UFC 97 play-by-play from Montreal

UFC 97 play-by-play from Montreal

Welcome to our live coverage of UFC 97 from the Bell Center in Montreal. We're looking for your thoughts on the show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The place is already 75% full and this is likely to be a hot crowd

Eliot Marshall vs. Vinny Magalhaes, both from last season's Ultimate Fighter show, opens things up. Don't go to the ground with Vinny Magalhaes. Two BJJ black belts here.

Crowd reacting to these two like semi-main eventers and eacted to Edith and ref Yves Lavigne like they wre big stars. Vinny connected with a right. Marshall back, then Vinny missed a high kick. Nasty high kick by Marshall that Magalhaes blocked. Double jab by Marshall. Marshall went for a takedown and got kneed. Crowd really quick to boo. All standing so far. Magalhaes kicked Mashall in the back. More parrying. Marshall with a high kick that was blocked. Marshall threw a series and one punch landed. Even round, 10-9 Marshall.

Magalhaes pulled him into the corner and went for a takedown but couldn't get it. Body kicks by Magalhaes. Another body kick by Magalhaes and Marshall back with two punches. Crowd booing again. Magalhaes is bleeding from the nose and the ear. Magalhaes finally got the takedown and ground and pound. He briefly had the mount and connected with solid punches on the ground late in the round. 10-9 Magalhaes so I've got it even going into round three.

Trading. Marshall throwing more punches although they aren't landing. He finally snuck one in. Magalhaes looks tired. Good body kick by Marshall. Marshall is coming on with low kicks and punches. Crowd booing again. Not much of a fight. No chance this makes it to the PPV. Magalhaes back with body kicks and now Marshall jabbing him again. Marshall continues to throw, connected with a punch off a missed Magalhaes kick. Anther body kick by Marhslal. Magalhaes got the takedown side mount and full mojnt with ten seconds left. I don't know if he did enough damage in the last ten seconds to offset the round. I'd go with Marshall in the round and fight 29-28.

Scores were 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 for Marshall. The right guy won but no way Magalhaes shouldn't have won round two so I don't get the scores.

T.J. Grant vs. Ryo Chonan

Grant gets the superstar reaction as he's the first Canadian on the show. They booed Chonan out of the place. Headlock takeover by Chonan. Grant tried an armbar fromt the bottom. Chonan isn't doing any real damage on top. Now he threw a few punches. Both are working on the ground. Grant tried an uma plata but didn't get anywhere with it. Grant up with a little more tha a minujte left. Trading and Grant it a good roundhouse left and exploded with a takedown. Chonan up. Both traded good punches in the waning seconds. Close round. 10-9 Chonan.

Gant came forward with some punches until Chonan took him down. Grant up with little damage and then took Chonan down. Grant his Chonan's back and throwing punches and going for a choke. Chonan defended and is out of trouble. Turned into a wrestling match with Grant keeping position. Chonan turned and is on top in the guard. Grant reversed with 45 seconds left and got the mount. Chonan reversed back on top immediately. Another close round 10-9 Chonan.

Granttook Chonan down one minute into the round. Loud "T.J." chants. Chonan reversed. Grant tried a triangle but didn't come close. Grant tried to reverse but Chonan is staying on top, did a few punches, but it's remaining a grappling match. Grant got a reversal wth 42 seconds left. He needs to do damage and probably needs a finish. Grant with a body scissors and throwing punches and has Chonan's back. Chonan up. Grant was rocking him with punches at the end of the round. Grant did win round three. First two were anyone's guess. I have Chonan 29-28 but several here have it reversed.

Nelson Hamilton has it 30-27 Grant, Cecil Peoples has it 29-28 Chonan Third judge has it 29-28 for Grant. Place exploded. Grant got the decision even though he spent most of the fight on his back. For the record, all three judges gave Grant the second round. Peoples gave Chonan the third, which to me was the only round that was definitive for Grant.

No Arianny on tonight's show.

Mark Bocek vs. David Bielkheden

Bocek is from Woodridge, Ontario so he's the crowd favorite. Bocek got the first takedown. Bocek throwing enough punches and passed to the side. Bocek with short elbows. Bocek got full mount. He threw some punches. Bielkheden is cut. Lots of punches and elbows and Bielkheden turned his back and Bocek sunk in the choke for the win. Time was 4:57 so Bielkheden only had to hold on for three seconds longer to make it out of the round. Bielkheden was going to lose the round 10-8.

David Loiseau (home town favorite in Montreal) vs. Ed Herman is next.

