Arianny
© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
March 1, 2008
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
Coming Live from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, this was a star-studded card with plenty of action.
The big announcement of the night was that Mark ‘The Hammer’ Coleman would be locking horns with Brock Lesnar in five months’ time. Coleman, who was in attendance for his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame, was supported by Wes Sims. Interestingly, WWE star Dave Batista was also in the house.
It was a night that produced some memorable quotes:
“Eddie Bravo just pointed out that Leben’s head is way bigger than Sakara’s head, which really is an important factor because it is indicative of the ability to take a punch.” – Joe Rogan.
“But if you have a bigger head, isn’t it easier to hit?” – Mike Goldberg.
“Let’s give these people a fight they paid to see.” – Dan Miragliotta.
“I’ve got a great game plan for Alessio Sakara: I’m going to hit him so hard he’s going to wake up in Italy.” – Chris Leben.
“If I was at home right now, I’d be screaming obscenities at the TV.” – Joe Rogan.
Edith Labelle and Arianny Celeste didn’t say much, but hey…
In earlier matches:
Andrei Arlovski def. Jake O’Brien by TKO – 4.17, Round Two.
Diego Sanchez def. David Bielkheden by submission – 4.23, Round One.
Luigi Fioravanti def. Luke Cummo by unanimous decision.
Jorge Gurgel def. John Halverson by unanimous decision.
The Battles
Josh Koscheck (5’10” 169.5 lb) vs. Dustin Hazelett (6’1” 170 lb)
– Welterweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Round One
They traded air-jabs.
4.41: Josh targeted Dustin’s lead thigh with a jab. Dustin rushed in with fists flying, a left high kick and a right knee that shook Josh.
4.35: Koscheck clinched to regroup.
4.32: They broke the tie-up and hurled bombs.
3.44: Koscheck detonated a left hand and a right kick.
3.36: He tagged Hazelett’s lead thigh with another punch. The leather exchange continued, with Josh landing two good rights before Dustin clinched.
2.39: Hazelett slipped on a guillotine and wrapped his legs around the standing Koscheck.
2.08: Josh’s head bobbed out and the pair stood toe-to-toe, swapping jabs, then Dustin peppered Josh’s legs with kicks.
1.36: Koscheck inside leg-kicked, which fired up Hazelett and caused him to retaliate with a right and left hand, a left high kick and a right knee. Koscheck unloaded heavy fists and a high kick.
0.57: Josh parked a right glove on Dustin’s jaw.
0.32: Josh interrupted the banging with a shoot. Dustin pulled Josh in like the spider to the fly, and went for a triangle. Koscheck hung cool till the hooter blew.
This was a great round from both combatants.
Round Two
They traded jabs.
4.40: Koscheck scored with a left hook. More toe-to-toe followed.
3.41: Josh brought up a left kick that put Dustin down as Josh slipped to the floor. He jumped up and charged in on the stunned Hazelett with big fists blazing. Herb Dean stepped in.
Result: Josh Koscheck by TKO – 1.24, Round Two.
Jon Fitch (6’0” 170 lb) vs. Chris Wilson (6’1” 169.5 lb)
– Welterweight
Referee: Jerry Krysz
Round One
This bout was a match-up between UFC veteran, Jon Fitch, and former IFL welterweight for the Portland Wolfpack, Chris Wilson. Wilson came into the Octagon with a reputation for possessing some serious knee and elbow strikes (see https://www.knucklepit.com/mixed-martial-arts-chris_wilson.htm). And Fitch was out to chalk up his eighth successive victory.
Chris circled and leg-kicked as Jon took up position at center ring.
4.35: Chris resisted a takedown from Jon and the pair exchanged knees.
4.18: Jon inside leg-kicked.
4.16: Wilson threw a right that Fitch ducked under before looking to take Wilson to the mats. Wilson resisted well.
3.58: Chris connected with a front kick to the abs.
3.38: Jon landed a leg kick, then moved in with a right and left hand.
3.31: Jon was hell-bent on taking Chris down, however Chris sprawled and warded off another takedown attempt from Jon, and followed with a sharp right mitt, a left kick, and closed in as they swapped more leather.
3.15: Wilson smacked Fitch with a left high kick and a right uppercut.
3.08: Fitch looked worse for wear as he absorbed a right knee to the body before tying up his opponent.
2.49: Fitch finally got the takedown, but Wilson sat up and used his left palm to push on Fitch’s head, thus stopping him from moving up Wilson’s body and improving position.
1.58: Chris caused a stalemate, so Jerry Krysz ordered the pair to stand.
1.35: Jon leg-kicked.
0.51: He caught a low kick from Chris and used the leg to take Chris back down.
0.30: After some scrambling, Jon was in Chris’s guard. The round ended with Chris pounding Jon’s skull with elbows from below.
Round Two
4.52: Fitch leg-kicked.
4.35: He scooped up a left knee from Wilson and tried to sweep the right leg, but Wilson avoided the move.
4.13: Fitch shot under a right uppercut. Jon rolled and tumbled into Wilson’s half guard.
