Issue 048
April 2009
UFC 94
31 Jan 2009
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
A historic battle took place on 31 January at UFC 94 as the organization’s lightweight champion, BJ Penn, tried to make history and become a dual title holder by challenging arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in his sport, the one they call GSP. The Hawaiian’s plan wasn’t just ambitious, it was audacious, and he paid the price in one of the most one-sided fights the UFC has seen in recent times.
The event might as well have been called World War III, as supporters from both sides flew in from around the globe. There were ten solid fights on the card, and only one of them didn’t last three rounds, as the UFC took Las Vegas by storm less than 24 hours before the Super Bowl.
“You can tell how good a fight is going to be by how excited the fighters themselves get about it. Everyone in the locker room, as well as the fighters in the crowd tonight, could not wait to see this fight take place,” said UFC president Dana White after the event.
A clear line was drawn in the crowd between St Pierre and Penn fans as dozens of bright red hockey jerseys and a handful of Canadian flags made their way into the MGM Grand’s Garden Arena to show support for the welterweight champ, and the very second the lights dimmed the battle cries began.
It went back and forth for awhile, with partisan fans chanting their fighter’s name, but by the third round of the main event Penn fans had all but given up hope for their Hawaiian hero. They gasped as St Pierre passed Penn’s guard with ease and shuddered as they watched him land jab after jab along with a barrage of vicious strikes to the head from in the guard and even the mount. “I wanted to win by decision last time and I did, but this time I wanted to finish it by TKO, and I’m happy I did,” said St Pierre following the match.
The fight card also revealed two new forces for fighters to deal with at light heavyweight newcomer Jon Jones and the world-renowned Lyoto Machida. Thiago Silva challenged Machida in a battle between the unbeaten fighters, each at 13-0-0 apiece, while Jones faced Stephan Bonnar. Neither fight was even close.
Machida dominated his opponent with speed not seen by many at 205lb. His fights usually end up in a decision, but at UFC 94 he took it to Silva hard and delivered the only KO of the night with one second remaining in the first round. He put him to sleep with a massive right hand, sneaking in a left before the ref intervened. When asked if he thought he deserved a shot at Rashad Evans’ title, Machida simply turned to the crowd and asked them, “People, do I deserve a shot? I’m ready wherever, whenever, whoever – I am here!”
Jones has half as many wins as Machida but shares an impeccable record at 7-0-0 (and he did it in half the time). This is a kid who fought his pro debut in April 2008, and went from 0-0-0 to 3-0-0 in just 23 days. The UFC picked him up in a matter of months and quality opponents like Bonnar and Andre Gusmao haven’t slowed him down a bit.
Jones won his latest UFC fight as he did his first (by unanimous decision), but he impressed with his awesome takedowns and will be forever remembered for his “Z-Bonestrike”, a spinning back elbow thrown from a single-leg takedown. It was poetry in motion, and dropped Bonnar as though it were the hammer of Thor.
With such stunning performances from the likes of St Pierre, Machida, and Jones, the latest UFC proved two things beyond a shadow of a doubt. Fighters are continuing to evolve, and at an incredible pace.
Ultimate Fight Night 17
7 February 2009
Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida
In a battle of young guns, 24-year-old Joe Lauzon and 22-year-old Jeremy Stephens met in the main event of the UFC’s latest Ultimate Fight Night. Lauzon, who made his name on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5, was originally due to face Hermes Franca, but the motormouth Brazilian withdrew due to an injury, so up stepped his teammate Stephens.
Lauzon is a well-rounded fighter, with knockouts and submissions on his resume, and he spent a lengthy period of time last year in Hawaii working with his TUF mentor BJ Penn. Though he fell at the hurdle that was Kenny Florian, Lauzon bounced back with a solid win over the overmatched Kyle Bradley late last year. It is guys like Lauzon (fearless, willing to fight without quibbling over opponents, always entertaining) that the UFC love, and that’s why a relatively young guy like him is headlining such an event.
The fight was an energetic two rounds of scrambling, submissions, and solid striking. Lauzon was hunting for all manner of submission attacks, dropping for leg locks and pressuring Stephens throughout. The Florida-based fighter avoided Lauzon’s subs for the majority of the fight though, dropping hurtful bombs whenever the chance arose and stunning Lauzon on more than one occasion.
It was the Bostonian’s slick Brazilian jiu-jitsu that proved decisive. Lauzon spun off for a textbook armbar from mount late in the second, proving that though he lacks the name value other headliners have enjoyed, he has the skills necessary to be the main event at a show of this stature.
UFC 94 full results
Dan Cramer def Matt Arroyo via Split Decision
Jake O’Brien def Christian Wellisch via Split Decision
John Howard def Chris Wilson via Split Decision
Thiago Tavares def Manny Gamburyan
via Unanimous Decision
Jon Fitch def Akihiro Gono via Unanimous Decision
Clay Guida def Nathan Diaz via Split Decision
Karo Parisyan def Dong Hyun Kim via Split Decision
Jon Jones def Stephan Bonnar via Unanimous Decision
Lyoto Machida def Thiago Silva via KO
(Punches) 4:59.Rd1
Georges St Pierre def BJ Penn via TKO
(Corner Stoppage) 5:00 Rd4
Ultimate Fight Night 17 full results
Matt Riddle def Steve Bruno via Unanimous Decision
Nick Catone def Derek Downey via Submission (Keylock) 1:15 Rd2
Gleison Tibau def Rich Clementi via Submission (Guillotine) 4:35 Rd1
Matt Veach def Matt Grice via TKO 4:34 Rd1
Dan Miller def Jake Rosholt via Submission (Guillotine) 1:03 Rd1
Kurt Pellegrino def Robert Emerson via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 3:14 Rd2
Anthony Johnson def Luigi Fioravanti
via TKO 4:39 Rd1
Josh.Neer def Mac Danzig via Submission
(Triangle) 3:36 Rd2
Cain Velasquez def Denis Stojnic via TKO 2:34 Rd2
Joe Lauzon def Jeremy Stephens via Submission (Armbar) 4:43 Rd2
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