As with any major MMA card BloodyElbow is your home for live results and thoughts. I’ll be with you live starting at 10:00pm Eastern when the PPV begins. For live undercard results hit up Sherdog. Just make your way back here for the PPV portion of things.
Share your thoughts, but please refrain from undercard “spoilers” as I really try not to spoil anything that could be shown on the broadcast.
See you at fight time!
The PPV broadcast is starting…I’m stoked and eating some of the standard great Chicago pizza.
Tyson Griffin vs. Marcus Aurelio – Is the first fight up and I’m expecting a much better fight than most people seem to be. Aurelio is one of those guys who doesn’t get the “he trains with ATT!” benefit of the doubt. Round 1 – A lot of circling for the first minute. Aurelio tends to leave his chin up when striking. The crowd is already booing and it has been a very slow pace to start. Tyson ends up on top after he shrugs off Marcus. He is throwing big strikes from the top as Aurelio flails looking to catch a limb. Armbar attempt doesn’t succeed and more punishment from Griffin on top. They’re back to standing. Griffin is using his speed to trump Marcus’ reach. Nice body shot by Tyson and it looked like it hurt Marcus a little bit. The round ends and it was a good one for Tyson. 10-9 Griffin on my card. Round 2 – Griffin is looking very aggressive early. Leg kicks are hitting hard and he is getting in, hitting and getting right back out. More leg kicks and Aurelio isn’t really checking them. Aurelio lands a jab and then gets stuffed trying to shoot afterward. Body lock against the cage and Griffin keeps with knees to the thigh and a few foot stomps. Takedown against the cage by Tyson. Aurelio gets back up and gets a takedown. Tyson attempts to stand up and Aurelio grabs his back but Griffin is able to escape and end up back on top. Triangle is almost secured but Tyson escapes again. Aurelio keeps working his legs up high and even though he isn’t getting anything locked in he is able to avoid any serious damage and is more of a threat on the ground than he is when they’re standing. I’ve got Griffin up 20-18 after 2 rounds. Round 3 – Tyson is countering hard over the top of Marcus’ punches. The leg kicks have really affected Marcus’ movement. Aurelio has nothing left, weak shots and he is eating some big punches from Tyson now. Takedown by Tyson now with a little under 2 minutes. Aurelio’s guard is so active he really should have just been pulling guard rather than going for shots this whole fight. The round ends and it should be an easy clean sweep for Griffin. 30-27 on my card. Judges Scorecards: 30-27 across the board. Tyson Griffin wins by unanimous decision. You’d have really liked to have seen Tyson get a win via something other than decision, but a win is a win.
Chris Lytle vs. Josh Koscheck – Round 1 – Lytle is working hooks from both sides early. Through one minute it doesn’t look like Josh wants to shoot. No one landing any clean punches so far. Finally Kos with a shot and Lytle grabbed a guillotine, but it wasn’t deep. Koscheck is in half guard and looking to pass. Some short elbows from the top position. Josh is able to posture up and land a nice punch. Koscheck wins the round via position but no real damage done in the round. 10-9 Kos on my card. Round 2 – There’s a quick shot by Koscheck. Lytle is able to fend it off but eats a few elbows in return. Another shot and Lytle grabs a guillotine again, but like the first time it wasn’t deep enough. Kos is in half guard again and landing some short elbows. Chris looks to be cut up pretty good already. Koscheck is starting to unload pretty aggressively here with elbows and punches and it looks like Lytle has a good 2 or 3 cuts on his head. I’m pretty sure this fight will get stopped between runs as Lytle is just gushing. 10-8 round for Koscheck and I’ve got him up 20-17. Round 3 – They’re letting the fight continue. The crew at my house has decided that Koscheck really looks like the dude from Top Secret (see it if you haven’t by the way). Lytle lands a crisp uppercut but Kos just pushes forward and gets the takedown. Guillotine attempt again and it was deep for once but Kos rolls out. Lytle goes right back to it, but again it is half guard so it isn’t going to finish the fight and now Kos is right back in half guard throwing elbows. Lytle is GUSHING. They’re stood up even through Kos was working. Lytle with a right hook and an uppercut that stung Kos a little bit but he slips and isn’t able to follow up on it. Lytle cracks him with a few more shots and the round ends. Mad props to Lytle for continually giving his all despite bleeding like crazy. 10-9 round for Lytle in my eyes as he landed the biggest shots and had the sub attempts. But I’ve got it 29-27 Koscheck. Judges Scorecards: 30-26, 29-27 and 30-28. Josh Koscheck wins by unanimous decision. That 30-28 card means a judge gave one round (probably the 3rd) as even 10-10. Kos gets booed after the fight as he just isn’t a likable dude and Lytle is. Still…a very nice performance for Josh.
Joe Stevenson vs. Gleison Tibau – Round 1 – Damn, I forgot how big Tibau is. I mean, I KNOW how big he is…but seeing him is such a reminder. Stevenson with a left that lands early. Stevenson with a right hand and Tibau drops, Stevenson with a guillotine and Tibau is able to escape and they go back to standing. Nice short elbow from the clinch by Joe. Takedown by Tibau but Stevenson walks up the cage to get back standing. Stevenson with more good strikes and gets a double leg takedown. Omaplata is locked in tight but Joe is fending it off. Stevenson isn’t going to get finished here but Tibau isn’t going to let it go either. The round ends in the same position. 10-9 for Tibau for the sub attempt but Joe had the better striking so it could go either way. Round 2 – Stevenson goes for a takedown right away but Tibau is able to fend it off. Tibau gets another takedown but Stevenson is right back to his feet. Really slick duck under/takedown by Gleison and he quickly passes to side control. Full mount by Tibau comes really quickly. Joe manages to get out of it with no damage done to him and they’re back to the feet. Guillotine again by Stevenson as a counter to a takedown attempt. Tibau has an arm in but it is deep and really tight. Tibau taps out! Joe Stevenson wins by Submission (Guillotine Choke) – Round 2. Good showing for Gleison and an even better showing for Joe who was able to survive a really, really tough test.
