UFC 81 BIG LET DOWNS AND BIGGER WINS

UFC 81 "Breaking Point" From Las Vegas, Nevada
February 2nd, 2008 Results By Matt Boone


QUICK-MATCH RESULTS

Prelim Fights:

-Rob Emerson def. Keita Nakamura via Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) after 3 Rounds.

-Marvin Eastman def. Terry Martin via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) after 3 Rounds.

-Tim Boetsch def. David Heath via TKO (strikes) at 4:52 of Round 1.

-Chris Lytle def. Kyle Bradley via TKO (strikes) at 0:33 of Round 1.

PPV Fights:

-Tyson Griffin def. Gleison Tibau via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after 3 Rounds.

-Ricardo Almeida def. Rob Yundt via Submission (guillotine choke) at 1:08 of Round 1.
-Nate Marquardt def. Jeremy Horn via Submission (guillotine choke) at 1:37 of Round 2.
-Frank Mir def. Brock Lesnar via Submission (kneebar) at 1:30 of Round 1.

-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Tim Sylvia via Submission (guillotine choke) at 1:28 of Round 3 to become interim UFC Heavyweight champion.

Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar

Round one: Lesnar scored a takedown within five seconds. Lesnar got into half guard and connected with hard punches and elbows, but in the midst of it, hit Mir in the back of the head. Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight and took away a point for the illegal blow. Right after the break, Lesnar hammered him with a right and Mir went down. Lesnar hammered away and Mir nearly caught him with an arm bar. Lesnar tried to walk out of Mir's guard and Mir caught his leg and sunk in a knee bar. It was over as Lesnar tapped out at 1:30 of the first round.

Winner: Mir by knee bar sumbission



Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Tim Sylvia

Round one: Sylvia tagged Nogueira with a hard right early. Nogueira pulled guard within the first minute, but Sylvia slipped away and brought the fight back to a standing position. He scored again with a crisp left jab, but Nog answered back with a right. Sylvia hammered Nog with a left hook and Nog went down. Tim followed him to the ground to try to finish, but Nog hung on. Sylvia stepped away and went back to standing, but Nog managed to drag him back to the mat. Again, Sylvia pulled away. You could see their strategies emerging, with Sylvia realizing his edge standing and Nogueira wanting to take it to the canvas. Sylvia was very aggressive in the first round, so the fans had nothing to boo this round. Nog got a takedown as the round expired.

Round two: Nog tried an early takedown, which Sylvia stuffed. Minotauro is having a bit of trouble finding the range because of Sylvia's reach advantage, which is not an unexpected development. Sylvia is doing an excellent job avoiding the takedowns, and Nogueira must be credited for his granite chin. Nog tried to clinch but was denied, then tried a single leg takedown, driving Sylvia against the cage but was denied after 45 seconds of max effort. Sylvia caught Minotauro again with a right hook inside of a minute, and this is another round that should be scored for Sylvia.

Round three: Again, Nogueira started the round with a takedown try, but Sylvia held his ground. A few seconds later, he pulled guard. Sylvia tried to pull out, but Nogueira got a sweep into side control. As they scrambled for position, Nog got the guillotine and just like that, it was over.

Winner: Nogueira via guillotine submission

With the win, Nogueira becomes the first man ever to hold both the UFC and PRIDE heavyweight titles, though it must be noted he was one of only two men to hold the PRIDE belt. (Fedor Emelianenko held the belt from November 2001 until the company was sold to UFC in 2007.