Steve and the Tank! - Ultimate Fighting Championship 66

Sunday, December 31, 2006

Ultimate Fighting Championship 66 - Liddell versus Ortiz 2

In keeping with the fighting spirit of recent posts, my friend PG (from the Knicks-Nuggets game) invited me over to his buddy Mike's place on the Upper West Side for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 66 Saturday night. UFC 66 features the Light Heavyweight Championship, featuring a rematch between champion Chuck "The Ice Man" Liddell and Tito Ortiz. The Light Heavyweight division is for fighters 205 pounds and below.

Ultimate Fighting is often misunderstood as barbaric free-for-alls and is banned in many states, including New York.

After watching WWE wrestling on Monday night's on Spike TV a few years ago, the Tank was first exposed to the Ultimate Fighting reality show where contestants competed for the right to be the next "Ultimate Fighter". Like every other "reality show", the contestants lived in this unbelievably nice mansion that no regular person, much less an aspiring fighter would live in.

Anyway, enough Hollywood. Ultimate Fighting is Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) where fighters from different fighting backgrounds (wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, karate, judo, etc.) compete in a high Octagon in three five minute rounds except for the champion fight which is five rounds. MMA appeals to the Tank because it's great to see a wrestler compete against a boxer or a martial artist and vis-versa. Some fighters try to grapple (wrestle) on the ground while others try to fight standing up. Which fight style is the best? Regardless of which style or fighter is the best, these are incredible athletes.

During the 2005 Great Wall Marathon in China, the Tank met Gary from Vegas who trains UFC athletes. Gary finished the Boston Marathon in about 2 hours 12 minutes about 23 years ago. Both Gary and the athletes he trains are well conditioned.

Like Amateur Female Jello Wrestling which is real as witnessed and blogged by the Tank, UFC has made inroads because professional wrestling is scripted, boxing is still a mess but getting better and UFC is in not as violent as P.R.I.D.E. in Japan (super ouch and even bloodier) or Muay Thai (take your life into your own hands stepping into the ring). UFC has rules and is regulated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Before we get to the main event, there are several good under cards including (1) Andre "The Pit Bull" Arlovski of Belarus and now residing in Chicago. Arlovski uses a mouthguard shaped as fangs to get a psychological advantage on his opponent. It works and Arlovski beats Marcio Cruz.

In between bouts, the camera pans to Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi sitting at ringside as Agassi has a home in Vegas. Steffi looks scared.

Other noteable matches include (2) Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald of Canada beating Chris Leben by putting him in a guillotine hold. Chris Leben couldn't tap out. Leben is very candid in his post match commentary. Question: "How do you feel?" Answer: Unprintable.

More celebrity sightings include actor Chris Angel and musician Kid Rock.

(3) "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine TKOed Forrest Griffin. I felt bad for Griffin who fought a good fight and was crying after the fight. He said he'll be back. Good luck!

(4) Thiago "The PitBull" Alves of Brazil (now Florida) beats Tony DeSouza of Peru. His shirt says "I am not a grappler. I am not a striker. I am both."

(5) The main event features Chuck "The Ice Man" Liddell versus Tito Ortiz versus Chuck Liddell. They are former friends and training partners.

PG informs me that Ortiz is dating actress Jenna Jameson. As Rod Stewart sings, "Some guys have all the luck". Ortiz comes out with a two sided Mexican and American flag to one of Eminem's hits. Ortiz is psyched while Liddell is relaxed.

Bruce Buffer, brother of boxing announcer Michael "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" Buffer, is the UFC announcer.

PG predicts an Ortiz win to setup Ortiz-Liddell 3. Ortiz submission versus Liddell.

The online voting leading up to the event ends 51-49 in favor of Liddell. It is scheduled for five, 5 minute rounds.

They size each other up but Liddell quickly gets down to business as causes Ortiz to bleed over his right eye. Liddell is defining the territory of the Octagon well and limiting Ortiz's movement.

Liddell knocks Ortiz down toward the end of the first round and the ref should have the called the match.

However, the first round is scored 10-9 in favor of Liddell. Ortiz kept the points close because he connected and scored on body kicks.

To start the second round, the crowd cheers "Chuck" for Liddell. Ortiz connects on some body kicks but Liddell counters with punches. Ortiz shoots for Liddell's legs but he is too far out to get him on the mat.

Ortiz tries again and succeeds in getting Liddell unto the mat. Liddell somehow gets out of the hold and off the mat. Unbelievable!

Commentator Eddie Bravo scored Round 2 10-9 in favor of Ortiz because he scored on
the leg kicks. Therefore, the fight is even on the card as we enter Round 3.

Ortiz gets knocked down but Liddell waves him up. Liddell then puts together overhand and underhand combinations to win by TKO in 3:59 of the third round. PG, Mike, Drago, Gary, and The Tank celebrate Liddell's victory.

In unique upstart and cool fashion, Liddell announces that his after party is at "Studio 54" in Vegas. Liddell also promotes the upcoming "300" movie which the Tank is looking forward to March 2007. Ortiz thanks everyone including the troops serving overseas. His after party is at Jag in Vegas. How many boxers or wrestlers announce their after parties on air?

Until next time, this is the Tank reporting UFC 66 from Mike's place on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Keep fighting the good fight inside and outside the ring in 2007. Happy and Healthy New Year to all!

Boxing | Jello Wrestling | Movies | Ultimate Fighting

Sunday, December 31, 2006 3:14:54 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

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