UFC 82: "Pride Of A Champion" Results
by Robert Sargent
UFC 82 was an extremely solid event for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, with "The Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring defeating Cheick Kongo, and Anderson "The Spider" Silva submitting "Dangerous" Dan Henderson in the main event.
The crowd was largely behind Henderson in his battle with Silva, but it was not enough, as Silva recovered from a poor first round to submit Henderson late in round two.
UFC/PRIDE Unified Middleweight Championship
Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs "Dangerous" Dan Henderson
The first round appeared to be an indication of how the fight would progress, with Henderson scoring a takedown and dominating from top position. However, that all changed with a glancing knee in round two, which set up a submission on the ground for Silva.Silva declined a touch of gloves to begin round one, which earned boos from the crowd. The fighters circled one another for the opening minute, trading leg kicks. Silva landed an inside crescent kick, but Henderson replied with a takedown. He worked from Silva's half-guard for most of the remainder of the round, landing numerous hammerfist strikes to Silva's face. Silva did nothing but try to control Henderson's head and left arm, and the round definitively went to Henderson.
Both fighters landed strikes early in round two, with a kick from Silva and retaliatory punches from Henderson. Silva went for a head kick, which Henderson blocked, and Henderson pulled guard seconds later. Silva got back to his feet and the fighters clinched against the cage. As the fighters broke away, both landed significant punches and Silva landed a solid knee strike. After two more punches, Henderson tried for a takedown and failed. Silva took top position and landed a hard elbow strike.
Silva eventually got Henderson's back and locked in a body triangle. Henderson fought off a series of choke attempts, but, with mere seconds left in the round, Silva locked in a rear naked choke and Henderson was forced to tap.
With this victory, there are extremely few challengers left in the UFC for Anderson Silva. The next logical test would be Yushin Okami, as Okami is the last person to have defeated Silva - albeit by Disqualification - but most of the world's top middleweights are now competing in DREAM or in other promotions, so the UFC will have a difficult time finding suitable opponents.
Winner: Anderson Silva by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:52 of round two. He improves to 21-4-0 and is now the Unified Middleweight Champion.
"The Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring vs Cheick Kongo
In a fight that went absolutely nothing like it was expected to, Herring walked away with a Split Decision victory over Kongo, in a fight that was almost entirely spent grappling on the ground.Immediately after the bell, Herring rushed forward and landed an overhand right that dropped Kongo, but Kongo quickly recovered and the fighters clinched against the cage. Kongo, a kickboxer, did the unthinkable and scored a takedown. Herring quickly returned to his feet and landed a few strikes, then Kongo went for yet another takedown. Herring reversed position and landed a couple of strikes before Kongo stood back up.
Kongo landed a series of knees to the leg of Herring, then took Herring down and got mount against the cage. Herring escaped and scored a takedown, but Kongo immediately stood back up. After reversing a takedown from Herring, Kongo teed off with punches, then inexplicably stood up rather than working for a choke. The remainder of the round was spent with Kongo holding onto Herring's head, with no damage dealt. Kongo takes the extremely close first round.
Herring went for a takedown to begin round two, but it was Kongo who got Herring down. However, Kongo was unable to do anything on the ground and Herring drilled him with an up-kick as Kongo stood back up. Kongo then stood over the downed Herring for nearly 30 seconds, doing absolutely nothing, before the referee restarted the action. Herring pushed Kongo against the cage, but Kongo reversed and scored a takedown. Herring rolled and reversed, then landed dozens and dozens of knees to the body for the remainder of the round. This fight clearly displays why knees to the head of a downed opponent should be legal, as Kongo would have been KOed by any number of them. Herring wins round two.
