Edith
© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
May 25, 2008
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
What a solid card this was! UFC 84 was certainly an outstanding treat for MMA fans.
And speaking of treats, Arianny and Edith were at their sizzling best at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Please be sure to check out the message from Arianny at the bottom of this page.
In earlier matches:
Rameau Sokoudjou def. Kazuhiro Nakamura by TKO – 5.00, Round One.
Yoshiyuki Yoshida def. Jon Koppenhaver by anaconda choke – 0.56, Round One.
Rich Clementi def. Terry Etim by unanimous decision.
Dong Hyun Kim def. Jason Tan by TKO – 0.25, Round Three.
The Battles
Thiago Silva (6’1” 205 lb) vs. Antonio Mendes (6’3” 203 lb)
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Herb Dean
4.45: Southpaw Mendes knocked Silva down with a high kick.
4.41: Silva weathered the g’n’p-ing and managed to climb back to his feet.
4.39: They clinched as Antonio attacked Thiago’s body with knees.
4.32: They broke free and Antonio put Thiago down with another kick.
4.16: Antonio got out of Thiago’s guard and the pair stood up. Antonio kept coming with a salvo of fists before the men locked in a clinch.
3.43: Mendes attempted a hip throw, but lost his grip and Silva fell on top.
3.21: Silva got the mount.
3.07: He went to side control before regaining the mount at 3.03. Mendes rolled, but Silva maintained mount position and g’n’ped. Herb Dean halted play.
Thiago took his MMA record to 13-0.
Result: Thiago Silva by tap out due to g’n’p – 2.24, Round One.
Lyoto Machida (6’1” 203 lb) vs. Tito Ortiz (6’2” 205 lb)
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Yves Lavigne
Round One
4.47: Southpaw Machida launched a series of kicks to Ortiz’s lead leg.
3.53: Ortiz shot in on one of Machida’s kicks, but Machida avoided the takedown.
3.40: Lyoto was feinting with strikes to unsettle Tito’s rhythm. He caught Tito with an inside leg kick.
3.34: Tito went on the attack, however Lyoto backed out of range.
3.22: Ortiz charged in again and brought up a knee, but Lyoto disengaged and fled the scene.
3.04: Ortiz caught Lyoto’s front kick then Lyoto broke free.
1.23: Tito took a high kick on the gloves.
0.56: Tito blocked another high kick.
0.10: Lyoto got a body lock and swept Tito’s right leg. Lyoto got side control and had Tito in a crucifix: He used his right hand to tie up Ortiz’s left arm and wrapped his legs around Ortiz’s right arm, then Machida used his free left fist to pound away at Ortiz.
Round Two
Lyoto danced out of Tito’s range for the opening minute of this round, before Tito shot in and missed Lyoto’s fleeing heels. Machida then tagged Ortiz with a body kick and right hand. The crowd got restless, however Machida continued to avoid engagement and pursued a point-scoring strategy.
1.18: Tito shot in and Lyoto sprawled before falling into Tito’s guard. The pair stood.
0.33: Machida lunged forward with a knee to Ortiz’s body, then disengaged.
Round Three
4.18: Referee Yves Lavigne stole the show when he fell over and received a huge roar from the crowd, who were hungry for action rather than an exercise in avoidance.
4.11: Tito closed in with body punches, so Lyoto clinched. Tito unloaded a knee to the body and right fists.
3.56: Lyoto broke free.
1.31: Machida buckled Ortiz with a lunging knee to the body. Tito dropped and Lyoto followed him down, pounding from guard.
0.33: Tito whacked on a triangle/arm bar combo that caused the house to erupt until Lyoto escaped the submission.
Machida scored a unanimous decision from the judges and appeared to get a unanimous ‘boo’ from the crowd. Ortiz earned the crowd’s approval for trying to make this exhibition into a fight.
Result: Lyoto Machida by unanimous decision.
Goran Reljic (6’3” 205 lb) vs. Wilson Gouveia (6’1” 205 lb)
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Round One
Gouveia spat out jabs and an inner leg kick at southpaw Reljic.
4.44: Reljic failed with a high kick.
4.35: Gouveia leg-kicked.
4.21: He blocked a high kick from Reljic.
3.39: Reljic fired off another high kick.
3.50: Goran kept flying with high-kick scuds – his training with fellow countryman, Mirko Cro-Cop, was evident.
3.33: Wilson retaliated with leather, and a knuckle exchange ensued.
1.53: Wilson leg-kicked as Goran replied with a body kick.
1.28: Goran detonated a barrage of crushing high kicks. Both men were hurling bombs.
0.57: Wilson landed with a ripping fist to the body and backed Goran up with more leather, which caused Goran to cover up.
0.46: Reljic jumped up and latched onto Gouveia before pulling him to the floor and taking him into guard.
0.09: Reljic grabbed his left foot and tried to yank it into position for an uma-plata on Gouveia. The hooter sounded.
Round Two
They swapped knuckles until 4.05, when Goran let fly with another high kick.
3.40: Wilson put Goran down briefly. He closed in on the Croatian and knocked him back to the canvas, then fell into Goran’s guard and thumped away.
3.26: Gouveia stood in the guard and rained down blows.
2.23: Reljic kicked Gouveia away and stood. Gouveia looked to be out of ammo as Reljic flung a left fist that floored Gouveia. Reljic g’n’ped until Herb Dean blew the whistle.
Result: Goran Reljic by TKO – 3.15, Round Two.
Shane Carwin (6’3” 252 lb) vs. Christian Wellisch (6’3” 230 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Yves Lavigne
Both men came out with guns blazing.
