411’s UFC 69: The Shootout Report 04.07.07
Posted by Larry Csonka on 04.07.2007
UFC keeps the magical moments coming, last month Randy Couture, and now this month…Matt Serra shocks the world!
Feel free to send in your thoughts on the show! If you do, please include your BEST and WORST fight, and score the PPV from 0-10!
UFC 69 Predictions:
-Here are the predictions I made for the Forum Pick ‘Em Contest, that way I can be made fun of when I make some atrocious picks. I tied for first for UFC 68 with long time friend and nemesis El Pengu de Voodoo Magnifico, and came in 2nd, VERY surprisingly for the UFN 9 pick ‘em contest. After some horrendous picks previously, I may be finding my way.
-Josh Haynes vs. Luke Cummo – Cummo, RD 2, Submission
-Marcus Davis vs. Pete Spratt – Davis, Submission, RD 2
-Thales Leites vs. Pete Sell – Leites, TKO, RD 1
-Heath Herring vs. Brad Imes – Imes, Decision
-Kendall Grove vs. Alan Belcher – Grove, Decision
-Yushin Okami vs. Mike Swick – Swick, Submission, RD 1
-Diego Sanchez vs. Josh Koscheck – Koscheck, Decision
-Roger Huerta vs. Leonard Garcia – Huerta, RD 2, TKO
-Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra – St. Pierre, RD 3, TKO
Dark Match Results: -Luke Cummo defeated Josh Haynes via RD 2 TKO
-Marcus Davis defeated Pete Spratt via RD 2 Submission
-Thales Leitis defeated Pete Sell via Unanimous Decision (30-27 across the cards)
-Heath Herring defeated Brad Imes via Unanimous Decision (30-27 across the cards)
UFC 69: The Shootout:
-We're live from the Toyota Center in Houston!
-Mike Goldberg welcomes us to the show.
-He runs down the card and Joe Rogan joins him.
-We get video of the weigh-in, and the shove from Sanchez to Koscheck.
-Kendall Grove vs. Alan Belcher is up first, as we get a video package for the bout.
MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT - Kendall Grove (9-3) vs. Alan Belcher (9-2):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Grove, Decision
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: UFC 69 is underway. They both look for strikes early. Grove connects with a small combo and then a leg kick. Belcher grabs the clinch and slams Grove down. Side control by Belcher, Grove elbows a bit and works from the bottom, turns it around and to his feet and connects with elbows and a combo. Some more good shots by Grove, they clinch and to the cage they go. Grove with knees and foot stomps. Belcher turns him and they break. Good body kick by Belcher, and Grove back with knees. Nice close elbow and then a straight kick by Grove. Another connects as he uses his reach. More knees and Belcher is down, Grove on top in the north south, Belcher works and to the feet they go. Belcher works for a single leg, and they keep the clinch against the cage. Grove with more foot stomps and then an elbow. More knees by Grove, and they get broken by Big John. Grove with a good body kick and combo. Belcher shoots in but Grove keeps him standing as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Close round, but I think Grove did more overall so he gets it 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Grove working with his reach as Belcher tries for leg kicks. They clinch and against the cage they go. Belcher to his knees for leverage, Grove on top and gets some shots as Belcher stands. Back to the mat and Grove on top and rains down with elbows. He gets side control and Belcher escapes and to the feet they go. Good jabs by Grove, Belcher with a body kick connects. A good body kick and right by Grove. He follows with knees and rights. He slams Belcher with a double leg takedown and has the mount. Elbows again by Grove. Grove stands and gets a huge right. He locks in a choke and Belcher goes to sleep!
-The Result: Kendall Grove via Round 2 Submission
Belcher is ok, up and congrats are offered to Grove.
Joe is with Grove now. Grove says he was tough and it was a great win. He talks us through the choke and says it is the submission of the night.
-We see Sanchez and Koscheck preparing backstage.
-We now get a video package for UFC 70.
-Up next is a video package for Yushin Okami vs. Mike Swick.
MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT - Yushin Okami (20-3) vs. Mike Swick (10-1):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Swick, Submission, RD 1
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: Quick jabs and kicks by Swick to begin. Leg kick connects and then misses a high kick. They circle, both throwing a bit as they feel each other out. Crowd crazy for Swick. Good body kick by Swick, Okami fires back with an inside leg kick. Swick misses a big uppercut and back to the jabs. A good high kick connects to the shoulder. Leaps in for a knee, then misses an overhand left. Leg kicks by Swick and goes for another high kick. They clinch and to the cage they go. Knees by Okami and a takedown by Okami. Okami in control with some rights and looking for a choke. Okami on top and getting elbows and lefts. Swick works from the half guard and Okami over powers him and drops some more short elbows. Swick tries to work off the cage as Okami tries for a kimura, starts to extend the arm and Swick gets the arm back in as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Okami controlled the ground and easily takes the round 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Swick tries a spin kick and misses. Looking for jabs now, Okami stays back and waits. Leg kicks by Swick and then a knee. Misses a big uppercut and back to the jabs. Okami misses an over the top right. Swick doesn't seem to know what he wants to do, they clinch and Okami takes him against the cage. Okami powers him down and has the mount. Good rights by Okami, to his feet and throws some shots. Back to the mount and Swick tries to under hook the arms and they are stood up. They both throw jabs, Swick charges in with a good combo but into the clinch. Against the cage they go again, Okami takes him down again. Into the mount and lands some light shots. They get stood up again, way too quick again, this ref sucks. Swick lands good punches now and a great combo, Okami rocked and Swick fires away but Okami grabs him and takes him down to end the round.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: A close round, Okami didn't do much on the takedowns, Swick survived and rocked Okami, almost finishing I feel so he gets the round 10-9.
ROUND THREE: Final round and both guys look a bit tired. Swick dances a bit and jabs away at Okami. Swick with a good combo, avoids a takedown and then back to the jabs. Leg kick by Swick and then a straight left. They both land some jabs, and then Swick attacks again with a flurry, but Okami takes him down. Okami in mount and lands some rights. Okami inches him towards the fence and connects with more rights and lefts. Okami gets his back and almost had a choke, but Swick turns it. Okami starts to rain down punches and then gets the back of Swick again. More punches by Okami and Swick tries to defend as Okami tries for another choke. Back with more punches by Okami as he is dominating right now, Swick cannot answer and Okami gets the back again. More punches are landed by Okami, not hard, but not answered. Swick finally rolls out of it and gets top position and Okami looks to tie up Swick. Swick out and lands one big shot, half guard now and a few short elbows and the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Okami dominated the round as he had him in trouble and you could argue for a stoppage. I give him round 3, and the fight 29-28. Eddie Bravo agrees.
-The Result: Yushin Okami via Unanimous Decision, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27
Joe is with Okami. Okami says he will be the next champion. They try to have him talk through the replay, mistake.
-We see Koscheck and Sanchez warming up again.
-We get another promo for UFC 70.
-We now see GSP and Serra warming up.
-Joe Rogan is with UFC Dana White. Joe says Dana has an exciting announcement tonight. Dana says they have been on a mission, and they have acquired PRIDE and will eventually put on a Super Bowl of MMA. They have a new acquisition, a man that defeated Mirko, Antonio "Miniotauro" Nogiera. Joe puts him over huge and Nogiera is happy to be here to show off his submission skills. He also wants the title. He will have a few fights, but says he will have a title fight soon enough.
-We get a video package for Roger Huerta vs. Leonard Garcia.
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Roger Huerta (18-1) vs. Leonard Garcia (13-1):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Huerta, RD 2, TKO
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: Huerta stalks him, they circle and exchange some shots. They clinch and fall. Huerta gets a knee and quickly back to their feet. Huerta charges in and looks for a takedown, Garcia has a light guillotine but not serious. Huerta escapes, on top and rights to Garcia as he has him against the fence. Elbows by Huerta, he gets Garcia's back and they roll and Huerta had a choke, but Garcia rolls out. To the feet, rights and knees by Garcia. Garcia has a SWEET standing Guillotine and basically DDT's Huerta! Huerta sneaks his head out, lands shots from the top and Garcia answers from the bottom. Very good lefts connect from Huerta. Huerta looks for side control, lands shots and starts to open up on Garcia. They go to the feet and then Garcia takes him down. Garcia has a kimura, Huerta escapes that and they both stand and throw wildly and Huerta takes him down now. Huerta on top, works for side and lands more shots on Garcia. Garcia fires from the bottom and stay in it. Garcia rolls and has top position now. Works from the guard, they trade shots here in the final seconds and the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Tremendous round of action here. This was VERY close, and I will go Huerta in a CLOSE round 10-9.
