Coming from the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California, this UFC was titled Stacked because the match-ups were intended to be as close as possible. And the plan worked, with a number of bouts going the distance and having to be decided by the judges.

There were two title bouts on the card: Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca, in Sherk’s first lightweight title defense, and Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt for the middleweight belt.

PRIDE’S former heavyweight champion, Minotauro Nogueira, was making his UFC debut, and was out to impress officials for a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Title.

And there was the light-heavyweight match between Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans. This wasn’t a title bout, but whenever Tito enters the Octagon, the crowds always want to roar the roof off any arena he happens to be fighting in.

Both men threw leather into the air before clinching at 4.50.

4.33: Alvin took Kenny down with a judo arm-throw and they sprang straight back to their feet.

4.22: Another clinch followed and Kenny took Alvin to the canvas with a hip throw. Randy Couture commented, “We got a little judo match going on out here.”

3.55: They were huddled on the floor when Kenny popped into Alvin’s guard.

3.35: Yves Lavigne broke them up. Kenny wasn’t happy, but he wasn’t Snow White either, and the action recommenced.

3.25: He cracked Alvin’s leg with a kick.

3.17: They were trading blows at close quarters when Alvin tagged Kenny with a right glove and they clinched.

2.59: Kenny swept Alvin’s leg and dropped into his guard before peppering him with elbows.

2.21: Kenny had side control.

2.11: He briefly got the mount before Alvin tossed him off.

1.57: Florian dropped back into guard.

1.35: He progressed to side control.

1.17: Robinson scrambled to his feet, delivering knees and right fists into Florian.

1.06: They were clinched against the fence.

0.57: Florian got the takedown before moving from side control to the mount. He rained down elbows and punches. Robinson tapped as Yves Lavigne stepped in.

Heath kicked things off by attacking Minotauro’s lead leg.

4.50: Minotauro took Heath down and had side control. He kept Heath pinned and attacked with right fists.

3.56: Heath rolled onto his side, turned onto his knees, then climbed free.

3.34: He dispatched a left high kick, followed by a leg kick.

3.21: They exchanged gloves and Heath came up with another kick. Both men were scoring in the toe-to-toe conflict.

2.09: Minotauro caught Heath with a jab and followed up with a left knee to the body. They clinched and Heath unloaded a left hook as they parted.

1.49: Nogueira fired off another left fist.

1.42: Herring tagged him with a kick.

1.22: Nogueira Thai-clinched and delivered a knee.

1.18: Herring sent up a kick and Nogueira punished him with leather. They clinched and Herring landed an uppercut.

1.04: Herring’s left eye was bloody from the engagement.

0.49: Minotauro took Heath’s back, then gave it up – choosing to continue his success with the stand-up combat.

0.36: He jabbed and Heath countered with a spot-on left kick that sent Minotauro thunder-crashing to the floor. Heath raced in and started pounding his stunned opponent with right and left fists.

0.25: Yves Lavigne was watching Minotauro closely to see if he could defend himself, when Heath stunned the crowd even more by stepping back and calling Minotauro to stand and fight. With 17 seconds remaining in round one, Heath moved in again. Minotauro fell to the floor and tried to seize Heath’s leg. Herring had the opportunity to capitalize, yet again, but for some reason invited Nogueira to stand once more. Like a stunned mullet, Nogueira was let off the hook by Herring. This was weird, but perhaps Heath wasn’t satisfied with the prospect of a victory by TKO and wanted to show he could totally dominant his opponent, rather than winning by a one-kick victory.

The battle recommenced and Heath bewildered this sold-out crowd by letting the still-dazed Minotauro walk it off – a gesture that made the Good Samaritan look masochistic.

4.15: Herring was now backing away from Nogueira for no apparent reason.

3.46: Nogueira was reincarnated and back to thumping out jabs, whilst Herring was serving up leg kicks.

3.01: Nogueira caught a kick and took Herring down.

2.47: He moved from side control to mounting Herring.

2.34: Heath surrendered his back.

2.15: He rolled into Minotauro’s guard.

1.55: He stood and called Minotauro up.

1.09: Heath landed a solid kick on Minotauro’s lead leg. He followed with more kicks, but Minotauro was punishing Heath’s bloody face with jabs. In the dying seconds of round two, Minotauro took Heath to the canvas and hammered his face some more.

They stood and banged until 4.00, when Nogueira scored a takedown, took side control, and g’n’ped his opponent.

3.39: Herring offered his back.

3.27: He tried to roll into Nogueira’s guard, however Nogueira kept hold of Herring’s back and went for a rear naked choke.

3.01: Heath then successfully moved into guard and pounded, but Minotauro wrangled for position and seized Heath’s left arm for a kimura.

2.30: Heath flipped over Minotauro and climbed free.

2.18: Minotauro had Heath’s back again.

1.58: Heath was liberated and they thumped each other till the sun set. Tom Waits would have called this fight The One That Got Away.

