It’s one of the most anticipated re-matches in the history of mixed martial arts, as Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn steps up a division to once again face Welterweight king Georges St-Pierre at UFC 94: St-Pierre v Penn 2, shown live in the early hours of this past Sunday morning here in Britain on Setanta Sports. As always, commentary duties are handled by Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan.

The show begins in the lightweight division, with Nate Diaz taking on Clay Guida. Round one began with both men trading jabs early, before Diaz tried to tie Guida up. It only worked for a few seconds. The next minute or so saw the fighters trading punches again, and I began to wonder if Guida’s long locks weren’t something of a disadvantage. Guida soon managed to grab hold of Diaz’s right leg, but that went nowhere. Seconds later the fight went to the mat. Diaz shot, but Guida pulled guard. Diaz tried to work his way out, but Guida ended up taking his back, applying a full nelson, before transitioning to side control where he landed a few elbows. He soon returned to Diaz’s back as both fighters got to their feet, but Guida soon took him down with a powerful slam. Guida then moved for a front guillotine, but quickly changed tact by taking Diaz’s back again, and the round ended with the fighters trading blows again.

Round two, and Diaz began quickly, getting in a few shots. He then attempted a hip throw, but Guida landed on his feet. A clinch up against the cage followed, with both fighters looking for leg sweeps. Guida soon grabbed hold of Diaz’s left leg, while Diaz himself tried for a kimura. Both men were soon on the mat momentarily, but soon got hack to their feet, still looking for their various moves. Eventually it was Diaz who took the fight to the ground, only for Guida to reverse again, taking Diaz’s back momentarily, and taking it again seconds later. No matter what Diaz tried, he just couldn’t shake the long-haired one. Diaz soon took Guida down with a leg sweep, but Guida remained in the same position. As the round entered it’s final minute Diaz went for another kimura, an attempt that failed when Guida went north south for a few seconds before taking Diaz’s back again. For the second time in the round Diaz took Guida down with a leg sweep, but again he couldn’t get Guida off his back. Guida eventually took the guard, but by then it was too late in the round.

Round three, and both fighters came out swinging. Both guys got some good shots in before Diaz instigated a clinch against the cage. It wasn’t long though before they started trading again, and this time Diaz looked as if he was getting the upper hand, even showboating for the crowd a couple of times. Diaz was connecting with blows to the head and body until Guida grabbed a hold of Diaz’s legs in an attempt to take him down. As Guida locked his arms around Diaz’s waist he tried to take his back. Diaz came back with a leg sweep, but as with his previous efforts he couldn’t get Guida off him as he lost control of his back. Once again Diaz countered by trying for a kimura, but it wasn’t long before they were on the ground, with Diaz trying for a triangle. As the clock ticked away they soon got back to their feet, with Guida still controlling Diaz’s back, and Diaz looking for a kimura. The last action saw Guida jumping onto Diaz’s back, only for Diaz to lower his head with Diaz slipping off.

So with the fight going the three round distance, it was down to the judges, with Guida getting the split decision, becoming the first man to defeat Diaz in the UFC. A really enjoyable fight here, possibly his best performance to date, although I would advise that he gets a haircut.

Then it was up to the welterweight division, with Karo Parisyan facing Dong Hyun Kim. Round one began with Kim firing off a few shots, before Parisyan connected with a big right that resulted in a clinch up against the cage. Seconds later they were down on the mat, and seconds after that Kim took Parisyan’s back. As Karo got to his feet, Kim hooked his lags around his waits and stayed on his back. They were soon back on the ground, with Kim in the same position, controlling the fight and connecting with a few good blows. But once again Parisyan got back up, and once again Kim was still holding on. This is how things stayed when they went back down, and it wasn’t long before Kim went for an armbar, and then a triangle, both of which Parisyan was able to escape from. Parisyan was soon in Kim’s guard, but the Korean kept on working, and when they got back up to their feet Kim took Parisyan’s back once again, before they engaged in another clinch against the cage, with Kim putting the knees in to Parisyan’s legs. The round ended with the fighters trading jabs.

Round two, and both fighters began to trade jabs, before Parisyan went for a take down, which Kim defended with a clinch, and it wasn’t long before Kim took Parisyan’s back again, soon going to the ground. Karo began to work immediately, going to a kimura which the Korean was able to escape from as they engaged in another clinch against the cage. Then, as Parisyan went for a leg, Kim was able to counter with a clinch, before Karo countered this with a judo throw to the ground, taking side control as they went down, and taking Kim’s back with double under hooks as they got to their feet. But as this went nowhere, another clinch against the cage followed. Moments later, after Karo lost his mouthpiece for the second time in the fight, they began exchanging blows again, with Parisyan pushing forward. As the end of the round neared Parisyan pushed Kim up against the cage, finishing things off with an elbow.

Round three began with both men swinging, with Parisyan pushing Kim up against the cage. Seconds later Kim scored with a take down, taking the full guard. But then Parisyan earned himself a warning from the referee when his up kick hit Kim in the face, although it looked more like a push. When the fight restarted it wasn’t long before they were back up against the cage in a clinch, with Kim taking Karo’s back briefly. As the clinch resumed both men connected with knees to the legs and body. Karo soon connected with a jumping knee, before taking Kim down seconds later. But Kim was able to get back to his feet, going back to the clinch. By this time the crowd were starting to get a little restless, as the action slowed down quite a bit as both men looked for position in the clinch for the remainder of the round.

So with the second fight going the distance, it was down to the judges again, with Parisyan getting the split decision. A bit of a surprise here, especially as the Korean looked in control early on. But a good fight nonetheless.

Light-heavyweight action followed, with former Ultimate Fighter Stephan Bonnar against Jon Jones. Round one began with the usual feeling out process, with Jones connecting with a couple of spinning back kicks. It wasn’t long before they engaged in a clinch, with Jones connecting with a knee to the body, and soon take it down to the mat with a nice judo throw. Moments later Bonnar got back up to his feet, only to get thrown back down straight away. However, the next time Bonnar got up, he stayed up. It was a while before both fighters got into another clinch, this one instigated by Bonnar. Jones managed to escape seconds later, taking Bonnar’s back and taking him down with a suplex. Once again Bonnar got back to his feet, only to go back down courtesy of a spinning elbow. Jones then went in for the kill, going for the ground and pound before taking Bonnar’s back again, eventually letting him back to his feet. Bonnar looked to regain his senses a little with a clinch, but looked staggered again as Jones connected with a knee, ending the round by taking Bonnar down again.

