UFC 73

[Guest Jack]

I'm really looking forward to this card. It seems to be the UFC's best offer on paper for quite a while now. I can't wait to see Nog in the Octogon, Silva dn Sherk back, and a potentially hot fight with Ortiz and Evans.

 

Judging by recent UFC cards, I expect Nog to get knocked out in the first miiunte.

 

Main Card

Anderson Silva vs. Nathan Marquardt

Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca

Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring

Kenny Florian vs. Alvin Robinson

 

 

 

(All odds from Bet365.com)

[Guest Craig]

Yeah, I haven't been this excited for a UFC show in a while. Ortiz/Evans sells the show for me on it's own. The rest is just a great bonus.

 

And god, I hope Evans wins. I don't think he will, but I can dream, right?

[Guest Jack]

I really dislike Evans. I think the guy is a *****. I know Ortiz isn't much better, but I'm hoping he knocks Evans out.

 

The betting closes tommorow night at 11:30 :)

[King 277]

I think Evans might take Ortiz.

[Fidel Cashflow 130]

Might? Ortiz isn't nearly as world class as he thinks he is, whereas I think Rashad is the turh. Ortiz for the "L" in this one.

 

The biggest question mark in this for me is Minotaru against the Texas Crazy Horse. Now, whereas I think Big Nog the the greatest bottom-fighter ever and a good boxer, he's damn near blind and I was shocked to hear he had recieved a license to fight over here.

[Guest Edgemaster006]

After watching the vegas betting odds I am QUITE shocked: they have Franca and Marquardt to win. This is an optimal time to bet on the champion.

 

Franca is on a streak, but his only notable wins are against Spencer Fisher and Nate Diaz...both substandard opponents.

 

Marquardt meanwhile, is from Sanchez's Gaidojutusu camp. Diego fell to the superior classical wrestling of Koschek...and now Marquardt is up against even more of a brute in Sherk. Sean will dominate this fight.

 

Evans v. Ortiz is a tossup in my mind. It all depends. If Rashad has even competent take-down defense, he can do it. Tito relies on the fact that people have no idea how to deal with his style: in my mind the reason he beat Wanderlei. Wandy was used to someone actually DOING something in the guard.

 

I share Spiral's sentiment on Nog v. Herring. Heath is a solid, polished fighter with POWERFUL kicks....something he displayed last fight. This one will come down to what kind of a shape Noguiera is in, and how he is coping with being legally blind on one eye.

[The Fury 65]

*UFC 73 spoilers*

 

Fight #1:

-Frank Edgar vs. Mark Bocek

 

Round 1: Edgar starting off good, out-striking Bocek. He landed a huge overhand right that stunned Bocek, and got him on the ground and pounded away with strikes until the referee jumps in to stop it.

 

Frank Edgar def. Mark Bocek via TKO (strikes) at 4:55 of Round 1.

 

 

Fight #2:

-Chris Lytle vs. Jason Gilliam

 

Round 1: Lytle starts out with some good punches on the feet early. He lands a solid right that hits hard. He's working low kicks now and the two scramble, with Lytle ending up on top on the ground. Gilliam works for a leg submission, but Lytle advances to side control and slaps on a triangle from the top. He tightens it up and Gilliam taps.

 

Chris Lytle def. Jason Gilliam via Submission (triangle choke) at 2:15 of Round 1.

 

 

Fight #3:

-Jorge Gurgel vs. Diego Saraiva

 

Round 1: The two are having some decent exchanges here early. Gurgel landing more often than Saraiva. No one is going for takedowns yet. Crowd is shitting all over this as the action has slowed. Saraiva lands a few good ones and shoots for a takedown, he settles for pulling guard. Gurgel is landing more strikes on the ground. Saraiva is not doing much. Gurgel landing some elbows and punches. Saraiva tries an armbar, but Gurgel escaped and we're back on the feet. The two are exchanging again as the round comes to a close, with Saraiva landing more. Good first round.

 

Round 2: The two are striking again here in the second, again Gurgel getting the better of the exchanges. Saraiva attempts a takedown, but Gurgel defends. Gurgel is connecting with punches and leg kicks now. Gurgel doing great work on the feet in this round. Saraiva rocks Gurgel and the two blast each other repeatedly dirty-boxing style as the crowd explodes. Saraiva tries pulling guard like in the first, but Gurgel slams him down. Back on the feet, the two are swinging ferociously again. Awesome round.

