UFC 63 was an exciting event where the lightweights were featured heavily in both prelims and even in the televised matches. Some of the matches didn’t live up to expectations but the final main event was definitely worth the price of admission.
Joe Lauzon vs. Jens (lil Evil) Pulver
This was the surprise of the night. After sparring for a little bit in the first round, Joe Lauzon catches Jens with a left hook 46 seconds in and ends Lil Evil’s night.
Reactions
I had Lil Evil winning along with the rest of Vegas. The odds were 7-1 but Joe proved us all wrong and ended the match quickly. I wasn’t able to see this match because right at 9:00 a HUGE storm came over my house and blocked any hope of me getting things from my satellite. I heard about it afterwards though and it shocked me.
Jason Lambert vs. Rashad Evans
Jason and Rashad both enter the arena. Jason doesn’t look as cut as Rashad (not many do) and looks decidedly heavier.
Round 1 begins and Jason pushes the action but Rashad ties him up on the fence. Both throw knees on the fence. Rashad gets a hip throw on Jason Lambert and after a scramble on the ground gets the back of Jason. They scramble some more and Jason is able to get up. Rashad gets a double leg throw off the cage and goes immediately into side control. Jason tries to get back up and Rashad continues to rain down hits from the side. Jason is eventually successful. Rashad immediately pulls a single leg throw and gets side control. Jason tries for a kimura but can’t get it kinked backwards and doesn’t have any kind of body control to finish it off. Both combatants scramble and eventually get back up. Both throw strike back and forth. Although Rashad has controlled the ground, Jason Lambert looks good up top. Jason can’t seem to take down Rashad and is constantly on his back. Rashad wins round 1.
Round 2 has Rashad on top yet again and trying to pass guard. Rashad is throwing bombs from up top. Rashad still isnt trying to pass guard but is staying active. Rashad gets Lambert’s back off a scramble and starts to rain hooks to the side of Lambert’s head. Both do get back up. Jason is looking flat footed and Rashad is light on his feet. After a couple of exchanges up top, Rashad shoots in and secures a double leg throw and immediately gets side mount and transitions to a mount. Rashad lays down on Jason blocking any hip movement that Jason might use to shirk him. Evans starts to rain down bombs to the head from the mount position and the referee eventually has to step in after 7 straight hits land on Lambert’s face and head. The crowd is on its feet and the roar swells because they can sene the end at this point and the referee belatedly steps in.
Rashad wins the match.
Reactions
I so wanted Jason Lambert to win. He looked very dominant in all his other fights. We did a podcast and I mentioned why I didn’t like Rashad Evans. Rashad then came out and proved all of us wrong. He changed everything about how he usually fought. He was aggressive, stayed in constant contact, and generally out-fought Jason on every level using his athletecism to dominate.
Melvin Guillard vs. Gabe Ruediger
-Melvin is a member of Team Punishment
Round 1 starts and Ruediger closes the gap immediately. Guillard lands a body kick before Ruediger gets the grapple. Guillard fights to double underhooks and then throws Gabe to the mat like he was a kleenex. Guillard then allows Gabe to get up off the mat. Gabe slips and goes to his back after an aborted take down but Melvin wants nothing of that and allows him to get back up. Gabe goes for the take down yet again and Melvin performs a shoulder throw and ends up in Gabe’s guard throwing stiff punches down to Gabe’s head. They get back up and Melvin throws a nasty right hook that stuns Ruediger and sends him down to the mat and shooting for Melvin’s legs which Guillard stuffs easily. The crowd roars as Gabe is sent scrambling. Guillard continues to rain down hooks to the side of Gabe’s head. Melvin ends up in Gabe’s guard and continues his GNP. They both then get up and Guillard throws a nice body kick but gets taken down because of it. They both get up after a brief scramble and remain tied up on the cage. Gabe throws some nice knees with Melvin against the fence and Guillard circles off the fence. They continue to trade up top and eventually get tied up again. Gabe goes for an oma blata and Melvin front rolls right out of it. They both trade up top. Gabe eventually secures a double leg throw on Melvin after tying him up on the fence and then immediately transitions to mount and starts to throw bombs. Melvin gives up his back and Gabe sinks hooks and works to get his forearm underneath the chin. At this point the crowd roars for Gabe because Melvin is in serious trouble. Gabe transitions from hooks to a body triangle. Melvin works the gloves so that the forearm can’t sink in and the bell saves him. Gabe wins the round.
Round 2 has them trading shots up top. Gabe is almost lunging forward when he throws his hits. Melvin throws a nasty hit to the body because Gabe’s hands are way high. Ruediger doesn’t respond much so Melvin throws another one even harder and hits him right on the solo’s button. Gabe immediately crumbles and Melvin moves in for the kill and throws an illegal kick to the head of Gabe but the referee steps in and stops the bout immediately. The crowd is on its feet roaring for Melvin at this point and out of their minds.
Melvin wins by KO. Melvin calls Gabe’s ab’s weak for being knocked down by a solo hit.
Reaction
I called this one. It definitely sounded like another “preparatory” match for Melvin. I didn’t appreciate that Melvin called Gabe weak at the very end after capitulating on his second body shot. I have felt those lunching body punches and they are definite knock-outs if you hit the right spot perfectly. Melvin still needs to work his ground game. Giving up your back is never a good thing and Melvin seems to have that bad habit. If that had been any earlier in the first, it would have been lights out for Melvin.
