UFC 88: Breakthrough

© Marc Wickert
 www.knucklepit.com
September 6, 2008
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges

The UFC 88 card from Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, hosted no title matches, but plenty of action and a stack of big-name contenders.  Originally planned to be a 10-fight event, the Karo Parisyan vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshira match was scratched due to Karo’s sustaining a back injury.  All up, UFC 88 was another top-shelf package for fight fans.

In earlier matches:
Kurt Pellegrino def. Thiago Tavares by unanimous decision.
Ryo Chonan def. Roan Carneiro by split decision.

The Battles

Jason MacDonald (6’3” 185 lb) vs. Jason Lambert (5’10” 185 lb) 
– Middleweight 
Referee: Yves Lavigne

Round One
MacDonald jabbed before looking to take Lambert down; however Lambert went with the flow and fell to the floor with MacDonald’s neck in a guillotine.
3.28: From half guard MacDonald’s head popped out.  Lambert took him into full guard, but MacDonald had Lambert pinned against the cage.
2.46: MacDonald was g’n’p-ing.
1.57: MacDonald was dusting up Lambert with powerful elbows and fists.
0.15: Lambert fitted MacDonald with another guillotine.  Mac hung in there and threw right hands.

Round Two
They unloaded both barrels, then Mac got the takedown and fought from half guard.
4.14: MacDonald maneuvered into mount position.
4.04: Lambert rolled.
3.58: Mac tool Lambert’s back and rolled.
3.52: MacDonald slipped his right forearm under Lambert’s chin whilst wrapping his torso in an anaconda.
3.36: MacDonald completed the RNC.
3.41: Jason Lambert tapped.

Result: Jason MacDonald by RNC – 1.20, Round Two.

Dong Hyun Kim (6’1” 170 lb) vs. Matt Brown (6’0” 170 lb) 
– Welterweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki

Round One

They flew at each other like speedballs.  Matt appeared to have trouble dealing with Dong’s southpaw stance and focused on attacking his lead right leg with kicks.
4.45: Dong delivered a jab and the pair tied up before Dong swept Matt to the floor.
4.37: Matt climbed to his feet; however Dong tugged him back down.
4.31: Kim scaled Brown’s back when Brown stood up.
4.10: Kim took Brown to the canvas.  When Brown fought to get up, Hyun hung on his back and went for an RNC.
3.02: Matt dumped Dong on the mats, then knelt in Dong’s guard.
2.41: They returned to their feet in a clinch.
2.33: They went toe to toe, with the banging favoring Matt.
1.47: Kim had Brown against the fence and was hell-bent on taking him down.
1.01: Kim succeeded in his horizontal quest, but landed with Brown taking him from behind and attempting to choke the South Korean.
0.28: Dong reversed positions and claimed Matt’s back; however the round ended with neither man controlling the fight.

Round Two

Matt Brown came out kicking low and high after his corner convinced him Dong was tired.
4.26: Dong Hyun Kim let go with a leaping knee but landed on his back.
4.15: Mario Yamasaki ordered Dong up.  Matt caught Dong with a series of knees and a high kick.
3.59: Kim stopped Brown’s onslaught by seizing one of his kicks and tied him up against the cage.
3.41: Kim tugged Brown to the mats and Brown retaliated with g’n’ped.
3.24: They stood up.
2.57: Kim dropped to the canvas and took Brown with him.  Brown moved into guard, then stood and g’n’ped.
1.51: Matt walked away and let Mario order Dong to his feet.
0.36: Matt hammered Dong on the ground after dictating the stand-up.

Round Three

4.40: Brown dodged an uppercut from Kim.
4.38: Mario called time out after Brown discovered he’d forgotten his mouth guard.
4.35: They tapped hands and were back banging.
4.03: Brown missed with a superman punch.
3.55: Kim took Brown down and pulled side control.
3.33:  Matt wriggled free and they were standing, with Matt unloading knees and kicks before tying up.  Matt kept panel-beating Dong.
1.57: Dong got the takedown.
1.46: Dong was in open guard.
1.41: Matt had Dong in closed guard.  Dong g’n’ped and Matt returned fire with elbows from below.
0.45: Dong dropped consecutive elbows – one cutting Matt under the left eye.
The crowd wondered which fight two of the judges had been watching

Result: Dong Hyun Kim by split decision.

