UFC Unleashed Classics 11.14.2007
Posted by Randy Harrison on 03.12.2008
Tyson Griffin takes on Frank Edgar in a 2007 Fight of the Year candidate, and almost every fighter on the card is making their Octagon debuts! Another edition of Unleashed Classics is coming your way!
UFC Unleashed Classics (Originally aired on November 14, 2007)
Welcome to the second edition of Unleashed Classics, taking a look back at the previous editions of UFC Unleashed, getting ready for the new crop of shows to begin. Lord knows when that will be, but until then I'll be taking a look at the old episodes and giving them the review treatment. If I haven't reviewed them then they're still new to us all, so let's get right to it people!
Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan are your commentators for all the action.
Match One: Lightweights
Frank Edgar (5-0) vs. Tyson Griffin (8-0)
From the undercard of UFC 67: All or Nothing, comes this gem of a lightweight battle. Griffin brings an 8-0 record into this fight and that record is no joke with wins over Urijah Faber, and a first round chokeout of David Lee in his UFC debut in the fall of 2006. Edgar makes his UFC debut here, also bringing an undefeated record with him, at 5-0. This will be Edgar's stiffest test to date, as both fighters appear to be mirror images, with strong wrestling backgrounds and heavy hands to back them up.
Round One
They touch gloves and circle a little to start out, with Griffin flashing his jab out there. They try to exchange with Griffin throwing a combination, into a clinch against the fence. Edgar with a good jab and they trade shots back and forth, sizing each other up. Edgar gets a good counter right hand then scores with more punches off of a takedown fake. Body kick thrown by Griffin that lands, but Edgar catches it and takes him down. They scramble on the mat with Griffin grabbing a near-guillotine, but Edgar moves to side control to avoid it. Griffin lets the choke go and grabs a single-leg and starts driving for the takedown, pushing Edgar up against the fence before he lifts him up for a HUGE slam. Transitions galore on the mat and it ends up with Griffin grabbing another single-leg up against the fence.
Edgar starts working some right hands to the body while he has the leg and they're able to push apart and separate. Griffin throws an overhand right and gets a good knee to the body and Edgar responds. Griffin lands another couple of good shots and stuffs a takedown attempt, throwing a BIG uppercut that just misses. Edgar stuffs a counter-right hand into Griffin's face and they trade some jabs and punches that miss. Edgar charges in and eats a knee to the ribs, but gets a takedown off of it, ending up in Griffin's guard. Edgar tries to posture up to throw some shots, but it won't work. Edgar finally manages to get free and lands some good lefts and rights to the face of Griffin from half-guard, passing to side control and taking Griffin's back, but Griffin shrugs him off as the horn sounds.
Round Analysis: Great first round that I think Griffin took with his striking and his takedowns. They're both specalists on the mat, so once it actually got there, it was a pick'em, but in terms of who scored the takedowns, Griffin gets that edge so he takes the round.
Round Two
Griffin comes out with a combination and throws a bunch of shots, just missing a wild hook to the stomach. They slow down for just a moment and trade leg kicks that miss, and Griffin lands a HUGE uppercut before grabbing a double-leg, getting the takedown against the fence. Edgar tries to crawl up the fence to avoid and does so, trying for a takedown of his own. They separate from teh fence and Edgar flashes up a high kick that misses. Edgar hits a good short right hand and Griffin throws a knee that hits mostly forearm instead of ribcage. Griffin misses another haymaker and lands a good couple of punches before eating an elbow to the head inside. Edgar is tracking Griffin down and Girffin misses another wild combination.
Edgar grabs a single-leg and scores another takedown on Griffin, with Griffin trying for a kimura to try and reverse. Edgar moves to side control to avoid and throws some good right hands as Griffin turtles. They get back to their feet and Edgar absorbs Griffin's punches to land two or three of his own. Griffin with a HUGE leg kick that knocks Edgar off of his feet, and when he throws it again, Edgar takes him down again. Griffin tries the kimura again and Edgar gets out of it, they scramble and Griffin lifts Edgar up for a takedown. Griffin takes Edgar's back standing and decides to drag Edgar down instead of suplexing him. Bad idea, as Edgar rolls into it, takes the mount and pounds away on Griffin from the half-guard to end round two.
Round Analysis: A really even round that Edgar possibly stole right at the end with the mount and then the heavy punches from the half-guard. Up to that point, it really could have gone either way, and I suppose still could have. In my eyes though, Edgar did enough to keep the round close, then take it with the flurry at the end.
