© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
The Ultimate Fighting Championship events just keep growing, and although UFC 49 was moved to a larger MGM Grand venue, the show was still a sellout on 21 August, 2004.
And everyone in Las Vegas knew the world’s greatest fighters were in town. To mark the occasion, MGM’s poker machines, blackjack tables and gambling chips all displayed Randy Couture and Vitor Belfort’s images.
UFC 49 turned out to be a unique night in many ways: Only one of the eight bouts went the distance, with six ending by KO or TKO; most bouts had at least one southpaw competing; and the night could have been mistaken for a UFC 43 reunion, with Couture, Liddell, Edwards, Belfort, Lindland and White all having fought at Meltdown.
But although Amber Nicole was sporting a new hairstyle, there was nothing unique about the ring-card girls: They were just as stunning as ever.
UFC 49: Unfinished Business Results
Yves Edwards (5’10” 154 lb) v Josh Thomson (5?10″ 155 lb) – Lightweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
This match was a battle between two well-rounded Mixed Martial Artists who claim to be, and most likely are, the two best lightweights in the world.
After officials insisted Josh remove his tongue ring for safety reasons, the bout was underway, with Thomson eager to catch up on lost time. Trying a variety of kicks on Yves, Josh then took Edwards down, but with Josh in his guard, Yves had Thomson tied up. At 3.22 they were back on their feet in a clinch. Josh took Yves to the mat a second time with a hip throw from the clinch, and again Edwards was straight back to his feet.
Josh attacked Yves’s calves with heel chops in the clinch and Edwards responded by kneeing Thomson’s thighs.
Josh remained the aggressor whilst Yves stayed poised, biding his time. Thomson’s corner called, “One minute, Josh,” and Josh broke from the clinch, then unloaded a right fist to Edwards’s head. With 40 seconds remaining in round one, Yves tried for a suplex that didn’t quite come off. As the fighters got back to their feet with Edwards still holding on to Thomson’s waist, Josh turned around with a spinning back fist as Yves landed a high kick to Josh’s head that knocked out Thomson.
When being interviewed after the bout, Yves commented, “I’m sure he (Josh) prayed for God to be with him in this fight. I prayed too. And God just happened to like me better today.”
With Edwards consistently providing exciting, top-class victories in the Octagon, it would be nice to see him have the opportunity to compete for the lightweight division belt.
Result:Yves Edwards by KO ? 4.32, Round One
Karo Parisyan (5?10″ 169 lb) v Nick Diaz (6?0″ 168 lb) – Welterweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
This was the only match at UFC 49 to go the distance, and opened with Karo taking Nick to the canvas at 4.45 into the opening round. But they were back standing at 4.32. Diaz then stole a page from Parisyan’s book and went for a kimura. While Karo is better known for his grappling skills, and Nick showed against Robbie Lawler (UFC 47) that he is a formidable striker, it appeared Diaz’s punches lacked sting tonight, and that Parisyan had been working on his pugilistic game.
Over the three five-minute rounds, the well-matched MMA exponents frequently went from standing to grappling on the floor, running through techniques like a Mack driver runs through gears, and trying to find a chink in the other’s armour.
At the end of round two, Cesar Gracie told Diaz that Karo was waiting to get knocked out, but Nick wasn’t carrying his KO punches at UFC 49. Diaz, a master of fighting his opponents at their own game, seemed to have trained for this match with his strike game on the backburner.
These two champions put on a great display of what MMA is all about, but with neither fighter being able to defeat the other within the three rounds, the fight went to the judges.
Result: Karo Parisyan by split decision
Chris Lytle (5?11″ 169 lb) v Ron Jhun (5?11″ 170 lb) – Welterweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Both fighters predicted this bout would be a war, with neither man taking a back step.
Round one commenced with the pair trading leg kicks and fists. Ron fired a right shin kick to Lytle’s thigh and Chris caught the kick, then countered with a right fist that put Ron down at 4.36 into the round. Jhun took Lytle in his guard, but Lytle passed the guard and looked to be trying for a keylock or kimura. Chris was more dominant, fighting from the guard and half guard, landing punches and elbows.
At 0.47 Herb Dean stood the men up. They swapped kicks and Jhun delivered some big punches, before Lytle took it back to the canvas. Lytle then tried for a guillotine, but could not secure a deep hold.
