UFC 73 Final Card

[LWPD]

UFC 73 Final Card

Live Saturday July 7th 10 PM EST

UFC 73 Official Microsite

Main Event
Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans

Middleweight Title
Anderson Silva vs. Nathan Marquardt

Lightweight Title
Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca

Heath Herring vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Kenny Florian vs. Alvin Robinson
Stephan Bonnar vs. Mike Nickels
Jorge Gurgel vs. Diego Saraiva
Chris Lytle vs. Jason Gilliam
Frankie Edgar vs. Mark Bocek

LWPD (this card is loaded...on paper it's one of the best I've ever seen for a UFC...we'll obviously get the first four)

[dukedave]

I don't know the odds on all the matchups but I'm predicting a triple upset with Herpes, Marquardt, and Tito all winning. I don't know if Rashad is the favorite or not.

[Werner Mueck]

You can't beat Herpes

[JMello]

What's the chances of us watching this at Galacticon?

[dukedave]

wernermueck said:

You can't beat Herpes

My thoughts exactly.

[hofclemens]

i would imagine Ortiz is the favorite (and a quick check of one line has Ortiz -130 and Evans Even).. evans has been on a roll but Tito clearly has been in with better talent.

Best UFC card on paper in a long time IMO, maybe since UFC 54 Boiling Point (Liddell vs. Horn, Couture vs. MVA and GSP vs. Trigg)

[Darth Turkish]

very excited about this card. Shame on the UFC for not promoting Marqaurdt at all

I say Rashad by DEC

[LWPD]

Preview

Courtesy of gamblerspalace.com

UFC 73 "STACKED"
Betting Date: July 7, 2007
Location: Sacramento, Calif.
Venue: ARCO Arena
Broadcast: Pay-Per-View

UFC 73 is one of the best UFC fight cards this year. It’s going to deliver the one-two punch fight fans want to bet on. It has Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans, two all-state college wrestlers, both who dislike each other, settling their differences in the Octagon, as well as title defenses by two champions Anderson Silva and Sean Sherk. UFC 73, loaded with UFC superstars, takes place LIVE from ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. Saturday, July 7, 2007.

There will be many great fights and two title defenses. Miiddleweight champion Anderson Silva and lightweight champion Sean Sherk, who both won their titles at UFC 64, will defend their titles against former King of Pancrase Nathan Marquardt and former WEC champion Hermes Franca, respectively. Also the man people love to hate Tito Ortiz will be fighting The Ultimate Fighter 2 heavyweight winner Rashad Evans in a light heavyweight match. Here is the announced fight card.

Silva is a Brazillian who has competed in Cage Rage, PRIDE, Shooto, and Rumble on the Rock. He has beaten some of the biggest names in the business including Rich Franklin and Jeremy Horn. His record stands at 18-4 with 10 knockouts and 3 submissions after his triangle choke win over Travis Lutter on Feb. 3rd at UFC 67.

Sherk has done almost everything he can in mixed martial arts fighting. His record is 33-2 with wins in both UFC and PRIDE.

His style has drawn comparasions to former welterweight champ Matth Hughes, whom Sherk fought to a close decision loss for a title. Sherk has eight knockouts and thirteen submissions to his credit, but hasn't fought since winning the title over Kenny Florian back in October at UFC 64.

Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz stated, “Everybody should expect fireworks. Rashad is standing in the way of my getting another title shot and my prediction is that he won’t be able to handle my tempo or the 18,000 Tito Ortiz fans that are in Sacramento to see me win.

Evans countered, “Tito needs to learn the meaning of respect. On July 7, I’m going to teach him what that’s all about. Let him come down from the mountain to Greg Jackson’s training camp and he’ll see what he’s up against. I’m focused and on a mission, and my goal is to knock him out.

