Live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 26, 2007, this card was loaded with full-on action. Even the bouts that went to the judges consisted of non-stop explosive action.

Amongst the stars in attendance for UFC 71 were die-hard MMA fans, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, plus Kevin James and Adam Sandler, David Spade, and Roger Huerta.

In earlier matches:

Thiago Silva defeated James Irvin by referee stoppage – 1.06, Round One.

Alan Belcher defeated Sean Salmon by guillotine – 0.53, Round One.

4.45: Carmelo was off target with a shoot.

4.25: He dived in for another takedown attempt that Wilson warded off.

4.19: Carmelo delivered an inner leg kick.

4.15: Wilson stamped the kick ‘return to sender’.

4.09: Carmelo failed with another shoot attempt.

4.01: Wilson landed a right glove.

3.54: He leg-kicked.

3.34: Wilson connected with a right fist.

3.27: Marrero smacked a kick into Gouveia’s lead leg.

3.13: Gouveia leg-kicked.

3.03: Marrero closed the gap and wore a right and a left glove.

2.57: Gouveia rattled Marrero with a powerful thigh kick.

2.51: He repeated the strike.

2.49: Carmelo dived in for a loose shoot.

2.39: Wilson broke free and they stood.

2.33: Wilson hammered Carmelo’s lead leg with another solid kick that caused Carmelo to attempt an unsuccessful shoot. Wilson punished Carmelo through a volley of fists.

2.23: He moved into Carmelo’s guard.

2.17: He fitted Carmelo with a guillotine that included the left arm. Carmelo tapped.

4.54: Chris missed with a leg kick.

4.45: They both sent out air punches and Chris narrowly missed with a high kick.

4.36: He cruised in and they clinched. Kalib, the grappler, wanted to take it down, but Chris was doing a good job resisting the horizontal battlefield.

4.17: Kalib drove a knee into Chris’s midsection and they separated.

4.11: Leben landed with left fists and a Thai kick.

4.06: Starnes answered with a strong body punch.

3.53: He sent a front kick into Leben’s body.

3.40: Leben caught Starnes with a left uppercut.

3.27: Starnes was using his reach to fend off Leben with jabs, until Leben banged out a leg kick.

3.21: Chris fell to the floor whilst attempting a high kick, and Kalib rushed in to tie his opponent up, but Chris broke free.

3.14: Chris dispatched a left hook, and Kalib countered with a kick that landed in the grape farm. Mario Yamasaki checked to see if Chris was okay, then recommenced the battle.

3.01: Chris kicked Kalib’s inner leg. Kalib returned the kick, and Chris opened up with two left fists.

2.42: Kalib closed in and Chris landed an overhand left.

2.35: Leben sent up a left high kick and chased Starnes around the Octagon with a flurry of lefts and rights.

2.27: They briefly clinched and Starnes brought a knee up to the body.

2.16: Starnes kicked with his right leg and Leben countered with a left fist.

1.54: Leben delivered a leg kick. He was the aggressor chasing down Starnes.

1.47: They clinched.

1.34: They parted after Starnes drove in a knee to the body.

1.28: Chris leg-kicked and Kalib countered with a right cross.

1.21: Kalib landed a jab, then Chris retaliated with left fists and knees. Kalib returned fire with body punches.

1.08: Chris launched a left kick over Kalib’s head, then tried a right spinning fist that Kalib avoided before clinching onto Chris and sweeping him to the floor. Kalib was where he wanted to be – on the ground and in Chris’s guard, g’n’p-ing. They climbed to their feet, with Kalib unloading leather as the hooter blew.

Starnes put his hand out to touch gloves as Leben came rushing in with a slinging left that Starnes sidestepped. But really, there’s no need for fighters to touch gloves at the start of every round.

4.54: Starnes jabbed as Leben circled.

4.46: Leben fired off a straight left.

4.38: Starnes scored with a front kick.

4.35: He ducked under a left from Leben and tried to tie up his body, however Leben brought up a left knee that caused Starnes to let go. Leben threw a fist combination and a right kick, and Starnes answered with a right cross.

