UFC Rewind - UFC 106: Ortiz vs. Griffin II DVD Review
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 02.23.2010
Tito Ortiz returns to the Octagon in a rematch against former champion, Forrest Griffin. Jeffrey Harris checks in with his full review of the 2-disc UFC 106 DVD set.
-Here we go everyone. This is my first UFC DVD review in over a year, the last one being UFC 87. This was UFC's November PPV card that was originally set to be headlined by a UFC heavyweight title bout between Brock Lesnar defending the title against #1 contender, Shane Carwin. Unfortunately, Lesnar was stricken by an illness and had to pull out of the fight less than a month before the PPV. Former light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz, was also set to make his much anticipated UFC return against hall of famer and former champion, Mark Coleman. However, Coleman had to pull out from his fight as well. This was right around the start of a period where main card fighters were dropping left and right from one bizarre injury or another. Another former light heavyweight champion stepped up to the plate to face Tito Ortiz in Forrest Griffin. Griffin and Ortiz technically had unfinished business from their first fight in 2006, where Ortiz won a close split decision. Griffin was also coming off a bad KO loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 101 that ended with Griffin running away from the cage in disappointment yet again. A lot of internet crybabies trashed this card as not being PPV worthy and a joke, so I guess we'll see.
Disc 2 - PRELIMINARY CARD
Lightweight Bout: George Sotiropoulos (10-2) VS. Jason Dent (19-9)
Sotiropoulos is 3-0 in the UFC, and Jason Dent beat Cameron Dollar on The Ultimate Fighter season 9 finale show.
Round 1. George dominates the stand up. George then secures a takedown and owns Dent on the ground. George is able to pass guard and gets some ground and pound. Dent defends, but George is able to get full mount and starts landing swinging blows. The round ends before the fight is stopped. I'll call it 10-8, Sotiropoulos.
Round 2. George dominates the standup again and gets a single-leg takedown off of a kick attempt. George works from the half-guard and gets side control. George switches position and lays in some elbow strikes. Dent is able to get up to his feet, but George brings it back down. George transitions into full mount and tries moving over to take the arm for an armbar. George gets the arm loose and finishes the armbar and that is all.
The Winner: Sotiropoulos wins by submission at 4:36 in Round 2. Sotiropoulos goes 4-0 in the UFC and continues to look solid in the lightweight division with some very good grappling and BJJ. George talks to Rogan about working to secure the armbar and thanks his coaches. He also tries and fails to do the AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE chant to an unethusiastic Las Vegas crowd.
Lightweight Bout: Caol Uno (27-12-4) VS. Fabricio Camoes (10-4)
Uno lost a controversial unanimous decision to Spencer Fisher at UFC 99. Camoes makes his UFC debut here.
Round 1. Camoes gets off a head kick on Uno and works and attepts a rear naked choke. Camoes is able to escape and takes Camoes down against the cage and finishes the round in top position working some ground and pound.
Round 2. Uno is able to secure a takedown and works in some ground and pound. Camoes hits some illegal upkicks on Uno since Uno's knees are on the ground making the kicks illegal. This deducts a point from Camoes. Camoes is able to get to his feet and gets some shots in as the round comes to a finish.
Round 3. They go back and forth with the striking. Uno is able to get a takdown and gets some more ground and pound and controls Camoes on the ground until the round ends yet again.
The Winner: The fight is ruled a MAJORITY DRAW which like almost never happens. I guess it was close. I kind of gave the fight to Uno for the takedowns and ground control. But whatever.
Welterweight Bout: Brock Larson (26-3) VS. Brian Foster (12-4)
Larson lost a decision to Mike Pierce at UFC Fight Night 19 coming into this fight. Foster was submitted by Rick Story at UFC 103.
Round 1. Larson is able to secure a takedown and works on some ground and pound. Foster is able to stand up and reverse and gets full mount on Larson, but Larson escapes. Foster lands some punches. Foster lands some punches and falls to the ground and Larson hits Foster with a kick while Foster was on the ground which is illegal. The doctor checks on Foster and Foster is able to get back into it. Larson applies an arm-in guillotine, and tries landing some knee strikes to the head. One of Foster's hands goes to the ground, and Larson hits another pair of knees which is also an illegal strike. Larson has now been deducted 2 points. Not much time after the restart, and the round ends. 10-7, Foster I guess.
