Rich Franklin walks down to the octagon looking extremely focused. He has a look that was not there when he fought Anderson Silva. He looks like a champion ready to win.
The two fighters come to the center to touch gloves and Okami looks very large. They both take the center of the octagon. No one takes control. Each fighter is feeling each other out. For the first two minutes nothing notable happens. Franklin is throwing more punches and lands one small combo. Franklin pushes a little more and they clinch against the cage. This is where Okami usually overtakes his opponents. Nothing happens from the clinch and McArthy breaks them up. Near the end of the round Rich Franklin lands a hard leg kick. The round as a whole was boring but Franklin was the aggressor and won the round.
They come out again and Okami looks as if he may have a larger sense of urgency. Franklin goes for a couple more leg kicks. Franklin is starting to get more confident and throws a two punch/high kick combo. Okami finally makes an attempt to take Rich Franklin down. Franklin defends and gets double under hooks and pushes Okami against the cage. McArthy lets them maneuver a bit before separating them. Okami lands a good straight right but doesn’t follow. Near the end of the round Franklin lands two good punches on Okami. Franklin may have hurt his hand in the last exchange. Franklin wins the round.
Franklin came in with a hand shake and Okami throws a flying knee and Franklin dodges. Okami gets a clinch and gets a single under hook and takes Franklin down. He gets side control and eventually reaches full mount on Franklin. Rich moves his weight and gets Franklin in to a butterfly guard. Rich gets up but Okami gets Franklin into a guillotine position. Franklin gets out then drops Okami with a slam. They get to their feet again and Franklin almost gets his back but Okami slips Franklin into an arm lock. Franklin was nearly submitted but managed to roll out of danger and then pull out his arm and get into Okami’s guard. The round ends shortly after and solidifies Rich’s win and his future title shot.
Griffin comes out strong and focused throwing punches in combos as the crowd chants his name. Ramirez goes for a take down and slowly brings Forrest to the mat. Ramirez is ineffective and allows Forrest to get up and throws a good high kick. They exchange for a bit and Forrest lands some good leg kicks. In the scuffle Ramirez lands a good straight right. The fans start to chant and it sounds like a soccer match. Forrest continues to throw punches. The crowd again chanting for Forrest. Ramirez tries to return but is ineffective. At 30 seconds Griffin lands a head kick, and to finish the round he lands some good jabs and some great leg kicks. Forrest wins the round.
Forrest comes out again and goes for the leg kicks again. Ramirez makes a weak attempt at a take down and ends up in a Thai Clinch. Forrest delivers some knees. Forrest is trying to pick apart Ramirez with some good combos. Forrest is really working the kicks and lands another high kick. Forrest lands some more good combos, and Ramirez makes a really weak take down attempt. Forrest throws some good punches but in a the mix accidentally hits Ramirez in the groin. They separate and Ramirez gets a chance to recover from the blow. The round winds down with Griffin continuing to throw combo after combo. Forrest wins the round.
The fighters come out swinging. Forrest is the fresher fighter and is landing some good leg kicks again. Ramirez can’t move as quick as Forrest but manages to get a pseudo take down as Forrest hits the ground momentarily but is back to his feet quickly. The crowd chants again as Forrest lands some more combos. Forrest Griffin’s leg kicks are paying off because Ramirez can’t explode and telegraphs every move. This allows Griffin to attack and then retreat as needed. At 30 seconds left Griffin goes on a flurry. Ramirez has nothing in return and the round ends. Forrest wins the fight.
MacDonald opens with an inside leg kick to open up a take down attempt. Rory defends and they end up in the clinch. The advantage changes and Rory goes for a take down. Rory throws some punches then throws MacDonald into a Thai clinch and throws some knees but loses his balance and MacDonald lands in his guard. MacDonald goes for some ground and pound but Rory throws up kicks and creates enough separation to get on his feet. MacDonald slips and Rory tries to capitalize and almost gets MacDonald’s back but Jason spins into his guard. MacDonald tries to pass until near the end of the round and Singer throws MacDonald into a triangle but there isn’t enough time left in the round.
MacDonald comes out taking the center of the octagon. He quickly goes for a take down and ends up in Rory Singer’s guard. After a minute and a half MacDonald uses a can opener on Rory Singer to open up Rory’s guard. MacDonald then passes Singer’s guard. This allows MacDonald to mount and dropped elbows and punches until the referee called the fight.
