Tag Archives: Kris McCray

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UFC 122 – Yushin Okami Vs. Nate Marquardt

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I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to watch this show after watching Manny Pacquiao destroy Antonio Margarito. I already didn’t like the looks of this card, especially the main event, to begin with and after watching such a big event, this seems like a step down. Hopefully the show is good. I’ve been able to stay away from spoilers all day long.

The winner of Nate Marquardt vs. Yushin Okami deserves a title shot. In fact, both guys deserve a title shot more so than Vitor Belfort, but it’s hard to market either guy as a main event fighter. I don’t think I’ve ever been entertained by a Yushin Okami fight and we’ve already seen Nate Marquardt beat by Anderson Silva.

Alessio Sakara isn’t fighting tonight against Jorge Rivera because of flu-like symptoms. Hmmm.

1. Nick Osipczak vs. Duane Ludwig

I don’t think I knew that Ludwig was still in the UFC.

Ludwig looked great for the first half of the round. He was leading his combinations with a kick and following it up with a right-left hand combo. He rocked Osipczak a couple times and it looked like he was going to be able to get him down, but Osipczak caught Bang and got him to the ground. He quickly mounted him, but Bang slipped out the back. Interesting round to score.

Ludwig looked good again early on. He landed another head kick. But then he was busted open by Osipczak. He tried a takedown at the end of the round. But the rest of the round was Osipczak’s.

Oddly, Osipczak is completely out of gas. Ludwig was kicking and punching him at will. But Ludwig is a bit tired too and didn’t have everything on his shots. Osipczak is taking a crazy amount of punishment. Oddly, he went for a takedown to end the round.

Winner: Duane Ludwig by way of split decision

The scores were 30-28, 29-28, and 29-28.

2. Goran Reljic vs. Krzysztof Soszynski

I think both guys are trying to win fight of the night. Soszynski had Reljic running backward, but Reljic started to work the takedown and eventually got it.

Soszynski was on his back again, but working for the submission. He looked very comfortable there. Soszynski had the better of the clinch game after he was able to stuff the takedown.

Reljic is tired and Soszynski is the much more fresh of the two. Reljic went for a takedown, but Soszynski caught his arm and went for a standing kimura. They clinched again and Soszynski looked to be going for the knee. Reljic didn’t want any part of it and fell backwards, but took big shots while on his back. Soszynski ended the fight strongly.

Winner: Krzysztof Soszynski by way of unanimous decision

Krzysztof looked pretty good, but it also seems as if he’ll never get above that middle ground light heavyweight level. Still, not a bad fight if he’s in there.

3. Peter Sobotta vs. Amir Sadollah

Sadollah is the aggressor, throwing more punches and kicks, but Sobatta nearly had his back at one point and was working the takedown. Sadollah came back near the end of the round with some offense to take the round.
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The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 Finale – Keith Jardine Vs. Matt Hamill Play By Play

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This seems like one of the weaker TUF finale cards. From the show, Jamie Yager and Rich Attonito are going to fight in addition to the Court McGee and Kris McCray final, but no one else is on the main card. And I’m not too excited about Jardine/Hamill, even though it should be a good fight. Jardine is either going to leg kick Hamill to death, or get hit on the button and go down.

Chuck Liddell is also scheduled to be at the show only one week after his loss to Rich Franklin.

Ken Florian is with Mike Goldberg tonight.

1. Rich Attonito vs. Jamie Yager

Yager is more active and at times, too quick for Attonito with his quick kicks and good movement. Attonito shot in for a takedown and Yager kept it upright. Yager’s boxing is odd and he leaves himself open by throwing loopy punches, but Attonito hasn’t been able to take advantage of it yet.

Attonito landed some hard shots that looked to break Yager, much like he was broken in the fight he lost during the season. He shot in for the takedown and got it. He quickly got Yager’s back and went for a rear naked choke. He didn’t get it, but he eventually flattened him out and finished him with strikes to the side of the head while he was laying on his stomach.

Winner: Rich Attonito by way of 2nd round TKO

2. Dennis Siver vs. Spencer Fisher

I know I’ve said this before, but Siver looks like a midget Brock Lesner. Siver is more robotic in his striking while Fisher is in and out with feints and lots of side to side movement. Siver’s left eye was cut somehow and it’s a big cut. Siver is also throwing high kicks, but Fisher sees them coming.

It looks like the cut was from an accidental headbutt. Much better round for Siver and he might’ve eked it out. He was starting to land his right hand which was opening up even more room for his front kicks. Fisher landed some good shots as well and started to land body kicks.

This is such a close round. For the first three minutes, I thought it was Siver’s round, but Fisher might’ve done more enough at the end of this round to take it. It’s very close to what I’d score a 10-10 round. Siver shot in right as the bell rang to end the match, and it’s probably something he could’ve done earlier in the round to steal it.

Winner: Dennis Siver

The scores were 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28. I thought the first round was Fisher all the way.

3. Aaron Simpson vs. Chris Leben

Typical Leben fight – Simpson out-wrestled him and out-struck him too. He was way more active and Leben’s defense was to use his face to block his punches. You know Leben wants to unload with that big left hand, but until then, he’s taking some decent shots.
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The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 – Team Liddell Vs. Team Ortiz Episode 11

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This is the last show until the finals and it’s two hours long. We’ll see if I can do two hours of TUF.

Rich Franklin’s assistant coaches are a bearded Forrest Griffin, Gray Maynard, and Tyson Griffin. Rich says he thought Tito would still be there.

