Customer Reviews

UFC 97: Silva vs. Leites

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Overall, this was not at all a horrible event. There were some really good, close fights that basically went to a decision because they had to, as well as some good KOs and submissions. However, the judges were really having an off night; this may have more to do with the even matches put on than anything. The Stout/Wiman fight was the most obviously affected by this. A few people also thought the Chonan/Grant fight had a controversial ending; personally, I agreed with the judges on that one. The fights that were close were really close, and the ones that weren't were complete blowouts. The judging and the complete blowouts of some of the fights caused that 4-star review. It's not a bad event at all, it's just more for the hardcore fans than anything.

People have been pissed off to the teeth about this event, yet for one reason and one reason only...Anderson Silva. Ok, granted, Thales Laites may have added to the drama-fest they put on in this main event, but it does take 2 to screw up like this. But that's what was given to us for the Main Event in UFC 97. People thought Thales Laites was bringing the game to finish Anderson Silva. Laites was supposed to take him out with one of his amazing submissions, like he's done with everybody else! Either that, or Anderson was going to get it together after his performance against Patrick Cote at UFC 90, and knock out the BJJ specialist. So, what would happen?

The Co-Main Event featured a legend of the octagon, Chuck Liddell taking on a then questionable Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. What made Shogun so questionable? Well, he got smeared by Forrest Griffin in his UFC debut back at UFC 76. And to top it off, his rematch with Mark Coleman was anything but impressive, despite a 3rd round finish. And Liddell hasn't exactly opened any eyes lately either. After Rampage whooped him, Keith Jardine beat him, Rashad Evans knocked him out cold. So seriously, would the old Chuck show up? Or would the Shogun of Pride enter the octagon and show fans why he belongs in a fight with "The Iceman!"

Like I said, if you can bitch and moan about one thing concerning this event, then unfortunately it would easily be the Main Event. But on the other hand, lets be honest. There were 12 fights altogether! I'm going to list all 12, and I didn't think they were ALL that bad myself. Here we go, love 'em or hate 'em, the list is below...

DISC 2: Preliminaries

Eliot Marshall vs. Vinny Magalhaes: These guys never squared off in the house on TUF, but it could've made for a decent fight, right? While a finish would've been nice, it wasn't happening, but a good fight was happening, and a unanimous decision was awarded in the end!

Ryo Chonan vs. T.J. Grant: For one who once did submit Anderson Silva back in the days of Pride, Chonan's biggest UFC claim to fame was taking a split decision against Roan Carneiro back at UFC 88. To try and get it back, he takes on newcomer Canadian, Grant. This is a good scrap as well, and goes to a split decision, that some found controversial. But that's just how it goes sometimes!

Mark Bocek vs. David Bielkheden: Let me tell you something, Bocek has got to be one of my favorites in the Lightweight division lately. I just like the kid! While on the other hand, I can't stand Bielkheden. And despite my bias, one of them walks away with an awesome 1st round submission right before the bell!!

David Loiseau vs. Ed Herman: Welcome back "The Crow!" Not that he has an easy task at hand. The winner in this absolutely dominates for an easy unanimous decison!

Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry: Both of these guys didn't last too long in their prior fight. And one of these guys smashes the other to pieces quickly in the 1st round! Good stuff!!

Denis Kang vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam: Kang fought well, but came up short in his UFC debut in Ireland in UFC 93. So bring on "Professor X," who makes his UFC debut. I suppose this was dominant, yet it did drag a bit. It went to a unanimous decision.

DISC 1: Main Card

Steve Cantwell vs. Luiz Cane: Man, Cantwell's so good, he took home a limb in his UFC debut! Man, Cane's so good, he's been taking everybody out!! Two great strikers choose to stand and bang, and a unanimous decision is awarded!

Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk: Speaking of strikers, this should be a Heavyweight striking dream match-up, right? I'd say this one was played rather safe, but in the end, the winner got a 2nd round TKO!

Kryzsztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann: These 2 have trained together. Will "The Polish Experiment" ruin the debut of former WEC Champ, Stann? The answer comes in the form of a 1st round submission!

Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman: These two are dogfighters, plain and simple. And while I thought one was going to take this easily, I was shocked when the other one held his own and took this fight! Great scrap with a unanimous decision awarded!

Chuck Liddell vs. Shogun Rua: Did people see this coming? I think a lot of people did. Did it really come as a surprise toa lot of people. Not really. All you can do is give the winner his props, because it was a nice 1st round KO!

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Laites: People were pissed about this. Dana White wasn't happy. Fans didn't come to see a jack-ass display in a title fight. And although nobody liked it, the champ kept his belt.

Anderson has continued to have his great or not-so-great moments since this fight. Ask Forrest Griffin, or ask Demian Maia. Soon, we'll be asking Chael Sonnen. IN SAYING THAT, if you can watch this DVD and enjoy most of the other fights, then all you really have to complain about is the Main Event. But in all honesty, I would've loved to see a better title fight too!

Here's the full line-up for UFC 97

Eliot Marshall VS Vinny Magalhaes
T.J. Grant VS Ryo Chonan
Mark Bocek VS David Bielkheden
Ed Herman VS David Loiseau
Nate Quarry VS Jason MacDonald
Denis Kang VS Xavier Foupa-Pokam
Luis Cane VS Steve Cantwell
Cheick Kongo VS Antoni Hardonk
Krzysztof Soszynski VS Brian Stann
Mauricio Rua VS Chuck Liddell
Sam Stout VS Matt Wiman
Anderson Silva VS Thales Leites

This was not the best UFC in recent years.

The Good:
Quarry/MacDonald was good, nice finish.
Kongo/Hardonk was a pretty good display of Ground-N-Pound.
Soszynski/Stann had a nice submission of the night.
Rua/Liddell had a nice KO. (KO of the night award)
Cane/Cantwell was entertaining.

The not-so-good:
Silva/Leites: Both fighters got a lot of criticism for this fihgt due to lack of aggression. Turned into a dull fight. I blame Leites more than Silva, but both preformed poorly.
Lots of decisions... some more entertaining than others, but made for lots of long fights, and lots of long fights makes for a long event, and not too many highlights.

If you bought the PPV, this DVD might still be worth getting, as there are six prelim fights that were not on the PPV. and $15 is not too steep either way.

If you didn't get the PPV, there is some good stuff spread out in here if you are a MMA fan and can appreciate the ground game and strategy.

If you are looking for Knockouts and hard core action, you might skip this one and pick up the UFC 95 & 96 combo DVD that came out last week.

Whether you're a Liddell fan or a Shogun fan, a GSP or a Penn, this show sucked.

Liddell vs Shogun ends so quick and so anticlimactically.

Penn vs GSP is a 4-round beatdown of the same mount punches every round.

In fact, without Quarry/MacDonald, there wouldn't even be a reason to acknowledge its presence in a store. It sucks.