UFC 75: Champion Vs Champion (free 'ppv')

[Deattribution]

Just a reminder for anyone who might not know, SpikeTV will be showing UFC 75 tomorrow night (saturday, the 8th, 9pm est). They have a pretty loaded card, but since the show is being aired as a PPV in the UK, it'll be on tape delay but free for the US. Anyone with any interest in the sport should get a pretty good show.

The card is -

(main card)
Quinton Jackson Vs. Dan Henderson
Matt Hamill Vs. Michael Bisping
Mirko Cro Cop Vs. Cheick Kongo
Marcus Davis Vs. Paul Taylor
Houston Alexander Vs. Alessio Sakara


(preliminary, possibly non televised bouts)
Gleison Tibau Vs. Terry Etim
Tomasz Drwal Vs. Thiago Silva
Naoyuki Kotani Vs. Dennis Siver
Anthony Torres Vs. Jess Liaudin

[bbor]

Not a bad looking freebee at all.

[Carman Bulldog]

Henderson v. Rampage should be excellent. However the undercard doesn't match up nearly as well to UFC 76 with Thiago Tavares v. Tyson Griffin in a potential fight of the year, Fitch v. Diego, and the debut of SHOGUN!

[Travis]

Really looking forward to Hamill/Bisping. I want to like Bisping, but I think he needs to be humbled at some point to be able to really appreciate everything that has happened for him since TUF and what he could do in this sport in the future.

[Calis]

Hendo vs. Rampage stacks up as one of the best main event fights we've had in a LONG time. I can't decide who I'd pick to win it, but I will be rooting for Rampage. Tough fight though, and I can't see it being boring.

Interested to see how Cro Cop bounces back in kind of a weird match-up. He really needs to win this one in a convincing fashion to get back on track. He's running out of chances. Could we see Cro Cop go for a takedown? That'd be something new, but I can't think of anyone I've seen with a worse ground game than Kongo, and that'd be the safer bet.

Maybe I'm wrong here but I don't see Bisping vs. Hammill being too much of a contest. Yeah Bisping has been led along pretty slowly but I just don't see what Hammill could do to him. If he loses I'd imagine it'll be a terribly boring fight.

Now what'd make the night is an announcement of a Fedor signing before the main event, and while they're at it go ahead an announce Fedor vs. Randy for January or so. That'd make this one of the more memorable cards ever. I am however not holding my breath.

As for 76, for God's sake don't let Shogun dissapoint. I don't think I could handle another mediocre debut from a Pride guy, especially one I've talked up as the best in the 205 lb division.

[DaddyTorgo]

should be a good card

[Capital]

Thanks for posting...I was just assuming this was a PPV in the US.

[kingfc22]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Calis]

Now I have to spend the rest of the day being VERY leery of where I look, as I think the show is starting within the next hour. Going to have to steer clear of the Net and keep the TV off of ESPN just in case.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Calis

Now I have to spend the rest of the day being VERY leery of where I look, as I think the show is starting within the next hour. Going to have to steer clear of the Net and keep the TV off of ESPN just in case.

hehe

[PurdueBrad]

Wow, thanks for posting. I haven't seen Cro Cop yet so I'm looking forward to that. The Jackson match should be awesome. Glad to see UFC and Spike do so much together that is helping bring the sport to more people.

[k0ruptr]

you can watch it live at sportsonpc.com

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Capital

Thanks for posting...I was just assuming this was a PPV in the US.

Ditto on both accounts. I've never watched UFC or any of the mixed martial arts, but I've thought about doing so for a while. I'm going to check this out tonight.

[SirFozzie]

Two really good fights to start.. that Taylor/Davis fight was, I think, one of the best rounds of MMA this year.

[DaddyTorgo]

OMG

[SirFozzie]

That should be the end of Mirko Cro Cop's UFC Career I think.

[Eaglesfan27]

That was the first UFC fight I've ever seen - it was fairly entertaining.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

That should be the end of Mirko Cro Cop's UFC Career I think.

ssssh...fozzie...SPOILER!!!

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

That was the first UFC fight I've ever seen - it was fairly entertaining.

that was? damm EF...you missed a couple great fights earlier...keep watching. The good fights are coming up. In general the heavyweight fights tend to be a bit...slower and more plodding than the lighter guys

[Eaglesfan27]

Yeah, I was still watching LSU during the earlier fights, but that game is as good as over. Actually, I forgot about this because of the game for the first hour.