Round two opened with both athletes failing to land their slinging punches. Chris finally caught Ron in the guillotine he?d been trying for in the previous round. And although Ron fought bravely, trying to roll out of the hold, Chris rolled with him and kept the choke in deep.
Result: Chris Lytle by tap out ? 1.17, Round Two
Justin Eilers (6?2″ 232 lb) v Mike Kyle (6?4″ 237 lb) – Heavyweight
Referee: Big John McCarthy
Team Miletich released their new Big Gun, Justin Eilers, for this duel, which promised to be a fiery slugfest, both men being regarded as powerful strikers. Kyle received boos from the crowd, but then Wes Sims did have teeth marks on his chest after fighting Kyle at UFC 47.
The fighters came out with guns blazing, and Kyle delivered two knees to Eilers’s groin. Big John pulled up the bout for Justin to recover and deducted a point from Mike’s score. At 4.00 remaining, Justin caught Mike with a hard right and followed by attempting a takedown. Kyle defended against the takedown and caught Justin with a left knee and right fist. But Eilers countered with a smashing left and Kyle was out of service. He later recovered on the cow-milker’s stool, as did many other KO victims at UFC 49.
Justin made Team Miletich members proud and could soon be swimming in the heavyweight pond with Frank Mir and Andrei Arlovski.
Result: Justin Eilers by KO ? 1.14, Round One
David Terrell (6?0″ 185 lb) v Matt Lindland (6?0″ 185 lb) – Middleweight
Referee: Herb Dean
As the round opened, Cesar Gracie BJJ exponent David Terrell missed with a left and right, before connecting with a BIG left. Matt went straight to the floor and appeared to be okay, but Terrell’s ground and pound (g’n’p) shots turned Lindland’s lights out.
Terrell made a sensational UFC debut, and Matt only got to make a cameo appearance before being knocked out. But Matt is a great fighter and a former Olympic silver medallist. He will be back – better than ever.
Result: David Terrell by KO ? 0.25, Round One
Joe Riggs (6?0″ 185 lb) v Joe Doerksen (6?0″ 184 lb) – Middleweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
This was a battle between Riggs, who was used to competing as a heavyweight at 300 lbs, and Jiu Jitsu specialist, Doerksen.
Riggs shot out a front kick and Doerksen caught the leg, then took Riggs down. Up against the fence, with Riggs in his guard, Doerksen appeared to be trying for an armbar. At 3.33 into the match, Riggs stood up and dispatched a big right fist to Doerksen, who was still on the mat. Although a middleweight now, Riggs seemed to have retained his heavyweight punches and strength.
Doerksen fought mainly from his back, looking for submissions and tying his opponent up. Riggs just wanted to g’n’p, whilst standing from the guard, dropping back down, and unloading monster fists.
At the start of rounds one and two, Doerksen caught Riggs with leg kicks that strayed to the groin. Riggs had time to recover in round two before the fight recommenced. With 2.38 remaining in the second round, Doerksen looked for a triangle at the insistence of the Miletich members in his corner. But Riggs kept delivering a generous supply of elbows and fists. And at 1.45, Doerksen was cut by a left elbow. Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight.
Result: Joe Riggs by referee stoppage ? 3.39, Round Two
Co-Main Event
Chuck Liddell (6?2″ 205 lb) v Vernon White (6?1″ 200 lb) – Light Heavyweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
There’s enough ill-will brewing between UFC’s number one light-heavyweight contender, Chuck Liddell, and Lion’s Den veteran, Vernon White, for the Octagon to be transformed into a giant crockpot.
Chuck goes in with a big right and Vernon (formerly a southpaw, now switched to orthodox) answers with his own big right. Vernon attempts a high kick and both men swap looping fists. Vernon slips and then Chuck slips, and responds by taking Vernon to the floor.
4.26, Liddell stands and orders White back up. Vernon is entitled to tell Chuck to make his mind up, but complies anyway.
4.10, White catches Liddell with a right leg kick and a solid right punch. Liddell replies with a sharp left to White’s head.
3.50, Chuck unleashes some leather and brings Vernon to his knees.
3.45, Vernon pulls Chuck down to the canvas, but Chuck continues raining in spitfire fists. Vernon covers up and many of Chuck’s punches are hitting Vernon’s arms.
3.30, They are back standing.
3.18, The fist exchange continues and White is back on his knees, with Chuck still pounding away.
