What is Victory?
There is a great difference between winning the fight and winning by decision, in that sense, this last UFC 51 was definitely a success with only two out of nine bouts going to the judges' subjective views.
The two title fight winners definitely won their fights and finished the war. Evan Tanner proved it with heart, persistence and technique. Andrei Arlovski did it with tremendous power, agility and intelligence going back to his Sambo roots. He literally knocked down and uprooted a giant tree from Maine. In between that a young newcomer named Pete Sell (Drago to his friends and new fans) took out one of the toughest tough guys in the Octagon, Mr. Phil Baroni..... It was undisputable what happened in these fights.

Although Fickett tried, the quickness and experience of Diaz was too much for him.

The Start
With about a quarter capacity crowd the first bout of the night got under way at about 5:00 Vegas time. “The Master”, Drew Fickett, a well-rounded fighter with an impressive 24 – 2 MMA record was making his UFC debut. Although Fickett believed he could overcome Nick Diaz with his tremendous power and stamina, you can’t mess with a man whose favorite film is Midnight Run.

Unfortunately for The Master, he became an accountant on the run, and Diaz established the authority. Nick immediately took Fickett into his guard and then attempted a sweep; he threw a right to the head and almost pulled off a triangle. After unloading a couple heels from the floor, Fickett tried to muscle a guillotine, but Diaz wound up on top and started some g n p. After being stood up, Diaz shot in Fickett tried a guillotine, Diaz finished the takedown mounted and overwhelmed The Master with a fast forward of knuckles until the referee had to do an intervention at 4:40 by TKO. It will be interesting to see what happens in the welterweight division of the UFC as so many talented fighters are landing here.

Obvious Decision
In the second preliminary bout of the evening, also in the welters, Karo Parisyan won by a unanimous decision against Journeyman Chris Lytle. Although this did go all the way, it was obvious by the end of the fight that Karo’s Judo skills were enough to overwhelm Lights Out, who seemed to just have one of those days. Both men looked extremely relaxed stepping into Conan’s cage. As Karo got the initial take down Lytle instinctually laid into his butterfly guard he then eventually reached back into an ankle lock as Karo mirrored him. After scrambling and both giving up the ankles Lytle wound up in his closed guard. Eventually Karo implemented the elbows, but not enough was going on for the referee as he stood them. Lytle landed a right knee to the face tried a submission move, but it was Karo on top and in control landing elbows till the bell.

Grappling 101, Judo 101, then MMA 101. Karo Parisyan (top) showed various avenues to winning.

Lytle’s efforts were definitely frustrated by Karo in round two also, as Parisyan utilized the octagonal weapon of choice once on the ground, bringing down the elbows, and forcing Lytle to be on the defense throughout most of the match. Going into this round Lytle had a knot on his upper forehead from the elbows, which kept reoccurring.
On his feet he started with his forte, trading and landing another knee but was then locked up and brought down right on his head with a beautifully executed Judo throw. It seemed that every time Lytle came forward striking Karo used his momentum to bring him to the ground. As Karo worked it on the ground, the referee stood them a bit prematurely, something that happened throughout this fight.
In the final round Lytle looked a bit more worn than usual, too much work, too much Heat for the hard working fireman. But on the other hand, throughout the bout Lytle always remained relaxed and focused, landing knees, pulling a few reversals and displaying a great guard and grappling technique. He by no means got his ass kicked, unfortunately though, Karo kept the heat on him and avoided having to experience Lytle’s pro boxing skills. Although neither was able to finish, it was unquestionable that The Heat was more dominant and controlled the match from beginning to end. As Karo stepped out of the octagon his father was radiating and Bas Rutten stepped up and congratulated him. On any other day though, or in the best of three, I wonder if it could go another way?

Flash
Dave Louiseau was amazing against a man who fought on three days notice named Gideon Ray. He trains under none other than Keith Hackney, one of the ole boys of early UFC’s three and four. But The Crow was indeed too light and limber floating in the air and dropping high kicks, knees from Muay Thai clinches eventually cutting the big hearted Ray with some serious elbows. It was an exciting stand up war but the blood pouring from Ray’s head was too much for a second round. Louiseau’s elbows are supreme weapons and he is a classy exciting fighter to watch.
Making a UFC debut veteran MMA man, Paul Buenatello pleased the local folks with a powerful display of boxing skills and took out a tough Justin Eilers with a hard solid right in 2:34. It will be interesting to see Buenatello’s other skills

Sylvia (rear) needed more than just a stiff left jab to conquer a powerful and skillful Sambo man named Andrei Arlovski.