[SirFozzie]

agreed, EF: If you get to see the Davis/Taylor fight, it's just an action filled round of warfare. The first fight had a really vicious knee as well.

[SirFozzie]

BWAHAHAHA!

Hammil comes to the Octagon to "Born In the USA". Not a great choice when facing a British fighter on home turf

[Eaglesfan27]

LOL. Who is the favored fighter in this match?

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

LOL. Who is the favored fighter in this match?

Bisping has to be considered the favorite.. he's undefeated and he's on home turf.

Hammill is a very good wrestler, but he won't be a star till he picks up some striking skills.

[molson]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

BWAHAHAHA!

Hammil comes to the Octagon to "Born In the USA". Not a great choice when facing a British fighter on home turf

Loved it.

I know nothing about MMA, but I hopes he wipes the floor with that fancy lad.

[Eaglesfan27]

Now, THAT was an entertaining round.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Now, THAT was an entertaining round.

If Hammill can throw consistently, he's a possible title contender. There was a lot of wildness though.

[DaddyTorgo]

steal my opinion fozzie :-P

[SirFozzie]

10-10 round. Hammill had the take downs, but wasn't doing much at the end.

[SirFozzie]

If I was scoring that fight, it's a draw.

[SirFozzie]

Unfortunately, you can't score rounds 10-10 in the UFC, but I want to see a rematch

[SirFozzie]

Segal versus Van Damme movie marathon.. ie.. which martial arts actor is the least relevant!

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Segal versus Van Damme movie marathon.. ie.. which martial arts actor is the least relevant!

Actually, when I was 12 or 13, I was a huge Van Damme fan.

[DaddyTorgo]

here we go...the big brawl

[Eaglesfan27]

Is there a site that explains in any detail what the judges are looking for in their scoring in MMA?

[DaddyTorgo]

I really hate fights that go to decision. Feel like they should make them fight till there's a finish in the ring.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Is there a site that explains in any detail what the judges are looking for in their scoring in MMA?

here's the section from the rules.

E. Judging Criteria
1. Judges are required to determine the winner of a bout that goes to it's full time limit based upon the following criteria:
-Clean Strikes
-Effective Grappling
-Octagon Control
-Effective Aggressiveness

F. Clean Strikes
1. The fighter who is landing both effective and efficient clean strikes.
2. There are two ways of measuring strikes:
-the total number of clean strikes landed (more efficient)
-the total number of heavy strikes landed (more effective)

G. The heavier striker who lands with efficiency, deserves more credit from the Judges than totalnumber landed.
1. If the striking power between the fighters was equal, then the total number landed would be used as the criteria.
2. The total number of strikes landed, should be of sufficient quantity favoring a fighter, to earn a winning round.

H. Strikes thrown from the top position of the guard, are generally heavier and more effective than those thrown from the back.
1. Thus a Judge shall recognize that effective strikes thrown from the top guard position are of "higher quality",than thrown from the bottom.
2. The Judge shall recognize that this is not always the case.
However, the vast majority of fighters prefer the top guard position to strike from. This is a strong indication of positional dominance for striking.

I. Effective Grappling
1. The Judge shall recognize the value of both the clean takedown and active guard position.
2. The Judge shall recognize that a fighter who is able to cleanly takedown his opponent, is effectively grappling.
3. A Judge shall recognize that a fighter on his back in an active guard position, can effectively grapple, through execution of repeated threatening attempts at submission and reversal resulting in continuous defense from the top fighter.
4. A Judge shall recognize that a fighter who maneuvers from guard to mount is effectively grappling.
5. A Judge shall recognize that the guard position alone shall be scored neutral or even, if none of the preceding situations were met.(items 2-4)
6. A Judge shall recognize that if the fighters remain in guard the majority of a round with neither fighter having an edge in clean striking or effective grappling, (items 2-4), the fighter who scored the clean takedown deserves the round.
7. A clean reversal is equal to a clean takedown in effective grappling

J. Octagon Control
1. The fighter who is dictating the pace, place and position of the fight.
2. A striker who fends off a grappler's takedown attempt to remain standing and effectively strike is octagon control.
3. A grappler who can takedown an effective standing striker to ground fight is octagon control.
4. The fighter on the ground who creates submission, mount or clean striking opportunities

K. Effective Aggressiveness
1. This simply means who is moving forward and finding success.(scoring)
2. Throwing a strike moving backwards is not as effective as a strike thrown moving forward.
3. Throwing strikes and not landing is not effective aggressiveness.
4. Moving forward and getting struck is not effective aggressiveness.
5. Shooting takedowns and getting countered and fended off is not effective aggressiveness.

