The point of The Ultimate Fighting Championship was to determine which martial art was best of all. UFC 1 had eight talented fighters with skills that included boxing, kickboxing, kempo, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitzu and even sumo wrestling.These eigh…
The point of The Ultimate Fighting Championship was to determine which martial art was best of all. UFC 1 had eight talented fighters with skills that included boxing, kickboxing, kempo, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitzu and even sumo wrestling.
These eight men put it all on the line to represent their respective craft, but in the end Brazilian Jiu Jitzu practitioner Royce Gracie proved that his takedowns and submission skills were too much for anybody in the field. And so, two things were born: The aura of Gracie Jiu Jitzu and the legend that is Royce Gracie.
But now—almost twenty years later—is Brazilian Jiu Jitzu the top martial art, or has it been surpassed?
Let’s get ready to say goodbye to former greatness tonight at UFC 148. There is no question that Tito Ortiz was one of the most dominant light heavyweights of his time.What was so great about him is that he loved being the bad guy. He’s had…
Let’s get ready to say goodbye to former greatness tonight at UFC 148. There is no question that Tito Ortiz was one of the most dominant light heavyweights of his time.
What was so great about him is that he loved being the bad guy. He’s had feuds with everyone from Chuck Liddell to Ken Shamrock to Dana White. He’s beaten some of the best in the sport’s history and is a deserving member of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Across the cage will be Forrest Griffin, Ortiz’s closest rival. In two fights, both men have earned one split decision each. This will be the match that ends not only the feud, but also Tito’s illustrious career.
What to Watch For
Striking
In the last fight between the two, Griffin dominated the action on the feet. He wasn’t as crisp as he’d been in the past but he was catching Ortiz with good shots. Tito got in his fare share of shots, too, but in the end it wasn’t enough to give him the nod on more than one judge’s scorecard.
I expect Ortiz to study that tape extensively and find holes in Griffin’s striking. Look for Tito to utilize his jab and low kicks more often to set up his possible takedowns.
Grappling
This fight will contain its fair share of grappling, and Griffin was the dominant one in that department in the last fight. Both guys on their best day are equals, and if anything, Griffin should enjoy an advantage with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Look for Griffin to initiate the clinch and go to work.
The Finish
It’s hard to see this fight not going to the judges’ scorecards once again.
We’ll get some good striking, solid grappling and an all-around brawl between these two. Neither man will gain a clear advantage and it will once again go down to the wire. Both fighters will put it all out on the line, and I expect to see each one genuinely looking to have their hand raised.
It may be wishful thinking, but I’m hoping to see the grave digger one more time before Ortiz rides off into the sunset.
This card has it all. A fight between two fast-paced, dynamite finishers. A grappling battle between two of the best ground fighters in the game. A stand-up war that will end with someone staring up at lights. Oh yeah, and there’s that Anderson Si…
This card has it all. A fight between two fast-paced, dynamite finishers. A grappling battle between two of the best ground fighters in the game. A stand-up war that will end with someone staring up at lights.
Oh yeah, and there’s that Anderson Silva guy fighting too.
With all that said, the one thing UFC 148 is not is a one-fight card.
Excitement top-to-bottom, drama, passion: It’ll all be on display inside the Octagon tonight in Las Vegas. But as for the matches on paper? Let’s take a look at how they stack up against each other.
The first time these two got together at UFC 99, it wasn’t the war we all wanted to see, but it was a very good back-and-forth competitive match. Rich Franklin stuck to his gameplan of keeping the fight on the outside, keeping distance with jabs …
The first time these two got together at UFC 99, it wasn’t the war we all wanted to see, but it was a very good back-and-forth competitive match.
Rich Franklin stuck to his gameplan of keeping the fight on the outside, keeping distance with jabs and body kicks. The whole night Wanderlei searched for his range but once he found it, Franklin was rocked.
So three years and a unanimous decision later how does the rematch matchup with the original?
It’s going to be better.
The first fight was in Cologne, Germany and was the main event of the first UFC card in Germany. The Germans proved to be a great crowd and were vocal throughout. But they’re not Brazil.
Even during the weigh-in Franklin got booed like never before, while Silva received a hero’s welcome. That’s but a taste of what it’s going to sound like once both men enter the Octagon. Expect the decibel level to hit new highs every time Silva connects with his right hook or rushes in with one of his patented flurries. Look for Silva to perform well with the raucous crowd cheering his every move.
Home cage advantage will give him the extra boost of adrenaline that he’ll need fighting in front of his fellow Brazilians for the first time in 12 years.
As for Franklin, he’s playing with house money. Coming in as a late injury replacement will put you in a good spot no matter if you win or lose. So he’ll be fighting like a man with nothing to lose once he steps inside the Octagon to try and slay the Axe Murderer.
Another interesting twist to this match is that it’s going to be five rounds. In the last fight both men were gassed in the middle of the third round so nobody should expect this one to go the distance.
The UFC is touting the fact that between the two, there are 39 knockout victories. Look for that number to jump to 40. Somebody is getting knocked out tonight. That alone will catapult the rematch over the original.