Round 2. Larson looks broken at this point and Foster goes off on Larson with his striking. Foster lands a big takedown on Larson. Larson later shoots for a takedown, but Foster catches Larson with an uppercut. Larson goes down to his knees and Foster swings in with his punches as Larson taps out.
The Winner: Foster wins by TKO at 3:25 of Round 2. Larson tapped due to strikes, and we know what BJ Penn thinks of that. Larson was let go from the UFC after this fight. Larson also claimed it was for the best since he was not motivated fighting on the prelims of UFC events with smaller crowds. That really makes no sense at all to me, since I don't know what you need more motivation for as a fighter than being in the UFC. It's too bad because before his last 2 losses, Larson seemed to be on the rise and a top worldwide welterweight fighter.
Middleweight Bout: Jake Rosholt (6-1) VS. Kendall Grove (10-6, 1NC)
This fight was part of the Spike TV prelims broadcast of the event. Grove lost to Ricardo Almeida by decision at UFC 101. Rosholt lost his UFC debut against Dan Miller, but then got a submission win over Chris Leben at UFC 102.
Round 1. Rosholt secures the takedowns and tosses Grove around like a sack of potatoes. Grove is able to stand back up and takes down Rosholt against the cage. Rosholt stands back up and backs up grove with a left hand and a flying knee. Rosholt works for a takedown and finishes it. Rosholt gets full mount. Grove is able to posture and move position and hooks Rosholt's arm with his legs. He wraps up the neck, and gets the triangle choke. That is it.
The Winner: Grove gets the sub with the triangle choke at 3:59 in Round 1. This was a good little scrap and another impressive do or die performance by Kendall Grove. Grove dedicates the win to his late grandmother who passed away from cancer. This was a fun little scrap. Grove didn't panic and got through some bad positions. Rosholt was let go from the UFC following this fight, but will hopefully get some more experience and come back again later on.
Welterweight Bout: Marcus Davis (16-5) VS. Ben Saunders (7-1-2)
This was also part of the Spike TV prelim broadcast. Yours truly was also able to interview Marcus Davis the week of the fight. Davis had lost by split decision to Dan Hardy at UFC 99. Saunders was TKO'ed by Mike Swick on the same show.
Round 1. Davis tries clinching with Saunders against the cage. Saunders is able to continuously secure a Thai clinch and just pummels Davis with knee strikes to the head. Davis tries some dirty boxing and avoiding it, but Saunders continues using the Thai clinch and eventually wears Davis down with the knees and Davis goes down. Rosenthal steps in and stops the fight and that is it.
The Winner: Saunders gets the win by KO at 3:24 of Round 1. Another short, fun little scrap. Saunders is happy about the win and hopes he can be as good a fighter as Marcus Davis in 10 years. Saunders worked on his clinch a lot and wanted to make up for the Swick fight.
Disc 1 - MAIN CARD
-The traditional gladiator opening, black and white interview segments, and "BRING THE PAIN" music video montage.
Welterweight Bout: Amir Sadollah (2-1-0) VS. Phil Baroni (13-12-0)
Baroni returns to the UFC after spending some time in Pride, Strikeforce, and other minor league MMA promotions. Baroni had been fighting for Strikeforce and was coming off a loss to Joe Riggs. Strikeforce offered Baroni a contract to fight for the Challenger Series, which Baroni didn't like and apparently accepted an offer that paid more for the UFC. Hey, good for Phil Baroni. Amir was the TUF 8 winner, beating C.B. Dolloway, but his next fight was constantly getting delayed due to injuries. Amir finally returned to the Octagon at UFC 101, suffering a TKO loss to UFC newcomer Johnny Hendricks before this fight. Yves Lavigne is the referee for this bout and draws some boos from the crowd from messing up earlier and being a horrible referee.
Round 1. Baroni does his usual schtick. Comes out banging and swinging and gasses in a couple of minutes. Amir gets wobbled early, but stays up and mixes up his Muay Thai and knees in the Thai clinch. Amir also gets in some nice legkicks. Baroni is able to secure a takedown and tries to work some ground and pound, but Amir is able to stay busy and get Baroni away. Baroni gets his shots in, but Amir is relentless with the Thai clinch and knee strikes to the head. Baroni is busted open from a right hand. Amir continues with the knee strikes as the round ends. Close first round. Despite Baroni's early aggression, Amir pretty much controlled the pace and landed a lot more strikes standing. 10-9, Amir.