3.46: Chris had Jon in full guard as Fitch worked Wilson’s body with knuckles.
2.24: Jon wrangled into side control and dominated the ground game, whilst polishing Chris’s cranium with elbows and dusting his ribs with knees.
1.31: Fitch got the mount.
1.20: Wilson had Fitch back in half guard.
0.32: Wilson looked for an arm bar, but his efforts failed.
0.27: Fitch got side control and commenced knee strikes to the body.
Round Three
4.51: Jon dispatched two inside leg kicks.
4.43: Chris replied with a left kick, right hand, and a right uppercut.
4.14: He closed in and Jon briefly clinched before separating. The duo continued to stand and trade.
2.02: Jon shot in and took Chris down before g’n’p-ing him against the cage.
0.30: Wilson was fitting Fitch with a triangle, but he wasn’t able to shut Jon down before the fight ended.
Result: John Fitch by unanimous decision.
Yushin Okami (6’2” 184.5 lb) vs. Evan Tanner (6’0” 185 lb)
– Middleweight
Referee: Mark Matheny
Round One
This was always going to be a tough comeback challenge for former UFC Middleweight Champion, Evan Tanner, after nearly two years’ absence from the Octagon. But he looked in sensational shape as he entered the arena to the sound of All Along the Watchtower, and with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan in his corner, anything could have happened.
They faced off with Yushin in southpaw stance. Both men slung fists, however few connected as they continued to feel each other out.
4.03: Evan blocked a kick from Yushin.
3.45: They exchanged right hands and Evan followed with a left.
3.38: Yushin threw a right and left fist that unsettled Evan and put him down. Okami rushed in, but Tanner had been more unbalanced than stunned when he fell, and he quickly seized Okami’s right leg and put him down. They climbed back up in a clinch.
2.03: The tie-up was broken and the pair traded pretty evenly up to the hooter.
Round Two
4.55: Evan delivered three leg kicks.
4.33: Yushin unloaded a right and a left.
4.22: Evan drove a powerful knee straight into Yushin’s midsection.
4.05: Yushin scored with a solid kick.
3.11: Yushin landed a left hand.
2.39: They became entangled as Tanner worked to take Okami down.
2.05: Okami wrapped on a Thai clinch after warding off the takedown attempt. He brought up a left knee that ironed Tanner out.
This had been a very successful win for Yushin and an impressive display for Evan’s first comeback fight. It was later revealed Yushin broke his right hand during the fight.
Result: Yushin Okami by KO – 3.00, Round Two.
Chris Leben (5’11” 185 lb) vs. Alessio Sakara (6’0” 185 lb)
– Middleweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Southpaw Leben fired up a left kick, then a leg kick and one to the body. Sakara spat out a left and right fist, and the heavy-handed Leben returned fire as Sakara made a quick getaway to avoid being pinned against the fence in a standoff, then tagged Leben with a body kick.
Alessio was using his hand speed and accuracy; Chris was hunting him down with power and brutality.
4.07: As the trading ensued, Chris ignored a solid right on the dial and just kept a-comin’. He attacked Alessio with high kicks, body kicks and leg kicks, and with bone-rattling punches.
4.03: They tied up. Alessio hurled fists and Chris brought up knees.
3.57: They separated.
2.53: This was a big bang-fest. Sakara decided to toss in a couple of superman punches and big looping lefts. Leben just shrugged them off and detonated knees to the body. Everything he threw was loaded.
2.21: Chris pounded Alessio with a crushing body kick.
2.18: They clinched. Alessio pushed down on Chris’s head as Chris grabbed onto Alessio’s left leg like a savage mako.
2.06: They broke free.
1.57: Leben outgunned Sakara in a standoff and followed him across the ring with both men slinging leather. Leben brought up a left knee, three left uppercuts, and two left hooks. Alessio’s knees buckled as he dropped to the canvas. Chris pursued him with more left sledgehammers. Alessio looked to be frozen in time, and lay on his back with hands down and offering no resistance to the smokin’ Leben.
Result: Chris Leben by TKO – 3.16, Round One.
Heath Herring (6’4” 248 lb) vs. Cheick Kongo (6’4” 233.5 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Round One
The main concern before this clash was: What would happen if Herring took Kongo to the ground? Especially after Carmelo Marrero was able to shut Kongo down on the mats at UFC 64: Unstoppable.
4.56: Heath puts Cheick down with a right. Cheick bounces back up and they clinch, with Cheick’s back to the cage.
4.45: Dan Miragliotta tells Heath to let go of the fence, and Heath spreads them like a prime suspect in Miami Vice. Kongo then turns Herring’s back into the cage.
4.26: The Parisian takes the Texan down. What a turnaround: Herring came out as the striker and Kongo wants it on the ground! Kongo has half guard before Herring rolls and surrenders his back, then wraps up Kongo’s left arm for a kimura.
4.10: Cheick’s free and they stand. They exchange blows. Cheick catches a kick and yanks Heath back down.
3.38: Heath rolls Cheick onto his back, then pins him against the fence.
3.12: They climb up and Heath wraps on a loose guillotine.
