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Welcome to our live coverage of UFC 88 from the Phillips Arena in Atlanta. We're looking for your thoughts on the show so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle and a best and worst match This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ryo Chonan won a split decision over Roan Carneiro. Dull first fight with a hot crowd that was slow to boo, and ref Herb Dean who ordered no stand-ups even though little was happening on the ground.
First round saw Carneiro cut Chonan near the left eye. Chonan blocked a takedown and got on top, but Carneiro went for a triangle and then used an uma plata to get a reversal and on top and did enough to win the round.
Second round saw Chonan stuff a takedown and get on top and stay there the entire round. Carneiro scored with some up kicks but Chonan did enough punching from the top to take the round.
Third round saw Carneiro get a takedown off a Chonan kick. He threw some punches but the fight largely stalled. This slow to boo crowd even started booing, at which point Chonan managed to get up. Carneiro tried another takedown, but Chonan stuffed him and ended up on top for the last minute of the fight, but to me didn't do nearly enough to offset the first four minutes. I had it 29-28 for Carneiro.
But judges Douglas Crosby and Tony Mullinax had it 29-28 for Chonnan, while judge Chris Lee had 29-28 for Carneiro. Crowd booed the decision, but not heavily.
Jason MacDonald vs. Jason Lambert is up now.
Mac Donald got the takedown right away. Lambert is elbowing the thigh while Lambert is trying a guillotine. They stayed in the same position for almost 90 seconds until MacDonald got his head out. MacDonald is all tied up by Lambert on the bottom. Finally he threw somne punches and elbows, and body punches. Again, most crowds would be booing by now and this crowd is just quiet, which has been the story for four straight rounds. Some head punches but nothing strong. Lambert got a ulllotine with ten seconds left. Mac Donald was in troublre but held on. Crowd went wild and aside for the last ten seconds nothing happened. Very tough round to judge. All MacDonald except the last ten seconds but that was close to a finish. I'll go 10-9 Mac Donald.
Big slugfest and MacDonald hit the double leg takedown. MacDonald got Lambert's back and is working for a choke. Lambert tapped out.
It was an early arriving crowd and started out hot. There are splotches of empty seats but they probably number less than 1,500 at this point. Probably somewhere between 13,000 and 14,000 here at this point. Most of the time you don't have a good judgement of attendance until the PPV starts but I think Atlanta may be the exception as a first-time in the area show. More older people (as in 40+) and women than most UFC crowds. This arena also has more luxury boxes than any arena I've been in and they are packed. It would be a hot crowd but the action hasn't been much up to this point. They reacted to Chonan like he was a star, MacDonald like he was a big star and Tim Boetsch like he was a star.
Tim Boetsch vs. Michael Patt is next up.
Trading early. Patt couldn't take Boetsch down when he tried. Boetsch dropped him with a right to the jaw and went nuts on him with about ten punches on the ground. Ref Herb Dean stopped it. Patt was a little unhappy but it was the right call as Patt wasn't moving.
They did one of the UFC videos where they showed all the stars. Crowd didn't react to anyone. Very weird since they popped so big for the people live and usually the crowd loves these videos. Only one fight left before the PPV starts.
Thiago Tavares vs. Kurt Pellgrino is next.
Pellegrino moving forward. Pellegrino stunned him with a punch, decked him with another and went ild on him. He's got a full mount and now has his back. But Tavares weathered the storm. Taveras missed a punch and went down as Pellegrino countered with a left. Pellegrino got a full mount. He's throwing punches and elbows. Another hard elbow by Pellegrino. Pellegrino elbowsng the ribs. Tavares got guard. Tavars is bleeding from the right eye. He may be bleeding from the ear also. Solid punch on the ground. Tavares got to his feet and shot for a takedown but Pellegrino blocked him and got on top. Tavares showed some good survival instincts. 10-8 for Pellegrino.
Pellegrino took a punch to the eye and claimed an eye poke, which in slow motion it showed that it wagood punch. Tavards right eye looks bad. Tavaes coming in wild. Pellegrino with a punch. Tavares can't take him down. Overhand right by Pellegrino. Finally Tavares got a takedown midway through the round. He's throwing hammer punches from the top. Pellegrino tried an armbar from the bottom but Tavares is out and punching. Tavares tapped on the armbar but the ref missed it. Tavares throwing more punches from the top. Tavares connecting with several hammer punches and making Pellgrino's life miserable at this point. Tavares with elbows to the left eye. More punches. More ground and pound. Tavares 10-9 although really Pellegrino should have won the fight with the armbar. Crowd finally has something to cheer about and are doing so.
