Welcome to our live coverage of UFC 91, featuring a much-anticipated main event that will see the legendary Randy Couture defend his UFC Heavyweight championship against former WWE Superstar and 2000 NCAA Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
I don’t want to spoil any of the undercard fights for you, so I’ll just direct those of you who are interested in the results to MMA Junkie.
PRE-SHOW NOTES: I’m wishing that I could wait until after the weigh-ins on Friday night before making my official predictions. Brock Lesnar weighed in at 265 pounds, but this was a very different 265 pounds than he normally fights at. Brock typically cuts from 280 pounds to 265 for the weigh-in, and he’ll gain all that weight back by the time he steps in the cage. That’s not the case with this fight. Brock is currently 265 and he’ll be 265 when he fights. He was noticeably smaller at the weigh-ins than I’ve ever seen him before. His calves were significantly smaller than usual, which means he’s probably not doing much wind sprints, which means the hamstring injury I reported a few weeks back has affected him more than his camp is letting on. He also looked visibly worried. Typically, Lesnar is full of bravado and swagger, but it looked to me like the hype for this show might be getting to him. We’ll find out in a few short hours.
Brock says that he’s beating Randy and taking his belt back to Minnesota. We’ll see.
It should be noted that ordering UFC shows in anything other than HD is a bad move. There is no comparison and it’s totally worth the extra ten bucks.
DEMIAN MAIA VS. NATE QUARRY
ROUND ONE: Maia goes for a takedown, Quarry resists but Maia gets it. Maia turns it around to the back and hooks a body triangle. Maia works for the rear naked choke and after about 30 seconds, he sinks it in. Maia wins by rear naked choke in the first round. A very strong showing by Maia, who remains undefeated in UFC action. This victory should move up to the top tier of contenders in the division. Demian Maia by rear naked choke
GABRIEL GONZAGA VS. JOSH HENDRICKS
ROUND ONE: Gonzaga peppers him with knees and strikes. Hendricks looks totally wild. Gonzaga punches Hendricks in the mouth and drops him. Gonzaga punches him on the ground, Mazagatti steps in and then BACKS AWAY. Gonzaga punches him once more and it’s over.Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO
I took a liveblogging break during the replay of Matt Brown vs. Ryan Thomas, but it was an awesome fight.
DUSTIN HAZELETT VS. TAMDAN MCCRORY
ROUND ONE: Hazelett starts fast and furious with a flying knee attempt that barely misses. He’s rocking a fierce Evan Tanner tribute beard tonight. McRory with some nasty leg kicks. Hazelett sinks in an omoplata and I have no idea how McRory didn’t tap out. But Hazelett switches it to an armbar and McRory taps. Yet another first round victory. Hazelett recently got his black belt in jiu-jitsu and showed it in perfect form tonight. Dustin Hazelett via armbar submission.
The Couture/Lesnar poll is much closer than it was at the start of the show, but that’s the norm.
Jeremy Stephens vs. Rafael dos Anjos is another replay from the undercard. Stephens wins in the third round with one of the nastiest uppercuts I have ever seen. This will be your KO of the night regardless of what happens in the two final fights.
90 minutes into the card and we’ve seen five fights. That has to be some kind of record.
KENNY FLORIAN VS. JOE STEVENSON
ROUND ONE: Florian dancing and moving very quickly. Stevenson pressing the action hard. Joe tries for a takedown but Florian rolls through and back to the feet, where Joe presses him back against the cage. Back to the middle. Florian with a very nice takedown and lands in the guard. Florian transitions to the back, locks in a body triangle, makes with the rear naked choke and it’s over. Kenny Florian wins by rear naked choke.
Florian looked unbelievable and he’s a real threat to BJ Penn. I can’t wait for that fight. He calls out BJ after the fight, saying that he’s coming for his belt. Says he respects BJ and that he’s a master, but that it’s time to kill the master. Now I REALLY can’t wait for that fight.
UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
RANDY COUTURE VS. BROCK LESNAR
Brock enters to ENTER SANDMAN. I cannot think of a better entrance theme for this man.
Brock looks much more relaxed. He’s getting booed heavily and is enjoying every minute of it. Randy just looks thrilled to be back. He’s also getting the longest introduction in history.
ROUND ONE: Brock clinches and throws a couple of knees, but Randy clinches him into the cage and leans on him. Brock throws a few knees into Couture’s legs that nearly take him off his feet. Brock overpowers Randy and presses him, but Randy moves out and punches Brock in the face. Brock goes for a takedown but Randy defends, so Brock grabs both legs and throws him down into half guard. Brock moves into full mount but Randy moves out. Brock with a judo throw and tosses Randy back onto the ground. Brock puts his knee on Randy’s arm and punches him in the face. Lesnar is controlling him but Randy is back to his feet. Randy going for a takedown but Lesnar’s not moving. First round to Lesnar.
ROUND TWO: Brock with an elbow that wobbles Couture but he doesn’t follow it up. Randy presses him against the cage. Brock with a great knee, but Randy follows up with a hard hook. Brock is completely exhausted. Randy pushes him back against the cage. Brock drops Couture with a strong right and throws about 30 punches on the ground, the ref steps in and stops it. Brock Lesnar is your new heavyweight champion of the world. Brock Lesnar via TKO.
Brock is a mixture of humble and cocky after the fight. He says that all he has is his God-given talent.
Randy says it’s tough to get out of the way of Brock’s ham hocks coming at you and that he’s a big sumbitch.
Tonight is proof positive that Brock Lesnar is a legitimate mixed martial artist. He beat Couture in the first round and struggled in the second, but ended up dropping the legendary Couture and capturing the UFC heavyweight championship in only his fourth pro fight (something that only Randy Couture had accomplised). He was composed, patient, and did everything correctly. He’s not all the way there just yet, but he’s on the road to being one of the most dominant heavyweights of all time. If Noguiera can’t beat him, I don’t know anyone outside of Fedor Emelianenko that can.
Thanks for joining me tonight, and stay tuned to Inside Fights throughout the weekend for more UFC 91 coverage. You can also follow us on Twitter to get all the latest Inside Fights updates!
