UFC 76 "Knockout" LIVE RESULTS 09/22/07 [Archive]

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09-22-2007, 11:28 PM

PRELIM FIGHTS

Fight #1:
-Michihiro Omigawa vs. Matt Wiman

Round 1: Omigawa with a quick takedown to start the round. Wiman sweeps him but gets stuck in a guillotine choke from Omigawa. Wiman was stuck for a while but eventaully escapes. Lots of back and forth action with both guys switching positions constantly.

Round 2: Wiman trying for a takedown early in the second, but is eating punches from Omigawa for his effort. We're clinched against the cage. Both guys exchanging punches now. Wiman starting to look tired already. Wiman attempts a head kick and goes for a takedown, gets it, and is on top. Back up, Wiman gets another takedown. Wiman controlling Omigawa on the round.

Round 3: The two trade punches early in the third before Wiman hits a takedown. Wiman has Omigawa's back and is punching away. Now he's on top in mount and punching some more. Great punch lands for Wiman. Wiman working elbows from the top now. More elbows and punches. Back on the feet, Wiman lands a couple body kicks as the round comes to a close. Definitely Wiman's round.

Winner: Matt Wiman def. Michihiro Omigawa via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) after 3 Rounds.

Fight #2:
-Scott Junk vs. Christian Wellisch

Round 1: Got some in-close wrestling happening on the feet as the two jockey for superior position. Junk swinging hard and lands an uppercut to the body. Junk working knees to the body now. Wellisch retaliating with some knees of his own to the body. Lots of clinch fighting. Wellish gets a takedown, drops back for a heel hook and gets the tap out.

Winner: Christian Wellisch def. Scott Junk via Submission (heel hook) at 3:19 of Round 1.

Fight #3:
-Diego Saraiva vs. Jeremy Stephens

Round 1: Saraiva with a quick takedown. He's working elbows from side mount. He passes to full mount and Stephens gives him his back. Saraiva working for the choke but Stephens escapes and winds up on top. Stephens throwing hard elbows from the top. Saraiva now working for a triangle choke underneath. He hooks it in, not all the way, and before he could do anything else Stephens picks him up and slams him down. He picks him up again and slams him another time, this time getting himself out of the triangle. He's working elbows again. Good round.

Round 2: Not a terribly exciting round. Saraiva got a takedown early but Stephens wound up on top. Stephens worked some elbows and punches before "Big" John wanted more and ordered a stand up. Saraiva tried for a leg lock submission late, but didn't get it. Stephens wins this round.

Round 3: Stephens with a big slam takedown early. Stephens working elbows and punches from the top on the ground. Stephens landing some good shots on top here. Stephens stacks him up against the cage and is flurrying with punches. Stephens again landing some hard shots. Round was all Stephens, and so should be the overall decision as this one is now in the books.

Winner: Jeremy Stephens def. Diego Saraiva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after 3 Rounds.

Fight #4:
-Rich Clementi vs. Anthony Johnson

Round 1: Johnson drops Clementi with a punch early. Clementi quickly slapped on a triangle from his back, on an over-anxious Johnson. Johnson slams his way out of it. Back on the feet, Johnson with a solid knee to the body. Clementi stuns Johnson with a punch. Johnson swinging wildly and missing now. Johnson goes to touch gloves with Clementi during the round, but Clementi instead hits him with a leg kick. Clementi takes Johnson down and gets his back. He's punching. Johnson working for a kimura now. Good round.

Round 2: Johnson with a takedown. Clementi escapes and takes Johnson's back. He slaps on a rear naked choke and Johnson taps out.

Winner: Rich Clementi def. Anthony Johnson via Submission (rear naked choke) at 3:05 of Round 2.

