411s UFC 73 STACKED Report 7.07.07
Posted by Larry Csonka on 07.07.2007
A first for UFC in 2007, nobody shocks the world and the champions retain.
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!
My UFC 73 PICKS:
-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.
Mark Bocek vs. Frank Edgar BOCEK, SUB, RD 1
Chris Lytle vs. Jason Gilliam GILLIAM, DECISION
Diego Saraiva vs. Jorge Gurgel GURGEL, DECISION
Mike Nickels vs. Stephan Bonnar BONNAR, DECISION
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring BIG NOG, SUB, RD 2
Lightweight Title: Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca FRANCA, DECISION
Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz EVANS, TKO, RD 2
Kenny Florian vs. Alvin Robinson ROBINSON, SUB, RD 1
Middleweight Title: Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt SILVA, TKO, RD 4
Dark Match Results: -Mark Bocek defeated Frank Edgar: STRIKES, RD 1
-Chris Lytle defeated Jason Gilliam: SUB, RD 1
-Jorge Gurgel defeated Diego Saraiva: Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
-Stephan Bonnar defeated Mike Nickels: SUB, RD 1
UFC 73 - STACKED:
-Mike Goldberg welcomes us to UFC 73, LIVE from the Arco Arena in Sacramento CALI~! He says this could be one of if not the best MMA card of all time.
-Estimated crowd is 13,500. Not quite a sell out.
-Joe Rogan joins the show and they say this is like an MMA All Star Game. Joe is gushing in his fandom here, and I don't blame him. The MW Title Bout is the main event of the night. They hype that as well as the LW Title Bout. Next we discuss Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring, their history against each other as well as their backgrounds. Finally they discuss Tito vs. Rashad. They say this is Rashad's big chance, as well as a big fight for Tito if he wants to re-climb the mountain.
-They have a text poll for Tito vs. Rashad as well as Marquardt vs. Silva. You may vote online as well.
-They go over the rules again for us.
-We get a video for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring, which will kick off the show.
HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT - Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (29-4-1 Draw) vs. Heath Herring (27-12-1 NC):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: BIG NOG, SUB, RD 2
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: The official is Yves Lavinge. Round 1 begins and Herring with a leg kick to begin things. Clinch and a take down by Nog. Side control and he controls Herring. Some shots by Nog, Nog got his back and Herring escapes. They stand and both land some shots. High kick by Herring blocked. Combos land by both. Herring tries to shoot and nothing. Jabs by Herring as Nog pushes in. Combo by Nog, good jabs and Herring with a combo connects. Knee by Nog, another good combo. He backs down Herring, another combo stumbles Herring and a knee connects as well. Against the cage, they fight off and Nog with another left jab. Body kick by Herring. The nose of Herring is bloodied. Another good knee by Nog. Nog is pushing a lot and another knee by Nog. A good combo follows and against the cage they go. They push off and a kick by Herring DROPS Nog! He pounces on him and lands a lot of shots and Herring backs off for no reason. Nog is hurt and to the mat they go again, Herring backs off again as the round ends. I don't understand that.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Nog was controlling the round but was rocked to a huge degree at the end, and should be enough to give Herring the round 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Nog looks a bit out of it to begin the round. Nog backs off now and Herring with jabs. Fakes a kick and backs off Nog. Leg kick by Herring, high kick blocked by Nog. Jabs by Herring, slow opening of the round for Herring as he doesn't take advantage. Nog looking better and a leg kick by Herring lands. Combo by Nog. High kick by Herring misses, Nog shoots in and gets side control. Mount by Nog and he gets his side and then back. Herring avoids a choke and rolls to the top, nice! Some shots by Herring, and he backs off to stand. Jabs by Herring, Nog backs him off and they clinch. Separate and jabs by both. Leg kick by Herring, but good jabs by Nog. More leg kicks and Nog presses in and they are against the cage and off again. Good kick by Herring again, knee by Nog and he take shim down. Rights by Nog and that's the round.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Herring with a great escape but not much else. I'll go Nog 10-9.
