The Ultimate DVD Review: UFC 87 - Seek and Destroy

Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 12.15.2008

Will Georges St. Pierre be impressed by Jon Fitch's performance? Will Brock Lesnar recover from his debut loss in the UFC? Plus, Huerta and KenFlo to determine the top of the UFC Lighweight rankings.

Hey guys. I’ve been given the opportunity to review some MMA now, and I’m very excited. Since I am new to the MMA review scene, there will be a bit of a style transition as I figure out the right way to adjust. I'll say though I love the work people like Adam Tool and Matt McEwen have been doing in this section, so I will do my best to honor their excellent recaps.

UFC 87: SEEK AND DESTROY

August 9th 2009 from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 10 fight card that includes Brock Lesnar's second match in the UFC, and UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, after astounding and dominating victories over Matt Hughes and Matt Serra, takes on his newest challenger: the undefeated Jon Fitch.

Video package. Herring would be delighted if Lesnar stands with him. Lesnar is here to win. Fitch is coming after St. Pierre who has everything to lose tonight. St. Pierre is going to solve the problem that is Fitch. Florian and Huerta are going to fight, but is Florian really not in Huerta’s league?

Welterweight Bout

Ben Saunders (5-0-2) Vs. Ryan Thomas (9-1-0)

Ben Saunders lost to Tommy Speer in the semi-finals of TUF 6: Hughes vs. Serra, but then went onto defeat Daniel Barrera for a second time at the TUF 6 Finale. This is Ben’s second fight in the UFC. Ryan Thomas is making his UFC debut.

Round One: They go back and forth on the feet and Saunders hits a big knee strike that cuts Thomas over his right eye. They scramble on the ground and Thomas is able to apply a deep triangle on Saunders which Saunders is able to barely escape. Saunders works in Thomas’s guard and almost gets caught in the triangle again. Thomas almost gets out back to his feet but Saunders gets Thomas’s back in a body triangle and holds him in it until the end of the round.

Round Two: Both fighters go into a clinch and Saunders manages a takedown and goes right into the full guard of Thomas. Saunders gets out of the guard and Thomas gets back to his feet. They exchange some strikes on their feet, and Saunders blocks an awkward high-kick that sends Thomas to the canvas. Saunders goes in for the armbar, but Thomas manages to get out of the predicament. Fight goes back to the stand-up, and Thomas goes for the single-leg off of Saunders’ kicks, but looks too tired to get Saunders down. Thomas is taking the majority of the damage from the stand-up and goes to his knees. Saunders maneuvers Saunders into an armbar, and Thomas taps to end the fight.

The Decision: Saunders wins at 2:28 in Rd. 2 to win his second fight in the UFC and still undefeated in his MMA career. Not a particularly impressive fight. Some of Saunder’s strikes were looking a little awkward and sluggish at first before he took advantage of the more damaged and tiring Thomas who did almost catch Saunders in some tight submissions in round 1.

Welterweight Bout

Chris Wilson (13-3-1) Vs. Steve Bruno (11-3-0)

Steve Bruno is making his UFC debut while Chris Wilson lost his own against #1 Welterweight Title contender, Jon Fitch, at UFC 82.

Round 1: They spend some time against the cage, and Wilson gets Bruno down with a right and goes for a kimura. Bruno gets out and back to his feet. Wilson gets Bruno down again with a nice hip throw. Bruno keeps it locked up and manages to stand up again. Wilson throws some knee strikes and fists and that sends Bruno to the canvas once again. Wilson gets Bruno’s back and goes for the RNC which Wilson isn’t able to lock in. Bruno tries to fight out but Wilson keeps the hooks on. Bruno rolls over with his back to the cage, but Wilson keeps a hold and goes for the RNC but Bruno’s able to block it. Wilson keeps looking for it as round 1 ends.

