UFC 97 Silva's Back

This Saturday, April 18th, Anderson Silva (23-4, 8-0 UFC) will defend his MW belt against Thales Leites (14-1, 5-1 UFC) at UFC 97 which takes place in Montreal, Canada. Silva will bring the thunder, as he was disappointed in his last performance, a TKO/injury win over Patrick Cote.

I was in attendence at UFC 90, and I can tell you Silva looked fast and dictated the pace during the fight with Cote. Silva didn't throw many strikes, but all landed with power and force. Cote injured his knee at the start of the third round. Silva will be looking to throw kicks, punches and knees to Thales Leites.

Silva has brutalized the UFC's 185 pound division, and even destroyed 205 pound heavy hitter James Irvin for good measure. Silva has victories over Rich Franklin, Chris Leben, Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson.

(Silva v. Cote at UFC 90)

Leites will have to utilize his BJJ if he wants to have a chance at victory. Leites hasn't won over the same level of competition with his big wins over Jose Landi-Jons, Drew McFedries, Gustavo Machado and a razor thin and controversial win over Nate Marquardt.

(Thales Leites pictured)

The co-main event features Chuck Liddell (21-6, 16-5 UFC) v. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (17-3, 1-1 UFC. Liddell has his back against the wall and desperately needs a victory as he is 1-3 in his last four fights. Rua meanwhile is also in need of a win and regaining his pre-surgery form. Rua has been devasted by knee surgeries since problems arose before his fight with Forrest Griffin.

(Chuck Liddell pictured)

Liddell is destined for the UFC Hall of Fame as soon as he hangs up his gloves. While he still has his trademark overhand right, at 39 years of age his time is running out. Liddell has wins over Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, Guy Mezger, Kevin Randleman and recently over Wanderlei Silva. Rua was a Pride All-Star before coming to the UFC holding victories over Rampage Jackson, Alistair Overeem, Akihiro Gono and recently over Mark Coleman in the UFC.

(Shougun Rua pictured)

MAIN CARD

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites- MW Championship
Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann
Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk
Luis Cane vs. Steve Cantwell

UNDER CARD

Vinicius Magalhaes vs. Eliot Marshall
Xavier Foupa-Pokam vs. Denis Kang
Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry
Ed Herman vs. David Loiseau
David Bielkheden vs. Mark Bocek
Ryo Chonan vs. T.J. Grant
Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman


(Anderson Silva pictured)

UFC: Fight For Troops Results

The Fight For the Troops card ended out to be one of the best shows in recent memory. It also was one of the most brutal, as the injury list for this card will end up being long and plentiful. The fights themselves were exciting. There was an abundance of star power giving support to the Intrepid Fallen Hero's fund. Some were Jack Black, Charlie Sheen, Lauren Prepon and Everlast.

Josh Koscheck def. Yoshiyuki Yoshida via KO (punch) R1, 2:15- Koscheck and Yoshida briefly circled before Koscheck threw a massive right hand. The punch connected and Yoshida was knocked out standing. Koscheck followed up the punch and Yoshida collapsed violently to the canvas before the ref stopped it. The brutal KO won the knockout of the night award.

Mike Swick def. Jonathan Goulet via TKO (strikes) R1, 0:33- This fight didn't last long as Swick threw a quick combination that landed. While stunned, Goulet went for a single leg. Unfortunately for Goulet, Swick unleased a fury of punches before Goulet was out cold and the ref jumped in.

Steve Cantwell def. Razak Al-Hassan via technical sub (armbar) R1, 4:04- Razak Al-Hassan pressed the action from the start of the bout, throwing body kicks and punches. Al-Hassan was dropping his hands after the strikes however, and Cantwell answered with a high kick which dropped Al-Hassan. After some time on the ground, Cantwell secured an arm-bar. Al-Hassan didn't tap and tried to roll out of it. Unfortunately, it was too deep and Cantwell wrenched it until the ref stepped in. The arm was likely broke and a tendon damaged. I'll try to update you on his condition.

Tim Credeur def. Nate Loughran via TKO (injury) R2, 5:00- Tim Credeur dominated the stand-up in route to winning his second straight fight inside the UFC. Credeur has an awkward stance that makes it difficult for opponents to time. Credeur also looked good when the fight hit the mat. In the second, Credeur struck Loughran in the ribs a couple times with kicks and a punch, and it appeared that was the reason he couldn't continue.

Jim Miller def. Matt Wiman via unanimous decision- This was the first fight broadcast of the night and lived up to the fight of the night honors that it received. Miller hit Wiman with punches, kicks, body kicks, body punches, a tight guillotine choke, and an upkick, but Wiman didn't go down. The fight ended with Miller trying to sink another submission. Miller took the fight on short notice and fought with some serious fire.

