The UFC Results

This is a video of Nathan Marquardt in a submission tournament versus Dean Lister:

Watch this video on youtube

Popularity: 26% [?]

Here is a little preview of Anderson Silva’s crazy striking ability. If you haven’t seen him fight this is a really good example of Anderson Silva’s amazing striking versatility. Watch and enjoy:

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Here is the abbreviated version:

Anderson Silva knock out video (short)

Popularity: 27% [?]

UFC 73: Stacked is one of the best fight cards to date. There are going to be two title fights, the debut of one of the toughest and talented MMA fighters at Heavy Weight and one of the biggest loud mouths in the UFC could potentially be shut up.

It’s the Tito Ortiz show!
Some how this event has become all about Tito Ortiz. He doesn’t have much to speak for lately as far as his fighting quality but he has a personality that attracts attention and viewers. He is easily the most recognizable name and face on the card but it is still strange and amazing that he can headline an event with two title fights and a loss in his last fight. No matter what happens in the rest of the event most of the mainstream talk will about Tito Ortiz. If Rashad Evans does manage to beat Tito Ortiz nobody will be saying “Did you see Rashad Evans win?”, everyone will be saying “Did you see Tito lose?” I do think this is going to be a really great fight but it really shouldn’t over shadow the other amazing fights that are also going to be happening.

The Spider’s Web
The fight I am most looking forward to is Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt. Anderson Silva has dismantled everyone that he has faced so far in the UFC. He punched out the puncher Chris Leben, he beat up the bruiser in Rich Franklin, he submitted the submission specialist in Travis Lutter, and will now have to face a fighter that is know to overwhelm opponents in Nate Marquardt. It will be interesting to see who will come out on top, check out the UFC 73: Stacked pre-fight picks for a fighter comparison.

The Muscle Shark’s first defense
The third fight I am most excited for is Hermes Franca vs. Sean Sherk. Hermes Franca is a really tough opponent. He is extremely skilled on the ground but also has an enormously heavy left hand that can put his opponent to sleep with one punch. This is also Sean Sherk’s first title defense. We all saw how well St. Pierre’s first title defense went, so it will be interesting to see if the nerves get to Sherk or if he will overcome and stay champ. Plus this also determines who is to face the next challenger at 155, BJ Penn!

Say hello to the “Big Nog”
The last fight that is really compelling is Antonio Noguiera vs. Heath Herring. I am pretty sure Noguiera is going to come out on top because he has already beat Herring and the only guy he can’t beat is Fedor Emelianenko. I haven’t seen Noguiera fight in a while and it is exciting to see new, world class talent come into the UFC. The heavy weight division just got more mixed up with his addition.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt (Middle Weight Title Fight)

Who we want to win: Anderson Silva
Who we think will win: Anderson Silva

This is a very tough fight to call but I am going to give the edge to Anderson Silva. Nathan Marquardt is no stranger to pressure and high profile fights though. He is a 7 time Pancrase champion, but Anderson Silva has fought a guy just like Marquardt named Rich Franklin. Rich Franklin is enormous and incredibly strong but Anderson Silva took him down in under three minutes. I don’t believe that this is going to be the case with Marquardt but Anderson Silva has an amazing ability to pierce his opponent’s defense and pick them apart. Marquardt has said that he can beat Silva standing up, but I don’t see that happening. There are very few people that can match Silva’s striking and Marquardt is not one of those people. Marquardt’s best bet is to take Silva down and attempt to ground and pound him, but again Anderson Silva is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu so Marquardt has a lot to deal with on the ground as well. Marquardt is well rounded, but Anderson Silva is extremely well rounded, which is why he gets the edge. Here is a clip from the UFC on the fight.

UFC 73: Anderson Silva vs. Nathan Marquardt Fight Video

UFC 73 Silva vs Marquardt preview
Uploaded by bawzz

Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca (Light Weight Title Fight)

Who we want to win: Sean Sherk
Who we think will win: Hermes Franca

It may be a controversial to pick Hermes Franca in this fight, but I see Sherk getting caught. Hermes Franca could knock him out with his left hand coming in, or once Franca has been taken down, Franca could submit Sherk. There is no doubt in my mind that Sean Sherk could beat Hermes Franca, but I think Franca has more technical MMA skills than Sherk. Sean Sherk is ridiculously powerful at 155 and is a great wrestler. If he can utilize those skills to avoid Hermes punching power and submissions then he can take the victory. But if you look to Sherk’s only two losses against Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre you can see that he could have trouble with a fighter like Hermes Franca that packs the strengths of both those mentioned fighters into one. If this fight goes to decision then Franca is going to lose, he probably knows that since he has only won 1 out 5 decisions that he has had. But I don’t think it is going to go to a decision, I believe that Hermes Franca is going to finish the fight with a submission.

Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans

Who we want to win: Tito Ortiz
Who we think will win: Tito Ortiz

This is going to be a great fight. Rashad Evans is out to prove that he is legit and deserves to see a title shot, and Ortiz is out to prove that he has returned for real and is on his way back to dominating the 205 division. We want Ortiz to win because it will help keep his popularity up, which is great for the sport. Rashad Evans being undefeated can take a loss on his record and still make a strong comeback and get his title shot again, and Ortiz needs a solid victory over someone other than Ken Shamrock right now.

Despite my wants, I really do believe that Ortiz is going to win this fight. He is emotionally and mentally on fire, even despite his last fight being a loss to Chuck Liddell. Ortiz may have realized that he will never beat Chuck Liddell, but now that the Ice Man has been dethroned the fighting desire is also back in Ortiz. Rashad Evans has been counted out a lot and proved everyone wrong up to this point. If Rashad Evans is going to win this fight then he is going to need to finish. Tito is not easy to finish unless you are Chuck Liddell and that is a problem for Rashad, who has only recently learned how to finish. Although finishing Sean Salmon isn’t huge, Jason Lambert is, but it will be really interesting to see if he can bring his finishing game to the octagon. If he does he will have a title shot waiting, but his time isn’t now, Ortiz will beat Evans.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring

Who we want to win: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Who we think will win: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

This fight is going to awesome only because Noguiera is fighting. He is an incredibly dominate fighter. He used to be the Pride Heavy Weight title holder and has only been soundly beaten by Fedor Emelianenko, which happens to everyone who fights Fedor. Noguiera has already beaten Herring and will do so again. He can punch hard and submit anyone. Herring is not a bad fighter despite how crappy he looked in his last fight, but he is not on the same level as Noguiera.

Alvin Robinson vs. Kenny Florian

Who we want to win: Alvin Robinson
Who we think will win: Kenny Florian

Alvin Robinson is going to have a tough time with this fight. He is making his debut against a very strong UFC veteran that has already fought for the light weight title. I really don’t like Kenny Florian after his fight against Sean Sherk where he held onto the fence everytime Sherk was going to slam him to the mat, hence the name Kenny “Let Go” Florian. Despite my dislike for Florian I believe he is a superior fighter and if all else fails he’ll resort to his cheap tactic of cutting his opponent with his bony elbows.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Winner: BJ Penn - Rear Naked Choke - Second Round

Bj Penn comes out swinging. He lands two quick heavy punches then goes for a take down and slams Pulver to the ground. BJ Penn is in Jens Pulver’s half guard. Pulver defends well and slides up the cage. Penn lifts Pulver again and slams him to the mat. BJ Penn starts to work for position and then mounts. Pulver spins and tries to land an arm bar on Pulver. Pulver manages to get out and Penn almost catches Pulver in a triangle choke. Pulver manages to posture and escape. BJ Penn holds Pulver in his full guard and Pulver pushes Penn to the cage. Pulver throws a huge elbow but misses. Penn pushes against the cage and gets up to his feet. They come to the center of the octagon and exchange. Pulver and Jens strangely share a thai clinch and exchange punches. The round fizzles out with each fighter exchanging punches.

They throw a few punches and BJ Penn closes the distance and trips Pulver and drops him to the ground. Penn works into a near mount but Pulver gets Penn back into his half guard, but BJ Penn quickly gets mount again. BJ drops some bombs. Pulver rolls and Penn throws punches and Pulver returns to his back. Pulver rolls and Penn takes his back. BJ has both hooks in and starts to work an arm. BJ Penn traps Pulver’s arm and then sinks in the rear naked choke. Jens Pulver taps shortly after.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Winner: Cole Miller - TKO - First Round

Miller comes out punching using his reach advantage. Miller throws an aggressive punch combo taking Wang to the fence. Wang pushes back and they end back up in the center of the octagon. They continue to strike and Cole Miller lands a head kick that drops Wang to the ground and Miller lands heavy punches and Wang can hardly defend himself. Cole Miller lands another big shot and the ref stops the fight. Cole Miller wins the fight by TKO.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Winner: Nate Diaz - Tap Out (Manny Gamburyan dislocates his shoulder) - Second Round