Round two, and Bonnar came out with a cut on his head, courtesy of the spinning elbow. Both fighters began to swing for the trees, exchanging a few good kicks as well. Thirty seconds in a leg trip saw Bonnar go down, and Jones pounced immediately, taking Bonnar’s back. Moments later they were squaring off again, with Jones connecting with another knee. The relative newcomer was looking good as he took Bonnar down again, soon taking the half guard position. Bonnar tried to move out, but Jones was in complete control, although Bonnar was soon able to escape and get back to his feet. After a few good exchanges, Bonnar began another clinch against the cage. When that went nowhere, they began trading again before they resumed the clinch. As the round entered it’s final minute they began exchanging again, before Jones scored with an explosive wrestling throw. The round ended with Jones attempting a scissor trip.

Round three began with an exchange of jabs, before Bonnar initiated a clinch briefly. Both men then went for the muay thai clinch for a few seconds, before going back to the more traditional kind of clinch. Soon, Jones pushed Bonnar back to the middle of the cage, with Bonnar connecting with a Superman punch. Both fighters were now starting to show signs of fatigue as they seemed to be using the clinch to get a breather. The fight soon went back downstairs though after another Jones take down, and after a few seconds Bonnar went for a triangle. A pop of the head later and Jones had escaped though. As they got back to their feet a brief clinch followed, which was soon followed by another clinch as the clock ticked down to the final minute of the fight. As the fight entered it’s final thirty seconds Bonnar began to stalk Jones, with the fight ending with both men looking to exchange again.

Once again it was down to the judges to decide, with Jones getting the unanimous decision. A tremendous and impressive performance from Jones here. He is definitely one to watch in the future.

The light-heavyweight action continued with Lyoto Machida taking on Thiago Silva. This one began with the usual feeling out, with Machida making the first movement with a kick, following up with a few combinations. Seconds later he connected with a good body kick, following this up with an inadvertent knee to the groin. After the required rest period, Silva came back strongly with a kick of his own, only for Machida to take it down to the mat with a foot sweep. It wasn’t long before they were back on their feet though, attempting to connect with blows and kicks. Machida then connected with a knee to the mid section, followed up by a left that sent Silva down. Machida followed Silva to the ground, and was soon in the full guard position. Eventually Machida got back up to his feet, but Silva wasn’t to eager to follow him up, choosing to attack with up kicks. So with Silva staying down, Machida decided to join him on the mat again. Again, they returned to their feet, teeing off against each other, and once again was sent back down following a Machida combination. Machida followed him down again, first taking side control and then the guard, before choosing to stand back up. Once again Silva chose to stay on the mat, so Machida went for the ground and pound, soon taking Silva’s back as they got back up, soon turning it into a clinch against the cage. Seconds later Machida pushed Silva down to the mat, and followed him down with a single punch as the round ended. But Silva was out cold, and the referee called a halt to the fight immediately. A very good performance from Machida. Silva had his moments here, but Machida was more than able to keep on top.

Main event time, with Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn stepping up a division to challenge Georges St-Pierre for the Welterweight title. Round one, and with the crowd going wild, the re-match we’ve been waiting ages for began. It wasn’t long before they engaged in a clinch, connecting with knees as they tried to get into position. A short time later GSP went looking for a take down, which Penn was able to defend against. This saw the fighters engage in another clinch before St-Pierre grabbed another leg in another attempted take down. When all of these attempts failed, they began to stand-up game. Both fighters managed to get in some good shots before they went back to the clinch, with St-Pierre pushing Penn up against the cage, looking for the take down again. Penn was still able to defend against these attempts, so they went back to trading blows. As the round entered it’s final minute, St-Pierre went for the clinch again momentarily, with the round ending with the fighters squaring off against each other.

Round two, and the crowd was still going wild. GSP’s corner had told him to stick to kickboxing, and in the early stages he did as he was told, mainly because Penn was connecting with his jab. But it wasn’t long before St-Pierre instigated a clinch, going back to his first round tactics, only this time he was successful as he took Penn down to the mat, taking the full guard, with Penn trying the rubber guard at times. GSP went for the ground and pound, passing to half guard before going to side control and getting off several unanswered shots to the head. Once he had fully established side control he continued with the blows, throwing in a knee to the mid section for good measure. Moments later he transitioned to the guard, postured up, and went for the ground and pound. All Penn seemed able to do was hang on as he tried for the rubber guard again while St-Pierre kept connecting. The champion then went back to side guard for a few seconds, before going back to full guard, where he continued his assault until the end of the round.

Round three, and with the crowd still going wild, St-Pierre rattled off a couple of rights, deciding to mix it up a little with the challenger. After Penn got off a quick jab, St-Pierre soon got another take down, getting half guard, once again delivering blows and the occasional knee to the mid section. GSP continued as he transitioned to full guard. Penn tried to work his way out, and eventually he did, pushing St-Pierre up against the cage, looking for a take down of his own. St-Pierre soon reversed things, soon getting a take down of his own. He began to work from the guard, connecting with several blows, including a big elbow. Penn tried to kick him off, but St-Pierre went straight back down into the guard as the round came to an end.

Round four, and the crowd were still going wild. St-Pierre came out quickly to stalk his challenger, unleashing a jab, following up with a kick, getting a quick take down seconds later, passing to side control almost as quickly, and going for the ground and pound. All Penn seemed able to do was hold on as the champion controlled the fight, trying to get the full mount but getting half guard, and once again gaining side control. As St-Pierre continued with the blows and knees, the referee warned Penn that he had to fight back. St-Pierre was able to transition at will. He was truly dominating one of the top fighters in the world, making him look like an amateur. As the final thirty seconds of the round approached, and as St-Pierre continued his attack, the referee warned Penn again about defending himself. He didn’t seem to be able to do anything to stop the champion.

Round five never happened. Penn was pulled out of the fight after advice from the doctor, giving St-Pierre the title retaining TKO victory. This was a truly dominating performance from St-Pierre, the best I’ve ever seen from him. He dominated one of the UFC’s top fighters from beginning to end, and to say that GSP was awesome here would be an understatement.

