This month we have a UFC round up or you could say catch up! We have had so many UFC events in the last few months we thought it would be good to choose some of the best fights and most interesting results to review. The growth of MMA is non-stop and it shows as the UFC keep planning more events in more countries around the world.
UFC 94
This was set to be a great grudge match. As Penn had been trash talking what he was going to do to GSP this time out! GSP was as normal, focused on his own training and development. In the build up to the fight we got to see both fighters at their training camps. It must be said BJ Penn looked like he was back to his old ways of letting everyone know what he wants to do and when he wants to do it. He even had a week off within the build up training for the fight. BJ Penn is a true talent and is world class, with outstanding BJJ skills. But MMA is changing, and fighters must now be well rounded in all aspects of the arts, but they must also be conditioned athletes to the extreme! 5 rounds of MMA is no joke! Watching GSP’s camp was like watch Mr T training in Rocky 3 when Rocky was taking it easy! Mr T was training old school tough! GSP had all of Greg Jackson’s guys coming down to put him through the grinder. Most of them in weight classes above GSP as well as being champion level fighters in their own right! They all did their best to keep him under pressure, keep him thinking and changing with each change of fresh opponent. GSP looked like a gladiator taking on all comers. His physical presence alone was like a young lion schooling the rest of the pride. But also and maybe even more important was the relaxed air of energy around him. He looked like he knew he was ready for anything!
Round 1
The first round we saw the fighter’s clinch and trade. St. Pierre changed levels showing his strong wrestling skills and drove for a single leg. Penn a master of takedown defence was able to hop on one leg and keep his balance. St. Pierre stayed with the drive of takedown pressure. Penn finally broke free as St. Pierre tried to switch it up for the double leg attack. St. Pierre landed a few clean shots and Penn paid him back with a knee to the body. But this round was all St Pierre keeping the pressure on Penn. St. Pierre
Round 2
St Pierre looked focused on his game. Penn landed a few clean shots. St. Pierre again worked to clinch up and out wrestle Penn. It paid off as St. Pierre tripped Penn to the ground.
Penn was now on his back and tried to use a rubber guard control, but St. Pierre was too strong and aware for that to work. St. Pierre then passed to half-guard quickly progressing to side-control. This showed that Penn must have been very tried, as he seemed to have no guard defence at this point. St. Pierre then isolated the left arm of Penn and rained the head punches, which was very much a position Matt Hughes was the old master of. After some ground and pound from St Pierre, Penn finally was able to get back to guard. But St Pierre continued to dominate Penn from every position.
St. Pierre
Round 3
The round starts with Penn looking tired and battered. Blood was coming out of the nose of Penn as this point. St. Pierre drove a takedown and quickly progressed to half guard. Penn made it back to half guard, but looked unclear of what to do with St Pierre. St Pierre worked some punches and Penn saw his chance to escape and work for a single leg. St. Pierre showed off his wrestling skills by stopping the attempt and even reversing the tables pulling a double leg. St Pierre worked some strong strikes and Penn looked in trouble again.
St. Pierre
Round 4
Penn wants to work his stand up, but looks tired. He sent out a lazy jab and pays the price as St. Pierre changed levels and scored an easy double leg. St. Pierre at this point is on a different level, quickly passing Penn’s guard and showing total control of his position. He rains down punishing knees from side control and is now power punching at will. The rest of the round is St Pierre riding out position to position landing blows while Penn holds out for the clock to end.
Great round for GSP he looked like he was on fire! It was as though he was gaining strength with round!
St. Pierre
It looked like Penn’ s corner feels the same as Penn’s brother stops the fight. Just in time really as Penn had nothing in the tank and that’s when fighters can get hurt.St Pierre looked like a very happy man and so he should be. He showed he could deal with Penn at every level.
After the Fight it was noted that St Pierre’s corner rubbed a small amount of Vaseline on his shoulders. It was just as his corner where talking to him and rubbing his shoulders after putting Vaseline on his face. It all looked very innocent indeed. Since then Penn’s team have made a complaint about the incident. Which seems crazy, as St Pierre was a whole level above Penn in this fight. To say it had an impact would be a big leap. Winner: GSP
UFC 95
Chael Sonnen vs. Demian Maia
Damian Maia is a BJJ genius! Watching him is a master class in the levels of BJJ. I always look forward to watching him fight. You never know what will happen.
