UFC 62: Liddell VS Sobral
by: Average Joe 2 years, 3 months, 1 week, 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
Email Review print review
UFC
Can Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell overcome one of the fiercest competitors in the UFC light heavyweight division? and can Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar deliver another classic fight?
Well, tonight’s the night UFC fans have been waiting for, for awhile now. The light heavyweight title is on the line as Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell takes on the man who has remained undefeated in his last 10 fights, Renato “Babalu” Sobral.
I for one was excited for this fight because I tend to buy into all of the hype these fights generate. I mean I was amped for the last PPV, and look how boring that one turned out to be. This one had me genuinely excited though because I’ve been watching Sobral dominate the light heavyweight division with his recent undefeated streak.
So “The Ryan” and I took a trip down to National’s Sports Grill & Bar (in Buena Park, awesome place BTW) to watch the fight. When we got there it was shortly after 6, so we both knew we’d have to sit thru the countless promos for this thing. I honestly think I lost count at 6. At one point I just tried to phase out UFC President Dana White saying “Is ‘Babalu’ more focused and determined than Chuck is?"
Anyway, not only was I looking forward to the title fight, but the long awaited rematch of one of the greatest UFC matches in history: Forrest Griffin VS Stephan Bonnar. The first match was an instant classic, and their rematch had all the makings of the same. Here’s my rundown of tonights PPV for those of you who missed it.
Hermes Franca VS Jamie Varner
Round 1: The round opens up with Franca and Varner feeling each other out with a series of punches and kicks. Varner shoots in, but Franca lands a standing guillotine choke. Varner escapes, takes Franca down and lands a big right hand. By the end of the first round Varner had scored two takedowns on Franca.
Round 2: Franca attempts a high kick, but Varner counters with a takedown. Varner winds up in Franca’s full guard where the action slows down until ref. John McCarthy stands them up. Varner shoots in for yet another takedown, but Franca reverses it, goes for the arm bar and Varner drops Franca right on his head.
Round 3: Franca shoots in on Varner this time and misses, but comes back with a devastating knee to the head that rocks Varner. Varner is visibly shaken and runs circles around the ring as Franca stalks him. “Big John” calls a time out to let Varner replace his mouth guard. Varner shoots in and lands another takedown on Franca, but Franca is able to counter with an arm bar for the submission.
Winner by submission at 3:31 in round 3, Hermes Franca
Cheick Kongo VS Christian Wellisch
Round 1: Wellisch shoots in and gets the takedown on Kongo. Wellisch goes for an arm bar attempt, but Kongo escapes and they both end up on their feet. Kongo lands a big knee and follows up with a series of strikes that send Wellisch to the ground. Kongo gets on top for the ground and pound. Ref. Stands them up, and Kongo lands another big knee, followed by some strikes and gets the TKO.
Winner by TKO at 2:51 in round 1, Cheick Kongo
Josh Neer VS Nick Diaz
Round 1: Both men spend a few minutes feeling each other out with a series of small punches. Diaz gets Neer in the clench and goes for some knee shots. Diaz nails Neer with a few solid shots, but Neer fires back with a few big shots of his own.
Round 2: Diaz comes in with a flurry of body shots. Neer goes for the clench, but can’t hold onto it. Diaz lands a big shot to the head that rocks Neer. Neer goes for the high kick, but Diaz shoots in and winds up in Neer’s guard to end the second round.
Round 3: Neer immediately goes for the clench and locks in a standing guillotine on Diaz. Diaz takes Neer to the ground again, and cinches in the kimura for the win.
Winner by submission at 1:42 in round 3, Nick Diaz
Forrest Griffin VS Stephan Bonnar 2
Round 1: Both men start off with a pretty even exchange of punches. Griffin lands a nice shot, and Bonnar stumbles a bit against the cage. Bonnar fires back with a beautiful spinning side kick. Griffin fires back with some solid shots that seem to rock Bonnar a little bit.
Round 2: Griffin presses the action from the center of the octagon. Bonnar lands a nice shot that busts open Griffin underneath his right eye. Bonnar lands a solid shot to the head, and follows up with a series of punches to end the second round.
Round 3: Bonnar opens up the round with a head kick, and attempts a spinning back fist, but Griffin catches him with a straight shot to the face. Both men exchange some heavy shots back and forth and wind up in the clench as the round ends.
Winner by decision Forrest Griffin
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship Match:
Renato Sobral VS Chuck Liddel ©
Round 1: Sobral with an attempted straight kick to Liddell. Sobral lands a good combo that sends Liddell back against the cage. Liddell backs up, and Sobral chases him until Liddell lands a hard right hand, followed by a left uppercut that sends Sobral to the ground. Liddell gets on top and lands a series of hard punches. Sobral tries to defend, but Liddell fires off with some hard shots that finish off Sobral.
Winner by KO at 1:35 in round 1, Chuck Liddell
Overall I thought this was a MUCH better PPV than that snoozefest they put on last month. Griffin VS Bonnar was terrific, and although I was rooting for Sobral to take the title, and for the match to go on just a bit longer, Chuck Liddell once again proved why he is the light heavyweight champion of the World, and now apparently has his sights set on a rematch with Tito Ortiz in December.
Next month UFC 63 comes to us live on PPV from the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim with the rematch we’ve all been waiting to see: UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes VS BJ Penn. Hughes is looking to avenge the loss to Penn several years ago, and honestly my momeny’s on Hughes...the man just can’t be beaten.
Man this was an exciting PPV. I’m kinda bummed because Babalu lost so quickly, but IMO he just got a little bit ahead of himself when he started chasing Liddell around the octagon. He landed some good shots on Liddell that seemed to shake him a bit, but personally I would’ve like to see Sobral step back and let Liddell come to him.
I thought if Sobral could get him on the ground he’d be able to submit him no problem.
Griffin VS Bonnar was another great one. I wanted Bonnar to win simply because it would’ve ensured a rubber match some time down the line. Oh well, I still hope we get to see these two go at it again.
Good night for UFC fans tonight.
I didn’t hear you eating crow Joe
I thought something was fishy the way UFC’s marketing department was harping so much on how “tough” Babalu was and continually trying to show up his endurance.
To fight the Iceman, you have to go against everything these guys have been trained to do. It isn’t based on endurance although that will definitely figure in later.
You can’t chase him if you see blood in the water.... because it leaves you wide open and he will exploit and knock you out.
Anyways. I was so hoping that Josh Neer would kick Nick Diaz’s butt. I can’t stand that guy but I can always hope for another night.
Bonnar vs. Griffin was the best fight IMHO and was definitely entertaining. Griffin has obviously gotten better than Bonnar but Bonnar was able to show that he is not a total has-been. If there is a third match, it would behoove Bonnar to at least try and take Griffin to the ground because he can’t beat him up-top.
Great entertainment all around and definitely not a snoozefest.
I still say had Sobral not pressed Liddell like he did, he would’ve been able to at least last a few rounds with him. I think Sobral got a little over confident and went for the kill too early.
While I like Liddell and think he’s one of the best fighters in the World today, I don’t think he’s going to be able to go up against Silva from PRIDE.
Only time will tell.
My prediction for next month...Hughes dominates BJ Penn.
On Hughes Vs. Penn we can agree whole-heartedly.