Backstory: GPS destroyed Matt Hughes to capture the Welterweight title while Matt Serra won The Ultimate Fighter 4 in order to earn a shot at the title. Coming into the fight, Serra was an 11-1 underdog.
Round One: GSP used his reach advantage to keep Serra at bay but Serra kept pressing forward with punches. GSP threw body and high kicks but Serra avoided them.
Fight End: Serra caught GSP in the back of the head with a punch that stumbled GSP. After that, Serra pressed forward and rocked GSP, sending him down to the ground. Serra then mounted GSP and came down with punches until the ref stopped it.
Winner New Welterweight Champion Matt Serra at 3:25 of Round One by TKO
Goldberg notes that Serra spent the rest of the year on The Ultimate Fighter 6 as a trainer.
2007 Moment to Remember: Rashad Evans destroys Sean Salmon with a head kick.
Goldberg tells us that the Lightweights were on display in 2007.
Tyson Griffin vs. Frankie Edgar from UFC 67: All or Nothing
Backstory: Both men were undefeated so something had to give.
Round One: They stayed on their feet for a bit but neither man was doing much. Edgar scored with a takedown but Griffin fought out and scored a takedown of his own. Then both men displayed their grappling skills, scrambling out of different positions. Back on the feet, Griffin looked to be going for one big punch while Edgar sat back and countered. Edgar scored with another takedown and dropped some punches. Griffin got to his feet as the round ended. 10-9 Edgar.
Round Two: Started on the feet and Griffin caught Edgar with an uppercut but Edgar was able to recover. Back on the feet, Griffin continued to look to throw bombs. Griffin went for a kick but Edgar took him down. Griffin scrambled and got up. Griffin scored with good leg kicks but was once again taken down. Griffin scrambled and got the back of Edgar, who scrambled and mounted Griffin before taking his back as the round ended. 10-9 Griffin.
Round Three: Griffin started off by throwing very good leg kicks. They exchanged combos and Griffin got the better of them. In the clinch, Edgar scored with big knees and one seemed to catch the groin of Griffin. The ref told him to fight on and Edgar pushed the action, scoring with multiple punches capped with a takedown. Griffin fought to his feet but every time he got up, Edgar took him back down. Griffin ended up sweeping Edgar and putting him in a knee bar for about 30 seconds until the round ended. 10-9 Edgar.
Winner Frankie Edgar by Unanimous Decision
Goldberg tells us that the fight took Fight of the Night honors at UFC 67. We move right into another Lightweight fight
Roger Huerta vs. Leonard Garcia from UFC 69: Shootout
Backstory: Huerta had been on a tear and Garcia was no slouch, taking this fight on short notice.
Round One: Huerta came out and pushed the action on the feet. He scored with a takedown where he got the back and mounted Garcia but Garcia scrambled out. Huerta landed good shots on the feet before scoring with another takedown. Huerta landed big punches while Garcia went for the guillotine choke. Back on the feet, both men were just swinging and connecting. Huerta got another takedown and scored with more punches from the top. Garcia switched positions as the round ended. 10-9 Huerta.
Round Two: Both guys came out swinging in this round. Huerta scored a takedown and came down with big elbows and punches. Garcia scrambled to his feet. Back on the feet, both guys just started swinging with Huerta landing the bigger shots. Huerta scored an easy takedown. Garcia tired to scramble but didn't succeed. Huerta landed big punches from the guard but Garcia got to his feet. They pick up where they left off, swinging and connecting. Another takedown by Huerta and more punches from the guard as the round ended. 10-9 Huerta.
Round Three: Garcia goes for a takedown, Huerta shoves him away, they swing for the fences with Huerta winning the exchange again. Huerta gets another takedown. Garcia controls Huerta on the ground but still eats some punches. Garcia scrambles and gets the back of Huerta. Huerta rolls to top position and pounds on Garcia. Both men swing wildly on the ground as the round ends. 10-9 Huerta.
Winner Roger Huerta by Unanimous Decision
Goldberg calls Huerta vs. Garcia a great battle. He then talks about UFC going to the UK for UFC 70.
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga from UFC 70: Nations Collide
Backstory: The winner of this fight would receive a Heavyweight title shot against Randy Couture.
