Sean Sherk looks to reclaim his stripped UFC lightweight title as he fights current champion B.J. Penn.
Both waste no time in going after each other as the lock within seconds. Both fighters get a clean break from each other and begin to look for openings. Penn looks to be the better puncher as he is using his size advantage. Sherk, however, is not shying away and is doing his best to mix it up inside. Penn has the upper hand so far in the round by connecting with jabs and keep Sherk. A cut and swelling is starting to appear under Sherk's right eye, where the jabs are landing. Both fighters are standing as the round ends.
Sherk is mixing it up more and both fighters are putting out a good amount of shots to each other when they lock up, but no major damage is inflicted. Sherk looks like he's getting to Penn better, however the cut under his right eye looks to be getting worse. He is still not bleeding or swelling to obscure his vision. Sherk tries to go for a take down, but it is blocked well as both fighters are standing as the round ends.
Both fighters continue the boxing match in the third round. Penn tries for a takedown about 90 seconds in, but Sherk defends it well. Penn seems to be getting the better of Sherk as he's hitting him and Sherk has yet to mount a strong series of attacks. Towards the end of the round, Penn gets Sherk back peddling with a series of punches then hits Sherk with a flying knee. Sherk falls and Penn begins to pound as the round end. There is some confusion on whether the match is over or not. The decision is made that Sherk cannot continue and Penn is declared the winner. During his celebration he runs over and gets blood from Sherk and licks it off his glove.
During the post fight interview, Penn asks the crowd if they want to see him against George St. Pierre in the next weight class and the crowd roars with approval.
That's all from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Thank you for reading. Good night from Las Vegas.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 9:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Keith Jardine squares off against Wanderlei Silva in a light heavyweight bout.
Silva comes back from three straight losses in a big way. While Jardine goes for a low kick, Silva hits him with a right punch. Jardine begins to fall when Silva hits him with a left followed by another right. Jardine stands up again, only to get more of the same and falls to the ground. Silva just picks his spots and holds Jardine by the neck to throw more punches. Referee Steve Mazzagatti stepped in and called the fight 36 seconds into the first round.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 8:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The swing bout of the night pits light heavyweights Goran Reljic against Wilson Gouviea.
Reljic is trying to end this quickly with big kicks that are blocked by Gouviea. Gouviea, in the meantime is trying to let his hands do the work. Both fighters are aware of their best weapon and are being cautious with each other. With a minute left in the round, Gouviea throws a flurry of punches. Reljic counters by grabbing the head of Gouviea and pulling him down to the ground. The round ends with both fighters on the ground.
Gouveia is the aggressive fighter at the start of the second round landing punches. Reljic lands one good kick to the head of Gouveia, but it looks not to bother him. Gouviea again lands a series of punches and knocks Reljic down. Gouviea lands punches but Reljic gets up. With 2:10 left in the round, Reljic lands a left punch to the right temple of Gouviea that floors him. Reljic lands blows to the head of Gouviea and after almost 20 seconds of hits, referee Herb Dean is forced to call the fight at 3:13 of the second round.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 8:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The possible final UFC fight for Tito Ortiz is about to take place. Ortiz will face fellow light heavyweight and possible future star Lyoto Machida. The crowd roared to their feet as Ortiz entered the ring to the Public Enemy song "Fight the Power." Machada enters with a determined look on his face.
Ortiz tries to go for a takedown more than a minute in but Machida defends it well. Ortiz is the aggressor for most of the first half of the round. Machida looks to be waiting for Ortiz to open himself up for a counter attack. Ortiz continually tries to score a takedown, but Machida is looking too strong for that. With 35 seconds left to fight, Ortiz is upset about the lack of offense with Machida and backs away. Machida scored the only takedown of the round with less than 10 seconds left and lands a series of strikes as the round ends.
Machida, while dancing around Ortiz, seems confident he's ready for anything Ortiz can throw at him, whether it is a punch, kick or a takedown. The crowd begins to boo almost midway through the second round. Ortiz cannot catch up to Machida. Ortiz finally gets close to a takedown, but it is blocked and Machida is able to gain the advantage. Ortiz works his way back up. Ortiz scores a good knee strike to the abdomen of Machida. With 10 seconds left, and aggravation setting in on the lack of offense from Machida, Ortiz goads Machida to throw punches, which he does. Ortiz tries to counter, but Machida is too fast for him.