Loiseau with two rolling savates out of the Tiger Mask playbook but neither connected well and Herman took him down. Herman pounding the side of Loiseau's head. Now Herman with a knee to the ribs. Herman continues to soften him up. Loiseau to his feet, but Herman took him right back down and continues to punch the side of the head. "Fuck you red head" chant. What is this, 1998 ECW? Herman with punches to the side of the head and knees to the side of the body. Herman is loading up on those knees to the body. Knee after knee. Loiseau got back to his feet with 11 seconds left. Has to be 10-8 Herman.

Loiseau tried another spinning kick and was taken right down by Herman. More knees to the body until Loiseau got a closed guard in, and Herman threw a few body punches. Herman moved to full mount and got Loiseau back again. More knees to the body and punches to the side of the head. Crowd is not happy with this. Loiseau to his feet with 1:20 left in the round. Loiseau still throwing knees to the body. Herman tried another takedown but couldn't get it, which was a hope spot for the crowd. Loiseau tried a shot from way too far back and didn't come close. Herman 10-8 again so I've got it 20-16.

Georges St. Pierre told everyone to stand going into round three. Loisuea nailed Herman with a left that hurt Herman but Herman closed the distance. He's leaning on him, throwing knees. Herman can't take Loiseau down but he's still throwing knees from the clinch and Loiseau is doing nothing while a loud "Let's go Loiseau" chant fills the Bell Centre. Herman got the takedown to shut the crowd up. Loiseau back to his feet with 2:56 left. Loiseau finally got some separation, went for a takedown from a half mile away and Herman easily stuffed him and got on top. Herman now has full mount. Loiseau escaped with 47 seconds left. Herman looked at the clock, then worked into a clinch. Time up. Crowd booing pretty heavily. This round is 10-9 so it's 30-25 on my scorecard.

Loiseau's employment with UFC is in grave jeopardy with this performance.

Scores were 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27. It's going to take a hell of a lot to get a 10-8 tonight from these judges. All three judges gave round one 10-9 which shocks me because everyone at press row had it 10-8. Nelson Hamilton gave the second round which wasn't nearly as much a domination, 10-8 while the other two had it 10-9.

Place is still 10% empty. They are loud, but not unusually loud like the first show.

Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry

MacDonald is from Edmonton so he's the crowd favorite. MacDonald tried a takedown but Quarry blocked and landed on top. Quarry is getting a lot of punches and elbows through and MacDonald is bleeding heavily. Elbow after elbow by Quarry and MacDonald is in trouble. Ref Mario Yamasaski stopped it. Crowd cheered Quarry when he won. This one will probably make television.

Denis Kang vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam

Kang is from Vancouver asnd he's the favorite. Xavier is a great kickboxer and was looking scary in the first minute but Kang timed him and took him down. Kang tried and arm triangle and Xavier got up . Kang got a second takedown. Kang is elbowing him from the top. He thought armbar in the waning seconds, but changed his mind. 10-9 Kang

Xavier threw a kick back with two punches. Body kick by Xavier and off a second one, Kang took him down. Kang passed to side control. He's roughing Xivier up with elbows and rubbing the elbow against the cheekbone. Kang throwing elbows. Xavier back to his feet and threw a knee. Now they are trading. Both are tired. Xavier is so tired he can barely stand. 10-9 Kang.

Nothing happened for 90 seconds until Kang got another takedown. Kang is looking like he's getting a win but this is one unimpressive performance,particualrly since this was clearly put together for him to shine against a guy with no ground game. He's thinking Kimura but Xavier out of trouble. Xavier actually reversed hinmon the ground but Kang reversed back and has side control now. Kang got full mount and now has Xaiver's back with 24 seconds left. Crowd is booing because both are just holding on. Kang was not cheered at all when he raised his hand even though he's going to get the decision.

Straight 30-27 scores for Kang. Crowd did cheer him.

The Matt Wiman vs. Sam Stout opener was moved later in the show because Stout was so over at the weigh-ins. Now it's going to have to take place on the main card because the other prelims have gone so long. The last time that happened was in Sacramento when Kenny Florian vs. Alvin Robinson ended up taking place after the Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt title match (thanks to Dan Gearin for this trivia). They moved the start time from 8 p.m. to 7:30 yesterday, but today changed it again, compromising to a 7:45 start because the tickets said 8. There have been no features or post-match interviews so far in the show because they recognized early they were rushed for time.

The crowd reaction to the "Teenage Wasteland" video was so much louder here than any show probably since the last time they were here. They popped for every spot like it was a live fight. St. Pierre & Liddell were by far the most popular.

From the opening video, crowd was super into Liddell, Silva not so far behind and seemed into Kongo as well.