In conclusion - while we, as MMA fans, always enjoy a good knockout, we also enjoy action packed fights that go the distance, or at least a good few rounds, where the fighters can show off the full range of their skills. Machida and Silva aside, this is what we got with UFC 94. A good undercard, and an excellent main event which I can’t really speak too highly of, it was that good, with Georges St-Pierre once again showing why he is considered the best pound for pound fighter in MMA at the moment. I’m a B.J. Penn fan, but the way that GSP dominated him in the ground was a thing of beauty, and fights like these are the reason that the sport of mixed martial arts is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the world.

It’s debut time again here in The Two Sheds Review, as we take a look back at Affliction’s latest pay-per-view offering, Day of Reckoning, headline by Andrei Arlovski challenging Fedor Emelianenko for the WAMMA Heavyweight title, in a broadcast that was shown on a twenty-four hour delay on Bravo here in Britain. Our hosts for the evening are Sean Wheelock, Jimmy Smith and Tito Ortiz.

The broadcast begins with action from the heavyweight division, with Paul Buentello facing Fedor protégé Kiril Sidellnikov. Round one began with the fighters exchanging jabs, before Sidellnikov began to throw some bombs, only for Buentello to return in kind. A clinch in the corner followed, where both men were able to unload with knees and punches. Sidellnikov’s left eye was beginning to swell by this stage. It wasn’t long before both fighters began trading again, before a second clinch in the corner which saw the fighters connecting with the knees again. However, Sidellnikov was able to reverse the position, but it wasn’t long before Buentello fought his way free. Back in the middle of the ring the fighters began to trade blows again, with Buentello scoring with a right uppercut. Another clinch followed, before they quickly returned to the stand-up game, with Buentello getting the better of the exchanges as the round entered it’s final minute. The fighters found themselves in another clinch in the corner, each getting their licks in, before moving out as the round came to an end.

Round two began with Buentello connecting with a jab. A few seconds later Sidellnikov stumbled a little after attempting a kick. However, it wasn’t long before Buentello began to use the left jab again as he looked to get control of the fight. Sidellnikov landed a few good punches of his own, but Buentello always seemed to be one step ahead of the Russian. But then a few moments later Sidellnikov suddenly came alive, staggering the American a little before getting him in a body lock in the corner in an attempt to take him down. This ultimately failed, so they returned to swinging and banging, where once again Buentello got the upper hand. Sidellnikov then shot for Buentello’s legs, which the American easily defended, before staggering the Russian again. It seemed as if the American was finding the mark with every punch he threw, seemingly targeting Sidellnikov’s swelled eye as the round ended.

Round three, and once again Buentello sought to control the fight with his boxing, and once again he seemed to get the upper hand early on, using his left jab to one again target Sidellnikov’s damaged eye. Moments a later, a big uppercut rocked the Russian. By this time Sidellnikov was looking tired, and Buentello looked like he was using his younger opponent for target practice. A brief trip to the mat followed, but they didn’t stay down there long before they got back to their feet. Seconds later, Buentello staggered Sidellnikov with a jab, and knocked him to the mat shortly afterwards. A brief pause followed when Sidellnikov lost his gum shield, but the rest didn’t do him any good, as Buentello continued with the jab when the fight re-started. Sidellnikov then spat the mouthpiece again, and after the referee asked for the ringside doctor to look at the Russian, the fight was called immediately, giving the well deserved TKO victory to Buentello in what proved to be a good opening contest.

Then it was down to the light heavyweight division, with Renato Sobral facing Thierry Sokoudjou. Round one began with the usual feeling out process, exchanging jabs and kicks. Sobral went for a quick take down, but quickly decided against that course of action. However, a second attempt soon followed, with Sobral tying up Sokoudjou against the ropes and trying a belly to belly that failed. A second clinch followed, which the referee broke up because the African had hooked the ropes. When the fight restarted Sobral soon took Sokoudjou’s back, who seemed to try to get out of the ring to break the hold. Once again the referee separated them, and it wasn’t long before the fight went to the ground, with Sokoudjou in top position, going to the ground and pound.  He soon took Sobral’s back, but not for long as both men got to their feet, with Sobral hooking Sokoudjou’s leg in an attempt to take him down. This soon turned into a clinch, but that went nowhere, so they were separated again, the last thing of note to happen in the round.

Round two began with the fighters exchanging blows, both of them getting in some good shots before Sobral took his opponent down. Once then he went to work with the ground and pound. The Brazilian then passed guard to side control, before going back to half guard and going for the ground and pound once again. But when the action got to close to the ropes, the referee moved them back to the centre of the ring, where Sobral continued with his control, and continued with the ground and pound. Sokoudjou then tried to escape, giving Sobral the chance to apply the anaconda choke. Seconds later, Sokoudjou was tapping, the submission victory going to the Brazilian in what was a very good and patient performance against an opponent who really needs to work on his ground game.

Down to the middleweight division next, with the Phenom himself, Vitor Belfort, tacking Matt Lindland. A quick one here. Belfort make the first move with a low kick. Then Belfort caught Lindland with a left hook that sent him down. Belfort followed him down for the ground and pound, with the referee quickly calling a halt to the fight. Lindland was unconscious for some time, such was the ferocity of Belfort’s blow, and received medical attention for quite some time. Thankfully he was able to leave the ring under his own steam though. A good performance from Belfort here, something I haven’t seen from him in a while.

Then it was time for more heavyweight action, with Josh Barnett and Gilbert Yvel. Round one began with both fighters looking for an opening, unleashing the occasional punch or kick. Yvel tried for a kick, but Barnett blocked it and took the fight down to the ground, taking Yvel’s half guard, looking for the ground and pound. Yvel tried to move up and out of the way, but Barnett just took him down again and went back to work. He then went looking for a kimura, which Yvel easily escaped from. Barnett then went for an Americana, but soon gave up so he could go back to the ground and pound, soon taking side mount before going back to half guard, once again looking for a kimura. Barnett then went into full mount, and again rained down with a flurry of blows. Yvel tried to work his way out, only for Barnett to take his back and deliver more punishment. The last ten seconds saw Yvel finally get up off the mat.