Round 2. Amir continues mixing up the kickboxing and backs up Baroni with punches, front kicks, and legkicks. Baroni is all gassed and is able to get some shots in, but Amir continues pushing forward and pretty much lands everything he wants on Baroni. Baroni starts getting incredibly sluggish and slow and can barely keep his hands up. Sadollah gets some nice lowkicks off and continues with his kickboxing until the end of the round. Round goes 10-9 Amir, 20-18 overall.
Round 3. Baroni is completely out of gas and all but throws striking defense into the trash. Amir outstrikes Baroni for the remainder of the round, but doesn't try and do more to try and knock Baroni out. Amir finishes the round in the clinch unleashing a flurry of elbow strikes and knees. Round ends. Academic 10-9 for Amir, 30-27 overall.
The Winner: The judge awards Amir Sadollah the victory (scores 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28) by unanimous decision. This was a good win for Amir Sadollah. He once again showed that impressive toughness and durability that he did on TUF 8. His Muay Thai game and straight up front kicks look good. I think he ate too many punches which he has to be careful about. Also, Phil Baroni is a one dimensional fighter and refuses to change his game up or at the very least get on a freaking treadmill instead of getting off the bench press. MMA is not a bodybuilding contest as Sadollah proved despite internet morons pointing out how great Baroni's physique looked at the weigh-ins and Sadollah looking like a skeleton or whatever. Baroni's main failing as a fighter is his focus on vanity rather than actually working on his stamina and condition. Amir praises Baroni's toughness and asks if he can get a tape of the replay of his throwing the elbows in the clinch.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Luiz Cane (10-1-1) VS. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3-0)
Little Nog makes his long awaited UFC debut. Since his Pride 33 loss to Sokoudjou, Nogueira went on a 5 fight winning streak including beating now UFC fighter, Vladimir Matyushenko at Affliction: Day of Reckoning. Cane was a rising light heavyweight prospect, having won 3 in a row in the UFC with his only loss being a DQ due to a groin kick against James Irvin at UFC 79.
Round 1. There's some feeling out with some light punches and inside legkicks in the early seconds. Nogueira then starts getting some straight left jabs in that stun Cane. And a kick to the midsection has Cane moving back. Nogueira stalks Cane and continues to unload with the left and Cane goes down. Nogueira storms down with punches and Mazzagatti stops the fight.
The Winner: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira wins his UFC debut by TKO at 1:58 in Round 1. Big Nog comes in and celebrates with Little Nog. Nogueira says he's excited to be fighting in the US and in the UFC and thanks the fans for their support. Nogueira not so eloquently explains that the plan was to keep the fight standing and end the fight there. Ed Soares thankfully is kept off the microphone. This was a really good and impressive debut by Nogueira as he showed off his strong boxing skills and power.
Welterweight Bout: Paulo Thiago (11-1) VS. Jacob Volkmann (9-0)
Thiago had a fairly boring fight and decision loss to Jon Fitch at UFC 100. Volkmann makes his UFC debut here.
Round 1. They trade some strikes and jockey for position in the clinch. Thiago lands a takedown straight into side control. Volkmann is able to scramble back to standing position. Thiago is able to land another takedown and gets full mount but isn't able to keep the position. Thiago lands some short elbows and punches from the guard. Volkmann is able to get back up and they end the round standing. Thiago lands some more punches and knocks Volkmann down with a right/left punching combination. The round was close, and Volkmann defended well off the ground, but the knockdown at the end clinched it for Thiago. 10-9, Thiago.
Round 2. They trade strikes. Thiago catches a leg off a kick attempt and gets a leg trip on Volkmann. Volkmann stands back up. Volkmann reverses a clinch position and gets a takedown right into side mount. Volkmann tries to smother and punch Thiago from the side. They struggle for dominance in the clinch. Thiago goes to his knees and gives up his back. Volkmann lands some punches to the side of Thiago's head. Volkmann almost gets Thiago's back and a mount, but Thiago sweeps position over. Thiago is able to drop some punches from on top. Thiago then is able to pass guard and drops some more ground strikes. Thiago keeps side control until the end of the round. Tough call. The round was close. I'm going to call it 10-10 since I feel Volkmann dominated and got in some strikes for most of the round, but Thiago got the leg trip early and was able to get side control in the closing minute and got some ground strikes. 20-19, Thiago so far.
