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UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin

© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
June 12, 2010

All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges

In Earlier Matches

Evan Dunham def. Tyson Griffin by split decision.

Matt Wiman def. Mac Danzig by guillotine – 1.45, Round One.

Mario Miranda def. David Loiseau by TKO – 4.07, Round Two.

James Wilks def. Peter Sobotta by unanimous decision.

Claude Patrick def. Richard Funch by guillotine – 1.48, Round Two.

Mike Pyle def Jesse Lennox by triangle choke – 4.44, Round Three.

The Battles

Carlos Condit (6’2” 170) vs. Rory MacDonald (6’0” 170)
Welterweight
Referee: Kevin Doran

Round One
4.53: Carlos kicked; Rory caught it and knocked him down.
4.47: Rory ordered Carlos up.
4.37: They traded as the Canadian crowd roared Rory’s name.
4.23: They clinched at center ring.
4.13: MacDonald swept Condit to the floor and fell into guard.  MacDonald looked to improve his position whilst Condit remained busy working from below.
3.01: They were vertical.
2.52: Condit tested MacDonald’s chin with a mean right hand.
2.37: Condit leg-kicked and MacDonald answered with a right cross before the pair traded and clinched.
2.24: Rory scooped up Carlos’s knee strike and used it to pull him down.
1.38: They were on their feet.
1.00: Carlos turned up the heat with more leg kicks and knuckles.  Rory closed the round with another takedown.

Round Two
Play resumed with Condit employing kicks and fists while MacDonald focused on boxing.
4.21: Condit pulled MacDonald to the mats and MacDonald grabbed half guard.
3.54: The pair scrambled and stood.
3.00: They fought from the clinch and fell to the floor.  Condit stood and MacDonald seized his ankle, then tugged him back down.
2.34: The stand-up continued.
0.58: MacDonald warded off Condit’s takedown.  They banged up to the bell.

Round Three
Both men turned it up a notch and Rory looked to hit a homer for the crowd.
4.25: Carlos landed a right hook on Rory’s temple, causing him to seek a takedown, but Carlos took Rory down and g’n’ped from half guard.
3.28: Carlos got the mount before Rory reclaimed half guard.
2.50: Rory worked the action back to stand-up mode.
2.34: Carlos shoved Rory down and pounded from half guard.  Carlos realized it was easier to go ballistic against his opponent than to cop an ear bashing from Greg Jackson in his corner, and pummeled Rory through the floor.  Kevin Doran saw Rory’s bulging right eye and called off the fight – better to be safe than sorry when a player’s eye sight is concerned.
This was a great battle by both men.

Result: Carlos Condit by TKO – 4.53, Round Three.

Ben Rothwell (6’4” 264) vs. Gilbert Yvel (6’2” 243)
Heavyweight
Referee: Yves Lavigne

Round One
Ben was wound up and came out swinging, landing a solid right before forcing Gilbert into the fence.  Gilbert switched positions and missed with a lunar-bound haymaker.
4.43: He applied a guillotine and tugged Ben to the canvas.
4.25: Rothwell escaped the submission before taking side control, then the mount.
4.08: Yvel rolled Rothwell and they briefly stood before Rothwell dumped Yvel on his back.
3.43: Ben took side control.
2.18: He got the mount after scrambling.
1.30: Gilbert looked for an ankle lock but the former IFL legend slipped free.
1.01: Gilbert tumbled Ben and caught him with a head kick as the pair returned to their feet, then the Dutchman unloaded heavy hands and both men hammered to the round’s end.

Round Two
4.43: Rothwell moved in and pulled Yvel’s legs from under him.
4.27: Rothwell fought from side control.
3.50: Yvel forced Rothwell into half guard.  There was no way these two men-mountains could maintain the furious pace of the previous round.
3.26: They rolled and Rothwell mounted Yvel, then commenced g’n’p-ing.
2.40: Yvel clawed his way back up in the clinch.
2.18: Rothwell tugged him down.
2.04: Gilbert latched onto Ben’s right arm and levered him onto his back, then hammered Ben from on top.  They stood and Ben pulled Gilbert to the mats.  The round closed with Ben dumping elbows on Gilbert from the mount.  What a tough fight!

Round Three
Yvel shot in for a single-leg takedown; however Rothwell sprawled and fell into Yvel’s guard before claiming side control.
3.32: Rothwell got the mount, but Yvel quickly forced him back into half guard, then full guard.
2.40: Ben regained side control and g’n’ped for the remainder of the fight.

Result: Ben Rothwell by unanimous decision.

