UFC 71 "Liddell vs Jackson" LIVE Results 5/26/07 [Archive]

Boo

05-26-2007, 11:33 PM

PRELIMINARY BOUTS

Carmelo Marrero vs. Wilson Gouveia - televised

Round 1
Very little action early as both fighters posture and stalk each other. Gouveia opens up with a few low kicks that find their target. Marrero shoots in sloppily and is caught in a guillotine choke. Gouveia rolls him over and finishes the technique from the top position. Wilson Gouveia wins by submission at 3:06 of the first frame.

Jeremy Stephens vs. Din Thomas - televised

Round 1
Thomas scores with a double leg takedown in the opening minute. Thomas passes to side-control twice before taking Stephens' back. Din fought unsuccessfully for a rear naked choke for the next several minutes, until his opponent reversed the position and landed some heavy strikes within Thomas' guard. Sherdog.com scores the first round 10-9 for Din Thomas.

Round 2
Thomas comes out jabbing. Stephens sprawls to avoid a takedown attempt but Thomas pulls guard. Thomas locks up a nicely transitioned armbar. Stevens slams Din to break the hold but Thomas holds on. "Big" John McCarthy steps in and stops the fight at the 2:44 mark. Stephens protests that he did not tap, but his grimace showed the signs of the painful hold. After the fight, Thomas calls out boxing champions Floyd Mayweather Jr. and "Kermit" Cintron.

They ended up showing this fight on the PPV. They couldn't have picked a better one for me. I just saw Jeremy win a fight in Des Moines by spinning backfist earlier this year. What was left out of the above description was how good Jeremy looked before he got caught in the armbar. This kid was giving Din a battle. Although I agree that Jeremy didn't tap, I'm glad the ref stopped the fight. Nothing to prove in getting your arm broke. Keep an eye out for this kid. He looked really good for his debut against a talented experienced fighter like Din Thomas.

Sean Salmon vs. Alan Belcher

Round 1
Salmon tries to scoop up Belcher but gets caught in a guillotine choke. While trying to escape, he falls right into Belcher's guard where he is forced to tap quickly at 53 seconds of the first stanza.

Thiago Silva vs. James Irvin

Round 1
Both fighters come out throwing kicks and haymakers. After a brief clinch, Silva tries to throw Irvin, but the Californian's knee buckles inward while trying to defend the throw. The fight is over. Referee Herb Dean stops the fight at the 1:06 mark after Irvin's right knee has blown completely out. Nasty sight in the Octagon.

It is announced that PRIDE ace Dan Henderson will face the winner of tonight's main event, perhaps as early as this summer.

MAIN CARD

Kalib Starnes vs. Chris Leben

Round 1
Starnes clinches with Leben and pushes him to the cage. Leben gets off the fence and opens up with left straights and a few knees. Leben is winging his left with both hands down. Leben slips while throwing a high kick but Starnes can't take advantage. Starnes lands a crisp low kick. Leben continues to swing wildly. Starnes again clinches with Leben but he can't take the fight to the floor. Starnes lands a straight right. Leben is taken down after a lazy spinning back fest attempt. Starnes now working from Leben's closed guard. Leben lifts his hips high to go for an armbar but Starnes has none of it. Starnes blasts Leben with a few hard punches just as the horn sounds. Eddie Bravo scores it 10-9 in favor of Starnes.

Round 2
Starnes lands a solid kick to the body. Starnes crushes Leben with a right hand before scoring with a takedown. Leben is using the rubber guard. Leben gets back to his feet but he ate a few hard shots in the process. Another hard low kick from Kalib. Starnes is showing signs of fatigue. He only covers up as Leben rushes forward with punches. Leben scores with a right knee in the final seconds of the round. Eddie Bravo scores it 10-9 for Chris Leben.

Round 3
Leben is headhunting with a furry of punches and kicks. Starnes back peddles and avoids most of it. Starnes reacts to a snapping liver kick. Starnes pulls guard, and Leben follows. Leben passes to half-guard. Leben is rolled over by a slick Starnes sweep. Starnes lands a heavy right hand from Leben's closed guard. One minute remains in the contest. Starnes lands another right and moves to side-control. Leben moves him back to half-guard. Eddie Bravo scores it 10-9 for Starnes. The judges score the bout 29-28, 30-27, and 29-28 for Kalib Starnes.

Kalib Starnes defeats Chris Leben by unanimous decision

Houston Alexander vs. Keith Jardine

Round 1
NO WAY!!! These guys immediately went right at each other. Quickly Jardine appears to hurt Alexander then Alexander clinches up with Jardine (later Alexander says it was a slip and he wasn't hurt. Alexander start to pour it on with a variety of strikes in the clinch. He has one wicked upper cut. He buckles Jardine with one uppercut, but to Jardines credit he hangs on. The next uppercut buckles him again and follow up strikes finish him.

Houston Alexander defeats Keith Jardine by KO, Rd 1.

Terry Martin vs. Ivan Salaverry

Round 1
They start with a little feeling out and Ivan tries unsuccessfully a couple of head kicks. Ivan then lands a couple nice inside leg kicks. Soon after Martin clinches with Ivan and gets his back. Ivan has Martin's arm locked up in a kimura while still in the standing position. Martin slams Ivan down, Ivan releases the kimura to brace himself, but still hits his head. Martin immediately lands a few hammer fists to the back of Ivan's head and the ref jumped in. It looked like an early stoppage, but according to Martin, Ivan went out when his head hit the ground.

Terry Martin defeats Ivan Salaverry by TKO, Rd 1

Josh Burkman vs. Karo Parisyan

Round 1
These guys start out forehead to forehead in the face off and it was all action from there on. Half a dozen times it looked like one or the other was finished. Both these guys are swinging for the fences and must have granite jaws. Karo treats us to a beautiful judo throw, but it unable to capitalize on it. Burkman also lands a takedown, just not as pretty, with the same results. 10-9 Parisyan (barely)

Round 2
This round was all on the feet and full of action. Karo got the better of the striking. Burkeman is breathing hard and dropping his hands. Karo doesn't seem to be even breathing hard. Clear 10-9 round for Parisyan

Round 3
Burkman must have gotten a second wind because he comes out going for broke. They continue to battle back and forth. At one point Karo gets a kimura that looks like it's all over, but Burkman locks his hands together and Karo finally releases it. Late in the round Burkman scores a takedown that I thought cinched the round for him. Only one of the judges agreed. They score it 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.

Karo Parisyan defeats Josh Burkman by unanimous decision

Chuck Liddell vs. Quinton Jackson

Round 1
Chuck is circling for the first minute and occasionally jumps in trying for quick strikes and then jumps out again. Rampage finally drops his hands with a "come on man" gesture. Rampage lands the first significant strike. About 30 seconds later Rampage lands a killer right looping hook that drops Chuck. Rampage jumps on him landing a flurry of strikes on the button. Chuck goes limp and the ref jumps in.

WE HAVE A NEW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP!!!

Quinton Jackson defeats Chuck Liddell via KO in Rd 1

If you are unfamiliar with Quinton Jackson, click here ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) for his profile on the forum