Round two saw Yvel come out fighting, before Barnett took him down again, taking side control. The work was a little slower this time, but he soon began to work for the kimura again, another attempt which ended in failure. Back in the half guard, and then the mount, Barnett went to work with the blows again. Yvel tried to come back with some blows of his own, but they had literally no effect on the American. But Barnett looked in complete control with everything he did. Yvel again managed to land with a few punches, but this seemed more like an effort to appease the referee more than anything else. As the round came to an end Yvel reversed the positions, but he just didn’t have enough time to do any kind of damage.

Round three, and Yvel managed to connect with a few good blows, only to be met with a big Barnett take down, with the American quickly taking the mount, connecting with punches and elbows. Try as he might, Yvel just couldn’t escape, and once again Barnett looked in full control as he went for the ground and pound. Yvel tried to defend himself, but in the end it was too much for the Dutchman. As Barnett came down with another torrent of blows, Yvel tapped. This was an outstanding and dominating performance from Barnett here. I have to admit I haven’t seen many of his fights, but this was, by far, the best I’ve seen from him.

Main event time, with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski challenging Fedor Emelianenko for the WAMMA Heavyweight title. This was another one that didn’t last too long. Arlovski came out looking strong, and was the first to make contact with a leg kick, following up with a big right hand. Arlovski continued to throw blows, with Fedor looking a little sloppy when he tried to return in kind. A clinch against the ropes followed, and as Fedor went for a leg trip, Arlovski was able to defend. But with the clinch coming to nothing, the referee separated them. Arlovski then continued to have success with his hand speed, and as he backed Fedor into the corner with a front kick, Arlovski made the fatal error. As he leapt up to deliver a big knee, Fedor connected with a right to the jaw. Arlovski was out before he hit the ground as the referee called an immediate halt to the contest. This was a great example of how quickly things can turn in an MMA fight. Arlovski was clearly winning from the early exchanges, and just one punch from the man heralded as the best fighter on the planet, and it was over. Is Fedor the best fighter in the world? Well, having only seen a few of his Pride fights, I would have to say no. He’s close, though.

In conclusion - my first experience of an Affliction MMA show is a very good one. Everything impressed me, from the layout of the arena to the production values, as well as, of course, the fights themselves. There wasn’t one bad one here folks, with Josh Barnett’s dominating performance against Gilbert Yvel clearly the fight of the night. It was also good to see Big John McCarthy back where he belongs, as he’s definitely the best referee in the world at the moment.

There was one thing that I wasn’t too impressed with though - while Tito Ortiz did well at the commentary table, as an in-ring interviewer, he kind of sucked, fluffing his lines countless times.

So can Affliction become a viable alternative to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Yes, they can. Their use of a ring instead of a cage is a step in the right direction, but while the UFC blueprint is a good one to copy, Affliction has to forge it’s own identity, otherwise they’ll come off looking like a poor man’s version of the UFC. It’s something I’ve seen in the professional wrestling business countless times. So instead of looking like a poor man’s UFC, I would advise the powers-that-be to become a rich man’s Affliction.

It’s the fight that we’ve been wanting for ages, as former middleweight king Rich Franklin finally meets former Pride two weight king Dan Henderson. There’s also the return of a hall of famer as the Ultimate Fighting Championship makes its Irish debut with UFC 93: Franklin v Stephenson, shown live this past Saturday night on Setanta Sports here in Britain. The usual suspects are handling commentary duties for this one, Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan.

The action begins in the welterweight division, with the Irish Hand Grenade himself, Marcus Davis, achieving his dream of fighting in Dublin against Chris Lytle. Round one began with the crowd singing and the usual feeling out process, before Lytle caught Davis with a wide right that staggered Davis, causing the Dublin crowd to fall silent. It wasn’t long before both the crowd and Davis regained their composure as both guys rolled off a few good shots and counters. About two minutes in, Davis connected with a good left, and as the round progressed it became obvious that Davis had clearly shaken off Lytle’s early onslaught, especially as he began to pepper Lytle’s right side with kicks, reddening the skin around the ribs. Both men went to the ground briefly, but both men preferred the upright game as the round came to an end, with Davis having sustained a cut on his left cheek.

Round two began with both fighters again preferring the stand-up game. A few seconds in Lytle went looking for the knockout, but Davis was wise to his attack. After another brief foray to the ground, Davis connected with a wicked looking knee from a muay thai clinch. Lytle was able to keep up with Davis, wading in and swinging wide, the opposite to what Davis was doing. Despite the lack of any ground work this was turning out to be one of those fights you just couldn’t keep yours eyes off, as both men traded punches and counter punches, kicks and counter kicks, but as time passed by it was becoming obvious that Davis’ knees and kicks to the mid-section were having their desired effect on Lytle.

Round three, and after a great show of sportsmanship from both fighters, it was back to normal. Lytle continued with his chosen game plan, but as with the previous rounds Davis seemed to have a counter for everything that Lytle was doing. Davis continued to target Lytle’s mid-section, and Lights Out seemed to be favouring the right side of his body, given the way that he was hanging his arm. Davis clearly had Lytle’s number, and in the last ten seconds Davis connected with a blow that sent Lytle down.

So with the fight going the three round distance, it went down to the judges, with Davis getting the well earned split decision. This was a great way to start the show, a terrific display from Davis, and I wouldn’t be surprised if his current streak puts him in line for a title shot later this year.

Up to the middleweight division for the next fight, with the much heralded Denis Kang making his UFC debut against Alan Belcher. Round one, and Kang came out quickly, looking to take the battle to his opponent. Some good combinations followed as Kang got the better of Belcher, and he soon scored with the first takedown of the fight. Belcher had him tied up at first, but Kang was soon able to free himself so he could transition to half guard and then side control. The debutant looked to be in excellent shape as he seemed to transition at will before he stood back up and connected with some more good shots as Belcher followed him to his feet. Kang soon scored with a second takedown, although Belcher had the under hooks sunk in. But like the first takedown Kang was able to free himself, and once again asserted control of the fight. It wasn’t long before Kang went for a kimura, an attempt which was ultimately unsuccessful. The round ended with Kang in complete control.

Round two, and Kang once again went looking to assert his control. A brief flurry of blows was followed by a clinch against the cage, before Kang once again showed how good his striking was. A minute or so later Kang took the fight to the ground again. Belcher tried to fight back, but Kang countered by transitioning into half guard, although Belcher was doing a good job of trying to tie up his legs as he slowly began to work his way back into the fight. However, it wasn’t long before the referee stood both fighters up due to inactivity. Slowly but surely Belcher seemed to be working Kang out. And then it came. As Kang went for a takedown, Belcher countered with a guillotine, and seconds later Kang was tapping. To say that I was surprised by the manner of Belcher’s victory would be an understatement. It seemed as if Kang just had to hang in for the remainder of the second and the final round, and the victory was his. A good victory for Belcher here.