Tavares shot and Pellegrino has him in a front headlock. Pellegrino let him up and cracked him in the mouth. Good knee by Tavares but Pellgrino with punches and a kick. In a scramble, Pellegrino got his back. but Tavares escaped. Ref Yves Lavigne called a break as they were standing against the cage. Pellegrino avoided another takedown and put Tavares on his back 10-9 for Pellegrino so 29-27 would be my score. Best match so far.
Scores are Crosby 29-27, Mullinax 29-27, Lee 29-28 for Pellegrino.
Randy Couture inteview. He got a big reaction. Said he has to refine his striking and use submissions if they are presented.
Teenage Wasteland time. Crowd pretty wild for that one.
Total Chuck Liddell crowd, followed by Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson. Crowd hot. Aside from two sections in the upper deck, the place is pretty well packed. Probably only 500 or so empties and most of them would be the late production releases as the highest nosebleeds in most of the arena are full.
"Stun Gun" Dong Hyun Kim vs. Matt Brown opens the PPV. Brown wins the cheap pop award coming out to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."
Crowd booed the hell out of Kim. First fighter to get booed all night. Clinch. Kim got two takedowns and has Brown's back. Another takedown. He jumped on Brown from the side doing a combination of a Keivn Von Erich bodyscissors and a choke but Brown escaped. He climbed Brown's back again. Kim tried a straight armbar. Brown escaped and is on top. Brown escaped from trouble. He threw some kicks but Kim with a punch. Brown gettin tiried. USA chant. Now a loud USA chant. Brown missed a spinning backfist by Brown but he blocked Kim's takedown. Brown did a good job blocking a foot sweep. He blocked a foot sweep and clamped on a choke but Kim escaped. He actually has a side headlock, which you rarely see in UFC. He let go of that but Kim got Brown's back again. Kim again trying a straight armbar. This was a fun round just due to Kim's unorthodox moves. Kim 10-9.
Brwosn did Kimdown with a trip and is firsring knees to the body. Kim tried a takedown with a throw and then a double leg but Brown blocked and he pinned Kim against the cage and is punching him. Kim is in trouble. Brown is now on top but doing no damage while Kim is thinking triangle. Good up kick by Kim. Nice spin to the ground by Brown and a punch. Brown throwing punches while standing to Kim on his back. He let Kim up and is throwing knees to the gut. Kim bulled Brown into the cage. Brown rocked him with punches. Brwon got a takedown and throwing some punches. Brown pounded with punches and elbows as the round ended. Brown 10-9, so we're even.
Kim got a takedown to open the round. Brown up throwing knees and Kim is looking tired. Brown has studied to counter Kim's judo and has negated that part of the game. Brown with body punches. Blocked another judo throw. Kim finally got him with a takedown. Kim cut Brown deeply under the left eye, I think with an elbow. I've got Kim 29-28.
Kim played to the crowd. He got more cheers than boos but it was a mixed reaction. 29-28 Kim, 29-28 Brown by Cecil Peoples. Tony Mullinax scored it 29-28 for Kim. Crowd booed the hell out of the decision even though I thought it was the right call as did most at press row. They are really booing his promo. Joe Rogan said he thought Brown won the fight. Brown got a big ovation. He helped himself in losing here.
Just for the record, Cecil Peoples gave round one to Brown. Everyone was in agreement on two and three.
Nathan Marquardt vs. Martin Kampmann is up now.
Kampmann hurt Marquardt with a punch and then Marquardt put Kampann down with a kick. They are in a clinch and Marquardt hurt him with a knee. Marquardt going to town with punches in the corner and it's over. Marquardt used an uppercut and body punches and Kampmann couldn't stop him before the fight was stopped.
Dan Henderson vs. Rousimar Palhares. Henderson got the biggest reaction so far on the show.
Fans booed Palhares. Herb Dean is our referee. Dan is thinking KO. Palhares is wary of the right and. Dan got on top stuffing a takedown but Palhares threatened quick with with submissions including trying to snatch a leg. Palhares with a good body kick but and missed a spinning crescent kick. Henderson escaped his takedowns and threw a punch. Palhares is trying to set up the taekdown with a kick. Henderson needs to do something on offense here. Slugfest and Henderson put him down and now pounding on him and kicked his hamstring. Palhares back with kicks that are just off. Palhares got a takedwown and Henderson had a head scirssors but Palhares is now on top. Palhares needs to do soemthing from here with timerunning out. He didn't. Crowd liked this round. Henderson 10-9.
