UFC 82: Pride of a Champion
Preliminary Fights

Jorge Gurgel vs. John Halverson
Lightweight Fight

Round One:
Gurgel controls the stand-up early on, working a strategy of leg kicks and punches successfully. Halverson eventually connects with a combination. Gurgel tries for a takedown towards the end of the round; Halverson counters and pulls a guillotine, but Gurgel breaks free and pounds Halverson from atop as round one ends.

Round Two:
Gurgel barely misses with an early high kick. Halverson locks in another guillotine, but Gurgel breaks free and gets on top again. He dominates from this position, but he is unable to get the TKO stoppage. Gurgel moves to side control, but Halverson counters and gets on top late in the round.

Round Three:
Halverson gets the better of the striking early on, but Gurgel is able to regain control after taking Halverson down from clinch. Gurgel rode some time out on top of Halverson, but the referee eventually stood things up due to inactivity. Halverson connects with a late punch, but he is unable to steal the fight from Jorge.

Jorge Gurgel won via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).

Diego Sanchez vs. David Bielkheden
Welterweight Fight

Round One:
Sanchez scores an immediate takedown. He tries to connect from on top, but his opponent defends well. Sanchez eventually tries for a kimura from half guard; when that fails, he switches to mount and turns things on late in the round. He gets the tap.

Diego Sanchez won via submission (strikes) at 4:43 of Round One.

Mark Coleman is inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

Josh Koscheck vs. Dustin Hazelett
Welterweight Fight

Round One:
Hazelett, the heavy underdog, opens things up with a high kick and a knee. Koscheck recovers, however, and lands some shots. Hazelett tries for a guillotine in response to a Koscheck takedown attempt, but Koscheck powers through and lands some big shots. He takes Hazelett down late in the round but Hazelett pulls a triangle. Hazelett can't finish the wrestler, however, and the round ends.

Round Two:
Koscheck opens up with some punches to the body and head. He sends Hazelett to the mat with a high kick, but slips in the process. When he regains control of his body, he takes it to Hazelett with punches and gets the stoppage.

Josh Koscheck won via TKO (strikes) at 1:24 of Round Two.

Luke Cummo vs. Luigi Fioravanti
Welterweight Fight

Round One:
After some striking exchanges, Fioravanti scores two takedowns—he is able to keep Cummo down on neither occasion, however. This pattern continues; Fioravanti lands a suplex and another takedown, but Cummo continues showing resiliency in getting back to his feet.

Round Two:
Like round one, round two features Fioravanti taking Cummo down at will but failing to keep Cummo down or mount any significant offense. He still wins the round, as Cummo is getting very little done.

Round Three:
Fioravanti continues his takedown spree into the final round. He cannot get a stoppage or put Cummo in serious damage, but he's just too overwhelming for the TUF alum.

Luigi Fioravanti won via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Andrei Arlovski vs. Jake O'Brien
Heavyweight Fight

Round One:
O'Brien's wrestling background is not enough; Arlovski repeatedly blocks takedown attempts. O'Brien eventually gets a takedown, but Arlovski does solid damage from the bottom.

Round Two:
O'Brien eventually gets Arlovski to the mat after some failed takedown attempts, but Arlovski manages to get back to his feet and execute a takedown of his own. He finishes with strikes on top.

Andrei Arlovski won via TKO (strikes) at 4:17 of Round Two.

UFC 82: Pride of a Champion
Main Card Fights

Jon Fitch vs. Chris Wilson
Welterweight Fight

Round One:
The main card is underway!

Fitch makes the first offensive move with a leg kick; the two circle, hoping to find an opening to attack.

Fitch lands another leg kick and then moves in for a potential takedown. Wilson clinches up and tries for some knees. Wilson moves in and connects with a right hand. He then stuffs a Fitch takedown attempt.

Fitch moves forward and connects with a weak left hand. Leg kick, followed by a jab combination. Wilson throws a punch; Fitch ducks and tries for a takedown, but Wilson stuffs it yet again. Wilson connects with some punches, but then misses on a high kick.