Both fighters went for kicks to begin round three, with Herring knocking Kongo down. Kongo managed to get Herring's back on the ground, then landed some knees to the body. Herring got back to his feet, but was taken down moments later. Herring grabbed Kongo's leg and rolled over, taking top position and side-mount. As in round two, Herring threw dozens of knee strikes to the shoulder and body of Kongo, and was clearly holding back from throwing knees to the head. Had they been legal - and they absolutely should be - Kongo would have been knocked out numerous times over. After landing some punches and elbows, Herring moved to mount late in round three, and landed a few strikes before the bell. Herring takes round three.
In the end, the judges agreed, with only notoriously blind judge, Cecil Peoples, scoring the fight in favour of Kongo.
Winner: Heath Herring by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 28-13-0, 1 NC.
Chris "The Crippler" Leben vs Alessio "Legionarius" Sakara
After being soundly dominated in striking for much of the first round, Leben came back with a pair of left hooks to the temple and emerged with a TKO victory.An early punching exchange ended with both fighters landing solid left hooks, and Sakara got the better of the next exchange with quick combinations. Sakara continued to land rights to the head of Leben, whose wild style was outmatched by the technical striking of Sakara. Sakara landed another series of shots, but Leben came back with a quick combination of his own that briefly sent Sakara backwards.
Sakara landed more punches, with Leben replying with knee strikes. Leben landed a body kick and Sakara countered with three quick punches. With just under two minutes left in the round, Leben got Sakara against the cage and landed two big left hooks to the temple, which sent Sakara to the mat. Though Sakara seemed to be out on his feet, he looked to be fully conscious on the ground, as Leben landed three punches from the top. The referee thought otherwise and stopped the fight, to the protests of Sakara.
Winner: Chris Leben by TKO (Punches) at 3:16 of round one. He improves to 18-4-0.
Yushin "Thunder" Okami vs Evan Tanner
Tanner did not look at all like his old self in this fight, and his two-year layoff from fighting was evident. After being dropped by a punch in round one, Tanner was knocked out in the second round by a vicious knee from Okami.Unlike in most of his fights, Okami came out strong in the first round, landing a hard left cross just under 90 seconds into round one that sent Tanner to the canvas. Tanner recovered and went for a takedown, but Okami stood back up immediately. After a lengthy clinch against the cage, Okami broke free and landed a few punches, then got a Thai clinch and landed a pair of knees. Okami continued to dominate the striking exchanges for the remainder of the round, with Tanner throwing sparse leg kicks.
Tanner had more success with striking in the opening minute of round two, as he landed low kicks and body kicks, while Okami countered with punches. A hard body kick from Okami seemed to end Tanner's offence, however, as Okami began landing punches at will. Okami repeatedly rocked Tanner's head back with left crosses throughout the middle of the round. Tanner clinched against the cage, then tried for a takedown, but could not get Okami down. With just over three minutes left, Okami drilled Tanner with a knee and knocked him out. With the win, Okami must now be the next contender for Anderson Silva's title.
Winner: Yushin Okami by KO (Knee) at 3:00 of round two. He improves to 21-4-0.
Jon Fitch vs Chris "The Professor" Wilson
After one round of this fight, it looked as if Wilson would play the role of spoiler once again, as he had done in past bouts with Pat Healy, LaVerne Clark, Jay Hieron, Rory Markham and Derrick Noble, among others, but Fitch managed to come back and took rounds two and three to emerge with a Unanimous Decision victory.Wilson came out flying in round one, landing knees and defending takedown attempts from Fitch. Joe Rogan made reference to the fact that Wilson is the reigning SportFight Welterweight Champion, and Wilson showed why as he stuffed another takedown from Fitch and then rocked Fitch with a right hand. Wilson landed two more punches against the cage, then a high kick and quick strikes. Fitch eventually did score a takedown, but was unable to do anything. The fight was stood back up and both fighters exchanged punches. Wilson landed a solid body kick, then a leg kick and Fitch went for a takedown. Wilson tried to counter with an omoplata attempt, but Fitch escaped and worked from Wilson's guard. However, it was Wilson who landed elbow strikes from the bottom and Wilson easily took round one. Fitch scored takedowns, but did absolutely nothing on the ground.