Submission
When they stepped out the big Arlovski looked small compared to Tim Sylvia who looked a bit thicker than before. Sylvia’s corner draped the U.S. flag over the fence behind him perhaps to contrast his camouflage-patterned trunks.
But, coming in looking like some character from a Dostoyevsky novel, the long haired full bearded Arlovski was more than prepared on this particular night. Like Rasputin himself, nothing could have stopped this Belo Russian Bear. Drowning, stabbing, shooting, nothing could take out Rasputin, so in that same great tradition he overwhelmed a Tim Sylvia the size of the U.S.S.R.
For those of you who were surprised, Arlovski was a world champion in Sambo and is a world-class kick boxer with incredible athletic ability, speed, size and power. Although he was at a size disadvantage against Tim Sylvia, like Frank Mir before him, he took out this enormous warrior with speed, precision and a submission.
Circling right, setting him up with three inside low kicks and then perfectly measuring the right, he cocked Tim’s left cheek bone. Sylvia spiraled down softly, with the centrifugal force of that hairy arm, and instead of going for the usual ground and pound, like a true Sambo submission man, he locked up the ankle and after some twisting n turning n twisting n turning, made Sylvia sign UNCLE!
Arlovski is a fighter who has evolved incredibly since those days of having lost to Rico Rodriguez and Pedro “The Rock” Rizzo. When I talked to him after the fight, he explained the fact that he had taken some time off to regroup and “train seriously.”

Not to take anything away from the new champ but Terrell probaby spent too much energy on this frontal choke.

Tanner Terrell
Although Dave Terrell stepped into the cage as a relative unknown to most Octagon fans he got a shot at the first 185 lbs title fight in recent UFC history. With a huge reputation, Terrell came out impressively trying to land the high kicks and eventually looked as if he was going to finish the fight in the first with a guillotine. But it seemed like the submission specialist lost the blood flow in his arms and couldn’t get out from under Evan Tanner's Octagonal experience. But Tanner withstood the asphyxiation attempt by staying on his feet and keeping The Soul Assassin pressed against the cage. Tanner finally shook him off and unwound a series of fists and elbows while Terrell’s cage inexperience betrayed him. When the referee stopped the fight there was less than 30 seconds to go and it seemed to me that Terrell could have withstood it. But he didn’t complain at all and simply looked disappointed. Tanner expressed to me the danger he was in at the moment of the guillotine, but he had prepared himself to deal with all situations for the long haul. His experience allowed Tanner to utilize the cage and then land soulful elbows in a spirited flurry to finish by TKO. Tanner has been waiting almost four years for this opportunity, and what Terrell forgot was that Tanner too was once a rising star in Pancrase, and his Samurai spirit prevailed in the UFC.

Main Event
But when the main event finally came around three years later, after a back n forth exciting war, in my eyes there was no clear winner. And as a matter of fact, Belfort came close to finishing off Ortiz twice in the battle, not having taken full advantage of his striking momentum in those particular moments. Ortiz insisted on the takedowns, and as the rounds wore on, he became more and more successful. Although Belfort in the first round was incredibly savvy and quick in avoiding them, as his stamina faded it became his worst enemy. And as a Jiu jitsu man he didn’t work the submission game.

Ortiz knows exactly what needs to be done to score a W in the Octagon.

It’s ironic that Tito dedicated his “victory” to the “U.S. troops fighting for freedom in Afghanistan…” because his own split decision win was as unclear as Bush’s invasion of Iraq. Did we really win the war?

