We’ve got real-time, ongoing results of UFC 86, live on pay-per-view from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV… and featuring the UFC World Light Heavyweight Championship match in the main event: Forrest Griffin challenging Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
PRELIMINARY FIGHTS
(According to Wikipedia)
Lightweights: Justin Buchholz def. Corey Hill (submission, rear naked choke, 3:57 of Round 2)
Lightweights: Melvin Guillard def. Dennis Siver (TKO, punches, 0:36 of Round 1)
Lightweights: Cole Miller def. Jorge Gurgel (submission, triangle choke, 4:48 of Round 3)
Heavyweights: Gabriel Gonzaga def. Justin McCully (submission, kimura, 1:57 of Round 1)
TELEVISED FIGHTS
Fight 1: Tyson Griffin vs. Marcus Aurelio, Lightweights
Rather uneventful fight, with Griffin’s wrestling and ground & pound vs. Aurelio’s BJJ, but nothing very exciting in my opinion.
Winner – Tyson Griffin (unanimous decision, 30-27)
Fight 2: Chris Lytle vs. Josh Koscheck, Welterweights
Koscheck controlled the whole fight on top, including a very bloody second and third rounds (at least .80 Muta) due to a cut above Lytle’s right eye. Lytle showed a lot of heart and gained a few fans, and the ref let them finish the three rounds. Koscheck was booed after and played the heel until his post-fight interview.
Winner – Josh Koscheck (unanimous decision, 30-26, 29-27, 30-28)
Fight 3: Joe Stevenson vs. Gleison Tibau, Lightweights
Highlight of the first round was Tibau trying to submit Stevenson with an omoplata (shoulder lock) towards the end of the round, but Stevenson holding strong as it came to an end. Stevenson won in an exciting second round with a guillotine out of nowhere.
Winner – Joe Stevenson (submission, guillotine choke, 2:57 of Round 2)
Celebrity sightings so far: Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Laura Prepon, Michael Bisping, B.J. Penn, WEC’s Miguel Torres, Hector Valderrama, David Spade, Mandy Moore, Chuck Liddell.
Fight 4: Patrick Côté vs. Ricardo Almeida, Middleweights
This was the “co-main event?” Eh. It was… educational, but definitely not exciting. The crowd seemed to be entertaining itself for most of the fight, actually. When they weren’t booing that is.
Winner – Patrick Côté (split decision, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Main Event: Quinton Jackson (C) vs. Forrest Griffin, UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Side note: I love that Rampage came to the ring with both the UFC and PRIDE title belts.
Great first round, with Jackson winning a close one. Second round was dominated by Griffin after some great kicks to his opponent’s knee, and then getting him to the ground. Third was a wash. Fourth was incredible, with Griffin getting basically powerbombed after applying a triangle choke to Jackson from the ground. Griffin’s right eye was cut heading into the fifth, which was a great round. This one can go to either fighter…
Winner and NEW UFC World Light Heavyweight Champion – Forrest Griffin (unanimous decision, 48-46, 48-46, 49-46)
Quote of the night goes not to the very excited new champ, but to Rampage, who was pretty classy: “Sometimes you win sometimes you lose. Forrest is tough, I respect him a lot, he worked hard, he’s a hard worker. Whenever you step in the octagon there’s a 50/50 chance you’re gonna get your ass whooped. I ain’t no stranger to getting my ass whooped, I get my ass whooped sometimes.”
Prior to closing the show, they showed highlights of Melvin Guillard’s quick win over Dennis Siver via TKO. Really, they had no time to show any of the other fights, with the main event going the distance. And since it was a great main event, to me that means it was a great show.