Round 2: Wilson manages to get Bruno’s back again near the start of the round. Bruno maneuvers away. Wilson hits another takedown on Bruno and remains in control but doesn’t score too many shots. Bruno takes the fight back to the feet, and they get stuck over by the cage and the ref brings it back to the middle. Wilson goes right for a huge series of uppercuts and a big knee-strike and Bruno is down against the cage. Bruno avoids the TKO by going for Wilson’s leg and holds on Fedor/Coleman style. Wilson is able to hook Bruno over into a triangle variation while Bruno is grabbing Wilson’s foot. Wilson transitions into a guillotine but Bruno goes back to the foot. Bruno repeats the strategy to the end of the round as the combatants take it to the third.

Round 3: Another moment evocative of round one with a sick series of strikes by Wilson and Bruno avoids the TKO by going for the leg. Bruno works to his feet but can’t get the advantage over Wilson. Wilson goes for the back of Bruno and gets another odd triangle variation, like a reverse triangle. Bruno escapes and lifts Wilson up into a weak takedown against the cage. Wilson gets up and works back into the cat bird’s seat over Bruno. Bruno repeats his shoot for the leg and do nothing strategy. Wilson continues to get the better of the striking exchanges and keeps Bruno grounded. Another huge knee strike by Wilson and he keeps on Bruno and the round ends.

The Decision: The Judges award the fight to Wilson, and Chris Wilson wins his first ever fight in the UFC. Easy decision victory for Wilson as he totally dominated the fight. Bruno avoided the TKO loss after eating some nasty strikes, but did little else.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Andre Gusmao (5-0-0) Vs. Jon Jones (5-0-0)

Both men with identical records going into this fight, and the UFC debut for both fighters. Gusmao had formerly fought in the IFL.

Round 1: Goldberg says Jones in the black trunks, Gusmao in the white trunks, and Rogan responds with: “Or how about black guy, Jones, and white guy, Gusmao.” Rogan makes a good point. They look nothing a like. Gusmao hits a body kick on Jones and pushes him against the cage. Jones gets away and manages a takedown on Gusmao. Gusmao gets up and they exchange strikes on the feet. They circle some and Jones comes in with a series of knee strikes, but Gusmao claims he got a low-blow. Replay shows that the first knee-strike did get Gusmao down low. Gusmao takes his time to recover and get back into the fight with less than a minute left. Gusmao looks hesitant to get back into it, and Jones lands some more strikes which Gusmao takes and trades. Jones looks like he got a couple of glancing spinning back-fists.

Round 2: They go into a clinch, and Gusmao goes down after it appears he got another low-blow from a knee strike by Jones. Gusmao walks it off and in the instant replay doesn’t quite look like a low blow hit Gusmao, but a knee that Gusmao shot looks like it landed square on Jones’ junk. Jones must be cut from the same cloth as the Human Tornado. Well ref says Jones hit the low-blow so whatever. Jones gets a takedown but Gusmao scrambles over and both men get back to their feet. Gusmao pushes Jones up against the cage for a while before the ref separates them. They continue with more standing exchanges which it looks like Jones continues to get the better of.

Round 3: Both fighters keep it on the feet to start and exchange the fists. They trade a lot more knee strikes against the cage. Jones is clearly aggressing the action more toward Gusmao. Some more holding against the cage that gets separated. Jones is able to hit a takedown on Gusmao. Jones doesn’t quite work in a ground and pound but avoids Gusmao’s retaliation. Time’s up though, and the round ends as it goes to the judges. Gusmao celebrates like he won.

The Decision:And the judges award Jones with the unanimous decision for the W. Right way to go. Jones clearly got the better of the striking exchanges and controlled most of it. The low-blow thing in round 2 looked like a really cheap ploy on Gusmao’s part.

Heavyweight Bout

Cheick Kongo (11-4-1) Vs. Dan Evensen (10-2-0)

Kongo is coming off a split decision loss to Heath Herring at UFC 82. Evensen makes his UFC debut in this fight.