[LWPD]

UFC 73 Odds Snapshot

Courtesy of betus.com

Anderson Silva-165
Nate Marquardt +135

Sean Sherk -240
Hermes Franca +190

Tito Ortiz -135
Rashad Evans +105

Kenny Florian -300
Alvin Robinson +220

Antonio Minotauro Nogueira -700
Heath Herring +500

Stephan Bonnar-450
Mike Nickels +325

Jorge Gurgel-260
Diego Saraieva +200

Chris Lytle-185
Drew Fickett +145

Mark Bocek +220
Frank Edgar-300

[dukedave]

I have never bet on MMA before but am seiously tempted to lay some money on my man Herpes.

[hofclemens]

wow Mike Nickles? talk about giving Bonnar a can to get going again

[LWPD]

hofclemens said:

wow Mike Nickles? talk about giving Bonnar a can to get going again

I wonder if he still punches with his eyes closed?

[LWPD]

UFC Weigh In & Promo Videos

UFC Middleweight Championship
Anderson Silva (184.5) vs Nate Marquardt (182.5)

UFC Lightweight Championship
Sean Sherk (154.5) vs Hermes Franca (154.5)

Rashad Evans (204) vs Tito Ortiz (205.5)

Heath Herring (259) vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (240.5)

Alvin Robinson (156) vs Kenny Florian (155.5)

Mike Nickels (205.5) vs Stephan Bonnar (204.5)

Diego Saraiva (155) vs Jorge Gurgel (155.5)

Chris Lytle (169.5) vs Jason Gilliam (171)

Mark Bocek (154.5) vs Frank Edgar (154.5)

[LWPD]

A few hours away...

Courtesy of Wrestling Observer

Tonight's line-up:

Live show matches

Anderson Silva (184.5) vs. Nathan Marquardt (182.5) for middleweight title
Sean Sherk (154.5) vs. Hermes Franca (154.5) for lightweight title
Tito Ortiz (205.5) vs. Rashad Evans (204)
Heath Herring (259) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (240.5)
Alvin Robinson (156) vs. Kenny Florian (155.5)

Pre-PPV, some may be shown based on match quality and time constraints:

Mike Nickels (205.5) vs. Stephan Bonnar (204.5)
Diego Saraiva (155) vs. Jorge Gurgel (155.5)
Jason Gilliam (171) vs. Chris Lytle (169.5)
Mark Bocek (154.5) vs. Frankie Edgar (154.5)[/i]

[MikeMcKinney]

lwpd said:

UFC Weigh In & Promo Videos

UFC Middleweight Championship
Anderson Silva (184.5) vs Nate Marquardt (182.5)

UFC Lightweight Championship
Sean Sherk (154.5) vs Hermes Franca (154.5)

Rashad Evans (204) vs Tito Ortiz (205.5)

Heath Herring (259) vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (240.5)

Alvin Robinson (156) vs Kenny Florian (155.5)

Mike Nickels (205.5) vs Stephan Bonnar (204.5)

Diego Saraiva (155) vs Jorge Gurgel (155.5)

Chris Lytle (169.5) vs Jason Gilliam (171)

Mark Bocek (154.5) vs Frank Edgar (154.5)

looks like a great card.

[Darth Turkish]

cannot believe that Nog was almost KOed!

Rashad should have pressed that fight in round 2 and three- the jitters should have been gone by then and Tito was slower and fading. Rashad will be MUCH different when they next meet.

Sherk was totally dominat. Sure he did not finish, but total control for 25 minutes- he really is a cardio machine.

Too bad for Nate. I was really pulling for him. But he lost fair. He will get reshuffled and put back. I think he and Franklin will be a great fight.


Best fight of the night- Kenny Florian's! Holy friggin' judo, Batman!!! Drop seoi- nage, harai goshi, tani otoshi, my buddy and I were ballistic!!!

[dukedave]

turkish said:

Best fight of the night- Kenny Florian's! Holy friggin' judo, Batman!!! Drop seoi- nage, harai goshi, tani otoshi, my buddy and I were ballistic!!!

I felt jipped. We didn't get the fruity entrance with the Shogun music, gui(sp?) and the hat.

Damn, Herpes had his chances in the first 20 seconds of almost every round. Am I the only one that thinks that Rogan and Sherk are off spooning somewhere right now?

