Rachelle Leah
© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
Keith Jardine (6’1" 206 lb) vs Mike Whitehead (6’0" 206 lb)
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Round One
It started out with Mike at center ring in pursuit of the former bounty hunter, Keith, who was dancing and throwing jabs. Whitehead had brought to the battle his KO reputation, so Jardine employed his jabs to keep Mike at bay until 4.29 into the round, when Mike shot in and took him to the canvas with a double-leg takedown.
Pressed against the cage, Keith used his experience to climb back up at 4.00. But Mike took hold of Keith’s right leg and kept reefing away until he had him on the ground again at 3.34.
Whitehead worked for superior positioning and administered some g’n’p-ing while Jardine used his legs effectively to stop Whitehead from getting full guard, or complete side control. In turn, Mike kept his elbows tucked in to prevent Keith from slapping on arm bars or kimuras.
1.36: Jardine returned to his feet after locking Mike’s head with his right arm.
1.27: Whitehead delivered a right knee to Jardine’s midsection and the pair separated to exchange fists. Mike seized Keith’s right leg. When nothing came of it, they stood toe-to-toe with one minute remaining in round one. Jardine scored with long-range fists and kicks that frustrated Whitehead.
0.14: Mike closed the gap and delivered a right knee to Keith’s body, but paid the price and wore more leather to the face.
Round Two
The first upset of the evening occurred between rounds when the camera caught Rachelle Leah circling the Octagon and breaking the hearts of this packed house.
Jardine and Whitehead faced off and Keith’s confidence seemed on the rise as he assumed position at center ring. When Mike contested Keith’s authority as the better striker, Keith caught him with a front kick off his lead leg. Jardine was using his longer-reaching jabs to prevent Whitehead from unloading bombs.
3.50: Mike moved in for the takedown.
3.43: His efforts paid off and Keith was on his back.
2.47: They were standing. Mike had worked hard, trying for dominance on the mat, while Keith unloaded close-range fists from his back. Despite Whitehead’s successful takedowns, Jardine was ruling the roost – both in the stand-up and on the canvas.
1.38: Mike was bleeding above the left eye. Keith outstruck Mike to the round’s end.
Round Three
Early in the final round, Whitehead came in with a flutter of fists and kicks. As he closed in for the takedown, Jardine attempted a kimura. It was a battle of wills, but with neither fighter getting the upper hand, the pair separated.
3.17: Mike took Keith down. However, Keith nullified Mike’s ground game by using the butterfly guard whilst delivering close fists to Mike’s head.
When the men stood and struck it out, Keith outboxed Mike. And Mike’s kicks were more tentative, whereas Keith’s were crisp and damagaing.
Result: Keith Jardine by unanimous decision.
Jeff Monson (5’8" 239 lb) vs Branden Lee Hinkle (6’2" 227 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Branden was prepared to stand and exchange strikes, but at 4.50 into the match, Jeff took Lee Hinkle straight down. After fighting for poll position on the canvas, Jeff dumped Branden again and got side control, then dished out knees and gloves to Branden, who was against the fence and momentarily on his back. Lee Hinkle reversed positions and took control of Monson.
2.16: Jeff powered his way back up to the stand-up game. Branden connected with fists, before Jeff drove a right knee into his body. They clinched against the cage.
1.48: Branden took Jeff down with a guillotine attempt. The powerful Monson turned and coiled his way out of the hold, bulldozing to side control, before snatching Lee Hinkle’s right arm and rattling him with elbows to the jaw.
0.44: Jeff moved into the six o’clock position and applied a choke. Branden hung on gallantly before tapping as he slipped into unconsciousness.
Result: Jeff Monson by TKO – 4.35, Round One.
Paul Buentello (6’2" 254 lb) vs Gilbert Aldana (6’1" 257 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Big John McCarthy
This was the night’s battle of the KO kings. Gilbert was making his Octagon debut, however prior to the bout he told knucklepit.com, "I’ve seen so many of those heavyweights: They go in there; they get their shot; and they don’t put it all on the table. When I fight, I’m going to leave everything I have in there." And Aldana certainly proved he was a man of his word.
As the fight was about to start, Amber Miller wiggled and blew a kiss to the camera – the second upset of the night.