2.37: Cheick pulls Heath down. Heath sits up with his back to the wires. Cheick straddles him in mount position.
1.46: Herring upsets Kongo and tackles him down.
1.42: Kongo climbs up as Herring grabs his back.
1.24: Herring pulls Kongo down.
1.14: They scramble and Cheick gets the mount.
1.07: They tumble and Cheick gets Heath’s back before moving into the six o’clock position, with Cheick’s upper body over Heath’s. Cheick punches to the midsection, and Heath brings up elbows to the head.
Round Two
Herring attempts opening round two with another big right, but Kongo is ready this time and opts for the takedown.
4.47: Kongo has half guard and is g’n’p-ing.
3.53: Kongo stands and Herring slams his face with a right up-kick.
3.21: Miragliotta calls Herring to stand.
3.17: Heath rushes in with another big right.
3.12: They’re tied up against the cage, exchanging knees to the legs and body punches.
2.43: Cheick puts Heath down. Heath is on all fours and Cheick has him in a front headlock, whilst delivering right fists.
2.08: Cheick takes Heath’s back.
1.40: Herring tumbles Kongo and slides into six o’clock position. He body-punches Kongo, then moves into side control.
1.10: Herring starts a long series on knee strikes to the body that continues up till the bell.
Round Three
They face each other from opposite sides of the Octagon. Heath shakes his right hand like a medicine man’s rattle. They close in and Heath grounds Cheick with a clashing kick. He slaps on a guillotine and tugs Cheick into closed guard. Kongo’s head pops out, then he stands and rains down leather.
4.46: Cheick has Heath’s back and begins returning some of the knees to the body that he copped from Heath at the end of the previous round.
3.48: They stand.
3.36: They trade and drop to the canvas as Cheick takes Heath’s back.
2.43: Herring rolls into side control. Kongo is unable to upset Herring’s dominant position as Herring begins tenderizing his trapped opponent with knees to the body and punches and elbows to the head.
2.23: Herring mounts Kongo and continues the tenderizing from there.
Interestingly, Heath came in prepared for Cheick’s stand-up game, whilst Cheick had trained for Heath’s ground game.
Result: Heath Herring by split decision.
Anderson Silva (6’2” 185 lb) vs. Dan Henderson (6’1” 184.5 lb)
– Middleweight Title
Referee: Herb Dean
Round One
Dan extends his hand and Anderson chooses not to touch gloves.
4.32: Dan inside leg-kicks.
4.23: He leg-kicks.
3.53: Dan throws a right hand to the jaw.
3.50: Anderson inside leg-kicks.
3.48: He leg-kicks and Henderson briefly catches the kick and counters with two right hands, then throws a left. Silva brings up a left kick.
3.26: Silva sends up a left front kick.
3.12: He fires up a right front kick, then a left round kick that Henderson absorbs with his mitts.
2.57: Anderson closes in and Dan gets the under-hooks in and sweeps Anderson’s left leg, taking him down. From half guard, Dan continues to gag Anderson with his mitts, and punishes him with fists and elbows.
2.04: Henderson gags Silva with his left hand and pounds right hammer fists on Silva’s temple.
0.43: Henderson finally stops the hammer fists, but progresses to side control.
0.17: Silva dislodges Henderson and takes him into guard. Dan finishes the first five minutes with a big right.
Round Two
4.49: Anderson dispatches a front kick. In the last round, Dan took center ring; now Anderson takes up that post.
4.19: Dan kicks tentatively to the body before Anderson counters with a left and right.
4.09: Silva leg-kicks and Henderson returns a combo. They stand and deliver, then Silva fires up a left kick.
3.55: Henderson goes for the takedown. They battle for position and stand clinched. Dan dispatches knees to the legs and Anderson responds with body punches. Dan works to take Anderson down, but his campaign is resisted. Anderson then takes Dan in a Thai clinch and brings up the knee.
2.32: They exchange some more before Dan fails with a shoot and winds up on his knees.
2.26: Silva has half guard and is dropping leather on Henderson.
2.25: He punishes Henderson with a big left elbow. Things slow down and Herb tells the men to keep working.
1.05: Anderson gets his leg free from the half guard and takes Dan’s back. He locks his hooks in and rolls Dan.
0.42: Anderson switches his legs to an anaconda and pounds away.
0.28: Dan turns onto his stomach, with Anderson’s anaconda still in place.
0.17: Anderson wraps on a rear naked choke after rolling Dan over. Dan taps.
Result: Anderson Silva by rear naked choke – 4.52, Round Two.
Edith
Coming Up
UFC 83: Serra vs. St-Pierre
Live from the Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre
Rich Franklin vs. Travis Lutter
Nate Quarry vs. Kalib Starnes
Charles McCarthy vs. Michael Bisping
Mark Bocek vs. Mac Danzig
Joe Doerksen vs. Jason MacDonald
Jason Day vs. Alan Belcher
Rich Clementi vs. Sam Stout
Kuniyosh Hironaka vs. Jonathan Goulet
For more info: www.ufc.tv.