4.52: Hermes opens this title bout with a knee that Sean catches. He picks Hermes up for a double-leg takedown and slams him to the mat. However Hermes has Sean in a guillotine that includes the right arm, and he has Sean’s torso wrapped in his guard. Sean’s face is blood red, but he possesses a neck that would make a hangman walk off the job.

4.31: He has his left leg free and is in half guard.

4.29: He has his head out of the choke and is pounding Hermes.

3.45: Sean mounts Hermes.

2.57: Sherk moves to side control while Franca is using his feet to turn and push his head away from the cage. They scramble on the ground with Sherk dominating the play.

1.47: He is in half guard.

1.16: He maneuvers to mount Franca.

0.31: Franca tries to roll and surrenders his back. Sherk goes for the rear naked choke, but can’t get access to Franca’s neck. They scramble some more and Franca misses with a grab for Sherk’s ankle. The round ends with Sherk unloading more fists.

Hermes comes out with a leg kick.

4.52: He turbo-drives a knee straight into Sean’s face, sending Sean headfirst into the mats, and Hermes pounds from behind. Sean is stunned, but bats on and pulls Hermes down, dropping into his guard.

4.43: Hermes bungs another guillotine on Sean.

4.32: Sean’s head is free.

3.52: He moves into half guard.

3.33: He attempts to mount Hermes, but Hermes rolls and falls into Sean’s guard. He stands to drop punches down on Sean, but Sean kicks him away and drops a fist on Hermes, then takes his back in the six o’clock position.

2.26: Sherk repositions himself over Franca’s back, from behind, and pounds away whilst tying up Franca’s right arm.

2.04: Franca rolls and takes up half guard.

1.35: Sherk has side control.

0.38: Franca topples Sherk and goes for the guillotine with Sherk’s right arm in the package. Sherk powers his way out as the hooter sounds.

4.47: Sherk moves in. Franca tries for another guillotine, and Sherk wards off the attempt with a double-leg takedown.

4.27: He progresses from half guard to side control and begins g’n’p-ing with right fists.

3.39: Franca wants to work his way out. Sherk moves to the six o’clock position, and tries to choke Franca, a la Jeff Monson vs. Branden Lee Hinkle in UFC 57. But Hermes wards off the attempt and has Sean in his guard.

3.10: Sean takes side control and is thumping away.

2.25: He has Hermes’ back and unloads fists and knees. He’s dominating Hermes and keeps powering away like Popeye on organically grown spinach.

1.08: Hermes stands and Sean just tugs him back down. He pounds from half guard, then side control.

0.32: Sherk applies an Americana, then gives it up and pounds away.

Sherk is working jabs.

4.49: Franca plants another right knee on Sherk, and the ‘Muscle Shark’ wears it well, taking Franca down and moving into his guard. He thumps out another storm before Franca climbs to his feet.

3.56: Sherk slams him back to the floor.

3.46: Sherk has side control and progresses to Franca’s back.

3.31: They are standing apart.

3.28: Franca slings a big right.

3.20: Sherk cops the strike as payment for the opportunity to hoist Franca on his shoulder and pile-drive him into the canvas.

3.11: Sean has side control. He’s suffocating Hermes’ game like a drenched tarp.

1.49: Hermes works his way back up and unloads a knee, but it doesn’t connect with the force of his previous efforts.

1.40: Hermes misses with a huge right hook, and they exchange jabs. Hermes opts for another knee, however it doesn’t carry the earlier sting and Sean takes him down, assuming side control.

0.41: Hermes considers an escape as Sean seizes his back.

0.29: They briefly stand and Sean takes him down.

It’s do-or-die for Hermes. He’s obviously come to the party with a game plan, but except for landing some solid knees, his plans look like they’ve been through Oliver North’s shredder.

4.50: They share jabs and Sean smacks out a leg kick.

4.46: Hermes tries another knee, which Sean is expecting. He grabs Hermes and slams him down, then unloads elbows. Hermes’ mouth is bloody and his goal now seems to be survival rather than victory. He has put on a gallant display, but tonight Sherk is wearing his Mr. Invincible suit.

4.54: Tito high kicks. It’s nothing serious – just a tactic to set up the takedown, which comes at 4.52.

4.50: The double-leg takedown has Rashad sitting against the fence.

3.50: Rashad manages to stand. They’re in a clinch against the cage with Tito looking to take it back down.

3.21: Rashad delivers a knee as he breaks free, then unloads a volley of fists and a knee to the body.

3.15: They’re re-clinching – Tito wants the takedown.

2.52: Tito catches Rashad with a right uppercut.

2.42: Big John separates them. Rashad waves his fists in the air and dances around as Tito looks to close the gap. He tries a swinging left that Rashad takes on the gloves. Rashad is weary of Tito’s quest to go horizontal, but this distant dancing won’t win the round for Rashad.

1.48: Ortiz leg kicks.

1.43: Ortiz jabs. Evans backs away and Ortiz lands a leg kick.

1.38: Evans attacks with fists and Ortiz covers.

