LAST WEEK’S EVENT in Las Vegas proved to be one of the most exciting events in a long time.
There were contrasting emotions for two of the legends of the sport as Tito Otiz lives to fight another day while the same cannot be said for Wanderlei Silva after his devastating defeat to Chris Leben.
The fact that it took only 27 seconds for Chris Leben to possibly consign Wanderlei Silva’s UFC career to the history books is a bitter pill to swallow for fans of the “Axe Murderer.”
All the talk leading up to that fight was that the two of them were going to stand and bang proved correct as both fighters emerged with all guns blazing.
Silva seemed to connect first before being caught himself and as he looked to the safety of his Muay Thai clinch, Leben caught him with two or three vicous uppercuts that sent Silva to the canvas as “The Crippler” swarmed all over him to finish the fight early in the first round.
This, of course, has led many to believe that this is the last we will see of Silva. They say, in fighting, once your chin goes that’s it, as Chuck Liddell and Andrei Arlovski both found to their detriment.
One fighter who jump-started his ailing career last Saturday night was Tito Ortiz. It took almost six years and five UFC fights for “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” to announce he still has something to offer the sport as he choked out the much fancied Ryan Bader in the first round.
It has been a long time since we’ve seen the “Grave Digger” routine.
Melvin Guillard, Chris Leben and Rafael dos Anjos were all vying for the knockout of the night bonus but all three missed out as it was awarded to Carlos Condit. He showed he is the real deal by becoming the first person to KO Dong Hyun Kim with a spectacular flying knee.
In the main event of the evening and in a fight that was closer than the final scorecards suggested, Dominick Cruz retained his UFC bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Urijah Faber.
Despite landing the harder and more effective shots, Faber found it difficult to grab the elusive Cruz and the three judges scored the contest (50–45, 49–46, 48–47). Denis Siver also gained a unanimous decision victory over Matt Wiman.
The quiet man is back.
As the Nate Marquardt scandal rumbles on with the postponement of his hearing with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission one fighter who has returned after suspension is Chael Sonnen.
One of the best trash talkers in the business has re-emerged after his enforced hiatus and he hasn’t changed one bit, as this recent interview shows.
On hearing he was cleared to fight once more he wasted no time in calling out a number of opponents including Lyoto Machida as he looked to continue his squabble with anything Brazilian.
Instead Dana White has paired him up with a fighter who is on a very hot streak recently, Brian Stann at UFC 136 on October.
The focus will no doubt be on Sonnen and what he has to say leading up to this fight and whether or not he can get under the skin of the “All American Hero.”
