UFC: Fight for the Troops Re-Cap

Tonight's special UFC event took place to help raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which will help build a special, state-of-the-art, treatment center for the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces who have sustained traumatic brain injuries [or TBI]

Feel free to call 1-800-340-HERO (4376) or go to https://www.fightforthetroops.com/donate.asp to donate to this cause now.

Tonight's live event took place in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in front of 10,000+ troops!

The first fight of the evening was between Lightweights Jim Miller [who took the fight on short notice] and Matt Wiman.
I wanted Wiman to win this fight [and not only because his brother - a green beret - was in attendance]
The 1st round started with fists flying, until Miller caught Wiman in a deep choke hold - fortunately [for me] Wiman pulled out of it. Unfortunately for Wiman, Miller kept up a furious pace, controlling and dominating both the 2nd & 3rd rounds, winning the fight by unanimous decision. Great 1st fight!

The second fight of the evening was between Middleweights Nate Loughran & Tim Credeur [a Navy veteran]
I wanted Credeur to win this fight [not just because he's a veteran] and he did, however it was due to default, as Loughran sustained a broken rib during the 2nd round and was unable to continue...

The third fight of the evening was between Light Heavyweights Steve Cantwell [the last man to hold the WEC Lightheavyweight title!] and Razak Al-Hassan [making his UFC debut]
Even though I like Cantwell, I had a feeling that Hassan was going to give him a run for his money.
I was wrong - Cantwell caught Hassan in a vicious armbar, early on in the 1st round, almost breaking Hassan's arm [it looked like his elbow popped out of joint!] I was shocked that Hassan did not tap!The ref ended up stopping the fight.
What was weird was the fact that Cantwell won by TKO What?!? He should have won due to Ref Stoppage!

Next up were Welterweights Mike "Quick" Swick & Jonathan "The Road Warrior" Goulet.
I definitely wanted to see Swick win this match-up, and he did!
Mike "Quick" Swick" promptly used his rapid-fire punches to knock Goulet out cold, only 33 seconds into round 1! [I love to see trash-talkers go down!] :-)

Next, we were shown an earlier fight from the evening between Ben Saunders & Brandon Wolff.
I didn't even have time to choose a victor, before the fight started and Saunders caught Wolff in a clench and began to wail on him with brutal knees, winning the fight!

Now, the main event of the evening: Josh Koscheck vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Now, I like Koscheck [where my wife doesn't - she thinks he's an arrogant jerk - which he sort of is, though he has matured since the 1st season of The Ultimate Fighter - another reason that I like Josh, is because he reminds me of my friend Brian] :-)
I am happy to report that Koscheck won by a Great Knock-out - 2 minutes and 15 seconds into the 1st round!

Well, that wraps up this evening's events ~ remember to support our troops!

Next up, in MMA - this Saturday night - the Season 8 Finale of The Ultimate Fighter
[Ryan Bader & Vinny Magalhaes will vie for the Lightheavyweight (6-figure) Contract and Phillipe Nover & Efrain Escudero will vie for the Lightweight (6-figure) Contract]
So, be there, or at least be here, afterwards, for the re-cap! :-)

Jason