Each fighter comes out and they circle each other. Griffin goes for a leg kick that Guida catches and turns into a take down attempt. Griffin manages to defend with one leg in the air. Griffin is actually throwing punches with one leg in the air. Guida takes Griffin to the cage and tries to slam Tyson Griffin, but Griffin’s excellent balance made it so he landed on his feet. In the position change Tyson Griffin gets Guida in a guillotine in full guard and it appears that Guida may tap but he is patient and gradually escapes. They both slided up the fence and Griffin tries to get Guida’s back but Guida starts to turn and grab Griffin’s leg and get a knee bar on Griffin. They collapse awkwardly, have a quick scramble and then end in a clinch against the cage. After some grappling Griffin exits the exchange with a combo and lands a huge hit. They come out to the center of the octagon and Guida shoots but Griffin defends. Griffin throws a few jabs to set up some heavy combos. Guida goes for another take down but Griffin is too strong of a wrestler and avoids. They exchange punches then have a scuffle on the ground before the round ends.
Griffin comes out swinging. Guida returns with a leg kick and a punch. Guida then goes for a take down but Griffin defends with incredible defense. He is standing with his right leg straight in the air. Guida pushes for another take down and gets one but Griffin pulls out quickly. They return to their feet and have a striking exchange then Guida goes for a take down again and tries to isolate on Griffin’s leg but is ineffective. Griffin sweeps Guida’s leg and they end up on the ground. Guida almost get’s Griffin’s back but Tyson Griffin gets out through the back door and has Guida’s back while standing. Griffin attempts a suplex but ends up hitting the ground first and allowing Guida to fall on top of him. Guida can’t escape Griffin’s speed and Griffin ends up on top. Guida rolls and Griffin gets his back. Guida raises and pulls on Tyson’s leg and they fall but it gives Griffin a better opportunity to seize his back. As Griffin tries for the dominant position Guida rolls again and in the mix he snags Griffin’s leg and sinks in a knee bar. Tyson Griffin spins his body and Guida is now laying on Griffin’s leg trying to hyper extend it as Griffin throws huge body shots to make Guida release the knee bar. Griffin turns his body and goes for a heel hook on Guida. Guida rolls in the correct direction to escape the heel hook. He then spins and seizes Griffin’s back. Griffin stands as Guida locks in both hooks. Griffin is fighting off the rear naked choke attempt as he tries to position his body weight to slam Guida and escape the submission. Griffin waits and then slams Guida’s face into the mat. Guida stays on Griffin’s back but is too high to sink in his choke. They fight for position until the round ends.
Clay Guida comes out hopping in anticipation. Griffin comes to the center and throws some big punches. They exchange and Griffin lands a good knee and a nice kick. Guida goes for shot and Griffin defends. While they are against the fence Griffin goes for an arm lock. Guida rolls and they end up in a an awkward position with Guida laying on top of Griffin while Griffin is on his back. Griffin throws some huge elbows and then tries to sink in a heel hook. Guida defends and postures and throws some huge back fist on Griffin’s face. Guida manages to get up first and lands on top of Griffin. Guida stays on top trying to pass but both fighters are extremely active and are both throwing elbows and punches. Guida stays on top until the end of the fight and then bombs punches as the horn blows.
Ed Herman comes out quick and takes Scott Smith down. He is active in Scott Smith’s closed guard. Smith is doing a good job protecting against Herman’s posture at the moment. Smith stands up as Herman almost takes his back. They end up in the clinch against the cage. Ed Herman goes for a Judo throw, then starts to throw some heavy knees instead. Herman goes for Smith’s legs to take him down but Smith sets him up for a guillotine. Ed Herman lifts Smith in the air and smashes Scott and gets released from the guillotine. Herman starts to work on Smith and then lands an enormous elbow and cuts Scott Smith’s nose. Blood starts to spill out everywhere as Ed starts raining down elbows and punches. Herb Dean stops the fight momentarily to get Smith’s cut checked. They get back into their previous position and Ed continues where he left off. Ed tries for an arm lock then pulls out of Smith’s guard and stands for a moment then jumps in on Smith and lands on his back. Smith rolls and Herman almost catches him in am arm bar. Smith avoids the submission and is now on top. Chaos ensues and Smith drops and tries to lock Herman in a leg lock while Herman is simultaneously trying a leg lock. They both release it Herman sweeps around Smith’s body in transition and almost seizes Scott Smith’s back again. The round ends with a scramble and Herman probably wins the round.
Round two begins and Herman goes for a take down. Smith defends and they end up in a clinch. Smith again catches Herman in a standing guillotine. Scott Smith manages to get Herman to the ground in his full guard and almost sinks the guillotine. Herman is wincing but some how manages to slide his head out. He starts ground and pound again. Smith tries to reverse Ed Herman and gain position but Herman pounces onto his back and sinks in a rear naked choke. Scott Smith is forced to tap out.
Here is a video of UFC fighter Tyson Griffin knocking out current WEC feather weight champ Urijah Faber. This is a display of how quick and explosive of a fighter Griffin is. I wrote an article on why UFC 72 is worth the money, and Tyson Griffin’s fight was one of those reasons. This video backs up my article with this impressive display of Griffin delivering Urijah Faber’s only loss. Look forward to UFC 72 and the fight between Tyson Griffin and Clay Guida.