4.15: Chris missed with a left knee and a right spinning back-fist.

4.09: Kalib came back with a front kick.

4.01: Chris kicked Kalib’s inner leg and threw a left.

3.54: Kalib landed with a nice right, and Chris threw a left hook that Kalib ducked under before the takedown, falling into Chris’s guard.

3.04: Kalib stood in the guard and dropped a right fist on the button.

2.54: He tried to repeat the assault, but it enabled Chris to get to his feet.

2.44: Leben came after Starnes and Starnes delivered a right fist and a left kick to the body, before pulling Leben into a clinch.

2.22: Leben broke free.

2.18: Starnes parked a right glove on Leben’s chin.

2.14: Leben dispatched a left kick to the body, followed by a left hook.

2.08: He unleashed another body kick and Starnes replied with a front kick.

2.02: Kalib attempted a leg kick and Chris retaliated with a left, right, left uppercut and right knee that forced Kalib to backpedal.

1.50: Chris leg-kicked.

1.46: Kalib moved in for a takedown that was unsuccessful.

1.28: Kalib landed a jab and Chris sent it back.

1.24: Chris looked fresher and roughed Kalib up with kicks and fists, finishing the round off strongly and catching Kalib with a knee to the head.

This time both men decided to touch gloves – for some reason.

4.52: Leben high-kicked and Starnes countered with a right cross. Leben came forward with a left front kick and left fist. Starnes clinched and unloaded a knee and a right hook. Leben then charged at Starnes with feet and fists flying, but Starnes retreated out of harm’s way.

4.33: Leben leg-kicked.

4.20: And again.

4.18: He dispatched an inner leg kick, however Starnes was backing away and frustrating Leben.

4.14: Starnes front-kicked.

3.58: Chris landed an overhand right, then a body kick and a left hook. He moved in and Kalib pulled him to the ground at 3.42, with Chris in his guard. Leben worked g’n’p, then he stood and dropped a fist, before falling into half guard.

2.24: Kalib swept Chris onto his back and moved into the guard. Chris stayed busy, working punches from his back.

1.41: Kalib brought down a big right elbow.

0.58: He stood, then moved into half guard. Chris continued to outwork Kalib with short shots up to the bell. This fight could have gone either way and was a great contest for the fans.

Prior to this bout, Joe Rogan said he was concerned Keith Jardine was taking Houston Alexander too lightly. Joe’s concern proved to be well founded.

They touched gloves and the war began. Keith hoisted his hands in the air like the Karate Kid, which really cheesed Houston off.

4.47: Keith missed with a jab and Houston tagged him with an overhand right. They briefly clinched and then parted.

4.41: Keith closed in with a jab, and Houston countered with a right knee. But Keith’s jab overpowered Houston’s attack and put him on the mat. (Houston later claimed it was a slip.) Keith swooped in and Houston clinched.

4.35: Alexander forced Jardine up against the cage and drove a right knee into the body.

4.33: Alexander caught Jardine with a right hook to the temple. Jardine dropped to his knees, climbed back to his feet – still in the clinch, and Alexander followed with five more vicious right hooks and a right uppercut. Keith dropped back down and Houston kept thumping. Keith desperately climbed up only to be belted back down.

4.18: He rose again and copped a knee to the body and more ripping right hooks and uppercuts.

4.15: Keith was on his knees when Houston drove a left knee into his dial.

4.14: Houston had Iramite in his gloves and blasted away with a right uppercut that caused Keith to nose-dive into the canvas. This fight made the Battle of Cunaxa look like a family feud.

4.56: Ivan went for a high kick that Terry backed away from.

4.45: Ivan kicked with his lead leg and Terry complained that it caught him in the castanets. Mario Yamasaki halted proceedings until Terry had them retuned. Ivan then poked out jabs, but Terry kept a comin’.

4.29: He ducked under Ivan’s left fist and threw a left of his own, and Ivan followed with a left body-kick.

4.26: Ivan missed with a shoot.

4.14: They had a scuffle, with neither fighter worse for wear as they broke free.

4.08: Salaverry attempted a high kick that missed the target and forced him to regain his balance before Martin rushed in.

