MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas Nevada was all set for a night of showdowns. Penn and Sherk both ready to set the record straight. Wanderlei looking to make a home in the UFC, Jardine looking to make his demand for a title shot. Tito wanting to finish his time with the UFC on a high note. Machida looking to make his name and move up the ladder. A lot on the line!
 
 
Triage Silva vs. Antonio ‘Samurai’ Mendes

Both tough Brazilian strikers. Silva unbeaten  12-0. With the dream team that is ‘American Top Team’ behind him. Mendes looking to end Silva’s winning run.

Round 1
Excellent head kick at the start from Mendes, which rocked Silva. Mendes ran in to look for an early night, but they end up clinched up with Silva hanging in tough. Silva pressed Mendes to the cage to aid his recovery and keep the pressure on his opponent. Mendes tried a throw but ended up under Silva who progressed to mount and landed heavy hands to bring the fight back into his hands. He controlled the top position, taking the back of Mendes then back to full mount where he punched Mendes to a tap out. Good exciting fight. Both fighters shown a lot of heart and won lots of new fans with a display of,  “fight to win” not “fight to not lose” mentality.“He was stronger than I expected, but I trained real hard and was able to come back,” said Silva.
 
Tito ‘ The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ Ortiz vs. Lyoto ‘ The Dragon’ Machida

Tito Ortiz a tough well conditioned fighter with a lot of experience to bring to the table. Tito started out as an original MMA bad boy, the type of fighter people loved to hate. But he has changed his image of late and won a lot of fans over the last few years. This has made him one of the biggest draws in MMA. Tito walked into the octagon with strong emotion on show for his maybe last fight with the UFC.  Dana White and Tito have never seen eye to eye and it would seem that time has ran out for them. But you can never say never as they say. Tito will be fighting again, but where will have to be seen. Machida unbeaten so far with a strong Karate background, looking to show the new blood is now in charge. Also BJJ Black belt Machida had UFC heavyweight Champion Nogeuira  in his corner. He is an unorthodox fighter that has caused more than one opponent trouble in working him out.

Round 1
Low leg kick to test the ground from Machida, followed up with another. Both fighters feeling each other out. Tito looked to press and tired to shoot, but Machida was ready.
They clinched up, Tito landed a knee. Machida shrugs of Tito from the clinch. Inside leg kick from Machida. Tito was swinging punches but missed. High leg kick from Tito, but again misses his opponent. Machida lands a solid body kick. Then a nice high kick.
Tito looked to tie up but couldn’t get in on Machida. Well-timed switch kick from Machida. Machida landed a flash double leg kick then body locks Tito and puts him down! Holding side control he rained down on Tito, but with seconds to go the round ends.

Round 2
Again, both fighters looked to control the distance. Inside kick landed from Machida.
Tito tried to shoot but ate a body kick. Tito swings the air again. Machida landed a single punch then a nice one two. Tito look frustrated at this point. He wanted to engage and fight it out. But Machida knew that was not the game for him.Machida landed a high kick after a clever low feint. Tito landed a body kick and looked again like he wants a throw down of exchange, rather that the chess match he was having to play. Tito drove again for the takedown, but could not keep hold of Machida’s leg so he pulled guard in order to keep it on the ground. But he decided to restand and try and gain a better position. Machida landed a big knee, which excited Tito who was desperate to trade.
Tito again showed his frustration and taunted Machida to trade with him. Tito chased   Machida swinging for him, which opened him up for a body kick from Machida

Round 3
Tito chases again. But Machida worked his distance control well. Just then Referee Yves Lavigne falls over his own feet and rolls back to standing! That was one of the high points in the fight. The fighters clinch up, but once again Machida breaks free. Tito tried another shoot but Machida cut the corner nicely on the shoot and Tito misses. Tito took the Thai plum head control and worked tight strikes, which worked well. Machida looked to break the position so Tito tried to drive a single but again great takedown defence from Machida. They both clinched up and the work rate slowed so the referee restarted them. Great knee from Machida nails Tito to the body, which dropped Tito. Machida ran in and worked strikes trying to finish. But Tito pulled guard and closed a triangle, which looked to be closed tight! Machida managed to fight out and avoid the arm bar at the same time. Exciting end to a slow paced fight.