Knee from Wilson; Fitch tries to counter with a takedown, but Wilson locks him up and stuffs it yet again. Fitch pushes Wilson into the cage as he tries to score his takedown. He eventually gets it, but Wilson tries to remain seated to avoid giving Fitch a dominant position on top.

The referee stands the action up just as Fitch appeared close to getting Wilson on his back. Fitch moves forward with some punches, but Wilson has the timing down and dodges them. He throws a body kick; Fitch checks it. Weak punch attempt from Fitch.

Bodykick from Wilson. Fitch catches a Wilson leg kick and brings the action to the mat, but Wilson's aware of what's going on and looks for an omoplata attempt. Fitch breaks free and goes to work from Wilson's guard.

Fitch works for position as he tries to throw some body shots. The round ends.

Round Two:
Fitch catches a Wilson bodykick and almost scores a takedown, but the former IFL fighter continues to do a good job of defending. Fitch connects with a right hand, but Wilson follows up with a jab and a near-miss on an uppercut. He stuffs another takedown, but he slips during his escape and ends up on his back.

Fitch works from Wilson's guard. Fitch lifts up to improve his position. Wilson throws some upkicks, but he doesn't do any damage and Fitch gets right back on top. Fitch establishes side control and begins throwing some weak elbows to Wilson's head.

Fitch maintains his dominant position but does very little offensive damage. He gets to mount with roughly ninety seconds left in the round, but Wilson secures a half guard before Fitch can take advantage of the mount.

Fitch gets back to side control and delivers a knee to Wilson's body. Fitch rides out the round on top.

Round Three:
Wilson connects with a bodykick and then sends an uppercut in the Fitch direction. Wilson almost scores with a takedown. Fitch lands a right hand, but Wilson fires back with a left. Inside leg kick from Fitch.

Another kick to the body from Chris Wilson. Fitch pushes forward with a punch that sends Wilson back into the cage. Wilson dodges a Fitch kick.

Fitch connects with a punch combination (weak) that ends with a body kick. Leg kick from Wilson. Fitch gets a takedown with two minutes remaining in the fight. Fitch works Wilson towards the cage as he delivers some shots to the face and body.

Wilson pushes Fitch off, but Fitch gets right back on top and works from Wilson's guard. As FItch goes to work, Wilson throws together a desperation triangle. Wilson keeps the choke locked in as Fitch hangs on for the bell.

Jon Fitch won via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27).

Mark Coleman, who was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame during the untelevised portion of the UFC 82 card, later announced to the crowd that he will return to the Octagon to fight Brock Lesnar in five months.

The fight is scheduled for Minnesota in August. It is presently unclear whether the UFC is planning to give the Coleman-Lesnar fight top billing.

Evan Tanner vs. Yushin Okami
Middleweight fight

Round One:
Tanner breaks the ice with a straight right after thirty seconds of circling. He keeps moving forward, but it seems that he's trying to get a sense of Okami's timing rather than to do immediate damage.

Tanner connects with a right hand, but Okami responds with a right, followed by a straight left that sends Tanner to the mat. Okami looks to pounce on his downed opponent, but Tanner takes control of Okami's body and gets his back. Okami stands up and gets out of the bad spot; Tanner has control of Okami's lower body as they clinch against the cage.

Okami turns the clinch around, but Tanner's still doing more damage—he's throwing the occasional inside knee. Tanner's face is, however, bleeding.

They separate from clinch and move back to the center. Tanner throws a leg kick, but Okami grabs Tanner's head for a Muay Thai clinch and throws a knee. They return to the side of the cage, but Tanner eventually works out of the clinch.

Okami connects with a right hand. Tanner then delivers a right. Counter left hand from Okami as Tanner moves forward. Tanner moves forward with a leg kick. Okami hits another counter right hand.

Okami narrowly misses on a high kick; Tanner pushes forward with some strike attempts as the round ends.