ROUND THREE: Herring looks the worst of the two right now. Round 3 begins and both look for combos. A nice jab by Nog and Herring answers. A knee and left by Nog. Leg kicks again by Herring, Nog shoots and takes Herring down. Side control and some lefts and elbows connect. Half nelson by Nog and gets his back again, Herring rolls and falls into a rear naked choke. Not fully locked and Herring is bleeding more now. Herring escapes and gets mount! Nog works for a Kimura and Herring rolls out and Nog on his back again. Herring works off the cage and rolls to his feet. They stand and trade shots again. Good body shot by Herring, answered by Nog. Clinched against the cage, and off again. Good kick again by Herring. Another and partly blocked. Combo by Nog as Herring is tired. Knees by Nog and another high kick by Herring misses. Leg kicks by Herring and a knee by Nog as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Nog takes the last round with good mat work, good reversals by Herring but he was on defense and lost his opportunity in round 1, that cost him I feel. 10-9 Nog, 29-28 Nog overall.
-The Result: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Decision (29-28 across the cards)
-Joe is with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Joe asks how bad he was hurt in round one. He says very bad, but he recovered. He fought Heath because he is a warrior. He trained hard and will go back and train harder. Nog says he was rocked big time. He has never been hit like that.
-Tito is winning the poll over Rashad with 59%. Silva is winning his with 71%.
-We get a video for UFC 74.
-We get a video package for Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca.
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: The official is Big John! Here we go. A BIG knee by Franca and Sherk slams him down, Franca has a guillotine though! Tight and Sherk looks to escape does and is out to half guard. Sherk looks to pass and lands a few shots from the top. Sherk with 5 or 6 shots and now passes to full mount easily. Franca looks to escape, more shots by Sherk and looks for an arm triangle. Side control now by Sherk, Franca pushes off the cage a bit but Sherk dominates. Franca sits up and pushes Sherk away. Sherk back on top, Franca tries a golgaplata, Sherk gets north south and lands more shots. Sherk sweeps Franca and gets half guard. Franca still working and now more shots by Sherk. Not much damage but controlling. Sherk with full mount and lands a great combo from there. Final minute of the round and Sherk still controls easily. Lots of controlling shots by Sherk and Franca rolls, Sherk gets his back and Franca out and on top! Sherk reverses though and gains top control, lands some shots as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Outside of the opening moments, a total clinic by Sherk. 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Leg kicks by Franca to begin the round. Franca rocks him with a BIG knee and pounces on him! Guillotine again by Franca, Sherk pops out and gets mount. Wow. Elbows by Sherk, Sherk looks to pass and Franca tries to hold the leg and rolls and he is on top. Sherk wraps the legs and Sherk shoves him off and gets north south again. Lands some shots to Franca, Sherk grabs an ankle as well and then back to shots to the head. Sherk gets the back, more shots and Franca rolls and into guard. Big elbow by Sherk. Side control easily again by Sherk. More controlling shots by Sherk, Franca rolls and gets another guillotine. The round ends as Franca holds the guillotine.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Good end for the round by Franca, and he rocked him with the knee, but Sherk controlled more again. Very close but I go 10-9 for Sherk.
ROUND THREE: Round three begins and Sherk backs him down, Sherk in and SLAMS Franca down. Half guard now and Sherk is making it look easy. Sherk controls on the mat and the crowd is restless. Side control now and Franca tries to roll and Sherk gets a north south choke. Franca rolls again and more shots by Sherk. Sherk passes again and more lefts on Franca. Knees from the bottom by Franca but hammer fists to the ribs by Sherk. Sherk gets the back again, turtle by Franca and knees by Sherk. Sherk landing shots at will and Franca to his knees and Sherk to north south and back to the back like it is nothing. Franca escapes and taken right back down. Side control again by Sherk, goes for an Americana and has it solid but Franca rolls and escapes. Back to side control by Sherk and more shots to the head by Sherk as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Sherk is controlling the fight to a ridiculous degree. 10-9.
ROUND FOUR: Jabs by Sherk to begin the round. ANOTHER knee by Franca but Sherk takes him right down again. Sherk controls with shots from the top, again not too damaging but controlling. To their feet and against the cage. Sherk sweeps him down and it is just more of the same. To their feet and an uppercut by Franca. Franca sprawls now and then Sherk picks him up and SLAMS him very hard! Back to side control by Sherk. Elbows now by Sherk and then lefts. Franca back to turtle and knees by Sherk. Hammer shots by Sherk, Franca rolls and to his feet. Good combo by Sherk. Franca is very tired. Another knee by Franca and Sherk shoots and they are against the cage. Franca tries another guillotine but has to let go and Sherk back on top. Franca rolls, Sherk still in control. To their feet and Sherk just slams him down again and Franca looks like a defeated man right now. The round ends with Sherk in control.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: More of the same. Sherk 10-9.