Round 1Franklin comes out southpaw and takes the center of the cage, feinting jabs to keep The Axe Murderer off-balance. After the first minute of feeling each other out and finding the range, Wanderlei leans in with his signature right hook, which Fra…
Round 1
Franklin comes out southpaw and takes the center of the cage, feinting jabs to keep The Axe Murderer off-balance. After the first minute of feeling each other out and finding the range, Wanderlei leans in with his signature right hook, which Franklin avoids.
Franklin is staying on the outside and picking his spots in the first half of the round, staying out of Silva’s range and using his jab and occasional body kick to keep distance.
Silva is looking to counter with a big right hand. After Silva throws a few high kicks that get blocked, Franklin gets in a body kick, which Silva catches and uses to take Franklin down.
Franklin is keeping the fight in his guard for the first 30 seconds on the ground, then places his feet on Wand’s hips to push off. Franklin is able to get up and push Wand against the cage. Then Wand drops down for an unsuccessful guillotine.
Franklin jumps into half guard with 30 seconds left and begins scoring with right hands to Silva’s jaw. Silva uses the cage nicely to get up and get the fight back to the center of the cage.
10 seconds left and both men finish wildly with a flurry of punches and kicks.
10-9 Franklin
Round 2
The second round starts, and this time it’s Wanderlei who takes the center of the cage.
Franklin is circling nicely and avoiding most of Silva’s strikes. Silva connects with a body kick and is still searching for his range.
Franklin begins getting more aggressive and connects with a couple of crisp 1-2 combinations finished off with a body kick. Silva catches a stiff jab and goes down for a second, then pops right back up.
Silva is looking to be more aggressive now, trying to score with leg kicks, but Franklin catches him with another nice jab.
Two minutes left and Wanderlei is looking like he’s about to gas. Franklin is sticking to his game plan, picking Silva apart with jabs and circling while Silva loses energy swinging for the fences.
Franklin nails a body kick but Wanderlei counters and rocks Franklin with a right hook!
Franklin is noticeably hurt and Silva is coming for him. Franklin is just trying to hold on for the final minute now, and both men are throwing sloppy combinations. Silva lands another right, then chases a circling Franklin around the cage, throwing right uppercuts to him against the cage.
After a few sloppy exchanges, both men are exhausted and slipping. Franklin lands a few straight rights to end the round.
Very close round. 10-9 Franklin
Round 3
First minute in and Wanderlei is looking to end this fight. Franklin is the one scoring however, landing a nice left body kick, left straight combo that catches Silva off guard.
Franklin is back to picking Silva apart and staying out of range from those bombs Wanderlei throws. Franklin is picking his spots and nails Silva with a nice left hook. He follows that up by kicking Silva below the belt and Silva takes a few seconds to gather himself.
A few seconds later and we’re back to it.
Wanderlei is becoming more and more aggressive, finally finding his range and pushing the fight against the cage. Franklin narrowly escapes a Muay Thai knee from the clinch and Silva begins playing to the crowd.
Silva is still hunting Franklin down and is throwing some high kicks that are blocked.
1:30 left and Franklin is back to his jab/body kick routine. Wanderlei opens up a bit and clips Franklin again, knocking him up against the cage.
45 seconds left and Franklin is taking punishment against the cage. Wanderlei is going all in now, trying to end this fight.
Out of nowhere, Franklin takes him down but does little damage as Wanderlei kicks him off and is pushed up against the cage with 17 seconds left.
Franklin goes with an over/under hook from Silva’s back and looks up at the clock. 9 seconds left.
Silva starts throwing multiple elbows behind him and that’s the fight!
10-9 Silva
The judges agree as Franklin gets the unanimous decision victory.
Overall, it was a solid matchup. Rich Franklin was looking to be technical, while Silva was just looking to take Franklin’s head off. There were even a couple of times when it looked like he’d do just that.
But this is Franklin’s night, as he pulls off a very close decision victory.
What is better than an intense staredown or even a confrontation after weighing in? Not much. Think about when Nate Diaz knocked Donald Cerrone’s cowboy hat off of his head or when his brother Nick decided to crowd B.J. Penn’s space. Weigh-…
What is better than an intense staredown or even a confrontation after weighing in? Not much. Think about when Nate Diaz knocked Donald Cerrone’s cowboy hat off of his head or when his brother Nick decided to crowd B.J. Penn’s space.
Weigh-ins are the final selling point.
What happens in the weigh-ins could be the difference between paying that $55 to see it on your flat screen or hanging out and refreshing your B/R live update page.
With that being said, this card needs all of the help it can get. Fans everywhere were clamoring to see Silva clobber the overmatched American in a rematch. However, that’s when the main event was Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen.
But then the weigh-ins happened and they have changed my mind.
The icy stare and gentle sway of the Axe Murderer made me wonder for a second if Franklin knew what he was getting into. Could we be on the eve of Silva connecting with one of his signature rush combos that sends Rich crashing down to earth and the fans of Brazil leaping out of their seats? Or will Rich have another Ace up his sleeve?
One thing is for sure and that’s, if looks could kill, the Axe Murderer would have earned his name last night. That stare was telling me and all of the viewers at home that Wand is ready to knock Rich’s head into the fourth row.
So maybe this will be one of the lower-selling PPV efforts in a long time for the UFC, but it definitely won’t be for the lack of a good final sell and staredown at the weigh-in.
Let’s get ready to say goodbye to former greatness tonight at UFC 148. There is no question that Tito Ortiz was one of the most dominant light heavyweights of his time.