© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
Rachelle Leah
Nick Thompson (6’1" 175 lb) vs Keith Wisniewski (5’11" 170 lb)
– Welterweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Round One
Both men were making their debuts in the Octagon, but they were also packing respectable MMA backgrounds in their holsters as they faced off. Thompson did not lack confidence when the round opened, as he danced like a pro boxer and looked to unnerve his opponent. For his part, Wisniewski appeared unfazed and maintained a tight guard.
4.54: Nick fired off a tentative jab and Keith stepped back out of harm’s reach.
4.44: Nick landed a right shin to Keith’s front thigh and Keith answered with a right fist.
Working his left jab, Thompson used his reach advantage as a fence against Wisniewski’s attacks. After closing the gap and clinching with Thompson, they broke free and Wisniewski caught Thompson with a sharp right that brought a telltale smile to Thompson’s dial.
Nick was winning the intimidation game but was missing with a lot of haymakers, whereas the cool Keith scored with his more selective strikes.
2.48: They clinched at centre ring and ended up against the cage.
2.14: Keith pulled Nick down to the canvas with Nick’s back to the wire. From the guard, Wisniewski tried to g’n’p, then climbed to his feet and came down with a right fist – a la Joe Riggs. But Wisniewski’s punches lacked the ‘Diesel’ power.
Throughout the bout, Thompson displayed a lack of defensive discipline, continually dropping his guard and leading with his chin. Against a more powerful striker, Thompson could have paid for offering such gaping openings and such juicy targets. By contrast, Wisniewski’s disciplined guard protected his jaw from Thompson’s more powerful, wild looping fists.
1.14: After the pair climbed to their feet, Wisniewski took Thompson down again and Nick quickly went for a kimura.
0.16: Keith had fought off the kimura attempt and was kicking from his back as Thompson stood to have a go at the Rigg’s down-striking strategy. Again, Nick’s undisciplined punches lacked accuracy and Keith was able to dodge or block most of the assault until the hooter sounded, when Thompson landed a late right elbow.
Round Two
The action recommenced with the pair exchanging fists, toe-to-toe. Wisniewski landed a left hook, a right, and a right uppercut. None had the power to rattle Thompson.
4.27: Thompson connected with a strong leg kick to Wisniewski’s outer left thigh.
4.19: They clinched.
4.04: Wisniewski swept Thompson to the floor.
4.02: Keith had Nick on his back against the fence, but didn’t have the strength or steam to capitalise.
3.49: Nick rolled Keith.
3.29: Thompson was grazing Wisniewski with unloaded body shots, then tried for another kimura. Nick followed up by working his g’n’p game, however the strikes lacked sting.
Nick dominated the rest of the round, but without the right striking or grappling dynamics, Keith was able to ride the tide till the hooter sounded.
Round Three
It was business as usual, only Wisniewski’s guard was now down and Thompson was actually scoring some clean shots. For the first 40 seconds, Wisniewski attempted a last stand, but at 4.15, Thompson took him down and dished out some more g’n’p-ing from the half guard.
2.22: Unbelievably, after 30 MMA fights, Thompson had Wisniewski in position for an arm bar, but low and behold, he didn’t know how to correctly apply the hold. Wisniewski couldn’t have believed his luck, and mounted Thompson. Once again, the fuel gauge let Keith down.
At the end of round three, it was apparent that Nick had dominated the fight, but had lacked the striking and submission dynamics to finish the fight earlier. However, he displayed an abundance of potential. With more rounded skills, Nick Thompson could return and be a force in the Octagon.
Result: Nick Thompson by unanimous decision.
Thiago Alves (5’9" 169.5 lb) vs Ansar Chalangov (5’11" 169 lb)
– Welterweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Chalangov wanted to take Alves straight down, and eventually landed on his back with Alves in his guard.
4.18: Chalangov swept Alves and applied a guillotine at 4.12.
3.49: Thiago was free from the hold and fighting from his back, before surviving a heel-hook attempt by the Russian Sambo specialist.
3.27: Chalangov tried for another guillotine, but Alves was too elusive and instigated an attack from Chalangov’s half guard.
2.54: Thiago passed the guard and mounted Ansar against the cage. Thiago delivered sharp, right hammer fists and punches. Ansar was out to lunch. His eyes were rolling like fruit in a slot machine window.
Result: Thiago Alves by TKO – 2.25, Round One.
Sam Hoger (6’3" 205 lb) vs Jeff Newton (6’2" 203 lb)
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Herb Dean
This bout could be best described as traditional karate-style martial arts vs. Team Miletich mixed martial arts.
