UFC 99: The Comeback

© Marc Wickert 
www.knucklepit.com
July 7, 2009
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges

UFC 99: The Comeback marked the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first event to be held in Germany.  And the capacity crowd at Lanxess Arena in Cologne was not disappointed with the high-caliber card on June 13, 2009.

In Earlier Matches

Terry Etim def. Justin Buchholz by d’arce choke – 2.38, Round Two.
Dennis Siver def. Dale Hartt by RNC – 3.23, Round One.
Paul Taylor def. Peter Sobotta by unanimous decision.
Paul Kelly def. Rolando Delgado by unanimous decision.
Stefan Struve def. Denis Stojnic by RNC – 2.37, Round Two.
John Hathaway def. Rick Story by unanimous decision.

 The Battles

Dan Hardy (6’ 0” 170 lb) vs. Marcus Davis (5’10” 171 lb) 
– Welterweight
Referee: Marc Goddard

Round One
What a great p-p-v opener!
Southpaw Marcus got the fight underway with an inside leg kick.
4.33: Dan returned the kick.
4.15: Marcus body-kicked before shooting in on Dan who sprawled against the cage, but Marcus eventually took him down from the clinch at 2.57.
2.50: Davis progressed from half guard to the mount.
2.26: Hardy worked Davis into full guard.
2.05: Davis took Hardy’s back and attacked with right hooks.
0.55: Marcus looked for a guillotine submission; however Dan fought free from the choke and stood in the clinch with Marcus’s back to the wires.
0.37: Dan slammed a right elbow into Marcus’s face before breaking the clinch.  Dan unloaded a flurry of fists, causing Marcus to clinch.

Round Two
4.51: Hardy leg-kicked.
4.43: Davis body-kicked.
4.34: Hardy side-kicked to the body.
4.23: Davis leg-kicked.
4.18: Davis closed in and caught a left hook from Hardy.  They continued their exchange until 3.19, when Hardy floored Davis with a powerful Thai knee to the jaw.  Hardy then g’n’ped from Davis’s guard.
2.22: Marcus went for an arm bar.
2.08: Dan shrugged off the submission and resumed g’n’p-ing from Marcus’s guard.
1.11: Marc Goddard stood the pair up after both men scored well with elbow strikes.
0.56: They clinched.
0.48: Dan drove a knee into Marcus’s midsection as they broke the clinch.
0.40: Dan countered an incoming kick with a left hook.
0.36: Marcus banged a left hand into Dan’s dial.
0.26: He took Dan down and commenced g’n’p-ing in the dying moments of the opening five.

Round Three
4.53: Davis downed Hardy with a left hand and g’n’ped from Hardy’s guard.
4.08: Davis took half guard.
3.18: Davis attempted an ankle lock, but Hardy wriggled free at 3.02, before the pair stood clinched.
2.16: Hardy chalked up a takedown and pounded from Davis’s guard.
1.41: Goddard pulled up play to check on Davis’s battered face, then restarted play with Hardy thumping from Davis’s guard.
0.53: Goddard stood them up.  Marcus looked like the Creature from the Red Lagoon as he rubbed blood from his eyes.  By the end of the fight Dan had diffused the “Irish Hand Grenade”.

Result: Dan Hardy by split decision.

Spencer Fisher (5’7” 154 lb) vs. Caol Uno (5’7” 155 lb) 
– Lightweight 
Referee: Mario Yamasaki

Round One
Both men adopted southpaw stances and shadow boxed until 4.07, when Caol shot for Spencer’s legs; however Spencer collapsed over Caol’s back and attacked his right shoulder with knee strikes.
3.35: They scrambled to their feet and clinched.
2.00: Mario Yamasaki restarted the action.
0.55: Caol interrupted the sparring with a shoot.
0.48: They stood and fought whilst in the clinch.

Round Two
4.49: Uno scooped up Fisher’s right leg and took him down.
4.28: Fisher climbed to his feet and the clinch game resumed.
4.15: They parted.
3.55: Uno shot for Fisher’s right leg, but this time Fisher was expecting him and sprawled over Uno’s back before standing and ordering him up.  They then exchanged leg kicks.
3.22: Caol’s shoot again backfired as Spencer took his back.
3.10: Caol rolled into Spencer’s guard.
3.24: Spencer pushed his way from underneath and the stand-up fight recommenced.
2.18: They tied up.
1.32: Fisher swept Uno and Uno fell into half guard.
1.14: They stood in the clinch.
0.36: Uno collapsed and pulled Fisher into guard.  They got back to their feet as the round ended.

