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UFC Fight Night 16 For the Troops: Koscheck v. Yoshida


Date: 12/10 7:55 PM
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Written by Stevie J

Our coverage of the show is LIVE so hit F5 or refresh as often as you like for updates! It's interesting but definitely not coincidental that they're leading into the Fight Night tonight with a replay of the last time GSP faced BJ Penn. (GSP won a close split decision.) Remember that tonight's show is all about raising money for injured soldiers. Visit www.FightForTheTroops.com for more info.

Koscheck says he won't hold back and he's proud to win in front of the troops. Yoshida says he'll finish by neck choke or arm break. Here we go!

UFC is live from North Carolina, in front of a packed crowd of military personnel in Fayetteville. Mike Goldberg welcomes us to a very special night and reminds us we're here to pay tribute to the real "true warriors" who fight in Afghanistan and Iraq, where there are no referees and no tapouts. Rogan says there are ten thousand strong in the house tonight and Goldberg puts over Fort Bragg and the URL. Apparently 1-800-340-HERO will also enable you to donate to the cause. We go to a promo video for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, focusing on soldiers whose bodies came home from war but their brains did not (their words not mine).

We return to the Octagon where Rogan and Goldberg are at a loss for words after watching the video, but still try to put over Yoshida v. Koscheck for the main event. Rogan: "I can't imagine anybody who watches that clip who isn't deeply touched by it." Other fights tonight include Tim Credeur v. Nate Loughren in a middleweight fight, Steve Cantwell v. Razak Al-Hassan in a light heavyweight fight and Mike Swick v. Jonathan Goulet in a welterweight bout. Jim Miller v. Matt Wiman though is up next!

* 'Handsome' Matt Wiman v. 'The New Jersey Kid' Jim Miller

Goldberg says this is a fight showcasing the best of the 155 pound division. Wiman is a 25 year old Texan with a great record in 2007, but Miller is unbeaten in his last seven fights who is looking for his tenth submission victory tonight. One of these two moves closer to a title shot, the other back to the midcard. We'll find out after these commercial messages!

Before our fight we get a promo from Everlast to support Fight For the Troops. The biggest difference in the tale of the tape is that Miller has a four inch reach advantage. Bruce Buffer notes that WE ARE LIVE and the troops erupt with a cheer. In the blue corner, Miller is 12-1, stands 5'8", weighs 156 and fights out of Whippany, NJ. Red corner, 10-3, standing 5'10", also 156 and fighting out of Dallas, TX 'Handsome' Matt Wiman. Our referee in charge is Mario Yamasaki. Round one set to begin!

Miller outslugs him for the first 45 seconds, Wiman goes for a takedown, Miller gets control for a submission and we get an awkward looking shot of Matt Wiman holding on to the shorts of Miller trying desparately to avoid being submitted. Yamasaki warns him repeatedly until he lets go both fighters roll with Miller on top pouring down punishment as we reach the halfway point of the round. Wiman is bleeding and continuing to eat damage. Wiman rolls and winds up on top and the crowd responds with enthusiasm. One of the corners is screaming "ELBOWS FROM ANY ANGLE." With 90 seconds left both men are back on their feet and this time it's Wiman getting the better of the slugfest. Wiman catches a HARD bodykick and the action goes briefly to the ground, but Miller has no guillotine this time. Both are on their feet with 30 seconds left in the round. Miller tries a head kick but it looks sloppy. Wiman circles and looks for a shot. Miller tries a superman punch right before we go to R2.

Brock Lesnar is in the crowd sporting a little bit of beard and goatee as we come back for more action. Wiman gets the best of the early going and Miller shoots for a single leg. It just results in a stalemate with both men coming back to the standup. Wiman seems to eat a few in the first minute, particularly lefts by Miller, and he may have gotten hurt by them. They get up against the cage and Miller keeps chasing. Miller seems to be teeing off at will now on Wiman but 'Handsome' survives despite the damage. Two minutes gone by. Miller winds up on top in guard as Wiman looks for anything he can do other than block headshots. Three minutes gone and Wiman is on the ground eating hammerfists. He really doesn't look so handsome any more. Miller tries to pass to side control then stands up then jumps right back into full guard with a devestating shot. Wiman has nowhere to go. To be fair every time Miller tries to pass to side Wiman blocks effectively with his legs and hips. 40 seconds to go and Wiman is in trouble again and defending as best he can. Miller wants to pass but he should just be content to grind it out from the top and win the round - he's up two rounds to none at this point. The soldiers are so hyped they actually count down the last five seconds.