PPV FIGHTS

Fight #5:
-Tyson Griffin vs. Thiago Tavares

Round 1: Not much action in the first minute of the round. Feel out process going on. A minute and ten in and we got a loud round of boo's from the crowd. Good leg kick from Griffin. Griffin shoots for a takedown and gets it. Tavares has full guard. Griffin has him stuffed up against the cage on his back. Griffin postures up and lands a big punch. Tavares works on a leg and the two scramble back to their feet. Griffin with some good punches and is working for another takedown up against the cage. Knee to the body from Tavares, some punches from Griffin. Griffin working on the takedown still. Tavares almost gets Griffin down but Griffin swings him over and onto his back. Griffin on top in Tavares' butterfly guard. Griffin with punches from the top as he postures up. Trying to pass the legs of Tavares, Tavares is throwing up kicks. Mazagatti warning Griffin for holding the cage. Tavares working for a leg again from the bottom. He uses it to get Griffin down and now the two scramble. Tavares gets Griffin's back, but Griffin pops out the back door. Tavares on his back now with Griffin landing a big punch on top. Butterfly guard from Tavares. Griffin working punches to the body. Griffin looking to pass Tavares' full guard now. Tavares working for an oma plata, but Griffin passes his guard instead. They scramble and now they're in the clinch on their feet against the cage. 15 seconds left in the round. Griffin working knees to the thigh of Tavares. Round over. 10-9 Griffin.

Round 2: Tavares lands a flying knee that momentarily stuns Griffin. Tavares comes running in and eats a punch from Griffin. He gets Griffin down though and is in Griffin's full guard. Griffin looking to wall walk is way to his feet. Tavares pulls him right back down. Tavares advances to half guard. Tavares quickly gains mount. Griffin is bucking up trying to escape the bad position. Tavares gets Griffin's back and is working for a rear naked choke. Griffin stands up still in the choke. Tavares loses the arms under the throat still on Griffin's back as Griffin is still standing. Still in this position for a while here. Tavares gets slung over and Griffin is on top of him on the ground. Tavares locks in an armbar and it looks pretty good so far. Tavares is rolling trying to secure it tighter. His back is against the cage though so he can't fully extend. Griffin escapes and is in Tavares' full guard. Griffin throwing down punches. A couple good ones landing now. Tavares throws his legs up for a submission but has nothing. Griffin works for a guillotine but Tavares rolls on top of Griffin. Griffin still holding onto the choke though. Tavares advances to side mount, still in the choke. Tavares pops his head out and takes Griffin's back. Tavares is working for the rear naked choke and again Griffin stands up on his feet, with Griffin still on his back. Griffin slams him down and breaks free and is on top of him now in full guard. 30 seconds left. Great round, great fight thus far. Tavares is cut on the left eye. Lots of swelling as well. Round ends.

Round 3: We're clinched up against the cage early in the third and final round here. Griffin with one underhook throwing shoulder strikes to Tavares' face. Tavares takes Griffin down. Tavares working for an oma plata. Griffin amazingly spins out of it and to Tavares' back. We're back in the feet in the clinch again. Griffin working for a takedown from this position, but Tavares is defending well. Griffin throwing knees to the leg of Tavares. Tavares trips Griffin down but they both quickly bounce back to their feet and we're clinched against the cage again. 3 minutes left in the round. Not a lot going on in this clinch. Just as I say that Griffin lands a nice punch and standing elbow. We got some distance now and the two are throwing punches, neither landing anything yet. Tavares for a takedown and eventually gets it. Griffin already wall walking his way back up. We're clinched on the feet against the cage again. Joe Rogan giving a lecture on the 10-point must system in MMA. Knee to the body from Tavares. Knee to the body from Griffin, but falls to his butt in doing so. Tavares on top now in Griffin's guard. Griffin standing up again and Tavares is taking his back. Tavares is looking for an armbar or oma plata but Griffin slips out and winds up on top. 20 seconds left in the fight. Griffin with hammer punches, one landing solidly. Tavares has a leg and uses it to get on top. Round ends. What a great fight. Should be Griffin's decision I'm thinking.

Winner: Tyson Griffin def. Thiago Tavares via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) after 3 Rounds.

