© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are Live from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Tonight, Zuffa presents an incredible night of action with the finest Mixed Martial Artists in the world, who will all compete in the world’s ultimate proving ground: the Octagon.
“And now, for the thousands in attendance, and the millions of UFC fans watching around the world, It’s On! Because now it’s time to begin the Ultimate Fighting Championship.”
As ring announcer extraordinaire, Bruce Buffer, heralds the start of UFC 47, the crowd erupts for a main event showdown that has been brewing for two years: Tito Ortiz v Chuck Liddell. And the night’s card is jam-packed with seven other high-octane bouts.
In attendance are such celebrities as Carson Daly, Michael Clarke Duncan, Charis Boyle, Joe Pantoliano, Juliet Lewis, George Clooney and UFC stars Randy Couture, Ken Shamrock and Frank Mir.
Taking the barometer through the roof on this already scorching night are sizzling ring card girls Amber and Holly.
Let the Thunder begin:
Jonathan Wiezorek (6?3″ 257 lb) v Wade Shipp (6?4″ 250 lb) – Heavyweight
Referee: Herb Dean
The bout opened with Wiezorek charging full-bore across the ring at Shipp. Shipp stood his ground, and greeted Jonathan with a knee to the midsection, then off-lined Wiezorek’s attack by redirecting his momentum to Wade’s left side. The first minute of the round was all Shipp delivering a barrage of knees and uppercuts. With just over four minutes remaining, Jonathan tripped Wade, taking him to the ground, which is where the wrestler wanted to fight Shipp. But both men were quickly back to their feet.
With 1.50 remaining, Shipp was punched out. Wiezorek delivered a knee, but both men’s energy levels were depleted after the explosive first three minutes. Jonathan, with back against fence, managed to loop his right arm over Wade’s head in a neck crank, and hooked his left arm around Wade’s right arm, before the pair fell to the floor. Wiezorek then mounted Shipp’s back, hooked his feet under Shipp’s legs and began to ground’n’pound him.
The tattoos on Wade’s arms were motionless, and Herb Dean stopped the fight.
Result: Jonathan Wiezorek by Ref stoppage ? 4.39, Round One.
Genki Sudo (5?9″ 154 lb) v Mike Brown (5?6″ 154 lb) – Lightweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Wrestler Mike Brown watched from inside the Octagon as Tokyo’s Genki Sudo made his colourful entrance, wearing a golden oriental gown, two masks, and displaying theatrical gestures that even concerned the security escorts. With his Tin Man loosening-up routine completed, the bout was underway.
Brown moved in and had Suto against the fence. Mike was unable to take Genki to the ground, and settled for landing a solid right fist on Genki’s face. The clenched combatants exchanged knee strikes, Genki opting for high knees, Mike sending in low knees to the thighs.
With 1.40 remaining in round one, Brown had Sudo on the canvas and tried for the full-mount position so as to inflict some g’n’p punishment, but Sudo took Brown into his guard. With 1.51 left, Genki had Mike in a triangle-armbar combo (a la Lee Murray v Jorge Rivera). Mike tried gallantly to punch his way out, but he only prolonged the inevitable, and was forced to tap out.
Result: Genki Sudo by submission ? 3.31, Round One
Mike Kyle (6?4″ 229 lb) v Wes Sims (6?10″ 254 lb) – Heavyweight
Referee: Big John McCarthy
Like a modern-day Thomas More, the courageous Wes Sims showed he was truly a Man for All Seasons, taking on this match with just one day’s notice. Fans never know what hairstyle Sims might be sporting in the Octagon, but they know he?ll always be fighting with a BIG heart.
Sims started the action with a kick aimed at Kyle’s head, however it was too telegraphic and was easily avoided by Kyle. Kyle forced Sims against the fence before Sims reversed positions and attempted a guillotine, then took Kyle to the mat. Kyle escaped the hold in the fall, so Sims tried for an arm triangle. “Has someone learned submissions?” asked ring commentator Mike Goldberg of Sims.
From his back, Sims held Kyle in a body triangle with his long legs, and Kyle applied a few neck-cranks from the guard, before off-loading right punches to Sims’s body and head.
Twenty-five seconds remained in round one when Big Mac separated the men and brought them back up. Sims was slow to his feet: His lack of fitness from not having time to prepare for the bout was showing. When the fight recommenced, Kyle attacked with Thai knees (a la Mir v Sims II), before finishing Sims with a big right hand.
