UFC 2003: Let's Get It On!

[SeanMcFly]

UFC 2003: Let's Get It On!

 

We begin our journey through the UFC beginning in it's tenth operational year. The UFC is about to hold it's 47th event, UFC 41: Onslaught, headlined by a grudge match between Tito Ortiz & Ken Shamrock. Here are the fast facts leading up to the event:

 

UFC 41: Onslaught Background

 

- Ken Shamrock is a former Heavyweight champion, with 10 defenses under his belt. After taking a short hiatus, however, his career has fallen on hard times, with four losses and just two wins since losing the title (including his loss to Randy Couture for the belt). Tito Ortiz has gotten under the pioneer's skin with his constant insults and recent victories. The former Light-Heavyweight champion lost his belt to Wanderlei Silva and later, lost the rematch. With his recent dominant victory over Evan Tanner, Tito has been taking jabs at the former champion in order to sell this match to the fans, and boy has it ever worked. But Shamrock is without a win since November, 2000, and that could be the real difference maker.

 

- Jerry Bohlander has made somewhat of a career turnaround. He looked like he was going to be cut back in 1999, after four straight losses, but he managed to secure one last match in which he was able to pick up a much needed victory. Since then, Bohlander is 4-1 (including that match-up) with victories over John Lober & Royce Alger. His opponent, undefeated prospect Rich Franklin, who made as successful debut over Allan Goes

 

- Up until seven days ago, John Alessio was set to face off with Sean Sherk, but Sherk injured his rib and now he has been replaced by Amar Suloev. Suloev is 2-2 in his last four, including wins over Joey Guel & Courtney Turner, both by knockout. Alessio was involved in the inaugural UFC Welterweight championship match where he was defeated by Carlos Newton. He rebounded with a hard-fought victory over Dennis Hallman and now is set to impress again against a talented competitor in Amar Suloev.

 

- Carlos Newton now has his first match since losing the Welterweight championship to Matt Hughes. He is facing off against the man he was originally slated to face off against that night, Hayato Sakurai. Sakurai was upset in his UFC debut against Brennan Kamaka by way of Unanimous Decision and now he feels he has something to prove.

 

The Results

 

Kevin Jackson (8-4) def. Elvis Sinosic (4-8) via Unanimous Decision

Michael Sa Jin Kwok (8-3) def. Paul Rodriguez (4-4) via Knockout (Punch) in Round One

Ian Freeman (5-2) def. Tim Lajcik (14-2) via Knockout (Punch) in Round One

Murilo Bustamante (15-7) def. James Zikic (12-2) via Split Decision

Caol Uno (9-5) def. Dave Feser (4-7) via Submission (Arm-Bar) in Round One

 

Brennan Kamaka (9-5) def. Steve Berger (6-4) via Unanimous Decision. Brennan Kamaka is now 4-1 in his UFC career with a four fight win streak, and his only loss being to former champion Carlos Newton. With another win, he could find himself in title contention.

 

Hayato Sakurai (13-4) def. Carlos Newton (8-5) via Unanimous Decision. Sakurai showed off his wrestling in this match-up, dominating Newton on the mat just like Matt Hughes did in their previous encounter. Look for Sakurai to move up the ranks and hopefully challenge for the belt in the coming months.

 

John Alessio (7-2) def. Amar Suloev (7-3) via Submission (Arm-Bar) in Round Two. Suloev's weight cut was clearly difficult to handle and as a result, he was exhausted by the end of the first round. Alessio capitalized and pulled off the crafty arm-bar.

 

Rich Franklin (11-0) def. Jerry Bohlander (9-7) via Unanimous Decision. Franklin continues to move up the ranks and Bohlander's winning streak is shut down. Not a very active fight, but an impressive performance nonetheless.

 

Ken Shamrock (19-5) def. Tito Ortiz (9-3) via Unanimous Decision. Tito Ortiz was unimpressive and was surprisingly dominated on the ground by the much more active Ken Shamrock. Shamrock smiled at a very frustrated Tito Ortiz after the match and the post-fight press conference was even more exciting.

 

Post-Fight

 

- Attendance was 6,794 in New Jersey for a gate of $1,117,613

- PPV buys came out to $13,440,000

- Ken Shamrock was the biggest earner at $134,000 for his main event victory over Tito Ortiz.

- Following their losses tonight, Elvis Sinosic & Dave Feser will not be offered contract extensions.

- Brennan Kamaka says he wants to avenge his loss to Carlos Newton and then challenge for the title.

- Ian Freeman jumped up to #10 in the Heavyweight rankings.

- Tito Ortiz falls to #5 in the Light-Heavyweight rankings, while Rich Franklin rises to #8

- Michael Sa Jin Kwok climbs to #3 in the Lightweight division

- Brennan Kamaka climbs to #8 in the Welterweight division while Sakurai jumps to #5.