Ben Saunders def. Brandon Wolff via TKO (strikes) R1, 1:49- Saunders put on his best Anderson Silva impersonation to work over Brandon Wolff. He threw knee after knee after knee before crumpling Brandon Wolff. He left with a massive lump on his head after the fight. I haven't seen a hematoma like that in some time.

Dale Hartt def. Corey Hill via TKO (leg injury) R2, 0:20- Corey Hill was winning the first round of this fight before coming out in the second and throwing a low kick. The kick was checked in the shin by Dale Hart and Hill's tibia snapped. It was one of the most gruesome injuries you will see. It looked like Jose Landi-Jons from TKO 32.

Steve Bruno def. Johnny Rees via sub (rear-naked choke) R2, 3:44
Luigi Fioravanti def. Brodie Farber via unanimous decision
Justin McCully def. Eddie Sanchez via unanimous decision

WEC 35 Results

Carlos Condit def. Hiromitsu Miura by TKO at 4:43, R4- This fight was an absolute war. For almost four rounds, the fighters traded big combinations. Miura was able to execute some outstanding judo throws, but could never mount much offense. Condit ran through a litiny of submission attempts, but none ended up working. Miura was able to get sweeps and reversals. After three extremely hard fought rounds, Condit landed a nice knee to Miura's temple in the end of the fourth. A couple more strikes and the bout was called, Condit the victor.
*An instant fight of the year canidate.
*Condit retains WW Belt.

Steve Cantwell def. Brian Stann by TKO at 4:01, R2- The first round saw Cantwell throwing more precise strikes to Stann. Stann ate numerous shots early and often. In the second, it was too much and the fight was stopped.
*Cantwell is the new LHW champ.

Jamie Varner def. Marcus Hicks by TKO at 2:08, R1- The match was an action filled 2 minutes. Hicks got inside on Varner in the clinch before getting a takedown. But after a failed guillotine attempt, Hicks was caught with some nasty knees, punches and eventually the fight was called.
*Varner retains LW Title

Brian Bowles def. Damacio Page by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 3:30, R1- Bowles ate some punches before attempting a takedown. Page then attempted to get a double leg, but Bowles locked in a guillotine choke for the victory.

Josh Grispi def. Micah Miller by TKO at 0:50, R1- Grispi fired some nasty low kicks dropping Miller to the ground. Afterwards, Grispi landed a huge overhand right that crumpled Miller to the canvas. Miller protested the stoppage, but the replay showed Miller's knee bending at an awkward angle as he went to the ground. I would have called it.

Brock Larson def. Carlo Prater by KO at 0:37, R1- After a very brief amount of circling, Larson unloaded a nasty left hand that sent Prater to the ground. Larson followed with a couple more punches before the bout was called.

Not Shown:
Blas Avena def. Dave Terrel by TKO at 1:07, R1
Shane Roller def. Todd Moore by Submission (Guillotine) at 3:00, R1
Mike Budnik def. Greg McIntyre by Submission (Triangle) at 3:21, R3
Scott Jorgensen def. Kenji Osawa by Unanimous Decision

WEC 33 Results

Review by the MMA Blaster

Brian Stann def. Doug Marshall via TKO (strikes)- R1, 1:35 - The slugfest occured as predicted as Stann and Marshall traded flurries of punches. After a Thai clinch, Stann was able to drop "the Rhino" with a vicious left hand. The Marine Stann is now the new LHW champ of the WEC.


Chael Sonnen def. Bryan Baker via unanimous decision- Sonnen dominated all three rounds and won the decision.

Marcus Hicks vs. Ed Ratcliff via sub (guillotine choke)- R1, 1:42 - As predicted this was a short and entertaining fight. After eating punches, Ratcliff defended guillotine attempts before eventually sucombing. Hicks' nickname is well deserved, he is a "wrecking ball."

Steve Cantwell def. Tim McKenzie via sub (rear-naked choke)- R1, 2:13- Cantwell overwelmed McKenzie with big kicks and punches for the eventual forearm rear naked choke.

Hiromitsu Miura def. Blas Avena via KO (punches)- R1, 2:35
Brock Larson def. John Alessio via DQ (illegal knee)- R1, 1:50
Richard Crunkilton def. Sergio Gomez via unanimous decision
Alex Serdyukov def. Ryan Stonitsch via sub (triangle choke)-R1, 1:35
Chris Manuel vs. Kenji Osawa via split draw
Logan Clark def. Scott Harper via TKO (strikes)- R1, 4:37