Round 1
Maia starts trying out some stand up skills he’s been picking up. Sonnen looked strong in his stand up as Maia looked to shoot and pulled his very dangerous butterfly guard. Not normally the best move in MMA, unless you are Demian Maia of course! Sonnen is no fool and worked for posture. As Sonnen is working his way out Maia punched well from the ground and looked for a single leg, which ends up with him holding guard once more. Both fighter are up and trade. Maia takes Sonnen down in great style and quickly progressed to mount and set up a triangle within seconds! Sonnen tried to roll but has nowhere to go and has to tap out. I’m not sure if Maia has a stand up game that will deal with some of the guys in his division, but once on the ground he can tap anyone. So this makes his very exciting to watch and a dangerous opponent for anyone.Winner: Maia
Dan Hardy vs. Rory Markham
Dan Hardy is another fighter I love to watch. His great striking skills and his come forward pressure is just amazing to watch. He throws mindful combinations and loves to mix it up!
Round 1
Markham came ready to fight. Hardy was feeling his opponent out looking for his time and boy did he find it! He landed a beautiful left hook. Quick finish for the outlaw! 1.09 of the first round. Winner: Hardy
Stevenson is a good all round fighter, but he has showed to be limited in game plan with the top guys in his division. He would have to be reinventing himself to get back on track. Sanchez in the fight build up noted the same feelings with the match up. He was thinking that Stevenson had not changed at all and that he was the one who would have a whole bag of ticks to offer.
I’m just going to give you an overview of this fight as it played out more or less the same all the way though. Stevenson had no answer for Sanchez who with each attack landed different blows, different entries, combinations of every type. You name it he did it. Even when Stevenson tried to sink his trademark guillotine, Sanchez just picked up Stevenson and dumped him on the mat. All in all Sanchez out punched, out kicked, and out wrestled Stevenson. In the last minute of the last round Stevenson stepped up and started trading with Sanchez, but it was all too late. Sanchez had already done all the work he needed.
Brandon Vera vs. Michael Patt
This was all or nothing fight for Vera. He came to the UFC taking names with each fight. Then after a year away he came back with a lot of form. This fight he needed to make a statement and he did that. Leg kicking his opponent into defeat. Winner: Vera
Round 1
Day rushes out and attacks backing Grove up. Grove throws a wayward head kick. Day continues to mount the attack right up until he eats a straight right hand on the back end of a one-two. Day cascaded backwards on the mat where Grove followed with elbows until Referee Rick Fike came to a stiff Day's rescue at 1:32 of the opening frame. Winner: Grove
Matt Hamill vs. Mark Munoz
Round 1
Hamill showed in this fight that he is more that just a wrestler by landing a leg kick to take of the head of Munoz. It was a clean KO and Munoz was out cold.
Hamill seemed back on form again and pleased to have developed his game. Winner: Hamill
Round 1
Matt Brown is classed as being a tough fighter. In this fight he lived up to the rep beating down Pete Sell at every chance. The crazy part to this fight was when Sell when down and the referee Yves Lavigne stepped in to stop Brown progressing, then told him to carry on! It looked like the referee was going to give him a 10 count! Then realised it wasn’t boxing and tried to get out of the way. Brown stepped up his attack and shortly after finished the fight again! Winner: Matt Brown
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shane Carwin
This was a fight that I was looking forward to seeing. Carwin looks like a future champ in the making. He has huge hands like stone and his record shows a lot of KO’s. This would be a big step up in class for him as Gonzaga is a beast.
Round 1
Carwin came out strong. But Gonzaga showed his experience and landed some great counter punches. Gonzaga tripped Carwin to his back and trouble looked like it was coming his way. Carwin managed to restand, but was eating some punches. Then like a lightening bolt he caught Gonzaga with a short hook, which dropped him in a blink of an eye! Carwin jumped on Gonzaga with hammer fists until the referee stepped in. Wow! What a fight. Carwin made mistakes, but he has dynamite in both hands. With more experience and in time he will be the one to watch! Winner: Carwin
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson vs. Keith Jardine
This was not the war I was waiting for. Most of the fight was a sparring type of fight. Jardine did not seem his sharp killer self. Also to be fair Jackson also seemed under par, he didn’t really seem fired up for this one. The word was that he over trained for this fight. Both fighters badly wanted title shots after this fight, so maybe they over did it in their camps in order to guarantee a place. It made for an uneventful main card fight. I am sure both fighters would have liked to a better performances. But that’s the fight game. These guys train hard, fight hard day in day out. Maximum respect is due too them both. It would be great to see Jackson fight for the title again and Jardine must be the most overdue title contender in the UFC! I am sure he will not stop until he gets that shot. Maybe that will end up being the rematch if Jackson gains back his belt! Winner: Jackson
All in all UFC gone wild. MMA goes strength to strength!
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
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UFC Round up! UFC 94,95 and 96
- by Alan Orr: Photos courtesy of UFC