Round 1: Evensen tries with some leg kicks to start, and Kongo pushes the action over to the cage and gets a big takedown on Evensen. Not much happens on the ground since Kongo has a terrible ground game and Lavigne calls it back to the feet. Evensen shoots for a guillotine but isn’t able to keep it on Kongo. Kongo keeps working for another takedown against the cage and gets it. Ref calls it back up again. Evensen is limping on a leg, and he swings and misses with a kick. Kongo hits a big right on Evensen that knocks him down, and Cheick continues to lay the ground and pound on Evensen who is unable to answer or defend and Lavigne calls the fight.

The Decision: Kongo wins via TKO at 4:55 in the first round. Wow, I can’t believe Lavigne actually called that finish. Nice, dominating victory for Kongo where the holes in his ground game fortunately didn’t cost him big time like in the fight with Herring. It looked like Kongo might’ve been a future opponent for Lesnar, however that was not meant to be. Kongo says he doesn’t care what’s next, and he wants to prove himself to get a title fight. Rogan tries to go over the fight with Kongo just as Kongo walks away, funny.

Welterweight Bout

Luke Cummo (6-5-0) Vs. Tamdan McCrory (10-1-0)

McCrory’s coming off a loss to Akihiro Gono at UFC 78: Validation, and Cummo lost his last fight against Luigi Fiorivanti at UFC 82: Pride of A Champion. Cummo’s now 3-3 at the UFC right now.

Round 1: McCrory advances on Cummo and gets the takedown and transitions into the RNC. Cummo manages to get out of it. McCrory stays in the dominating position and attempts an armbar, but Cummo avoids it.

Round 2: McCrory starts things off with a takedown and continues with the sub-attempts. Cummo gets caught in the armbar this time, but Cummo is able to turn out of it. McCrory’s jiu-jitsu and submission game looks really tight. Cummo tries to retaliate with a triangle, but the round ends.

Round 3: Cummo rocks McCroy with a body shot. Cummo gets a nice throw, but McCroy is able to get it back to standing. McCrory gets the takedown and continues his control of Cummo. McCrory applies another sick armbar on Cummo, but Cummo gets out. Takedown on Cummo, but Cummo this time looks for the triangle and gets it. McCrory slams Cummo out of it. McCrory keeps the pressure on Cummo and hammers him, and the round ends as the fight goes to the judges.

The Decision: The judges unanimously award McCrory the decision victory. Impressive win and fight for McCrory who looks really solid on the ground even though he didn’t finish the fight with any of those slick, tight looking submissions.

And now the prelims are done, it’s time for the main card.

Middleweight Bout

Demian Maia (7-0-0) Vs. Jason MacDonald (20-9-0)

This is Maia’s third fight in the UFC, subbing Ryan Jensen and TUF 3 finalist, Ed Herman, in his first two fights. MacDonald is 4-2 in the UFC at this point, winning his last fight against Joe Doerksen at UFC 83: Serra Vs. St-Pierre 2.

Round 1: They get into the clinch and Maia pulls guard. Maia wraps MacDonald into a very tight triangle choke. MacDonald is able to slip out of it and gets the hooks on Maia’s back. Maia avoids an RNC attempt. MacDonald works in Maia’s guard. MacDonald pounds on Maia and gets on a guillotine. Maia gets out and gets the hooks on MacDonald’s back and goes right for the RNC. MacDonald starts turning purple and is able to get his head out right before the round ends. Great back and forth action in the first round.

Round 2: They exchange on their feet, but Maia gets the takedown on top of MacDonald. Maia pummels MacDonald from the full mount position. MacDonald is unable to retaliate. Maia slips on an armbar, but Cummo gets out into Maia’s guard right before the end of the round.

Round 3: Maia looks for a single-leg takedown and gets it. MacDonald switches it around into a takedown of his own. Rogan says the submission attempt matters more to the judges than the escape. MacDonald stays in the dominant position over Maia and is almost able to get him into an RNC. Maia sweeps over into a mount on MacDonald. Maia lays in the strikes, and MacDonald turns over. MacDonald’s got no where to go. Maia continues with the damage and slips on the RNC. MacDonald taps(!) and that is all.

