UFC 97 Results & Recap
by Robert Sargent
Capped off by one of the worst main events in UFC history, the Ultimate Fighting Championship's second trip to Canada at UFC 97: "Redemption" was otherwise a success, and saw Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vanquish Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell in round one.
In other main card action, Sam "Hands of Stone" Stout took a contested Unanimous Decision over "Handsome" Matt Wiman, while Krzysztof Soszynski submitted Brian Stann.
UFC Middleweight Championship
Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs Thales Leites
After 25 minutes of nearly non-existent action, this fight mercifully came to an end with Silva retaining his title in anything but spectacular fashion.A full 70 seconds went by before Silva finally threw a left jab that was blocked. Silva started to push forward and landed a grazing right uppercut. A punch and a kick missed, so Silva landed a punch to Leites's thigh. This proved to be the first of many extremely unorthodoxed strikes in the fight. Leites landed a hard leg kick and looked to clinch for a takedown, but was shrugged off. He threw a head kick that was blocked. Silva countered with a right hook to the body. Both missed with hook attempts and Leites followed up with another kick. Silva landed a one-two and tripped Leites to the mat. Leites got up, then pulled half-guard, but Silva stood up and landed a big punch. Leites scored a very brief takedown, but Silva got right back up and the round ended in a clinch. Slow round, but Silva narrowly takes it 10-9.
Leites landed a leg kick early in round two, then ducked a head kick from Silva and scored a takedown. From half-guard, Leites looked to pass to side-control, but Silva regained guard and locked on a body triangle. Leites landed punches from the top and Silva countered with elbows from the bottom. Leites stood up and punched from the top, then entered Silva's guard again and fought off a triangle attempt. The fight returned to the feet and Silva landed a jab. Absolutely nothing transpired for 45 seconds until Silva attempted a hook. The fighters exchanged body kicks and Silva landed a leg kick. Silva threw one head kick before the bell. 10-9 Leites.
Silva landed a jab to begin round three and caught a leg kick from Leites, who attempted unsuccessfully to pull guard. Silva kicked Leites's legs, then allowed him to stand. Leites landed an overhand right, but was poked in the eye and fell to the mat. Silva kicked and punched his legs until the fight was stood up, and Leites attempted a takedown. It failed, so he flopped on his back. Silva landed a left hook and a leg kick as the bored crowd began chanting "GSP!" Silva began to press forward with strikes and Leites fell down again. He got up and looked to touch gloves, which Silva eventually did. Silva landed a body kick and Leites dove to the mat to avoid a right hook. The crowd booed. Silva started landing side kicks to Leites's knee, then pushed forward with quick combinations of punches. Silva cut Leites with more punches, then avoided a scissor heel hook attempt. Leites fell while attempting a horrible takedown. The boos followed. 10-9 Silva.
Silva staggered Leites with a side kick to the knee. He landed more, and Leites was clearly feeling them. Silva continued to punish Leites's lead leg. Silva began gyrating in comical fashion, then landed a left hook and more leg kicks. He followed up with a head kick and went back to side kicks to the knee. Silva started punching Leites's lead leg, then landed more kicks. Silva landed a leg kick and stuffed a takedown from Leites. Silva then swung his back leg behind his front leg and used it to kick Leites. The bizarre strikes continued. Silva then began to use a variety of unorthodoxed punches and kicks to the legs and body. Leites attempted another terrible takedown and Silva stood above him. 10-9 Silva. This is awful.
Silva looked to be more aggressive in round five with quick punches and kicks, but soon reverted to doing very little. Leites obliged by doing absolutely nothing. Leites finally attempted a one-two and looked for takedowns and a leg lock, but Silva ended up on top and landed some solid rights. Leites, bleeding from the nose, got back to his feet. Silva landed a side kick to the body, then landed a punch to the eye. Leites tried to pull guard, but ate more punches. Leites tried an overhand right and failed with another takedown. Chants of "GSP!" resurfaced. Another takedown failed for Leites. Silva landed more side kicks, then caught a kick from Leites and threw him to the mat. Leites got up and tried another overhand right, but fell again. The fight finally ended. Boos rained down from the crowd. 10-9 Silva.
Silva took the Unanimous Decision with varied scores, but this will be most remembered as being one of the worst main events in mixed martial arts history.