Sims had waved in the scuffle, and after the fight, showed teeth marks on his chest from where he claimed to have been bitten by Kyle. Sims is known for his leverage and reach, but even he couldn’t have left those fresh teeth marks on his own chest.
Result: Mike Kyle by KO ? 4.59, Round One
Nick Diaz (6?0″ 168 lb) v Robbie Lawler (5?11 169 lb) – Welterweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Southpaw and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu specialist, Nick Diaz, taunted Robbie Lawler from the beginning of this bout. Dropping his hands and sticking his chin out, Diaz was openly challenging Lawler’s reputation as a dangerous KO puncher. Not only had the BJJ man elected to go toe-to-toe with the striker, but Diaz continued to taunt Lawler throughout round one. Both men were fired up, and delivered heavy punches, but the first round belonged to Diaz as he surprisingly out-gunned Lawler.
Lawler had connected with a nice right fist and a jumping knee strike, but Diaz caught Lawler with a lead right on the jaw that shook Lawler’s knees, and really brought the fight to Robbie.
Round two followed the same pattern, before Lawler and Diaz entered a duelling-gloves showdown. At 1.31 into the round, Diaz KO?d Lawler with a short right hook from his lead hand that sent Lawler facedown to the canvas. Robbie tried to regain his feet, but fell again.
Result: Nick Diaz by KO – 1.31, Round Two
Andrei Arlovski (6?3″ 241) v ?Cabbage? Correira (6?2″ 265 lb) – Heavyweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Wesley Cabbage Correira had one day’s notice that he?d be the man fighting Andrei Arlovski: not Sylvia.
Arlovski commenced the bout with kick and punch feelers before Cabbage began to pursue the Man from Belarus. After 2.18 into the round, Andrei rocked Correira with a right fist. Arlovski followed with leg kick/ punch combinations. His athleticism and lean, muscular frame seemed to keep him out of Cabbage’s reach, despite only having a one-inch height advantage. Cabbage tried for leg kicks but rarely found the mark. Nonetheless, he continued to stalk his opponent.
With two minutes remaining, Arlovski moved in with a flurry of fists, forcing Correira against the fence and often hitting Cabbage’s iron chin. Cabbage’s left ear was bleeding, but he stayed cool as Arlovski moved in yet again for another flurry with 1.08 minutes remaining in round one.
Cabbage attempted his signature high-knee attacks, however Arlovski was too quick and moved out of range. With 51 seconds left on the clock, Arlovski tried to finish Cabbage, but the Hawaiian showed he was made of tougher mettle. At the end of round one, Cabbage seemed frustrated but not shaken.
One minute into round two, Andrei moved in and unloaded a salvo of punches. Again Cabbage stood and attempted to exchange with Arlovski. With 3.45 remaining in the second round, a brave Cabbage went to the floor: the result of a left-right-left knuckle combination.
Result: Andrei Arlovski by TKO ? 1.15, Round Two
Yves Edwards (5?10″ 155 lb) v Hermes Franca (5?6″ 155) – Lightweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Franca came out wielding huge haymakers and a wild, right high-kick, but Edwards was too smooth and experienced, easily dodging the initial attack. Franca then elected to take down his Texan opponent, and Edwards tried for a neck crank. Hermes switched his tactics to a leg lock, leaving himself open for Edwards’s punches.
Franca wanted the battle to continue on the ground, whilst Yves favoured a standing fight. After one minute, Edwards had it his way, and scored with some solid thigh kicks with his lead leg. Though Franca tried to answer with his own thigh kicks and an attempted takedown, Edwards was too quick and crafty.
Hermes had success with his high-kicks which were more threatening to Yves. Although Edwards was blocking a lot of their impact with his gloves, Franca’s high-kicks were getting Edwards’s attention and slowing his momentum.
With 55 seconds to go in round one, Hermes caught Yves with a big right fist, followed by a takedown. However the fighters were soon back on their feet and continued to alternate between battling on the mat and standing. Round one went to Yves Edwards.
At 4.33 into round two, Yves hit Hermes with a right shin kick to Hermes’s left thigh. Hermes caught Yves’s leg and took him down. Edwards was at home on the ground, and with Franca in his guard, Edwards tied up his opponent’s arm and nullified his strikes. Hermes attempted a leg lock, only to have Yves escape it and return to his feet.
With 10 seconds remaining in the round, both men were going for heel locks. Franca had been the aggressor in round two and he earned this round.
Hermes took Yves down after catching another of Yves’s shin kicks in round three. At 3.35 remaining, Edwards went for a kimura from the bottom, and Franca tried for an arm bar. At 3.18, Edwards returned to his feet while Franca elected to kick it out from the canvas (a la PRIDE FC). With three minutes remaining, both men fought from the vertical, neither appearing to have the upper hand.