There are actually a lot of empty seats for a sellout. If I'm guessing, about 19,500 in the building. We heard scalpers bought on a ton because of the demand from the first show and the last few days you could get tickets anywhere for 60% of the listed price and even at that price tons were still unsold as of yesterday. But as far as tickets old, they all were a long time ago.

Steve Cantwell vs. Luiz Cane

Cane look a lot bigger than Cantwell. Cane's already bloodied Cantwell' s nose. Trading punches. Cantwell clinched but can't get the takedown. Cane threw a nasty elbow. Cantwell with a high kick. Cane with punches and knees. Cantwell back but he doesn't have the same firepower. Another high kick by Cantwell and Cane back with hard punches. Cantwell with a combo of punches and a high kick. Cane moved and and connected. Cantwell back with a flurry and then Cane back. Cane with another conmbination. Good body kick by Cantwlll and Cane back with punches. Good body punch by Cantwelll. Good first round. 10-9 Cane

Cane started to connect with solid shots to the head. Cane landed one and sweat flew off Cantwell. Cantwell isn't throwing this round. He did counter a few punches and did a good body kick. He's coming on midway through the round. Hard body kicks and punches. Cantwell coming back strong. Now Cane coming back. Close round. Cane did more in losing the second half of the round than Cantwell did in losing the first half, but you usually weigh the second half more than the first half. I'd go even so 20-19 Cane going into roudn three.

Cane coming on strong now. Cantwell tring to trade but he doesn't have the power. Another exchange with Cane getting with best punch in. Nice punch and high kick combo by Cantwell. High kick by Cantwell and a knee by Cane. Another knee by Cane and followed with punches. 2:30 left and Cane with a knee to the body. Cane with punches and Cantwell with two good punches to the head. Cane tried for a takedown but backed of. Another body kick by Cane. Strong head kick by Cantwell. Hard knees and punches by Cane. A hard jab by Cane. He followed with a knee. Cane connected with several more punches. Last minute. Cane keeps connnecting. High kick by Cantwell. Traded till the end. Good fight. Cane clearly won round three so I've got him 30-28. But a real solid performance by Cantwell.

Hamilton 29-28, LeBlanc (not Matt) 30-27, Peoples 30-27 for Cane

With that match going to a decision, there is a lot of concern about the Wiman match.

Antoni Hardonk vs. Cheick Kongo is next.

As noted, Kongo is a big favorite here. Let's go Kongo chant. They are pinned against the cage. Kongo leg tripped Hardonk down and is kicking the leg as Hardoink laid on his back. Yves Lavigne told Hardonk to get up. Kongo taking over with punches until walking into a clinch. Double leg takedown by Kongo. Kongo took over with body punches and elbows to the head until the round ended. Easy 10-9 for Kongo.

Body kick by Kong and as Hardonk threw a kick, Kong threw him down. Hardonk grabbed a full guard. Kongo bloodied up Hardonk's nose with punches and elbows. More punches by Kongo. Kongo pounded on him on the ground until Yves Lavigne stopped it.

No interviews at all tonight. The guys haven't even left the ring when the video started playing for the next fight.

"The All American American Brian Stann vs. Krzysztof Soszynski

KS will be the favorite since he's from Winnipeg. He said he was going to make Stann "Cry for his momma." He may well win but he's isn't making Stann cry. Okay, he did make him tap.

They are in a clinch and throwing short shots. KS nearly double legged him through the octagon cgae. He's got full mount. Moved to side mount. Stann trying to push off the cage to get out. He got to his feet and KS slammed him down a second time. KS working a Kimura from half guard and Stann tapped. The ex-WEC champs are 0-4 in the last few shows.

Crowd went nuts for KS' interview. He said this was up there with his son being born and getting married.

Chuck Liddell vs. Shogun Rua is next.

Shogun physically looks in much better shape than in his last several fights. Liddell looks fired up. Deafening reaction live to Liddell. Rua is being booed heavily.

Rua connected hard and Lidddell right back. Both trading. Rua's cut on the top of his head. Liddell came in with a mouse under his left eye. More trading. Rua getting off first. Rua caught him with a right. Rua got he takedown and Liddell got right up. Rua going for a leg lock. Liddell out of trouble. Rua has Liddell's back. Rua with knees to the thigh. Liddell back with a punch. Rua tried a takedown. Liddell swinging wildly, missed a few but hit one. . Liddell with the takedown. But he got right up not wanting to test Rua's guard. Rua decked Liddell with a left hook. Seven punches on the ground it was stopped. Liddell wasn't happy about the stoppage but I don't think anyone will complain about it. Crowd was electric for the entire fight. (4:28)

Rua said he'd fight whoever Dana White wants to put against him.

