theragingbull
09-25-2006, 12:31 AM
Matt Hughes steps towards infamy at UFC 63
Solid fight card culminates with redemption
Juggernaut. At UFC 63, “The Prodigy” B.J. Penn found out what a human juggernaut looks like. A human juggernaut looks like UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes. Penn learned what the definition of unstoppable is when Hughes imprinted it across Penn’s forehead with overwhelming leather.
The night started off with the return of Militech Fighting Systems Elite fighter “Little Evil” Jens Pulver. After a brief stint in Pride FC, the uncrowned, undisputed UFC lightweight champion stood under the eight-sided spotlight. His opponent Joe Lauzon was a seven-to-one underdog, but Lauzon wore a shirt that read “Fear No Evil.” Lauzon not only became fearless when the bell rang, he may have become evil himself. Lauzon scored two takedowns—a tall order against Pulver— before stopping him with knee/left-hand combination. In forty-eight seconds, Pulver’s road to reclaim his title (he is the only UFC lightweight champion in history) hit a serious road block in Lauzon’s fists.
The next fight featured Rashad Evans, winner of the Ultimate Fighter season two. Evans faced “The Punisher” Jason Lambert. A Former NCAA Division I wrestler, Evans displayed superior wrestling skills, winning the first round easy. The second round was the end of Lambert’s eight fight winning streak as the undefeated Evans took the dominant position and knocked Lambert out with a series of punches.
A lightweight bout between Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard and Gabe “Godzilla” Ruediger ended in historic fashion. Guillard now trains with Tito Ortiz’s Team Punishment. Guillard demonstrated the ground-n-pound style that garners his camp fame. The fight went everywhere and his athleticism proved to be overwhelming. A straight punch to the body sent Ruediger backwards as the second round began. He crouched and gave up. Guillard delivered the first body punch knockout in UFC history. A clean, furious punch to the body makes two highlight reel knockouts in a row for Guillard.
Middleweight contenders Mike “Quick” Swick of San Jose, California’s American Kickboxing Academy and Canadian David “The Crow” Loiseau battled for three rounds in the feature bout. Swick’s swift feet and fast hands lead him to outstrike the timid Crow in the first round. The second round was an uneventful display that saw the first signs of life from the Crow in three chopping leg kicks. Swick secured a takedown. The third round came and the Loiseau that took middleweight champion Rich Franklin five rounds emerged. Swick, visibly out of breath, looked up at the clock in between Loiseau’s flurries. The fight was
awarded to Swick in a unaminous decision. He hopes to be next in line for the
UFC gold.
Matt Hughes came to the ring sans emotion as his “Only a Country Boy Can Survive” trumpeted throughout the sold out Anaheim Pond. Hughes has longed to avenge his only loss of the past five years—the loss of his title to Penn—for two years. However, the ring of the main event bell brought back the B.J. Penn that had a meteoric rise through the UFC.
Penn stuffed Hughes’ bulldozing takedowns with his inhuman flexibility. He proved to have superior stand-up, despite Hughes looking extra comfortable and crisp on his feet. The first two rounds easily went to Penn as he landed damaging blows on the feet. He took Hughes’ back—reminiscient of how he secured the choke that shocked the world in 2002—before gaining a better position and pulling a top-side triangle choke. Hughes ended the second round narrowly avoiding submission. As the third began, Penn looked sluggish. Hughes took advantage and employed his infamous takedown. Although, Hughes displayed more technique than his usual brute strength—a testament to his evolution from wrestler to mixed martial artist. Penn then suffered the same fate as fellow ground wizard Carlos Newton. Hughes pinned Penn’s arms in a top-control crucifix. With Penn virtually disabled, Hughes capitalized with his one free arm and rained punches. Penn’s face was shocked. It was free of physical pain, despite being beaten relentlessly. It was full of the pain that told him there was no way out.
Nearing ten title defenses over two reigns, Hughes is a future UFC Hall of Famer and potential living legend. Hughes has no time to rest as number one contender George St. Pierre recovers from his injury and looks ready to wear gold. But this is just work for Matt Hughes. His farm-boy work ethic transforms him into a fighting machine. Matt Hughes the person transforms into Matt Hughes the fighter…something unstoppable...a human
juggernaut.