Round One: Gonzaga pressed forward on the feet and almost frustrated Mirko. Mirko went for a body kick but Gonzaga caught it and took him down. Gonzaga scored with elbows from the guard, cutting Mirko open. The ref decided to stand them up even though Gonzaga seemed to be working hard.
Fight End: With about 10 seconds remaining in the round, Gonzaga threw a sick head kick that knocked Mirko completely out.
Winner Gabriel Gonzaga at 4:51 by KO
Goldberg noted that the year of upsets continued with this fight.
2007 Moment to Remember: Gray Maynard and Rob Emerson dueled to a no contest when Gray knocked himself out slamming a tapping Rob.
Goldberg talks about the backstory between Liddell and Jackson.
Backstory: Jackson defeated Liddell at the 2003 Pride Grand Prix and this was the only loss Liddell had yet to avenge. This fight really boosted UFC into the eyes of the mainstream since Chuck was such a superstar in the sport.
Round One: It should be noted that the crowd is very electric at the start of this fight. Liddell waits on Jackson to strike with him but Liddell stays patient. Jackson tells Liddell to bring it. Quick exchange by both men.
Fight End: Liddell goes to the body with a left hook but Jackson blocks it and explodes with right hook that knocks Liddell down. Jackson pounces on Liddell and finishes him.
Winner New Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson at 1:53 by KO
Goldberg calls Jackson the new Light Heavyweight champ and moves on to the backstory between Fisher and Stout.
Spencer Fisher vs. Sam Stout from Ultimate Fight Night 10
Backstory This is a rematch from UFC 58 where Stout defeated Fisher by split decision. Fisher took that fight on short notice and had trouble making weight. Both men came in well prepared for this bout.
Round One: Fisher starts off with some nice combos. Fisher goes for a takedown but Stout blocks it. Fisher continues to get the better of the stand up with combos. Stout is cut on the side of his head. More combos from Fisher. A knee by Stout followed by a combo. Fisher is cut under his eye. Stout eats a right hand. Good combo by Stout. Big right hand by Stout. Combo by Fisher at the end of the round that stumbled Stout. 10-9 Fisher.
Round Two: Fisher begins working on the body using a kicks, a punch, and a knee. Both men throw combos but Fisher is mixing it up a bit more, throwing in leg kicks. Stout begins mixing in leg kicks to his combos but Fisher still seems to be the more creative fighter. They continue to trade combos but Fisher seems to be connecting more with his punches and kicks. Fisher goes for a takedown but Stout blocks it and shoves him off in the clinch. The round ends with more punches being thrown. 10-9 Fisher.
Round Three: Stout comes out looking a bit more aggressive this round starting off with body kicks and a combo. Fisher connects with a left hand and then follows with a right. Fisher is now landing big shots on Stout. Fisher continues to score with nice combos. They trade body kicks before Fisher drops Stout with a right hand. Stout recovers though before Fisher can finish. Body kicks by Stout. Stout begins throwing nice combos, mixing in kicks, as the round winds down. Stout presses the action late with combos. Both men swing for the fences as the round ends. 10-9 Fisher.
Winner Spencer Fisher by Unanimous Decision
Goldberg talks about how Fisher avenged his loss to Stout.
2007 Moment to Remember: Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans ended in a draw.
Goldberg says that although 2007 was the year of the upset, Anderson Silva was the exception.
Backstory: Marquardt was a 7 time King of Pancrease and since the Middleweight Division was thin, he got a shot against Silva.
Round One: Silva looks to explode with his strikes but Nate is having none of it. Silva goes for a flying knee but Nate avoids it and gets the takedown. Nate does minimal damage from the guard of Silva. The ref finally stands it up. Silva connects with a straight left that forces Nate to go from the takedown but Silva sprawls.
Fight End: Nate goes for a single leg takedown but Silva switches, takes down Nate, and drops punches on Nate from the top until the ref stops it.
Winner Still Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva at 4:50 by TKO
Goldberg talks about Silva's reign before moving on to talk about the explosion of Houston Alexander.
Alessio Sakara vs. Houston Alexander from UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion
Backstory: Houston destroyed Keith Jardine in his UFC debut. He was matched up against Sakara to see if the Jardine fight was a fluke or not.
Round One: They quickly clinch and Sakara gets the takedown but Houston quickly gets back up.
Fight End: They clinch again and Houston drops Sakara with a knee. Houston pounces on Sakara and drops punches until the ref stops it.