Round One
Paul went for a surprise spinning back-kick to the abdomen and Gilbert slammed him against the cage. Aldana landed a knee, body punch, and right hook to Buentello’s head. Paul returned uppercuts in the fist trade-off. The pace was furious. Paul deflected Gilbert’s attack and sent him to the floor, but Aldana got straight up, offloaded his own uppercut, and let bombs fly.
Gilbert dispatched a series of hooks as Paul answered with knees and uppercuts. This was one hell of a war.
4.11: Buentello caught Aldana with a high kick. Aldana was stunned and Buentello landed some more fists, then shoved Gilbert to the mat at 4.02. Gilbert climbed back up and wore a left knee to the body and a right uppercut.
3.55: Paul delivered a spinning back-kick, which had more impact this time. He scored with another high kick, but Gilbert was determined to bat on.
2.32: They traded more blows and Gilbert slipped, then quickly jumped back to his feet. Paul used tentative jabs to judge distance, then shot a left high-kick, and Gilbert took it in his stride. Buentello followed up by slamming Aldana’s left leg with a thigh kick, only to have Aldana counter with a right fist that dropped Buentello.
Aldana towered over Buentello and commenced some g’n’p-ing. However, from his back, Paul tied Gilbert up well.
1.15: Gilbert got Paul’s back before they both stood and clinched. Gilbert had a few opportunities here, but didn’t have the steam to follow them up.
0.56: They separated and exchanged more blows. Buentello opted for another spinning back-kick. This time Aldana was prepared and retaliated with a grazing hook to the temple. Buentello had more juice and came back with a series of right uppercuts.
0.30: Paul had Gilbert against the fence, then fired off left and right uppercuts and a knee. Gilbert’s face was bloody as the round ended.
Round Two
Gilbert attempted a shin kick to Paul’s left thigh, but it wasn’t too convincing. Paul jabbed again to judge the distance, and you knew he was lining something up. It came in the form of spinning-back and high kicks. Gilbert just kept coming in and had Paul against the cage.
Aldana appeared to be resting on his opponent as Buentello looked to be waiting to pounce. They exchanged more blows and Buentello swept Aldana to the floor, before getting side control.
3.46: Paul was setting Gilbert up for either a kimura or some g’n’p-ing. Aldana was gassed and wore a pounding, but would not tap.
2.33: Big John had seen enough. Aldana showed he definitely deserved the shot in the Octagon, but Buentello deserved the win.
Result: Paul Buentello by TKO – 2.27, Round Two.
Alessio Sakara (6’0" 205 lb) vs Elvis Sinosic (6’3" 205 lb)
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
This was a very anticipated showdown. Alessio was known more for his boxing skills, and Elvis was renowned for his BJJ expertise, but also for his well-rounded abilities – as displayed against Forrest Griffin.
Sinosic opened with a leg kick and the pair swapped fists. Sakara targeted the body while Sinosic went for the head.
4.49: They clinched, and surprisingly it was Alessio who went for the takedown. From here on it was all Sakara’s game. From the guard he g’n’ped Sinosic with fists and elbows. Standing, Alessio employed his boxing skills to rule. Elvis hung tough and didn’t consider tapping, but he was pretty cut up. With his hair dyed red, it was hard to tell just how bad the cuts were.
But this was definitely Alessio’s fight.
Result: Alessio Sakara by unanimous decision.
Joe Riggs (6’0" 169.5 lb) vs Nick Diaz (6’0" 170 lb)
– Welterweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Round One
Nick in orthodox stance moved in on Joe, the southpaw.
4.51: Riggs dispatched a left high-kick that Diaz took on the gloves. Nick looked for a takedown that Joe resisted and turned into his own takedown. The pair fought for dominance on the floor, then climbed back up and clinched at 4.22.
4.14: They separated. Nick moved in with strikes that were mainly taken on the gloves and arms by Joe. They clinched again. Diaz appeared to go limp and rested on Riggs’s body as Joe caught him with a left elbow and a solid knee to the midsection, before he shoved Nick into the fence.
3.52: Diaz caught Riggs with a leg kick. Joe threw two lefts – the first missed, the second landed flush on Nick’s left cheek.