Round Three
Edgar with a leg kick that lands and Griffin misses another wild overhand right. Edgar shoots in for a single-leg but that gets stuffed and they're back to throwing combinations in the middle of the cage. Edgar pulls back on a high kick and eats a right hand over the top before he counters with three short punches of his own. Edgar throws a couple uppercuts that land glancingly and they just keep standing and trading. Another WICKED leg kick from Griffin and they trade shots from the clinch with Edgar throwing knees, one of them appearing to catch Griffin a little low. No stoppage from the referee and Edgar grabs a front-facelock, dragging Griffin down. Edgar takes advantage and lands some hard right hands while Griffin is crouched with his back against the fence and they move to a clinch against the cage with Edgar landing a HARD standing elbow.
Griffin throws a leg kick and Edgar catches it, into a double-leg takedown with Griffin sitting up against the fence. Edgar with some right hands and he keeps pulling to try to get Griffin all the way down before backing off to land some solid punches.Griffin tries for a takedown but it gets stuffed and Edgar is back to standing and they're clinched against the cage. Griffin with a front kick that lands and Edgar catches it into another takedown, moving to half-guard while Griffin tries a kimura again. Griffin stands up and takes a knee to the body and a couple of punches before he gets taken down again. Edgar takes Griffin's back and Griffin rolls through it into a kneebar. That is TIGHT, HOLY FUCK, that is BAD. Edgar is holding on, with 25 seconds left. Edgar with punches to the ass and he makes it out to the horn, but holy SHIT that was a VERY tight kneebar, for a long, long time.
Winner: Frank Edgar, Unanimous Decision
Fight Analysis: Edgar is a BEAST for not tapping to that kneebar. I have never seen one that deep in my LIFE, that didn't draw a tap out or force someone to give up the fight after they had their knee torn apart. Apart from that one spot though, Griffin didn't have a ton going for him in the final round, seeming a little tired and arm-weary. Edgar managed to out-cardio the cardio guy and takes the decision to keep his record perfect and hand Griffin his first loss.
Match Two: Light Heavyweights
Eric Schafer (7-1-2) vs. Michael Bisping (11-0)
This one is copied and pasted from my first ever review here at 411mania.com, as I chose UFC 66 for my inaugural Sprawl and Brawl.
Allow me to begin this fight by saying that while I am partial to Bisping, who is making his long-awaited UFC PPV debut here, I am also wanting to say that the nickname "Ravishing Red" that Eric Schafer brings with him into this fight is one of the greatest nicknames I have ever heard in all of MMA. This is Bisping's first official fight in the UFC since winning the Ultimate Fighter Season Three crown, as there were issues in getting his visas and paperwork settled which stalled previous attempts to get him a fight.
Round One
A much quicker start to this one as Bisping comes out swinging from the get-go and Schafer pulls him immediately into a clinch against the cage. Bisping throws a leg kick which Schafer catches and uses to grab a takedown for a moment before they scramble to their feet with Schafer still holding a leg. Good takedown defense from Bisping to hold off Schafer as they move to a Muay Thai clinch briefly before they reset themselves standing. Bisping tries for a straight kick which gets caught again and turned into another takedown by Schafer and you can get a sense of the strategy he'll be employing in this fight against the dangerous striker Bisping. Schafer into side control for a split-second before Bisping pulls him right back into half guard. Schafer tries an arm triangle and sinks it in fairly deep but Bisping defends it well and gets things back into a full guard position before scrambling to his feet. In doing so he gives up his back to Schafer who holds onto it even while Bisping stands up.
Bisping drops forward from a bent position to the floor trying to slam Schafer on his head and succeeds partly but once they're on the ground Schafer transitions to full mount. Bisping recovers to half guard and then uses the fence to stand back up fully to the delight of the crowd. Schafer clinging to a body lock to try bring things back to the ground and his advantage but Bisping keeps it standing. They separate and Bisping lands a head kick, which in reality was more of a knee/shin combination than an actual kick, and Schafer looks rocked. Knees to the body by Bisping and Schafer has begun to bleed from his mouth. Schafer catches another leg kick and used it for another takedown before almost immediately moving into back control. Bisping pivots against the fence to move into Schafer's guard and stands up to posture and starts dropping hard punches down on Schafer. Bisping landing a ton of unanswered shots as Schafer tries to roll and scramble away but it is to no avail and Mario Yamasaki is forced to step in and stop the fight.
Winner: Michael Bisping, TKO at 4:24 of Round One
Fight Analysis: Replays show the high kick that landed and spelled the beginning of the end for Schafer, as well as the heavy punches that finished the fight. An all around strong performance from Bisping who fought through initial adversity and a tough opponent to claim the win.