[LWPD]

A mixed show last night. Nog dominated Round 1...until Herring connected with a headkick...the ref was _VERY GENEROUS_ in allowing the fight to continue...fights have been stopped in the past for much less. To his credit Nog recovered and took rounds 2 & 3. Herring has to be the worst 'big money' signing of the pre-Pride takeover era. There's no way that he gets the same deal offered after his contract runs out.

Sean Sherk has Tim Sylvia syndrome...a Champion with long fights that come off as slow and boring to the larger audience. This was his second five rounder in a row...with audible booing at the close. From a fight strategy perspective he was dominant...immediately closing the distance and dominating position on the ground...'winning on points' with takedowns, passing guard, achieving mount and side control...along with Dan Severn level ground and pound thrown in. Franca could do nothing...but it killed the crowd. Good luck having this guy sell future fights with this style.

Tito did enough to win in round 1 & late into round 2...up until the point reduction for grabbing the fence. Even with a takedown Rashad still would have lost the second round. Rashad pulled off a 10-9 in the third...and it goes to a draw. For all the pre-fight hype Rashad looked flat...playing defense from the clinch and not initiating much stand up. He got 'a gift' with the draw...and I don't want to see a rematch.

Anderson Silva sends the people home happy. A dominant champion who entertains the crowd and fights to finish. He's everything you could want in a Champion...and I hope he destroys Rich Franklin again.

The big issue is exposure of the 'Sherk Problem'. The 155 division has the potential to be a great selling point for UFC...but if great undercard fights like Franca/Fisher and Guida/Griffin lead to five round 25 minute title fights with no entertainment value to the casual fan base that makes up the bulk of the boom audience...Dana White has a major albatross on his hands. Hardcore fans will look the other way and defend his near perfect strategy and execution...but that's a very small percentage of the audience. Audible mass booing can quickly turn into a sentiment of 'I don't need or want to watch this'.

Tito Ortiz vs Rashad Evans

Anderson Silva vs Nate Marquardt

Courtesy of Wrestling Observer

We're opening with Frank Edgar vs. Mark Bocek

Edgar dominated the round with superior striking and ground control on top when Bocek would try takedowns. He staggered Bocek early with an overhand right where Bocek lost his legs. Bocek did get one good shot in. He got Bocek's back and fired punch after punch, about 14 in all, before it was stopped at 4:55.

Chris Lytle vs. Jason Gilliam is next

People see Lytle as something of a recognizable star. Lytle took control with punches. He got on top and threw body and head blows. Gilliam reversed. Lytle went for an ankle lock and got back on top. Gilliam did a few up kicks. Lytle got side control. Lytle got the submission by trapping the head with his legs and doing both a reverse triangle choke and a wristlock at the same time in 2:15. Gilliam passed out from the triangle. This will likely be submission of the night.

Jorge Gurgel vs. Diego Saraiva is next up.

An interesting storyline is that both of these guys are from the same beach town originally, Fortaleza, Brazil. I guess JBL would be talking now about how they want bragging rights at the local sports bar.

Gurgel is sporting a new physique. Gurgel, because he's been on TUF, is the crowd favorite. Good early exchange. Gurgel connected more early. All standing and nobody going for takedowns. Crowd is restless and booing. I have no clue why. Saraiva landed some shots. Saraiva tried a takedown, and finally pulled guard. Gurgel connecting more on the ground. Saraiva not really making any submission moves. Crowd was very impatient. Gurgel with ground and pound. Gurgel with some elbows. He's connecting with punches from the top. Saraiva did try and armbar and Gurgel escaped and walked away. They were trading late in the round and Saraiva got the better of it. Great round. I have it 10-9 Gurgel.

Started standing. Both are conecting but Gurgel more frequently. Saraiva tried and takedown but Gurgel escaped. Gurgel connecting with punches and low kicks. Saraiva is tiring. Gurgel connecting with flurires and backing out. Saraiva is in some trouble. Saraviva rocked him in an exchange. Frye-Takayama spot and the crowd went nuts. Saraiva tried to pull guard and Gurgel with a sidedwalk slam. Both swinging agaian. Both are about to go. Gurgel's stamina worse at this point. Gurgel won the round. Crowd going huts. Awesome round.