Wilson landed an early knee in round two, but Fitch caught his leg and landed a kick. Fitch went for a takedown and eventually got it. Fitch worked from guard for the next minute, then moved to side-control. After landing a series of punches and elbows, Fitch used a side choke to move to mount, but Wilson immediately retained guard. With 30 seconds remaining, Fitch moved back to side-control and landed a series of knees to the body. Fitch handily won round two.
Fitch opened up round three with leg kicks, then went for a takedown. Wilson blocked the takedown, but Fitch landed a pair of hard shots seconds later. Fitch continued to land combinations, and briefly rocked Wilson against the cage. Wilson missed a spinning back kick attempt and Fitch replied with a flurry of punches and a kick. With two minutes remaining, Fitch took Wilson down and landed small strikes from guard for most of the remainder of the round. With 25 seconds left, Wilson locked Fitch in a triangle choke, which got very tight with 15 seconds left, but Fitch managed to survive. Fitch won the round.
Two judges bizarrely scored round one in favour of Fitch, presumably based solely on the fact that he scored brief takedowns, but Fitch did win rounds two and three and deserved the win, regardless.
Winner: Jon Fitch by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 16-2-0, 1 NC.
Josh Koscheck vs Dustin "McLovin" Hazelett
Though he was defeated in this fight, Hazelett shocked many with his vastly-improved striking, including a kick that rocked Koscheck in the early stages of round one.After the fighters circled each other, Hazelett opened up with a left head kick that sent Koscheck reeling against the cage. Hazelett followed it up with a vicious knee strike, but Koscheck somehow managed to hold on. Both fighters exchanged wild punches, as the crowd cheered furiously. Koscheck attempted two haymakers, while Hazelett countered with a right cross, and the pair smiled and touched gloves. Both fighters exchanged body punches, then Koscheck landed a combination and went for a takedown.
Following a brief clinch against the cage, Hazelett went for a standing guillotine, which became tighter as time went by, but Koscheck eventually managed to escape. Hazelett peppered Koscheck with leg kicks, while Koscheck replied with a kick of his own. A head kick from Hazelett once again dazed Koscheck, but he threw a series of counterpunches when Hazelett moved in. Koscheck began to dominate the striking in the final minute of round one, with kicks and punches, then scored a takedown. However, within three seconds, Hazelett had locked in a triangle choke. The bell sounded to end the round, and Hazelett won it by a slim margin.
Koscheck landed a solid left early in round two, then followed it up with leg kicks and a punching combination. Hazelett landed punches and kicks to the body, then went for a high kick. Koscheck threw a jumping kick to the head, which hurt Hazelett and sent him to the mat, then Koscheck pounced and landed a series of follow-up punches. The referee jumped in and called a stop to the fight.
Winner: Josh Koscheck by TKO (Kick & Punches) at 1:24 of round two. He improves to 10-2-0.
Undercard Fights:
Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski emerged victorious in what may turn out to be his final UFC fight, as he stopped the previously undefeated "Irish" Jake O'Brien in round two. Arlovski wins by TKO (Strikes From Mount) at 4:17 of round two and improves to 12-5-0.Luigi Fioravanti dominated Luke Cummo for three rounds, en route to a clear-cut decision victory. Fioravanti wins by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds and improves to 12-3-0.
Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez made short work of UFC debutant David Bielkheden, stopping him in the first round after Bielkheden tapped out due to strikes. Sanchez wins by Submission (Strikes From Mount) at 4:43 of round one and improves to 18-2-0.
Jorge Gurgel finally managed to stick to his game plan, sort of, and scored numerous takedowns on John Halverson, ending up with a decision victory. Gurgel wins by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds and improves to 12-3-0.
UFC 82 was definitely another excellent event for the UFC, who have really stepped up their game in the past few months. With their upcoming Fight Night event unquestionably the best to date, and UFC 83 the largest event in UFC history, things look bright for the coming months.