- The Raging Bull
Solid fight card culminates with redemption
Juggernaut. At UFC 63, “The Prodigy” B.J. Penn found out what a human juggernaut looks like. A human juggernaut looks like UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes. Penn learned what the definition of unstoppable is when Hughes imprinted it across Penn’s forehead with overwhelming leather.
The night started off with the return of Militech Fighting Systems Elite fighter “Little Evil” Jens Pulver. After a brief stint in Pride FC, the uncrowned, undisputed UFC lightweight champion stood under the eight-sided spotlight. His opponent Joe Lauzon was a seven-to-one underdog, but Lauzon wore a shirt that read “Fear No Evil.” Lauzon not only became fearless when the bell rang, he may have become evil himself. Lauzon scored two takedowns—a tall order against Pulver— before stopping him with knee/left-hand combination. In forty-eight seconds, Pulver’s road to reclaim his title (he is the only UFC lightweight champion in history) hit a serious road block in Lauzon’s fists.
The next fight featured Rashad Evans, winner of the Ultimate Fighter season two. Evans faced “The Punisher” Jason Lambert. A Former NCAA Division I wrestler, Evans displayed superior wrestling skills, winning the first round easy. The second round was the end of Lambert’s eight fight winning streak as the undefeated Evans took the dominant position and knocked Lambert out with a series of punches.
A lightweight bout between Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard and Gabe “Godzilla” Ruediger ended in historic fashion. Guillard now trains with Tito Ortiz’s Team Punishment. Guillard demonstrated the ground-n-pound style that garners his camp fame. The fight went everywhere and his athleticism proved to be overwhelming. A straight punch to the body sent Ruediger backwards as the second round began. He crouched and gave up. Guillard delivered the first body punch knockout in UFC history. A clean, furious punch to the body makes two highlight reel knockouts in a row for Guillard.
Middleweight contenders Mike “Quick” Swick of San Jose, California’s American Kickboxing Academy and Canadian David “The Crow” Loiseau battled for three rounds in the feature bout. Swick’s swift feet and fast hands lead him to outstrike the timid Crow in the first round. The second round was an uneventful display that saw the first signs of life from the Crow in three chopping leg kicks. Swick secured a takedown. The third round came and the Loiseau that took middleweight champion Rich Franklin five rounds emerged. Swick, visibly out of breath, looked up at the clock in between Loiseau’s flurries. The fight was
awarded to Swick in a unaminous decision. He hopes to be next in line for the
UFC gold.
Matt Hughes came to the ring sans emotion as his “Only a Country Boy Can Survive” trumpeted throughout the sold out Anaheim Pond. Hughes has longed to avenge his only loss of the past five years—the loss of his title to Penn—for two years. However, the ring of the main event bell brought back the B.J. Penn that had a meteoric rise through the UFC.
Penn stuffed Hughes’ bulldozing takedowns with his inhuman flexibility. He proved to have superior stand-up, despite Hughes looking extra comfortable and crisp on his feet. The first two rounds easily went to Penn as he landed damaging blows on the feet. He took Hughes’ back—reminiscient of how he secured the choke that shocked the world in 2002—before gaining a better position and pulling a top-side triangle choke. Hughes ended the second round narrowly avoiding submission. As the third began, Penn looked sluggish. Hughes took advantage and employed his infamous takedown. Although, Hughes displayed more technique than his usual brute strength—a testament to his evolution from wrestler to mixed martial artist. Penn then suffered the same fate as fellow ground wizard Carlos Newton. Hughes pinned Penn’s arms in a top-control crucifix. With Penn virtually disabled, Hughes capitalized with his one free arm and rained punches. Penn’s face was shocked. It was free of physical pain, despite being beaten relentlessly. It was full of the pain that told him there was no way out.
Nearing ten title defenses over two reigns, Hughes is a future UFC Hall of Famer and potential living legend. Hughes has no time to rest as number one contender George St. Pierre recovers from his injury and looks ready to wear gold. But this is just work for Matt Hughes. His farm-boy work ethic transforms him into a fighting machine. Matt Hughes the person transforms into Matt Hughes the fighter…something unstoppable...a human
juggernaut.
- The Raging Bull