Round 3. Volkmann comes in punching, but gets rocked and knocked down by another left/right punching combination from Thiago. Thiago gets some shots to the body and gets side mount and attempts a choke. Volkmann avoids it and gets to his feet. Volkmann gets some punches in a sprawl position over Thiago. Thiago breaks out of the position with a left hook. Volkmann shoots for a couple takedowns and is able to get one into side mount and then gets a crucifix position. Volkmann lands some punches and elbow strikes. Thiago almost gives up his back but gets out through the back door. Thiago lands another punch into the side mount. Volkmann shifts and hooks on a Darce Choke from the bottom. Thiago gets out of the hold and back onto top position and lands some punches and elbows in Volkmann's half-guard. Thiago stays in control until the end. Volkmann did some impressive things, but not enough to win the round. Thiago I think scored more standing and on the ground, and Volkmann wasn't able to finish when he had some opportunities. 10-9, Thiago. 29-28 overall.
The Winner: Thiago gets the unanimous decision (Scores of 29-28, 30-27, 30-27) for the victory. Thiago keeps his spot in the UFC and would continue to face and beat some impressive competition later. Volkmann showed some good toughness, grappling, and wrestling in this fight but he didn't quite do enough to win. Thiago said he wanted a knockout, but Volkmann was very tough and put on a good show. Thiago thanks the UFC.
Welterweight Bout: Josh Koscheck (14-4) VS. Anthony "Rumble" Johnson (8-2)
Koscheck returned with an impressive KO victory over Frank Trigg at UFC 103. Johnson was riding a 3 fight winning streak and being 5-2 overall in the UFC. Not to mention one of Johnson's was after getting a blatant eye poke. Johnson's last KO win was slightly marred with controversy since Johnson came in overweight for his fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida and was apparently cutting down from 220. Commentators and fans questioned whether Johnson should seriously consider to start fighting at 185, being a young guy that was still potentially growing in size. Johnson and Johnson's training partner, Cung Le, denied the idea. Johnson gets a nice step up in competition for this fight. Full entrances and ring introductions for this fight.
Round 1. Some feeling out in the early seconds. Koscheck sets up and rocks Johnson with some right hands. Johnson backs Koscheck up with a left. Koscheck tries for a takedown off a bodylock, but Johnson sprawls and breaks and looks to throw a knee to the head of a downed Koscheck which is illegal. The instant replay from some other angles makes it look like Johnson's knee might not have directly come into contact with Koshceck's head and more like it got Koscheck's arm. Also Koscheck looks to be favoring another eye that did not get hit. From Rogan's commentary, Rogan makes it seem like Koscheck is milking the eye injury which Koscheck very well could be. The doctor checks up on Koscheck. Johnson gets a point taken away. Koscheck gets some time and the fight restarts. Koscheck shoots for the takedown again. Johnson is able to block it, but Koscheck then finishes it from a waistlock position and gets Johnson's back. Koscheck works some strikes and sprawls off a takedown attempt from Johnson. Close, but I give it to Koscheck for securing the takedown and I think he landed more damaging strikes. 10-8, Koscheck despite all the silliness with the eye.
Round 2. They trade striking back and forth. Johnson staggers and it looks like his eye was poked. Back to the fight and Koscheck gets off some nice combinations and a high kick. Johnson staggers back again and the ref stops the fight to check on Johnson. Instant replay shows what looks like Koscheck taking a page out of Ric Flair's book and blatantly poking Johnson in the eye. Johnson is able to restart. Both fighters just start unloading with the punches, "standing and banging." Koscheck shoots and gets the takedown and starts smothering Johnson's face with the forearm and some elbow strikes. Koscheck is able to shift over with one hook and sinks in the RNC. Johnson taps and that is all.
The Winner: Koscheck wins by submission at 4:47 in Round 2. Hey, I got to hand it to Koscheck for embracing the Ric Flair role. Not to mention he got back to the wrestling a bit for this fight and it came through for him as people criticized Koscheck for relying too much on his striking lately and not using enough of his high level wrestling. Koscheck then calls out Dan Hardy (seen in the crowd making fun of Koscheck being a crybaby) and Koscheck says he is the #1 contender for Georges St. Pierre and that Dan Hardy has "never fought anybody." Well Koscheck just threw his training partner, Mike Swick, right under the bus there. Chicanery aside, it was a good performance by Koscheck. This was a good test for Johnson against a higher level opponent.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Tito Ortiz (16-6-1) VS. Forrest Griffin (16-6)
Ortiz who has had chronic and nagging back injuries claims to be 100% and healthy for this fight after having some back issues taken care of. Tito does have a noticeable bruise or cut thing under his swollen eye before the fight.