L. Criteria Evaluation
1. Each judge is to evaluate which fighter was most effective. Thus striking and grappling skills are top priority.
2. Evaluating the criteria requires the use of a sliding scale. Fights can remain standing or grounded.
Judges shall recognize that it isn't how long the fighters are standing or grounded, as to the scoring the fighters achieve ,while in those positions.
3. If 90% of the round is grounded one fighter on top, then:
-effective grappling is weighed first.
-clean striking is weighed next. If clean strikes scored in the round, the Judge shall factor it in. Clean Striking can outweigh Effective Grappling while the fighters are grounded.
-octagon control is next (pace, place & position)

4. The same rational holds true if 90% of the round were standing. Thus:
-clean striking would be weighed first (fighter most effective)
-clean grappling second (any takedowns or effective clinching)
-octagon control which fighter maintained better position? Which fighter created the situations that led to effective strikes?

5. If a round was 50% standing and 50% on the ground, then:
-clean striking and effective grappling are weighed more equally.
-octagon control would be factored next

6. In all three hypothetical situations, effective aggressiveness is factored in last. It is the criteria of least importance. Since the definition calls for moving forward and scoring, it is imperative for the Judges to look at the scoring first.

7. Thus for all Judges scoring UFC fights, the prioritized order of evaluating criteria is:
-clean strikes and effective grappling are weighed first.
-octagon control
-effective aggressiveness

M. Domination Criteria
1. A Judge may determine that a fighter dominated his opponent in a round. This can lead to a two point or more difference on a Judge's scorecard.
2. The definition of a dominating round is a fighter's ability to effectively strike, grapple and control his opponent.
3. A Judge may determine a round was dominating if a fighter was adversely affected by one of the following:
-knocked down from standing position by clean strike
-by submission attempt
-from a throw
-from clean strikes either standing or grounded.

N. Judge's Scorecard Procedures
After each round:
1. each Judge will determine and record a score each round
2. a MMAC official will collect the scorecard after each round
3. the MMAC official will track and add each Judges score by round
4. If the fight goes the time limit, the MMAC official will add each Judge's scorecard and double check total
5. the fighter with the greater number of points wins the fight on each Judges scorecard
6. the fighter who won on the majority of the Judges Scorecards, wins the fight
7. the MMAC official will hand the decision to the PA announcer

O. Types of Judge's Decisions
1. If all three scorecards agree Unanimous
2. If two of three scorecards agree Split
3. Two scorecards agree and one draw Majority
4. two scorecards agree on draw Draw
5. all scorecards different Draw

IX SCORING SYSTEM

A. The MMAC and UFC have adopted a 10 point must system.
The Judge will use the criteria to determine a winner each round. The three step procedure per round is as follows:
-determine winner of round (can be draw)
-determine if winner dominated round
-fouls then factored in (subtract one point per foul from fighter)

B. Draws are again acceptable in MMAC events

C. Point Totals
1. two fighters who draw are given a score of 10-10
2. the fighter who wins a round is given a score of 10-9
3.The fighter who dominates a round is given a score of 10-8
(a score of 10-7 is possible for a dominant round)
4.For each foul a fighter commits, a point is subtracted. This deduction can change a winning round
to a draw. 9-9

[JonInMiddleGA]

Nice job Fozzie, I was about to say that I could find several things that listed all the stuff you can't do, just nothing that spelled out what you should be doing to score.

[Eaglesfan27]

Thanks Fozzie. That is helpful. Seems like "Rampage" won that fight from the above guidelines. Are the weekly televised fights usually this good? Also, I'm assuming they are usually on Spike? If so, what time?

[SirFozzie]

Rampage won that fight

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Thanks Fozzie. That is helpful. Seems like "Rampage" won that fight from the above guidelines. Are the weekly televised fights usually this good? Also, I'm assuming they are usually on Spike? If so, what time?