Both tired. Crowd booing again. How can they boo this fight? Gurgel has a mouse under the right eye. Saraiva tried a takedown, but Gurgel wound up on top. This round isn't as good as first two. Saraiva tried a triangle but Gurgel escaped with no trouble. Gurgel throwing punches from the top. Crwod wants a stand-up but it's not being called. Gurgel stood and they are back on their feet trading. I have it Gurgel 30-27. Very good fight, not excellent because of round three.

Straight 30-27 scores for Gurgel. A lot of booing of the decision and of Gurgel, especially because he's got major swelling under both eyes. Gurgel described his striking as sloppy and said he was disappointed in his performance.

Stephan Bonnar vs. Mike Nickels is the final pre-game show match. Will be interesting to see if they mention his drug suspension in the package. It was at least not mentioned in the package.

Main show hasn't started but there are a lot of gaps as far as the crowd is concerned. It doesn't look like this is going to be sold out.

Bonnar didn't get as big a reaction as his at least one-time star power would indicate. I sense he really needs an impressive win here.

Nickels took Bonnar down off a kick and quickly got the mount. Bonnar reversed and Nickels tried to reverse. Bonnar got his back. and working for a choke. Bonnar working for a hammerlock. Nickels escpaed. Bonnar again going for a choke. Nickels tapped in 2:14.

During the opening video it seemed the two fights people were hottest for were Ortiz vs. Evans, no surprise, and Nogueira vs. Herring. Even though they are positioning the title matches as the main event, Tito got the superstar reaction. It's a heel reaction, though and it appears the people really want to see Evans win more than anything else tonight.

I'd estimate 13,500 right now. Maybe more. Very few empty seats but it doesn't look completely sold out like November.

Minotauro Nogueira (new ring name) vs. Heath Herring opens the PPV show. Nogueira has to be the oldest 31-year-old in history. Nogueira got a very big reaction. much bigger than Herring.

Nogeira took him right down and got side control. Herring got up. They were trading. Herring is landing some, maybe more than Nogueira. Crowd is booing again. Nogueira starting to get the better of the stand-up. He rocked Herring with a jab. Good knee by Nogueira. Herring is bleeding. Herring with a good body kick. Nogueria back with knees and punches. Herring decked him with a kick to the head and is pounding on him but Nogueira recovered. Herring going to town. Nogueira went for a takedown, didn't get it, and barely survived the round. 10-9 Herring.

Slow start to round two. Nogueira has gotten his bearings back but he's leery. Crowd booing again. Nogueira got a takedown and full mount. He got Herring's back and is working for a choke. Herring escaped and is on top. Herring stood up. Nogueira connecting with jabs. Noguera scored with a combo late. Nogueira with a takedown. He threw punches at the end. Nogueira 10-9.

Nogueira got a takedown. Got Herring's back and punching. Once again going for a choke. More a headlock than choke. Herring escaped and got the top. Nogueira looks like he's working for a Kimura. Herring rolled out. Nogueira has his back again. Herring escaped and they are on their feet. Noguiera with some jabs and knees. Herring tried a high kick but missed. More punches and knees by Nogueira. Nogueira didn't have the impressive performance they would have wanted out of his debut. He should still take it 29-28. Workmanlike performance, not a star performance although Herring's face took a pounding, big mouse under right eye.

29-28 across the board for Nogueira. Some boos for the decision but most seemed to agree with it. Aside from the knockdown, it was really all Nogueira's fight.

Fan poll is 59%-41% in favor of Ortiz over Evans. They showed Urijah Faber, who is from Sacramento, and nobody knew him. I mean zero reaction. Earlier they showed Josh Koscheck from San Jose and the crowd booed him out of the place.

Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca for the lightweight title is up next.

