They did a much better job with the pre show match this time by simply doing it like like the matches you pay for. Now if they'd only lose or at least move the scroll to the bottom we'd be set. The match itself was a leftover from UFC 42. It looked like it might be a dog because Loiseau wasn't trying anything once he got the takedown, but turned out well enough. Weir was consistently trying things, landing a good punch from the bottom now and then. Loiseau would almost lull you to sleep then he'd make a sudden move. He passed the guard into the side mount, completing the position improvement despite the cage getting in his way. Weir was able to spin around on his back and regain guard. Finally, Loiseau started to pound and Weir seemed to be caught off guard by it. His series of elbows did major damage then he polished Weir off with a flurry of punches. Very surprising that a fighter who looked so promising a few shows ago is now getting finished by guard strikes.

1R 3:55

Frank Mir vs. Wes Sims

I'm not very familiar with Giant Sims, but if I had that kind of reach advantage against a submission fighter I'd want to try standup. Instead, Sims charged Mir at the bell only to be dropped with a big tackle. Sims did guillotine Mir in the process, but he never had any control of Mir's body, so Frank was out in a few seconds and now free to fight from the mount. Mir tried to put the hooks in when Sims back became available, but he never sunk them and wound up rolling Sims back to his back. Mir tried the arm bar, but Sims defended well and went on offense after slamming his way out. Unfortunately, Sims offense was several stomps to the face while holding the fence - both illegal tactics - made more deadly by Mir being against the cage. Sims was raising his hand like he was the greatest until he found out it was a DQ rather than a ref stop. Then like a great 21st century role model he emphatically threw his mouthpiece into the crowd and started blasting the cage with kicks. This would be prime SportsCenter material except this isn't a real sport like golf or horse racing. I realize these guys fight in different organizations and they all have slightly different rules, but Sims has been DQ'd for illegal kicks before. Mir, who was down for ages and had a gross mouse his eye eventually gave an interview apologizing to his hometown fans that his match turned out to be a screw job as if it was somehow his fault, but they kept booing him and the ref. These are probably the same fans that think Sammy Sosa is getting a raw deal...

1R 2:56

Poor Vernon White. He loses his title in King of the Cage because Jeremy Horn takes him down and lays on top of him for 4 minutes per round doing exactly nothing. Forget that White was looking excellent in standup before that takedown, actually doing damage which has to take precedent over control. Forget that aggressiveness easily went to White. Forget that you don't take a guys title by simply having a close match with him. Yep, what we need to remember and promote are takedowns that lead to nothing and riding time. Apparently, what we really need is more matches where Miletich's fighters wait 2 or more minutes to try to go from one position they've been totally ineffective in to a "more favorable" position they'll be equally ineffective in so their stalling clock will be reset. Excitement personified!

This draw was a lot closer than White's loss to Horn. Freeman could be a 205 pounder, but White, who replaced injured stablemate Ken Shamrock, really isn't a heavyweight. Though White is a far superior technical striker, Freeman is the far more powerful puncher. White also made the mistake of fighting inside with Freeman, which negated his edges in technique and quickness and favored the brawling style of his opponent.

White is kind of an enigma because he'll impress you several times during the fight, but he doesn't put it together for a period of time. This is what kills him with the judges, who tend to favor time with the advantage to solid strikes and near submissions. White is very good at dropping down with a punch. In general he's very patient looking for his opening, but then he'll explode. He'd often avoid Freeman's blow and try something of his own.

In round 1, Freeman got the takedown and moved White against the fence where he threw punches. White went for an arm bar, which got him to his knees and allowed him to get back to his feet, though the round was essentially over. White tried his Kimura toward the end of round 2, but he wasn't able to control Ian's legs. Freeman was very tired by the end of this round, but between moving up in weight 3 weeks after the Horn fight and trying to fend off the bigger stronger opponent, White didn't have his usual stamina either. White tried a spinning backfist at the start of round 3, but Freeman backed away so far he even avoided White's subsequent rights. This allowed Freeman to land 2 good right hooks, but White recovered in time to mainly block Freeman's knee. Later White threw mount punches then both tried a heel hold. Freeman's stamina was especially a factor when he landed a big right hand when the clinch was broken because he was unable to follow it up. Still, Freeman took the final portion, and I believe would have received the decision had it been PRIDE where they favor that. I had it 29-28 White. He's more diverse and skilled. Freeman had better standing strikes though. Judges had it 30-27 White, 29-28 Freeman, & 29 all. Good match.