Winner Houston Alexander at 1:01 by KO
Goldberg puts over Houston once again.
2007 Moment to Remember: Nate Quarry knocks out Pete Sell
Goldberg talks about Mauricio Rua making his UFC debut.
Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio Rua from UFC 76: Knockout
Backstory: Rua was making his UFC debut after being considered one of, if not the, best Light Heavyweight fighter in the world. Griffin asked for this fight.
Round One: Rua goes for a takedown but Griffin rolls and gets the back of Rua. Rua scrambles and they get back to the feet. Quick exchanges on the feet before Rua scores with a takedown. Griffin controls Rua from the guard, taking minimal damage. Griffin scrambles to his feet. Leg kick by Griffin, knee by Rua. They clinch and Griffin trips him down. Griffin throws a combo. Rua scores a tough takedown but Griffin scrambles and ends up in the guard on Rua as the round ends. 10-9 Griffin.
Round Two: Combo by Griffin to start the round. Rua scores with a takedown. Rua scores with a sick elbow from the guard that cuts Griffin between the eyes. Griffin scrambles to his feet and trips Rua down. Rua gets to his feet. They exchange until Rua goes for a takedown that is stuffed by Griffin. Rua looks gassed at this point. Griffin throws some leg kicks. Rua goes for another takedown but Griffin sprawls again. They exchange jabs. Rua goes for another takedown but Griffin sprawls and gets Rua's back. Rua rolls to half guard. Griffin connects with punches from the top before taking his back from the side. Griffin continues to throw punches as the round ends. 10-9 Griffin.
Round Three: Griffin comes out throwing kicks. Rua scores with a takedown. Griffin tries to secure a triangle and an armbar but Rua blocks both and ends up in guard. Griffin wants the ref to stand them up as Rua does little to nothing from the top. Griffin scrambles and gets the back of Rua. Griffin throws punches but Rua scrambles and gets Griffin in half guard. Griffin connects with punches from the top and Rua gives up his back. Griffin throws knees to the body of Rua from the side. Rua scrambles Griffin back into half guard. Rua gives up his back again.
Fight End: Griffin sinks in both hooks from the back, flattens him out, and locks in the rear naked choke, forcing Rua to tap.
Winner Forrest Griffin at 4:45 by Submission
Goldberg talks about the passion that Griffin has.
2007 Moment to Remember: Chris Leben gets rocked but comes back to knock out Terry Martin
Goldberg talks about the backstory between Penn and Pulver.
BJ Penn vs. Jens Pulver from The Ultimate Finale 5
Backstory: Jens defeated BJ at UFC 35 despite being a big underdog. This fight was the culmination of The Ultimate Fighter 5 where the two fighters served as the respective coaches.
Round One: Penn seems to catch Pulver early with a right hand. Penn scores a big takedown on Pulver. Pulver gets back to his feet but Penn takes him right back down. Penn passes to mount and goes for an armbar but Pulver spins out and into a triangle choke. Pulver postures up and breaks the triangle. Pulver does a bit of damage from the guard before Penn pushes off and escapes back to his feet. Penn throws jabs as the round ends. 10-9 Penn.
Round Two: Both men score with jabs before Penn trips him down and into half guard. Penn works hard and passes to mount. Penn drops multiple punches down on Pulver. Pulver gives up his back and eats more punches.
Fight End: Pulver rolls Penn over to his back but Penn still has his back with both hooks. Penn traps the arm of Pulver and then locks in the rear naked choke, forcing Pulver to tap.
Winner BJ Penn at 3:12 by Submission
Goldberg says Penn is scary when he's motivated and then wraps up the show saying that 2007 was great and 2008 will be better.
End Show
Show Thoughts: Very good show as they highlighted important fights along with good fights. The show featured big knockouts, slick submissions, and 3 round wars. What more could you ask for? Well, since I'm asking, I would have liked to seen the following fights on the show:
*Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga from UFC 74: Respect
*Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin from UFC 77: Hostile Territory
I think those fights could have replace Gonzaga/Mirko, Silva/Marquardt, and since they were longer than the replace fights, possibly take out Fisher/Stout. Just really a shame not to see Couture on the show after his 2007 comeback. I was very happy to see Griffin vs. Rua on the show as it's personally one of my favorite fights of the year. Great show with great action.
