Amber Miller
© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
Well UFC 50's main event may not have been The War of '04 as some had hoped, but there was plenty of action in other bouts.
Perhaps, with hindsight, the show should have adopted Jimi Hendrix's title Are You Exprerienced? as most of the battles on the card were won by the fighters with longer-spanning MMA careers.
It was also encouraging to see Ivan Salaverry, Georges St. Pierre and Patrick Cote showing Canadian fighters will be a definite force in future UFC events. Not only does their participation help to further the sport?s standard, but it indicates just how rapidly growing and widespread Mixed Martial Arts is becoming.
Injured heavyweight champion Frank Mir did an outstanding job as co-commentator with Mike Goldberg, and added a wealth of information to the coverage. Hopefully Frank will be back inside the Octagon soon, but his time on the mike was a bonus for fight fans.
UFC President Dana White also provided some extra information when he announced: "Unfortunately we were unable to put together a heavyweight fight that our partners in Japan were happy with. So we?ve decided to postpone it. But we?ll definitely be going to Japan in June."
Naturally, no UFC would be a real Ultimate Fighting Championship without the delightful UFC ring-card girls. And Amber Miller (see knucklepit article) and Rachelle were sensational again.
For anyone having trouble waiting for UFC 51: Super Saturday to roll around on February 5, Octagon and Olympic legend Matt Lindland will be holding his eighth Sportfight event January 8.
UFC 50: War of '04 Results
Travis Lutter (5?11" 205 lb) v Marvin Eastman (5?9" 204 lb) ? Light Heavyweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Travis Lutter vs Marvin Eastman
This match started out as a whimper rather than a war, with round one resembling a cross between an Indian rain dance and two pacifists walking through a minefield.
Round two woke the fans, when BJJ exponent Travis caught kickboxer Marvin with a right. Lutter had observed that Eastman was dropping his guard whilst delivering right shin kicks, and countered with an overhand right glove to Eastman?s jaw.
The Jiu Jitsu practitioner?s knockout of the kickboxer demonstrated what true Mixed Martial Artists these UFC fighters are.
Result: Travis Lutter by KO ? 0.33, Round Two
Ivan Salaverry (6?0" 184 lb) v Tony Fryklund (6?0" 180 lb) – Middleweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Ivan Salaverry vs Tony Fryklund
In Tank Abbott and Wes Sims fashion, Tony Fryklund (8-3-1) bravely stepped up to the plate for this contest against Ivan Salaverry (11-3-0) after being called to compete less than two weeks prior to the event. "Tony took a fight no one else would take on such short notice," commented Frank Mir.
Scheduled for three 5-minute rounds, it was apparent early in round one the battle would not be going the distance.
The match commenced with Ivan firing a left inside kick and left high kick, before attempting a takedown. Tony defended against the takedown and delivered a left knee. The pace was fast. Fryklund shot out a left inside leg kick and Salaverry replied with another left high kick. Tony caught the kick but was unable to take Ivan down. Ivan unloaded a barrage of leather and Tony went down and offered Salaverry his back. Ivan pounced at the opportunity, delivering fists in the process, before sinking his hooks in and applying a triangle body lock. With Salaverry controlling Fryklund?s arms, Tony had to submit verbally.
Result: Ivan Salaverry by triangle body lock ? 1.36, Round One
Evan Tanner (6?0" 184 lb) v Robbie Lawler (5?11" 185 lb) – Middleweight
Referee: Big John McCarthy
Evan Tanner vs Robbie Lawler
In a battle between representatives from two of the world?s most successful MMA camps ? Evan Tanner from Team Quest and Robbie Lawler from Team Miletich, former light heavyweight Tanner faced former welterweight Lawler for this middleweight fight.
Evan (31-4) looked in superb shape as the match opened with both men swapping fists to feel their opponents out ? not surprising considering Evan was sporting a Stevie Wonder hairstyle. Tanner kept Lawler (8-2) off his game with right leg kicks to the southpaw?s inner right leg. Evan appeared crisp and confident.
3.10: they clinched, with Tanner seeming to look for a kimura. Lawler picked up his opponent and slammed him to the canvas at 3.06, followed by a right elbow to Evan. 2.58: Tanner moved into a triangle and Lawler tapped due to the choke.