3R

Vitor Belfort vs. Marvin Eastman

You never know what Belfort you'll see. This was the good one that takes his opponent out quickly with a lightning flurry rather than the bad one that sulks when he isn't able to get off in round 1 and never makes any adjustments. Belfort had the height advantage and was able to grab Eastman's head and 2 jumping knees when Eastman came in for a high takedown. Eastman fell after the 2nd one, which gave him such a ridiculous gash it looked like he did the people's eyebrow so someone could carve that skin out like he was a pumpkin. Joe Rogan said, "It looks like he got hit with an ax." I think Eastman was already out, but Belfort pounced on him and did one of his trademark punch barrages to ensure the stoppage. Belfort thanked everyone on earth and in the heavens after the match.

1R 1:10

Yves Edwards vs. Eddie Ruiz

Not a very competitive match - about the only time Ruiz was in control was when Edwards came out with a jumping knee and Ruiz locked him up and took him down before he could get his footing - but it was still and enjoyable one. It was basically Edwards skill vs. Ruiz's heart and determination. Ruiz wasn't able to get Edwards into a position where he could succeed, but he never gave up despite being cut early and all the times he could have been submitted and should at least have been knocked down. Ruiz knew he had no chance in standup, so he would work his hardest to get to the mat even if it meant giving Edwards dominant position. Unless you are a great wrestler you aren't going to take down a guy that can sprawl like Edwards when he knows that's all you'll try. Ruiz's ground defense was very solid, with Edwards having his back regularly but never being able to put him away.

Edwards could get punches and kicks in when he was avoiding Ruiz's takedowns. The best was when he cracked Ruiz with a left high kick as Ruiz was setting up his shoot. You could hear around the building. Ruiz was Fujita like though, not even flinching and instead diving for a single leg that Edwards allowed him to get because he was hoping to triangle him.

Edwards got his standup going toward the end of round 2 when Ruiz was gassed but he was still totally fresh. Edwards never rushed, but that wasn't always a good thing. I thought he could have got a stoppage if he pounced on Ruiz like Belfort had previously after putting him down with a knee lift, but Edwards just let Ruiz stand up. I know Ruiz offered no danger in standup and was too slow on his shoots, especially now that he was tired, but there wasn't much time left in the round so there wasn't the big negative of potentially getting stuck where Ruiz potentially could do something.

Ruiz recovered well between rounds. He actually got on top when Edwards went down to try an arm bar, but Ruiz slipped into top mount. After Edwards got guard, Ruiz tried to pass into side mount but couldn't get his head free and was nearly triangled. Edwards had Ruiz so high that Ruiz was able to duck out of it so to speak. There were several neat positions and counters. Edwards threw a bunch of his knees from the clinch, but Ruiz kept trying for the takedown. Easy 30-27 decision for Edwards

3R

Kimo has barely fought in 5 years, but unlike his opponent he doesn't look like he's barely worked out in 5 years. That hasn't even mattered because the days of just going out and throwing leather are long gone, so Gallon Tank can't last long enough to be out of gas. The only way to describe this match is an embarrassment. Kimo took Tank down, appeared to gouge Tank so he could get mount, and applied a head and arm choke. Tank was in it for quite a while before succumbing to this 101 submission simply because he had no clue how to improve his position. Tank didn't get to throw one punch, but next time we see him I'm sure he'll run his mouth about how he might lose but his opponents are the ones that go to the hospital. At least Bobby Jackson knows enough to give up on this bum. Maybe his teammate Vlade Divac should fight Tank next time. He's probably equally skilled in MMA and he's certainly used to taking nasty blows every time he would shut Shaq down if not for the Shaq rules where it's a foul on your chin for taking his elbow, a foul on your chest for taking his shoulder, and so on.