The new season of "The Ultimate Fighter" begins on the 19th. They are going to put on a UFC Ultimate Fight Night live card before hand. This is a PPV quality card, the UFN (Ultimate Fight Night) cards, are more midlevel fighters

[molson]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

I really hate fights that go to decision. Feel like they should make them fight till there's a finish in the ring.

Wasn't the earlier days of UFC unlimited time/no-judges? I think I remember that in the UFC PPVs our dorm floor would order in the mid-90s.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I've got to agree with this one, he survived the early control of Henderson who was more competitive than I expected to be honest.

And this really ought to be the end of the line for Cro Cop, he's going to end up like Ken Shamrock.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

The new season of "The Ultimate Fighter" begins on the 19th. They are going to put on a UFC Ultimate Fight Night live card before hand. This is a PPV quality card, the UFN (Ultimate Fight Night) cards, are more midlevel fighters

more midlevel fighters yes...but if you ask me the quality of the fights themselves is usually just as good. they're just a bit more...wide-open. sometimes more one-sided, but still great fights.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

This is a PPV quality card, the UFN (Ultimate Fight Night) cards, are more midlevel fighters

Yeah, this was head & shoulders above the average programming as far as I'm concerned. I've ended up seeing a lot of stuff after TNA ends and what not, but this was well above anything I've seen other than straight highlight shows.

[SirFozzie]

Here's the four fights you'll probably see at UFN on 9/19

LightWeight
Kenny Florian Vs. Din Thomas

MiddleWeight
Terry Martin Vs. Chris Leben
Pete Sell Vs. Nate Quarry

Welterweight
Thiago Alves Vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka

Should be good action fights, but not the star power of this card.

Then UFC76 on PPV, which will be a HUGE star filled card.

[DeToxRox]

Rampage!!!!

Tis all

[Deattribution]

I thought the Hamill/Bisping decision was BS, that was Hamill's fight, and at the very least a draw - there is no way he lost that fight.

The rest of the card was pretty good, but it was disappointing to see Cro Cop so hesitant - it looks like the only highlight of his UFC career will be when he got KTFO by Gonzaga.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by Deattribution

I thought the Hamill/Bisping decision was BS, that was Hamill's fight, and at the very least a draw - there is no way he lost that fight.

The rest of the card was pretty good, but it was disappointing to see Cro Cop so hesitant - it looks like the only highlight of his UFC career will be when he got KTFO by Gonzaga.

My complaint with the card as well. How do you have one judge score it 3-0 for Hamill while the other two each go 2-1 in favor of the home town boy? I thought at worst it was 2-1 for Hamill, with a pretty reasonable shot at 3-0 for him. Was very surprised to see two judges score it for Bisping.

And unfortunately, I think Bisping needs to be grounded or somehow humbled before he can become as great as he can be. Really getting the sense that he's reading a few too many of his own headlines and losing some of the work ethic that got him to the top of TUF.

[Calis]

Great fight, very happy to see Rampage win and I don't see any question at all that he won that fight. The way the fight started I really thought he'd be in trouble with Dan controlling the clinch and takedowns, but he looked really good.

The bad news for Rampage is there's probably a Shogun fight next on the horizon for him as long as Shogun looks good against Forrest. We'll see if he can finally get revenge on one of the Chute Box guys.

I hope to see Henderson move down to 185 now. He'd add some depth to that division and I believe is capable of beating anyone in the division. I'd pick him over anyone but Silva at this point, and I think he'd have a good shot at that one.

I'm also not a big fan of the 10 point must scoring system for MMA bouts. I liked the way Pride scored their fights looking at the entire fight and I think it works better. I think we need to stop looking at it the same exact way we score boxing. I also hate the emphasis put on takedowns in scoring in the UFC. Anyway, I think the Bisping/Hammill fights goes to Hamill if it's anywhere outside of London. That was a weird fight, but Hammill had to know going in what it was going to be like and he just gassed at the end. He really impressed me in the beginning, much sharper stand-up than we'd seen in the past. It also probably helped that Bisping looked way more interested in pumping up the crowd than focusing on the fight before. Weird fight.

Cro Cop....I think he's done. This was a bad match-up for him to bounce back after a big loss. A taller guy with extremely good striking. He just never got going and he looked old. Something is just off.

Man, I'd prefer to just pay for the PPV's to be honest though. The commercials seemed like an eternity and it was painful to watch at times. Pretty good card though.