The middleweight action continued with the evergreen Jeremy Horn facing Rousimar Palhares. Round one began with the feeling out process, with things going to the ground about forty seconds in. Palhares soon took Horn’s back, and he pounded away as he looked for the rear naked choke. But when that didn’t work, Palhares took Horn’s guard, soon transitioning to half guard, taking his back once again, before going back to the half guard. Palhares appeared to be in complete control, even though Horn had his moments, and was able to get back to his feet, only for the Brazilian to take him back down immediately. Once again it wasn’t long before Palhares took Horn’s back, coming down with the hammer fists, but once again Horn’s defence worked well again. Palhares once again asserted his control though as he went for Horn’s leg, looking for a knee bar. The round ended with Palhares once again taking Horn’s back, raining down with a torrent of blows.

Round two, and Palhares once again took control, showing tremendous strength as he lifted Horn up and slammed him down to the mat. Once again the Brazilian took Horn’s back, and all the veteran could do was try and defend himself as Palhares connected. Horn tried to get back to his feet, but Palhares kept control, until Horn finally got into the half guard before getting the mount and attempting an arm triangle. The Brazilian managed to escape though, and seconds later both fighters were back on their feet. Horn seemed to have a second wind as Palhares looked visibly tired. Palhares went for a takedown, which Horn was able to defend against. However, Palhares was successful with a second attempt as he took the guard, although Horn tried to counter with a triangle. As the seconds ticked away Palhares managed to escape.

Round three, and once again Palhares showed how strong he was as he took Horn down with a back suplex, and once again Horn showed some good defensive work, although once again he couldn’t stop Palhares taking his back. They returned to their feet briefly, only for Palhares to take the fight back down seconds later, again asserting his control. Then, nothing much happened for a few seconds, until Horn went for a triangle which Palhares easily escaped from. Horn again showed some good defensive work, although the Brazilian was now looking even more fatigued as he was basically just hanging on in the guard position. With nothing happening, the referee stood both fighters up, and as the fight entered it’s final minute, Palhares faked a takedown, Horn fell for it, and Palhares again took control on the ground as the fight came to an end.

The unanimous decision went in favour of Palhares, and rightfully so. Although Horn showed some great defensive work, Palhares clearly had the upper hand in what was a very good performance.

The next fight saw action in the welterweight division, with Tom Egan taking on John Hathaway, although the television audience didn’t see the first minute of the fight as the good people at Setanta came back late from a commercial break. This was strictly filler material though, as Hathaway was in complete control throughout, with the referee stopping the fight in the final thirty seconds of the first round following some ground and pound work. A truly dominating performance for Hathaway against the hometown boy, making me wonder why Egan bothered turning up in the first place.

Main event time #1, with the returning Mark Coleman taking on Shogun Rua in the light heavyweight division. Round one, and the action began quickly. Shogun began with a big kick, with Coleman countering with a takedown. The veteran took control immediately, although Shogun countered with a knee bat attempt. They stood back up briefly, before Coleman took the fight back down seconds later. Rua once again went for another submission, this time a triangle, before the Brazilian took control himself, taking Coleman down and going into half guard. Coleman tried to work his way out, but Rua was always in control. Things were a little more even when they were back on their feet though, but Rua once again regained control of the fight as Coleman began to look tired. The transitions were thick and fast though as each man took control of the other’s back, before a left/right combination hurt the Hammer and saw him fall to the mat, grabbing hold of Rua’s legs as he went down. The round ended with both fighters trading jabs.

Round two, and Coleman looked out of it as the round began, while Shogun looked as fresh as a daisy. Rua got the better of the opening exchanges, although Coleman was able to counter with a takedown. But as the Hammer was unable to follow up, Rua got back to his feet. Coleman soon got control on the ground again, but again Rua was able to work his way out so he could take the fight back upright. Coleman’s hands were low as Rua was able to take shots at him. It was starting to get painful to watch as Rua kept control. Coleman began to score with a couple of takedowns though, using this as a way to take a breather, but Rua soon began to synch in an alma plata. However, the Brazilian preferred the ground and pound instead of finishing Coleman with the submission.

Round three, and by now both fighters looked exhausted. A Coleman body shot rocked Rua a little. A clinch against the cage seemed to go on forever until they went down to the mat with Coleman on top. Despite looking knackered Coleman seemed to be getting the upper hand with the ground and pound. Moments later Rua went for a knee bar, with Coleman moving out to take Rua’s back. All Shogun could do was cover up as Coleman connected with some weary looking blows. It took a while, but eventually Shogun regained control, earning himself a warning as he connected with a knee to Coleman’s head while the Hammer was still on the ground, although replays showed that the knee connected to the body. With the fight entering the final thirty seconds, Rua began to tee off against Coleman, with the referee stepping in to stop the fight as Coleman slumped to the mat, with the Hammer complaining bitterly about the manner of his defeat. If truth be known this wasn’t exactly an inspiring fight. There were some good moments early on, but as time went on it became plainly obvious that both men hadn’t fought in a while. This won’t go down as a classic.

Main event time #2, further action in the light heavyweight division with Rich Franklin facing Dan Henderson, with the winner coaching Team USA against Team UK in the next series of The Ultimate Fighter. Round one, and Henderson was the first one to strike with a low leg kick. Franklin came back in kind, with Henderson coming back with a hard right that staggered Franklin. Both men went to the ground immediately, with Henderson on top. Franklin did a good job in tying Henderson up briefly, although he was able to work his way out so he could dish out the ground and pound, taking Franklin’s back and connecting with a couple of knees as the Ace one struggled to get back to his feet. Eventually Franklin was able to escape, and things began to look a bit more even as both fighters unloaded with some good shots. It was great to watch as both men put together some good combinations, although an accidental clash of heads opened up a couple of cuts on Franklin’s forehead.