1R 1:59

UFC Interim Light Heavyweight Championship: Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell

UFC finally got sick of Tito Ortiz's duck a Chuck, creating an Interim Light Heavyweight title when he once again wouldn't agree to fight someone that might beat him, this time citing "entertainment commitments". Couture wrestled at 198 pounds, and his two losses are largely due to fighting guys that are too big for him. The regular weight of both is probably in the 220s, so Couture coming down in weight didn't look to be an advantage for either. But no one had ever dropped a weight class and ran over a championship level opponent before. Certainly after viewing the performance, I can say Couture should stay here though because he gained quickness and stamina while not appearing to lose strength.

Liddell was the favorite, but he'd never fought a guy like Couture before. He did face a great wrestler in Kevin Randleman, but Randleman was in one of his zany moods where he thought he was instead an amateur boxing champion. Couture didn't beat Liddell because of his wrestling though. We remember him from his early days when that was his only game and he won the title by pinning Maurice Smith down, and maybe we forget how well he did later on against strikers. If that is the case, we certainly won't forget after what he did to Liddell.

Couture just took it to Liddell in standup. He controlled the pace and tempo, which he kept very fast. He looked like a top level boxer in that he was using every type of punch and mixing them up so Liddell didn't know what was coming or how to time him. Liddell isn't a counter puncher, but he was backing away all night. Randy was just so aggressive and he wasn't giving Chuck any openings. The highlight of the night for Liddell was the cool video they showed on the big screens before he came out with the voodoo mon striking fear of the Ice Man into our hearts. Then they ruined it by playing a new version of Ice Ice Baby that probably stole from someone, but at least didn't have Freddie Mercury rolling over in his grave. Too bad Liddell's performance was more along the lines of the latter feature.

I don't want to take anything away from Couture. This was a top notch performance by Randy that made a fighter that was considered special but hadn't faced a great multi dimensional fighter look like a deer in the headlights. What Liddell did well was stand right back up once Couture took him down. If this was the early Couture that would have been huge because Liddell would have had the advantage in standup. In this fight, it just meant that Couture scored more points because he got to hit him with better shots then slam him down again if he wanted. Couture had the flashy slams, but his best takedown in my opinion was the one where he had one of Liddell's knees but Liddell was using his impressive sprawl to keep hopping out of danger until Couture swept his other leg.

Couture's weak point has been when his opponent gets him on his back. Liddell was able to do this once with a reversal, but it was the end of the round so the jury is still out on whether Couture has improved in this area. He's certainly improved his left jab, which was a big factor here. Liddell was mainly throwing wide left hooks, but Couture's punches were direct so they reached their target quicker and were harder to defend.

The finish came when Liddell decided to go for a takedown rather than continue to get knocked backwards. Couture stopped it and soon slammed Liddell against the fence, this time mounting before Liddell could sneak back up. Couture hit Liddell, who was very much alive, with a flurry. Liddell wasn't able to stop the punches or improve his position, he was just flailing so John McCarthy had to stop it. This was Couture's most impressive performance ever. He was a diverse offensive machine that went full throttle throughout, schooling Liddell in striking plus showing some great takedowns. Couture became the first man to win titles in two different weight classes, as well as the first three-time champion in UFC history. Very good fight, probably Couture's best ever, despite Liddell being a disappointment.

3R 2:40

Rizzo is an easy fighter to pick on because he's one dimensional, but if he's not in a title match he usually has the best match on the show. This wouldn't have made the PPV if Liddell had faired better, but this rematch from UFC 20 edged that fight and all the rest as the best fight on the show. Telligman's style should play right into counter puncher Rizzo's hands because Tra's always coming in swinging. Telligman once again got off to a good start. He was a better boxer than Rizzo, and he cut Pedro around his left eye, which with all his scar tissue is nothing new. The cut was more to the side and wasn't bleeding into Rizzo's eye.

Rizzo started to get going at the end of round 1. Telligman missed a left hook and Rizzo actually spun him around with a low kick. Subsequent punches cut Telligman on the cheek. Telligman fired back, but Pedro actually took him down! Rizzo pushed him into the fence and did adequate damage with the first ground and pound of his career. Rizzo allowed Telligman to get up when he regained his win, drilling Telligman when he rose. It seemed like every Rizzo blow to the face was leaving a mark on Telligman, who was soon bleeding from the forehead and both cheeks. Telligman was examined by the doctor once, but kept getting worse leading to the stoppage. Very exciting all action striking match with a big turn in control. Rizzo just had too many weapons for Telligman and was able to make adjustments to his punching game.

2R 4:25