4.05: Salaverry kicked Martin’s inner thigh.

3.57: And again.

3.52: He delivered a kick to the body and Martin threw an overhand right, causing Salaverry to clinch.

3.25: Terry tried to throw Ivan, but Ivan kept his balance and landed on his feet in the clinch.

3.20: Terry had Ivan’s back. He slammed a powerful left knee into Ivan’s right thigh.

He again attempted to slam Ivan to the floor, but again Ivan resisted and stayed on his feet.

3.00: T he third attempt was different and Terry successfully slammed Ivan headfirst into the mat. He started to g’n’p, however Ivan was already stunned by the takedown.

As Herb Dean gave these two spirited warriors their last instructions, Karo and Josh stood nose-to-nose and forehead-to-forehead, literally. Years ago the military banned hazing, but the ruling obviously didn’t apply to civilian fighters. Before the bout could start, Herb had to separate the pair and send them back to neutral corners. Mike Goldberg aptly commented: “I’d say they’re ready to do this.”

4.57: Josh kicked it off with a jab and Karo countered with a right.

They slung a lot of artillery to the breeze.

4.50: Karo went for a takedown that turned into a brief clinch before they separated.

4.40: Josh unleashed a leg kick, which Karo caught and used to take Josh down, but he quickly scrambled to his feet and they clinched.

4.16: Parisyan landed a right fist as they broke free.

4.06: Burkman lunged in with a body punch, followed by a high kick. Parisyan replied with a right fist.

3.54: Burkman delivered a leg kick that Parisyan missed catching, and Burkman failed with a takedown attempt. They continued their toe-to-toe skirmish.

3.26: Burkman was switching from orthodox to southpaw.

3.12: He moved in with a left hook, and Parisyan clouted him with a strong right, before throwing up a kick and another right fist when they clinched.

3.05: Karo landed a right hook as they parted.

2.44: Josh stood in orthodox position and Karo hammered a kick into the lead leg.

2.37: Josh kicked Karo’s inner leg. Parisyan swooped in with a knee and Burkman took him down.

2.33: Josh was in Karo’s guard. He stood to thump down, but Karo used the opening to stand and launch his own attack. They clinched and Parisyan opened up with big punches.

2.03: He hip-threw Josh, who fell into side position and looked for the mount.

1.20: They were back standing.

0.55: Karo leg-kicked. He was also altering his stance from orthodox to southpaw in an attempt to nullify Josh’s footing changes.

0.39: Burkman dodged a looping right hand from Parisyan and shot in for the takedown. Parisyan resisted the move and latched a kimura onto Burkman’s right arm. Josh hoisted Karo into the air to break the hold and the hooter blew.

Despite the aggro opening to round one, a mutual respect was now forged between the pair and they touched gloves as round two commenced. Karo then switched stance to comply with Josh’s.

4.45: Parisyan changed back to orthodox and pounded Burkman with a jab and a cross. Burkman answered with a right that narrowly missed.

4.34: Karo kicked to Josh’s outer and inside leg.

4.28: Josh went to switch his stance and Karo slammed a right glove to his abdomen.

4.21: Josh fired a ballistic fist over Karo’s head, then pulled it back around Karo’s neck. They clinched and Karo failed with a sweep before they separated.

3.59: Burkman buckled Parisyan’s left leg with a cracker of a kick. They traded some more until Burkman clouted Parisyan with a big right.

3.07: Karo came back with two convincing rights. He was displaying his newly improved boxing skills and countered well. But Josh had something to prove and kept coming. In the last minutes of this round, Burkman was dropping his guard and trying to suck up air.

Josh came out with a big right and brought up a knee. Karo made him pay for it with an overhand left. Josh moved in again with a looping left and right.

4.40: He started dropping his hands but still launched some heavy fists. They stood and banged before clinching.

2.44: Burkman took Parisyan down with a thump. He was fighting from Parisyan’s guard, and complained that Parisyan was holding onto his left glove, so Herb Dean took a closer look.

2.44: They rolled and then stood up.

2.30: They rolled back down and Karo was going for a kimura on Josh’s right arm.