Round two began in the same way that round one ended, punch for punch, counter for counter, which made for great viewing as both fighters looked to tee off against each other. The first clinch came halfway through the round, with Henderson getting the first takedown. The ground game proved to be just as riveting as the stand-up game, as both fighters tried to take control of the fight. While Henderson’s offensive work was good, Franklin’s defensive work was more than a match for it, and that’s pretty much how things went for the remainder of the round.

Round three continued in the same way, again. Henderson scored with the takedown nearly a minute into the round, with both fighters showing some good work, with Franklin soon working his way back to the dominant position and looking for the ground and pound. Henderson managed to get back to his feet, engaging in a clinching war up against the cage. When this went nowhere they went back to trading blows. Moments later they went for another clinch, with Franklin able to connect with a few knees to the body. Back in the middle of the cage Henderson went for a head kick but slipped, and seconds later he inadvertently poked Franklin’s right eye. A brief rest period followed before the final thirty seconds or so of the fight, which ended with both men looking to cement their victory.

So once again the judges were called upon to render a decision, with Henderson getting the split decision in what proved to be a great main event, and a worthy advertisement for the sport.

In conclusion - the first UFC show of the year proved to be a very good one. Coleman/Rua aside, the fights varied from good to great, with Franklin/Henderson proving to be worthy of it’s main event status, and topping off a night of great performances, and with a Dan Henderson/Michael Bisping fight to look forward to now things look great for the upcoming year in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, especially with the big welterweight title match coming up in a few weeks.

The latest edition of The Two Sheds Review sees us taking another look at British mixed martial arts promotion Cage Gladiators and their recent Clash of the Titans show, held at the Liverpool Olympia, and broadcast on ITV4 this past Monday night here in Britain.

The broadcast begins with a title fight, with Aidan Marron defended the British Lightweight title against Rob Sinclair. Round one saw the usual feeling out process, looking a little defensive as they looked for an opening. Kicks were exchanged, and nothing really came of them until Sinclair caught Marron’s kick and used it to engage in a clinch, eventually scoring with a big slam. Both fighters began to work from their respective positions, with Marron locking in a tight armbar, which Sinclair rolled to escape from. Marron went for the armbar again, but didn’t get anywhere, with Sinclair coming back with some heavy ground and pound, tying his opponent up as he delivered the blows. The attack soon opened up a bad looking cut on Marron’s forehead, with Sinclair taking Marron’s back and suplexing him down as the round came to an end.

Round two, and having been examined by the doctors, Marron was sent out for battle. Sinclair soon went for another take down, looking to begin the ground and pound again. When he couldn’t get any luck from the front, Sinclair took Marron’s back, and again went for the ground and pound. As Marron moved onto his side, Sinclair went to work with the hammer fists, and with Marron failing to defend himself, the referee stepped in and called a halt to the fight, giving the TKO win to Sinclair. This was a great performance by Sinclair here, who came in with a game plan and executed it perfectly. Marron didn’t stand a chance.

International action followed, with Carl Noon facing Nerijus Mikelatius. This was a blink and you’ll miss it affair. Noon went to work from the off, unleashing with punches and knees, and just thirty two seconds into the fight, Mikelatius’ corner threw in the towel, such was the intensity of Noon’s onslaught. The Lithuanian didn’t stand a chance, with Noon declaring his intention immediately.

More title action follows, with Stefan Struve defending his World Heavyweight title against Mario Netto. Round one, and the height difference between the two fighters was apparent for all to see, with Struve towering over his opponent. It wasn’t long though before the fight went to the ground, Netto going for the ground and pound, and Struve using his long legs to defend himself. Netto countered by going to side control, transitioning to the guard, only to find that Struve was able to easily escape. A half guard from Netto followed, which Struve tried to defend with a rubber guard, but no matter what he did Struve was able to counter. So Netto went back to his original plan with the ground and pound, before taking Struve’s guard. However, by this time it was becoming apparent that Struve’s size was a clear advantage on the ground, as Netto seemed to have trouble with his aim. But then came the disadvantage with long legs, as Netto went for a heel hook which was ultimately unsuccessful. Moments later Struve took Netto’s back, but nothing came of it as the round came to an end.

Round two, and Netto went for the take down straight away, soon taking the half guard. Struve tried to escape, but Netto soon had him back down on the ground again. Netto was transitioning well, and was easily able to get out of Struve’s kimura attempt. But despite the fact that Netto seemed to be doing well, Struve was constantly working, and it wasn’t long before he went for another kimura. When that failed, he simply rolled over, took Netto’s guard, and soon took Netto’s back. After a few strikes Struve locked in an arm triangle. Seconds later Netto tapped, and Struve had retained his title. A very good match between two fighters who knew what they were going, with the big man impressing the hell out of me.

Then it was on to Lee Chadwick against Jay Keiron. This one began quickly. Keiron unleashed with a few good shots until Chadwick locked him up with a clinch against the cage. When nothing came of that, the referee separated them, only for the fighters to engage in another clinch against the opposite side of the cage. Both fighters connected with some knees to the mid-section, and Chadwick took Keiron’s back briefly before they returned to the clinch, with Chadwick taking his man down before trying to move him up against the cage in side control. It wasn’t long before he took Keiron’s back again, and after a few choice shots he synched in the rear naked choke. The choke seemed to be on for ages before Keiron finally tapped. Another very good fight, with Chadwick putting in a great performance.

Next up was the master of the triangle choke Paul Sass taking on Jason Ball. Round one began with both fighters swinging for the trees before it quickly went down to the mat, with Ball dominating with his strikes. Seconds later they stood back up, with Sass going for the immediate takedown, and Ball doing everything he could to defend himself. Sass soon took Ball’s back, but as Ball had a hold of Sass’ right arm to start off with it didn’t really do Sass much good, until he was able to free himself so he could look for a rear naked choke. But Ball showed great defence in countering these attempts. Ball was soon able to roll out, although Sass had control of his arm as at first he went for an armbar, and then went for a kimura. Ball soon escaped, and got in some good ground and pound as the first round came to an end.

Round two began a little slower than the first round. Sass went for Ball’s leg, with Ball countering with the ground and pound. Sass was eating leather as he lay on his back, and Ball was clearly dominating, and even went for a triangle choke, which ultimately failed as Sass went into side control. Sass was clearly sapped, and only threw a few punches which didn’t seem to have any power to them, and he kept up this attack for the remainder of the round.