Fight #6:
-"Lyoto" Ryoto Machida vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura

Round 1: Good body kick from Lyoto early. Leg kick from Lyoto. Nakamura bull-rushes in. Knee to the body in the clinch by Lyoto. Knee to the leg from Nakamura. We seperate and the camera man screws up. We switch cameras and Nakamura lunges in with a punch. Knee to the body from Lyoto. Good body kick from Lyoto again. Nakamura went for a judo throw but winds up on his back with Lyoto on top in Nakamura's half guard. Lyoto working on a kimura. Nakamura works his way back to his feet. Lyoto has him up against the cage throwing knees to the thigh. Inside elbow from Lyoto. Good leg kick by Lyoto. High kick from Lyoto blocked by Nakamura. Little knee to the body by Nakamura. Knee to the body by Lyoto. Nakamura attempts a trip takedown from the clinch - nothing doing. Nakamura slips and Lyoto is on top in Nakamura's half guard. Lyoto working elbows to the face on top. Lyoto working on a kimura but Nakamura scrambles away. Lyoto stands up and lands a good punch to grounded Nakamura. The two scramble up as the horn sounds to end a lackluster round one. 10-9, Lyoto.

Round 2: Lyoto drops Nakamura with a punch and comes in with aggression trying to stop him. Not happening, not yet at least. Lyoto settles in on the ground and quickly advances to full mount. Nakamura rolls and Lyoto takes his back. Lyoto has both hooks in and is starting to work on the choke. Nakamura spinning out but Lyoto winds up in mount again. Now he rolls again and Lyoto has his back again. Lyoto doing a good job of keeping position. Lyoto has the rear naked choke sunk in but lost it. It was looking good too. Nakamura spins out and has a leg of a standing Lyoto working for a takedown. Nakamura stands up now and still has a Lyoto leg. Lyoto defending the takedown well. Lyoto ends up on top of Nakamura on the grouind. Lyoto gets mount again. Lyoto throwing some punches from the mount. Lyoto looking good in this round. Lyoto with some elbows. Lyoto punching away, some good shots landing. Nakamura scrambles back to his feet. Lyoto with a knee to the body in the clinch. 90 seconds left in the round. Another knee to the body by Lyoto. Leg kick from Lyoto lands the same time a nice punch from Nakamura finds the mark. Nakamura lunges in with an uppercut, partially landing. Nakamura with a trip takedown, but only thirty seconds left and he's in Lyoto's full guard. Lyoto doing good controlling him from the bottom, Nakamura doing nothing with his first dominant position. Nakamura passes to half guard as the horn sounds. 10-9, Lyoto.

Round 3: Nakamura with the worst high kick attempt I've ever seen. Lyoto misses with a spinning back kick. Nakamura with a good punch. Nakamura takes Lyoto down with ease for the first time. Lyoto already wall walking and he's back to his feet. We're in the clinch up against the cage. Nakamura attempts a judo throw but doesn't get it. Lyoto throwing knees from the clinch to Nakamura's body and legs and finally sweeps Nakamura down to the ground. He's in Nakamura's half guard. Elbow to the body from Lyoto. Lyoto mounts Nakamura, Nakamura rolls. The two scramble to their feet. Knee by Lyoto misses, Nakamura throws a punch that partially lands. Nice punch from Lyoto. We're clinched against the cage with Lyoto throwing body punches and knees to the body. Nakamura's nose bleeding a little. Nakamura with another judo throw attempt that fails. More knees and punches to the body from Lyoto. Nice standing elbow in the clinch by Lyoto. 90 seconds remaining in the final round. Shoulder strike from Lyoto. Crowd is boo'ing now. Good knee to the body from Lyoto. Another elbow to the face by Lyoto. 30 seconds left. Good punch from Lyoto. Awesome elbow from Nakamura. Uppercut-straight right combo from Lyoto looks good. Round ends with Lyoto taking Nakamura down. Easy decision for Lyoto, should be 30-27 across the board.

