UFC SUDDEN IMPACT
April 25, 2003
Live from the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, presenting an underestimated, overlooked, no-frills PPV on April 25, presented a solid card and excellent fighting in the octagon, outdoing the odds in cases and setting forth a platform for the future. Also, if you love cheering for the underdogs, this was your type of PPV as well.
A. Dave Loisseau b Mark Weir in 3:55.
B. Hermes Franca b Rich Crunkilton via decision after three rounds (on the pre-show).
Joe Rogan is doing play-by-play and Phil Baroni on color.
1. Duane “Bang” Ludwig vs. Genki Sudo is a really hot opening match that could’ve gone either way. Sudo started out on top taking control of Ludwig for a lot of the first round. A more aggressive Ludwig was better in the second round and won the second round. The third round was awesome, Sudo starting out dominating it. Sudo took Ludwig down and took it to him and the announcers thought Ludwig’s nose was broken after a great punch on the ground that caused his nose to bleed all over, he also cut his eye. Ludwig, with the advantage of a break due to injury was able to dominate in the very last seconds of the match, slamming Sudo, punching him, slapping him, and swelling his eyes shut just in that short amount of time. Knowing what he had done, Ludwig then celebrated.
Winner: Duane Ludwig via split decision after third round
Undertaker was in the crowd. I found it strange how every time they went to the celebrity shots, they were doing something else like talking on the phone, talking to someone in the crowd, or anything but smiling at the camera and pretending to be captivated by the show. Anyway….
2. Evan Tanner vs. Rich Franklin is one-sided ultimately. Franklin hits the uppercut and several punches and Tanner went down. The match was stopped and the crowd booed but Tanner knew the decision was fair and didn’t complain.
Winner: Rich Franklin at 2:40 via stoppage
3. Wesley “Cabbage” Correira vs. Sean Alvarez. I think it was Phil Baroni who at one time during the match said that 20 pounds overweight (Cabbage) is 20 pounds overweight but its much easier to carry the extra fat than extra muscle. So now I know I’m sending Triple H some Häagen-Dazs for a wedding gift. Anyway, everybody was trying to see if Alvarez could get it done. The answer was an unequivocal “no.” But WWE will always have a place for anybody on Velocity. Cabbage was surprisingly capable in the ring and the weight worked to his advantage because it just killed Alvarez who tried and tried but never had any legit offence. Alvarez got a takedown towards the end but Cabbage got out of it and beat the heavyweight out of Alvarez. A punch at the end and the ref called it a match.
Winner: Wes Correira at 6:47 (1:47 in the second)
4. Romie Arum vs. Dave Strasser. Romie Arum couldn’t hold his own in this match against Dave Strasser. Arum was able to dominate in the first parts of the first round and made for competition until six-ten minutes in with Arum getting tired. Strasser made him bleed in the third before winning via decision.
Winner: Dave Strasser via unanimous decision following three rounds
5. Robbie Lawler vs. Pete Spratt was very interesting. Lawler has become something of the pride and joy of UFC but the end was surprising just like these other matches. So much for those people betting with those ridiculous odds earlier. Spratt takes control in the latter part of the first round and Lawler blows up, and announcer Joe says it could be because Lawler, thinking he was the next big thing, did not train properly – a parallel somewhat to the situation with Bob Sapp. I agree with the therory. Spratt continued to dominate. Lawler messed up his leg and his eye before forfeiting the contest after he “f*ck-, screwed up a kick” in the ever so well-put words of Joe Rogan. So, he injured himself and it seemed like something that might stay with him for a while.
Winner: Pete Spratt at 7:29 (2:29 in the second)
6. Matt Hughes © vs. Sean Sherk for the Welterweight Championship is, as expected, the greatest match of the night with tremendous fierce competition from both. Hughes dominates for the first two rounds but Sherk comes back to be a factor in the third round. Sherk took Hughes down twice and Hughes was cut. Sherk is now a real factor and the competition is amazing from 3 to 5. Hughes regained a bit of control in the fourth taking him down and beating him and Sherk is busted up. Sherk takes Hughes down to start off the last round but Hughes regains control by getting a takedown of his own and taking the necessary advantage. Clear winner by the end. Winner: Matt Hughes via decision following five rounds. Sherk had a legit chance going in, despite the odds but the finish is not a surprise and the decision was correct based on what I saw. Hughes is unstoppable at this point and seems more untouchable than Robbie Lawler.
Overall a very solid card, great matches, and a solid night of entertainment (***).
~Trevor (please send emails to Thunnicutt@aol.com or if no response received to thunnicutt@trevorh.com)
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