Round three saw Sass looking for the take down from the off, and his attempts failed as Ball once again went for the ground and pound. But just when it looked as it Ball was going to dominate again, Sass locked in the, yep, you guessed it, the triangle choke. Ball tried to fight it, but it wasn’t long before he was tapping, giving the sixth triangle choke victory in a row for Sass. Sass was disappointing in this one, as Ball dominated throughout.

The third title fight followed, with John Maguire facing Chris Rice with the vacant British Middleweight title on the line. Round one began with the feeling out process, throwing punches and kicks to test the waters before Maguire got the first takedown of the fight, getting into the half guard. Rice tried to roll out, but all this succeeded in doing was giving Maguire his back. Maguire was constantly looking for the rear naked choke, with Rice able to defend by holding on to his opponent’s hands at various times. The tactic worked, and was clearly frustrating Maguire until he went for the choke, although he released it a few seconds later when it wasn’t locked in properly. Realising that he wasn’t going anywhere with this tactic, Maguire rolled into the full mount position, and once again Rice showed some good defensive work.

With our announcers saying that round two was just like round one, it was straight on to round three, which began with Rice going for a take down, grabbing Maguire’s right leg, and eventually scoring with the move, only for Maguire to roll over and take side control, before moving to half guard. In truth it didn’t really make for exciting viewing due to the lack of work, which was probably caused by the fatigue factor. Maguire soon took side control, and it wasn’t long before the referee stood the fighters up because of the inactivity. Seconds later Maguire took Rice down again, and this time both fighters were a little more active, for a while anyway, until the referee stood them up again for inactivity. As the final seconds ticked away Maguire went for another takedown, but the clock beat him.

So with the fight going the three round distance, it was down to the judges to decide as they gave the unanimous decision to Maguire. Hardly the most inspiring fight I’ve ever seen, I have to admit.

The final fight of the show saw David Johnson take on Colum Gillane. A fast beginning saw Johnson connecting with some lighting fast punches and kicks, with Gillane responding in kind. A brief clinch against the cage followed before the fighters began exchanging again, with Johnson soon gaining the upper hand with his combination and knees in the muay thai clinch. Seconds later the fight went to the ground, and Johnson continued his onslaught with the ground and pound, and with Gillane failing to defend himself, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. After the slight disappointment of the previous fight, this was just what the doctor ordered.

In conclusion - despite the somewhat lacklustre Maguire/Rice fight, Clash of the Titans proved to be another good example of British MMA at it’s best. A really enjoyable fight card with some good performances from the likes of David Johnson, Lee Chadwick and Jason Ball. Good stuff all round, and let’s hope that if future shows are also given the Monday night 11pm slot, more and more British MMA fans will start to catch the Cage Gladiators product.

It’s the final pay-per-view of the year, when the second piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is currently the UFC Heavyweight Championship is put into place, as Antonio Nogueira defends his interim title against Frank Muir, while Forrest Griffin defends his Light-Heavyweight title against Rashad Evans at UFC 92: Ultimate 2008, shown live here in Britain on Setanta Sports.

The show begins with an all European fight in the heavyweight division, with France’s Cheick Kongo facing Britain’s own Mustapha Al Turk. The fight began with a quick exchange which saw Al Turk slip slightly. A few seconds later Kongo caught a kick, and a right sent Al Turk down to the ground, although the Brit didn’t stay there long, getting back up to his feet and immediately trying for the take down. Kongo defended with everything he had, connecting with a couple of good knees in the process, and showing how much his take down defence has improved. With Al Turk’s tactics going nowhere, Kongo reversed things a little, controlling a clinch up against the cage, until an inadvertent knee to the groin caught Kongo unawares. The Frenchman took the offered rest period, although he still looked in some discomfort when the fight re-started. It wasn’t long before Al Turk went for a take down again, grabbing hold of Kongo’s leg against the cage, but once again Kongo’s defence was sound, and he was able to reverse with a clinch. Then came the second low blow of the round, and this time it was Kongo who connected with a low knee, making this writer (and probably quite a few others) wonder if the Frenchman was trying to get a bit of payback. Once again the fight was stopped to allow Al Turk to rest, with the ref giving both fighters a stern warning before the fight was re-started. When it did, Kongo was like a house afire. A combination rocked Al Turk, and as the Brit fell to the mat, Kongo went in for the kill, connecting with fists and elbows, opening up a cut. At first Al Turk defended himself, but it wasn’t along before that defence was breached, and as Kongo’s attack went unanswered, the referee stepped in to stop the onslaught, awarding the fight to Kongo as he sent out a statement to the two heavyweight champions. This was a great performance from Kongo, who has really improved since his early days in the UFC, and by now he must be one of the top contenders in the heavyweight division.

Then it’s down a division to the light-heavyweights, and one that I was really looking forward to, as Rampage Jackson faced Wanderlei Silva. This one began with Jackson stalking Silva, before both fighters got off a couple of combinations, with Silva getting in a kick for good measure. Both fighters appeared cautious as the seconds ticked away, as they tested the waters with occasional jabs. In truth, apart from this nothing much happened for the next few moments, until Jackson caught a Silva kick which quickly went nowhere. Then, the explosion. Silva went for a combination, Jackson connected with a left to the chin, and Silva fell like the proverbial sack of spuds. Jackson went in for the kill, but Silva was probably out before he hit the ground, so the referee had no choice but to stop the fight. A pretty slow fight here, until the final few seconds when it suddenly came to life with Jackson’s knockout punch.

Back up to the heavyweights next with some filler material, with Dan Evensen taking on Pat Barry. The fight began with Evensen rushing in quickly, with a brief clinch which was broken up. Evensen then tried for another lock-up, only to be thrown down by Barry. This seemed to be Evensen’s tactics all the time, and the third time he went for a lock-up he succeeded in getting a clinch up against the cage, but as nothing happened, the referee pulled them apart. Exchanges of kicks and punches followed, with Berry scoring with some big leg kicks before the fight went to the ground with Berry on top. Seconds later Berry got out of the guard, and again connected with a big leg kick that sent Evensen staggering away towards the cage, unable to continue because of a knee injury, with the referee awarding the victory to Barry. An impressive performance from Barry on his UFC debut, with Evensen unlucky here.