Machida won the decision.

Close fight in some ways. Not a fans fight, but it was the way Machida needed to fight in order to beat Tito. Hit and move and avoid takedowns. Which doesn’t always entertain as much as a stand up war, of course. Machida did control the fight and pace well, but it was not a fight to remember. Tito gave his full attention to this fight, but Machida played his own game and was able to put Tito out of his pace. This type of fight is not a great fight to watch unless one fighter then also outclasses his opponent. As GPS has been able to do in his last few fights. This didn’t happen in this fight. “I thought I had him for a second,” said Ortiz, who is mainly known for his ground and pound, not his jiu-jitsu game. “I have submissions but I never used them before.” “It was a big surprise for me,” commented Machida, “I was thinking, I’m gonna die, but I’m not gonna tap.” “I’m very happy with this fight,” said Machida. “Tito is a tough guy and a legend of fighting for the UFC.”“He’s very elusive and it was tough to chase him down,” said Ortiz. “He’s a great fighter. Ortiz gave an emotional speech after the fight. "I'm here for another three or four more years. Maybe not here in the UFC," he said, "but I'm going to be fighting for a long time. A lot of the stuff that happened before between Dana White, and me its all bullshit man. Hard feelings that we have towards each other. It's personal, but the Fertittas have been awesome people. What they've done for the UFC, what they've done for this company, I got to thank them. But you know, I gave 11 years in this Octagon, and it's too bad that I'm leaving right now. I'm going to go to greener pastures, I hope, in the future."It will be interest to see what is next for Tito.

Wilson Gouveia vs. Goran Reljic

Brazilian Gouveia with American Top Team. Good tough fighter. No less than we expect from ATT.Reljic coached in striking by Mirko Cro Cop. On paper should be a great striker.

Round 1
Gouveia pressed with jab and low kick. Followed up with another low kick. Reljic then landed a very nice head kick. Both throwing hands out of range, looking to feel each other out and find range. Another two big power head kicks from Rerljic. One two landed from Reljic. Gouveia chased in with strikes to return the pressure. Counters from Reljic where working well. Good low kick from Reljic with another high kick landing. Both trade punches. Body kick counter from Reljic Another two head kicks from Reljic. Gouveia is blocking but his arm is very red and maybe hurt. Gouveia hit a great body shot to Reljic. Reljic looked hurt and pulled guard to play safe as was close to the end of the round. Reljic did stay busy on his back looking for a shoulder lock. Round ends. Busy first round.

Round 2
Corner told Reljic to set up his kicks more.Gouveia was moving more, trying to make himself a harder target. Reljic looking for the set up, lands a kick. The fighters trade a few punches. Gouveia landed a strong punch and Reljic ended up on his back. Gouveia rained down some punches and then looked for a finish. Reljic stayed calm, but looked hurt. Reljic made it back to his feet. Gouveia landed a left hand but Reljic returned a strong one two then a big left hand, which now put Gouveia down! He then looked for payback, blasted punches until the Ref Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight.

Winner Goran Reljic

“The left hand is my strongest weapon,” said Reljic. “I worked with Cro Cop on that. He was rocked big time and I realized I had to finish him off before he did the same to me.” A close fight, but it was kicking skills of Reljic that stood out. The fact that he had knock out power kicks and could land them, must have affected Gouveia’s game for sure.

Wanderlei ‘The axe murderer’ Silva vs. Keith ‘Dean of Mean’ Jardine

Jardine fighting out of Greg Jackson’s camp, a very strong camp of fighters indeed. Most would say Jardine has done enough of late to land a title shot. It would look like he is being given some tough tests to prove himself beyond all reasonable doubt.  Wanderlei a warrior in every sense of the word! A man born to fight. Wanderlei would be looking to set a new era of axe murdering in the octagon.

Round 1
Both fighters come to the centre of the ring for the showdown from hell. Jardine throws a big one two, but just falls short of target. Jardine landed a low leg kick, but Wanderlei countered with a left, right which dropped Jardine. Wanderlei smelled blood like a killer dog and ran in to finish. He unloaded blows at a relentless pace until the fight is stopped. Wanderlei is back and he looked liked a happy man!