Annnnnnnd we're back for round three of what's been a slugfest and an entertaining fight, even if largely a one-sided one. Wiman comes out slugging immediately but Miller stuffs it by getting a single leg takedown, and once again Miller is on top. Rogan puts over Wiman's defensive guard. Both men back to their feet and Miller gets another takedown at the 45 second mark. The troops are starting to boo because they liked the action on the feet and they don't like Miller on top given he hasn't been able to finish Wiman off from that position. 90 seconds gone by and that's exactly what we're watching. Miller finally gets side control 2 minutes into R3. Wiman manages to move Miller back to full guard and Miller is forced to let him come back up to the feet looking for a more domimant position. Miller gets a single leg and takes him down again. Wiman tries to hit upkicks, roll, do anything he can, gets back up to his feet and gets a takedown. Miller transitions from that into taking Wiman's back for a possible rear naked choke. 1:08 remains and it doesn't look like Miller has enough energy to finish him from here. Yamasaki may stand them up. Troops are starting to boo again. Miller tries to transition to the mount but Wiman keeps his knees up. Wiman is taken to the ground again with 15 seconds left so Miller will undoubtedly get a unanimous decision, even though the fight really slowed down in the last five to six minutes. Commercial.

Charlie Sheen begs us to make donations to soldiers with TBI. Tapout is in the crowd watching and wearing a limited edition shirt with proceeds going to the troops. Here's Buffer with the decision. AFTER THREE ROUNDS WE GO TO THE JUDGES' SCORECARDS. 30-27, 30-26 AND 30-27 FOR THE UNANIMOUS WINNER: JIM MILLER! Miller says he would never turn down a fight like this on short notice, especially since it's for the troops. Miller encourages everybody watching at home to donate. Rogan shows highlights and Miller says he's been working on his hands a lot. We go to another video promoting Intrepid's work on TBI. A soldier tells us how he was hit with an RPG and how it caused his traumatic brain injury. Mike Rowe narrates. We see Koscheck getting his hands wrapped backstage, along with Yoshida.

* Tim Credeur v. Nate Loughran

Loughran notes that the fans will cheer for Credeur since he's a US Navy veteran, but that he still expects to win. Credeur's last win against Cale Yarborough is shown and he talks about how excited he is to take this fight tonight. It's a middleweight matchup for the troops after these commercial messages! Ron Livingston promo when we come back. On the tale of the tape Credeur has a 1.5" reach advantage and one pound over his opponent in weight. Buffer to make introductions. Loughran is 9'0, stands 6'2", weighs 185 and fights out of Santa Rosa, California. Credeur is 6'3", 11-4, weighing 186 and fights out of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Our referee in charge is Dan Miragliotta.

The second live fight is underway! Credeur is in the white trunks, Loughran is in the black. Credeur waves off a shot to the groin by accident and we keep on fighting, and that's in the first fifteen. Tim wants to land a big shot, Nate is doing a good job defending and firing off kicks in return. Nate shoots in for a takedown and Tim pushes him up against the cage just past the first minute. Big headkick by Tim at 3:15 left but it doesn't faze Nate much. Tim keeps throwing bombs but Nate will not succumb to any of them. A jab on the chin connects but Nate keeps coming forward. Tim lands a nice right with 2:20 left. Mike Goldberg tells us that Tim has been training with Xtreme Couture since Ultimate Fighter. Tim keeps loading up those punches and kicks and is definitely outstriking Nate in the round. Tim's rights look nasty as hell. He jabs with the left and then cocks the right for a big shot down the pipe. A big left-right combo puts Nate against the cage as R1 ends.

