The time for the last UFC event of the year was upon us at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. With a fight card stacked full with big match ups, it was looking like a big end to the year!
Kongo has become better with each fight in the UFC. It would seem Al Turk has been given a big task in his first fight in the UFC. But looking at the heavyweight division right now any match up would be a tough start. Al Turk is a tough and robust fighter and will come ready to fight.
Round 1
Both fighters jabbed to start. Kongo picked Al Turk’s low leg kick and put him on his back showing his improved, more well rounded game. Al Turk back on his feet drove for a takedown, but Kongo defended it very well. The fighters tied up in the clinch.
Kongo landed a great knee to the body in close. Al Turk returned fire but landed off target with a knee to the groin. The break in action for Kongo’s recovery also gave Al Turk a bit of space to take in his first time in the UFC octagon, which must have been a benefit to him. The fighters got back to action and Al Turk again drove for a single-leg takedown. Kongo controlled the attempt and returned a knee to the groin of Al Turk. Payback or accident? Time out again, but this time for AL Turk to recover.
The fighters went back to action once again and started with circling each other. Kongo chased in and landed a strong right hand, which dropped Al Turk. Kongo followed up and pressured Al Turk with a barrage of punches and elbows until he opened up a gash over the eyes of Al Turk. A few more hammer fists and referee Steve Mazzagatti stepped in and stopped the fight.
No love will be lost between Wanderlei Silva and Rampage Jackson. The fighters have a history going back to the days of Pride, where Silva beat Jackson twice. One of them with a highlight real KO from a trademark Knee to the head. Jackson will be looking for payback and Silva as always just wants to fight a war! Jackson has now been training in the UK at the Wolfsliar gym, so a new Jackson will enter the octagon.
Round 1
The fighters didn’t want to touch gloves. Jackson came forward and took control of the centre of the cage. Jackson landed the first strikes. Silva started with his trademark two-handed attack, which Jackson covered. Silva was looking for the low kick to land spinning just out of range.
Rampage didn’t want a repeat of his time in the cage with Forrest Griffin, where Griffin blasted Rampages legs with legs. So he looked for the takedown, but Silva pulled out and landed a quick knee. A nice strong jab from Jackson landed using his whole body weight. Solid kick landed in return from Silva, after he ran in with a few more wild shots and another leg kick. Silva unloaded and Jackson countered with a left hook, which knocks Silva out cold! Jackson did follow up to land a few more right hands to the downed Silva as referee Yves Lavigne jumped in.
It was always going to be a knockout finish for one of these guys. Tonight Jackson got to even up the source some. The change in trainers has been a benefit to Jackson, so far so good. Some opponents lose heart when they lose, others come back all guns blazing. I think we know which one is Wanderlei Silva!
“Rampage is back. I ain't going nowhere,” said Jackson after.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir
Time for both TUF coaches to square off for the interim Heavy Weight Title with the winner set to face Brock Lesner for the fight to bring the belt back to one holder.
Nogueira is a legend in MMA and has had many wars in his time, maybe too many! In his prime there would be no question that he would be in charge against the old Mir. But now we have the new and improved Mir. Will this be the difference? Mir after a long time on the bench from a motorbike accident has started to look at his life and training from a different place. Will that be the inner strength he himself has said to have often lacked? Nogueira is the man who has strength and heart of a lion. I would like to see Big Nog win as I have links to Team Minotauro via my BJJ teacher Leo Negao. This will be an interesting fight!
Round 1
Both fighters looked good to go. Mir looked to work some kicks to start. He has some success. Nogueira was not finding his range, but is always a slow starter. Mir takes advantage of finding his pace early and performs an excellent leg trip to take Nogueira to the mat. Mir stood back up not wanting to deal with the guard of Nogueira early in the fight. Mir was landing cleaner punches. A tight uppercut landed and knocked Nogueira’s head back. Nogeuria seemed to sense Mir was gaining confidence so he stepped up the pace and worked with his jab. Just when Nog’s jab was making some progress, Mir landed a big right hand that put him on his back.
Most fighters don’t like to follow Nogueria into his guard as his BJJ is so good from his back, but Mir is a good black belt in BJJ as well. So he went in to follow up, but stood again once he knew Nog’s was shaking off the right hand that put him down. Back on their feet Nogueira looked recovered. He chased Mir and landed a combination and seemed refreshed. Then just at the end of the round Mir landed another right hand to put Nogueira onto his back again.
Round 2
Mir looked like a man on a mission at the start of the round. He came out firing. But
Nogueira landed a good low kick. Mir landed a few strong hooking blows, which dropped Nogueira once again. This time Mir pressed the action on the downed Nog until referee Herb Dean stopped the fight at 1:54.
Winner: Mir
After a long time being written off Mir has pulled out of the bag some big wins of late. Now he will face Brock once again, that would be like escaping a bear attack twice! “I've faced such demons after my wreck,” said Mir, 29, “To come back and fight the best heavyweight to ever fight in the UFC and get a win over him after what I've gone through, it just shows … I'm proof you can do things. I didn't think I could beat Nogueira. If I was a betting man, I wasn't on Mir's side tonight. I came through this with the love of my family, my children, my wife, everybody.”
What’s next for Big Nog? Well, it looks like he may be set to face Randy Couture, which will be a great fight!
Round 1
Griffin came out very game and set a pace. He is well known for out pacing opponents, so maybe he wanted to push hard from the first round. Evans tried to stay out of range and jump in and out of the game to land single power shots. Both fighters fired low kicks, but Griffin looked to be landing cleaner. Griffin took note that his leg kicks where doing a good job and Evans looked to be feeling the attention. Evans landed body blows to the end of the round. But this was all Griffin.
Round 2
Griffin started with the low kick again to set up a nice right hand. They clinched up and Griffin worked his knees. Evans smiled showboating to Griffin. Another low kick landed from the Griffin, they seem to be doing the job as with his fight with Rampage Jackson. Evans still looking for a big knockout punch, landed. But Griffin unfazed returned a strong right hand.
Hit and run round from Evans, which seems to be his plan. But he is loosing the rounds. Griffin showing the more come forward pressure style to win the round.
Round 3
Griffin came out ready to rumble. Evans landed a counter in the exchange and drove Griffin to sit back. Griffin has an excellent guard, but Evans is very strong punching on top and was landing heavy blows. Griffin was trying to keep moving in his guard, but looked to slow with each blow received from Evans. Then Evans gained a strong posture and rained punches until referee Steve Mazzagatti stepped in to stop the fight. Griffin was not able to cover and looked like he was slighting out at the end.
At 2:46 of the third round Evans became the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Winner: Rashad Evans
Griffin had each round until the point that Evans turned it around, but that is what Evans does. He waits and then looks for a mistake and runs with it. Evans with his hit and run style and showboating is not the kind of fighter that will win fans, but he is unbeaten and the new Champ. If you look at his highlight reel it would be very exciting as he has had great knockouts and strong finishes. But it’s the rest of the time that would not be so exciting. Fighters like Griffin are the other way around. His highlight reel would be any part of any fight he is in! With Evans wrestling skills and power punching he will be hard to beat that is for sure.
When asked did he tap or not, Griffin answered, “I was flailing, not tapping,”
He added, “I was done at that point. I didn't know what was going on. It was actually just his punches giving my body motion. I'm fine. I'll be back.”
Great fights and a lot of action and excellent way to end the year for the UFC for 2008
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 92
- by Alan Orr: Photos courtesy of UFC