Winner: "Lyoto" Ryoto Machida def. Kazuhiro Nakamura via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after 3 Rounds

Fight #7:
-Diego Sanchez vs. Jon Fitch

Round 1: Diego comes out like a mad man when the round begins looking for a takedown. Fitch defending well. Diego gives up the takedown and the two seperate. Fitch defends another Diego takedown attempt and lands a solid leg kick. Diego again looking for a takedown, Fitch defending well again. Knees to the body from Diego in the clinch. Diego changes levels and is working for another takedown. Fitch not having it. Crowd boo'ing already. Couple good punches from Fitch. Knee to the leg from Diego. Crowd boo'ing again as the two seperate. Diego with another takedown attempt and this time gets it. He's in side control. Fitch quickly gets up and quickly takes Diego down himself. 2 minutes left. Fitch in Diego's full guard. Diego throwing his legs up looking for a triangle. He clears one arm and switches to an armbar. It looks decent, Diego posturing looking for a better hold on the submission before ultimately letting it go. Diego with butterfly guard. Diego looking for an armbar underneath again but eats a few punches for his efforts. Diego rolling and looking for a submission again, and again eats some punches from Fitch. Round ends. Tough round to score.

Round 2: Diego looks for a takedown but ends up on his back on the ground with Fitch on top. Diego looking to sweep but it ain't happening. Diego scrambles to his feet and the two seperate. Diego gets a takedown on Fitch off a Fitch kick attempt. Fitch's foot is stuck in Diego's shorts - never seen that before. Fitch gets an underhook and is using it to stand up but Diego is trying to sprawl out and keep him down. Fitch from his knees scoops Diego up and gets Diego down. Diego looking for a switch but Fitch is slowly taking Diego's back. Diego rolls and Fitch gets Diego's back with one hook in. Crowd boo'ing again. Diego rolls and is on top of Fitch in Fitch's full guard. The two scramble and they're in the weirdest position ever. From that weirdo position, the hit the mat again. I don't even know how to describe this position they're stuck in right now. Diego throwing elbows to Fitch's kidney. Fitch is now on top in Diego's butterfly guard - that position I recognize. Weird scrambles in this round. Fitch with some good punches from the top. Diego rolling and throwing the legs up for a submission but eats a solid punch from Fitch. 30 seconds remaining. Diego rolling for an armbar but Fitch defends well and blasts him with a hammer fist. 10 seconds left and Diego is cut. Not a bad cut though.

Round 3: High kick attempt from Fitch misses the mark. Knee to the body and punch to the face by Fitch. Fitch for a takedown but Diego slaps on a guillotine choke. It looks pretty tight to me but Fitch puts the thumbs up sign to show he's okay. Fitch is slowly popping his head out. And he's out to a roar from the crowd. We have some scrambling going on but they settle with Fitch still on top on the ground. Fitch working some body punches on top and mixing in some head shots. Diego staying busy from underneath. Diego looking to secure a kimura from the bottom. Fitch gets his arm free and throws a few shots, nothing landing. Diego looking for another submission holding his foot just behind Fitch's head. He gives it up. 2 minutes left in the final round. Fitch throwing some punches from the top, nothing really landing clean. Crowd boo'ing again. Punch to the back of Diego's head prompts a warning from Herb Dean to Fitch. Good punch from Fitch. Diego scrambling but Fitch controlling him well. He's got Diego up against the cage now. Fitch staying busy with decent ground and pound on top. Diego throws his legs up and slaps on a triangle. Fitch pops out and remains on top of Diego. Nice little action there. Diego again throwing his legs up for a submission. 10 seconds left. Fitch breaks free. Horn sounds and the fight is over. Should be a Fitch win here, but we'll see.

Winner: Jon Fitch def. Diego Sanchez via Split Decision (30-27 Fitch, 29-28 Sanchez, 29-28 Fitch) after 3 Rounds.