Kris McCray said he thought the coaching change would affect him more, but he says it’s been good.

Chuck says it’s different because he was fighting a guy he hated and now he’s fighting one of the nicest guys in MMA.

It’s Brad Tavares vs. Court McGee, two guys who are friends. Chuck has them train together still, but just not spar.

The guys got McCray, Tavares, Yager, and Noke back for being loud in the evening by waking them up with silly string and air horns. Tavares had a fit and broke the chess board. What did the chess board do to him?

Brad Tavares vs. Court McGee

Pretty nothing round. Lots of hugging against the cage. It’s weird because since Tito isn’t here, there’s no real loud coaching. You don’t hear, “Under hooks, under hooks!” Probably a little too much respect for each guy from both fighters.

They opened it up a bit more and Tavares tested McGee’s bearded chin a few times. But there still wasn’t a ton of action.

Court looked great in the third round. He buckled his knees with an overhand right, took a knee to the head shooting, and kicked Tavares twice in the balls. Well, Tavares got him first. He threw a left hook that put him nearly down, then he got the takedown and sunk in the rear naked choke. Whatever they were holding back in the first two rounds, they forgot about in the third. Fantastic round.
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The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 – Team Liddell Vs. Team Ortiz Episode 9

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They are teasing hard that this is the episode in which Tito leaves the show, forcing them to change one of the coaches for the show.

The show starts with a weigh-in for the Kyle Noke and Kris McCray fight.

Uh oh, here’s the tease for Tito leaving. He says that the doctor wants him to have neck surgery. He says he won’t let Chuck beat him if he’s not 100%.

McCray and Noke are buddies and Dana says one of the things he wants to teach them is that in the UFC, there are no friends. Well, unless you’re Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva. Or Keith Jardine and Rashad Evans. Or Josh Fitch and Josh Koscheck.

Kyle Noke vs. Kris McCray

The first round was a bit odd to me. Noke is clearly more talented, but he was getting a little cute with McCray. McCray just put his head down and wrestled and stayed out of submissions. It was that hard worker kind of round that the wrestlers usually get and I think it’s McCray’s round.

Noke was on his back the entire round. McCray took him down and kept him there.

Well, I got the first round wrong. They’re going to a third. What a boring fight this was. McCray took him down again and just held him there until they were stood up. Noke went for a kimura, but didn’t get close. If only Noke could wrestle.

Winner: Kris McCray by way of unanimous decision

It’s Brad Tavares against Seth Baczynski next.

Chuck hears about Tito and says that if he has to put up with Tito for six weeks, he better fight.

Seth Baczynski vs. Brad Tavares
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The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 – Team Liddell Vs. Team Ortiz Episode 8

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Kyacey’s son was born while he was getting ready for his wildcard fight against Kris McCray. Tito says he’s going to sit in the bleachers and not say anything. He’s going to let the better man win. He must think his screaming for under hooks helps these guys or something.

Kyacey Uscola vs. Kris McCray

Kyacey kicked Kris right underneath his knee twice and McCray winced like he was hurt. Lots of holding each other against the cage. McCray hit him low and then was reversed on a takedown, but got right back up and took a knee to the gut. Then he got the takedown on Kyacey and worked the rear naked choke, but it was way sloppy and he didn’t get it.

Kyacey looked terrible. McCray got the takedown and put him in a kimura and he tapped out.

Winner: Kris McCray by way of 2nd round submission

Dana, Tito, and Chuck are trying to choose the next round of fights. Tito wants Court McGee and Nick Ring to fight again so we can get a clear winner on the fight. Kind of unfair to his guy. Dana thought it was a good idea and Chuck got made because Tito got his way.

The match-ups for the next round are as follows:

Nick Ring vs. Court McGee
Kyle Noke vs. Kris McCray
Brad Tavares vs. Seth Baczynski
Jamie Yager vs. Josh Bryant

It’s still all Chuck guys vs. Tito guys.
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The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 – Team Liddell Vs. Team Ortiz Episode 7

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After winning his fight with Court McGee, Nick Ring thinks he may have something wrong with the ligament in his knee.

The last fight is Seth Baczynski vs. The Caveman. Dana thinks The Caveman isn’t good at all and that it should be a one-sided fight. Seth was given a second chance after he lost in the qualifying matches and he’s grateful about it.

Joe Henle aka Caveman got into the sport almost by accident. He never expected to make the show. Rich Attonito doesn’t think Joe’s mentally strong. He has a MBA in financial planning as his plan B.

Striking coach Howard Davis says his striking isn’t great right now. But, he’s only been in the sport for six months and he thinks it’s a good accomplishment to be that young in the sport and be that good.

Ring’s knee went out of him in training. He’s had issues with it in the past and for three years has been fighting on a bad knee.

They are really building this fight up as a slaughter. Henle’s trying to let people know that he’s going to bring it and he knows he’s the underdog.

Joe Henle vs. Seth Baczynski

What an interesting round this was. If Joe had any sort of experience on the ground, he probably finishes Seth. Joe got an early takedown but put his head on a platter for Seth, who tried to sink in a triangle. Joe got out of that, but kept feeding his head and was put in a guillotine. It looked like he tapped out, but the ref didn’t stop it. He got out of that mostly because Seth was tired and then tried to put him in an anaconda choke. When Seth rolled through it, Joe then got his back and tried for a rear naked choke. Seth ended the round on top of Joe.
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