Army veteran Randy Couture is in the crowd watching as we come back for R2. Nate tries to shoot but Tim winds up on top in full guard. Nate is looking for a leg triangle or a submission from the bottom but Tim is well aware of it. Tim keeps landing elbows inside the gull guard and Nate's left eye has a cut. Tim looks to pass to side as we near two minutes gone by in the round. Fight stalls out here and the ref finally calls for a break to standup with two minutes left. Tim may have gotten an inadvertant fight poke but the ref doesn't stop the fight and the action continues unabated. Troops are getting restless again with under a minute left in the round. Tim keeps coming forward and nate seems to be breathing hard - he might be gassing out. Even Rogan notes that his mouth is wide open. Tim keeps coming with bombs with 10 seconds left and the crowd explodes but the horn sounds before he can do more damage.

THE FIGHT IS ALL OVER. Tim has been awarded the victory, unofficially. I'm not sure if it was the cut or if he suffered a broken rib, and neither Rogan or Goldberg have a clue what happened either. We go to commercial and we'll find out when they come back.

Bruce Buffer: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE HAVE A WINNER BY TKO AT THE END OF R2: 'CRAZY' TIM CREDEUR! Tim puts over the soldiers, the opportunity to fight in front of them, the Fallen Troops Fund, and the fact he fought a tough 9-0 opponent. He also puts over Gladiators Academy in Lafayette and the fact he's a veteran himself, and tells his sweetheart he's coming home for Christmas. We go to another promo video for soldiers with TBI in society after coming home from war, again narrated by Mike Rowe.

* Steve Cantwell v. Razak Al-Hassan

Iowan Al-Hassan has a 7-0 record and a ferocious arsenal of kicks. "Steve can choose where he wants to lose the fight. If he wants to keep it standing I'll finish it on the feet with a knockout. If he wants to go to the ground I'll finish him there." Cantwell is put over as the last WEC light heavyweight champion. "I have championship experience. I trained for this fight as if it was a title fight and I'm looking to make an impression." Commercial break.

The biggest difference on the tale of the tape is that Al-Hassan has a 5.5" reach advantage. He's in the blue corner, 7-0, standing 6'2" and fighting out of Des Moines, Iowa. The name "Al-Hassan" draws boos, as you'd expect. Cantwell is 6-1 and is referred to as the former WEC Light Heavyweight champion by Bruce Buffer. I guess they just vacated the belt when WEC merged it's heavier divisions with UFC. Yamasaki is our ref in charge. Here we go!

Rogan is in love with Al-Hassan's afro. No, seriously. He even says as much. The two men clinch up against the cage after a little give and take on the striking then break apart at the one minute mark. Al-Hassan seems to get the better of the fight whenever the two clinch up, he's clearly got some muay thai experience. Al-Hassan is sporting the Condom Depot trunks we see on so many fighters these days. Two minutes in and Cantwell seems to be falling behind just on the basis of strikes alone. Al-Hassan finally eats a left, then a headkick, Cantwell gets a takedown and ends up in the full guard with 2:15 to go in the round. Cantwell quickly passes to side control and Al-Hassan seems a bit flummoxed as what to do. Cantwell gets the full mount and Al-Hassan is in deep trouble. Cantwell takes an arm and Al-Hassan rolls. He's not giving up and the ref stops the fight! It appears Al-Hassan's arm got broken. We'll find out after this commercial break.

MARIO YAMASAKI STOPS THIS FIGHT AT 4:04 OF R1 FOR THE WINNER STEVE 'THE ROBOT' CANTWELL. Rogan puts over the armbar and Cantwell is shocked watching the replay that Al-Hassan didn't tap. Cantwell: "I've been waiting so long to do that, you have no idea!" He puts over his team and says whether you have a dollar, a hundred or a million to donate to the troops because they really need it. Goldberg throws us to another promo for the troops based off a letter he got in the mail.

Promo from Robert Patrick when we come back from break.

* Mike Swick v. Jonathan Goulet

Promos from both fighters and we go right back to commercial. I guess this is a three hour show tonight. I was hoping the main event would go off by 10 CST, especially considering it's an hour later where the show's being held.