Fight #8:
-Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Forrest Griffin

Round 1: Leg kick from Forrest early. Shogun works for a takedown but Forrest defends and winds up on top. Shogun working for submissions already. We're scrambling all over the place here. Forrest with an inside leg kick and a jab. Shogun with a leg kick of his own as the "Forrest, Forrest" chants begin. Shogun takes Forrest down. Shogun immediately passes to half guard. Forrest quickly regains full guard as another "Forrest" chant starts up. Elbow from the bottom by Forrest. Forrest doing a good job of controlling Shogun and avoiding punishment from the bottom. Forrest scrambles to his feet and lands a decent uppercut. Shogun with a good punch and a knee attempt. Forrest with a leg kick. Shogun and Forrest exchanging wildly with punches. Forrest with a takedown. Shogun rolls and Forrest has his back. Shogun rolls and gains full guard. Forrest on top throwing some punches, a couple good ones finding the mark. Forrest stands up and is landing kicks to a grounded Shogun's legs. Shogun stands up. Body kick from Forrest. Good jab from Forrest. Big punch from Forrest momentarily stuns Shogun. Shogun has some swelling on above his eye. Shogun lands a good punch and takes Forrest down. Forrest immediately gets back up. Shogun working for another takedown and eventually gets it. Forrest with butterfly guard. Forrest on top now and is landing some punches. Good first round. I'd have to go 10-9, Forrest.

Round 2: Good punch from Forrest early in the second. Shogun gets a takedown. Forrest slaps on a guillotine but Shogun pops out. Good elbow from Shogun on top. Forrest is bleeding pretty good. Forrest scrambles back to his feet. Forrest with a takedown and is landing some good ground and pound, mixing it up - body and head. Forrest is bleeding bad still. The two stand up. Shogun dives in for a takedown but Forrest defends. We're on the ground with Forrest over Shogun's back, but they stand up again. Shogun looking a bit tired here in the middle of the second. High kick from Shogun misses. Shogun with another takedown attempt, but Forrest defends. Each eat a stiff jab. Good body punch from Forrest. Shogun lands a couple good punches. Shogun is looking pretty tired. Shogun lands a good punch and goes for a takedown but Forrest defends and is hammering away. Forrest has his back but Shogun rolls and Forrest is in his half guard on top. Shogun rolls again and Forrest is throwing more punches from the top. Now he's mixing in some elbows and the crowd is getting into this one big time. 30 seconds left in the second. Forrest punching away to the side of Shogun's head on the ground. Horn sounds to end the round. Gotta give that one to Forrest as well.

Round 3: Inside leg kick to open the third and final round. Shogun with a takedown attempt, and he gets this one. Forrest throwing up the legs looking for a submission. He's working for a triangle but Shogun works his way out. Decent punch from Shogun on top lands. Forrest yells at the referee for getting a warning for pushing off the cage with his foot. Nothing much going on here, Shogun just laying on him. Just as I say that he's working in some elbows now. Forrest working for an oma plata. He uses it to get Shogun's back. He's punching to the side of Shogun's head and now a knee to his body. The two scramble back up and Shogun tries to take Forrest down, but winds up on the bottom with Forrest hammering down with punches. Now Forrest is landing some elbows. Just over 2 minutes remaining in what is looking to be a big upset. Forrest landing some solid punches now on top. Shogun gives up his back and Forrest is controlling him from there working some punches. 90 seconds remaining. Knees to the body by Forrest. Shogun trying to roll and he gets half guard. Forrest working short elbows. Under a minute left and the crowd is roaring. Forrest is looking to get mount. Forrest punching away and Shogun gives up his back again. 30 seconds left. Forrest has both hooks in on Shogun's back and has the rear naked choke. Shogun taps and Forrest wins!

Winner: Forrest Griffin def. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua via Submission (rear naked choke) in Round 3

Fight #9:
-Chuck Liddell vs. Keith Jardine

Alright, Jardine is in the cage now and Liddell is making his walk to the octagon. Let me take a deep breath and get ready for the final fight of the night. For the sake of my fingers, let's hope Liddell (or Jardine) ends this one quick!