Winner: Anderson Silva by Unanimous Decision (50-46, 49-46, 48-47) after five rounds. He improves to 24-4-0 and remains the UFC Middleweight Champion.
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell
Finally looking to have regained his old form, Rua dominated the first round with strikes and a takedown, then finished Liddell with a punch late in the round. It will likely be the last time that Liddell competes in mixed martial arts.Rua landed a stiff leg kick early in round one, then threw a head kick. Liddell looked to set up punching combinations, but Rua landed another hard leg kick. Rua landed a big right hook, which set off an exchange of power punches. Liddell pressed forward, but Rua was unscathed. Rua scored with an overhand right, then avoided a combination from Liddell. Another big overhand right landed for Rua, then a leg kick. Rua continued to alternate between overhand right hooks and leg kicks, as Liddell began to slow down. Rua scored a takedown, then looked for a heel hook. Liddell got up, but Rua landed knees in a clinch. The fighters separated and Liddell rushed forward with punches. Rua attempted a takedown, but Liddell shrugged it off. Liddell missed with power punches, but scored a brief takedown. Rua got up and dropped Liddell with a lunging left hook. He landed numerous hammerfists on the ground until the referee stopped the fight.
The win was easily Rua's biggest victory in years, and puts him right back in the title hunt down the line. Liddell, on the other hand, has lost four of five and needs to seriously reconsider competing again.
Winner: Mauricio Rua by TKO (Punch & Hammerfists) at 4:28 of round one. He improves to 18-3-0.
Sam "Hands of Stone" Stout vs "Handsome" Matt Wiman
In a highly competitive back-and-forth battle, Wiman appeared to have done enough to win the fight with an impressive series of takedowns and submission attempts, but it was Stout who emerged victorious with a rather contentious Unanimous Decision.Round one began with both fighters throwing big punches, and Wiman mixed in a leg kick and clinched. He landed knees and a head kick, then backed away. Wiman then drilled Stout with three big power punches over the top. Wiman scored a takedown and landed an elbow, then tried for a guillotine choke as Stout stood up. Stout opened up with punches and both landed leg kicks. Both fighters continued to stand and trade, with Stout throwing technical strikes and Wiman countering with big bombs. Wiman landed more punches and looked for a takedown. He pulled guard with a guillotine choke, but Stout escaped and landed strikes from the top. Wiman stood up and continued to be aggressive with power shots. Stout defended a takedown attempt, but ate more punches and a head kick. The fighters exchanged body kicks and Wiman scored a takedown. Stout reversed and ended up on top, where he landed small strikes and fought off an armbar. An exchange ended the close and excellent round. 10-9 Wiman.
The second round began with an exchange of leg kicks and punches, and both attempted body kicks. Stout strung together combinations as he found his range, then landed a big left hook. Wiman shook it off and jumped on Stout's back, but Stout fell to the mat and worked from Wiman's guard. Stout landed elbows from the top and got to his feet. Stout began targeting the liver of Wiman with left hooks. Wiman continued to try to brawl, but Stout evaded strikes and landed kicks. Wiman seemed to be fatigued and Stout caught him with a head kick. Stout dropped Wiman with a left hook to the liver, then pounced and landed punches from the top. Wiman recovered and tried for an armbar, but Stout escaped and stood up. He landed another left hook to the body, then a kick. Stout punished the midsection with more strikes and Wiman seemed to be gassed. Wiman tried for a takedown, but Stout punched out of it and landed a leg kick. More punches landed for Stout before the bell. 10-9 Stout.
Wiman came forward very aggressively in round three and landed a right hook. Stout landed a kick and punch to the body, then fought off a takedown attempt. Wiman was relentless, however, and continued to try to get Stout to the ground. He finally did, then took Stout's back. Wiman locked on a body triangle and looked for a rear naked choke. Stout defended and tried to roll into guard, but the body triangle was too tight. Stout eventually managed to escape to Wiman's guard, where he landed punches and hammerfists. Stout mixed in elbows until Wiman got to his feet. Wiman scored another takedown and worked from Stout's guard. Wiman postured up and landed elbows that caused Stout's eye and nose to bleed. Stout looked to get back to his feet, but Wiman slammed him down again. Wiman connected with some huge punches just before the bell. 10-9 Wiman. Great fight.
In the end, however, all three judges gave two rounds to Stout, who took a controversial Unanimous Decision.