Round One
With a karate southpaw stance, Newton went for a right kick that Hoger blocked, then clenched and took Newton down.
4.44: Hoger was in Newton’s guard. Newton tied his opponent’s arms up and was shutting down Hoger’s strikes.
3.19: Jeff seized Sam’s right wrist for an arm bar. The ‘Karate Kid’ was displaying ground skills.
Hoger batted on, and at 3.00, he had worked his way out of the hold and was in Newton’s guard.
2.15: Jeff tried a right fist and a front right kick, followed by a couple of fists that Sam stepped away from. Sam then attempted his own right high kick which Jeff avoided.
1.48: Hoger took Newton down again and moved from the guard to Newton’s half guard as Newton fought from his back to stay away from the fence.
0.34: With both men wriggling around for a better position, Newton latched on an ankle lock. Hoger stood, but remained in the ankle lock, then fell back to the canvas.
0.17: Sam caught Jeff in a reciprocal heel-hook. Mistakenly thinking Jeff tapped, Sam let go of his hold, only to be informed by Herb Dean that there was no tap out. Sam restored his clasp as the hooter sounded.
Round Two
Newton dispatched a high left kick, which Hoger dodged.
4.47: Newton attempted a left axe-kick. The pair clinched and Newton was fighting from his back with Hoger in his guard.
4.23: Hoger slipped from half guard to mount position – not good for Jeff.
3.51: But with Hoger sitting up high and sending down tentative strikes, Newton brought his feet up and hooked Hoger onto his back.
3.49: Jeff then went for another ankle lock.
3.29: Sam escaped and was back in the mount.
Newton rolled, thus surrendering his back. Hoger latched on a rear naked choke.
Result: Sam Hoger by submission – 2.05, Round Two.
Jeremy Horn (6’2" 186 lb) vs Trevor Prangley (6’1" 185 lb)
– Middleweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Jeremy Horn dropped down from the light heavyweight division, and prior to this fight stated, "You know, I’m going to go out there and get right in his face and start punching him. I know he hits hard, but he’s not as good a boxer as I am."
However, when the opening round commenced, Prangley seemed to be outgunning Horn in the glove department. His fists appeared to have more thunder and lightning than Jeremy’s.
Round One
4.04: Trevor shot out a left and a right. The right landed on the mark and shook Jeremy. Trevor rushed in, attempting to take Jeremy down. Horn remained cool against the fence and clinched with Prangley. They exchanged knees and one of Prangley’s looked to encroach on the groin area. This encouraged Jeremy to add narration to the fight.
3.42: From the clinch, Horn brought up an outside stealth knee that caught Prangley flush on the jaw and jolted his head back. With 104 fights under Jeremy’s belt, this was just one of the many tricks he had up his sleeve.
2.38: Mario decided the knee exchange was wearing thin and separated the pair from the clinch. Horn attempted an inner crescent kick that narrowly missed Prangley’s face.
2.21: Trevor landed a snapping shin kick to Jeremy’s left thigh, and Jeremy congenially replied with a left, right, left combination.
2.14: Prangley opted for the takedown and Horn secured a guillotine as the duo fell to the floor.
1.39: Trevor worked his head free from the choke. He moved into Jeremy’s guard, then Horn fitted Prangley with an arm bar.
0.41: Prangley broke free from the second submission attempt, and attacked from the guard, whilst Horn fought from his back. Horn then had another go at the arm bar before the hooter sounded.
Round Two
They swapped more fists. Once again, Prangley appeared to have the edge in the toe-to-toe battle, but in the clinch, Horn caught him with another outer knee strike to the head.
4.40: It was Trevor’s turn to be up against the cage. Jeremy was scoring with body shots. Whenever Prangley lowered his head, Horn brought up that high knee strike.
3.25: Prangley took Horn down. From the guard, Prangley wanted to work on Horn. However, the body punches and knees seemed to have drained Trevor.
2.35: Mario stood them up.
2.23: Trevor took it back down.
1.35: Mario intervened again. Up against the fence, a lot of solid close-quarter shots were traded before Trevor dragged Jeremy down at 1.02. Prangley pounded Horn with some solid elbows from the guard. They climbed to their feet seconds before round two ended.
Round Three
Prangley came out banging with powerful fists and thigh kicks.
4.10: He then slammed Horn to the floor with a classic takedown. From Jeremy’s guard, Trevor went for a neck crank, but nothing came of it.
3.18: Mario separated them, then signalled time out to cut loose tape from Trevor’s glove.
3.09: Prangley came back with less tape, but his gloves were smokin’ as he moved in on Jeremy. He vied for another takedown and Horn elected to try the guillotine. Trevor wound up in the guard, dropping down elbows.