David Loiseau vs. Mike Swick
Round 1 starts with Mike Swick throwing some good body kicks and even a spinning side kick. David Loiseau looks really flat footed. They keep swapping kicks and eventually David clinches and throws some good elbows while they are on the cage. The action is slower than usual for a Mike Swick fight and the crowd is booing them both. When they separate Mike starts to throw his punches in bunches and David is only covering up. Both are throwing a lot of kicks in the round. Mike Swick lands a spinning side kick and a good roundhouse kick to the body. David eventually starts to throw but is slow. Swick eventually lands some more left right combo’s and gets David down. Loiseau gives up his back on purpose then tries to reverse it so that he would land on top but Mike is expecting these and just stands up. Mike wins the round.
Round 2 starts with Loiseau going backwards. Both are pretty cautious of each other. Swick tries a flying knee but David moves out of the way. David starts chopping Mike’s left knee down with some nasty roundhouse kicks and gets it very red. The Both are taking their time and being very cautious. The crowd is really restless and Swick eventually takes down David with a single leg after trading jabs for awhile. He gets half guard on David and starts to throw hits to the head. Swick tries to pass guard but can’t seem to get past half guard. Mike Swick wins the round because of control but it was an uneventful round that could have gone to anyone.
Round 3 has Loiseau being much more active from the get-go. Both trade kicks and punches. David throws a hook and Mike immediately grabs a single leg and throws David to the ground. Swick goes for a Guillotine and ends up on his back. David Loiseau then tries to reverse it but Swick knows whats coming and immediately stands up. David continues to advance and hits Swick with some nasty nasty elbows while Mike is backed agains the cage turtling. Swick is starting to gas and coast and Loiseau is getting stronger. Loiseau get the double under hook and achieves the take down. Loiseau starts to throw nasty elbows from the guard. This is the last place Swick wants to be and is constantly squirming to avoid the bombs that David is throwing. David traps Mike’s arm with this knee and starts to throw more elbows. Mike moves and is able to get back up but David Loiseau continues to throw straights and clinch. David’s patented elbows start to come in rapid succession and Mike looks totally gassed. Mike breaks the clinch and they go to the middle of the arena. Mike lets go a flurry of punches and ends with a jumping knee. Swick gets a take down in the last 30 seconds and that is where the round ends. The crowd if finally on their feet cheering. Loiseau wins the round.
Mike Swick wins on the judges decision and asks for a Championship shot in his after-fight interview. He also gives a shout-out to the soldiers and his family.
Reactions
Mike is going to have to work on his Cardio and also his mental acumen if he wants a championship shot. It appeared in that match that he didn’t quite have his head on straight going into the ring and got caught up in the moment being too cautious. He did answer our question about whether he can go all three rounds (which was “no"). I thought it was a class act acknowledging the soldier but we all knew Mike was a class act.
B.J. Penn vs. Matt Hughes
Round 1 starts with both trading shots with their hands. Matt takes a couple shots and gets a single leg hold. Penn balances himself perfectly and makes it impossible for Hughes to get a take down. The crowd is roaring at this point. Pen squirms out and they get back to their feet. Both trade shots and Matt gets hit on the mouth and shoots again. Mat gets another single leg hold but can’t capitalize because BJ is so flexible. He almost puts himself in a splits with his front knee tucked in an ackward position to avoid the take down. Matt and B.J. spar up top and B.J. puts a thumb in Matt’s eye inadvertently. The round ends with Matt looking frustrated because he can’t get down B.J. Penn.
Round 2 starts with Matt shooting in. B.J. avoids the take-down for awhile but Matt eventually sweeps him and B.J. ends up in guard. The crowd surges to its feet. B.J. is sooo flexible and has a very tough guard. Penn is using his legs and fet to constantly try and position Hughes. Matt drops some good hits from up top. Penn tries an oma blata with a weird indian cross-style position that cause B.J.’s legs to end up in front of Matt’s face. Penn scoots around and gets Hugh’s back. He gets a body triangle but sets it up too high. Matt continues to fend off Penn’s arms. Penn continues to throw elbows from Matt’s back. Matt tries to throw B.J. off and ends up in a weird triangle with an armbar. Matt gets saved by the bell but looks exhausted as he gets up. B.J. won this round.
Round 3 has B.J. exhausted. He can’t even raise his arms go get them up and in a defensive position. Matt keeps throwing unanswered shots because Penn is too tired. Matt finds his range and starts to rain down punches to Penn’s face. Matt lands a chopping leg kick and follows up with an uppercut combo. Penn’s mouth is wide open and he has no more bounce. Matt trashes Penn up top and then transitions to the ground. Matt passes to half guard easily. He then covers Penn’s mouth to disrupt his breathing. Matt continues to rain down blows to the body and moves to side mount. Hughes traps B.J’s left arm in between his leg and his other arm in between his head and his shoulder for a clear shot at Penn’s head. Matt Hughes then proceeds to rain down 30, yes I counted, unanswered elbows and hooks to a defenseless B.J.’s head. The referee eventually steps in and calls the fight. Dana White runs into the ring saying, “You are the greatest champion ever” (I keep alternating between kiss-up and Captain Obvious but I can’t decide which).
Reactions
We all called this but I said that B.J. Penn’s cardio was suspect and he proved us all right. B.J. needs to buckle down and get a professional trainer and do those exercises that bore him sometimes. He has incredible flexibility, agility, and submissions and the only thing that is holding him back is himself. he is as good as Matt when it comes to fighting skills. Hughes of course is the man and will always be the man. I expect him to enter that ring with a walker still kicking people’s butts. GSP stepped into the ring afterwards and said he wasn’t that impressed with Hughes performance and pissed Hughes off. GSP is such a nice guy that I think he is just trying to get Matt riled up and sell tickets for when they meet.
Conclusions
All the fights were entertaining but the Penn vs. Hughes fight definitely lived up to the hype and was exciting to watch. Hughes proved once again that he is the best fighter ever to grace the UFC cage and Mike Swick earned a title match through sheer stubborness.