Forrest Griffin challenges Quinton Jackson for the UFC light heavyweight championship.

Both fighters meet in the center of the Octagon with Griffin kicking more than punching. Both fighters are shadowing each other looking for an opening. The crowd appears to be chanting for Griffin more in the early going. Jackson has been landing some punches causing Griffin to retreat. Griffin's kicks are keeping Jackson back and for a while it looked like Griffin had an opening. With about 1:10 left in the round Jackson landed a right uppercut that dropped Griffin down. Griffin was able to recover and get back up as both fighters give a strong performance to the crowds delight.

Griffin starts the round by kicking in the left leg and it appeared to hurt Jackson. Griffin keeps the pressure on and is able to get Jackson down to the ground. Jackson can't do much on his back as Griffin stays on top. Griffin tries to go for a kimura but can't lock it in. The crowd is supporting Griffin and any offense Griffin mounts gets applause. Griffin has been in control for the entire round with elbows and strikes. Jackson will survive the round with almost the entire round on his back.

Jackson is not letting Griffin close to his left knee, which is what caused him trouble in the last round. Jackson moves in for a flurry of punches 100 seconds into the round but can't get a knock down, but does move Griffin back. Jackson punches are not getting through Griffin's guard. Griffin hasn't had much success either. This round looked more like a kick boxing match with a strong finish at the end for both fighters.

With about 30 seconds into the round, Jackson throws punches which are countered by Griffin. As both fighters are locked up, Griffin goes for a takedown, but Jackson is too strong. Griffin goes for a arm bar and all of a sudden you had visions of the powerbomb Jackson threw in his PRIDE days. Griffin must have remembered and braced for the impact as to not get the full effect. Jackson stayed in control and as Griffin goes for an arm bar again, but Jackson has other ideas and both fighters break free. Jackson goes in and lands some shots on Griffin. There appears to be a small, not serious, cut over Griffin's right eye.

Chants for Griffin begin the fifth and final round. Jackson appears more confident in throwing his punches now. Griffin hasn't thrown as many kicks as he's done in the previous rounds. Both fighters are just duking it out for the most part. Griffin makes some contact with about two minutes left to go and is appearing to be more aggressive as the round goes. Jackson is not as aggressive as Griffin, but is throwing some counter punches. With 50 seconds remaining, the crowd is anticipating a strong stretch run by both fighters. Both fighters don't disappoint as the round and bout ends.

The judges award the bout, 48-46, 48-46, 49-46 all for the winner and new light heavyweight champion, Forrest Griffin. Griffin improves to 16-4, Jackson falls to 27-7.

Thank you for reading, we apologize for the technical problems we've had.

Good night from Las Vegas.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 9:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the swing bout, lightweights Gleison Tibau vs. Joe Stevenson are next up.

Stevenson appears to push his fist into Tibau for a knockdown. Stevenson then sets up for a guillotine choke but Tibau slips free. Both fighters get up and Stevenson would get the next take down but gets his arm trapped in Tibau's legs. Right now, there appears to be no damage on Stevenson except not letting him use his left arm. Stevenson asks the referee for a stand up but his request is denied and that is how the round ends.

Stevenson won by guillotine choke at 2:57 of the second round

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 8:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welterweights Chris Lytle and Josh Koscheck will meet in the Octagon next.

The boo birds come out again, although the action is a little more fast paced than the last bout. Lytle is swinging but Koscheck has enough distance to move away. Koscheck is able to score a take down but is almost locked in a guillotine choke before breaking free. Koscheck has Lytle under control for the rest of the round.

Lytle was able to get a take down and went for another guillotine choke but Koscheck breaks free and gains the advantage with both fighters on the ground and lands forearms. Lytle has a cut on this forehead above his right eyebrow. Lytle is trying to break free but can't. There is blood in the corner of the ring. As the round ends, the wound appears to be deep.

Both fighters go to the ground again and Lytle appeas to be going for it all with a variety of choke and submission moves, but he can't lock one in on Koscheck. Two minutes into the round, Koscheck is really digging his forearm into the forehead of Lytle trying to open up the cut more. With 90 seconds into the match both fighters are stood up and Lytle is head is red with blood. Koscheck face is red too. The crowd has been behind Lytle and are chanting for him to pull it out. Lytle and Koscheck go at it for the final 10 seconds but neither can land the knockout punch.

The judges rule the bout, 30-26, 29-27, 30-28, for Koscheck and improves to 14-2 while Lytle falls to 35-15-4

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 8:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Pay-Per-View card of UFC 86 kicks off with lightweights Marcus Aurelio vs. Tyson Griffin.

The first fight of the night is getting booed for the first 100 seconds when Griffin is able to get a take down on Aurelio. However instead of mounting his opponent, he is standing above him and striking. Aurelio is able to defend himself while on his back for almost two minutes before getting back to his feet. Both fighters stay on their feet for the rest of the round.