The best action so far in the third round is referee Yves Lavigne tripping over himself 45 seconds into the round. both fighters lock up but no one can do anything. Fans begin to boo again, 1:45 into the round. Ortiz finally caches up to Machida and lands two punches. Machida is forced to lock up. Ortiz tries to go for a clinch but can't as Machida gets out, but not away, locking up again. Lavign breaks the fighters up with 1:45 remaining in the round. Ortiz ties to go for a takedown, but is met with a knee to the abdomen that slowly crumples Ortiz. Machida pounces on the falling Ortiz landing strikes. Machida almost gets caught with 30 seconds left in the match with an triangle choke and then an armbar but escapes and regains control as the fight ends. Both fighters are kneel to each other in a sign of respect.
The judges all score the bout 30-27 in favor of Machida.
After the match, Ortiz said he'll continue to fight, but it may not be in the UFC.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 7:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Antonio Mendes battles Thiago Silva in this light heavyweight bout to start the PPV portion of UFC 84.
Mendez starts fast against Silva with a kick to the head. Silva gets back up and again gets floored again. Silva regains his barrings and starts to take it to Mendez. Silva grounds and pounds Mendez forcing referee Herb Dean to call the fight at 2:24 of the first round.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 7:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rousimar Palhares takes it to Ivan Salaverry in this middleweight match. Palhares goes for a rear naked choke several different ways. Salaverry does his best to defend the choke. As Salaverry appears to escape, Palahres grabs his left arm and turns a rear naked choke into an arm bar that Salaverry has no defense for causing Salaverry to tap out at the 2:36 mark of the first round.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 6:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Terry Etim and Rich Clementi circle each other for the first two minutes of the fight exchanging shots. Clementi takes the action to the ground and tries to work for a better part of a minute. However both fighters are stood up by referee Yves Lavigne. With almost 90 second left in the round, Etim floors Clementi with a right upper cut and rains hammer punches. Clementi works his way back up as the round ends.
Etim tries to end it with a guillotine choke while on the ground, but Clementi fights his way out and gains control while both are on the ground. Etim has a close guard that doesn't allow Clementi to land solid strikes, Lavigne again orders the fighters back up. Etim gets the takedown and again goes for a guillotine, and, again, Clementi fights out of it. Clementi appears to be in control of this round as it ends with him on top of Etim.
Clementi gets the first take down of the round, 30 seconds into the third round. Clementi lands better shots, however Etim's guard is pretty effective. After three minutes, and with the crowd imploring a stand up, Lavigne gets both fighters back up. Clementi goes for a haymaker which is countered by Etim with a knee to the head. Etim could not keep the momentum going and is taken down by Clementi and he stays on top as the round ends.
All three judges scored the fight 29-28 to Clementi.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 6:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yoshiyuiki Yoshida didn't take long against Jon Koppenhaver. After a take down, Yoshida locked in anaconda choke and when referee Herb Dean checked on Koppenhaver, he saw the Koppenhaver had been put to sleep. Dean stopped the match at the 56 second mark of the first round.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dong Hyun Kim has had complete control of the round dropping elbows to the face of Jason Tan. While Tan has been on the receiving end, he's not looked defenseless enough for the referee to stop the fight.
Kim again has Tan in a bad way. Kim has been hitting and throwing Tan all over the ring. It appears that the only thing Tan has done correctly is not allowed himself to get knocked out because has taken some big shots.
Tan took all he could from Kim but referee Steve Mazzagatti had to finally call the fight after Kim threw Tan to the ground and pinned his shoulders not allowing him to defend himself. After a series of shots, Mazzagatti finally called the match 25 seconds into the third round.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welcome to The Press-Telegram's round by round coverage of UFC 84: Ill Will, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
Heavyweight Shane Carwin won in a first round knockout of Christian Wellisch. Carwin caught Wellisch with a right hand. Wellisch went down one way, his mouth guard went the other.
In the ring now are Welterweights Dong Hyun Kim against Jason Tan.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)