Goulet is 22-9-1, stands 6'1" and weighs in at 171 pounds. Swick is 12-2, 6'1", 171 pounds. They fight out of Canada and San Jose respectively. Our ref in charge is Big Dan M. yet again. This fight was set for 2007 but now it's finally set to take place. Here we go!

Swick finishes this fight before I can even start recapping it! The replay shows Swick rocking him right from the opening bell. Goulet tried to shoot for a leg but Swick fired off a series of hammer fists and punches following up on his opening right until Dan M. stopped the fight. Goulet's eyes were rolling back into his head as the medics were checking on him. We'll have the official results after commercial break. Promo from Mick Foley to support Fight For the Troops when we come back. Chuck Liddell is in the crowd looking on and the soldiers around him appear to be having a damn good time.

Here's Bruce Buffer! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN REFEREE DAN MIRAGLIOTTA CALLS A STOP TO THIS CONTEST AT 0:33 OF THE FIRST ROUND FOR THE WINNER BY KO: MIKE 'QUICK' SWICK!! Swick says he's healthy, in great shape and feeling very confident right now. "He was going for broke, he's a talented fighter so I had to go after him first. I had to get him and not let go." Rogan congratulates him on an awesome performance. Swick: "I love the military, I love all the guys watching around the world, thank you for your support guys please support these troops." Another TBI promo.

* Ben Saunders v. Brandon Wolff

This is a bonus fight filmed earlier in the night. Saunders accidentally hits an inside leg kick to the groin 15 seconds into the fight. Ref stops it and the two tap gloves to show it's all good and not intentional before the restart. Saunders goes for a clinch and muay thai knees, and he's rocking Wolff up the middle. It's amazing that Wolff survived. Saunders lets go and follows up with headkicks. He grabs the clinch again one minute in and it's a non-stop barrage of kicks. Wolff is trying to clinch hang on but he's absolutely getting PWN3D and you'd have to think it's a matter of time before the ref stops this. Wolff's face is a bloody mess and the ref finally steps in at just about 90 seconds in. IT IS ALL OVER!! WINNER VIA TKO AT 1:49 OF R1: BEN SAUNDERS. Rogan compliments him on the best muay thai since Anderson Silva. Saunders says he heard him grunting and groaning and kept bringing it until the ref stopped the fight. Saunders says he'll be auctioning all his fight gear from the night with the proceeds going to the troops. Commercial.

Remember if you'd like to donate go to www.FightForTheTroops.com to show your support for injured men and women of the armed services. It's time for our main event of the evening so here comes the hype videos!

* Josh Koscheck v. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

Yoshida says he'll break his arm or choke his neck. Koscheck says he'll come out strong and fast to finish. Commercial. Matt LeBlanc has a promo to donate to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund when we come back. 1-800-340-HERO. Yoshida comes out to a Japanese rap song with a chain SWANGIN' around his neck and an authographed Japanese flag being carried behind him by his entourage. Koscheck comes out to a cover version of "Higher Ground" before we get the tale of the tape, which is almost dead even.

Bruce Buffer has to put over the local athletic commish and the three judges at ringside as well as Fayetteville, NC before IT'SSSSSSSSS TIIIIIIME for three rounds in the welterweight division. Yoshida is 10-2, 5'11", 171 pounds, fighting out of Tokyo, Japan. In the red corner Koscheck is 13-3, 5'10", 171 pounds, fighting out of Fresno, California. Our referee in charge of the action is Mario Yamasaki. Here we go!

Everytime Goldberg says "Valkyrie" I think he's talking about some pop song by a singer named "Val Karee." I've never heard ANYONE pronounce the word "Valkyrie" that way. Almost nothing happens for the first minute except a few head kick faints by Yoshida. Koscheck starts trying to strike shortly after that. Yoshida fights southpaw. Rogan and Goldberg have enough time here to talk about GSP v. Penn since so little is going on. Yoshida may have caught a shot to the head. HE DEFINITELY DID AT 2:44 TO GO!!!! JOSH KOSCHECK FLOORS HIM WITH A PUNCH AND IT'S ALL OVER. He was already out standing with the first right, and the second right hook by Koscheck sealed the deal and forced the ref to stop it. Yoshida didn't even have his hands up to defend the second one. MOST IMPRESSIVE KOSCHECK KO EVER. Official results after commercial break.

