back and straightend his front leg looking to change levels for a takedown attack, which he did but is told off with a right hand from Henderson. Palhares will need to be less telegraphed if he is to have success with the likes of Henderson. In the scramble Palhares looked for a foot lock but Henderson pulls out of it. Palhares shows he is dangerous in the transitions. Palhares shot in twice, but is sprawled and brawled by Henderson. Palhares lands a body kick and falls back as Henderson keeps on driving.Henderson continues to stop the Palhares takedowns. The fighters are now circling each other, with Henderson in charge of his game and Palhares not sure of how to take the fight to the ground. Henderson jabs and looks to set up his right hand. Lands jab uppercut, which is prefect way to defend a shoot as the uppercut nails the opponent as they change levels to shoot.Palhares lands a left-right combo but he pays for it, as Henderson gets wild with punches and sweet arm drag that puts Palhares to the canvas. Great wrestling skill from Henderson who now lands a hammer fists on his opponent. Henderson jabs the head and is taken down with a single-leg, which he rolls with.Palhares takes side-control with 30 seconds remaining. Henderson pulled half-guard. Palhares rolled for a kneebar but is out of time. Palhares is so slick on the ground, but Henderson is always on point.

Round 2

Henderson is playing a counter game to start with and setting Palhares up well.
Palhares shoots again but is stopped by Henderson. His second shoot worked well and he gets in tight to lift Henderson up and slam him hard to the canvas.
Henderson has guard and looks to hip out. Palhares flowed for a foot lock, which looked deep, but Henderson seemed relaxed as he escaped punching on the way.
Palhares shot again and Henderson sprawled and controlled well.
Palhares looked to shoot and as Henderson sprawled Palhares pulled guard eating a right hand at the same time. Palhares was trying to sweep Henderson but its not happening for him. Henderson was controlling very well from the top.
The Referee restood the fighters as the ground game slowed. Both throw strikes at the end of the round.

Round 3

Palhares tried to start off with the shoot once again, but again Henderson’s sprawl is too good. Palhares missed again with his shoot but did land a knee this time. All the failed takedown attempts where starting to tire out Palhares at this point. That’s not good news for him, as he was not having his way when he was full power.
The jab was working better for Henderson now as his opponent is slowing pace.
Henderson landed a big right hand. Palhares wanted to clinch up but Hendo knows its time to throw down and unloaded the right hand uppercut. Fight slowed a bit again, then Henderson landed more right hands again.

Palhares looks tired but managed to shoot a takedown. Henderson is still on the ball and controlled the attack and rained a few punches as he stood up.
Palhares now pulled guard in an attempt to bring Henderson into this world again. As Henderson looked to throw a few strikes from standing when Palhares flowed into a beautiful a leg lock attack Henderson did escape but others would not have. It was an excellent display of why Palhares is so dangerous and why Henderson is such a professional. Henderson finished strong and in charge to win the fight.

Winner - Henderson

This was interesting fight if you understood the level of grappling skills these guys have. There was no room for error from both fighters. Henderson showed his vast experience and focus to win this fight. Palhares is a name to keep an eye on.

Rich ‘The ace’ Frankin vs. Matt Hamill

Rich and Matt have been friends for some time. Matt taught Rich wrestling defence a few years ago before he himself started in MMA. Will Matt dominate with his wrestling skills or will Rich be able to use his experience to deal with better wrestler. This is a test for both fighters. Rich stepping up to Light Heavyweight and Matt stepping up to fight an ex champ.

Round 1

Franklin seems to have a plan as he worked leg kicks to start. If he can take out Hamill’s leg power then he will be able to defend potential takedowns better. Good plan! Hamill tried to counter punch Franklin’s leg attacks but was not finding his range at this point. Franklin mixed up the kick attacks with low inner thigh kicks as well as the outside leg kicks. He landed a few nice ones on the inner thigh of Hamill. These types of kicks when placed right really hurt and take the energy out of a fighter. Hamill was brawling and not really looking for a takeout, which seems to be the wrong plan. A cut appeared above the right eye of Franklin. Hamill still brawling and pressuring Franklin ends up fighting taking the fight to the ground. Both fighters have cuts from the messy exchanges. Franklin looked for an armbar from this back, Hamill defends and both fighters end up back on their feet to trade again.

Round 2

Both fighters look like they have been in the wars. Hamill does not seem to have found a groove so far in this fight.Franklin on the other hand seems to have a plan and worked the legs again, but this time working more combinations of low kicks and punches also with the odd body kick for good measure. Franklin now has a visible chunk of flesh missing near his right temple! The doctor is called in to check it out and he gives him the thumbs up to continue for now.In his haste to put the pressure on Franklin landed a low kick to the groin of Hamill. The referee issued the normal warning and Hamill was given time to recover.Back to action and Franklin shows his great conditioning pouring on the pressure with low kicks then a solid liver kick, which hurt to watch!Hamill was looking tired at this point and Franklin was start to T off on him. Franklin landed another low leg kick, this time buckling Hamill with it. Hamill looked to be thinking to shoot but did not seem sure of what he was doing.
Round 3

Hamill had it all to do in this round. Franklin came out busy again on autopilot throwing his combinations. He landed another liver kick, which dropped Ham ill and caused him to tapout.

Winner: Rich Franklin

Franklin really used his pressure to keep Hamill out of the game. But Hamill did seem to be his own worst enemy for not even trying to use his excellent wrestling skills to his advantage.

Chuck ‘ Ice Man’ Liddell vs. Rashad ‘Sugar’ Evans

Round 1

Both fighters came out to the centre of the octagon and squared off. Liddell looked like the gamer fighter looking to start the action. Evans moved back and circled away as Liddell chased him now. Liddell with both guns ready looked to land the big right hand, which he did. Evans sucked it up and continued to move. Evans is a good wrestler but Liddell is known from his wrestling defence so it looked like Evans was not even going to try for the takedown. But what was his game plan? It would seem it was another boring style of avoid and look for the mistake. A good plan but not the kind of fight the fans what to see. The rest of the round was Liddell chase and Evans avoids then the odd counter.

Round 2

Both fighters start with a trade of blows. Evans has found his range and is landing. Liddell tried to chase and pressure Evans. Liddell throws a big right hand, but in doing so dropped his left and Evans countered with a big right hand of his own which knocks out the ex champ cold. Liddell was out for a minute before getting back to his feet.

Winner: Rashad Evans

Evans is a good fighter and his plan worked well. He knew he had to wait and look for the right time. But in terms of watching a good fight, Evans is becoming a spoiler type of fighter. Fans like to see a fighter come out and fight. Game plan is very important to get the ‘w’ but you need fans too!

Liddell is a great counter puncher and in his past fights he has been the titleholder and his opponents have often come looking for him. That worked well for his style. Of late he has been the one chasing opponents. With Rampage he was looking to avenge a loss against him in Pride and therefore was not as relaxed and was taking the fight to Rampage and that showed a hole in his defence, which was repeated in this fight. Liddell drops his hands when he attacks. Tonight he got caught, lets hope it will not be third time lucky for Chuck next time!

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