Middleweight action followed, with CB Dollaway going up against Mike Massenzio. The fight began with the feeling out process before a clinch up against the cage, which didn’t last long. Dollaway then went for a wild looking kick, before trying a looping combination. But then a left hook from Massenzio rocked Dollaway, before he locked in a guillotine choke which Dollaway was able to escape from, moving into Massenzio’s guard. Massenzio then went for a triangle choke, and again, Dollaway was able to escape, taking side control before moving to the guard, soon transitioning into the full mount, and then taking Messenzio’s back. Dollaway rained down with a torrent of blows, and with Messenzio offering nothing in return, the referee called a halt to proceedings, much to the chagrin of the loser as Dollaway got the TKO win. A very interesting fight this, showing how a fight can tip from one way to the other in a matter of seconds.

More filler material next, with Matt Hamill facing Reese Andy at light heavyweight. Round one began with attempted clinches and attempted punches which ultimately went nowhere, before Hamill caught Reese’s leg. Hamill couldn’t do anything with it though, so both fighters went back to exchanging kicks and blows. Moments later Andy got off a good combination, including a sweet looking uppercut. This was pretty much how the fight went for the next few moments, with neither fighter able to gain any sort of advantage, although Andy was able to open up a cut underneath Hamill’s right eye, and it didn’t really make for enthralling viewing as the round came to an end.

Round two saw Hamill quickly take the centre of the octagon as both fighters continued with their tactics from the previous round, with Hamill scoring with more and more shots. Andy went for a take down a couple of times but Hamill just brushed him off. Hamill then connected with a knee to Andy’s face which staggered him a little, before he scored again with a vicious body shot. Hamill was certainly doing a lot more in this round, and as he went in for the kill Andy went down to his knees as Hamill went in for the kill. Hamill soon got into the mount and pounded away on Andy, who offered nothing in return, forcing the referee to stop the fight. This was a mixed bag for me. The first round offered very little in the form of entertainment, while Hamill clearly took the instructions of his corner to heart in between rounds to get the job done and to get the TKO win.

Main event time #1, with Antonio Nogueira defending the Interim Heavyweight title against former champion Frank Mir. Round one, and this began quickly, Muir going for a head kick early on, before rocking Nogueira a few seconds later with a jab, following it up with some more shots before taking the Brazilian down to the mat. A few Mir blows followed, before the former champion let Nogueira stand up. Mir looked in top form with his punches and kicks, and although Nogueira was keeping him on the back foot, it was Mir who looked in control, and moments later Mir sent Nogueira down with a left, following the champion down so he could rain in a few blows, before standing up again, realising that he couldn’t finish the fight there. Nogueira followed Mir back up a few seconds later. As the round entered it’s final minute, Mir still looked in control, and the blows that Nogueira landed didn’t seem to phase Mir in the slightest, and in the final seconds a Mir combination knocked the champion on his backside once again.

Round two, and Mir continued in the same vein. No matter what Nogueira did, it just didn’t seem to worry Mir, and after almost two minutes of the round, Mir connected with another left that knocked Nogueira down. Mir followed up, with the referee stopping the fight seconds later, giving Mir the Interim title in what was a tremendous performance. This was, by far, the best performance I’ve ever seen from him, doing something that no other fighter has ever done - finish the minotaur.

Main event time #2, the battle of the Ultimate Fighters, with Forrest Griffin defending the Light Heavyweight Championship against Rashad Evans. Round one began with the usual feeling out process, both men testing the waters with a couple of jabs, before Griffin got off a couple of good kicks. The next few moments saw both fighters have their moments, both connecting with jabs and kicks, and it was hard to separate the fighters, to tell who was getting the upper hand, and this was how the rest of the round went, it was that even.

Round two continued where round one had left off, although an Evans slip got people wondering for a second or two. Both fighters continued to score with good jabs and kicks, with Evans now showing his speed, although he wasn’t quick enough to avoid a Griffin right hand that staggered him. Griffin then upped his game for the next few seconds, and Evans did well to survive.  The next few moments were somewhat quiet as the fight returned to type, with Griffin taking control as time went on. Then Evans scored with a big right as he worked his way back in, and as the round came to an end Griffin scored with an excellent combination.

Round three, and the fighters continued with their chosen tactics, with Griffin getting the batter of the combinations, until Evans caught a kick and pushed Griffin down to the ground, going for the kill with the hammer fists before taking Griffin’s guard. The champion clearly looked stunned,  and it wasn’t long before Evans resumed his onslaught. Griffin couldn’t handle this assault, and it wasn’t long before he was tapping out, giving Evans the TKO win and the Light Heavyweight title in what was another great fight, and given how this one went, I wouldn’t be surprised if these two go at it again.

Time for more filler material, with Antoni Hardonk facing Mike Wessel in the heavyweight division. Round one saw both fighters trading quickly, before Hardonk went down to the ground with Wessel in the guard. Hardonk soon went for an armbar, which Wessel was able to escape from. Both fighters then got back to their feet and engaged in a clinch up against the cage, both fighters connecting with the obligatory knees before they split up. Wessel then connected with a couple of good shots, before Hardonk scored with a couple of knees from a muay thai clinch which staggered Wessel. Hardonk followed up with three clean blows, before going back to the muay thai clinch. Wessel responded by grabbing Hardonk’s leg, soon scoring with a very messy looking take down, taking Hardonk’s guard. Nothing much happened for a few moments, until Wessel connected with a few blows and Hardonk tried for another armbar as the round came to an end.

Round two saw Wessel take Hardonk down with a clinch, with Hardonk again going for an armbar. Moments later Hardonk worked his way out, taking Wessel’s back, connecting with a few blows as Wessel was flattened out, face down on the mat. Hardonk then gave up Wessel’s back, preferring the mount before taking his back again, again raining down with blows to the side of Wessel’s head. By this time the UFC debutant looked exhausted and had nothing to give, forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight. A good performance from Hardonk here, getting the TKO win in his third octagon fight.

In conclusion - this was a good way for the UFC to end it’s pay-per-view year. Apart from the first round of the Hamill/Andy fight, this was a very good card, with Kongo and Jackson getting some good victories in their respective divisions, and Frank Mir showing that he’s finally overcome his personal demons to get back on top of the heap again, with only Brock Lesnar standing in his way. And kudos to Rashad Evans as well, once again showing that the Ultimate Fighter series is a great proving ground for stars of the future. So in all a good show, crowning off a very good year for Dana White and his band of merry man. Here’s to an exciting 2009.