UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin

[Brian in Mesa]

UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin*

Date: June 12, 2010
Location: General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

*Was supposed to be Liddell/Ortiz III, but Tito Ortiz backed out.

Main card

* Light Heavyweight bout: Chuck Liddell vs. Rich Franklin

Spoiler

Franklin defeated Liddell via KO (Punch) at 4:55 of Round 1

* Heavyweight bout: Mirko Filipović vs. Patrick Barry

Spoiler

Filipović defeated Barry via submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:30 of Round 3.

* Welterweight bout: Paulo Thiago vs. Martin Kampmann

Spoiler

Kampmann defeated Thiago via unanimous decision. (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

* Heavyweight bout: Ben Rothwell vs. Gilbert Yvel

Spoiler

Rothwell defeated Yvel via unanimous decision. (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

* Welterweight bout: Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald

Spoiler

Condit defeated MacDonald via TKO (strikes) at 4:53 of round 3

Preliminary card (Spike TV)

* Lightweight bout: Tyson Griffin vs. Evan Dunham

Spoiler

Dunham defeated Griffin via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).

* Lightweight bout: Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman

Spoiler

Wiman defeated Danzig via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:45 of round 1.

Preliminary card

* Middleweight bout: David Loiseau vs. Mario Miranda

Spoiler

Miranda defeated Loiseau via TKO (punches) at 4:07 of round 2.

* Welterweight bout: James Wilks vs. Peter Sobotta

Spoiler

Wilks defeated Sobotta via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-28, 30-27).

* Welterweight bout: Ricardo Funch vs. Claude Patrick

Spoiler

Patrick defeated Funch via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:48 of round 2. This bout aired on Spike after the Danzig vs. Wiman fight.

* Welterweight bout: Mike Pyle vs. Jesse Lennox

Spoiler

Pyle defeated Lennox via technical submission (triangle choke) at 4:44 of round 3.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

ESPN recap of the main fight ... Wow.

http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=5280147

Spoiler

With one crisp right hand, Rich Franklin may have driven the final nail into the storied career of UFC hall of famer Chuck Liddell. And he did so with only one good limb.

Having suffered an apparent broken arm while absorbing a kick, Franklin knocked out Liddell with a counterpunch 4:55 into the first round in the UFC 115 "Liddell vs. Franklin" headliner Saturday at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Perhaps the greatest light heavyweight in the history of the sport, the 40-year-old Liddell has lost three consecutive fights, all by knockout. He had not appeared inside the Octagon in 14 months and had already been urged to retire by longtime friend and UFC president Dana White.

Franklin tasted Liddell's legendary power early, as he wobbled on the end of a right hand. However, he kept his nose in the fight. Near the end of the first round, Liddell backed the former middleweight champion against the cage, overcommitted on an overhand right and left himself wide open for the counter. Franklin sprang his trap beautifully and crumpled "The Iceman" with a tight right hook to the face. Subsequent punches followed but were not needed. Liddell was done, perhaps for good.

 

[SunsTzu]

ESPN recap of the main fight ... Wow.

http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=5280147

Spoiler

With one crisp right hand, Rich Franklin may have driven the final nail into the storied career of UFC hall of famer Chuck Liddell. And he did so with only one good limb.

Having suffered an apparent broken arm while absorbing a kick, Franklin knocked out Liddell with a counterpunch 4:55 into the first round in the UFC 115 "Liddell vs. Franklin" headliner Saturday at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Perhaps the greatest light heavyweight in the history of the sport, the 40-year-old Liddell has lost three consecutive fights, all by knockout. He had not appeared inside the Octagon in 14 months and had already been urged to retire by longtime friend and UFC president Dana White.

Franklin tasted Liddell's legendary power early, as he wobbled on the end of a right hand. However, he kept his nose in the fight. Near the end of the first round, Liddell backed the former middleweight champion against the cage, overcommitted on an overhand right and left himself wide open for the counter. Franklin sprang his trap beautifully and crumpled "The Iceman" with a tight right hook to the face. Subsequent punches followed but were not needed. Liddell was done, perhaps for good.

The Cro Cop/Barry fight was probably even more impressive.

Spoiler

Looked like Cro Cop had his jaw or orbital bone fractured midway through the 1st round but managed to hang on and submit Barry late in the 3rd

 

[Joe L]

Shoot, I am sorry for putting up some spoilers. Deleted....

 

[Brian in Mesa]

The Cro Cop/Barry fight was probably even more impressive.

Spoiler

Looked like Cro Cop had his jaw or orbital bone fractured midway through the 1st round but managed to hang on and submit Barry late in the 3rd

 

[CorporalCardinal]

Great fight card. As a huge Liddell fan since 99 it broke my heart to see him lose like that when he was winning that round and got over aggressive. I think it is time for him to retire.

On the bright note, the Cro Cop fight was great, that's his first submission (outside of tapping to strikes) since 2004 at Pride Shockwave against Kevin Randleman.