3.38: They engaged again and Joe scored with powerful uppercuts and knees. Nick caught Joe with his own knee-strike to the body, but Joe countered with fists to the head. Although it was Riggs who dropped 30lbs in body weight to make this fight, it was Nick who was hanging onto Riggs again.
2.59: From the clinch, Nick attacked Joe’s thighs and body with knee strikes.
2.52: Diaz landed an uppercut. Riggs retaliated with fists before appearing to slip. (Even in slow motion, it’s difficult to determine whether it was a slip or a strike that put him down). Joe seized Nick’s left leg and Nick rolled him in an attempted kimura.
Diaz landed four uppercuts and one big left hook as Riggs climbed to his feet.
2.35: Nick started taunting Joe and unloaded a straight right to Joe’s face. He then moved in, looking to set up a kick, but Riggs caught him with right and left fists on the dial.
2.09: Riggs landed a left and right fist, then sent a knee into the body.
Despite Joe Rogan’s commentary, both fighters were putting on a great battle. Yes – Diaz was "pressing the action," but he was also walking into a lot of Riggs’s leather.
0.41: Riggs attempted a takedown, however Diaz resisted well. Nick then tried to g’n’p, but they were air shots and Riggs pulled him into his guard and hugged his head into his chest.
0.35: There looked to be a deliberate head butt attempt here that went unnoticed. Nick was going for body punches and scored with a left elbow. Joe pushed Nick’s head up and tried the follow-through elbow – as he had done against Chris Lytle – but Nick was wise to the move.
On the bell, Riggs did catch Diaz with a right elbow.
Round Two
At the start of this round Nick was sledging Joe some more, but Riggs seemed oblivious to the taunts. Diaz and Riggs were keeping their distance at first and missing with strikes.
4.35: They clinched. Joe got in a right uppercut and they parted. There was another clinch and Nick attempted the takedown. He landed a right and left hook in the clinch.
4.11: Diaz went for a kick to the body that was blocked by Riggs. There was blood on Nick’s face.
4.05: Diaz was poking tentatively with jabs when Riggs answered with a powerful left that caught Diaz fair on the button. Rather than giving Riggs credit for the strike, Rogan said: "Nick Diaz just took it and pressed forward. Didn’t hesitate for a second. That’s gotta be very disheartening for Joe Riggs." They exchanged again and Joe seemed to get the better of the situation.
Mike Goldberg tried to add balance to the commentary and quipped: "Oh a good combination again and he caught him. So Riggs is answering here in the second round."
Nick then latched onto Joe’s left leg – attempting to pull him down. However, the effort was unsuccessful and they faced off in center ring.
3.22: Nick continued his pursuit as Joe picked him off with a series of hooks and an uppercut. Diaz replied with a knee.
2.40: Mike Goldberg said he thought Joe was gaining confidence in the bout, only to be told by Rogan that Riggs looked to be tired. Incredible!
1.38: Riggs took Diaz down. When Joe resisted Nick’s submission attempt, it was supposedly because Nick let go – not due to any skill displayed by Riggs.
1.03: Riggs landed with a cracking right elbow from the guard to Diaz’s bloodied face.
0.26: Goldberg asked, "Who do you give this round to, Joe?" You can guess the reply from Rogan. Through no fault of Diaz’s, this was bordering on Comedy Channel material and would have been turning fans against Nick. Meanwhile, Diaz continued to attack Riggs’s elbows with his bloodied face!
Round Three
The Pair clinched against the fence, then parted. The left side of Joe’s face and neck was covered in Nick’s claret. The rest of the round was pretty much the same – both inside the Octagon and out at the commentary table.
Eddie Bravo gave his score: 10, 9, 9 to Diaz, and 9,10,10 to Riggs.
When the match was to Riggs by the judges, which appeared to receive the crowd’s approval, Rogan asked Riggs, "Do you think you won that decision?" He then tried to convince Riggs of how tired he was.
Result: Joe Riggs by unanimous decision.