3.00, Liddell wants White back on his feet.
Vernon is displaying amazing courage and determination, fighting on and scoring a right kick to Chuck’s body. Liddell appears to be lining White up for “The Big One?. Vernon lands an inner thigh kick, and moves in with fists blazing, only to slip yet again. Chuck seizes the opportunity to administer more g’n’p-ing. But White covers up well.
1.27, Both return to their feet, with Vernon trying a spinning back kick in desperation.
1.19, White catches Liddell with a right hand, and slips to the floor.
1.08, Vernon stands back up and switches to his natural southpaw stance.
1.04, Chuck looks to his corner for advice/a signal.
1.00, Chuck sends out a tentative jab to clear Vernon’s guard and possibly to judge distance, then unloads a cracking right.
0.55, Vernon White is out.
Result: Chuck Liddell by KO ? 4.05, Round One
Main Event ? aka
“An Eye for an Eye”
Randy Couture (6?2″ 204 lb) v Vitor Belfort (6?0″ 205 lb) – Light Heavyweight Title
Referee: Big John McCarthy
The last time Randy and Vitor fought at UFC 46: Super Natural, Randy’s eye was cut ? probably after being caught by Vitor’s glove or thumb ? and the fight should have been called a “no-contest”, having only lasted 20 seconds.
For UFC 49, Randy was coming back to reclaim what was rightfully his: the light heavyweight belt. And this time Couture, the ultimate strategist, appeared to have the fight won in Belfort’s head before Vitor left the dressing room. In the Octagon, Randy was relaxed. Vitor appeared rattled.
Round One
4.45, Randy moves in, feints with a jab, and has Vitor’s hands tied up in a clinch.
4.40, Vitor knees Randy and Randy forces Vitor against the fence. Randy is retaliating with knees and shoulder strikes.
3.25, Couture gets double underhooks and is looking for a takedown. Belfort resists the takedown attempt.
3.00, Big John separates the fighters due to a lack of activity.
2.53, Randy fires a right cross and has Vitor tied up again. Randy dishes out left elbows from the clinch.
1.17, Randy takes Vitor down and begins g’n’p-ing against the cage.
On the replay of round one, Joe Rogan shows where Belfort appears to have his finger in Couture’s eye while standing in the clinch.
Round Two
4.51,Vitor tries for a right and Randy has Belfort back against the fence in another clinch. Belfort is bleeding above the right eye: apparently from a clash of heads. Randy’s left shoulder and Vitor’s right are both covered in Belfort’s blood. Randy is connecting with vicious elbows and knees from the clinch.
3.23, Couture has Belfort back on the floor and against the cage. Belfort is trapped and Couture is pounding, attacking the cut area with left elbows and punches.
1.32, Big Mac calls the doctor to check Belfort’s cut, before the fight is restarted in the same position.
1.15, Vitor tries for an armbar, but to no avail. At the end of round two, Vitor stays on the floor, rather than returning to his corner, while his cornermen work on the cut.
Round Three
With hands down, Vitor faces Randy and tries to catch him with a big left fist.
4.41, Randy has Vitor back down.
3.45, Belfort attempts another armbar. Couture responds with more g’n’p-ing. Belfort seems to have no game plan for this match, despite Randy using these same tactics to defeat Liddell and Ortiz, and is totally subdued by Couture.
Randy has been pulping Vitor with elbows and fists for close to eight minutes in this bout, when Dan Henderson calls out to Couture, “Elbow”. The comment seems as logical as asking for a drink of water while drowning.
At the end of round three, Randy’s white shorts are pink, and Vitor’s face looks like it has been through a turbo-powered cheese grater. The bout is stopped.
Result: Randy Couture by stoppage, Round Three
After the bout, Randy calls PRIDE’s Wanderlei Silva into the Octagon, and puts him on the spot for a unification of UFC and PRIDE’s 205 lb division. “‘maybe we can get this together and step in this Octagon, and unify these titles. What do you say, Wanderlei?” asks Couture.
Wanderlei’s interpreter replies, “It’s a great honour, and he’s ready to fight him (Randy) whenever he wants to.”
UFC 50 :
The War of ?04
Friday, October 22, Atlantic City.
Matt Hughes v Georges St. Pierre
Tito Ortiz v Guy Mezger
Remainder of card to be announced.
For more on UFC 50: www.ufc.tv