After the bout, Evan commented, "I?m happy with the win. I can make a house payment now."
Result: Evan Tanner by triangle choke ? 2.20, Round One
Frank Trigg (5?9" 169 lb) v Renato "Charuto" Verissimo (6?1" 169 lb) – Welterweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Frank Trigg vs Renato Verissimo
Round One
Renato (5-1) immediately went for a takedown. Trigg (11-2) resisted and delivered left knees to Verissimo?s mid section. Renato tried a leg sweep from the clinch, but Frank stayed cool and standing. Verissimo appeared frustrated by the failed takedowns, and at 3.34, Trigg broke free from the clinch. The unsuccessful bids for canvas combat and Frank?s knees were telling on Renato.
Frank fired some right hands at Verissimo, but Renato had the longer reach and his punches seemed more powerful. Frank then elected to take Renato down after resisting against the horizontal battle for the first 90 seconds. With Trigg in Verissimo?s guard, Renato tried for a leg lock, but Frank pounded his way out.
2.17: Verissimo unsuccessfully attempted a triangle, and at 1.56 they were back standing, before Renato returned them to the mat at 1.40. He then opted for triangle number two on Frank which looked to have Frank in big trouble, but Trigg eventually pulled off a Houdini. "Most guys would not have gotten out of that. It shows you the ability of Trigg to escape?A lot of heart got him out of that?" remarked Frank Mir.
Round Two
After a few tentative jabs, Verissimo tried to take Trigg down, but just used more energy in the failed attempt. Both exchanged fists and Renato looked to be zapped. At 4.05 he opted for another takedown in desperation, then held on to Frank?s ankles from the kneeling position. Frank stood and delivered elbows. Renato?s energy was depleted ? mainly from the frustration of not being able to impose his game plan ? and Trigg continued to shoot in elbows from the half guard.
Result: Frank Trigg by TKO ? 2.10, Round Two
Rich Franklin (6?1" 185 lb) v Jorge Rivera (6?1" 184 lb) – Middleweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Rich Franklin vs Jorge Rivera
Round One
Franklin (17-1) and Rivera (9-2) moved in and clinched at 4.51. Both men attacked with knees. 4.47: Jorge?s knee caught Rich in the groin. Franklin took a moment to regroup the group before the match resumed. They clinched again and Rich took Jorge down. Franklin attempted to maneuver into a dominant position, but they were back standing at 3.50.
The pair swapped knees and in-close fists against the Octagon fence until Jorge broke free and landed some telling lefts and rights. At 1.29, Rich caught Jorge with a right that sent Rivera to his knees. Franklin rushed in with both guns blazing, before Jorge climbed to his feet and covered up against the cage.
Franklin continued to donate leather, then connected with a right turning kick to Rivera?s head. Jorge showed his mettle and both men sucked in air from the clinch. Knees to the body and uppercuts were exchanged until the first five minutes expired.
Round Two
4.51: they were back in the clinch. More knees, body punches and uppercuts followed. During the onslaught, an adult mouse took refuge under Franklin?s left eye, and Jorge caught Rich with a big right knee to the body at 2.38; Franklin attacked Rivera?s left inner thigh with a sharp left kick at 2.23.
2.07: Franklin sent a right shin kick to Rivera?s left thigh. They re-clinched and Rich pulled Jorge to the floor at 0.47. The action was back standing at 0.18, and by the end of the second round, Rich had a cut above his right eye keeping the mouse under his left eye company.
Round Three
4.46: Franklin hit Rivera with a left and Jorge?s right eye immediately began to close. More fists and knees were fired off until 3.05 when Franklin decided to try Rivera?s ground game again. Franklin endeavored to improve his position from the half guard. Jorge?s fuel guage was running lower than Rich?s, and Rich stayed busy and determined. 0.56: Franklin got the mount and spun into an arm bar.
Result: Rich Franklin by arm bar ? 4.28, Round Three
Matt Hughes (5?9" 170 lb) v Georges St. Pierre (5?10" 160 lb) – Welterweight Title
Referee: Big John McCarthy
Matt Hughes vs Georges st. Pierre
Matt Hughes (37-4) had a lot to lose entering this title match, and 23-year-old Georges St. Pierre (7-0) had a lot to prove. From this point of view, both men walked away winners.