Fan vote is actually in favor of Griffin at 53%.
Patrick Cote vs. Ricardo Almeida – Round 1 – Ricardo jumps to guard right away and is working rubber guard. Cote stands right back up through. Cote fends off a takedown but Almeida has a body lock. After about 2 minutes locked up Almeida finally was able to finish a single leg. Two shots by Almeida from the top. Ricardo is just sitting on top landing shots to the head and body as the round ends. 10-9 round for Almeida and Cote needs to keep distance without it just turning into an Almeida clinch fest until he can get his takedown. Round 2 – Slight delay to the start of the round as one of Ricardo’s gloves are torn. Cote is stalking but isn’t connecting. Almeida pulls guard and then goes to “crackhead control” but Cote stands back up. Uppercut just missed by Cote. Cote with a combo but nothing really lands there and they clinch against the cage again. Right hand by Cote makes Ricardo shake his head. Almeida looks a bit frustrated actually in this round. Right hand lands by Cote again. Body shot now by Cote and Almeida is backing up this whole round. Body lock again by Almeida and the boos are starting. Right hand drops Almeida and the round ends. 10-9 Cote on my card and we’ve got a 19-19 fight. Almeida is gassed and was hurt at the end there. Round 3 – Clinch against the cage right away again but Cote backs away. Really great leg kick by Kote that hurt Almeida. Almeida is jabbing but not really trying to do anything but backpedal and jab here. Another great leg kick by Patrick. Overhand right glances off Almeida’s head. Almeida with a right hand. Takedown by Almeida with 30 seconds left. Cote avoids any damage and ends on top. 10-9 round Cote on my card. I’ve got it 29-28 Cote but it could go either way. Judges Scorecards: 29-28 Cote, 29-28 Almeida, 29-28 Cote. Patrick Cote wins by split decision. Not exactly an exciting fight…but a big win for Cote.
Forrest Griffin vs. Quinton Jackson for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship – Round 1 – They’re trading punches quickly. Forrest is looking to use leg kicks from the outside. Forrest with a 1-2 combo that lands and back to the leg kicks. Griffin looks quick and is working well from outside. Uppercut lands for Jackson. Two more leg kicks land. Four punch combo buckles Forrest’s legs and he comes back with some punches of his own. Forrest is cracking him with leg kicks and left hands. Uppercut lands huge for Rampage and it drops Griffin. Rampage is on top now against the fence. Forrest walks up the cage and is back standing. Great action packed round. 10-9 for Rampage in my book as he actually dropped Forrest which is the biggest thing in the round. Very close round though. Round 2 – A huge lecg kick and Rampage is hopping. He is hurt badly. Guillotine almost finishes Rampage but he survives. Forrest is in half guard. I don’t know what Rampage can do if they go back to standing, he looked like he could barely put any weight on it. Forrest passes to side control. Forrest is looking for an Americana to finish but Quinton is fighting it off. Forrest is OWNING this round. Full mount for Forrest. Elbows from the top now. One minute left and Forrest is hanging out on top landing short elbows. The round ends and it is an easy 10-8 round for Forrest Griffin and I’ve got the fight at 19-18 for Griffin. Round 3 – Forrest with a few low kick attempts and a high kick that misses. Left hook lands for Rampage. Rampage with a nice combination that lands. Left hand lands and Forrest backs off. Forrest is going back to the leg kicks. Body shot cracks Forrest hard. Rampage is coming back to win this round which is pretty amazing after how bad his leg looked last round. Both fighters flurry at the end of the round. I’d give a very close round to Rampage there 10-9 to make the fight 28-28. Round 4 – Five punch flurry by rampage followed by a few uppercuts. Now Rampage with a sweep takedown. Forrest is bleeding over his right eye now. Triangle is locked in by Forrest but Rampage stands up and Forrest’s legs give the hold up. Forrest is looking to control the wrist again but he eats an elbow. Rampage stands up and hits Griffin with an uppercut as he tries to follow him back to the feet. Another combo by Rampage and Griffin is bleeding pretty badly now. 10-9 Jackson on my card as I think his heavier blows outweigh the triangle. And I’ve got Jackson up 38-37. Round 5 – We could see a draw here if Forrest wins the round…on my card anyway. Left, right again for Quinton. Body kicks from Forrest followed by a leg kick. Right hand lands for Forrest. Leg kick lands hard for Forrest. Right hand lands for Quinton. Right hand lands for Forrest as does a follow up jab. They’re still going at a good pace with a minute left in the fight. Griffin is winning this round in my eyes. Flurry for Rampage lands. Uppercut for Rampage now. 10-9 round Griffin for me there making the fight total 47-47 and a draw on my card. Dana is telling Forrest how proud he is of him, and Forrest is thanking his corner. This is going to be a really interesting decision. Judges Scorecards: 48-46, 48-46, 49-46 all for Forrest Griffin. Forrest Griffin wins the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship by unanimous decision. Holy…crap. That was…wow. I can’t argue with the decision. I’m just amazed at how that fight went. Forrest shows very little emotion after the decision and during the post-fight interview which is odd. Rampage admits that his leg was hurt early and that Forrest just “whipped his ass” and is being as honest as a guy can after such a tough, close fight. And once again my predictions were weak.