MMA Center Cage

SI Staff | May 2, 2008

MMA Center Cage /

MMA Center Cage

Roger Huerta vs. Leonard Garcia -- UFC 69

Maybe you've heard: mixed martial arts is blowin' up. From striking and grappling, to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai, MMA combines styles and techniques of multiple combat sports. The result? Well, think Jean-Claude Van Damme with a little Muhammad Ali. For the visual learners, we'll go back a bit to show you what you've missed. <br><br>

Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin -- UFC 59

In fastest sell-out event in UFC history, "Reality Check" included Ortiz, left, and Griffin in the light heavyweight bout. Ortiz defeated Griffin by split decision.

Anderson Silva vs. Travis Lutter -- UFC 67

Just off the heels of downing Rich Franklin for the UFC middleweight belt, Silva took down Lutter, the winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 4," by second-round submission at UFC 67.

Quinton "Rampage Jackson" vs. Marvin Eastman -- UFC 67

An oft-seen picture: Jackson en route to another victory. Eastman was his knockout victim in UFC 67: All or Nothing in February 2007.

Lyoto Machida vs. David Heath -- UFC 70

Machida proved he has more than good genes (his father, Yoshizo Machida, is a Japanese-Brazilian Shotokan Karate master) as he defeated Heath by unanimous decision in April 2007.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Fabricio Werdum -- UFC 70

Despite the boos from the crowd as the two danced around more than they fought, Arlovski, right, beat three-time world Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Werdum by unanimous decision at UFC 70.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Chuck Liddell -- UFC 71

Jackson, left, is in a league of his own. He is the only fighter not to have his wins against Liddell avenged. First was the PRIDE Final Conflict in 2003, and second was this bout, in which Jackson earned the UFC light heavyweight championship.

Renato Sobral vs. David Heath -- UFC 74

While Sobral managed to take down Heath at UFC 74 last year, the Brazilian ended up losing his contract with the league because he choked Heath until he was unconscious -- a move that allegedly defied the referee's orders.

Joe Stevenson vs. Kurt Pellegrino -- UFC 74

With the residuals of the Sobral-Heath fight beside him, lightweight Stevenson, left, sustained a broken bone himself (nose) as he defeated Pellegrino at UFC 74.

Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga -- UFC 74

After suffering a couple of broken bones on each side of the cage, Couture, right, came away victorious at UFC 74 in August 2007, defeating Gonzaga in the heavyweight championship bout to retain the title. Couture is the only five-time UFC champ.

Gabriel Gonzaga -- UFC 74

Heavyweight Gonzaga has proof of his UFC 74 championship loss to Randy Couture.

Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes -- UFC 79

St. Pierre, right, claimed the interim welterweight belt after defeating Matt Hughes by second-round submission at UFC 79 last year, but it wasn't enough for the French-Canadian. He wouldn't be satisfied until his next fight, where he would capture Serra's real welterweight belt at UFC 83.

B.J. Penn vs. Joe Stevenson -- UFC 80

With a rear naked choke for a second-round submission, Penn, left, defeated Stevenson at UFC 80. Penn not only became the UFC lightweight champion, but also made history, becoming only the second fighter to win titles in two divisions.

Jay Hieron vs. Delson Heleno -- IFL World Grand Prix Finals

IFL welterweight champion and "Words of the Thorobred" blogger for SI.com, Hieron defeated Heleno by TKO last December.

Ryan McGivern vs. Matt Horwich -- IFL 2008 Las Vegas

McGivern, of Miletich Fighting Systems, serves Horwich a punch en route to earning the IFL middleweight title in Vegas on Feb. 29.

Mac Danzig vs. Mark Bocek -- UFC 83

Danzig, a T.U.F. 6 winner, hands Canadian fighter Bocek another fist to the face before earning a third-round submission for the lightweight victory on April 19.

Published May 2, 2008

SI STAFF