 

Round 3: Gurgel's eye is looking rough and both seem to be tired here in the third. Crowd is starting to get on them - it's been a great fight up until now. Saraiva goes for a takedown but ends up on the ground with Gurgel on top instead. Saraiva throws up a triangle, but Gurgel defends. Gurgel is working some punches from the top. Back on the feet the two trade a little bit more. Round is over. Fight should go to Gurgel, we await the official particulars.

 

Jorge Gurgel def. Diego Saraiva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after 3 Rounds.

 

 

Fight #4:

-Stephan Bonnar vs. Mike Nickels

 

Round 1: Nickels takes Bonnar down off a punch to open the first. He gets the mount, but Bonnar escapes and takes Nickels' back. He's working for a choke, now a kimura. Nickels escapes but Bonnar slaps on a choke and gets the tap out.

 

Stephan Bonnar def. Mike Nickels via Submission (rear naked choke) at 2:14 of Round 1.

 

 

PPV FIGHTS

 

Fight #5:

-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring

 

Round 1: These two CAN'T have a bad fight. Nogueira dominated him whole round. Took him down easily early on, out-struck him the entire round. Had him bloody and battered but walked into a high kick late and was very badly hurt. Herring forced Nogueira to stand back up and tried to finish, but they hit the floor and Nogueira hangs on to grind out the round. Holy ****!

 

Round 2: Another good round, nowhere near as exciting as the first, but that'd be hard to do. Herring started off slowly, even though Nog still seemed hurt. Nog eventually got back into it and probably won the round with some takedowns and some stand-up exchanges.

 

Round 3: Nogueira dominates this round with pretty much no problems. He got the takedowns when he wanted, was working submissions and Herring as he always does would get out of all of them and improve position, but only briefly. Nogueira was out-striking him the last few minutes.

 

 

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Heath Herring via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after 3 Rounds.

 

 

Fight #6:

-Sean Sherk © vs. Hermes Franca (UFC LW Title)

 

Round 1: Great first round for Sherk. Started bad though. Franca with a crazy knee to open the round and then slaps on a guillotine during a Sherk takedown attempt. He gets slammed down, but Franca remains in the guillotine and it looked bad there for a second. He escapes eventually and finishes the entire round pounding away on top, working for submissions and even gaining mount - twice.

 

Round 2: Another good round. This one might be Franca's. Franca hurt Sherk pretty bad with a knee early and looked to finish again with a guillotine, but Sherk managed to survive and escape the submission attempt. He would again dominate positioning on the ground for most of the rest of the round, until the end where Franca again had another decent submission attempt.

 

Round 3: Sherk gets Franca down early with an impressive slam-takedown. He dominates the entire round on the ground with ground and pound and submission attempts. Clearly his best round, although the least exciting of the three.

 

Round 4: Franca again with another big knee to Sherk's face early, but again resulting in him on his back with Sherk on top of him. Sherk dominates for a while, but they scramble up. Sherk slams him down again with a huge slam-style takedown. They scramble up again after some Sherk domination on the floor, Franca again throws two knees, neither land as flush as the previous one's. Sherk eventually gets him down again. Scramble up again but this time immediately back down for Franca. Sherk grinds out the round with position-control and is solidly in the lead going into the final round.

 

Round 5: Sherk with a huge leg kick that hurts Franca early in the fifth. He gets a big slam-takedown. They eventually scramble around again, Hermes is bleeding out of the nose bad but he just won't stop fighting. He won't give up no matter how in control Sherk seems (and is). Hermes almost secures a leg lock with about two minutes left, but Sherk escapes. You get the feeling every round if Sherk makes too-big a mistake, Hermes could pull off a finish. Doesn't seem likely though, one minute left. Sherk grinds out the rest on the ground. Definitely Sherk winning here.

 

Sean Sherk def. Hermes Franca via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) after 5 Rounds, to retain the UFC Lightweight title.

 

 

Fight #7:

-Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans

 

Round 1: Good little first round. Probably 10-9 Ortiz. He threw a high kick early but Rashad blocked it. Tito then got a good takedown. He didn't do anything with it, as Rashad wall-walked his way back up. They would strike a bit back and forth before again clinching and both trying for takedowns. Tito got on his right eye.

