The UFC Blog

UFC 103 Review

Dallas, Texas – Vitor Belfort’s return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship was phenomenal Saturday night as he made quick work of Rich Franklin.

It took “The Phenom” a little more than three minutes to find the button on Rich Franklin scoring a TKO over the former middleweight champ.  Their 195 pound catch weight fight capped off UFC 103 which took place at the American Airlines Arena.

The fighters felt each other out for the first few minutes before Belfort connected with a left hand knocking down Franklin.  Belfort pounced at a grounded Franklin connecting with a few more shots; the fight was quickly stopped as Franklin went limp.

“I’m here to work,” Belfort said of a potential match-up. “Anderson’s my friend. I like him as a fighter. He’s a great fighter. But if Dana (White) and Frank (Fertitta) decide … I’m an employee and I’m here to fight anyone who steps in the ring.”

Vitor is now in the middleweight title contender talk with the victory.  I wouldn’t mind seeing him face Anderson Silva and have Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson go toe to toe.

Junior Dos Santos continued his ascent up the heavyweight title ladder as he punished Pride superstar Mirko Cro Cop for two and half rounds.

Dos Santos used an aggressive pace landing punches, knees and elbows from the clinch winning rounds one and two.

Cro Cop continued to back peddle in round three and was unable to get any offense going.  Dos Santos meanwhile kept the pressure on with knees and punches from the clinch and Cro Cop decided he had enough.  

Covering his eye, Cro Cop verbally submitted with just two minutes to go in round three.  Cro Cop hasn’t been the aggressive KO artist that won the Pride open weight grand prix a few years ago.  He didn’t have much success in the octagon with his left head kicks maybe due to the UFC mats, “The mat was slippery like glass. I almost fell down trying to do the left high kick. But I’m not looking for an alibi.”

“Maybe I should’ve quit after I won the open weight grand prix.”
Could this be the last we see of the Croatian?

Meanwhile the skies the limit for Dos Santos who moves to 9-1 in his career, would he fight teammate Antonio Nogueira?

British import Paul “Semtex” Daley was more than impressive against welterweight contender Martin Kampmann knocking him out in the very first round.
The fighters set a torrid pace trading shots until Daley found the button first knocking Kampmann silly.  Kampmann was out on his feet as Daley continued the onslaught.  

Referee Yves Lavigne was right there to stop the fight and the punishment to Kampmann.  Kampmann was angry at the decision, but he was clearly not defending himself.  

“A very just decision,” Daley said of the stoppage. “The referee obviously saw … that his eyes went a couple of times. He was only trying to protect his health. I would have hurt him, so good stoppage.”

A rumored bout with Mike Swick may be next for Daley, Swick was scheduled to fight Kampmann but pulled out due to injury.  The winner of this rumored bout may be next in line for GSP.

Josh Koscheck needed just 85 seconds to send Frank Trigg packing once again from the UFC.  

Koscheck landed a huge right hand sending Trigg down against the cage; he quickly followed it up with more punches.  The fight was stopped shortly after.  An unpleased Trigg quickly bounced to his feet arguing with the ref.  Trigg would later tweet that the decision was justified after watching the tape.

Koscheck made no bones about who he would like to face next, "I know there’s a guy who just signed a new contract, and his name is Matt Hughes," Koscheck said. "I’ve been asking for that one for a long time … but I’ll fight anyone, anytime, anyplace."

For Trigg it’s either another shot in the UFC or retirement as he no longer wants to fight for the smaller organizations.  

Lightweight contender Tyson Griffin found another way to win against Hermes Franca.  Griffin known for his streak of decision victories that spanned over three years knocked out Franca in round two.

Both fighters were booed for the lack of action in round one, but Griffin dropped Franca in round two and finished the fight.

Griffin moves to 7-2 in the UFC while Franca has dropped 3 out 4.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
• Vitor Belfort def. Rich Franklin via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 3:02
• Junior Dos Santos def. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic via submission (verbal) - Round 3, 2:00
• Paul Daley def. Martin Kampmann via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 2:31
• Josh Koscheck def. Frank Trigg via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 1:25
• Tyson Griffin def. Hermes Franca via knockout (punches) - Round 2, 3:26
• Efrain Escudero def. Cole Miller via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 3:36
• Tomasz Drwal def. Drew McFedries via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 2, 1:03
• Jim Miller def. Steve Lopez via TKO (injury) - Round 2, 0:48
• Nick Lentz def. Rafaello Oliveira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Rick Story def. Brian Foster via submission (arm-triangle choke) - Round 2, 1:09
• Eliot Marshall def. Jason Brilz via split decision (30-28, 27-30, 30-27)
• Vladimir Matyushenko def. Igor Pokrajac via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Rafael Dos Anjos def. Rob Emerson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Dallas, Texas – Former champions are set to throw down tonight in the lone star state, as Rich “Ace” Franklin welcomes back “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.  

UFC 103 “Franklin VS Belfort” will be held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas Texas and live on pay-per-view starting at 10pm ET.

The co-main event will feature heavyweight superstar Mirko Cro Cop as he attempts to make one last run at UFC gold, rising star Junior Dos Santos will be in his way.  

Former number one welterweight contender Frank Trigg returns to the octagon after a four year absence and will have his hands full as he faces Josh Koscheck.