1.34: Ortiz goes for a takedown that Evans resists. Ortiz punishes him with a strong knee to the body. He tries for the takedown again and Evans takes his back, then peppers Ortiz with right fists and launches his own takedown campaign. Ortiz sprawls, and there’s a trickle of blood beside his right eye. The replay shows the cut is due to a loose thumb catching Ortiz during their last confrontation.

0.52: Tito is looking for the takedown and is delivering rights from the clinch.

0.41: He narrowly misses with a knee to Rashad’s face, then unloads a fist combo. Rashad knees Tito and the hooter sounds. Tito has been the aggressor thus far, stifling Rashad’s offensive game for most of the opening round.

Tito digs in at center ring and Rashad dances around the perimeter.

4.41: Tito sends up a high kick.

4.30: He moves in with a left and right, and Rashad replies with a jab.

4.26: Tito attempts another high kick.

4.11: Rashad attempts a high kick.

4.07: Tito leg kicks.

3.55: Tito throws a right and Rashad goes for a takedown. Tito sprawls and dispatches a knee.

3.41: Rashad throws two rights and retreats.

3.32: Tito throws an overhand right and Rashad retreats.

3.20: Tito delivers an inner-leg kick.

3.09: They trade and clinch.

2.48: Ortiz seizes Evans in a Thai clinch, before switching to an elbow strike. Evans sends one back, accompanied by a right fist. He then attempts a takedown. Ortiz overrides the attempt and latches the Thai clinch back on – this time scoring with a knee strike.

2.24: Evans goes for the takedown, and Big John warns Ortiz to let go of the fence.

1.51: Ortiz catches Evans with a knee and a volley of leather.

1.43: Evans throws fists and opts for a takedown. Ortiz makes him pay for the attempt by catching him with a knee, and they exchange left fists.

1.30: Now it’s Tito’s turn to shoot for the takedown. Rashad sprawls with his back to the cage.

1.05: Tito picks Rashad up and drops him. Rashad sits against the fence and strikes Tito’s body.

0.40: A tug of war ensues with Tito wanting to pull Rashad onto his back, and Rashad wanting to sit up against the cage.

0.35: Rashad scrambles to his feet. He goes for the takedown and Big John warns Tito to let go of the fence. Tito persists with the grab and Big John deducts a point.

0.17: Tito latches on a deep guillotine, but the hooter sounds.

4.36: Rashad throws a right and they clinch.

4.31: Rashad catches Tito with a left and right.

4.16: Tito misses with a leg kick.

4.05: The chant goes up for Tito, but he seems to be running on a few less cylinders.

4.03: Rashad moves in with a left and right, and Tito misses with a high kick.

3.58: He shoots on Rashad, who sits up against the cage. The tug-of-war game recommences.

3.03: Tito gets a loose kneeling mount and Rashad stands.

2.43: Tito seizes Rashad’s right leg and Rashad strikes with left fists to Tito’s head, whilst resisting the takedown.

2.05: Tito gives up the takedown attempt and wears a knee to the body.

1.57: Big John breaks the clinch. Rashad is picking off Tito who is slow with a high kick.

1.37: Rashad moves in with fists flying.

1.19: Tito lands with a body kick.

0.51: Tito goes for a shoot and latches onto Rashad’s right leg. They are clinched against the cage.

0.12: Rashad unloads fists, then scores a takedown. He has side control and drops right fists and elbows as the fight ends.

Tito immediately begins releasing blood in the water to work the crowd into a feeding frenzy for a rematch. The crowd goes troppo. Nobody can work a crowd like Tito Ortiz.

Southpaw Anderson comes out resembling a middleweight version of Yves Edwards – with the long, lean limbs and the dynamic strikes.

4.41: Nate kicks Anderson’s lead leg, and the pair plays tit for tat with jabs.

4.21: Nate kicks Anderson’s lead leg.

4.09: He moves in to clinch and Anderson backs him up with a right hand.

4.03: Anderson tries a jumping left kick that Nate catches and attempts to pull Anderson to the floor.

3.54: He has Anderson on the mats. Anderson wraps up Nate’s head, but Nate escapes the hold.

3.34: Marquardt is in half guard as Silva strikes him in the ribs, and Marquardt returns the fire with fists and elbows.

3.14: Marquardt briefly looks for a left arm-triangle from half-guard position.

2.47: Silva maneuvers Marquardt into full guard.

2.25: Nate stands in an attempt to rain down blows from the guard and Anderson retaliates with up-kicks to the chest.

1.30: Big John isn’t satisfied with the workload and stands the pair up.

1.01: Anderson sends a high kick to Nate’s gloves.

0.53: Anderson plants a jab smack on Nate’s chin. Nate drops to his knees and attempts a takedown. He latches onto Anderson’s left leg as Anderson sprawls over his back. They start to stand with Nate still clutching onto Anderson’s leg. Anderson counters by grabbing Nate’s left leg and wins the takedown duel. He follows up with right fists and Big John halts Nate’s challenge.