ROUND FIVE: Final round and they trade jabs. Leg kicks and a shoot by Sherk, against the cage and Sherk SLAMS him down again, passes and into guard. Sherk constantly working on top, hammer fists, Franca tries a triangle and a kick connects though. To their feet and Franca tries a guillotine again, but releases. Franca is bleeding now as Sherk mounts. Crowd booing a lot as Sherk dominates. Quick shots by Sherk, Franca rolls and Sherk has his back. Franca up and pulled right back down again. Franca tries a knee bar but nothing. Franca rolls for another knee bar try but Sherk back on top and in control. Franca back to his feet, against the cage and Sherk slams him down yet again. And again. Franca up and Sherk takes him right back down. Franca manages to his feet again but dumped to his ass. This is ridiculous. Mount by Sherk and Franca rolls, Sherk gets his back, Franca to his feet and Sherk pulls him down yet again as the fight ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Same as the other rounds, Sherk humbled Franca. I have it 50-45 for Sherk. Eddie Bravo went 49-46 for Sherk.
-The Result: And Still Champion Sean Sherk Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
-Joe is with Sherk. Joe says he dominated and as champion he is the best. Crowd hates it but Sherk says he wanted to finish, but Franca is excellent at BJJ and took a hit repeatedly. His career has had highs and lows, but he came back and took advantage of his chances and will hold on to the title for a long time. He talks us through the replays of his clinic. He wanted to put on a good show, and showed what the sport is all about.
-Tito vs. Rashad is next.
-The text polls are 58% for Tito.
-Couture comes to join the commentary team. Couture says Tito is much more mature now and it is showing all around in his game. Couture says you can never write Tito off, his only losses in 9-years to Couture and Liddell. Joe says that Rashad has improved a lot and is very powerful. Couture discusses their wrestling skills and he says Rashad could neutralize Tito in that area. They say Tito has improved in striking and his maturity will show that.
-We get the video package for Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz.
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: The official is Big John! Here we go. These guys are pumped up and the place loves Tito. High kick by Tito and a shoot and take down by Tito. Against the cage, Evans tries to go up the cage and lands some rib shots. To their feet, knees by Evans and they work against the cage. They separate and they throw WILD shots and against the cage again. Knees by Tito, good elbow by Tito and uppercut. Big John separates them as Evans' mouthpiece fell out. They wash and here we go. They circle and a leg kick misses by Tito. Fakes a shoot and they dance. Leg kick by Tito. Another. Combo by Evans and Tito shoots, sprawl by Evans and against the cage. Tito tries a single leg, Evans sits and gets his back and they stand. Evans looks for a take down, nothing doing right now. Tito has a cut under his right eye. Against the cage and a flurry by both, knees by Evans and against the cage again. Knees by Tito, tries a single and Evans stops that. Tito works and cannot pull him down as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Good round for Tito, not a ton of action but Tito gets it 10-9.
ROUND TWO: The cut to Tito was by an inadvertent thumb it appears. High kick by Tito misses. Good jab by Tito, Evans dances a lot and goes for a high kick and is blocked. Evans shoots in and Tito stops that and gets a light knee. Solid combo by Evans, Tito in with a right. Leg kick by Tito. A good right by Tito, Evans looks off his game. Against the cage, clinch and knees by Tito. Elbow by Tito and Evans shoots in and a sprawl by Tito. Knees again by Tito and Evans shoots and they break. Both throw and connect. Knees by Tito and an elbow. Evans shoots and nothing. Tito shoots and against the cage they go. Evans stays up and Tito than slams him down. Evans works some shots and Tito controls. Evans gets the back and to their feet they go. Evans gets him down and Tito loses a point for grabbing the cage, Guillotine by Tito! Evans rolls and SURVIVES the round.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Tito won the round, but loses the point for grabbing the cage. 9-9.
