July 2008 Archives

Forrest Griffin challenges Quinton Jackson for the UFC light heavyweight championship.

Both fighters meet in the center of the Octagon with Griffin kicking more than punching. Both fighters are shadowing each other looking for an opening. The crowd appears to be chanting for Griffin more in the early going. Jackson has been landing some punches causing Griffin to retreat. Griffin's kicks are keeping Jackson back and for a while it looked like Griffin had an opening. With about 1:10 left in the round Jackson landed a right uppercut that dropped Griffin down. Griffin was able to recover and get back up as both fighters give a strong performance to the crowds delight.

Griffin starts the round by kicking in the left leg and it appeared to hurt Jackson. Griffin keeps the pressure on and is able to get Jackson down to the ground. Jackson can't do much on his back as Griffin stays on top. Griffin tries to go for a kimura but can't lock it in. The crowd is supporting Griffin and any offense Griffin mounts gets applause. Griffin has been in control for the entire round with elbows and strikes. Jackson will survive the round with almost the entire round on his back.

Jackson is not letting Griffin close to his left knee, which is what caused him trouble in the last round. Jackson moves in for a flurry of punches 100 seconds into the round but can't get a knock down, but does move Griffin back. Jackson punches are not getting through Griffin's guard. Griffin hasn't had much success either. This round looked more like a kick boxing match with a strong finish at the end for both fighters.

With about 30 seconds into the round, Jackson throws punches which are countered by Griffin. As both fighters are locked up, Griffin goes for a takedown, but Jackson is too strong. Griffin goes for a arm bar and all of a sudden you had visions of the powerbomb Jackson threw in his PRIDE days. Griffin must have remembered and braced for the impact as to not get the full effect. Jackson stayed in control and as Griffin goes for an arm bar again, but Jackson has other ideas and both fighters break free. Jackson goes in and lands some shots on Griffin. There appears to be a small, not serious, cut over Griffin's right eye.

Chants for Griffin begin the fifth and final round. Jackson appears more confident in throwing his punches now. Griffin hasn't thrown as many kicks as he's done in the previous rounds. Both fighters are just duking it out for the most part. Griffin makes some contact with about two minutes left to go and is appearing to be more aggressive as the round goes. Jackson is not as aggressive as Griffin, but is throwing some counter punches. With 50 seconds remaining, the crowd is anticipating a strong stretch run by both fighters. Both fighters don't disappoint as the round and bout ends.

The judges award the bout, 48-46, 48-46, 49-46 all for the winner and new light heavyweight champion, Forrest Griffin. Griffin improves to 16-4, Jackson falls to 27-7.

Thank you for reading, we apologize for the technical problems we've had.

Good night from Las Vegas.

In the swing bout, lightweights Gleison Tibau vs. Joe Stevenson are next up.

Stevenson appears to push his fist into Tibau for a knockdown. Stevenson then sets up for a guillotine choke but Tibau slips free. Both fighters get up and Stevenson would get the next take down but gets his arm trapped in Tibau's legs. Right now, there appears to be no damage on Stevenson except not letting him use his left arm. Stevenson asks the referee for a stand up but his request is denied and that is how the round ends.

Stevenson won by guillotine choke at 2:57 of the second round

Welterweights Chris Lytle and Josh Koscheck will meet in the Octagon next.

The boo birds come out again, although the action is a little more fast paced than the last bout. Lytle is swinging but Koscheck has enough distance to move away. Koscheck is able to score a take down but is almost locked in a guillotine choke before breaking free. Koscheck has Lytle under control for the rest of the round.

Lytle was able to get a take down and went for another guillotine choke but Koscheck breaks free and gains the advantage with both fighters on the ground and lands forearms. Lytle has a cut on this forehead above his right eyebrow. Lytle is trying to break free but can't. There is blood in the corner of the ring. As the round ends, the wound appears to be deep.

Both fighters go to the ground again and Lytle appeas to be going for it all with a variety of choke and submission moves, but he can't lock one in on Koscheck. Two minutes into the round, Koscheck is really digging his forearm into the forehead of Lytle trying to open up the cut more. With 90 seconds into the match both fighters are stood up and Lytle is head is red with blood. Koscheck face is red too. The crowd has been behind Lytle and are chanting for him to pull it out. Lytle and Koscheck go at it for the final 10 seconds but neither can land the knockout punch.

The judges rule the bout, 30-26, 29-27, 30-28, for Koscheck and improves to 14-2 while Lytle falls to 35-15-4

The Pay-Per-View card of UFC 86 kicks off with lightweights Marcus Aurelio vs. Tyson Griffin.

