UFC 79: Eddie Sanchez vs. Soa Palelei Reported By
OnlyUFC
Eddie Sanchez vs. Soa Palelei Heavyweight Fight
Round One: Sanchez moves forward with early strikes, but Palelei clinches up and presses the smaller opponent against the cage.
Sanchez is throwing some shots from teh clinched position, but he's unable to break free. Palelei knees Sanchez and finally trips Sanchez to the mat. Sanchez remains on his knee, however and continues to throw shots to Palelei's head.
Palelei switches position to finish the takedown, but Sanchez is remaining active to avoid getting caught in a dominant Palelei spot. Palelei lets go of Sanchez's leg, allowing Sanchez to get up. He threw a few shots of his own in the process.
During an exchange against the cage, Sanchez hits Palelei in the midsection. The referee pauses for what appeared to be a groin shot.
Sanchez moves right towards Palelei after the break, but Palelei clinches back up. It's the same boring story from earlier in the fight, but Sanchez is more active this time and is keeping the dominant position in the clinch. He throws a series of soft blows to Palelei's head, but the bigger Palelei eventually reverses the clinch and forces Sanchez into the cage. The referee breaks the clinch due to the inactivity.
They clinch right back up, but Palelei creates distance with two knees. Sanchez fires back with some punches. Palelei goes for a wild return punch and misses, slipping in the process. Sanchez doesn't truly take advantage, although he does connect a few times. Palelei misses again, this time with a wild left hand.
Sanchez pushes Palelei into the cage and closes the round with an uppercut and another big hand. Palelei smiles as the round closes. Should be a Sanchez round, but too little happened to be certain.
Round Two: Sanchez lands a series of punches early on. Palelei counters by forcing Sanchez towards the cage. Sanchez throws some knees as he tries to force his way out of the clinch, but Palelei is hanging on. The referee separates the clinch.
Sanchez connects with a series of jabs, but Palelei does manage to fire back a succesful right-handed counter strike. He then caught Sanchez with a forward right hand and pushed Sanchez back into the cage for more clinching.
Referee breaks the clinch. Palelei throws two wild right hands and works Sanchez back into the cage.
Sanchez answers with a takedown of his own. His control on the ground doesn't last long, and they trade a few jabs before going back to the clinch position. Boos from the crowd, as this is an absolutely boring fight so far. Sanchez appears tired, but he delivers a big uppercut during a brief period of separation from the clinch.
Separation with twenty three seconds left. Another uppercut from Sanchez, who's now firing away with a flurry. Palelei counters with a knee, but Sanchez is the one pushing forward. He ends the round with a knee to the nose of Palelei's slightly bloody face. Another Sanchez round but from an exciting one.
Round Three: Sanchez moves forward right out of the gate, throwing a few punches and then clinching Palelei against the cage. Palelei reverses for a second, but it's clear that Sanchez is in control. Palelei opens up for some knees, but Sanchez fires back with a more effective punch combination.
Sanchez is now picking Palelei apart with his hands. He lands two more uppercuts, and Palelei just has nothing with which to respond. They clinch back against the cage, and the boredom resumes. They each throw the occasional knee or shot, but nothing is getting done. Sanchez throws a right hand during a separation period, but Palelei clinches back up to avoid damage.
Sanchez connects with three more uppercuts to Palelei's fight, and the referee steps in to end it. It was a weird situation for a referee stoppage, but it's clear that Palelei is done.
Sanchez started taunting Palelei after the fight; it concerned Palelei saying in the pre-fight that Sanchez had a "nice smile" (implying that he didn't offer much else).
Eddie Sanchez won via TKO (strikes) at 3:24 of Round Three.
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