UFC 115..

Main Event: Chuck “The IceMan” Liddell Vs Rich Franklin.

UFC 115

Franklin wins by KO with a short sharp right.

It was during an exchange of a flurry of punches including a good right elbow by Liddell.  It’s easy for me to say, but Liddell actually inadvertently walked into the knockout punch.

Amazingly, Franklin reveals in the post fight interview that during the fight his lower left arm was broken by one of Liddell’s kicks.  Couple of amazing things here, the fact that a kick was responsible for actually breaking the bone in someone’s arm and secondly that Franklin kept fighting and eventually wins after he is well aware that his arm has been broken.

One of the cornerstones in Zen Ki Bo training is the Mindset.  Having Survival Intent.  This is exactly what Franklin displayed in this fight.  Two things will win the day (whether it be real-life or in the cage): Mindset and Training.  Franklin has proved that he has both.

Some are already saying that this is the end of The Iceman’s career.  I suppose only he can make that decision.  Hopefully he makes it at the right time.

Rich Franklin

Chuck Liddell

Undercard: Mirko Cro Cop Vs Pat Barry.

Victory to Cro Cop.

Barry lands a straight right punch early in the first round, which sent Cro Cop to the canvas.  It did however do little damage because it was a combination of a slip and the punch.

Then a second knockdown with what looked to be the same punch.  Cro Cop gets straight back up, but he is injured this time.

Mirko Cro Cop

Pat Barry

These two guys obviously have the greatest respect for each other, this was evident when actually during the first round they touched gloves and hugged each other after some great techniques.  In fact, Cro Cop is one of Barry’s UFC idols.

Dynamic finish with Cro Cop stinging Barry with some good punching, not just landing leather but using real strategy by feinting and causing Barry to react, then monopolising on that reaction in order to counter.  Just before the finish, Cro Cop landed multiple blows onto the face of Barry, some with the fist and some with the palm.  These punches are not meant to knock you out but instead overwhelm the opponent with ferocity and aggression, usually used as a platform for bigger things.  In this case, it was indeed a platform for a rear-naked choke.  And once a rear-naked-choke is clamped on its just a short drive down the grey-tunnel until you pass out.  Well-earned win Mirko.

At 35 years old, some people have said he is getting too old for the fight game, Cro Cop has said that he is keen to put that straight.   He was essentially self-taught whilst growing up in a Croatian village.  People used to think he was mentally deranged when they saw him training because they had no idea what he was doing.

This match was also a good lesson to see just how dangerous high kicks can be to the person throwing the kick – what often happens is the opponent shoots in, using that kicking leg as a lever taking down the kicker.  Not only is this what a trained fighter will do, but its also a natural reaction, often the person you are kicking can just instinctively just put up their arms as a startle reaction, and if you get caught under the centre of gravity you can easily go down.

I enjoyed seeing some traditional kicks from Cro Cop.  During this match we saw him throw an Axe Kick, a Side-Kick and a Hook-Kick. All effective kicks but not seen much in the UFC.

Another point I found worth mentioning and also indicative of the popularity of MMA was that Rory MacDonald (who was one of the fighters on the undercard, Carlos Condit  V Rory MacDonald) was brought up actually learning MMA, not transitioning from a Martial Art or other system into MMA.  I guess this will be happening a lot more now.

All in all, UFC 115 was pretty explosive and worth watching.