Nate Marquardt (6’0” 185 lb) vs. Martin Kampmann (5’9” 184.5 lb) 
– Middleweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki

They slung lightning jabs and bobbed and weaved.
4.40: Nate closed in, then ducked under a right from Martin.  The pair swapped kicks as Martin pursued Nate.
4.22: Marquardt delivered a right body shot and Kampmann returned a right elbow.
4.16: Marquardt put Kampmann down with a right high kick.  Kampmann jumped straight back up as Marquardt closed in to shut up shop.  They clinched.
4.03: Nate slammed Martin with an elbow and a knee to the midsection before grinding him into the floor.

Result: Nate Marquardt by TKO – 1.22, Round One.

Dan Henderson (6’1” 185 lb) vs. Rousimar Palhares (5’8” 184.5 lb) 
– Middleweight
Referee: Herb Dean

Round One

Dan closed the gap while adopting a crouching tiger, hidden-right-hand stance.
4.29: Rousimar went for the takedown and Dan punished him with a sharp right.  Rousimar crumbled back as Dan dropped leather bombs.
4.20: Henderson stepped back, forcing Palhares to stand.
4.04: Palhares feinted with a jab, then shot for Henderson’s legs.  But Dan sprawled well.
3.52: Rousimar attempted a high kick and a shoot – neither worked.
3.18: Rousimar kicked to the body and Dan knocked him down.
3.01: Rousimar shot in, so Dan responded with a right uppercut.
2.31: They traded jabs – Dan’s packed more grunt.
1.53:  Palhares tried to trade with Henderson and ended up on his back with Henderson pummeling from above.
1.41: Henderson called Palhares up.
1.35: They traded again, with Rousimar peppering his attack with kicks.  Dan slipped and Rousimar rushed him.
1.05: Palhares continued the jabbing.
0.49: He hurled an overhand right shaker at Henderson and followed with a shoot.
0.32: Palhares had side control before going into half guard.  He looked to catch Henderson in a knee bar, but time ran out.

Round Two

They were back swinging, with Dan avoiding takedowns until 4.12, when Rousimar snapped up Dan’s thighs and slammed him into the mats.  Rousimar fought from Dan’s guard and Dan fought back.
3.33: Henderson spun out and Palhares tried for a heel hook.
3.12: Henderson clouted Palhares in the mouth before standing.
2.53: Rousimar shot for Dan’s legs and Dan sprawled.
2.30: They stood as Henderson narrowly missed with an uppercut.
2.13: Palhares shot again and Henderson fell into Palhares’s guard.  Henderson was gagging Palhares’s mouth with a cupped mitt between dropping elbows on Palhares.
0.55: Herb Dean ordered them up.  They swapped blows up till the bell.

Round Three

Dan repelled a shoot; however Rousimar snuck in a knee and a kick.  Titanium-jawed Dan shrugged off the shots.
3.38: Palhares mixed up his kicks and Henderson returned jabs – all the time looking to land the big right.  Rousimar’s variety of kicks and his switching stances kept Dan guessing.
0.49: Henderson caught Palhares with a right and Palhares snapped at Henderson’s right leg, only to have Dan slip away and stand back up.  Dan finished off with a brief spat of g’n’p.

Result: Dan Henderson by unanimous decision.

Tim Boetsch (6’0” 205.25 lb) vs. Michael Patt (6’0” 205.25 lb) 
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Herb Dean

4.51: Michael leg-kicked and they tied up, then released.
4.39: The pair swapped jabs and Tim missed with a right hook.
4.35: Tim attacked with a left-and-right combo.
4.29: They clinched after another combo from Tim.
4.23: Boetsch kicked and Patt caught the leg before letting it go.
4.12: They traded and Patt landed a jab.  They clinched and exchanged knees to the legs.
3.13: Michael kicked Tim’s left leg and Tim countered with a right hand.
3.05: Michael flicked in an inside leg kick before Tim slammed him with a right fist that floored Michael.  Boetsch stood over Patt and rained down hammers.  Herb blew the whistle.