Georges started the round with some sharp jabs before electing to take Matt down at 4.33, despite most fight enthusiasts believing St. Pierre?s game plan would be to avoid the ground warfare. Hughes attempted a choke, but the warriors were back standing at 4.11. Both exchanged jabs, and with speed on his side, Georges missed with a left high kick.
3.31: Hughes fired off some big fists and moved in for a takedown that failed. His attempt at 3.07 was more successful and Georges tried for a kimura. 2.22: the contest was back standing in a clinch. 3.14: they separated and were back at toe-to-toe, with St. Pierre appearing fresher.
1.59: Georges sent Matt back five feet into the cage with a spinning sidekick to the midsection. Hughes took a few breaths, but continued in the fashion expected of a true champion. Matt tried to reply with his own kick, but was too slow. Georges was landing with crisp jabs when Matt took him down at 1.14. Hughes was in St. Pierre?s loose guard and began to ground?n?pound the Canadian. Georges attempted another kimura and Matt used his experience to snap an arm bar on. The fight was over.
Result: Matt Hughes by arm bar ? 4.59, Round One
Tito Ortiz (6?2" 205 lb) v Patrick Cote (5?11" 204 lb) – Light Heavyweight
Referee: Big John McCarthy
Having come off two losses, this was a match Tito had to win. And this remained the underlying theme for three rounds, with Ortiz taking few risks and Patrick rarely looking threatening.
Cote was extremely relaxed for a fighter making his UFC debut against a former UFC champion. Tito (11-4) looked hard and chiseled, whereas Patrick (5-0) looked soft. But then Ortiz had prepared for The War of ?04 against Guy Mezger and Cote had trained for Marvin Eastman.
Tito Ortiz vs Patrick Cote
Round One
4.36: Cote caught Ortiz with a solid right that sent Tito to his knees. Tito was not prepared to trade fists with Patrick and took Cote to the mat at 4.31. At 4.20, Tito was in Cote?s guard administering elbows. Cote had predicted he would have a surprise for Ortiz if he took it to the ground, but as time moved on the only surprise seemed to be some arm-bar attempts from the young Canadian that failed.
2.08: Ortiz had Cote against the cage. Cote was covering up reasonably well from his back and countered with a few right fists, but Tito was more dangerous with elbows and forearms. 1.03: Patrick tried to line Ortiz up for an arm bar, however Tito just replied with more elbow strikes.
Round Two
Cote tried to tag Ortiz again with his fists and Tito decided the ground was a better place to be at 4.45. At 4.07, they were back to where round one finished with Cote on his back copping Tito?s elbows. Patrick showed he could take punishment and Tito showed he could give it. By now it was apparent Ortiz wanted to ground?n?pound rather than go for a submission, which eventually dragged the fight out for three rounds. Mir commented, "Cote needs to do something to get this fight on its feet. He?s not going to win from the bottom."
Round Three
4.30: Patrick caught Tito with a couple of fists, but they weren?t king hits. Tito went for the takedown, which Cote was able to avoid, and landed another right on Ortiz. Patrick seemed pleased with himself to be out-boxing Tito, before Ortiz ducked under a jab and had them on the floor. Tito went back to his g?n?p game and at times looked to be swiping his glove over Cote?s eye as payment for going the distance with the former light heavyweight champion.
After 15 minutes, neither fighter seemed pleased with his performance. The War of ?04?s main event for most parts was a Cold War. As previously stated, this was a fight Tito had to win. After treading water for three rounds against Cote, Ortiz has served his time and will be back in battle-station mode to face Vitor Belfort at UFC 51.
Both Tito and Vitor will most likely be reflecting on their bouts against Randy Couture. For Belfort it was a belting that was pulled up after three cruel rounds. Although Ortiz got a spanking, he?ll take comfort in knowing he was able to go the distance and didn?t paint Randy?s shorts pink.
Result: Tito Ortiz by unanimous decision.
Rachelle
For more on UFC 51: Super Saturday – www.ufc.tv
For more on Matt Lindland?s Sportfight – www.sportfight.tv
