UFC 89

National Indoor Arena in Birmingham was the setting for UFC 89. The UFC is now at home in the UK and every event runs like clockwork, giving the fans a great standard of MMA as it rises to be a major mainstream sporting event.

Akihiro Gono vs. Dan ‘The Outlaw’ Hardy

This fight was either going to be the fight of the night, or a complete stalemate as both fighters would be very evenly matched. Dan Hardy is one of the UK’s most respected young fighters and tonight he had been given a massive challenge in taking on the veteran Gono. In some ways for fight fans, this was just the fight that you want to see. The very entertaining but dangerous veteran Gono and the new young lion hungry to make his name.Gono is known for his super cool ring entrances and he did not let the UK crowd down as he and his corner men / dance partners strutted in and preformed a funky dance routine, en route to the octagon. They even donned crazy Afro wigs and 70s glasses. It's funny to think that their warm up routine in the dressing room may have been some pad work, some grappling drills and don’t forget to also run through the funky dance routines for the entrance!

Dan Hardy entrance to the octagon was all together a quieter affair, but the crowd made sure they had the outlaw's back. After Gono making an entertaining entrance and being so relaxed many fighters would have been fazed, but Hardy showed not the slightest bit of concern.

This fight for me was a master class of top quality MMA. Hardy was putting together beautiful high low punch combinations. He moved with great structural control of his position at all times. When you think it was his first time in the UFC against the type of opponent who would finish you if you made one mistake; Hardy made a big impact indeed. He controlled each round and showed what a superior game he had on his feet. The few times it went to the ground Hardy showed how relaxed and confident he was and got back to standing. Gono was tough as always and it looked like he was just looking for his opportunity, but Hardy had the eye of the tiger! Never taking his mind out of the game. I know big knockout and crazy submissions are cool but this was the best performance I have seen in MMA for some time. Pure class. The official judges see the bout 29-28 (twice) for Hardy, and 29-28 for Gono.

Split decision Winner Dan Hardy.

Excellent fight. Both fighters really put on a show. Just the kind of edge of your seat fight you love to see as you feel the stress and tension have put you in the mix! Great showcase of Dan Hardy’s skill. I am sure the UFC loved him. A showcase of MMA.

Marcus ‘The Irish Hand Grenade' Davis vs. Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly is a tough as nails fighter and trains at one of the top gyms in he UK. But he is a young guy with not as much experience as Marcus Davis. That maybe what he has to deal with more that anything else. Davis has a very good coach and they always come to fight with a tight game plan. Will Kelly out tough Davis or will Davis be ready and waiting for him. Davis is injury free and new and improved!

Davis worked distance control from the start, showing his better control of range. He used his jab to set up his leg kick Davis was punching then circling off each time to not allow any chance of a takedown from Kelly. Kelly is throwing punches, but they are falling out of range and causing him to look pressured.
Davis has a very good corner and they where coaching him to the max. Kelly was soaking it up and marching forward. Davis now set up body kicks with his jab.
Davis changed it up and took a strong single-leg takedown passing to side control.
Kelly muscled and bridged out as Davis tried to progress to mount a bit too early.
Kelly made it to his feet but looked a bit out of the game.

Round 2

Davis worked the cage again punching and cutting the corner to set up his kicks.
Kelly now frustrated tried to step it up with some big swinging punches, but his distance and timing was out. He then made a solid takedown but rushed the progression and ended up in a guillotine choke.

Davis had a good game plan and also a good corner to keep him on track. “I didn’t want to get too involved -- he was too young and too strong,” said Davis after. First Loss for Paul Kelly, but he is a young guy and an exciting fighter to watch, so I am sure we will see him back and improved from this fight. A good show of experience paying off for Davis.

Chris ‘Lights Out’ Lytle vs. Paul ‘Relentless’ Taylor

Chris Lytle is one tough SOB and so is Paul Taylor! So this was a great match up for three rounds of war. I love fights like this, but I never like to see someone lose when both fighters bring there all to a fight. But that is the name of the game and I think both fighters will be going home with the fans respect. Lytle brings the wealth of experience to the octagon. Taylor is a kickboxing champion with a will of iron. Its time for a war!

This fight was all guns blazing from the start to the finish! It was a very hard fight to judge but a great fight to sit back and watch. Taylor did seem to be getting off the cleaning punches but Lytle was pressure-fighting non-stop. Each round was more of the same. Big respect to these warriors! Fight of the night.