Renato "Babalu" Sobral (6’1" 205 lb) vs Mike Van Arsdale (6’2" 205 lb)
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Big John McCarthy
Renato came out in pursuit of Mike, but waited to counter Mike’s strikes. As Van Arsdale went to jab, Babalu answered with a front inner-thigh kick, then moved in for the takedown. Mike resisted and they clinched with Mike’s back against the fence. Renato then worked Mike’s left thigh with knee strikes.
4.07: Big Mac separated them. Van Arsdale picked Babalu off with a right and left fist. Babalu reciprocated with a thigh kick. He moved in on Mike and they clinched. The pair scrambled and ended up on the canvas.
3.36: Van Arsdale momentarily got side control.
3.24: Renato had Mike’s back and tried to line up an arm choke. Van Arsdale resisted as Babalu opted to soften him up with some annoying fists to the head.
3.14: Babalu got Van Arsdale’s back again.
2.47: Babalu was fitting Van Arsdale out for a rear naked choke. Mike tapped.
Renato climbed the cage and signalled he wanted a shot at the light-heavyweight belt.
Result: Renato Sobral by rear naked choke – 2.21, Round One.
Marcio Cruz (6’3" 233 lb) vs Frank Mir (6’3" 257 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Frank Mir received a big welcome-back from the crowd, however there had been some apprehension over his fitness after the official weigh-in. With Marcio having only one MMA match behind him, perhaps this bout was expected to be an easier one for the former champion to make his Octagon return.
They touched gloves and Mir immediately wanted to test the striking skills of his BJJ opponent, who was said to be lacking in the stand-up department.
4.54: Cruz ducked under Mir’s fists and grabbed his right leg for a takedown. Frank hopped out of the takedown and copped a couple of fists as he regained his footing.
4.45: They clinched, with Frank against the fence. Marcio tried again to take Frank down, but ended up being the recipient of one of Frank’s takedowns. Mir temporarily got side control and drove right forearms into Cruz’s face.
Cruz latched onto Mir’s right leg and looked to reverse the situation. Had Marcio attacked Frank’s left leg, which had been injured in the motorcycle accident, the crowd probably would have screamed the house down.
4.10: The fighters got back to their feet, though Cruz still had hold of Mir’s leg and pulled him back to the floor. Frank was trying for a kimura on Marcio’s left arm as Marcio dropped elbows into Frank’s midsection.
3.33: Cruz regained possession of his limb. In half guard, he elbowed Mir’s head and seemed to be eyeing off his left arm. But an elbow to Frank’s face produced a cut and Cruz chose to work that with his forearm, elbow and fist.
2.57: Blood was running into Frank’s left eye.
2.52: Mir wiped his eye before Herb Dean parted the fighters to have the doctor inspect the damage. Frank was having real problems with his vision, but elected to kick on. So Herb returned the combatants to their original position on the floor, and Marcio went to town on the cut. Rather than trying to tie Cruz up, Mir looked to submit Cruz with a kimura again, which left him wide open to more punishment.
1.25: Frank’s face was totally covered in claret. Herb told Frank he had to fight back.
Time and again, along with Big John, Herb Dean has proven himself to be a totally solid ref. Ironically, it was Herb who stepped in when Frank broke Tim Sylvia’s arm.
0.50: Dean made the right decision again and pulled this bout up.
Result: Marcio Cruz by TKO – 4.10, Round One.
Brandon Vera (6’2" 226 lb) vs Justin Eilers (6’2" 232 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Colourful Octagon announcer, Bruce Buffer, introduced Mario Yamasaki as though he were a Japanese warlord, and then the action began.
Brandon moved in to shoot out a left leg-kick, but Justin danced out of range. Vera attempted the kick again, so Eilers fired fists at his head and the men clinched. Justin forced Brandon against the cage and delivered powerful rips to Brandon’s stomach. Eilers connected with knees and a right glove to Vera’s head. Brandon just hung on, then turned Justin against the fence before scoring with a knee.
4.02: There wasn’t much happening so Mario broke it up.
3.57: Brandon caught Justin with left kicks to the leg and body. They exchanged leather.
3.45: Southpaw Vera sent another kick to Eilers’s body.
3.42: Brandon fired off a left kick to the head. It was a ripper and caught Justin on the temple. Justin was falling when Brandon followed up with a complimentary right shin to the scone and a right fist. Justin was off with the pixies and Brandon did a sumo dance to the mystic Tibetan grasshoppers.