Winner: Sam Stout by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 14-5-1.
"The Polish Experiment" Krzysztof Soszynski vs "The All-American" Brian Stann
Scoring another impressive win in his growing UFC career, Soszynski exposed Stann's weak ground game by taking the fight to the mat and securing a textbook fight-ending Kimura.Soszynski landed a leg kick and looked for an early takedown, but Stann broke free of the clinch. The fighters traded kicks and Stann landed a combination. Stann landed a nice right hook, but Soszynski clinched and landed knees. Stann pressed Soszynski against the cage and targeted his leg, then broke out of the clinch with an overhand right. Soszynski shot in for a takedown and slammed Stann to the ground against the cage. Stann tried to get up, but Soszynski passed directly to mount. Stann regained half-guard and had a heel hook essentially given to him, but his lack of submission prowess showed. Soszynski passed to side-control, then slammed Stann back down to the mat. Soszynski locked on a Kimura from half-guard, but let it go. He secured it a second time and Stann quickly submitted. Great win for Soszynski.
Winner: Krzysztof Soszynski by Submission (Kimura) at 3:52 of round one. He improves to 17-8-1.
Cheick Kongo vs Antoni Hardonk
Keeping the fight on the ground to avoid the lethal leg kicks of Hardonk, Kongo landed a series of big punches in round two that battered Hardonk and left him bloody and beaten.Kongo used leg kicks and jabs early on to establish his distance, while Hardonk attempted a head kick. Kongo landed a nice right cross and both fighters landed leg kicks. Another leg kick landed for Hardonk, but Kongo answered with a series of right hands. He clinched and pushed Hardonk against the cage, then landed knees. The fighters separated and Kongo caught a kick from Hardonk. He threw him to the mat, then kicked Hardonk's legs until the referee stood Hardonk up. More leg kicks were exchanged and Kongo followed up with a combination. Another clinch against the cage saw Kongo land knees. He scored a takedown and landed elbows and punches from the top. Hardonk did his best to nullify offence from Kongo, but Kongo managed to land some solid strikes before the bell. 10-9 Kongo.
Kongo landed a hard kick to the body to begin round two, then countered a leg kick from Hardonk with a right cross that sent Hardonk to the mat. Kongo immediately dove into Hardonk's guard and teed off with punches. Hardonk looked to set up a triangle choke, but Kongo muscled out and landed more punches. Kongo landed elbows to the body and cut Hardonk above the eye with hammerfists. More hammerfists landed for Kongo, who continued to punish Hardonk. Kongo landed two elbows that further bloodied Hardonk, who rolled to his side. Kongo then unleashed a series of punches and hammerfists as Hardonk turtled, and the referee stopped the fight. Solid victory for Kongo.
Winner: Cheick Kongo by TKO (Punches) at 2:28 of round two. He improves to 14-4-1.
Luiz "Banha" Cane vs Steve "The Robot" Cantwell
In a fight that was much closer than the scorecards would suggest, Cane's slight edge in the striking exchanges proved to be enough, as he was awarded a Unanimous Decision from the judges.Cantwell landed an early leg kick, but Cane fired back with a series of punches in close. Uppercuts landed to the head and body for Cane, and Cantwell backed away. Cantwell landed a leg kick and a jab, but Cane immediately countered with a combination. Cantwell, bleeding from the nose, ate another combination from Cane and looked for a takedown. Cane broke free with punches over the top, then battered Cantwell with punches and knees in a clinch. More punches landed for Cane, but Cantwell fired off a head kick. Both fighters landed combinations of kicks and punches, and Cantwell landed a one-two to the body. Cantwell scored with high kicks, but Cane countered with two flurries of hard punches and a body shot. Cantwell landed two leg kicks and circled away. Cane continued to push the pace with punching combinations in the final minute, but Cantwell landed two good shots to the body. 10-9 Cane.
Cantwell scored with a solid right cross early in the second round, but Cane replied with a quick flurry of punches. Cane swung wild with looping hooks to the head and body, then followed up with another trio of punches. Cane backed Cantwell up with a right cross, but Cantwell pushed forward with one of his own. More punches were exchanged, and Cane landed an uppercut in close. Cantwell landed a hard left hook as Cane walked forward, then scored with a combination to the head and body. Cantwell began to turn it on with big punches and a head kick. Cantwell landed a knee and another head kick, but Cane held strong and landed a one-two. A leg kick and right cross landed for Cantwell, as well as a one-two to the face. Cane landed a body kick, but seemed to be tiring. Cantwell clipped Cane with a left hook and landed more high kicks. Another right landed for Cantwell, who ended the round with two left hooks. 10-9 Cantwell.