Both fighters start out stronger in the second round but neither fighter can score a big punch. With 1:40 into the round, Griffin has Aurelio pinned against the Octagon attempting to score a take down, but Aurelio is standing his ground. Griffin finally gets his take down three minutes into the round. Aurelio breaks free and has position for a while before Griffin reverses. With more than a minute into the round, Aurelio attempts a triangle choke but can't hold it. The round ends with Griffin on top.

Both fighters are more cautious to start the final round. Both fighters are just looking for an opening. Aurelio goes for a take down two minutes into the round but it is easily blocked. Griffin lands a series of successive punches and kicks that has Aurelio backing up. Aurelio goes for a take down, but is instead pushed down to the ground and dominated by Griffin. Griffin almost makes a mistake and gets his right arm in an arm bar before getting it free. Griffin stays on top as the round ends.

Griffin is declared the winner on all three scorecards, 30-27, and improves to 12-1 while Aurelio falls to 14-6.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 7:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Justin McCully takes on Gabriel Gonzaga in a heavyweight bout and the final match of the preliminaries.
Any doubts about Gonzaga were clarified moments in less than two minutes. Gonzaga floored McCully and kept the pressure on. McCully would get up only to be taken down again. Gonzaga worked the ground game and after a while was able to lock in a kimura on the left arm of McCully forcing a tap out at the 1:57 mark of the first round.

Gonzaga improves to 9-3 while McCully is 8-4-2.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 6:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cole Miller goes against Jorge Gurgel in another lightweight bout.

Both fighters, for the most part, are fighting, but neither fighter has done any damage to the other. Gurgel gains some advantage with 1-2 punch combo that almost floors Miller. Gurgel goes in to do more damage but Miller recovers. Gurgel chases Miller around the ring as the time expires in the round.

In the second round, both fighters are again mixing it up, but can't land any damage. They are exchanging good shots, but nothing good. Miller scores a take down on Gurgel, two minutes into the round. Gurgel looked to have the striking advantage until Miller gets up and finds a better striking angle to land punches. Gurgel is able to withstand the attack and almost gains an advantage. Miller proves to be to elusive and breaks free. Gurgel gets a take down to end the round.

About a minute in to the final round, both fighters go for arm take down, but neither can score. Gurgel later on scores a take down and has control for a minute. Miller gets up but is soon taken down again. Miller again gets up and both fighters begin to exchange punches. With more than a minute left in the round, both fighters go to the ground. Gurgel makes a costly mistake and get himself in caught in a triangle choke. After a while, Gurgel can't hold on until the end of the round and tap out at the 4:44 mark of the third round.

Miller improves to 14-3 while Gurgel falls to 16-4.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dennis Silver takes on Melvin Guillard in a lightweight bout.
In the blink of an eye, it was almost over. Guillard quickly floored Silver with a right punch. Silver is able to withstand the first attack getting back to his feet. But moments later, Guillard is hit with another right and Silver is floored again. Referee Herb Dean has no choice but to stop the fight, 36 seconds into the first round.
Guillard is now 40-8-3 while Silver is 11-6.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 5:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This first match of the night is Justin Buchholz vs. Corey Hill in a lightweight bout.
Hill starts out a little more aggressive, using his four inch height advantage to put Buchholz on his back. Buchholz goes for a kick and his leg gets caught by Hill who pushes him down and strikes. Buchholz works his way up, but goes down again. Buchholz again goes down and gets up. Buchholz goes for kick and is caught again but this time wraps up and pulls Hill down with him. As the round goes on, Buchholz is beginning to score, but has a kick caught again and is dropped as the round ends.

Both fighters are a little slower to start the second round. Buchholz gets the action started two minutes in when he lands a kick to the head of Hill that stuns him for a second. Buchholz attacks but can't do much. Both fighters lock up and Buchholz pulls Hill down with him. Hill goes for a choke but can't get locked in. During that time, Buchholz uses his legs to push off the Octagon and is able to reverse the position to then get in position for a rear naked choke. At 3:57 of second round, Hill taps out.
Buchholz is now 9-2 while Hill falls to 2-1.

Posted by Andres Cardenas at 5:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We dedicate tonight's coverage to former Press-Telegram writer James Melroy.

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

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)

OK, it's about 6:50 p.m. here on the Left Coast and I'm really missing being at a UFC event live. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sittin in my big, comfy sofa chair with my laptop and blogging a "stream of consciousness" of my thoughts on, not only the fights, but the pay-per-view as a whole.
But, as anyone who's ever been to a live event can attest, the feeling is electric in the arena. Especially just minutes before they go live on PPV. There's a UFC highlight video shown, with the perfect song (The Who's "Baba O'Riley") playing.
I interviewed Dana White late last year and we were talking about the production values that UFC has and he said everything they put out goes through the "Goose bump test."
I must have seen that video close to 10 times and it still gives me goosebumps.
(Readers note: You must click refresh every 10 minutes as this page does not automatically update. Also, please leave your comments on anything you see or read tonight, regarding UFC 77!)

