UFC 63 Review

Well, let me first start off by saying that this is one of the best Pay-Per-Views I have seen from the UFC in a LONG time. It's events like this that make me remember why I'm an MMA fan. That being said, there were a few upsets and I must admit I do have a fair bit of egg on my face, specifically with regards to the Jens Pulver/Joe Lauzon fight and the Rashad Evans/Jason Lambert fight and my apologies go out to Joe and Rashad. Now, let's begin the review.

Jens Pulver VS Joe Lauzon
Well, Lauzon came into this fight the underdog. Many people thought Pulver was going to dominate the rookie (myself included). Well, we were wrong. Lauzon is now officially a threat at 155, knocking out Pulver in 48 seconds of the first round. Not much to tell here. I think Lauzon might be the first challenger to the winner of the Florian/Sherk lightweight title match. Good job Joe, welcome back Jens.

Rashad Evans VS Jason Lambert
This was my other bad call of the night. Round starts and Evans goes for the takedown early. Lambert stuffs it well for a while, but eventually succumbs. Regaining his composure, Lambert stands back up only to be slammed back down by Evans. Down but not out, Lambert works the arm, looking for the Kimura, even with Evans in side-mount. Match goes back up to the feet and Evans scores another takedown. End of Round 1.

Round 2: Evans takes Lambert down quickly and is in Lambert's guard. Lambert makes a weak submission attempt, Evans secures the mount and pounds him to a 2:22 KO

...really weird.

Melvin Guillard VS Gabe Ruediger
One of the most promising competitors from TUF2, Guillard was the heavy favourite to win the fight. Round one starts with Guillard stuffing takedowns from Ruediger and finally takes him down. Back up on the feet, blows are exchanged and a short elbow from Guillard gives Ruediger some swelling under his eye. Guillard tries to stuff another takedown, but to no avail. Ruediger secures mount, Guillard gives up his back and Ruediger applies a rear naked choke, but not deep enough and not with enough time. Round ends!

Round 2: Guillard starts the stand up game off, ranging Ruediger with half-power punches. Two hard body shots connect, one shortly after the other and Ruediger goes down with the "just-bit-a-lemon" look on his face. Guillard follows up with a boot to the shoulder and the fight is stopped. KO victory Guillard.

Mike Swick VS David Loiseau
I wanted to see this fight almost as much as I wanted to see Hughes/Penn II. Two tough-as-nails strikers with vastly different styles. Swick has powerful hands, Loiseau had nasty elbows. At any rate, round one begins. Swick opens with a body kick, no real damage done. Both fighters continue to circle each other, seeming wary of the others’ striking ability and knowing that a knockout could come at any moment. Loiseau clinches into the cage, Swick responds with some lazy knees and Mazzagatti breaks them up. Swick fires off a volley, ending it with a high kick as Loiseau backs up. Swick opens up with a back kick and a body kick. Loiseau seems hesitant, but that soon fades as he swings at Swick. Lots of water-testing, trying out combos, lazy leg kicks. Swick again tees off, lots of punches, couple leg kicks. Loiseau responds with a hard left hook, Swick counters with a takedown into half-guard, passing into side control. Loiseau gives up his back, and then stands them up. Round 1 ends.

Round 2: Loiseau throws a rights, Swick gets into the pocket, lets a couple shots go and then taunts Loiseau as he backs up. A few jabs thrown, gauging distance. Swick sends out that back kick again, Loiseau backs right up, no real damage done. Loiseau throws out a couple of kicks, chipping away at Swick’s lead leg. Swick starts up with the leg kicks, but they don’t have nearly as much snap to them as Loiseau. Clinch, Swick throws some knees. Swick takes Loiseau down and into Loiseau’s half guard. Swick works some short body shots, lays a couple of shoulders in as commentator Randy Couture thinks Swick should be working more. Swick attempts some elbows, Loiseau stuffs them, end round 2.

Round 3: Loiseau comes out fast with a high kick that misses. Swick throws out with a volley, following up with a takedown when Loiseau responds. Loiseau scrambles around, eventually forcing them both up and into a clinch. Both back off and then clinch again. Loiseau seems to have found his groove and starts teeing off on Swick with elbows to the head, kicks and body punches, then takes him to the mat with the double underhooks. In a move that would seem more Team Quest from Loiseau, he stuffs Swick into the cages and opens up with elbows to the head. Standing clinch, ref splits them up. Several more short exchanges, followed by a Swick takedown. Round 3 ends.

DECISION: Swick (Unanimous)

MAIN EVENT

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Matt Hughes VS BJ Penn

…OH BOY! OH BOY! I’ve been waiting for this fight for a LONG time and now it’s finally happening. I couldn’t call this fight, it’s way too close. As much as I want Penn to take his title back, I also want Hughes to win so Georges St. Pierre can take it and avenge his only MMA loss. Here we go.

Round 1: They both circle, send out a couple testing punches, Hughes throws out a high kick that misses BJ’s head. Hughes shoots in and gets a hold of one of Penn’s legs. Hughes pulls a hopping Penn over to the fence, but Penn will not be taken down just yet. Hughes clinches, pinning the standing Penn into the cage with his shoulder. Penn feeds a couple of nice right hands to Hughes’ face, Hughes responding in kind and backing up. Hughes eats another right, then tries to take Penn down once again. Penn ends up sitting down on one leg in what looks like a pretty awkward and uncomfortable position, but Penn is quite flexible. Penn tries to get a more dominant ground position on Hughes. Penn attains north-south on Hughes, they both stand up. A little bit of boxing, Hughes gets a thumb in the eye by accident and the action stopped. Fight resumes with some clinch work, quick knees by both competitors. Hughes attempts another takedown, but it gets stuffed by BJ. With a little bit of boxing, round 1 ends.

Round 2: Hughes opens with a body kick, tries for a takedown but Penn sprawls. Hughes finally manages to take him down and sticks him into the cage. Hughes attempts a guard pass, not quite working for him. Penn works for an oma plata but Hughes powers out. Hughes starts to work a little more, connecting with a couple of elbows. Penn explodes with a sweep, taking Matt Hughes’ back and sinking in the hooks, working his legs into a figure-4 body lock around Hughes’ torso. Hughes rolls trying to loosen Penn, but Penn’s jiujitsu is too good. Penn locks a DEEP triangle choke with an armbar to boot. But the round ends right as Hughes is about to go to sleep. Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a fight. For the first time in almost 2 years, Matt Hughes is in serious danger.

Round 3: Hughes starts to let his hands go a bit, scoring a couple of nice combinations and a right hand down the pipe. Penn responds with a combo of his own and the pace of the third round seems to be quite high in the opening minute. Hughes scores a great left hook, Penn seems un-phased but at the same time is starting to show signs of fatigue. Hughes is really starting to get the better of the striking, teeing off with a couple of uppercuts and putting BJ on the mat. Hughes starts to pass BJ’s guard and gets into the half guard. Penn is looking exhausted. Hughes transitions into side control, locks Penn’s arm and gets crucifix position then starts to wail on Penn’s head. Big John McCarthy stops the fight at 3:53 of the 3^rd round.

…wow. All around great PPV. See you next time for the UFC 64 review.