Franca threw a knee. Sherk slamed him down and Franca caught him in a deep guillotine. Sherk escaped. Sherk with hard punches from the top. Sherk got a full mount. He's trying and over-and-under choke but Franca escaped. Franca tried an armbar, but didn't get close. Sherk mostly kept Franca on his back the entire round. Sherk got a full mount again. He threw punches. Sherk got his back. Franca revered for a moment but Sherk was back in control. Sherk's round.

They showed Tito on the screen. Loudest boos of the show, and then huge pop for Evans. They are scheduled next.

Awesome first 20 seconds. Franca knocked Sherk silly with a perfectly timed knee and grabbed a guillotine, but Sherk escaped and got on top. Franca reversed him. Sherk escaped the botgtom and is back on top controlling with his strong wrestling. Sherk is controlling the round at this point. He passed guard and is holding Franca down and throwing punches. He's just too strong and too good on the ground. Franca went for another guillotine with 37 seconds left. Sherk wasn't in bad trouble but couldn't escape from the position until the horn sounded. Franca's round even though Sherk controlled probably 80% of the round. I've got is 19-19.

Another Sherk takedown to start the round. Crowd now booing. Sherk is turning it into a grappling game and his strength is prevailing. Sherk has his back and is throwing punches to the side of the head and some knees to the body. Franca almost got up but Sherk tackled him right back down. Sherk tried a wristlock but Franca escaped. Sherk is throwing short punches from the top as the round ended. Fans cheered the round. Sherk's round so he should be up 29-28.

Franca landed another knee, not as good as the second round, and Sherk took him right down and was pounding. Franca got up and sprawled to avoid a takedown. But Sherk got him up and gave another hard sidewalk slam. Sherk threw some elbows and knees to the body. Franca got up. Sherk took him down again with a single leg. Franca almost got up but Sherk again took him down. Groundhog Day. Sherk's round so I've got it 39-37. Crowd is growing restless, though.

Another double-leg takedown and high slam by Sherk. He's throwing some punches and elbows, but nohthing dangerous. Good up kick by Franca., Franca is bleeding from the nose. The deal with Sherk is his conditioning is outrageous as he's got full power 20 plus minutes in. Franca has tried some submissions but Sherk sees them early and escapes from trouble. Franca got to his feet and Sherk him down within seconds with another double-leg. Crowd is booing. I've got it 49-46 for Sherk. When it ended, some fans cheered both and a lot booed. Sherk looked like a monster, but he was not entertaining. Eddie Bravo has the same score as I do.

Scores were 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46. Crowd is booing Sherk's promo something fierce.

Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans is next. Ortiz got by far the biggest reaction coming out. He's Hulk Hogan. The people have been booing him all night and the minute he coemns out everyone stands and cheers him like he's larger than life. No boos at all. Isn't that something. His reaction still wasn't close to the level of Cung Le and Frank Shamrock two weeks ago. Everyone on their feet and the place is intense.

First round saw Ortiz score a takedown right away and use some low kicks. Evans got behind him momentraily in a scramble. Not much happened but the crowd loved it due to the t eh personalities being so strong. Ortiz probably won it slightly 10-9.

Evans came out going for a takedown. Ortiz is bleeding from he cut. Evans has the superiror stand-up but he's not using it. Ortiz agin blocked a takedown. The cut on Ortiz's right eye is bleeding bad. Ortiz scored with a takedown late in the round. Evans escaepd and finally took Ortiz down. Ortiz went for a guillotine. People thought Ortiz won and the place went so nuts you couldn't hear that the horn sounded to end the round.
Ortiz's round slightly.

Ortiz scored another takedown to start the third round. Evans finally started connecting with punches. Ortiz with a body kick. Turning ito a slugfest until Ortiz went for the takedown. Evans got right up. Evans hit tow shots and slammed Ortiz down. Place went nuts for the slam. Evans won round three. First two rounds are close. I have it 29-28 Ortiz so we'll see.

Crowd badly wants Evans to win after cheering Ortiz most of the fight. This was the weirdest crowd. They boo great fights, go wild at slow fights based on star power. Switch back-and-forth on who they like and don't like.