Palhares scored with a hard slam. Palhares going for a heel hook but Henderson escaped and threw punches. Henderson stepped out of a heel hook attempt. Now Henderson is on top after blocking a takedown. Henderson with a good punch. Henderson again avoided the takedown and threw a punch. He's doing short punches and elbows. Henderson has his hand over Palhares's mouth and therw an elbow. Herb Dean ordered a stand-up. Traded high kicks as time ran out. Good round. I'd give it close to Palhares so it's 19-19.
Kick to body by Palhares. He's more aggressive which becomes importnat since this round will likely decide it. Palhares with a crescent kick but Henderson avoided it. Handerson with a good jab. Henderson avoided another takedown. And another. Palhares landed a left and right. He's throwing and Henderson is avooiding most but not coming back with any. Fans are booing. Henderson hurt him with a left. Somebody needs to win this fight as both are circling. Henderson hit a few punches and Palhares was back with one. Palhares went for a takedown, Henderson avoided and therw a punch but let him up. Palhares went down to snatch a leg but Henderson avoided it and got up. Palhares is the more aggressive. Henderson hurt him with a punch. Henderson put him down and threw a hard punch on the ground to end the fight. I thought Henderson won the fight 29-28 in the closing seconds but the third round was awfully close.
30-27, 30-27, 29-28 for Henderson. Fair because round two was close, as was three. Henderson's biggest thing was avoiding takedown attempts, but to me, those shouldn't score points unless he followed with damage.
Rich Franklin vs. Matt Hamill up now.
Franklin at least physically doesn't look as tight as usual with the added 20 pounds, although I'm guessing his actual weight difference isn't that much. Hamill got a deafening response. I didn't mean that to be funny, either. Franklin's response was louder, but not by as much as I'd expected. People see both these guys as stars as the Bisping fight made Hamill. Hamill is more cdofident in his sand-up as he hasn't tried to shoot. Hamill scored with an uppercut. Frankllin nwith some inside leg kicks. Franklin scoring with low and middle kicks. Good body blow by Franklih. Franklin is cut near the right eye. Franklin's eye is bleedig pretty good. Crowd booing and Hamill scored the takedown. Ground and pound. Frankilin going for an armbar but Hamill powered out. Frankllin back up and hit a knee. Franklin snapped him with a punch. Good knee to the head by Franklin. Close round, I've got it 10-9 Franklin but I could see Hamill getting the round with a takedown.
The cut on the side of Franklin's right eye looks dangerous. Hamill needs to shoot. He caught a kick but Franklin escaped the takedown attempt. Good head kick by Franklin. Franklin getting more confident and Hamill getting tired. They are going to check Franklin's cut. Not stopping it. Franklin knows he needs to win. Franklin with a flurry after blocking the takedown. Good series of punches and finishing with a body kick. Hemill lunging trying to punch. Good body kick by Franklin. Low kick by Franklin. Hamill taking a time out. It was a nasty Arena Mexico quality low kick. Hamill lunging and Franklin countering. Trading knees in acliinch and Franklin ending with a good punch. Another body kick by Franklin. Now a low kick. Franklin is wearing hjim out with body kicks and low kicks. Franklin is too quick for Hamill at this point and Hamill's legs are probably shot from the kicks. Franklin 10-9. Unless Hamill can open the cut, he doesn't have a lot left.
They gave each other the thumbs up at the start of this round as they did in round two. Another body kick by Franklin and another which put Hamill down and ref Mario Yamasaki stopped it.
No great fights so far. Tavares vs. Pellegrino
Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans finishes the show.
Herb Dean ref. Evans was grabbing his nipples. I don't know if that means he's excited or lactating. These people are booing Evans out of the building. Liddell got the 1975 Bruno in MSG reaction. Loud Chuck chant. Crowd booing as nothing happened first 90 seconds. Evans connected. Liddell back with a hard punch. Evans dancing like he's Dusty or Thudnerbolt Patterson off that one. Good leg kick by Evans. Evans is dancing away from Liddell's offense. Good low kick by Evans and then he danced away from Liddell trying to respond. Liddell is trying to walk him down. Another low kick by Evans. Loiddel is bleeding under the right eye. Evans is using his speed to fluster Liddell. You can see Liddell isn't happy. Imagine if you're the cable industry. Evans 10-9.
Good ttrade. Niobody got the better of it. Liddell with a right. Evans with a good punch. Another and the blood stated flying from Liddell's cut. Liddell is thinking knockout but very predictable. Evans KO'd Chuck bad with an overhand right haymaker. It's over. I mean Chuck is out cold. That was a $6 million punch. Unfortunately it was $6 million in the negative direction.
That punch will make the all-time highlight reel. It took a few minutes before Chuck got off his back. Right now he's sitting in a chair and they are administering oxygen to him.
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