Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions clashed tonight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada when “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz returned from another lengthy hiatus from the Octagon and came up short in his second close battle with Forrest Griffin in the night’s main event.
In the co-main event, former top contender Josh Koscheck picked up a second-round submission win over Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, but not without controversy. MMARising.com has live play-by-play of the action.
Forrest Griffin vs “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz
Round 1:
Griffin landed a nice one-two early on and followed with a kick to the body. Ortiz answered with a head kick and a leg kick, but Griffin scored with another two-punch flurry. Ortiz shot in and scored an easy takedown, then immediately went to work with elbows. He added punches to the body and Griffin used a Kimura to scramble to his feet.
Ortiz clinched and looked for another takedown. Griffin reversed and nearly tripped Ortiz, then backed away. A stiff leg kick landed for Griffin and he added a quick flurry. Two more punches backed Ortiz up briefly and he failed on a takedown attempt. Both fighters landed jabs and Ortiz threw a head kick. Griffin continued to keep Ortiz at bay with kicks and quick punches. Very even round. 10-9 Griffin.
Round 2:
An exchange of right hooks opened round two and Ortiz caught a kick. He took Griffin down and threw elbows from the top. Griffin defended well and battled back to his feet. The fighters traded punches and Griffin missed with a Superman Punch. He knocked Ortiz’s mouthpiece out with a front kick to the face. The fight resumed and Griffin landed a combination. Ortiz answered with a counter hook and Griffin scored with a body kick.
Ortiz took Griffin down, but was nearly swept in the process. He maintained top control, but Griffin used butterfly guard to nullify Ortiz’s offence. Griffin regained guard and Ortiz began to score with elbows. He opened a cut beside Griffin’s left eye and then opened a giant gash above the right eye. Griffin swept Ortiz and landed elbows of his own from the top. Punches from Griffin followed until the bell. 10-9 Ortiz.
Round 3:
Griffin attempted a pair of kick-punch combos to begin the final round and he strung together a series of quick flurries. Griffin backed Ortiz up with another combination and landed more punches over the top. Griffin’s punch-punch-head kick combo kept Ortiz on the defensive and he stuffed a takedown attempt from Ortiz. Another flurry landed for Griffin and he scored with leg kicks.
Griffin began to pick Ortiz apart on the feet with very effective combinations. A one-two rocked Ortiz’s head back and he sent Ortiz off-balance with a right cross. Yet another combination backed Ortiz up and he finally pressed forward with two punches. Griffin answered with more strikes and easily defended a takedown. Another lengthy combination scored for Griffin and the fighters traded big punches in the final 15 seconds. 10-9 Griffin.
Winner: Forrest Griffin by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 17-6-0.
Josh Koscheck vs Anthony “Rumble” Johnson
Round 1:
Leg kicks were exchanged early on and the fighters clashed heads. Johnson threw a head kick and Koscheck answered with an overhand right. He followed with another one, but Johnson was unfazed. Johnson used quick kicks and punches and staggered Koscheck with a counter right hook. Koscheck tried for a takedown, but Johnson spun free.
The fighters clinched in a kneeling position and Johnson stood. He threw a knee that hit Koscheck’s arm and Koscheck flopped to his back as if the knee had illegally hit him in the face. A lengthy timeout was called and Johnson was docked a point, even though the strike had not hit Koscheck’s face.
The fight resumed and Koscheck opened a cut above Johnson’s left eye with a right hook. Johnson pushed forward with quick punches and kicks, then stuffed a takedown, but Koscheck managed to drag Johnson to the ground. He took Johnson’s back and landed punches, then kneed the ribs of Johnson. In the final ten seconds, Johnson scrambled back to his feet. Strange round. 10-8 Koscheck.
Round 2:
Johnson opened round two with jabs and more quick leg kicks. After a brief stoppage due to an eye poke from Koscheck, he landed a nice one-two and a head kick. Koscheck just missed with a looping overhand right and time was called after another eye poke from Koscheck. Action resumed and Johnson threw another head kick. Huge punches were exchanged and Johnson landed a head kick.
Koscheck shot in for a takedown and moved to half-guard. He landed five elbows from the top and continued to control position. More short punches and elbows followed for Koscheck and he tried to take Johnson’s back. He secured a rear naked choke very late in the round and Johnson was forced to submit.
Good win for Koscheck, but the non-existent foul in round one and Koscheck’s subsequent milking of an injury did not endear him to the crowd.
Winner: Josh Koscheck by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:47 of round one. He improves to 14-4-0.