The Decision: Demian Maia gets the submission victory at 2:45 into round 3. Maia remains undefeated and continues his rise in the middleweight division. Rogan’s with Maia who says he was prepared for MacDonald bringing it to him on the ground and was very surprised he was able to escape the triangle hold.

Lightweight Bout

Kenny Florian (11-3-0) Vs. Roger Huerta (25-1-1)

Huerta is going into the fight 6-0 in the UFC including winning five fights in all of 2007. His last win was an amazing contest against Clay Guida at the TUF 6 Finale. Florian’s riding a 4 fight win streak since his loss to Sean Sherk in the UFC Lightweight Title fight UFC 64: Unstoppable. The winner of this fight would be considered a top contender for a shot at the lightweight title being currently held by BJ Penn. Huerta’s coming into this fight with a lot of controversy. There was a very public dispute with Huerta and the UFC since Huerta vocally made his unhappiness about his pay known. Huerta apparently wasn’t getting enough per diem for travel, and he wanted PPV points as well. OK, Tito Ortiz. In addition, Huerta also got incredibly emotional in an interview recounting his troubled childhood where he was abused by his mother. One could make the argue that Huerta wasn’t getting his head into this fight and giving Florian the respect he deserves. Pre-video package, Huerta calls this a “cake walk”.

Round 1: Florian stays away from Huerta near the start and looks like he’s going to a hit and move strategy. Kenny goes in and gets a takedown on Huerta into the cage. Kenny control the mount position and hits some strikes. Huerta goes over and Florian has the back looking for an RNC, but Huerta defends. Huerta makes it back up to his feet. Florian avoids making big exchanges with Huerta. Huerta pins Florian to the cage and lays in some rights while Florian blocks and shifts. Florian gets a knee to the midsection in the clinch. Huerta gets some leg kicks and punches in the exchanges. Florian gets a left, and the clock empties to the end of the round. It was close, but that looked like a 10-9 round for Florian.

Round 2: Florian starts out with some kicks to the midsection and a nice right handed strike. Huerta goes in for the takedown, but Florian stuffs it. Florian later goes for the takedown, but Huerta locks onto Florian’s arm and goes to work with the strikes. Florian shoves Huerta down into side control and then gets both leg hooks on Huerta. Big downed strikes on Huerta. Huerta “pops out the back” (Thank you, Joe Rogan) and gets the fight back standing. Florian gets a beautiful leg-trip sweep, and Huerta gets up right into a big right from Florian. Huerta goes for a takedown, but Florian keeps it in the clench and throws a short elbow strike. Florian exchanges punches with Huerta, Florian and looks to be getting more in. Round ends, and it’s going to round 3.

Round 3: Here we go with the final round. Florian and Huerta touch gloves. Florian hits a big front kick. Takedown on Huerta. Huerta gets the position back up, but gets a knee from Florian. Florian follows it up with a flying knee strike and a big left. Another flying knee by Florian, and Huerta just gives an odd little aside look. Florian hits another takedown and looks for a leg hold on top. Huerta avoids it and Florian goes into Huerta’s guard. Huerta manages to get back up again. Florian and Huerta circle and there are some small exchanges. Florian misses an elbow and both guys point at each other and give each other the thumbs up. Another big standing front kick to Huerta. Florian starts putting his hands down and looks like he’s enticing Huerta to engage. Florian gets a knee to the mid-section in the clench, and Huerta advances forward with one of his own. Last 30 seconds and Florian comes in with a big right and gets Huerta into a takedown against the cage. Big right onto the downed Huerta. Huerta goes to stand as Florian tries to hold him in a front headlock. Knees to the head and a series of rights by Florian. Horn sounds, and that’s the fight.