Round Two:
They look for opportunities to bang. Okami connects with a right hand, but Tanner responds by pushing forward with a right of his own. Bodykick from Okami, followed by a leg kick. Low push kick from Tanner.

Tanner whiffs on a bodykick. Okami sends Tanner's head back with a left hand. Okami finds his range and connects with several more punches. Tanner moves forward in search of an offensive opportunity, but he doesn't really find the opening.

They clinch against the cage. Okami, being held against the cage, works his Muay Thai clinch and delivers a big knee to the jaw that completely drops Tanner. Okami throws a final punch to bring the referee over for a stoppage.

Yushin Okami won via KO (knee) at 3:00 of Round Two.

Chris Leben vs. Alessio Sakara
Middleweight Fight

Round One:
Leben, sporting a new hair color, throws a kick to open things up. Sakara fires, but Leben dodges them and connects with a left hook. Sakara misses on a kick attempt.

Leben overcommits on a punch and Sakara lands a few punches of his own. He tries to work the Muay Thai clinch on Leben, but Leben breaks free. Sakara nails Leben with two shots. Leben moves forward and eats more shots from clinch.

Leg kick from Leben. Leben runs forward and connects with a left hand. Bodykick from Leben, but Sakara counters with a left hand and right hand. Leben is also connecting, however, and scores some of his own shots in the exchange.

Leben dodges a Sakara punch and scores with a left hand. He delivers a combination to Sakara, but Sakara also lands some punches. Superman punch from Sakara followed by another shot, but Leben hangs in there and delivers a punch of his own.

Leg kick from Leben. Bodykick from Leben; Sakara counters with a punch. Leben moves forward and hits Sakara with a right hand. They clinch up, and Leben starts getting the better of Sakara. He fires some shots, including a knee and two big left hooks, which eventually drop Sakara. Leben continues the damage as Sakara's back is on the mat; he punches until Herb Dean makes the stoppage.

Sakara expresses disappointment with the stoppage, arguing that he was not out.

Chris Leben won via TKO (strikes) at 3:16 of Round One.

Cheick Kongo vs. Heath Herring
Heavyweight Fight

Round One:
Herring moves right towards Kongo and fires a big right hand that drops Cheick. Kongo bounces right back up, however, and they clinch against the cage.

Kongo reverses position in the clinch and forces his opponent against the cage. Kongo grabs Herring's legs and easily scores the takedown. Herring scrambles, however, and grabs Kongo's arm for a kimura attempt. Kongo works his way out and gets back to his feet.

Herring connects with more strikes, and Kongo once against decides to take the action to the mat. Herring reverses Kongo and lands in side control, but Kongo quickly sits up to take away some of Herring's positional dominance.

Herring locks in a headlock as Kongo stands up. Kongo eventually works his way out and brings Herring to the mat again.

With Herring's back to the cage, Kongo starts throwing some shots. Herring rolls over and takes an escaping Kongo down to the mat. Kongo bounces right back up, however, and they're once again clinching against the cage.

Kongo forces Herring to the mat. Herring reverses and gets on top, but Kongo pulls a reversal of his own and gets on top of Herring's back. He throws some shots, but he's still a bit uncomfortable working from the ground.

Herring, working from the top of a turtled Herring, throws a few body shots but largely just hangs on to his dominant spot. The round ends.

Round Two:
Herring comes out for another big punch. Kongo ducks it and takes Herring right down. He works actively from atop Herring as he settles into Heath's half guard.

Kongo throws some right hands to the side of Herring's face. He tries to put some pressure on Herring's upper body as a way of escaping the half guard, but his decision to create more distance results in a big upkick from Herring.

Kongo stands up, but Herring invites his opponent to drop back down into his guard. Kongo refuses and the referee stands things up.

Herring moves right back towards Kongo, and they clinch up. Kongo forces Herring into the cage.

Kongo lifts Herring up and slams him to the mat, once again ending up on top of a turtled Heath Herring. He gets a headlock around Herring's head but is still not overly active in terms of ground and pound.