 

Round 2: Probably 9-9 Ortiz. He got a point taken for holding the fence very late in the round - complete bullshit call. Anyways, Ortiz was out-striking him the entire round and even got a big takedown. After the point got taken away, Ortiz slapped on a guillotine that looked very bad and Ortiz even used it to roll over and regain top position to finish the round.

 

Round 3: This should be Rashad's round. It was a close, much slower-paced round in the third with Tito strictly looking for takedowns and seemingly gassed at the very end of the round. This allowed Rashad to score a takedown late to secure the round. This very well could be a draw - as the announcers are now saying as well.

 

 

Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans fight to a Draw after 3 Rounds (28-28, 28-28, 28-28).

 

 

Fight #8:

-Anderson Silva © vs. Nate Marquardt (UFC MW Title)

 

Round 1: Close first round, until it ended. Anderson Silva retains his Middleweight title. Marquardt got him down early and was successfully controlling him throughout a good portion of the round. The referee would for some reason stand them up, and Anderson would land a solid left that hurt Marquardt and forced him to shoot in for a desperation takedown attempt. Anderson switched and got top position and pounded down. One good punch really hurt Marquardt and forced him to turtle up with Anderson pounding until the referee jumps in.

 

Anderson Silva def. Nate Marquardt via TKO (strikes) at 4:50 of Round 1 to retain his UFC Middleweight title.

 

 

Fight #9:

-Kenny Florian vs. Alvin Robinson

 

Round 1: Florian dominates and wins the fight in round one. He got three takedowns (maybe four) and had mount several times. He was pounding him with elbows viciously on the ground and landing good punches on the ground and on the feet. He was briefly stunned by one Robinson punch, but that was about it. Robinson tapped out from the punches in the end.

 

Kenny Florian def. Alvin Robinson via Submission (strikes) at 4:30 of Round

 

Very interesting results. I'd like to see Evans/Ortiz 2 though.

[Guest Jack]

I was really annoyed by the Nog fight. I am certain that this was a fix. Firstly, when he was knocked down by the kick, Herring jumped on him, landing clean blows. Usuaully the referee stops it when the fighter clearly knows when he is out. He didn't. Then Herring could have easily taken him, because nog couldn't even defend himself. instead, what does he do? Asks for a stand-up! then he doesn't even try to beat him in the reminding time. After the end of the round, nog was still out of it. So when does Herring try to attack again? His first meaningful attack was almost 2 minutes into the second round.

 

Bullshit.

 

The referee should have stopped the fight after the kick and hammerfists.

If not, Herring should have forced the stoppage by applying pressure instead of asking for Nog to stand-up.

Then in the second round, Herring should have jumped on him. Not wait to counter an opponent who was out of it.

 

It's pretty clear Dana White is willing to cheat his fans to not have another massive upset.

[Guest Ed_666]

I was really annoyed by the Nog fight. I am certain that this was a fix. Firstly, when he was knocked down by the kick, Herring jumped on him, landing clean blows. Usuaully the referee stops it when the fighter clearly knows when he is out. He didn't. Then Herring could have easily taken him, because nog couldn't even defend himself. instead, what does he do? Asks for a stand-up! then he doesn't even try to beat him in the reminding time. After the end of the round, nog was still out of it. So when does Herring try to attack again? His first meaningful attack was almost 2 minutes into the second round.

 

Bullshit.

 

The referee should have stopped the fight after the kick and hammerfists.

If not, Herring should have forced the stoppage by applying pressure instead of asking for Nog to stand-up.

Then in the second round, Herring should have jumped on him. Not wait to counter an opponent who was out of it.

 

It's pretty clear Dana White is willing to cheat his fans to not have another massive upset.

 

I totally agree, although not sure you can say it was Dana White's fault necessarily, maybe Herring didn't want to serve up a debut defeat to his mate, which they took great lengths to let us know Nog and Herring were.

 

He didn't seem to try very hard to put him out though. :tdown

 

Who wrote those match reports though? How was deducting a point from Ortiz a bullshit call? :? He was repeatedly warned not to grab the fence, and if he hadn't have done, he'd have been picked up and slammed about 3 or 4 times, and most likely pounded on the ground. He'd probably have LOST the fight if he'd been taken down those several times, so it was exactly the right call.

 

Ed