Ortiz opens the round with a head kick then takes Rashad down easily. Rashad is trying to climb the fence but Ortiz sucks him in. Evans continues to try and get up. Rashad walks up the fence and they clinch on the fence. They separate and Rashad starts throwing wildly at the air hoping that Tito walks into his punches. Rashad looks jumpy and Ortiz pursues. They both move to the center of the octagon and Tito lands two good leg kicks in a row. Tito goes for a take down and follow with a knee, possibly to the groin. They clinch and they both show off their wrestling and Rashad gets behind Ortiz and pushes him to the fence and has under hooks. Tito manages to reverse and they finish the round in the clinch.
Rashad comes out light on his feet moving his hands around. Tito throws a high kick. They exchange and Ortiz lands a good jab. Rashad attempts a take down but Ortiz defends easily. They circle a bit and exchange. Rashad tries to pin Ortiz against the fence. Tito gets a thai clinch but doesn’t utilize it. Rashad separates and almost lands an elbow. Rashad tries to clinch against the fence again but couldn’t capitalize. They come back to the center of the ocatagon and Rashad tries to shoot and Tito defends. They come apart and Tito goes for the take down and gets it. Rashad Evans tries to climb the fence again and does. Rashad tries to counter and take Ortiz to the mat. He does manage to get Ortiz down and Tito Ortiz looses a point in the process for holding the fence. Once on the ground Tito gets Rashad in a guillotine but the round ends before Tito Ortiz can finish.
They start the round slow. After a minute Ortiz lands a glancing head kick. Ortiz takes him down and is trying to suck Rashad back in so he can posture and begin the ground and pound. Ortiz mounts for a moment and then Rashad Evans gets up and Ortiz throws some knees. Ortiz goes for the take down again and they end up in the clinch against the cage. Rashad Evans defends well. The ref pulls them apart and Tito immediately goes for a head kick. Neither fighter throws many punches. Tito looks tired but Rashad Evans doesn’t pursue. Tito throws a body kick and then tries to shoot. Rashad Evans sprawls and reverses and takes Tito Ortiz down with ten seconds left in the fight.
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.
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
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.