All three judges have it 28-28 a draw. Ortiz had a point taken away from him which we missed for grabbing the cage for avoiding a takedown. In fact, it appeared everyone at press row and the crowd didn't notice it either. Given that, the draw is the same call I'd have had. Ortiz asked the fans if they were satisfied with the fight and fans booed, but when Tito quoted Don Frye saying "We can do it again" they cheered. Evans was lucky he avoided the loss. They immediately started building a rematch and just being linked with Ortiz in a series makes Evans a star.

Anderson Silva vs. Nathan Marquardt for the middleweight title is next. 1977 called. Marquardt came out to "Eye of the Tiger." Luckily Silva didn't come out to some disco song from "Saturday Night Fever."

Silva rocked him with a punch. He tried a flying kick but Marquardt grabbed the leg took him down. Marquardt was on top doing nothing. John McCarthy ordered a stand-up. Marquardt went for a takedown and Silva was pounding the body with punches. Silva made a nice wrestling spin into a takedown. He started throwing strong punches from the top and John McCarthy stopped it.

They are rushing Kenny Florian vs. Alvin Robinson into the ring.

Robinson with a nice judo whip takedown. Florian then used a udo throw of his own to get a takdeddown. They were trading punches with Robinsohn getting the better of it. Florian took him down again. Florian scored with punches on the ground. Robinson got to his feet and threw punches and knees. Florian then got anoher takedown. Florian moved to full mount and was pounding with punches and elbows before Yves Lavigne stopped it late in round one.

Florian said that he's there to finish fights, definitely meant as a comment on Sherk winning via decision. Florian said he wanted a shot at Sherk again.

[LWPD]

Kenny Florian vs Alvin Robinson

Dave Meltzer's writing comes off so much smoother when it goes through a professional editor. It's an amazing difference.

Courtesy of Fox Sports.com

By Dave Meltzer

SACRAMENTO - Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz settled nothing Saturday night at UFC 73, when a penalty point ended up making the difference in a draw decision that Ortiz otherwise would have won.

Ortiz took the first and second rounds of their three-round bout, but it was judged a 28-28 draw by all three judges due to referee John McCarthy calling a penalty point against Ortiz for grabbing the cage to avoid a takedown in the second round.

"You grabbed the fence the entire second round," said Evans to Ortiz in the heated post-match press conference when both fighters were already starting to build a rematch that UFC president Dana White confirmed.

McCarthy said that Ortiz had continually grabbed the fence to avoid takedowns before being warned. He said after being warned, Ortiz let go, but then almost immediately grabbed it again as Evans went to take him down, and at that point docked him the point that made the difference.

Ortiz, now 15-5-1, said that he reinjured his back two weeks ago in training and needed an injection to fight. He said in round three, the round he lost, that it felt like a knife stabbing him in the back. Evans, 15-0-1, grew stronger as the match went on, and left Ortiz with a deep cut and heavy swelling on the right side of his face.

But Ortiz won the first two rounds on all three judges scorecards, including exploding out of the blocks with a strong takedown in a match where most figured each man would battle for wrestling superiority. Evans didn't take advantage of his quicker hands enough in the early rounds, and Ortiz landed several leg kicks in standing exchanges.

The crowd, announced at 14,371 fans at Arco Arena surprised everyone with their reactions. They continually booed a prelim match where Jorge Gurgel beat Diego Saraiva that was generally considered the fight of the night. Before the Ortiz-Evans match started, the crowd, which reacted far bigger to that fight than either of the two title matches, would boo Ortiz whenever he was on the screen and cheer Evans wildly.

Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans almost have to fight again after Saturday's draw. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

Then, when they came out, they changed again. Ortiz received thunderous cheers with very few boos, and chants of his name. The crowd booed Evans early, but by round three, switched again. Evans kept going for takedowns in the second round, but, partially due to Ortiz grabbing the fence, never succeeded. Finally, late in the round, Evans exploded on Ortiz with a slam that caused the crowd to react bigger than at any other time in the show.