Result: Brandon Vera by KO – 1.25, Round One.
Chuck Liddell (6’2" 204 lb) vs Randy Couture (6’2" 203 lb)
– Light Heavyweight Title
Referee: Big John McCarthy
Randy Couture strides out to the sound of AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, and it’s already apparent that this title bout is going to be one hell of a storm.
Chuck Liddell then comes out doing his voodoo-puppet dance, and the sold-out crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center buckles the seat belts – the Day of Reckoning has arrived.
Round One
Randy has his hands up and is slowly moving in on Chuck. He knows from the last time they met that it doesn’t pay to leave oneself open to the Iceman’s KO fists. Chuck has his guard down and pushes out jabs. He realises his main threat from Couture won’t be a king hit, but rather an explosive takedown, as did happen regularly in their first meeting.
4.42: Chuck keeps testing Randy’s guard, trying to penetrate with the jab.
4.25: The Iceman sends in a left hook to knock The Natural’s guard out of position.
4.15: Couture counters Liddell’s jab with right and left gloves. Liddell fakes with jabs and Couture shows he is ready to counter again with a right.
4.07: Randy throws a cross that is blocked by Chuck.
3.59: Chuck lunges with a right, and Randy steps back out of range. They’re both looking for the other fighter to show a chink, but there’s nothing here from either man. They are just spooking each other at this stage – looking for the opening.
3.34: They fire off synchronised rights and Chuck follows with a looping left.
3.27: He probes with a left and Couture answers with his own looping right, but not too much is landing from either man. There’s so much energy and tension in the air, if someone threw a match in the ring, it would go up.
3.12: Chuck moves in for another jab and Randy replies with a right. They’re like tailors sizing each other up. Two minutes have gone and it’s still tight as a drum. This is a brilliant duel. Every time Chuck uses a jab to test the water, Randy snaps back with a right.
2.57: Liddell opts for a right and Couture clips him with a left that backs Chuck up. Randy is looking a little red around the right eye.
2.46: Chuck attempts to penetrate Randy’s guard with an extended uppercut under Couture’s right glove, but the strike doesn’t land. Liddell appears more game now and adds some sting to his probing jabs and crosses.
2.20: Liddell lands with a left.
2.00: They look to be opening up more and trade left hooks.
1.40: Liddell connects with a left kick to Couture’s inner thigh. The Natural strikes back and the Iceman moves out of range. Randy is countering well and backs Chuck up with a right. Randy moves in for the takedown, but Chuck defends against it and lands lefts, rights, and an uppercut.
1.05: Couture eventually succeeds in taking Liddell down and goes for the g’n’p. He still has hold of Liddell as Chuck climbs back to his feet. He looks to Big Mac, appealing for a separation. Mac doesn’t take the bait, so Chuck catches Randy with two rights to the ribs and Randy delivers a knee. Chuck is still looking to Big Mac to intervene while Randy fires off another knee to Chuck’s inner thigh.
0.30: Randy tries to sweep Chuck’s left leg. They move across the ring with Randy holding onto Chuck. Liddell continues defending against the takedown. There’s a lot of blood on both men. The hooter sounds and Randy turns his back straight away – apparently to hide his cuts from Chuck.
Round Two
Couture wipes his nose, which is the source of most of the bleeding. They face off again.
4.43: Randy gets Chuck with an overhand right. Chuck keeps jabbing.
4.25: Couture catches Liddell with a left. Chuck replies with a left and right. It’s all cat and mouse.
3.40: Suddenly Randy goes to throw a left and slips. Chuck fires off a sharp right. Randy drops to the floor. Chuck unloads a barrage of rights and Big John steps in. It’s all over.
Result: Chuck Liddell by TKO – 1.28, Round Two.
Fighter of the Night
Chuck Liddell is Knucklepit’s Fighter of the Night for UFC 57. In the deciding match between Liddell and Couture, Chuck did all he said he would do prior to this title bout. The Iceman was able to defend against The Natural’s takedowns and took out Randy with explosive fists that sealed their trilogy.
For more on UFC: www.ufc.tv.
Amber Miller