ROUND TWO: They both come out looking for kicks and collide. Wheel kick misses by Huerta, clinch and against the cage they go. Down and Huerta with huge elbows on Garcia. Huerta is landing some big shots, Garcia is working, rolls and out. To his feet and gets a good knee. Nice left by Garcia and lands another. They stand and trade wildly again. Huerta lands a good knee off of a combo, lights up Garcia and he is leaving himself open. They go toe to toe and just throw and Huerta takes control and Garcia is rocked. Huerta takes down Garcia, who is gassed. He drops elbows and then hammer fists from the side. Garcia eats another elbow and then a left hook. Huerta starts to rain down and connecting at will. Garcia some how gets to his feet and rocks Huerta with a right and a leg kick. Huerta stumbles Garcia as they go toe to toe again and just throw! Huerta slams him to the fence and takes him down again very easily. Huerta in mount, Garcia keeps throwing and tries an arm bar, but fails. Huerta lands a few more shots as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: This was just a crazy brawl. They are throwing for the fences and it makes for an exciting round. Huerta looks better and is doing more damage, and takedowns. I give him this round as well, 10-9.
ROUND THREE: Crowd is amped for the round. Garcia shoots in and then eats some shots from Huerta. They throw wildly again and Huerta catches a kick and takes Garcia down. Huerta in mount, now into side control and Huerta lands some elbows. He looks for a kimura, Garcia escapes and Huerta lands some more shots. Huerta controls mount easily, into side control and Huerta lands another good left. Garcia escapes and gets the back of Huerta. Big right to the back of the head by Garcia. He tries to hook a choke and works and throws rights. Huerta fights out and rolls into side control. Lots of shots landed by Huerta now and he stays on top as Garcia rolls away. More shots just rain down by Huerta. Garcia is being punished now as Huerta dominates. More shots connect by Huerta, into the mount and they both throw shots as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: That was a war. Huerta did more damage and was never in trouble, again. Garcia survived this. 30-27 for Huerta.
-The Result: Huerta via Unanimous Decision (30-27 across the cards)
Joe is with Huerta. Huerta thanks God and his sponsors. Garcia's face is a total mess by the way, swollen and bruised badly. Huerta says Garcia put it all on the line. Garcia says he had one month to prepare, and did his best but he has work to do. He thinks they should have a rematch when he is ready. Huerta says the last fight wasn't an illegal knee to close the interview.
-They hype UFC 70 AND the Dana vs. Tito special on SPIKE.
-We get hype and a video package for Diego Sanchez vs. Josh Koscheck.
-Mariachi Imperial De America plays Diego Sanchez to the ring.
WELTERWEIGHT BOUT - Diego Sanchez (19-0) vs. Josh Koscheck (10-1):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Koscheck, Decision
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: They circle and both throw jabs. Good high kick try by Josh. Sanchez gets a right and backs off Josh. High kick try again by Josh, Sanchez charges in a bit and backs off Josh. A nice right connects by Josh, Sanchez leaps in with a high knee, misses and they continue to look for an opening. A nice high kick connects by Josh, Sanchez blocked but took the brunt of the shot. Sanchez throws a combo and misses. Crowd is getting pissy because they are "doing enough" for them. A huge right by Josh lands, Sanchez takes it and continues to look for jabs. Sanchez looks for rights, misses and then throws a combo that misses. Sanchez presses forward again, but nothing. They both throw some shots, light connection by both. They continue to circle and both look for the opening. Leg kicks by Sanchez connect. A straight kick connects as well. Josh shoots in and SLAMS Sanchez down. He ties Sanchez up, almost has a guillotine but Sanchez escapes, and gets his back as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: A close round, not a ton done, but Josh had some good connection and the takedown, so I will go with Koscheck 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Sanchez with quick jabs early, nothing connecting but he is the aggressor early on. A nice right by Josh connects and then one by Sanchez. Sanchez in with a combo, connects and backs off Josh. More circling, Josh is dropping his hands a bit as nothing much is happening. A nice right by Josh lands and then a good combo follows. Sanchez in with a right and Josh lands another as well. Sanchez misses with a combo. Leg kicks by Josh connect. Sanchez charges in, but lands nothing. Sanchez gets a leg kick of his own. Josh in and eats a big right from Sanchez. Josh with jabs now, and then they both throw with Josh getting the better of the short exchange. Sanchez gets a good high kick as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Nothing much happening, Josh is doing well in his stand up and I will go with him, 10-9 here.