OK, I'm turning off the Red Sox-Indians game (As a die-hard Angels fan, I really despise the Red Sox). I can't stand to see Boston fans happy. As a Southern California native, it's just ingrained in me.
On to the pay-per-view!

Continue reading "UFC 77: Hostile Territory" »

Posted by James Melroy at 6:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Fight Network is reporting that UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture has quit the organization, vacating his title and his duties as color commentator.
We'll have more on this story in the hours ahead.

Obviously, stunning news in the wake of Fedor Emelianenko's decision yesterday.

Posted by James Melroy at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There has been little argument these last few years, when the question of who was the best heavyweight fighter in mixed martial arts. Heck, most even agreed that the same fighter should be considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.
Fedor Emelianenko, the PRIDE heavyweight champion, was nearly unstoppable. He had defeated Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and a host of other big names in the sport. A talented striker, the Russian proved even more potent on the ground, winning 14 of his 27 victories by submission, including the last four in a row.
Fedor was the best ... keyword WAS.

After it was revealed Wednesday that Emelianenko had agreed to a deal to fight for M-1 Mixed-Fight Championship, I will no longer refer to him as the best. I just can't do it.

Don't get me wrong, I respect Emelianenko's skills as a fighter. But skills don't account for everything that a fighter needs to be the best. The heart of a fighter also determines success, as UFC light heavyweight contender Forrest Griffin could attest. But Emelianenko's decision to spurn UFC's offer and fight for what amounts to be a minor-league organization proves to be both frustrating and quite revealing.

I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a fighter. I've never stepped inside the Octagon, or in between the ropes. I've never been punched in the face, or had my arm twisted to the point of tapping out. I've never been choked out, nor have I seen my own blood pouring down my face and into my eyes while someone was trying to inflict physical harm.

But, I have played and coached sports on a competitive level and, as a competitor, I always looked forward to competing against the best. How else would an athlete measure him or herself? If you lose to the best, you still have work to do. If you beat the best, well, you still have to work to stay on top, but you know that you're the standard by which all others are measured.

Isn't that what athletes strive for? Apparently not Emelianenko.
Sure, Emelianenko has posted wins over Cro Cop and Nogueira, but those wins have lost a bit of luster with recent performances in UFC. Cro Cop, who entered UFC as the uncrowned heavyweight champ, has been dismantled by average fighters in his last two outings. Nogueira was solid, if not spectacular, against Heath Herring.
Maybe Fedor saw those fights, as well as Griffin's win over PRIDE's pride, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, and decided it might be easier for him to preserve his legacy in M-1, instead of in the Octagon against the likes of heavyweight champ Randy Couture, former champ Tim Sylvia, up-and-coming star Brandon Vera, the talented (yet sporadic) Andrei Arlovski and contenders Gabriel Gonzaga and Cheick Kongo.

Maybe Emelianenko has a good reason for his decision. But on the surface, it's disappointing that we'll likely never know if Fedor was the best, or if he would've suffered the same fate as several other PRIDE fighters have.

Posted by James Melroy at 1:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sherdog is reporting that Cage Fury Fighting's Oct. 12 event has been canceled due to a key investor backing out of the event.
The program was to be headlined by UFC legend Tank Abbott vs. streetfighting icon Kimbo Slice.
Yeah, I'm really disappointed we're all going to be deprived of that fight.
It's bouts like those that give MMA detractors who are uneducated about the sport and its growth the ammunition to knock MMA down a peg in the general public's eyes.
I'm convinced that Abbott's conditioning is so bad, he'd get winded after chewing gum for 10 minutes, let alone fighting. Meanwhile, Kimbo Slice is a joke who is better suited for those old style Toughman Competitions than competing in MMA.

Posted by James Melroy at 2:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to MultiChannel news, negotiations between UFC and HBO have ended without a deal.

Continue reading "UFC-HBO tap out on deal" »

Posted by James Melroy at 6:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I love YouTube
Below is one of the funniest videos I've seen since I began browsing the site.

Continue reading "UFC 75: Unacceptable" »

Posted by James Melroy at 1:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When my co-worker, Miguel Lopez, approached me Thursday shortly after I had arrived at the Press-Telegram sports department, I knew there was some big news regarding mixed martial arts. Sure enough, he told me that UFC had set its main event for UFC 77: Validation, which takes place on November 17 in Newark, New Jersey.
I began to think big and rattled off a few:
Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva? ... No.
Did they move Serra vs. Hughes to N.J.? ... Nope.
Hmmmmm.
I was quickly running out of ideas.
Miguel stood there with a slight grin on his face, and, right then, I knew I was never going to guess it.
"I give up, dude. What is it?"

Continue reading "Upcoming main event is a miss" »

Posted by James Melroy at 12:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)