1.20: Mario stepped in.
1.12: They returned to the canvas, with Prangley gaining side control. Jeremy forced Trevor up against the cage and both men appeared gassed. They stood in the clinch as the fight ended.
This was a very close bout for the judges to dissect. It could have gone either way.
Result: Jeremy Horn by decision.
Georges St. Pierre (5’10" 169 lb) vs Sean Sherk (5’6" 170 lb)
– Welterweight
Referee: Herb Dean
This match was the most anticipated fight on the card. Both men had suffered defeats against Matt Hughes, and both men wanted a victory here for what they expected would bring them closer to a rematch with Matt.
Round One
Herb Dean commands: "Come on. Let’s do it," and the warriors move in on each other like two unleashed Tassie devils.
4.58: Sherk attempts a leg kick that St. Pierre steps back from. Georges dispatches a jab-cross combination, which Sean dodges. Georges snaps out a left and Sean takes it on his gloves, then tries another right leg kick. St. Pierre catches the kick and takes Sherk down.
4.49: Sherk is sitting up, wanting to avoid fighting from his back.
4.43: Sean has resisted Georges’s ground game plans well, and they return to their feet. Georges sends out a jab, which Sean counters with a leg kick.
It appears this is Sherk’s strategy for dealing with St. Pierre’s five-inch reach advantage. The Canadian is able to tag Sherk with jabs, but when Sean tries to counter with his jabs and left hooks, Georges steps out of Sean’s range.
4.23: St. Pierre fires a left high kick at Sherk’s head.
4.15: Sean goes the takedown and Georges sprawls.
4.11: They’re back in toe-to-toe position. Georges is playing cat and mouse, tagging Sean with lefts as Sean retaliates with left hooks which seem just short of the mark.
4.01: Sherk counters the jab with a snapping leg kick.
3.49: He attempts a takedown. Again, St. Pierre defends it by sprawling. Sean dispatches another whipping left hook. If one of these loaded gloves lands, Georges will know about it.
3.39: The pair exchange leg kicks.
3.36: This time St. Pierre shoots for the takedown and Sherk defends the move, before they clinch. Knees are swapped, then they separate at 3.20.
Sean scores with a leg kick, and Georges answers with a right cross, a left high kick that misses, before connecting with a left leg kick.
3.09: Sherk moves in with powerful fists blazing that force St. Pierre to retreat.
3.08: A further leg kick from Georges catches Sean in the cricket set, and Herb Dean runs in quickly to halt proceedings. Sean says he’s okay and it’s business as usual at 3.05. Sherk is doing a good job of returning leg kicks when Georges delivers jabs.
2.58: They clinch and swap knees. Sean lands a short left fist and a right elbow whilst against the wires, before they separate. When he tries to close the gap, the Canadian punishes him with crisp left fists and high kicks. The reach disadvantage is proving a real problem for Sean.
1.45: Georges shoots in and takes Sherk down, with Sherk on his back against the fence. St. Pierre uses gloves and elbows to g’n’p Sean. With David Loiseau as a training partner, it’s obvious ‘The Crow’s elbow striking techniques have influenced Georges’s game. Sean is fighting from his back, but Georges is the dominant force.
Round Two
They move in. Sean connects with a strong shin kick to Georges’s left leg. Georges answers with a right cross. Sherk stands his ground, unloading a left and right-hook combination that make the crowd gasp. Georges quickly moves out of range and jabs. But Sean closes the gap and catches him with another solid left hook.
4.42: Sean shoots for the takedown. Georges sprawls.
4.38: They separate. Sherk gets in another left fist, only to have St. Pierre catch him with a left high kick. Sherk does two front kicks, and pays for them by wearing a jab each time.
4.08: Georges notches up another left high kick.
3.30: Georges delivers a spinning back kick that lands firmly in the breadbasket. They continue to bang it out until Georges charges in and takes Sean down.
3.05: Now St. Pierre has Sherk against the fence in his guard. Georges unloads a nasty trunk of Crow wings, and Herb watches like a hawk. Sean tries to return the favour, however, his strikes from the ground are no match for St. Pierre’s downward elbows. Herb sees enough and pulls the pin.
Result: Georges St. Pierre by TKO – 2.53, Round Two.
Matt Hughes (5’9" 170 lb) vs Joe Riggs (5’6" 171 lb)
– Welterweight
Referee: Big John McCarthy
No man in the UFC has a more intimidating look before a fight than Matt Hughes does. With mouthguard in and the blank, probing stare that challenges an opponent’s right to be in the same ring, Hughes appears to be upstaging Jack Nicholson’s Joker role in Batman. Matt’s aura in the Octagon would help to unnerve any adversary.