The Decision: Florian gets the unanimous decision victory and hands Huerta his first defeat in the UFC. Easy decision. Florian pretty much controlled Huerta the entire fight. He hit all the takedowns and hit the more dangerous strikes. Huerta advanced a lot, and did a good job of escaping the dangerous spots and didn’t get finished but he didn’t look to ever really switch everything on. Florian’s stand-up strategy looked incredibly slick. And Huerta? Well he just extended his contract with the UFC, so it looks like his complaints didn’t have enough grit after this loss. Fighters deserve to be paid well. But if you fight in the UFC you will generally be paid better than anywhere else in the MMA world. Affliction nearly went under trying to pay everyone some of their ridiculous asking prices. Tito Ortiz? No other organization was willing to give him that perfect deal that Ortiz claims is going to be the deal for all the little guys. Florian continues his rise in the lightweight ranks, but it turns out he would have to fight once more to cement his #1 contender status to the Lighweight Title by fighting Joe Stevenson. Florian is with Rogan after the fight. Florian says Huerta is tough and says he didn’t want to get into a big brawl with Roger and went for technique over brawling. Florian doesn’t know about a title shot but he wanted a dominant win over Huerta. Florian thanks his family and friends and dedicates the fight to Jorge Rivera.

Lightweight Bout

Manvel Gamburyan (7-2-0) Vs. Rob Emerson (10-6-0)

Both men are former TUF 5 contestants. Rob Emerson and another TUF 5 competitor, Gray Maynard, had a very bizarre NC finish at the TUF 5 finale with Emerson submitting while Maynard had seemingly knocked himself out on the slam. Gamburyan lost to Nate Diaz in the TUF 5 finals after a dominating first round, but dislocated his shoulder early in the second. Gamburyan came back with first round submission victories over Nate Mohr at UFC 79: Nemesis and Jeff Cox at Fight Night 13.

Round 1: Gamburyan goes in early and swings with Emerson. Emerson grounds Gamburyan with a big right hand. Gamburyan eats a big left and looks to be out for a split second, and the ref stops it. Yikes.

The Decision: Gamburyan pulled a bit of a Kevin Randleman here. Emerson gets the KO victory 12 seconds into round 1. I’ll give Lavigne credit here, this was a proper stoppage. Emerson’s with Rogan and says he has a lot of respect for Gamburyan and thinks he’s going to be great in the sport. Emerson says just tried to keep it standing and off the cage.

Heavyweight Bout

Brock Lesnar (1-1-0) Vs. Heath Herring (28-13-0)

Here we go. Lesnar lost his UFC debut to Frank Mir in a submission loss. In the devil’s advocate to Lesnar, he was not given a warning by referee Steve Mazzagatti for hitting the back of the head before the fight was restarted and Mir was able to get the submission. Herring beat Cheick Kongo in a split decision at UFC 82: Pride of A Champion. Pre-video package: Herring says he wants Lesnar to stand with him. Lesnar says he’s looking to win, no one knows his weaknesses, he has more tape on his opponents then they do of him. Herring also says this will be “the final nail in the coffin.” Perhaps for Lesnar’s career in the UFC? Lesnar enters and gets a big ovation from his hometown.

Round 1: Lesnar rushes in and whiffs on a knee. Lesnar then connects with a big right and Herring goes down and almost does an HBK-esque flip backward and Lesnar goes right down on him. Lesnar gets Herring into a guillotine. Herring pushes of the cage and breaks away from Lesnar. Lesnar shoots for the takedown and gets it. Herring’s face looks like it got mangled from that opening right, or from the referee’s eye-poke (thank you again, Joe Rogan). Lesnar totally controls and smothers Herring on top and lays in the downed strikes. Big knees to the midsection by Lesnar. Herring can’t get out of the position and regroup. Fans are chanting Brock, and Lesnar starts nodding his head along. More knees as the round comes to a close.

