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KELLER'S UFC 80 BLOG: Ongoing results and analysis of the PPV
By Wade Keller, MMATorch editor
Jan 19, 2008, 15:42
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KELLER'S UFC 80 BLOG: Ongoing results and analysis of the PPV
UFC 80 live from the UK
(1) Jorge Riviera beats Kendall Grove in an upset in the first round via knockout. One-sided. Riviera took Grove down in 15 seconds. Grove tried to slithered out of his grip and get a dominant position, or at least return to his feet. Riviera held him down and eventually got his back and landed some damaging punches. Grove struggled to his feet, but Riviera immediately landed a left flush straight on to Grove's face and dropped him. Grove was broken up after the fight, Riviera really excited but had enough composure to plug the names and addresses of various gyms and sponsors. Good short fight because of the decisive finish. At 35 years old, Rogan and Goldberg billed that as Riviera's comeback performance. (**)
In a promo for the Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir, Lesnar said: "He broke Tim Silvia's arm. Who cares? I'm coming to this fight to win." A wide-eyed Dana White strongly touted Lesnar's wrestling background. No WWE mentions in Lesnar's bio, but UFC will be utilizing TNA's audience to try to sell that fight with a deal brokered through their common Spike TV partnership to promote that card on Thursday night's Impact program.
(2) Jason Lambert vs. Wilson Gouveia. With a touch of Borat's inflection, Gouveia said before the fight, "My face will look just like this after the fight. Very nice." Gouveia was talked up by Goldberg and Rogan. Lambert stalked Gouveai aggressively in the opening 30 seconds, then took him down but ended up in a guillotine. He popped out and tried to dish out some punishment. Line of the night: "Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts are black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu." He was making a point, but even in context is sounded funny. Half way into the round Gouveai made it to his feet after absorbing some blows, but not a ton. When Lambert went for a takedown again, he ended up a partial guillotine again, but popped out easily. Seconds later, Gouveai applied a triangle armbar, but Lambert powerbombed out of it and ended up on top again. Rogan said Lambert has new confidence after knocking out Babalou. "Fighters live and die in their own minds," Rogan said. Lambert won the first round for sure. The second round opened with Lambert in control again. Rogan said it's really shocking to see him controlled like that. No sooner than he said that than Gouveia caught Lambert and knocked him out suddenly and decisively with a left hook out of nowhere. What a huge letdown for Lambert. Rogan said it was nothing more than Lambert getting reckless. Rogan said it was a learning experience for him because he virtually had the fight in the bag. Lambert was shown in his corner asking what happened. (**+)
Goldberg did plug Lesnar as a "former WWE superstar" in a plug for UFC81 here.
(3) Jess Liaudin vs. Marcus Davis. Goldberg said Davis "literally exploded in 2007." Literally, huh? I think he meant "figuratively" or I'd probably have heard about it and he probably wouldn't be fighting anymore. Liaudin stepped right into a Davis left hook under the ear and jaw; he dropped, ate two or three punches on the mat, and stiffened up as the ref steopped in to stop it. Rogan told Davis that his opponents shouldn't piss him off before fights in the future. Davis said he was never more nervous before a fight than this one and he was determined to punch a hole through his head. He said the strategy was to surprise him with a kick since nobody knew he could kick, and that threw him off and set up his punch. He said it's a combination he's been working on. Great knockout, but not much of a fight otherwise. (**)
(4) Paul Taylor vs. Paul Kelly. These two Brits came out swinging for the opening minute. Rogan called it one of the best openings to a fight ever. Just imagine Griffin vs. Bonner on fast-forward. Goldberg called it the best start in UFC history. Rogan praised how technical it was, especially from Paul Taylor. It went to the ground with Taylor controlling for the rest of the round. In round two, Rogan said the holes in Taylor's ground game were beginning to show as Kelly reversed control on the ground. Taylor suffered a nasty forehead cut from an elbow late in round two. They hugged after the round before standing up. Rogan said Taylor's corner should tell him to stay off the ground game. "Stop it! No going to the ground." Round three opened with another hug, then they began punching each other. Kelly landed a punch or two and buckled Taylor's legs, then took him down and gained side control. He controlled him the rest of the round to end the fight. The action on the ground never stopped, but Kelly just never left any doubt of the decision. The opening 30 seconds was so good, it was going to be a must-see fight based on that. From there, it was just okay. (***-)
(4) Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Fabricio Werdum. Gonzaga scored big time with huge leg kicks, at one point knocking Werdum to the ground with the power of the thigh kicks. The round ended on the mat with Werdum grabbing Gonzaga's leg. Round to Gonzaga for the kicks alone. In the second round, Werdum kept his distance and then took Gonzaga down after some precise punches and a killer knee. Against the fence he unleashed on Gonzaga with a flurry of relentless punches from behind. Gonzaga covered and eventually the ref stepped in with 26 seconds left in the round. Big victory for Werdum. Rogan seemed letdown that the ref stepped with only 26 seconds left, but it was on the early side of the right call. (**+)
Goldberg interviewed Sean Sherk at ringside before the fight. He looked very nervous as he analyzed the fight.
(5) B.J. Penn vs. Joe Stevenson. Stevenson, 14-1 in his last 15 fights out of 33, is just 25 years old. The storyline before the match was whether Penn was really in great shape as he was claiming and could last five rounds with Stevenson if Stevenson can survive early. It almost looked like it was going to be over in five seconds as Penn dropped him with some punches and then smothered him on the ground. Stevenson gained his composure, but still seemed to be in a class underneath Penn on power and skill. Rogan said there are levels of BJJ and Penn is a level above Stevenson. Stevenson punched Penn from underneath with a minute left in the round, backing Penn down a little. Penn opened Stevenson's forehead up badly with 30 seconds left. It just gushed. A couple minutes in, the ref called time out to have the doc check on his cut. It was an unncessary stoppage as the announcers had pointed out that the cut is mid-forehead and isn't affecting his vision much at all. The doc took a quick look and cleared the fight to go on. At 2:30 Penn took him down with a punch and then smothered him again from a full mount. Stevenson was slippery literally and figuratively. Penn eventually got a rear naked choke and a resigned Stevenson tapped out. Sherk said, "It looks like it'll be me and B.J. next." He said he feel his heart is bigger, his cardio is better, and his boxing is better, so he likes his chances. They showed a close-up of Stevenson breaking down in his corner as Penn celebrated. Penn walked over and hugged him as Stevenson wept. Penn was awarded the belt. Rogan pointed out he's the second fighter in UFC history to win two world titles in two different weight divisions. (**+)
In the post-fight interview, Penn declared, "You're dead, Sherk." Then Sherk entered the ring to cut a promo as the crowd booed him. Penn re-entered the ring and shook his hand and said it'll be a good fight.
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