ROUND THREE: They come out jabbing again here in round three. Sanchez looks to have more aggression here. Sanchez leaps in with a knee and misses. A good right by Josh connects again. Sanchez shoots in but backs off. Sanchez with leg kicks, misses and gets a jab. Sanchez misses a combo, and a good jab by Josh lands. Sanchez goes in again, lands nothing and backs off, not trying a takedown. Overhand right lands by Sanchez, and then a straight right. The crowd hates this fight. Sanchez throws more, but isn't landing much of anything. Josh with another good right connects and then a solid jab. Josh with some big shots thrown but not connecting. Inside leg kick by Sanchez connects, but Josh gets another jab. Sanchez is able to land a solid right and they clinch and throw some shots and both connect well. They back off again, Sanchez has no sense of urgency. Josh throws two high kicks to back off Sanchez and the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Nothing much, Josh did more, I will go 30-27 for Josh Koscheck. Eddie Bravo agrees. Bottom line, Sanchez did nothing and never fought to "win."
-The Result: Josh Koscheck via Unanimous Decision (30-27 across the cards)
There is a huge bullshit chant from the crowd.
Joe is with Koscheck. He mocks the crowd and says that was payback, he doesn't care of they hate him, Sanchez is 19…and 1. We go to the replay and see Koscheck landing solid shots all through the fight. He thanks God as well, it is Easter after all.
-UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture joins the commentary team. He puts over GSP as a great, well-rounded fighter. Randy says Serra has to take the fight to the ground and keep it there to have a chance to win.
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: They touch and here we go. They circle and Serra in with jabs. St. Pierre tries a high kick and backs off Serra. St. Pierre goes for the high kick again and he is keeping Serra away. Shots by Serra and he slips. St. Pierre with another high kick and Serra is having trouble getting close. A good body shot by Serra. St. Pierre with about the 7th high kick, not connecting but keeping Serra away. Leg kicks by St. Pierre, and then from Serra. They both connect with a combo. Leg kicks by St. Pierre connect. Serra rocks St. Pierre with a right follows and keeps throwing and St. Pierre is stumbling. Serra keeps throwing and St. Pierre is down! He mounts and wild and raining shots by Serra, St. Pierre cannot answer and IT IS OVER~!
-The Result: Matt Serra via RD 1 TKO (Becomes NEW Welterweight Champion)
Serra says he is hungry and wants to know is Joe and Dana have some HUMBLE PIE~! Tremendous! He worked the stand up and brings in his teacher. He is proud of Matt and he fought better than he ever sparred. Serra talks us through the replay. He knew GSP was hurt, but was still dangerous and backed off at first. Rogan says he gets the feeling of success now. Serra says he said he would win the title during TUF and he did so.
GSP says he trained hard, but he got beat by the better fighter tonight. He makes no excuses, he was ready, but the better man won. He would like a rematch, and he is sad right now.
-Couture and Goldberg discuss the victory and how it is a second chance for him.
Josh Haynes vs. Luke Cummo :
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Cummo, RD 2, Submission
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: They come out circling, Haynes is more aggressive early and lands a nice combo. Two big rights connect and Luke fires back with some of his own. Haynes with another nice combo and then a body kick. They clinch and Luke gets some knees, but Haynes takes him down. Haynes on top and backs off allowing Luke to stand. Clinch again, knees by Luke and they battle along the fence. They break and combo by Luke connects. Straight kick by Luke, and then a leg kick connects as well. A nice left by Luke rocks Haynes. Luke tosses him to the cage, Haynes throws a wild punch and they back off. Haynes' cheek is swelling up big already, possible broken jaw they think. Luke with a good combo and a leg kick. Haynes tries a takedown as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Luke looked good and might have broken the jaw of Haynes. Luke takes the round 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Round 2 begins with Luke throwing jabs to begin. Haynes charges in with some shots, nothing happening. Luke gets another good combo and straight kick to connect. They clinch and knees by Luke. Break and a straight kick by Luke. Luke with another combo, and then a good right. Straight kick connects again and then another combo connects easily. A huge right by Luke connects and drops Haynes like a sack of shit. Haynes grabs for the ref's leg as he calls it off.
-The Result: Luke Cummo via RD 2 TKO
-Submission of the night was the Kendall Grove submission from our first fight.
-Rogan and Goldberg talk about the Serra win, and talk about how he was a huge contender at one point, but had a bad run. This could be that 2nd chance he wanted.
-They hype UFC 70 and that's the show!
Stay tuned for Monday Morning when "My Take on MMA" returns with complete breakdowns and final thoughts on UFC 69 and Ultimate Fight Night IX~!
Feel free to send in your thoughts on the show! If you do, please include your BEST and WORST fight, and score the PPV from 0-10!
