Recap
Thiago Alves (16-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) closed out his fight year with another signature victory — this time over fellow title hopeful Josh Koscheck (11-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC). Although Alves ultimately settled for a unanimous-decision victory (30-27, 29-28, 30-27), he had Koscheck — who filled in for an injured Diego Sanchez on just two weeks’ notice — in trouble throughout the fight. Koscheck was dropped in the first with a short left, he was continually knocked off balance with stinging leg kicks, and an onslaught of strikes in the third round had Koscheck staggered and in survival mode. Despite Alves’ success, though, Koscheck showed signs of life throughout the fight. His ever-improving stand-up game and powerful right hand connected often, but Alves survived and was never in any real trouble.
Recap
In a key lightweight bout, veteran experience won out over young potential as Sean Sherk (33-3-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC) secured a close but unanimous decision victory over Tyson Griffin (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC). Sherk had Griffin in trouble early after securing the Xtreme Couture fighter’s back and working for a rear-naked choke. Griffin, though, carried Sherk to his corner to receive instruction from Randy Couture and eventually broke free of the hold. It was the only real trouble Griffin, 24, was ever in, though the fighters traded more than a few solid blows through the three-round fight. In fact, after a few successful takedown attempts in the first, Sherk was content to keep the fight standing for the remainder of the bout. Griffin connected on a few bursts of strikes, but Sherk scored more frequently and with better accuracy thanks to an effective jab, quick knees and an array of combinations. “I was confident I won the fight,” Sherk said.
Recap
Junior dos Santos (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), at one time a 10-to-1 underdog heading into the fight, scored one of the year’s biggest upsets and most brutal uppercut knockouts with an 81-second TKO of Werdum. Undeterred by his first fight under the bright lights of the UFC, dos Santos connected flush with a right uppercut that sent Werdum to his knees. Werdum was down for good, but dos Santos continued with a burst of punches before the referee halted the bout.
Recap
Patrick Cote (13-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC) lasted longer than any other challenger, but UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (23-4 MMA, 8-0 UFC) scored his eighth consecutive UFC victory and fourth straight title defense — but not in the manner he wanted. After forcing the UFC 90 main event into a third round, Cote dropped to the mat and was unable to continue after injuring his knee 39 seconds into the round. It was an unfortunate and bizarre ending to Saturday’s “UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote” event, which took place at a sold-out Allstate Arena in Rosemont near Chicago in the UFC’s first-ever trip to Illinois.
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