Round Three
They pair immediately clinched and the crowd grew restless.
2.35: Mario Yamasaki restarted the bout.
0.50: Caol got the mount.
0.52: He switched to half guard to prevent being rolled whilst dispensing g’n’p.
0.48: Uno returned to the mount.
0.39: He reverted to half guard and kept banging down on Fisher.
0.22: Uno was back in mount.

Result: Spencer Fisher by unanimous decision.

Mike Swick (6’1” 169 lb) vs. Ben Saunders (6’3” 169 lb) 
– Welterweight
Referee: Leon Roberts

Round One
Ben latched straight onto Mike and tugged him to the floor before Mike moved into Ben’s guard and forced his head against the fence.  Ben then clung to Mike’s back from below and used the cage to further obstruct Mike’s strikes.  “Are you gonna f--kin’ hold me all night?” asked Mike.
2.50: Mike broke Ben’s hold and looked for a guillotine choke.
2.35: Saunders warded off the submission before Swick returned to attacking from Saunders’s loose guard.
1.39: Leon Roberts recommenced the battle.
1.23: Saunders body-kicked.
1.19: They traded toe-to-toe.
1.00: They clinched as Saunders landed solid knees.

Round Two
4.38: They were back in the clinch after Mike blocked Ben’s high kicks.
4.20: Mike swept Ben whilst in the tie-up and briefly got the mount before Ben forced him into butterfly guard.
2.45: Leon Roberts stood the pair and they sparred until 1.21, when Mike dumped his load on Ben.  Stinging right hands pulled up stumps for Saunders.
 

Result: Mike Swick by TKO – 3.47, Round Two.

Mirko Cro Cop (6’2” 233 lb) vs. Mostapha Al-Turk (6’2 236 lb) 
–Heavyweight
Referee: Dan Miragliotta

Mostapha showed he was not intimidated by Mirko as he came out aggressively jabbing and leg-kicking.
4.41: Mirko shrugged off Mostapha’s invitation to grapple on the mats.  Mostapha took a leaf from Gabriel Gonzaga’s book and circled away from southpaw Mirko’s more powerful left side.  He hurled wild-card punches and targeted Mirko’s lead right leg with kicks.
3.58: They tied up as Al-Turk attempted to take Cro Cop down; however Cro Cop just shrugged him off again.
3.07: Cro Cop ignored another of Al-Turk’s leg kicks and kept pursuing his game opponent.
2.32: Mirko launched his attack and knocked Mostapha to the ground with a big left hand at 2.21.
2.11: Mirko called Mostapha to stand and fight.
2.09: Mostapha covered up after a strike from Mirko.  The replay showed “Big Al” was poked in the eyes by Mirko’s open right hand. 

Result: Mirko Cro Cop by TKO – 3.06, Round One.

Cain Velasquez (6’1” 239 lb) vs. Cheick Kongo (6’4” 230 lb) 
– Heavyweight
Referee: Dan Miragliotta

Round One
Cheick pumped out jabs before dropping Cain with two well-placed rights at 4.47.  Cain sprang back and got a double-leg takedown, they scrambled, and Cain took Cheick’s back.
3.57: Velasquez took side control and briefly had the mount before latching onto Kongo’s back.
3.10: Kongo climbed to his feet with Velasquez still clinging to his back.
3.05: Cain took Cheick down and fell into side control.
2.34: Cain returned to the saddle before pounding away.
1.27: Cheick stood and Cain dumped him into the canvas, then got side control.
1.12: Velasquez mounted Kongo and stuck to him like glue as Kongo twisted and turned.

Round Two 
Cain came out aggressively to pick up where he left off at the end of round one.
4.49: He walked into a knee to the body from Cheick and then was dropped again at 4.48 by another Cheick punch.  But Cain bounced straight back up and they fought from the clinch.
4.03: Velasquez tugged Kongo back down.  
Kongo’s grappling has been rapidly improving, but the ground was Velasquez’s playground.
3.26: Cain took Cheick’s back.
2.19: Cheick briefly stood only to be taken back down.  Cain couldn’t submit Cheick, but he dominated the entire round.

Round Three
4.34: Kongo took Velasquez down before Velasquez stood and locked onto Kongo’s back.  Kongo turtle up, but Velasquez g’n’ped like an A-10.
2.17: Cheick clawed his way up and turned on Cain with fists and knees.
1.49: Cain returned them to the ground-fighting where he mounted Cheick and pounded from there for the last minute of the bout.

Result:  Cain Velasquez by unanimous decision.