Round 2: Between rounds it looks like Herring’s left eye is almost swollen shut. Lesnar gets a nice takedown off the clinch and continues to smother Herring. Lesnar holds control, but Herring moves around. Lesnar gets knee strikes to the back of Herring. Herring is able to stand up, but Lesnar hits a pair of knees to the midsection. Herring comes around with a couple of knees to Lesnar against the cage, but Lesnar gets Herring down again after a whiff on an uppercut.

Round 3: Lesnar is smiling and raises his glove toward Herring before the start of the round. Last round. Lesnar gets a kick to Herring’s side. Herring is taken back to the canvas by Lesnar. More knees to the back of Herring. Herring isn’t able to get out of Lesnar’s mount. Lesnar continues controlling Herring from the dominant position and it looked like Lesnar might’ve been going in for a RNC, but Herring gets back to his feet. Lesnar goes right into a takedown on Herring. Lesnar continues to control and strike Lesnar. 10 seconds left. Lesnar celebrates a little early, and that’s it.

The Decision: Lesnar gets a score of 30-26 from all the judges and the unanimous decision victory. Huge win for Lesnar after losing to Mir in his debut fight. And, well I guess we all know what happens after this. Lesnar is with Rogan, and says he fell off the horse then got back on the stallion and rode it out of town. Crack at Heath “Texas Crazy Horse” Herring, maybe? Rogan says to “look out for Brock Lesnar!”

UFC Welterweight Title Bout

Georges St. Pierre© (16-2-0) Vs. Jon Fitch (21-2-0)
Fitch has won his last eight fights in the UFC, fifteen overall in MMA. This is St. Pierre’s first title defense after unifying the UFC Welterweight championship and beating Matt Serra in their rematch at UFC 83. St. Pierre does the nipple tweak after entering the cage. You know what that means.

Round 1: GSP starts things off with a takedown. GSP gets an elbow and controls Fitch on top. Fitch gets up, but GSP gets a single-leg. Back up and St. Pierre knocks Fitch down with a big right. Some more grounded strikes, and well, I dunno, looks like Lavigne could’ve stopped it there. Fights have been stopped for less. GSP continues to pummel Fitch standing up and on the ground until the end of the round.

Round 2: They keep it standing all throughout this one. GSP looks to be getting the better of the exchanges.

Round 3: Looks like GSP punches out Fitch’s mouthpiece with a huge right. More domination and pummeling decimation to Fitch. Fitch gets on top for a while and isn’t able to do much from the position. St. Pierre gets out and reverses. They continue with the stand-up and St. Pierre continues to dominate on the feet. Horn sounds and they are going into the championship rounds.

Round 4: GSP and Fitch continue with some more stand-up war. Fitch is unable to take down GSP. Looks like Fitch is able to cut GSP under St. Pierre’s left eye. GSP gets on top of Fitch again, and Fitch hangs on. GSP looks like he almost locks in a leg hold at the end of the round.

Round 5: GSP advances on Fitch and gets the takedown again. GSP continues to brutally pound Fitch. Fitch hangs on but is unable to mount any kind of offense against St. Pierre. GSP totally dominates Fitch at will, and the round ends.

The Decision: GSP bows to Fitch and thanks him for the fight. GSP is awarded the unanimous decision victory. Massive props and credit to Fitch for going all five with GSP and toughing it out, but Fitch looked really out-classed and over-matched here. GSP is with Rogan. GSP says Fitch was his toughest challenge, and he told Fitch that the loss will make Fitch a stronger fighter. St. Pierre says he’s ready to fight everybody, and he’s ready to fight BJ Penn. BJ Penn comes in and says he’s ready to fight GSP, “Let’s do it!”

The 411: A fun night of fights. Lesnar begins his very possible dominance of the UFC heavyweight division. Contenders like Florian and Maia rack up some nice wins. Impressive and tough performance by Jon Fitch in the main event title bout, but GSP looks to be in peak physical condition and nigh-unbeatable at this point. None of the fights were really great or earth shattering amazing, but there were some nice highlights.

Final Score:  7.5   [ Good ]