Round 1. Griffin gets off some punches and kicks. Ortiz secures the takedown and works in some ground and pound. Griffin attempts a kimura which gets Ortiz off. Griffin avoids Ortiz's shoots and takedowns and gets more punches and kicks off, hitting Tito with some straight punches in the head. The round ends with Griffin clinching Tito against the cage. Close. Tito got the takedown and some ground and pound, but I think Griffin dominated the round standing and got more punches standing up. I'll say 10-9, Griffin.
Round 2. Ortiz secures a takedown and keeps Griffin on the ground for a little while. Griffin scrambles back up and eventually kicks out Ortiz's mouthpiece with a straight front kick to the head. Ortiz gets another takedown and does some more ground and pound and gains top position a little longer. Ortiz lays in the elbows and opens up a cut on Griffin's head. Griffin scrambles and reverses position into Tito's half-guard and lays in some strikes as the round ends. I'll give this one to Ortiz since he secured the two takedowns and had top position over Griffin longer and arguably did more damage with the cut. Though I think Griffin did more damage standing up. 10-9, Ortiz. 19-19 overall.
Round 3. Griffin's corner says no kicks, but Griffin disobeys. Ortiz is gassed at this point and pretty much has nothing left. Griffin gets off all his combinations and kicks against Ortiz. Ortiz isn't able to really mount any offense. Griffin continues to punch Ortiz backing up into the cage and stuffs Ortiz's takedown attempts. Ortiz attempts to throw a little as the round ends. Now, some people called this a 10-8 round, but I disagree. I think Ortiz was just active enough for this to be 10-9, and Griffin while he dominated the round did not do enough damage to call this a 10-8 in my humble opinion. Griffin had ample opportunities to also open up and finish a gassed and done Ortiz here, but he failed to do so. 10-9 round for Griffin. 29-28 overall.
The Winner: Forrest Griffin wins by the split decision this time for the win (Scores 28-29, 30-27, and 29-28). Griffin thanks the fans and says Anderson Silva broke him. Griffin says he and Tito are 1-1 and they should do it one more time. Tito Ortiz then gets on the microphone and then starts ranting about how he didn't have time to spar and that he had a cracked skull. The fans start booing and Tito goes off on them. Ortiz dedicates the fight to the late Frank Fertita, Sr.
-Show closes with highlights of Koscheck/Johnson and Ortiz/Griffin.
DVD BONUS FEATURES
UFC 106 Countdown Show - This is the full Countdown Show from Spike TV. This was a shorter edition as it only runs 20 minutes for a half hour broadcast. The Countdown Shows are usually done for a 1 hour broadcast, but Ortiz/Griffin was put together on short notice. The countdown show covers the public feud between White and Ortiz. Also some footage and reflection on the first Ortiz/Griffin fight. Griffin's dry humor is again fun, but Griffin does not comment too much on his loss to Silva and behavior after. Also, no other fights are looked at in the special. Overall, not as good as some other Countdown shows as master Csonka would agree.
Weigh-Ins - The 15 minute weigh-ins special that streamed on UFC.com. Everyone made weight.
BSN Promo - A short and fairly pointless commercial promoting the BSN protein beverage. The commercial features Forrest Griffin.
Behind The Scenes - This is a 25 minute mini-documentary. The first 15 minutes covers Tito Ortiz and features some new interview footage with Tito Ortiz and other members of the UFC staff. It goes over his early days in the UFC including his light heavyweight title run, the feud with Shamrock, and more. This does cover how Tito Ortiz became a big superstar when MMA was really still a fringe and still banned sport. Ortiz milks it a little bit at times, but he without a doubt has a strong personality that gets you to care one way or the other. The feature then moves into some other pre and post fight interviews with the fighters talking about their attitudes going into the fights at the event.
The 411: Overall a good, decent event. This is not a great or must-buy event. But it's worth seeing for some good, fun fights and Tito's return to the Octagon. The card is definitely not fantastic, but it's not as bad as it was made out to be before and after the show. Not to mention, the event lost a huge heavyweight title main event not even a month beforehand. There wasn't much else that could be done.