50 Cent, Laura Prepon, Everlast, Shane Victorino and the Tapout Crew all encourage us to donate to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. "They fight for us, now let's fight for them. Thank you." Goldberg says it's a never-ending fight so do your part.

2:15 OF R1 FOR THE WINNER BY KNOCKOUT: JOSH KOSCHECK! Rogan is here for the interview and notes Koscheck just fought a little over a month ago. "What an honor, to fight in front of all of you guys. Get on there and donate. If that wasn't worth five bucks from every UFC fan, I don't know what I can do. Thanks to my Fresno fans, to the UFC, Zuffa Entertainment, everybody at AKA, thank you. I'm honored. I'm truly honored." Rogan puts over his transition from wrestler to striker. "Nice straight right, I knew he was looking for the overhand, so I focused on straight punches. Thank you for the support." Goldberg promises more fights when we come back from break, which makes sense given it's 10:40 right now (11:40 EST) and that would be a hell of an awkward spot for Spike to end the show. FFTT definitely gets my $5 after that KO.

* Steve Bruno v. Johnny Rees

Another bonus fight! I honestly don't know much about either man but Rees gets a strong muay thai clinch right from the opening of the fight. The troops are really bored when it goes up against the fence but at almost exactly one minute Rees gets a takedown and passes to half. Bruno stands back up and they're apart again on the feet 90 seconds in. Quick takedown follows and Bruno is on top in closed guard. Fight goes to the North-South moentarily and then Bruno gets behind him for a possible submission with 2:15 left. Rees escapes and Bruno ends up back on top in half guard. More boos from the troops as they want stand and bang action. They stand up with 1:25 left in the round and Rees is trying to fire back elbows at Bruno. The ref decides it's a nothing position and breaks them apart, which Rogan hates. Rees opens up with combos and pushes Bruno into the fence. Rogan keeps complaining. Rogan is incredibly pissed at the country ref for saying "C'mon, do somethin mayn!" In that case I might agree - the seperation didn't bother me but the call for action was really absurd. No commercial - we see both corners talking to their fighters (and some of it gets bleeped out for TV).

Round two is underway! Rees fires a little low leg kick that does nothing. Bruno pushes him up against the cage with double underhooks. Rees gives up his back to escape a takedown and Bruno looks like he might turn it into a kimura. Bruno lets it go and the two standup. More boos from the troops. Bruno is pushing against the cage and drops levels. Crowd is booing and this country ref might force them to stop and go back to the center again. 90 seconds to go. Rogan: "Sometimes it makes for a fight when two guys stalemate each other. It's part of the game." Sure enough the ref separates them with 3:13 left. Rees comes forward with several big strikes and they end up in the cage, now with Rees trying to get a takedown or hit a flying knee. No such luck. Ref: "C'mon mayn!" I almost think the ref is encouraging boos by his attitude. Bruno gets a takedown with two minutes to go. Rees is trying to hold his head down but can't do it. Bruno takes his back and immediately sinks in the RNC. This may be it! Rees wants to fight out but slumps to the ground and IT IS ALL OVER WITH 1:17 LEFT. We'll get the official result momentarily after these commercial messages.

3:44 OF THE SECOND ROUND FOR THE WINNER VIA TAPOUT DUE TO A REAR NAKED CHOKE: 'HOLLYWOOD' STEVE BRUNO! Rogan is with the winner. "This is by far the most important day of my life. I'm glad I could do it in front of all my military brothers and sisters. This is the greatest night of my life, thank you. I just wanted to give him the room to try to escape, I have that move, I kind of baited him, his signature is the RNC so it means a lot to me to beat him with his own move. Please support the Intrepid Fund. In September of 2002 I was in a helicopter crash in Iraq. They had to put me on a Blackhawk. I want to thank the army for saving my life!" Bruno is shown riding the shoulders of his camp as we go to Rogan and Goldberg recapping the entire evening. That's it! Thanks for checking out the Fight For the Troops recap and please remember www.FightForTheTroops.com if you'd like to donate.


 

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