Cantwell opened round three with another head kick, but Cane blocked it and returned to the role of the aggressor. A punching combination landed for Cane, who punctuated it with a body kick and an uppercut. Another body kick landed for Cane, but Cantwell replied with a flurry and a high kick. Cane landed a one-two that shook the jaw of Cantwell, but Cantwell fired right back with two punches and head kicks. Cane replied with knees to the body. Cantwell landed a leg kick and Cane countered with a one-two and another knee to the body. Cane landed a quick combination and Cantwell backed him up with two big right hooks. Another body kick landed for Cane, but Cantwell scored with head kicks. Cane pressed forward with two big flurries of power punches with just over one minute left. Though fatigued, he continued to score with big punches. Cantwell tried a Superman Punch and a switch kick, but Cane landed a combination before the bell. 10-9 Cane. Excellent fight.
The judges unanimously gave the fight to Cane, but scores of 30-27 were rather ridiculous when Cantwell clearly won the second round. Cane will likely next face off with a top-five contender in the division.
Winner: Luiz Cane by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 10-1-0, 1 NC.
Undercard Fights:
Denis "Super Korean" Kang defeated Xavier "Professor X" Foupa-Pokam by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. While Foupa-Pokam had early success with strikes, Kang quickly took the fight to the mat and attempted a series of submissions. This continued throughout the fight, as Kang wore Foupa-Pokam out with elbows on the ground and took the lopsided decision on the scorecards. Kang improves to 32-11-1, 2 NC with the win.Nate "Rock" Quarry defeated Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald by TKO (Elbows) at 2:27 of round one. MacDonald attempted an early takedown, but Quarry reversed and worked from MacDonald's half-guard. He rained down a series of elbows that eventually opened a cut on MacDonald's head, and the referee stopped the fight after another barrage of elbow strikes. Quarry picks up the huge win, while MacDonald will unfortunately be looking for fights outside of the UFC. Quarry improves to 11-3-0 with the win.
Ed "Short Fuse" Herman defeated David "The Crow" Loiseau by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) after three rounds. Aside from very brief flashes of former brilliance, this fight once again featured the new, passive Loiseau, who seemed content to stay inactive on the ground while Herman landed strikes from the top throughout the fight. The ultra-aggressive Loiseau of years passed is sadly long gone, and it is highly unlikely that he will ever make another return to the UFC. Herman improves to 15-7-0 with the win.
Mark Bocek defeated David Bielkheden by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:57 of round one. Bocek scored an early takedown and dominated from the top with a variety of strikes, while Bielkheden seemed to have absolutely no answers for the jiu-jitsu ace. Bocek passed to mount late in round one, which forced Bielkheden to give up his back. Bocek locked on an incredibly fast rear naked choke for a last-second submission victory. Bocek improves to 7-2-0 with the win.
T.J. Grant defeated Ryo "The Piranha" Chonan by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. Grant, making his UFC debut, spent much of the fight working from his back while Chonan landed strikes from the top. Though Grant did have a few decent submission attempts, Chonan prevented him from doing much of anything and seemed well on his way to a decision victory. Two judges disagreed, however, and somehow awarded the fight to Grant, based presumably on his ability to shift his hips while stuck on his back. He certainly didn't do much else to deserve a victory, and the robbery means Chonan is cut from the UFC. Terrible scoring. Grant improves to 14-2-0 with the win.
Eliot "The Fire" Marshall defeated Vinicius "Pezao" Magalhães by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. Widely regarded as one of the best submission grapplers in mixed martial arts, Magalhães's MMA career has been anything but a success and he struggled to do anything against Marshall. Neither fighter was at all impressive in this bout, but Marshall's ability to keep the fight standing for most of the duration was enough to take a lacklustre decision. Marshall improves to 7-1-0 with the win.
Though the event will sadly be most remembered for the atrocious main event, impressive performances from Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Krzysztof Soszynski, and great fights featuring Sam Stout and Luiz Cane, ensured that the remainder of the main card was a success.