7/19/2008 marked the second coming of Vitor Belfort as he beat the hell out of Terry Martin at Affliction “Banned.”  He followed up that stunning performance with a brutal knockout at the expense of Matt Lindland.  

Tito Ortiz exclaimed that “Vitor Belfort is back!”

Belfort has seemed to recapture his past form and is indeed back, back at the “big show,” the UFC.

The former heavyweight turned light heavyweight champion is now fighting as a middleweight.  His opponent will be former middleweight title holder Rich “Ace” Franklin as they fight at a catch weight of 195.

Franklin is arguably the most underrated fighter in recent memory.  He’s lost only on four occasions against Lyoto Machida, Dan Henderson and twice to Anderson Silva.  Franklin has his sights set on the light heavyweight division and a possible rematch with Machida.  

Franklin’s strengths have always been his technical striking and ability to stick and move.  What has given his opponents fits in the past is that he’s a southpaw, but he will be facing Belfort who is also a lefty.

Belfort has had the most success coming out aggressive early.  His hands are powerful and fast, not to mention that he was primarily known as BJJ stud early on in his career.  Belfort needs to turn up the heat early on Franklin as Franklin is known to stick and move his away to decision victories.

If Franklin can get out of round one alive, he should be able to secure another decision victory while ruining another contender for Anderson Silva.

Fan favorite Mirko Cro Cop is back in action and is hungry for gold, UFC gold.  He will be facing a fighter equally hungry and equally dangerous in Brazilian Junior Dos Santos.  

Dos Santos, a Team Black House protégé, has been straight nasty since his arrival to the UFC.  TKO victories over Fabricio Werdum and Stefan Struve have landed him his biggest fight to date.  

At 25, Dos Santos is young and mean.  His standup is lethal like Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida while his ground game is reminiscent of the Nogueira’s.  He’s aggressive and that will prove dividends against Cro Cop.

Cro Cop hasn’t performed at a top level since his victory over Josh Barnett back in 2006.  Sure he beat Eddie Sanchez, Hong Man Choi and Mustapha Al Turk, but looked straight scared against Kongo and Alistair Overeem.  

There is no secret that both fighters want to stand and trade.  Cro Cop is easily frustrated when back pedaling, but is always a left head kick away from lights out.  

I would love to see another title run for Cro Cop, but Dos Santos is nasty and his time is now.  Dos Santos wins by decision.

Mirror images will be fighting in welterweight action as oldie but goodie Frank Trigg faces off against his younger counter part Josh Koscheck.

Some of you may not remember Frank Trigg; he was the one who gave up his back not once but twice to Matt Hughes in their title fights.  

Well he’s back for one more chance at UFC glory, will he be remembered for being choked out twice by Hughes or do we have a comeback story in the making?

Josh Koscheck wants to end any comeback stories and get back into the title contention at 170.  Koscheck is younger, faster and a better version of Frank Trigg.  Kos will outwrestle the 37 year old and end the fight via rear-naked choke.

Should be an excellent night of fights, you’ll get more bang for your buck for a UFC card than boxing.  

Who’s Mayweather fighting again?  Not Pacman!  

Watch the UFC!

Spike will be airing someundercard fights one hour before the pay-per-view.

MAIN CARD (pay-per-view)
• Vitor Belfort vs. Rich Franklin
• Junior Dos Santos vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
• Paul Daley vs. Martin Kampmann
• Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg
• Hermes Franca vs. Tyson Griffin
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
• Efrain Escudero vs. Cole Miller
• Tomasz Drwal vs. Drew McFedries
PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-aired)
• Steve Lopez vs. Jim Miller
• Nick Lentz vs. Rafaello Oliveira
• Brian Foster vs. Rick Story
• Jason Brilz vs. Eliot Marshall
• Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Igor Pokrajac
• Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rob Emerson

UFC 103 tomorrow night, preview will be up soon.

Main event:

195 lbs.: Rich “Ace” Franklin (195) vs. Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (196.25*)

Main card (Televised on PPV):

265 lbs.: Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos (236) vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (226)
170 lbs.: Martin “Hitman” Kampmann (169.5) vs. Paul “Semtex” Daley (170)
170 lbs.: Josh “Kos” Koscheck (170) vs. Frank “Twinkle Toes” Trigg (170.25)
155 lbs.: Hermes Franca (159**) vs. Tyson Griffin (155.5)

Under card (Partially televised on Spike TV):

155 lbs.: Efrain “Hecho en Mexico” Escudero (157***) vs. Cole “Magrino” Miller (155)
155 lbs.: Jim Miller (154.5) vs. Steve Lopez (154.5)
155 lbs.: Rafaello “Tractor” Oliveira (155.25) vs. Nick “The Carnie” Lentz (155)
170 lbs.: Brian Foster (170.75) vs. Rick Story (170)
185 lbs.: Tomasz “The Gorilla” Drwal (185) vs. Drew “The Massacre” McFedries (185.25)
205 lbs.: Eliot “The Fire” Marshall (204.75) vs. Jason Brilz (205.25)?
205 lbs.: Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko (205) vs. Igor Pokrajac (203)
155 lbs.: Rafael dos Anjos (155.5) vs. Rob “The Saint” Emerson (155.5)