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UFC 43 Blow by Blow
The UFC came out with a bang. We knew the fight card was good but the fights were much better than we all expected.
Prelim: with fire in their eyes. Both men needed a win badly. The question for this fight was whether a new and improved Rizzo would come out or would the laid back Rizzo come out and try things when it’s too little to late. They came out to the center of the ring, Rizzo right away starts delivering rights and lefts. Telligman counters and Telligman lands a straight right that stuns Rizzo and sends him down but Rizzo clinches and recovers. The ref stops the fight to check on a small cut that Rizzo suffered but the ref lets it continue. Both fighters were moving well and landing on each other till the end of the round.
Round 2 - Telligman delivers a low Thai kick but Rizzo delivers his own low leg kick. Both men exchange great blows on each other. Finally, Rizzo takes Telligman down but Telligman pulls guard. Rizzo was able to land a few more punches before Telligman is able to stand-up but the ref steps in to check a cut on Telligman's face. The doctor lets it continue. Rizzo once again lands a few more punches and a knee to Telligman's face and the ref steps in again so the cuts can be re-checked. The doctor checked the new cuts and this time, does stop the fight. Rizzo wins.
Fight 1 The first fight of the pay per view was Frank Mir vs. all 6’10” Wes Sims. Both fighters came out - Mir extends his arm to tap gloves but Sims rushed with a punch and Mir goes into instinct mode and ducks and takes Sims down to the ground. Mir completely controls Sims. Mir almost chokes him out by a rear naked choke. Sims was able to escape. Then Mir almost gets the arm bar but Sims gets up with Mir holding onto the arm bar. Then Sims slams Mir but no damage was done. But Sims does the mistake of stomping on Mir’s face while Mir was on the floor (and stuck next to the cage). UFC rules prohibit foot stomping to a downed opponent. Sims was also holding onto the cage as he was stomping down so the ref stepped in and disqualified Sims. Mir wins by disqualification.
Fight 2 The next fight was Vernon “Tiger” White vs. Ian Freeman. White coming out of a very controversial loss in King of the Cage just three weeks ago, where he lost his light heavyweight title to Jeremy Horn. Horn was in Freeman’s corner. Both fighters came out and touched gloves. They stand-up for about 30 seconds and the first punch that Freeman throws, Tiger takes him down and is able to control Freeman. Tiger then stands- up and delivers a great punch straight down that catches Freeman but is unable to capitalize on that. From that point, both men stand-up and are about equal in the “stand-up game” until the end of the round.
Round 2 - Both fighters came out punching. They clinch; Freeman takes White down this time and gets the control from the back and the side. With Whites knees on the ground, Freeman delivers a few good punches but then White reverses and gets Freeman’s back. White controls Freeman, delivering punches to Freeman’s face. Freeman tries to turn and White gets the mount and delivers some short elbows and good punches. The rest of the round goes the same with White getting the edge in the stand-up and on the ground.
Round 3 - Both fighters threw a lot of leather. There were a couple of good exchanges by both fighters and it went that way throughout the round until the end. And off to a judges decision it went. The fight is declared a draw. Another controversial decision. I’m saying controversial because as the decision was read, the crowed booed. I think (as well as thefightgame.tv staff) that White should of won this fight. It was a close fight but nevertheless, White should of won. This is starting to resemble boxing.
Fight
3 something to prove and Belfort with something to re-prove. Both men circle each other, Belfort looks like the old Belfort, moving back, forward, side to side. Eastman looks anxious. He throws a few kicks. Belfort remains very calm. Eastman closes the gap, Belfort reaches behind Eastmans head and delivers two solid knees. One with the left and then with the right that sends Eastman down and Belfort follows him down and delivers some very quick rights and lefts. The ref steps in and stops the fight. It was so quick that not many people saw the gash that opened above Eastman’s right eye. It looked like he got hit with an axe. It was bad. Good stoppage. Belfort wins by TKO.
Fight 4 Next was Yves Edwards vs. Eddie Ruiz. Right away, Ruiz shoots in but Edwards moves. Ruiz shoots again, this time they clinch. Ruiz tries to take him down but Edwards counters and gets his back. Edwards triangles his legs around the stomach of Ruiz from his back. Edwards controls the rest of the round delivering a few good punches in transitions.
Round 2 - They move to one of the corners and as Ruiz ducks a little, Edward delivers a great left high kick that catches Ruiz right on the head. But right away, Ruiz clinches and brings Edwards down. Edwards right away gets Ruiz in a triangle arm bar combo. To the credit of Ruiz, he escaped. The rest of the round goes the same - Edwards controlling the tempo with Ruiz taking all that Edwards is giving him.
Round 3 - This round goes the same as the second. Edwards controlling the tempo and landing punches but Ruiz just kept on coming. He would not give up. The round ends and we have another decision. This one is unanimous - Edwards wins.
Fight 5 The next fight was Kimo vs. Tank Abbott. The UFC goes back to the old school with some of the original fighters. Abbott came in intense. Kimo takes Abbott down and lands in the half mount and right away gets the full mount and starts applying a head and arm choke from the mount. This choke is usually applied from the side but Kimo was able to submit Abbott with this choke from this position. Kimo wins.
Fight 6 And finally, the fight everyone was waiting for, Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell. Couture lost about 40lbs for this fight. Many people thought it was too much weight to lose and especially when you're losing it to go going against someone like Liddell. Both men came out and start reading each others moves. Couture pushes forward, Liddell backpedals. Couture grabs Liddell and slams him but Liddell right away stands-up. Couture still moves forward, pushing the fight. Both fighters exchange blows and one would imagine Liddell would get the best off that exchange, but no, Couture is winning the stand-up game. And again, Couture rushes in and takes Liddell down but Liddell gets right back up. Couture is able to land a couple of punches before the round finishes.
Round 2 - Couture stands with Liddell and is winning the exchanges. Couture using the straight jab to get Liddell out of his game. Liddell tries to counter and does land a right but before he can do any damage, Couture takes Liddell down again with a real good leg sweep toward the end of the round. Liddell is able to land on top but the round finishes.
Round 3 - Couture is relentless. Couture lands some solid rights and lefts. Liddell looks a little hurt but is fighting back. Liddell also looks tired. Couture does not let up on the pressure. They clinch, Liddell looks like he wants to take Couture down but Couture slams Liddell to the floor again and mounts Liddell and starts delivering rights and lefts that are landing right to Liddell’s face. The ref screaming at Liddell - you have to move or defend yourself. Liddell can’t, the ref has to step in and stop the fight. Couture wins by TKO and becomes the interim light heavyweight champion.
The UFC basically put their negotiations out in front of the public when speaking of Tito Ortiz. They basically said that they guarantee that they are working their hardest to come to terms with Ortiz but that the ball was in his corner. It’s up to him whether he wants to reclaim his championship or not. From all accounts, Ortiz was not visibly present and probably not there. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Til next time, Al
(6/7/03) |
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