Bisping Victorious in Third Middleweight Clash
Hometown Favorite Defeats Iron Chinned Chris Leben
Oct 18, 2008
As the fight began Leben came out strong, stalking the Englishman and looking for the power punch that would end the fight early. Bisping showed excellent foot work, retreating and using lateral movement to fluster his opponent and land convincing counter strikes.
Before the end of the round, Bisping had found his range, and used his American foe’s aggression against him. Leben however continued to stalk his prey, appearing more focused than in any of his prior fights, although bleeding from the nose by the end of the round.
The second round began slowly, however before long Leben was again marching forward, stalking Bisping in an effort to stop him with his phenomenal one punch power. Leben again became bloodied before the end of the round, but began to land power punches before the bell sounded.
Bisping Defeats Leben
To begin the third, the crowd of 10,000 in Birmingham England began chanting “Bisping”, leaving no doubt who the fan favorite was. Prior to entering the round, Bisping’s corner re-asserted that he should use Leben’s aggression against him, and it was by using this strategy that Bisping emerged the victor by slipping, sliding and countering; two judges seeing the contest 30-27, and one seeing it 29-28, all for the Brit.
In the co-main event, Keith Jardine used his awkward and remarkably accurate style to win a split decision over Brandon Vera.
Both fighters showed a superb work ethic and endless heart, even trading knockdowns and near knockouts at the end of the first round. As the second began, the fighters squared up, with Vera landing a push kick directly onto the left knee of Jardine; the same knee that required prior surgery by the “Dean of Mean”.
Jardine Out Points Vera
The pace slowed through the rest of the second and third, however both fighters continued to exchange and connect throughout the fight. The bout was probably the most difficult to score for the judges that evening, but in the end two out of three would see Jardine the victor, awarding him the split decision after three hard fought rounds.
The biggest upset of the night came when Brazilian Luiz Cane stopped the “African Assasin” Rameau Thierry Sokodjou at 4:15 of round 2. Sokodjou, heavily favored came out ferociously, landing hard kicks and punches to the head and body of Cane. By the end of the first though, Sokodjou was visibly tired and Cane began to mount a convincing offense of his own.
It was in the second though, after another barrage of power strikes that Luiz Cane was able to capitalize on his opponents’ fatigue, first knocking the African down and then finishing him with repeated strikes to the head.
Also on the main card, the “Irish Hand Grenade” Marcus Davis was able to win his 12th fight in 13 contests, and Chris Lytle won a unanimous decision victory over Brit Paul Taylor.
Undercard Results
On the under card, Per Eklund defeated Samy Schiavo by rear naked choke at 1:47 of the third, Jim Miller defeated David Baron by rear naked choke at 3:19 of the third, and Terry Etim won a unanimous decision over Canadian Sam Stout. Also on the under card, David Bielkheden defeated Jess Laudin by unanimous decision, Shane Carwin TKO’d Neil Wain at 1:31 of the first and Dan Hardy defeated Akihiro Gono by split decision.