2.17: Josh resisted the submission and they stood.

1.54: Karo failed with a takedown so they faced off again.

1.23: Parisyan landed a left.

1.08: He let a left kick fly over Burkman’s head and copped a right fist from Burkman for his trouble. Josh’s punches were slowing down but that didn’t stop him from coming forward. Prior to this match, Burkman said of himself: “Everybody’s like, ‘Where did this kid come from?’ People are wondering. And so Karo’s going to be a proving point – whether I’m just running my mouth or whether I’m a legit contender.” Josh proved in this fight that he did deserve to be there. These men put on a tremendous battle. Eddie Bravo scored it 29-28 to Karo.

They stood casually at center ring and exchanged air-jabs until 4.32, when Din scored a double-leg takedown.

4.29: Jeremy held Din in his guard and looked remarkably cool for a 21-year-old athlete taking on someone with Din’s experience and reputation. Din worked some g’n’p, but Jeremy was defending well from his back.

3.42: Din got half guard, then side control.

3.24: Jeremy wriggled Din back into his guard.

3.12: Din began dropping left elbows.

3.02: He moved back into side control and was elbowing.

2.16: Stephens rolled onto his knees and Thomas took his back and locked his hooks in, looking for the rear naked choke.

1.47: Stephens eluded the choke, so Thomas rolled onto his back and hugged Stephens’s back into his chest – still with the hooks in.

1.38: Thomas wrapped his legs around Stephens in an anaconda.

1.04: Din rolled Jeremy whilst maintaining the anaconda, then they rolled onto their sides. Jeremy continued to resist the rear naked choke and remained cool under pressure. 

0.52: Din turned onto his back and had Jeremy’s midsection tied in body scissors.

0.28: Jeremy rotated into Din’s guard, before standing and slinging down fists. They both stood to trade blows as the round ended.

They sparred at center ring. 

4.43: Jeremy missed with a spinning back-fist, then shot out a front kick. He was avoiding Din’s jabs and caught him with a left hook.

4.00: Jeremy landed an inner-leg kick, then a body kick.

3.55: Din scored an inner-leg kick.

3.29: And again.

3.22: As Jeremy closed in, Din picked him off with a jab.

3.15: Jeremy slapped a thigh kick on Din’s left leg.

3.04: Din kicked Jeremy’s inner leg and Stephens countered with a left fist.

3.02: Thomas went for the shoot and Stephens plopped into his guard. Din maneuvered on his back and latched on an arm bar. Jeremy stood and dropped Din, but Din maintained the hold on Jeremy’s left arm. Jeremy didn’t tap, however Big John stepped in to save the arm and shoulder.

The look in Quinton’s eyes would scare a mako under a rock.  Rampage is strolling out, only pausing briefly to howl at the ceiling – normal behavior in some areas. Dale Carnegie’s pamphlets definitely didn’t make it to this guy’s letterbox.  Chuck dances out like he’s on his way to Starbucks, and Dan Henderson looks on from front row with a vested interest in the outcome.

4.57: Chuck pumps a jab into the air and Quinton closes in.

4.51: Rampage inner-leg kicks.

4.57: The Iceman pokes another distracting jab into the air.  He’s dancing around coolly as Quinton tries to cut off the ring. Chuck continues to jab away – maintaining the fence.

4.15: Liddell sneaks in with a right and moves away.

4.01: Jackson is getting frustrated and holds his hands out, inviting Liddell to stand and trade. Chuck moves in with a left fist.

3.46: He jabs and Quinton covers up.

3.39: Chuck launches a right uppercut and a left hook that Quinton blocks with his right forearm, then tags Liddell with a left hook. They’re both on their toes.

3.21: Chuck throws in a jab and they dance around some more.

3.13: He attacks with a left fist to the body and Jackson lets fly with a big right hook that floors Chuck. He kicks his feet up to try to stop Quinton’s charge, but Quinton is on a mission and drops a right fist on Chuck. He continues to jackhammer with his right fist and Chuck’s right arm goes limp on the canvas. Big John steps in and Chuck’s eyes are glazed.