4.29: Wellisch tagged Carwin with a straight right.
4.23: He caught Carwin with a left, but Carwin shrugged off both punches.
4.20: Shane shot out a right-hand tranquilizer, causing Christian to fold like a 230-pound concertina. Carwin dived in to finish him before Yves pulled the pin.
Result: Shane Carwin by TKO – 0.44, Round One.
Rousimar Palhares (5’8” 185 lb) vs. Ivan Salaverry (6’0” 185 lb)
– Middleweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
4.45: Salaverry sent up a high kick. Palhares wore the strike and latched on to Salaverry, then took him down.
4.41: Palhares had side control.
4.19: He got the mount.
4.03: Ivan rolled onto his stomach before returning to his back, with Rousimar underneath and looking for a rear naked choke. Surprisingly, Rousimar had his hooks locked whilst in the position, which the most basic BJJ manuals warn can lead to broken ankles if your opponent applies a foot lock. Fortunately for Palhares, Salaverry overlooked the opportunity.
2.56: Mario Yamasaki warned Rousimar not to grab Ivan’s mitts while trying to latch on the rear naked choke.
2.29: Ivan appeared to be escaping the choke attempt, but Rousimar quickly whacked on an arm bar and Ivan tapped.
Result: Rousimar Palhares by RNC – 2.36, Round One.
Wanderlei Silva (5’11” 205 lb) vs. Keith Jardine (6’2” 205 lb)
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
The referee summons the gladiators to center ring. Jardine is out to intimidate Silva with his stare-down, but Wanderlei has seen it all before and is switched on for business. Prior to the event, Wanderlei said, “I fight with my technique; I fight with my conditioning; but I fight a lot with my heart. I’m going for the knockout to beat him so fast.” Wanderlei had also stated on many occasions that he didn’t care whether he won or lost a match so long as he put on a war. Perhaps that’s why the crowd gets behind Wanderlei and not Machida.
4.49: Keith throws an air jab and pulls out of range for Wanderlei’s left and right.
4.46: Keith misses with a right haymaker.
4.41: He moves in for another shot, but cops a left and an overhand right from Wanderlei.
4.37: Jardine attempts a kick to Silva’s left thigh and Silva counters with a left to the body and a big right and a left hook, then a couple of dusting blows that skim off Jardine’s skull as he goes down. Keith tries to get back up but Wanderlei g’n’ps Keith back down like a wacker packer on nitrous. Steve Mazzagatti steps in to save Keith.
Result: Wanderlei Silva by KO – 0.36, Round One.
BJ Penn (5’9” 155 lb) vs. Sean Sherk (5’6” 155 lb)
– Lightweight Title
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Round One
4.57: BJ starts the action with a jab and Sean shoots for BJ’s left leg.
4.51: BJ wards off the takedown and they’re back on their feet.
4.49: Sean leg-kicks as BJ counters by slamming a left fist into Sean’s body. Jabs are exchanged. BJ is using his reach advantage to pick off Sean with straight lefts, whilst Sean is slinging hooks.
4.04: Sherk interrupts Penn’s jabs with a right and left combo that momentarily buckles Penn’s knees. Penn predicted he’d come out blazing for this fight, as he’s done in the past, and would be going for an early victory, but clearly he is pacing himself and is happy to keep Sherk at bay with jabs.
3.27: They clinch after a heated exchange. Both score with close-quarter blows.
3.16: They separate. Sherk has his guard up and is poking out lefts. Penn’s hands are low as he stands back and chooses his strikes.
2.10: Penn slides his lead leg in to dispatch a jab and Sherk counters with a stinging leg kick. Sean is having success with his hooks, but he’s red around the right eye from BJ’s clinical jabs.
1.02: BJ lands a right and left combo.
0.45: Sean bangs out another leg kick.
As the round ends, Sean’s corner works on the cut under his right eye, while BJ chooses to stand between rounds – maybe to show he’s confident and isn’t gassing.
Round Two
Sherk throws a jab.
4.44: He smacks Penn’s lead leg with a kick.
4.31: Sherk inside leg-kicks as knuckles are traded.
4.27: Penn punishes Sherk with an uppercut and knee to the body.
4.20: Sherk leg-kicks.
4.10: They have a standoff, with Sean getting the better of the shoot out, as he appears to be turning up the heat and is spitting out more lightning fists. But more cuts are showing around his right eye from BJ’s precision jabbing.
2.10: BJ increases his jab rate as he adopts a sniper approach to the warfare.
1.04: Sherk delivers a leg kick and Penn replies with a right and left hand.
0.45: Sherk leg-kicks again.
0.26: Penn returns the kick.
0.14: They briefly clinch and each time Penn unloads a knee strike.
At the close of round two, Sherk has lacerations under both eyes. Penn is unmarked and still elects to stand during the breaks.
Round Three
Sean continues his high work rate, however there’s no sign of BJ fading.
3.23: Surprisingly, BJ looks for the takedown, but Sean resists well. BJ then stings Sean with fists and Sean returns fire.
2.02: BJ leg-kicks.
1.45: Sean inside leg-kicks, but BJ is unrelenting with his left hand.
1.20: Sherk intensifies the leg kicks, and Penn stays with his jabbing game plan.
0.06: Penn rushes Sherk, catching him with a big left knee to the jaw and a barrage of right fists. The hooter sounds and Penn tells Sherk that he’s finished.
Result: BJ Penn by TKO – 5.00, Round Three.
ARIANNY
Coming Up
A review of UFC 85: Bedlam.
For more info: www.ufc.tv.