Martin Kampmann (6’0” 170) vs. Paulo Thiago (5’11” 170)
Welterweight
Referee: Herb Dean

Round One
Martin employed a steady jab to keep Paulo at bay.
4.14: He countered Paulo’s leg kick with a right cross to the chest.
3.22: And again, only this time the right fist landed on Paulo’s jaw as Martin kept his hands tidy and clinical.
2.28: Kampmann was picking Thiago apart with clean shots.
2.20: Thiago latched onto Kampmann’s left leg before losing his grip.
1.35: Kampmann tagged Thaigo with a right; Thiago dropped and wrapped up Kampmann’s left leg.
1.14: They stood and Paulo swept Martin down as Martin fitted a guillotine.
0.36: They climbed to their feet in the clinch and Paulo swept Martin back down.  The pair stood and Martin refitted his choke moments before the first five ended.

Round Two
3.52: Thiago threw a combo.  He threw windmills and Kampmann answered with precision shots.
3.00: Kampmann took the Brazilian’s back after Thiago went for the shoot.  Thiago latched onto Kampmann’s left arm but couldn’t get him off his back.
0.38: Paulo rolled Martin and gained side control.
0.12: Martin climbed back up as the pair exchanged knees.  They briefly returned to the floor and the hooter blew.

Round Three
4.19: Kampmann took Thiago down, then moved into his guard.
3.29: Kampmann had Thiago’s back, they twisted and turned, but Kampmann maintained his dominance.
1.24: They stood apart.
1.16: Paulo launched a ballistic right, went for the tackle, and Martin took half guard before mounting him.  Martin attempted an arm triangle but ran out of time.

Result: Martin Kampmann by unanimous decision.

Mirko Cro Cop (6’2” 235) vs. Pat Barry (5’11” 248)
Heavyweight
Referee: Yves Lavigne

Round One
Pat is in orthodox and Mirko is very much in southpaw.  Pat immediately hurls a straight right, but Mirko sees it coming and pushes Pat away.
4.39: Pat inside-kicks.
4.26: He knocks Mirko down with an overhand right, sees it doesn’t have too big an impact, and waits for Mirko to return to his feet.  Pat drops his hands to taunt Mirko and delivers leg kicks.
3.26: Cro Cop fires off a side kick and a hook kick; however Barry sees them coming and steps out of range.
3.20: Cro Cop lands a less-telegraphic leg kick.
3.16: Barry returns it.
2.58: Barry knocks Cro Cop down with a right hook and waits for him to stand.  Barry is switching stance; however he’s mainly unloading from orthodox.
1.44: Barry leg-kicks.
1.10: They clinch and Mirko takes Pat down – possibly to protect the left side of his face which is angrily swelling up.  They spring back to their feet and separate.

Round Two
4.48: Mirko high-kicks.
4.42: And again.
4.37: Mirko unleashes a big kick to the body.
4.33: He forces Pat across the Octagon with a salvo of punches.
3.48: They clinch and Mirko slams hammer-fists into Pat’s left thigh.
3.10: Yves separates them.
Mirko’s attacking game is like Superfoot Wallace’s: You know his strikes are going to come from the same side of his body, but you’re not sure which weapon he’s going to use.
2.30: Cro Cop ducks under Barry’s high kick and locks on a guillotine.
2.12: Cro Cop tumbles him and assumes half guard.
1.19: He mounts Barry, who rolls, and Cro Cop grabs his back and attacks him with knuckles.
The first round is Barry’s whilst the second round belongs to Cro Cop.

Round Three
Mirko appears to have the cardio edge at this stage.
4.43: He high-kicks.
4.27: Mirko axe-kicks.
4.08: He clinches.
3.50: They release.
3.42: Pat counters Mirko’s high kick with a sweep.
2.15: Mirko clinches and lands close-quarter blows.
1.26: Yves parts them.
1.15: Cro Cop unleashes his smokin’ fists and moves in for the kill.
1.05: He drops Barry and uses his face for an anvil.
0.25: Cro Cop wraps on a RNC and Barry taps.

Result: Mirko Cro Cop by RNC – 4.30, Round Three.

Rich Franklin (6’1” 205) vs. Chuck Liddell (6’2” 205)
Light Heavyweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti

Rich side-kicks and throws a left.  Chuck is looking to unload his big right peacemaker.
4.34: They exchange leg kicks.
4.05: They briefly clinch and release.
3.58: Chuck high-kicks and body-kicks.
3.20: They trade.
3.05: The Iceman scoops Ace’s right leg and takes him down.
2.34: They’re standing in the tie-up.  There’s a cut over Chuck’s left eye from an apparent clash of heads.
1.06: Liddell catches Franklin with a right.
0.09: Liddell throws a right elbow and Franklin replies with a right hook.  Liddell is out.

Result: Rich Franklin by KO – 4.55, Round One.

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