Winner Wanderlei Silva.

In true martial spirit Wanderlei thanked Jardine and the fans. "Incredible, because I'm very emotional right now," said a happy Silva.  

BJ Penn vs. Sean ‘the muscle shark’ Sherk

Undisputed Lightweight Championship fight! Sherk one of the best-conditioned athletes in MMA. Penn is now coming to fights in his best shape, which was the only thing he once lacked. This fight will be a fight of wills. Who will want this more? Both fighters have a lot to prove with this fight. Sherks game is to get the takedown and ground and pound. Penn is a master on the ground and has some of the best takedown defence ever seen in the octagon.If that means the fight stays standing then Penn will have the edge in my mind. Penn looked relaxed on his way into the octagon. Sherk hates Penn, but will it affect his game? The crowd where all behind Penn.

Round 1
Sherk looked to shoot for the takedown, but Penn defended well. Sherk looked explosive with his strikes and work rate. The crowd where now calling out for BJ.
Penn jabbed well to slow pace down slightly. Penn got rocked from a Sherk one two, but returned fire. They both traded blows then locked up. Right hand from Penn. Good Jab from Sherk Knee landed from Penn. Left hook landed from Sherk. Jabs for Penn where landing cleaner and with more power. Right hand from Penn. Leg kick from sherk, which was countered with a knee and upper cut from Penn Round ends. Sherk cut under his eye and looks a bit beat up from the cleaner strikes of Penn. Penn ‘s Round

Round 2
Both fighters started with a trade of punches. Leg kick landed from Sherk. Nice combination landed home from Penn. Penn worked for head control to throw knees, but Sherk punched his way out. Both fighters traded jabs. But it’s Penn with much cleaner work and doing more damage. Sherk was explosive and busy. Sweet upper cut from Penn. Again clean one two from Penn. Sherk was now swinging, but his range was a bit off. Nice right from Sherk and leg kick from Sherk, but counter punched by Penn.
Sherk was now cut under both eyes. Left hook from Sherk, still showing game.
Penn now pressed on so Sherk look for single leg, but Penn defended it well. All Penn

Round 3
Both fighters started with a trade of jabs. Sherk now swinging, landed on Penn. Busy hands from Sherk, but just missed his target each time. Perfect uppercut from Penn who then also landed a nice one two. Sherk returned the fire. Leg kick from Penn, which was paid back by Sherk with his own leg kick Nice right hand from Penn. Trade again with Penn landing cleaner. Leg kicks from Sherk, where now working better for him. Penn chased in with a one two, which backed Sherk up, where he landed a big knee, which dropped Sherk. Penn blasted down on Sherk until the round ends. Sherk looks done and the referee calls the fight. TKO win for Penn. Great fight! High tension all the way. Both fighters ending up in a kickboxing match because their grappling skills are so good! "I knew I had to come out here and show something different," Sherk. "B.J. is really hard to take down. I wanted to establish a striking game before I started trying to take the fight to the ground. I felt like I was pretty competitive there on the feet, so I just figured I would keep it up on the feet." "Very, very satisfying," a proud Penn said of his win. "Sean Sherk is a great competitor. Very satisfying.

Exciting night of action! The level of fighters is so high now that the fight strategy has become a very important factor to the game. The UFC now has Champions at each weight that at this point in time all seem very hard to beat.

Alan Orr is a disciple of Robert Chu Sifu and the European representative of the Chu Sau Lei Wing Chun system. Teacher of Tui Na Chinese Massage Therapy

He is also the UK representative for Guro Mark Wiley in the Filipino martial arts and Sensei Eddy Millis of Shark Tank in NHB/Grappling.

Web:
www.alanorr.com
www.thechinesemedicineacademy.co.uk
www.warriorfunctionaltraining.com

For further information Tel: 07958 908 196 or email: info@alanorr.co.uk

 

UFC 84: Ill Will
- by Alan Orr: Photos courtesy of UFC