At just 23, Joe Riggs is a rising star, coming hot off his very recent victory over Chris Lytle at UFC 55. Adopting the southpaw stance, Joe is eager to follow Big John’s instruction: "Let’s get it on."
They touch gloves and the action begins. Riggs leads with a jab that’s short. Hughes comes in with a right, but it’s clear the strike is just a decoy to close the gap for a takedown. Joe catches Matt with a right as they clinch. He tags Hughes with a right knee before they separate.
4.33: Matt connects with an overhand left and they clinch again. Knees are exchanged before parting. Matt wants to fight on the floor and Joe is doing well to keep it upright, thus far.
4.11: Hughes lands a high right kick. Riggs retaliates with a looping right that Hughes quickly back pedals away from.
3.58: Joe goes for his own high kick. Again, Matt moves out of harm’s way.
3.45: Matt chalks up a turning kick to the midsection. When Joe moves back in, Matt snaps hold of Joe’s lead right leg and pulls him down.
3.26: From half guard, Riggs lies on his back with his right arm locked around Hughes’s neck, whilst defending against Hughes seizing his left arm.
3.00: Hughes takes a whopping big, left elbow-swing at Riggs’s head. It misses the target, but singes Joe’s fringe.
2.38: Matt declares his intentions and latches onto Joe’s right arm for a kimura.
2.03: Matt makes a few adjustments to secure the hold and the crowd realises Joe is in serious trouble. Joe seems to be looking to his corner for a contingency plan.
1.36: Hughes bends the arm behind Riggs’s back to intensify the kimura and Riggs taps.
Result: Matt Hughes by tapout due to a kimura – 3.28, Round One.
Kevin Jordan (6’4" 247 lb) vs Gabriel Gonzaga (6’2" 255 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Herb Dean
There wasn’t enough action to review here. Rolling Stone Ron Wood used more energy while shadow boxing at ringside, than Jordan and Gonzaga used in nearly 15 minutes of non-action in the ring.
Result: Gabriel Gonzaga by KO – 4.39, Round Three.
Rich Franklin (6’1" 183.5 lb) vs Nate Quarry (6’0" 185 lb)
– Middleweight
Referee: Big John McCarthy
Rich and Nate start with some tentative dancing to feel each other out for this title bout.
4.37: Franklin kicks Quarry’s inner thigh, and they trade right fists. Franklin is jabbing his lead right hand into Quarry’s face.
4.19: Nate moves in and unloads fists, before a right high kick. Rich appears to catch the kick with his left glove and Nate falls on his back. Nate then wears a left knee to the midsection for his trouble.
4.09: Franklin rattles Quarry with lefts and rights, punctuated by a left high kick, but Quarry’s guard weathers the storm. They then exchange a volley of fists, with both men displaying excellent evasive skills, before trading leg kicks.
3.33: Rich’s fists are more fine tuned, and in a series of punches, he catches Nate with a snapping left, topped off with two left knees to the body. After being stung by the ‘Ace’, Nate pursues Rich to even the score. But the champ is poised and coiled.
3.16: He unloads an overhand right, then a left hook which lands on Quarry’s eye. This is followed by a right, left, right combo. Nate hits the deck. Rich dishes up some more leather to Nate and looks to Big John for a curtain call. But the close encounter is not conclusive enough and McCarthy instructs them to bat on.
3.00: Quarry escapes the attack and the fighters are back on their feet. Quarry misses with a right kick and Franklin misses with a left and right. More leather flies as they face off. There’s a lot of air punching happening as both men look to hit the home run.
2.30: Rich takes the honours with a crisp and calculated left that instantly unplugs Nate.
Nate Quarry mounted a respectable challenge for the title, but Rich Franklin is a class above.
Result: Rich Franklin by KO – 2.34, Round One.
Fighter of the Night
Georges St. Pierre is knucklepit’s Fighter of the Night for UFC 56, after being tested by yet another tough opponent for his right to re-challenge the great Matt Hughes. But the plot thickened when UFC President, Dana White, announced the recalling of BJ Penn to the Octagon. And it now seems likely Georges and BJ will be going to war against each other, to decide who will take on Matt Hughes next for his title.
Also blowin’ in the wind is the rumour that David Loiseau could be Rich Franklin’s next title challenger.
At UFC 56, Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin both showed why they are champions of their prospective weight classes. It’s because they are a cut above the rest. But against Sean Sherk, Georges St. Pierre had a tougher assignment.
For more on UFC: www.ufc.tv
Amber Miller