Result: Tim Boetsch by TKO – 2.03, Round One.

Rich Franklin (6’1” 204.5 lb) vs. Matt Hamill (6’1” 205 lb) 
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki

Round One

Southpaw Rich Franklin began with leg kicks.
3.55: Mark Hamill’s corner signaled to him and he also adopted a southpaw stance, then threw sharp rights as Rich continued to attack Mark’s legs – possibly to deaden his shooting power.  The toe-to-toe pursued.
0.51: Hamill shot out Franklin’s legs.
0.38: Hamill was standing and delivering on the downed Franklin when Rich attempted an arm bar.
0.32: Mark’s arm was free.
0.22: They stood as Rich brought up a knee.
0.10: Franklin landed another knee strike.  Both men returned to their corners sporting facial cuts.

Round Two

4.43: Rich threw a low kick that Mark caught before Rich yanked it back.
4.09: Rich was delivering a mixed grill when Mario halted proceedings to check a cut near Rich’s right eye.
3.54: Mark caught another kick and tugged Rich down before they regrouped on their feet.  Franklin’s strike package seemed too quick and varied for Hamill, who was looking to take the action to the floor.
3.11: Hamill blocked a kick with his castanets and Mario called time out.
2.48: Mark batted on bravely, but Rich was too clinical with his assortment of kicks and punches.  The leg and body kicks were wearing Mark down.

Round Three

Franklin was on the offensive, looking to pull up the fight.  He drove his left shin into Hamill’s midsection and put him down.  Mario called it off.

Result: Rich Franklin by TKO – 0.39, Round Three.

Rashad Evans (5’11 205 lb) vs. Chuck Liddell (6’2” 204 lb) 
– Light Heavyweight
Referee Herb Dean

Round One

They touch gloves and return to their corners.   Herb Dean yells “Let’s go”, and it’s on.  Rashad is giving up a three-inch height advantage; however he’s crouching even further.  He’s taken up post at center ring and Chuck is circling.
4.29: Now Chuck is closing in on Rashad.  The Iceman’s left mitt is hanging menacingly, probing.
3.45: Evans switches to southpaw, then back to orthodox, with his guard up high.
3.25: He throws a big right that Liddell overrides with his left arm.
3.15: Liddell is tracking his opponent and unloads a big right hand.
2.50: Evans dispatches a body kick as Liddell circles to Evans’s right.
2.30: Rashad is staying light on his feet and dodges the incoming Chuck.  They face off again and Rashad continues to emit spitfire jabs.
1.08: Evans clips Liddell with a looping right hand.
0.42: He leg-kicks.  Liddell throws a shot, but Evans keeps ducking out of the way.  He attacks Chuck’s inside leg with a left kick and Chuck tags Rashad with a crisp left hook.
0.25: Chuck cuts off Rashad and delivers a combo.  Rashad disengages.
The round ends and ‘Stitch’ tends to a cut under Chuck’s right eye.

Round Two

They throw jabs before Evans dances away from Liddell’s advances.
4.29: Liddell inside leg-kicks.  They trade and Evans holds his own.
4.00: Chuck picks off the dancing Rashad.
3.35: Rashad’s speed seems to be troubling Chuck as he catches the Iceman with a left hand.  Chuck is looking to land the big right hand as he cuts the ring off on Rashad.  Liddell drops his right hand to deliver an uppercut and Evans slingshots a looping right fist that KOs Liddell.

Result: Rashad Evans by KO – 1.51, Round Two.

 Coming Up

UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben

October 18, 2008, in Birmingham, England.

Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben (Middleweight)

Keith Jardine vs. Brandon Vera (Light Heavyweight)

Rameau Sokoudjo vs. Luiz Cane (Light Heavyweight)

Paul Taylor vs. Chris Lytle (Welterweight)

Shane Carwin vs. Neil Wain (Heavyweight)

Dan Hardy vs. Akihiro Gono (Welterweight)

Jess Liaudin vs. David Bielkheden (Welterweight)

Sam Stout vs. Terry Etim (Lightweight)

David Baron vs. Jim Miller (Lightweight)

Per Eklund vs. Samy Schiavo (Lightweight)

For more info: www.ufc.tv.

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