Bob Canobbio from CompuStrike sent along the following:
COMPUSTRIKE’S INSIDE THE NUMBERS – UFC 79
by Bob Canobbio
Memo to Matt Hughes, be careful what you wish for.
Hughes, the decorated wrestling superstar who used those skills to win two UFC welterweight titles, clearly wanted to take his rubber match with Georges St. Pierre to the canvas. Hughes did indeed find himself on the canvas for the majority of the one-sided fight, but not in the scenario he envisioned- flat on his back, virtually defenseless.
Hughes began the fight in the southpaw stance, ineffectively, (he didn’t land a single arm strike) before he was taken down by St. Pierre two minutes into the round. St. Pierre landed three leg strikes (two kicks and a knee) before the takedown. On the mat, St. Pierre dominated, landing 46 grounds strikes before securing an armbar that might have ended the fight had the round not ended.
More of same in round two, as St. Pierre scored a takedown early then pummeled Hughes, who looked like a fish out of water on his back. Hughes got the fight back to the feet, where he again was taken down by St. Pierre who landed 26 ground strikes in the round. St. Pierre countered a Hughes kimura attempt with an armbar that forced Hughes to verbally submit with six seconds left in round two.
St. Pierre dominated the fight statistically without landing a single arm strike. He missed on all four attempts, while Hughes went zip for three attempts on the feet. St. Pierre did land 72 ground strikes to just three for Hughes, who landed a measley five total strikes to 77 for St. Pierre, who along with Anderson Silva, are the most versatile and athletic MMA fighters this reporter has seen to date.
Lack of standing arm strikes was not the issue in the co-main event. In a fight six years in the making, former UFC light heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell outslugged Pride legend Wanderlei Silva over three thrilling rounds.
Of their 136 total strikes landed in three rounds, 118 were standing arm strikes.
Liddell landed 70 of 144 arm strikes and 77 of 160 total strikes to 48 of 153 arm strikes landed for Silva, who went 59 of 171 in the total strikes category.
They exchanged bombs from the opening bell, with Liddell holding a 20-13 edge in total strikes landed in round one, including a 16-10 advantage in arm strikes landed. Both fighters were buzzed in round one.
Silva carried the action in round two, landing 29 of 75 total strikes, including 24 of 69 arm strikes. Liddell landed 25 of 56 total strikes, 24 of which were arm strikes landed among his 53 attempts. Liddell also went back to his college wrestling roots, hitting on a double leg takedown in the round.
Liddell had a 32-17 edge in total strikes landed in round three, including a surprising spinning back fist that stunned Silva. Liddell also scored with two more double leg takedowns in the round. The first allowed him to pummel Silva as he struggled to get to his feet. The tiring Liddell used the second takedown to basically “ride out” the game Silva, who absorbed a beating while dropping his third straight fight.
Check out complete statistical breakdowns of all fights on the UFC 79 “Nemesis” card at the official CompuStrike website by clicking here.