Rich Franklin (6’1” 194 lb) vs. Wanderlei Silva (5’11” 194 lb) 
– Catchweight
Referee: Mario Yamasaki

Round One
They do the stare, but it’s more a formality as these legends of MMA have long been immune to any intimidation through scary looks.
They touch gloves.
3.55: Southpaw Rich lands a left cross.
3.37: Wanderlei leg-kicks.
3.26: They exchange and show they’re both prepared to unload bombs.
2.52: Rich left-kicks to the body and Wanderlei counters with a right hook.
2.31: Wanderlei whips out a high kick.
2.22: He kicks to the body.
2.12: Franklin moves in and body-kicks; Silva snaps up the kick and sweeps Franklin to the floor, then moves into Franklin’s guard.
0.52: They stand clinched before briefly returning to the mats, then stand and shoot it out.  
During the break, Franklin tells his corner he thinks he broke Silva’s nose.

Round Two
4.40: Wanderlei body-kicks.
4.22: He block’s Rich’s kick.
3.58: Rich throws a right and Wanderlei counters with a low kick.
3.51: They trade blows.
3.36: Rich inside leg-kicks.
3.14: And again.
3.10: Rich catches Wanderlei with a volley of fists and a kick.
2.54: He drops Wanderlei with a right, but Wanderlei springs back up.
2.38: Franklin blocks a high kick, then dances around using his reach to pick the Brazilian off.
1.13: Franklin blocks another high kick.
1.09: Silva detonates a jab and a crushing right blow before coming after Franklin.  They exchange and Silva follows up with more haymakers that wobble Franklin.
0.17: Rich slips whilst delivering a high kick that connects and both men fall to the floor.  They stand and bang it out up to the hooter.

Round Three
The pair touch gloves and bang out a toe-to-toe broadside.
3.18: Wanderlei wears a kick to the maracas.  Mario Yamasaki asks him if he’s okay and Wanderlei nods as play resumes.  They swap baseball bats disguised as punches and kicks, and Wanderlei waves for more response from the German crowd who are already standing and roaring.  Somehow they turn the volume up a notch.
0.53: In between the flying leather Wanderlei calls for the crowd to rev it up further.  They go ballistic for these two Octagon warriors.
0.37: Rich takes Wanderlei down and Wanderlei looks disappointed that they couldn’t just stand and bang it out.
0.17: They’re standing and Franklin is clinging to Silva’s back as Silva pumps Franklin with a salvo of elbow strikes.
This wasn’t a title match; however it was a classic showdown that the German crowd was treated to.

Result: Rich Franklin by unanimous decision.

 Coming Up

UFC 100

July 11, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas.

  Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir (UFC Heavyweight Title)

Georges St-Pierre vs. Thiago Elves (UFC Welterweight Title)

Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago (Welterweight)

Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping (Middleweight)

Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher (Middleweight)

Mark Coleman vs. Stephan Bonnar (Light Heavyweight)

Mac Danzig vs. Jim Miller (Lightweight)

Jon Jones vs. Jake O’Brien (Light Heavyweight)

Dong Hyun Kim vs. TJ Grant (Welterweight)

CB Dollaway vs. Tom Lawlor (Middleweight)

Matt Grice vs. Shannon Gugerty (Lightweight)

HOLLY MADISON TO BE“GUEST”OCTAGON GIRL FOR UFC^® 100 THIS SATURDAY NIGHT

“GIRLS NEXT DOOR AND DANCING WITH THE STARS BEAUTY MAKES STAR TURN

—LITERALLY—

AROUND THE OCTAGON AT BIGGEST UFC EVENT IN HISTORY!

Las Vegas, NV (USA) -- Already in Las Vegas for her newly-premiered and well-received production at Planet Hollywood called “Peep Show”, Holly Madison expressed interest at a recent Ultimate Fighting Championship event that she wanted to take a spin around the Octagon ® for UFC® 100 this Saturday night. The fight card, taking place at Mandalay Bay, is expected by every measure to be the biggest event in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s ® history with a unified heavyweight title on the line between Brock Lesnar versus Frank Mir and a welterweight championship fight between Georges “Rush” St-Pierre and #1 contender Thiago “Pitbull” Alves.

Holly Madison joins the lovely posse of Octagon Girls ™ known to their UFC fans as Arianny Celeste, Edith Labelle and Logan Stanton. “It’s been a dream of mine since becoming a fan of the UFC and watching the incredible athleticism of the fighters, to do the honors of being an Octagon Girl for a night,” said Madison.

“UFC 100 marks the biggest event in the history of our company, so it's the perfect time to bring in the Ultimate Octagon Girl, Holly Madison. Not only is Holly one of the world's most beautiful women, but she is a huge fan and supporter of the UFC, and we're looking forward to having her with us on July 11^th,” said Dana White, the president of the UFC.

UFC 100 takes place this Saturday, July 11 live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The sold out event is available live on Pay-Per-View starting at 10pm ET/7pm PT. Fans may also see Holly LIVE on www.UFC.com/BK