UFC 71 continued the theme for 2007, “Year of the Upset”. Two flash knockouts punctuated the night and two action packed decisions filled out the card and made it the high water mark of the year.
The first fight of the night was Chris Leben vs. Kalib Starnes. Chris was coming off a rough submission loss against Jason McDonald. Kalib lost by TKO against the rising start Yushin Okami. Both are TUF alumni with medium skills and the matchup promised to provide an entertaining bout.
Round one opens with both coming out jabbing. Chris throws a high kick that misses and Kalib clinches but Chris defends the attempted takedown well. Chris repeatedly cocks that left hand but telegraphs the shots and allows Kalib to dodge some of the heavy shots. Chris lands a couple straights but slips on one of the decals on the mat and Kalib lunges in to get double underhooks. Kalib’s face looks a little worn from Chris’ heavy hands but he gets the single leg takedown finally. Chris utilizes the high rubber guard effectively unti. the final seconds of the round. Kalib stuffs Chris into a corner, postures up, and unloads a flurry of hits to Chris on the ground that leaves Leben dazed as the bell rings.
Round two has Kalib coming out using his kicks to keep range. He clinches every once in awhile but mostly just throws onsies and two-sies. Chris tries a sloppy spinning hammerfist but whiffs. after lulling Chris to sleep, he comes in with a straight right and rocks Leben and then immediately takes him down before Chris can gather his wits. Kalib stands over the fallen opponent and unloads a flurry of hits. Chris stands up and gets dinged as he gets to his feet. Starnes then clinches and unloads knees on Chris’s body. Kalib is landing leg kicks and straight rights at will because Leben’s left hand continued to dip way low. Chris finally gathers himself and comes forward with a decent combo but Kalib turtles up and withers the small onslaught. Chris uses some nice knees to answer Kalib’s earlier knees and pushes Starnes backwards to finish the round.
Round three begins with Chris throwing a sloppy head kick. Starnes counters with a nasty right. Chris doesn’t look tired at all and Kalib is looking exhausted. Chris throws a mean liver kick that buckles Kalib but Chris doesn’t make him pay and instead allows Kalib to pull guard. Chris gets half guard only to be swept. Kalib seems content to stay in guard and doesn’t work at advancing. Kalib finally tries to stand and then pass to side mount but can’t. The fight finishes.
Kalib Starnes wins by Decision
Keith Jardine is a true light heavyweight contender coming off an electric win against Forrest Griffin. Houston Alexander is a new person in his first UFC bout that is being cast to play the patsie.
Round one starts with Keith coming out mocking Houston in a kind of chimpanzee stance with both hands over his head. Alexander takes offense but Jardine doesn’t give him time to contemplate and advances with a combo that ends with a left hook. Houston slips on a decal and Jardine immediately pounces thinking Houston is injured. Houston disabuses him of the idea and immediately answers with some nasty knees that stagger Keith. He ends his assault by throwing a combo of hooks that drops Keith two different times. Referee is forced to step in and stop the bout. Houston is still mad and woofs over Jardine while he is still down.
Houston Alexander wins in the first round via KO.
Terry Martin comes in to Michael Jackson and with a recent win against Jorge Rivera, has to feel good about himself. Ivan Suanters to the ring without a care in the world and the match starts.
Ivan comes out with an immediate high kick. He then starts to unload leg kick after leg kick on Terry. Martin counters with an overhand and scores a nice hit. Ivan continues to work kicks. Terry lets his hands go and gets the clinch. Ivan has some good balance and staves off the takedown. Terry finally gets Ivan’s back and Salaverry takes 2 on 1 on Terry’s forearm. Terry picks up Ivan and suplexes him on his head knocking him out. Terry then finishes it off with a hammerfist before the ref can step in and stop the bout.
Terry Martin wins by knockout in the first round.
Both combatants come out and a giant staredown ensues between Karo and Josh.