The judges saw the fight 29-28 (twice) and 30-27 for Chris Lytle.Winner Chris Lytle

It was a very close fight and I would have said the cleaner work was from Taylor. So another tough night for Taylor, but on the up side he once again showed that UK fighters can throw down and go for broke. Which in the end I think will keep him in the UFC. I would like to see it go his way next time as he has the tools for the job plus some!

Luis Arthur Cane vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

Team Quest fighter Sokoudjou is an imposing figure’ no let me change that’ is a monster! He’s had success with early knockouts against top class opponents, but has not proved himself fully so far as we have not seen enough of him. He may just be a power puncher or he may have the full package. As he will be up against another strong puncher but also excellent BJJ fighter in the form of Luis Arthur Cane; we may find out tonight.

Sokoudjou controlled the first round with a display of raw power. He beat up Cane and it looked like it was heading for an early night. But Cane is a tough guy and was riding out the storm. At the end of the round Cane looked beat up, but Sokoudjou looked very tried in his corner.

Round 2

The round started the same, but Sokoudjou looked to be slow. Cane now started to take the fight back to Sokoudjou and both fighters traded punches, knees and kicks. The last part of the round Cane landed a strong knee and punch combination hurting Sokoudjou. He piled on the strikes to finish his opponent.

Good fight. Sokoudjou is a very dangerous fighter indeed, but his weakness is in the long haul. Brazilian fighters are known for their endurance and fight toughness. It was these two points that allowed Cane to take the ‘W’ tonight.

Brandon Vera vs. Keith ‘The Dean of Mean’ ‘Jardine

This fight was three rounds of paced action. Both fighters looking to take control of the stand up. Jardine was the more pressure fighter and Vera looked to hit and move. Jardine hurt Vera in the first round with a right hand. Vera worked low kicks in the second round and a low stamping kick brought back an old injury for Jardine. But Jardine limped a bit then and marched on. They traded at the end of the round as the pace slowed. In the last round Vera landed some early blows but Jardine pressured on and landed some big right hands. At the end of the round Jardine wanted to slug it out for a strong finish.

The judges see the bout 29-28 for Vera and 29-28 (twice) for Keith Jardine.

Jardine won the fight as he pressed the action. When a fight is close that will make a difference. That is his natural fighting style anyway. He just keeps grinding forward. Vera likes to pick his strikes, which he did not always have, space in which to do so. Master Game Plan maker Lloyd Irvin was unhappy that Vera was not fighting to plan in this fight. He seemed frustrated in the corner of his fighter his performance. Vera started out in the UFC with some big wins and then had a year out due to a management problem. Now back and ready to go he has not had the same success and doesn’t look like he is fully on point when in the octagon. I am sure he will have a lot of focus on and will be back as soon as he can. He definitely is a talented fighter; it will be good to see him back to full form.

Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben

On paper this fight would be full out war. Both fighters like to throw leather. So we could sit back for a good old fashion tear up or would we? In the end it was not the fight that was hyped.

Leben came out and as always pressed for a tough fight. Bisping decided to hit and move rather that stand and trade. Maybe it was a good idea in some way. Leben stalked Bisping throughout the fight and Bisping landed the higher amount of punches moving and counter punching. But this did in some way seem to be in some part due to Leben’s lack of want to defend himself. Leben wanted to stand toe to toe and Bisping wasn’t going to play that game. Bisping was instead paying Leben for his lack of attention to his defence as he charged in, which opened cuts and visible swelling to Leben’s face.Leben was fatigued in the last round and Bisping was able to use his speed to keep landing shots on the back foot. At the end of the round Leben dropped his hands and offered some free shots to Bisping, which he took with thanks.

The official judges see the duel 30-27 (twice), and 29-28 for Michael Bisping.

“The game plan was about using my speed to go for a unanimous decision win,” said Bisping.

It worked for Bisping and he rightly won the fight, but I would have liked to see him dominate a come forward fighter like Leben. If he is to step up to Anderson Silva he will need that level to match him. I’m a Bisping fan and would like to see him reach the potential that he has. Bisping is without doubt one of the toughest fighters in the UFC. His ground defence seems to be very tight now as well. Overall he has improved with each fight and looks at home at middleweight. The next part of his journey is going to be great to watch.

An action packed night with some really great performances. The other thing to note was it was a night of excellent cornering Greg Jackson and Mark DellaGrotte really showed that every edge a fighter can get does adds up at this level.

It that was not enough we now have Couture vs. Lesnar coming up next!

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