At the end of round three, both fighters believed they had won. A draw would probably have been a fitting result.
Result: Yves Edwards by split decision.
Chris Lytle (5?11 168 lb) v Tiki Jhosn (6?0″ 170 lb) – Welterweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
The fighters commenced with an exchange of leg kicks, but Lytle’s proved to be more accurate. Lytle then caught one of Tiki’s left kicks and swept his right leg, slamming Tiki to the mat. Lytle gained Tiki’s back, but Tiki was able to escape. Lytle showed he was better at the long-range duels. With 1.40 remaining in round one, Tiki had Lytle in a clinch, and Tiki showed he was comfortable in close quarter combat, launching some quality knees and sharp punches.
The first round could have been a kickboxer’s bout. Lytle’s boxing background was showing: He was more accurate and better at gauging distance. Tiki caught Lytle with a punch combination, but round one was Lytle’s.
Round two was a toe-to-toe punch and kick exchange. With 3.47 remaining, Lytle leg-swept Tiki and moved into Tiki’s guard. At 3.27, Lytle gained a side mount. Tiki again offered his back to Lytle, and this time Lytle couldn’t refuse.
Result: Chris Lytle by tap out ? 1.55, Round Two
Chuck Liddell (6?2″ 204 lb) v Tito Ortiz (6?2″ 202 lb) – Light Heavyweight
Referee: Big John McCarthy
After two years on standby waiting for this match-up, Chuck Liddell entered the Octagon looking very cool, happy and relieved that the hour had come. Tito Ortiz then entered the ring, doing his Mark Coleman lap around the Octagon and appeared to bump Chuck.
Tito threw his Team Punishment cap into the crowd and a Liddell fan ?chucked? it back. The Pit trainer John Hackleman hung from outside the other side of the Octagon fence and offered Chuck a water bottle. It was fortunate Liddell wasn’t thirsty as Hackleman drank most of its contents.
Tito then commenced his Kevin Randleman “Bouncing Kong” jumps, and tried to unnerve Liddell, but Chuck just gazed back through his cold-steel, ball-bearing eyes. Surprisingly, the pair touched gloves as Big Mac instructed, “Fight clean; fight fair; fight hard.”
Round One
Tito and Chuck stand toe-to-toe, exchanging tentative jabs and feeling each other out.
3.42 remaining on the clock, Ortiz tries for a shoot. Chuck avoids the takedown and snaps out a left hook that just misses Tito’s jaw. Tito responds with a smile.
3.25 Ortiz catches Liddell on the jaw with a jab to let Chuck know he’s been working on his boxing skills.
2.47 Tito lands a few inside leg kicks. Chuck replies with a right, left combination.
2.06 Tito hits Chuck with a left, and Chuck snaps back with a right.
1.43 Tito tries again for a takedown, but Chuck defends against the takedown.
Both men are respecting the other’s striking. Ortiz is keeping his hands up and blocking many of Liddell’s punches, but Liddell seems to be more selective with his shots, choosing to wait for an opening and land the big one.
1.32 Tito scores with a right.
1.16 Tito lands with another inside leg kick.
0.18 Chuck throws a big looping right hook, but Tito ducks under it.
0.14 Chuck fires a left, right, left, right combination, catching Tito. And Tito counters with a right.
0.05 Chuck unloads a left, right, left, right, left, left, right followed by a sharp right high kick. Tito sees it coming and covers up, but the powerful kick still connects with the back of Tito’s head.
Ring announcer, Joe Rogan, yells into the microphone, “What’s he doing?” as Big John McCarthy steps in to separate the two warriors. Joe isn’t the only one who hasn’t heard the bell ring over the deafening roar of the crowd. Ortiz also seems shocked, before he realises the round has ended.
Round Two
4.41 Tito smacks Chuck’s right thigh with a shin kick.
4.36 Tito moves in with a left, right combination, and in the process Tito gets Chuck’s glove in his right eye.
4.33 Chuck moves in and fires a barrage of jabs, rights, hooks and uppercuts in rapid succession like a gattling gun on speed.
Ortiz tries to block the onslaught, but Liddell’s punches find the gaps and Ortiz falls to the ground with his face covered in cuts.
Result: Chuck Liddell by KO ? 0.38, Round Two.
Winner: The Audience who witnessed one of the most spectacular nights in MMA history.
For information on UFC 48: Pay Back ? https://www.ufc.tv/