Manny immediately comes out and goes for a take down. Nate reverses but Manny almost catches him in a guillotine. Diaz almost gets caught but Diaz flips over Manny and is free. Manny pounces and gets on top. Diaz starts to work on Manny for submissions. Diaz works to his feet and Manny clinches his back and attempts a suplex but Diaz defends. Manny holds tight and manages to take Diaz down again. Manny continues his typical strategy of taking Diaz down and laying on top of his opponent and throw moderately tough punches. Diaz lets Manny throw punches to try and set up some arm locks. Both attempts fail and Manny keeps trying to bore Diaz and the audience into submission. Diaz almost gets away but Gamburyan latches on again and the round ends.

The second round starts and Diaz throws a good combo and Manny goes for another take down. In the process of the take down Manny Gamburyan dislocates his shoulder and Diaz wins the fight.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Winner: Lauzon - Triangle Choke - Second Round

The fighters meet and Melendez throws a huge punch that connects. Lauzon is okay and he closes on Melendez and takes him to the ground and starts to work on Melendez. Melendez gets him on his guard. Lauzon latches onto Melendez’s arm and slams him. He moves to half guard then to mount and nabs Brandon Melendez’s back and tries to lock a rear naked choke on Melendez. Melendez spins and Lauson gets mount then back to Melendez’s back. Lauzon works on the choke. Melendez escapes in transition and Lauzon goes for another take down. Lauzon drops to his back possibly for a submission attempt. But Melendez avoids and pushes Lauzon to the fence. Lauzon escapes and they exchange. Melendez tries for a body kick but Lauzon catches his leg and takes him to the ground and works for the back again. They end up with Lauzon’s back against the cage and Melendez’s back against Lauzon. Melendez spins and gets on top of Lauzon. Lauzon squirms and almost puts Melendez in a heel lock. The round ends as Melendez escapes.

The second round starts and Melendez comes out ready to strike. Lauzon ducks Melendez’s punch and gets the take down. He mounts Melendez and then takes Melendez’s back and they end up in the same position as they were in the first round with Lauzon’s back against the cage and Melendez’s back against Lauzon. Melendez rolls out of the choke but Lauzon was ready for Melendez to pounce and receives Melendez with a triangle choke. Lauzon almost loses the triangle but gets his foot and cinches the triangle and Melendez taps out.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Winner: No Contest

Gray Maynard comes out swinging and Emerson throws a big punch. Maynard advances again and Emerson throws a huge knee and pushes Maynard to the ground. Emerson tries to go for his back but doesn’t get it and almost catches Maynard in an arm bar. Maynard gets out of the arm bar and takes control. Emerson manages to get up but Maynard gets a hold of Emerson neck and drags him to the ground. Emerson stays on his knees. From there Maynard goes for a guillotine. Emerson flips over Maynard’s body and Maynard control from the top for a while then goes for a mount, but gets pushed back into Emerson’s guard. Maynard continues to work Emerson on the ground. Maynard then mounts Emerson’s back and Maynard starts to throw punches. Emerson spins to his back and Maynard has mount. Emerson pushes him to guard but Maynard manages to mount again shortly and then take his back. Maynard lands some very hard punches on Emerson’s head. The round ends and Emerson looks battered and Maynard looks fresh.

The second round starts and Maynard looks more reserved. Maynard throws a quick combo. Maynard throws a huge uppercut then shoots on Emerson. He lifts Emerson in the air and throws a vicious slam. Emerson is hurt extremely bad and taps out. After about thirty seconds it becomes apparent that Maynard has knocked himself out in the slam.

Bruce Buffer comes to announce the winner but the referees decide to call the fight a no contest.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Winner: Thales Leites - Submission - First Round

The match begins with both fighters coming out strong. Soon Floyd has Thales pressed up against the cage, but Thales takes him down and gets side control demonstrating his phenomenal jujitsu. Sword has a great up demonstrating his superior defense. Sword is taken down again by an amazing judo throw but Floyd keeps his defense strong showing no signs of fatigue. Thales tries to control Sword’s legs and soon gains control of Floyd’s back getting an arm triangle and quickly submits him showing that superior jujitsu will soon tire out even the greatest of defenses.

Popularity: 9% [?]