Round one starts and Josh lands a left and then kicks which Karo catches but Burkman balances nicely. Burkman then lights up Karo but Parisyan counters nicely with a thrown haymaker. Karo starts to time Josh and hits with a right again and again. Josh finally gets a takedown off a kick that Karo throws. Karo stands back up and gets kicked for his efforts. Karo then clinches and throws Josh like a pinwheel with a nasty Judo throw. Josh gets back up and tries to hit Karo but Parisyan counters and hits back. Josh grabs Karo finally and Karo gets a 2 on 1 in the start of a Kimura if he goes down. The bell rings and both combatants go to their corner.
Round two begins with Karo landing a nasty right and a body shot. Josh locks up and thinks otherwise as Karo maneuvers and starts a Judo throw. Karo is countering everything that Josh is throwing at this point. Josh is tiring and dropping his hands and Karo makes him pay by staggering Josh with an overhand right. Karo continues to pick Josh apart and to time him brilliantly. Josh continues to try and take him but down but Karo is defending successfully. Josh again tries to clinch and Karo answers with a straight right. Josh is visibly exhausted at this point but the round mercifully ends before Karo can capitalize.
Round three starts with Josh in a desperated scramble to finish the bout. He lost the last two rounds and he knows it. Josh jumps in swinging for the fences and Karo counters. Josh finally shoots in off a hit combo and gets a single leg takedown. Karo grabs guard and then successfully sweeks Burkman. Both get up and Karo lets his hands go with a flurry. Karo tries a huge kick and misses. Josh is utterly exhausted and giving all his strength just to defend so he doesn’t get knocked out. The bout ends and Karo knows he won all three round.
Karo wins by Decision and sings horribly.
Din Thomas is a TUF Alumni with two consecutive wins in the UFC. Jeremy is a newbie and this is his first fight and you can tell he is nervous.
Round one starts with Din changing levels and taking down Jeremy immediately. Din passes to side control and goes for Kimura. Jeremy gets guard off a scramble but eventually gives up his back. Din goes for a rear naked choke but Jeremy appears calm and successfully defends it with a 2 on 1 hold. Din still tries for a RNC but he loosens his hooks to a body triangle. Jeremy finally sweeps and starts to throw bombs from on top right when the round ends.
Round two starts with Jeremy very confident. He has the momentum from the last round. Jeremy tries for a spinning hammer and misses. Din hits Jeremy who then counters with a right hand twice. Jeremy then telegraphs a kick. Din shoots and gets the takedown but Jeremy immediately sweeps. Din passes one of his legs over Jeremy’s head and goes for an armbar. Jeremy picks up the smaller fighter and slams him down good but this only tightens the armbar down. Din flexes both his core and legs to tighten the armbar down and Jeremy taps before every tendon in his arm snaps.
Din Thomas wins in the second round by submission.
The fighters come to the ring over a very long time and a perfectly timed entrance. The tension in the building is palpable, even through the TV screen. Rampage lets forth his usual howl but looks a little tense. Chuck comes to the ring and is incredibly loose. Both compete in a timeless staredown then go to their separate corners to start the fight.
Round one starts and they both come out of their corners on a mission. Chuck is circling and Quinton is cutting off his angles. Both throw very probatory shots but nothing landing. Chuck throws a sloppy body hook and Rampage comes up over the top with a right overhand hook that lands flush on the Iceman’s chin and knocks him to the mat. Rampage immediately jumps in and starts to rain down shots that Chuck is having to defend. Eventually, a really hard overhand leaks through and knocks Chuck senseless again. Chuck’s limbs splay out and Rampage has an unabated path to the head and continues to rain down blows. “Big” John McCarthy immediately jumps in and waves off the fight to protect the fighter. Chuck wakes up with a confused look wondering where those 10 seconds went and wanting to fight but he is done.
RAMPAGE WINS BY K.O. IN THE FIRST ROUND AND IS THE NEW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Dan Henderson got up into the ring afterwards and in as few words as possible, challenged Rampage to a match. Dan Henderson currently has the belt in Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in PRIDE. It was a lame attempt because they are both friends and Dan isn’t a professional wrestler but the intent is obvious. The card was stacked and turned out better than anybody planned. The two upsets really put icing on the cake and made the night even sweeter.
3 of the 4 belts have changed hands in the last year due to upsets. Chuck vs. Rampage was just destiny.