Kongo switches position in an attempt to get a better control of Herring's back. Herring tries to trap Kongo's left arm, but Kongo pulls it out. It doesn't matter, as Herring once again executes a reversal and goes to work in north-south position.

Herring drops down to side control and starts using big knees to the body. He gets to six knees as Kongo's getting forced towards the cage. Kongo tries to wrap up Herring's body, but he just cannot do it. Herring continues delivering his knees, mostly to the lower portion of Kongo's side but one or two hit the shoulder and traps of Kongo. The round ends with Kongo unable to escape the deadly trap.

Round Three:
They go right at it with kicks as the round opens. Heath's is more powerful and Kongo gets dropped. Heath looks for a guillotine, but Kongo powers through it and ends up on top of Herring. Herring scrambles a bit and grabs Kongo's arm, once again setting up for an eventual reversal.

Kongo looks for a rear naked choke but it's not at all locked in and Herring works out of it. Back to standing.

Kongo lands a kick, and then dodges some wild throws from Herring. He drags Herring to the mat yet again.

Herring grabs Kongo's leg to try and reverse positions and get his own takedown. Kongo works free, but Herring capitalizes on the scramble and ends up in side control. Herring tries delivering more knees and punches to Kongo's side. Kongo is trying, but he cannot get enough leverage on the cage to roll Herring off.

Kongo tries to sit up, but the heavier Herring uses his weight to force Kongo onto his back. Kongo's defending against the knees a little bit better, and they don't appear as strong as they were in round two, but he still remains unable to shake Herring off.

Kongo shifts, which allows Herring to advance to mount with about twenty seconds left. Kongo cannot roll out of it, but it looks like he'll be able to hang on. He does.

Heath Herring won via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson
UFC Middleweight Championship

Round One:
Here we go! Henderson makes first contact with a light leg kick thirty seconds in. He follows with a more firm low kick.

Silva has yet to throw a strike as the round's first minute is in the books. Henderson moves forward with a big right hand, Silva doesn't really get hurt and fires back with a leg kick. Henderson tries the same thing again, and Silva fires a shot back.

Silva throws a straight kick to Henderson's head. He tries to snap it again and then follows up with a more traditional high kick.

Silva moves forward and gives Henderson, the better wrestler, the ideal angle for a takedown. Henderson takes advantage and works on top from within Silva's half guard.

Though the UFC Champion is doing a good job of controlling Henderson's posture, he cannot keep his face immune from a series of Henderson hammerfists. Henderson is starting to open up. He narrowly misses on a big elbow, but uses his strong ground skills to advance to to side control.

The crafty Silva does not let this last long. He wraps his legs around Henderson and brings the PRIDE Champion back to his full guard. Silva didn't take much damage, but it should definitely go down as a Henderson round.

Round Two:
Silva opens up with a straight kick to Henderson's upper body. Bodykick from Silva. Henderson throws a wild right hand that misses.

Henderson throws a bodykick; Silva catches it and counters with a punch. Legkick from Silva, but Henderson counters with a wild right hook. Silva, however, fires right back in the punch exchange. He throws a kick as well.

Henderson locks up for a takedown attempt, but Silva lands on top. Henderson works out of the bad spot pretty quickly. They get back to their feet; Henderson clinches Silva against the cage. Silvaworks out, but Henderson's there with a knee. They start swinging, and Silva connects with a wild combination of punches and leg strikes that rock Henderson. Silva brings Henderson to the mat and gets on top, but Henderson shows enough initial defense to avoid the stoppage.

Silva works from Henderson's half guard. Silva tries to work to a better position but Henderson is quite conscious on the ground.

Silva eventually gets to Henderson's back. Henderson throws a desperation elbow, but Silva weathers it and gets a body triangle locked in. He throws some punches from behind and even looks for a rear naked attempt. Henderson initially avoids it, but Silva persists with his blows and opens Henderson's neck up. He finally locks the choke in and gets a late second round tapout.

Anderson Silva won via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:52 of Round Two to retain his UFC Middleweight Championship.


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