Even though it appeared clear Ortiz won the first two rounds, and most fans, reporters and even White were unaware of the penalty point being called, the crowd heavily booed the decision and Ortiz.

While Ortiz vs. Evans garnered the most live interest, the billed main event saw UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva retain his championship in 4:50 of round one with a ground-and-pound win over Nathan Marquardt.

When Silva got on top of Marquardt with time running out in the first round, he unleashed a series of punches that left the former Pancrase king rocked and the fight was called off.

Silva, 19-4, was later announced as defending his championship against former champion Rich Franklin on Oct. 20 at the U.S. Bank Arena in Franklin's home city of Cincinnati. Marquardt, now 28-7-1, had never lost a match via TKO.

In the other championship match, lightweight champion Sean Sherk lived up to his nickname, "The Muscle Shark," by overpowering Hermes Franca for five straight rounds. Every round was similar, with Sherk continually taking Franca down and controlling him on the ground, using a combination of wrestling and great conditioning. Sherk was as strong in round five as round one, and Franca simply had no answer for Sherk's wrestling and control. Still, Franca made it interesting, trying to time Sherk's shots and delivering knees to the head as he came in.

At the start of the second round, Franca landed a wicked knee to the head, but Sherk, while stunned, was still able to immediately take Franca to the ground. Sherk continually scored hard slams, and was never in danger when Franca started going for submissions. In the end, the long match felt like the movie "Groundhog Day."

The scores were 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46, in a match where Franca's only offense were the knees before being taken down, and a few guillotine choke attempts, one of which appeared to be Sherk's lone dangerous moment of the night.

Kenny Florian, who stopped Alvin Robinson in 4:30 of round one via a verbal submission from punches on the ground, made a remark clearly aimed at Sherk when talking about being a 155-pounder who finishes his fights.

The show also featured the UFC debut of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, the former Pride world heavyweight champion. Nogueira, 31, generally considered one of the three or four best heavyweights in MMA history, was nearly stopped by past Pride rival Heath Herring.

Nogueira, 30-4-1, was knocked down in the first round by a kick to the head that came close to ending it.

Herring hesitated, saying at first he thought the fight would be stopped.

"I didn't think he'd be able to get up," said a banged-up Herring after the fight. "Sometimes you make a split second decision and if you went the other way, it would be over."

Nogueira dominated the rest of the fight, mostly using boxing skill, to win a straight 29-28 decision. It was not the type of impressive win UFC probably would have liked, but it was a win nonetheless.

After the match, there was talk that if Mirko Cro Cop won his Sept. 8 match in London over Cheick Kongo, that they would try and match Cro Cop vs. Nogueira. It would be a rematch of a classic Pride match where Cro Cop dominated the entire fight, until being taken down and caught in an armbar.

In other results, Stephan Bonnar returned after a suspension for failing a steroid test, to beat Mike Nickels via choke; Gurgel beat Saraiva via decision in the consensus best match on the show, earning each man a $30,000 bonus; Chris Lytle beat Jason Gilliam with a unique double submission, both a triangle choke and a wristlock, in 2:15 of round one; and Frank Edgar remained unbeaten at 8-0 in stopping Mark Bocek with punches in 4:55 of the first round.

Because he did a unique double submission, Lytle joked maybe he should get double the submission bonus.

Lytle noted he was actually going for the armbar as his primary submission move, but Gilliam actually nearly passed out from the triangle.

White also spoke about reviving the Pride brand, which the company purchased earlier this year. White said that they need television deals in either or both the U.S. and Japanese markets to revive the brand. The reality is that running big shows without a television deal isn't economically feasible. Because the Pride fighters need to work, many of them will be appearing on UFC events in the interim. Among those who fit into the category is Hayato Sakurai, who was at the event and talked of fighting in the near future.

[hofclemens]

you always see people being warned about grabbing the cage but its nice to see them finally take off a point. I will review the Ortiz fight from last nite but I can imagine someone grabbing the cage more then Big Tim vs. Asseurio Silva from early last year.