Round 1: Good leg kick and solid hook from Jardine lands flush. Another leg kick from Jardine. Liddell with a good shot. Another good punch from Jardine lands. Good body kick from Jardine. Good right from Liddell. Overhand right misses for Liddell. Liddell chasing down Jardine with lefts and rights. Good right from Jardine. Jardine is cut and swelling a bit around one of his eyes. "Chuck, Chuck" chant starts up. Leg kick from Jardine. And another. Body kick from Jardine. Overhand right from Jardine just misses. Another hard leg kick from Jardine. Good left from Liddell. Good jab from Liddell. Both miss with big punches. Another good shot from Jardine, this time it finds the mark. 2 minutes left in the first. Push kick from Jardine. Liddell wincing from a finger poke he received from Jardine. Karma is a *****. Head kick from Jardine misses. Liddell opening up more with kicks and punches in a nice combo. Uppercut from Liddell lands partially. Overhand right by Jardine. And another. Solid right from Liddell and Liddell is chasing him down. Jardine smiling and lands a solid leg kick. The two swing a bit after the bell. Good first round. Not the easiest to score.

Round 2: The two trip each other up a bit throwing simaltaneous leg kicks early in the second. Good jab by Jardine. Nice body kick from Jardine. Jardine drops Liddell with a solid punch. Liddell is back on his feet and seems to be okay. Liddell nails Jardine with a good punch. Solid body kick from Jardine. Liddell has some welts on his body from all those kicks. Another hard shot from Jardine lands. Jardine waving Liddell in, looking more confident. Jardine shakes his head "no" after a shot lands by Liddell. 3 minutes left in the second round. Jardine lands another couple really good punches. Leg kick from Jardine. Another good right by Jardine. Jardine is getting confident. Leg kick from Jardine. And another. Jardine pouring blood out of the side of his head. And his eye is bleeding pretty good on the other side. Good body punch from Jardine. Liddell's body looks bad from the kicks. Think CroCop-Silva 1. Liddell rocks Jardine with some big punches. He lands a knee. Spinning back fist from Liddell misses. Little over a minute left as Jardine lands another leg kick. And again. Uppercut from Liddell partially lands. Jardine starting to look a bit tired. Liddell is pressing the action more now. Nice right from Liddell. Great round. 40 seconds left. Overhand from Jardine lands on the top of Liddell's head. Another leg kick from Jardine. He's chopping away. Body kick from Jardine and Liddell shows it on his face as it lands. Good punch from Liddell as the round ends. Definitely Jardine's round. Liddell walks to the wrong corner after the horn sounds.

Round 3: Big leg kick from Jardine to open the round. Wild flurry from Jardine. Another leg kick by Jardine. And another. Overhand lands solid on Liddell by Jardine. Good right hand by Liddell lands. Push kick from Jardine. And another leg kick by Jardine. And another followed with a nice left punch to the face that lands. Jardine with his hands by his side, semi-taunting Liddell. Another vicious leg kick by Jardine followed by a body kick that lands. 3 minutes left in the final round. We may have two big upsets tonight. Liddell lands some nice punches. Another good leg kick from Jardine. Nice punch by Chuck. Another leg kick followed up by a left hook from Jardine. 2 minutes left. Body kick by Jardine followed up by a left punch. Gotta be Jardine's round so far, Liddell needs to do something to even have a shot. Another leg kick and a big left that stuns Chuck. Another left hook from Jardine. Good body punch by Liddell. Under a minute remaining. Another body shot by Liddell lands. Another body kick by Jardine. Solid uppercut from Liddell. High kick from Liddell partially blocked. Big left from Jardine. Jardine with a leg kick. Spinning back kick from Liddell misses as the horn sounds. Liddell raises his hands and the crowd, who was heavily behind him, is boo'ing.

Winner: Keith Jardine def. Chuck Liddell via Split Decision (29-28 Jardine, 29-28 Liddell, 29-28 Jardine) after 3 Rounds