ROUND THREE: Tito's right eye is swelling a bit as the final round begins. Evans is swelling over the left eye. Pace has slowed down. High kick by Tito connects and Tito shoots in and they are down to the mat. Evans grabs the cage and gets a warning. Tito controls and holds Evans down. Evans up and Tito holds on, knees by Tito. Tries a single leg and Evans stays up. Evans lands some shots and Tito still works the single. Clinch against the cage and they get broken up. Tito is bleeding and gets a head kick and misses. Tito looks tired now and a body kick by Tito. Good shots by Evans, Tito counters. Tito shoots and a sprawl by Evans and to the feet they go. Clinch against the cage and Evans looks for a take down. Sots by both and Evans SLAMS Tito! He has top and lands a few shots as the fight ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Evans did good work at the end, probably not enough but he probably took the round as Tito didn't do much. 10-9 Evans, and a draw overall 28-28.
-The Result: Unanimous Draw (28-28)
-Joe talks with Tito. Tito says it was not his best and Rashad fought harder than he thought. They boo Tito when he asks if they are satisfied. Tito says they can do it again since it was a draw. Tito says he grabbed and doesn't argue it at all. He feels he should have won, but Rashad fought his ass off. Tito is off to Iraq to support the troops.
-Joe is with Rashad now. He feels he had the fight, but maybe he didn't work as hard as he should have. He thinks he would have finished is he had some more time. He says he is up for the rematch.
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: The official is BIG JOHN AGAIN! They come out and Silva goes southpaw stance. Jabs by Silva, leg kick by Marquardt. Jabs by Marquardt to keep Silva away, big right misses by Marquardt and a good right by Silva. Jumping knee by Silva and Silva takes him down and tries a guillotine, Marquardt escapes and has top. Elbows from the bottom by Silva. Arm triangle by Silva, lets go and Marquardt still on top. Marquardt tries to pass and Silva into full guard. High guard and Silva pushes him off. Up kick and Marquardt on top again. Marquardt misses an elbow and stands, up kicks by Silva and Marquardt back on top. Big John makes them stand up. High kick by Silva connects and a big left hits as well. Marquardt gets a single leg takedown, Silva on top and Marquardt rolls and Silva switches and rains down with shots from the top, a BIG right and more shots and Big John stops the bout!
Marquardt is attended too as he is still down on the mat, sitting. He is bloody. He is up now and looks to be fine.
-The Result: And Still Champion Anderson Silva @ 4:50 of Round One via KO.
-Joe is with Silva. He talks in Silva and then thanks everyone, his family and such. They look at the replay and some dude comes in and says Silva is the man.
-We get no intros for the next fight as they are rushing through.
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: Yves is the official. They circle and Robinson charges in, against the cage and lands knees. Arm drag by Robinson and they stand. Robinson slams him against the cage and big knees by Robinson. Flo with a hip toss and down they go. Flo slams him down, and they are stood up. Leg kicks by Flo, Robinson pushes in and knees connect. Rams Flo to the cage, trip by Flo and he is on top. Guard by Robinson, elbows by Flo and keeps connecting. Side control by Flo, and mount. Lands some good shots, up kick by Robinson and guard by Robinson. Rights by Flo now, passes and side control now. Into mount now and Robinson to his feet. Charges in again, knee to Flo and a double leg on Robinson. Mount and rights to Robinson. Rights and lefts now and he rains down and Robinson taps from punches as his mouthpiece flies out.
-The Result: Kenny Florian visa RD 1 TKO @ 4:30
-Joe is with Flo. Joe says he looked great and asks what he thought of the Sherk fight? Flo says people want to see fights finished and he did that. Finish it, because that is what he is about. He says he is going one fight at a time but wants a rematch with Sherk. He wants to be the only choice for the fight. They talk through the replay.
-Couture and Goldberg discuss his comments and possible fight with Sherk.
-They hype the Chuck and Larry movie.
-Submission of the night goes to Chris Lytle with a leg triangle and arm bar combo, crazy!
-Go to UFC.com to see the prelim fights and aftermath of the night's action.
-They put over the dominance of the champions tonight. Also the possibility of a Tito vs. Rashad rematch.
-No extra fights are shown for once, even though the show ends with 14-minutes left.
Stay tuned for Monday Morning when "My Take on MMA" returns with a complete breakdown and final thoughts on the show~!
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!
