UFC 69: Fight Report

It was another evening of furious fists and boiling bad blood as UFC 69: Shootout hit Houston, Texas, touching down in the Lone Star State for the first time before coming to our humble UK shores.

Few thought Matt Serra stood a chance against Welterweight champion George St. Pierre, but the underdog proved more frenzied beast than kickable puppy as he knocked the now former champ off his top spot. Reportedly disappointed that the UFC had portrayed him as having little chance of winning, Serra went in determined to secure a victory and prove himself in The Octagon once and for all. Winner of the The Ultimate Fighter 4 (and now the first TUF cast member to win a UFC title), he struck St. Pierre with a right hook, putting the former champ off guard and buckling his knees, before following it up with a flurry of fists. The referee called stoppage at 3:35 in the first round.

St. Pierre accepted defeat graciously, making no excuses for his loss, and crediting Serra as the superior fighter. “ "What happened is my worst nightmare. I’m going to have to come back stronger,” St. Pierre told the spectators of his swift defeat. “ I claimed the address once, and I will claim it again,” he added confidently.

In UFC 69’s much touted grudge match, Josh Koscheck bettered Diego Sanchez in a victory met with boos from the fans. With a sea of bad blood between them, the two former TUF fighters did much talking of the talk before stepping into The Octagon to face each other, making no secret of their intense dislike for each other.

But Koscheck, beaten in their previous encounter, emerged victorious and shattered his opponents unbeaten record. Keeping the fight off the floor, he showed that his stand-up skills have come leaps and bounds, striking repeatedly at Sanchez who remained cautious to the point of defeat.

Koscheck berated the crowd for booing his win, telling the fight that the win was ‘payback’. “Love me or hate me, I don’t care,” he smilingly remarked.

Head to the official UFC 69: Shootout site for more info, including biographies, interviews and the fight card.