Match Three: Welterweights
Spencer Fisher (14-1) vs. Thiago Alves (7-1)
This would be Fisher's UFC debut, from the Ultimate Fight Night 2 card, in October of 2005. He's fighting at welterweight here, as opposed to his usual lightweight, because he's a last-minute replacement on the card. Fisher is a product of Miletich Fighting Systems, so expect his wrestling and cardio to be through the roof. Alves is also debuting in the UFC and what he gives up in experience he makes up for in size, probably outweighing Fisher by 15 pounds or more when the bell rings. Alves calls American Top Team his training home, so that should give you an indication of where his skills lie.
Round One
They start throwing combinations early on with Alves landing a good right hand and missing an uppercut. Fisher with a good right left combination and another as they move to the clinch. Fisher ends up on top of Alves in half-guard and is working to get free to strike. Fisher grabs a kneebar/anklelock that's in there pretty deep, but Alves guts it out and breaks free to take the top position. Half-guard for Alves and he's landing short punches while trying to pass to side control. Short shots to the body for Alves and he's still trying to pass out of that guard. Alves finally moves to side control and lands a good right hand, but Fisher gets it right back to guard. Unfortunately for him, Alves lands a good couple of shots from the top, but Fisher is doing good head and body control work to avoid taking any big damage.
Fisher throws up a triangle but Alves stands out of it. He falls back down into the guard and Fisher catches an arm for a possible armbar attempt. He lets it go and gets things back to the full, closed guard. Alves works a little to the body and a few shots to the head that somewhat get through. Fisher throws up an omaplata attempt that misses and Alves rolls out of it to take Fisher's back. Fisher spins just as quickly to get back to guard and Alves holds onto a double-leg into a big slam. More half-guard work for Alves and he lands some short punches and elbows before standing up and delivering a knee to the head of Fisher. Too bad Fisher was on his ass, so it ends up costing Alves a point. That's pretty much how the round ends.
Round Analysis: Alves had that round and has to be terribly disappointed by the way that it ended, losing the point on the illegal strike. Fisher was lucky not to be hurt by it, and Alves was lucky that Fisher wasn't hurt badly enough to possibly cause a disqualification. It ends up being a nine-nine round, instead of ten-nine for Alves.
Round Two
The second starts with Alves missing on a WILD high kick attempt before settling back down into a regular stance. Leg kick from Alves and another wild high kick misses. Alves lands another good leg kick out of a separation from the clinch and Fisher presses forward with a combination into a clinch against the cage. Shoulder strike from Alves and he scores at takedown on Fisher, ending up in half-guard. Alves with short punches up against the fence and shots to the body.Alves is able to posture up to land some HARD left hands to the head and body of Fisher, before unloading with some elbows that land solidly. Alves keeps up the ground and pound while Fisher is able to at least regain his full guard, trying to stand up before Alves pulls him right back down.
Fisher finally does stand up and they clinch inside, trading knees to the ribs. Fisher grabs a good knee from the Thai clinch and a standing elbow. Right hand and an uppercut from Fisher both land solidly and he's finding a rhythym on his feet. Straight left lands glancingly from Fisher and they're back to the clinch and Alves lands an uppercut and a knee on the inside. Fisher tries for the takedown but Alves stuffs it and gets one of his own. Alves working more ground and pound from the full guard, to the body and the head, and Fisher throws some elbows from the bottom. Alves gets a little overzealous with his punches and Fisher throws up a triangle attempt and sinks it in DEEP. Alves tries to roll out but he can't do it and he's forced to TAP!! WOW, that was a real role reversal there.
Winner: Spencer Fisher, submission (triangle choke) at 4:43 of Round Two
Fight Analysis: Alves couldn't win for trying in this fight. He won the first round and lost the point to make it an even round, then in the second, he won the round again but had to tap with under thirty seconds left. Gutty performance from Fisher and I think that the strength of Alves was one of the reasons he was SO happy he was going back to 155 after this fight.
Fisher looks absolutely overwhelmed at the win, while Alves is kneeling on the mat in disbelief at how quickly it all slipped away from him. Fisher makes motions to the camera as the official announcement is made, saying that he's going to drop down to 155 after this fight.
Goldberg compares Fisher to Hughes, Pulver and Sylvia and says that we'll find out if Fisher has what it takes to wear gold in the UFC. Goldberg again with the silly fist pump, and we're OUT!
The 411: Another edition of the show that has the fight of the night in the first match. This was actually a really entertaining show from top to bottom and all three fights had exciting finishes. Good match choices from the UFC on this episode.
