UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva had lost a lot of his luster coming into Saturday nights UFC 101 matchup with former light heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin. He was undefeated in his previous nine UFC contests, but his last three victories had been far from impressive. Hed beaten overmatched James Irvin last July in his first effort at 205. That was followed by a TKO win against Patrick Cote when Cote blew out his knee mid fight. In his most recent bout, hed pouted and showboated his way to a unanimous decision victory by default against a thoroughly overwhelmed Thales Leites. On that night in Montreal hed heard an abundance of boos from the fans who at one point started a GSP chant in reference to his most frequent challenger for pound for pound MMA supremacy. Even Dana White criticized his effort and finally conceded that St. Pierre might, indeed, be the best all around fighter in the game.
Posts Tagged ‘mixed martial arts’
MMA Flashback: Shinya Aoki Tops JZ Calvan
After a controversial no contest in their first matchup, there was no doubt as to the winner of the DREAM 2 rematch between Shina Aoki and JZ Calvan. Aoki controlled the fight from the opening bell and used a wide repertoire of submission attempts to keep his opponent off balance and on the defensive.
Dana White The Massiah Of MMA
Ultimate Fighting Championship or more commonly known as UFC is fast becoming one of the most recognized sports in the world. They show live shows in over 50 countries ranging from the U.S to Australia. The sport is taking off in such a way no one would have expected. It’s amazing to look back just a few years ago to when the UFC was barely known.
Belfort, Dos Santos Win Top Fights At UFC 103
Vitor Belfort made his first appearance in the UFCs iconic octagon in five years, headlining the main event of UFC 103 in Dallas, Texas. Just over three minutes later, he had already become a top contender. Belfort dominated veteran Rich Franklin en route to a devastating knockout victory just past the midway point of the first round.
UFC Fight Night 15 – Notable Rounds
JASON BRILZ VS. BRAD MORRIS: Round 2 – Morris lands a nice combination to open the round, but Brilz secures the clinch and successfully forces the takedown. Working from inside guard, Brilz delivers some punches and then postures up and easily passes to side control. Brilz works elbows and knees to the body, and Morris is again forced to turtle to avoid damage. Brilz uses the opportunity to secure full mount, and Morris rolls over to give up his back. Brilz delivers an onslaught of strikes before forcing a TKO stoppage. Jason Brilz def. Brad Morris via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 2:54.
MMA Flashback: Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title Changes Hands As Sobral Tops Southworth
Renato Babalu Sobral defeated Bobby Southworth by TKO to become Strikeforce light heavyweight champion in the co-main event of the promotions ‘Destruction’ card. Despite leaving with the belt around his waist, it wont be the centerpiece of Babalu’s highlight reel with the way it transpired.
Aoki Submits Alverez To Make Claim For Lightweight MMA Supremacy
In one of the highlight matches of the DREAM/K-1 Fields Dynamite! New Years Eve megacard, Japanese submission machine Shinya Aoki used a heel hook to submit a top notch opponent in Eddie Alverez at 1:32 of the first round.
Notable Rounds in UFC 98
DAVE KAPLAN VS. GEORGE ROOP: Round 2 – After trading punches, Roop jumps with a flying knee. Kaplan catches it and puts his opponent on his back. Kaplan postures up to try to improve his position, but Roop again connects a solid upkick. With Kaplan in guard, Roop delivers elbows to Kaplan’s head and then kicks to create distance and get back to his feet. Roop again goes with a head kick that’s blocked. Roop with a nice right jab, right body kick combo before Kaplan clinches. With Roops pressed against the cage, Kaplan grabs a leg and scores the trip takedown. Kaplan can do little with the position before Roop again kicks his way free. The fighters again trade punches with few landing. Roop throws a low kick, and Kaplan shoots, presses him against the cage and frantically tries for the takedown. After 20 seconds of trying, he finally takes Roop to the mat. Working from inside guard, Kaplan’s short stature makes him an easy mark for Roop’s elbows. Roop ties up his arms and delivers a decent amount of damage from below as the round comes to a close.
Notable Rounds of UFC 100
T.J. GRANT (14-3) VS. DONG HYUN KIM (12-0-1): Round 1: Grant misses with an early body kick but shoots and puts Kim against the cage and on his butt. Grant tries to pull his legs out from under him as Kim peppers him with punches. Kim gets back to his feet, reverses the position, and puts Grant in the same position he was in seconds prior earlier. Kim frees a leg and moves to half guard and postures up to deliver a couple body shots. Grant pulls him back into full guard, avoids a triangle-choke attempt and eats a few elbow strikes from below. Kim delivers a steady stream of punches to the head before Grant slows the attack. Kim frees a leg to get a loud cheer from his corner and additional applause when he delivers a few punches. Grant uses an open guard to escape, but Kim clinches, delivers a knee to the chest and then slams Grant back down the mat. Grant has some blood trickling from near his left eye. Kim backs off, and Grant gets to his feet, dips for a single leg and drags Kim to the mat. Kim gets back up and muscles Grant to his back. From inside full guard again, Kim tees off with a couple brutal elbows that draw gasps from the crowd. Kim pops Grant with a few more strikes before the round ends.
Interesting Rounds During UFC 100
YOSHIHIRO AKIYAMA (12-1) VS. ALAN BELCHER (13-4): Round 3: An energetic pace opens the round as the fighters trade punches and leg kicks. Akiyama gets through a combination before Belcher throws him with a punch and kick to the body. Akiyama answers with a shot to the head. This Muay Thai fight is proving more evenly matched as the round goes on, and Belcher is starting to figure out Akiyama. Belcher just misses a well-timed right forearm to the face, sidesteps a spinning back kick and lands kicks to the body and legs before whiffing on a roundhouse to the head. Akiyama’s left eye is nearly swollen shut, and Belcher attacks that side of his body. Belcher slips after a kick and then does a backward roll to avoid Akiyama rushing in and gets back back to his feet, much to the crowd’s delight. Akiyama then pops him with a left, but Belcher backs him up with jabs before whiffing on a telegraphed spinning back fist. Akiyama uses the opportunity to score a takedown, but Belcher quickly gets back to his feet to trade a few blows before the fight ends.