The first fight of the night is getting booed for the first 100 seconds when Griffin is able to get a take down on Aurelio. However instead of mounting his opponent, he is standing above him and striking. Aurelio is able to defend himself while on his back for almost two minutes before getting back to his feet. Both fighters stay on their feet for the rest of the round.

Both fighters start out stronger in the second round but neither fighter can score a big punch. With 1:40 into the round, Griffin has Aurelio pinned against the Octagon attempting to score a take down, but Aurelio is standing his ground. Griffin finally gets his take down three minutes into the round. Aurelio breaks free and has position for a while before Griffin reverses. With more than a minute into the round, Aurelio attempts a triangle choke but can't hold it. The round ends with Griffin on top.

Both fighters are more cautious to start the final round. Both fighters are just looking for an opening. Aurelio goes for a take down two minutes into the round but it is easily blocked. Griffin lands a series of successive punches and kicks that has Aurelio backing up. Aurelio goes for a take down, but is instead pushed down to the ground and dominated by Griffin. Griffin almost makes a mistake and gets his right arm in an arm bar before getting it free. Griffin stays on top as the round ends.

Griffin is declared the winner on all three scorecards, 30-27, and improves to 12-1 while Aurelio falls to 14-6.

Justin McCully takes on Gabriel Gonzaga in a heavyweight bout and the final match of the preliminaries.
Any doubts about Gonzaga were clarified moments in less than two minutes. Gonzaga floored McCully and kept the pressure on. McCully would get up only to be taken down again. Gonzaga worked the ground game and after a while was able to lock in a kimura on the left arm of McCully forcing a tap out at the 1:57 mark of the first round.

Gonzaga improves to 9-3 while McCully is 8-4-2.

Cole Miller goes against Jorge Gurgel in another lightweight bout.

Both fighters, for the most part, are fighting, but neither fighter has done any damage to the other. Gurgel gains some advantage with 1-2 punch combo that almost floors Miller. Gurgel goes in to do more damage but Miller recovers. Gurgel chases Miller around the ring as the time expires in the round.

In the second round, both fighters are again mixing it up, but can't land any damage. They are exchanging good shots, but nothing good. Miller scores a take down on Gurgel, two minutes into the round. Gurgel looked to have the striking advantage until Miller gets up and finds a better striking angle to land punches. Gurgel is able to withstand the attack and almost gains an advantage. Miller proves to be to elusive and breaks free. Gurgel gets a take down to end the round.

About a minute in to the final round, both fighters go for arm take down, but neither can score. Gurgel later on scores a take down and has control for a minute. Miller gets up but is soon taken down again. Miller again gets up and both fighters begin to exchange punches. With more than a minute left in the round, both fighters go to the ground. Gurgel makes a costly mistake and get himself in caught in a triangle choke. After a while, Gurgel can't hold on until the end of the round and tap out at the 4:44 mark of the third round.

Miller improves to 14-3 while Gurgel falls to 16-4.

Dennis Silver takes on Melvin Guillard in a lightweight bout.
In the blink of an eye, it was almost over. Guillard quickly floored Silver with a right punch. Silver is able to withstand the first attack getting back to his feet. But moments later, Guillard is hit with another right and Silver is floored again. Referee Herb Dean has no choice but to stop the fight, 36 seconds into the first round.
Guillard is now 40-8-3 while Silver is 11-6.

This first match of the night is Justin Buchholz vs. Corey Hill in a lightweight bout.
Hill starts out a little more aggressive, using his four inch height advantage to put Buchholz on his back. Buchholz goes for a kick and his leg gets caught by Hill who pushes him down and strikes. Buchholz works his way up, but goes down again. Buchholz again goes down and gets up. Buchholz goes for kick and is caught again but this time wraps up and pulls Hill down with him. As the round goes on, Buchholz is beginning to score, but has a kick caught again and is dropped as the round ends.

Both fighters are a little slower to start the second round. Buchholz gets the action started two minutes in when he lands a kick to the head of Hill that stuns him for a second. Buchholz attacks but can't do much. Both fighters lock up and Buchholz pulls Hill down with him. Hill goes for a choke but can't get locked in. During that time, Buchholz uses his legs to push off the Octagon and is able to reverse the position to then get in position for a rear naked choke. At 3:57 of second round, Hill taps out.
Buchholz is now 9-2 while Hill falls to 2-1.

We dedicate tonight's coverage to former Press-Telegram writer James Melroy.