TV Eye
And one has to wonder what people saw on Pay Per View. Television! With its selective memory, flash backs and instant replays. Of which moment of the fight, the power of film is incredible. Also, some of my friends pointed out what they called an incredible bias by the commentators during certain fights, not to mention the judging.
Was Tito’s victory was only in the mind of his beer-guzzling followers in the nosebleed section? Running up the arena with his two favorite flags symbolized the duality of this man; he acted as if he had convincingly won. A friend who was also ringside said he was “taken aback, but not surprised.” Taken back that Tito had been declared winner, but not surprised by the judging.
On the one hand Ortiz wants respect and recognition, while being arrogant and disrespectful of other fighter. And then he tells us he is an entertaining fighter, who wants to be an actor. Is he entertaining? Tito needs to stop relying on Big Brother to give him his victories.

Does he have more than one strategy?
A take down against the fence, side position, and elbows to the facial area, is looking for a TKO via blood flow. But that shit doesn’t jive in the ropes under Pride rules, and this is indeed a stage Tito has been more than reluctant to consider. You’d think the Japanese Yen could inspire any one, especially a Martial Artist. Japan is what true mixed martial artists dream of, or at least the ones I’ve talked to. The only way you might get Tito into Japan is in a cage, since his is the take down and elbow routine.
Is he more swagger than substance? Is he a complete well-rounded fighter?

I Get Around
On the other hand, Vitor Belfort has proven himself in many different stages including Pride, were he suffered his first overwhelming MMA loss to the legendary Sakuraba.
He has proven himself in various top floor stages against the best, and has gotten mixed results, although he still retains a 66% winning record. As far as striking and all around skills, Belfort in my view is superior. Not only did he crackle Tito’s pretty nose, but he also had two opportunities to take out Ortiz with strikes. In both rounds one and two Tito was in Belfort’s inferno, although there where a couple moments Tito was effective with elbows, but overall Vitor displayed an effective Jiu jitsu defense. Although he could be criticized for not working the submissions, he also committed tactical errors. When he was in the top position he should have backed out and unloaded leg kicks or forced Tito back to his feet. Instead he wasted energy wrestling..

Pete "Drago" Sell proved that he is the real "New York Bad Ass."

Takedowns? Top Position?
Was Jiu jitsu once again bitch slapped in the octagon by at least two judge’s top position bias. The judges in this contest obviously gave priority to good ole American wrasslin, with its takedown weapon but lack of a finishing plan; cept them nasty elbows! These are two circumstances, which should be deemed neutral. When a wrestler gets a takedown, they vie for the top position or mount, eventually going for elbows or ground n pound. When a Jiu jitsu man gets a takedown, they sometimes pull you into their guard, trying to tangle you into a submission. So what the hell is a takedown really worth, unless you follow it up with something substantial? I think to truly declare a “winner in a war” you have to assess the damages afterwards. In this particular conflict, it was Tito Ortiz who wound up with his nose facing east. Twice in the fight he was within serious danger of a stoppage. Seeing it octagon side, Belfort never seemed to be in true danger, defending well enough from the guard, although feeling some elbows and getting cut also.

Drago
“Coma baby!” After all is said and done, the man who had the most to overcome and the most convincing win of the night showed us what it’s all about. Although all the MMA-Zines and TV commentators where rooting against him and doing double speak into the tube for TV land, from ringside Pete Sell was taking Phil Baroni to school. He came with the perfect plan, using his speed circling right, jabbing, jabbing moving. He avoided and neutralized Baroni’s full body fists. Sticking n moving, utilizing combinations and speed, always cirlcling right, not to mention his excellent ground game and initial takedown in the first.

As the fight progressed, while Baroni heaved and gassed Drago was completely relaxed. “It felt like sparring, it felt like practice!” Baroni landed only two patented concrete fists, and Drago simply shook them off. Drago surprised Phil by out boxing him, while Baroni had improved his ground game rolling with Mark Coleman. But the ground game was Drago’s back up plan, and after taking two rounds, he sealed it with a kiss. Everyone was in disbelief, except his teammates and coaches, and those of us who already knew Pete Sell’s tremendous skill level and heart. Not only did Drago show the veterans how it’s done, he also shook the foundation of the UFC. His victory was like a coup d’Etat, because Baroni was simply supposed to walk right through him. After all, the TV analysts told you so, and so did the “experts.” It’s a good thing I’m just a writer.