Liddell got a tremendous standing ovation when it was over. Liddell said he had a great camp and came into the fight in great shape. Said he was disappointed. Joe Rogan hinted at a retirement. Liddell got a huge standing ovation leaving.

Charles "Mask" Lewis name is on the cage entrance, which I understand is a permanent thing.

Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman

They are coming out swinging. Wiman with a takedown. Stout back to his feet. Stout scored with a good overhand right. Superman punch by Wiman. Wiman with a good right. Threw another one but Stout ducked. Nice trip by Wiman, who went for a guillotine, slipped off and is on the bottom eating elbows. Stout let him up. But Wiman rocked him with a punch. Fast paced first round. At this pace someone is likely to tire. Takedowh by Wiman who tried a choke but Stout out and is on top. Superman punch in by Wiman. Real good first round. Wiman cut around his nose. Wiman 10-9 but it's close enough to go either way.

Wiman with a knee and punch. Another punch and high kick by Wiman. Stout back with a high kick. Stout kicking low. Wilman shot in and got Stout's back. Stout turned and is on top in the guard. Stout with punches and elbows. Wiman tried a leglock but Stout out and to his feet. Stout seems fresher and is connecting more standing. Stout with a series of punches but Wiman with a low kick. Stout in and Wiman back, but Stout connecting more. Body kick by Stout and he's dancing while Wiman is lunging. Good high kick by Wiman. Stout put him down with a kick to the liver and now is trying to finish. Wiman going for an armbar from the bottom. Stout backed away. Stout connecting more. Body kick by Stout as Wimian looked at the clock which tells you he's gassed. He looked again at the clock and has a worried look on his face. Body punch by Stout. Stout may have been poked in the eye but he's not complaining. Wiman's legs are weak. Actually a super round. 10-9 Stout.

Wiman went for a takedown but Stout punching the body. Wiman got him down and has his back. Stout reversed. He's throwing body punches on top. Stout connected with a lot of punches on the ground. 2:00 left. Stout let him up. Wiman with another takedown. Wiman now connecting with punches on the ground. Stout bleeding bad from two cuts around the left eye. Wiman's nose is all bloody. High slam by Wiman. Wiman firing away with punches and kicks and rocked Stout. Time ran out. I'd give the round to Stout and the fight 29-28. It's mixed at ringside.

This was a great fight. They were in a terrible position on the showfollowing Liddell's emotional perhaps farewell and still turned the crowd on big.

All three judges had it 29-28 Stout.

Now we've got an hour to go and just one match left.

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites headlines the show.

Huge GSP chant when they showed him in the front row. Crowd booing as they went one minute without touchiing. Leities missed a knee and danced out of the way. Let's Go Silva chant. Now we're 2:30 in and nothing is happening and people booing heavy. Leites is staying way out of range. Hard leg kick by Leitis and tried a takedown, didn't come close. Silva is chasing Leties who dances away. Silva leg swept him down and let him back up. Leties went for a takedown but unable to get it even though he nearly threw Silva through the fence. Terrible round. I guess 10-9 Silva.

Leites got his takedown at the start of round two. He's in Silva's half guard. Silva threw elbows from the bottom while Leities hit weak punches from the top. Silva up and Leites missed on a takedown attempt. Leites needed to do more damage when he was on top. 2:00 left. Silva doing nothing standing. But Leites is dancing backwards avoiding contact. Still, Leites did get the takedown and some stuff on top so I've got it 19-19. Silva did nothing of note in the last 2:00 when they were standing.

Leites tried a takedown and Silva easily sprawled away. Leites went down from an apparent poke in the eye but not being stopped. Silva kicking the legs as Leites laid down. Leites went for a takedown, didn't get it and is laying on his back. People have lost patience with this fight right about now. Silva with low kicks. Loud GSP chnts. Really loud. Leites wanted a takedown but Silva easily sprawled and laid in a lwo kick. Silva threw a punch and Leites fell down to avoid it. Body kick by Silva. Leites had a punch. Silva threw a punch and Leites again fell on his back to avoid it. Crowd is hating Leities. Side kick by Sivla. Side kick to the leg by Silva. Jumping high kick by Silva. Silva has him by the cage but let him get away. Low kick by Silva. Leites did the Inoki sweep and fall on your back. Leites tried and takedown and layed on his back. 29-28 Silva.

Leites has a cut under his left eye. Good kick to the knee by Silva and another kick to the knee. Another two kicks to the knee followed by a body kick all by Sivla. Silva dancing and connecting with good kicks, totally showboating, punch to the head. Leities looks scared to death but came back with a high kick that missed. Silva with a punch and high kick. Another kick to the knee. Punch to the body. Silva is picking him apart now. "Let's go Silva" chant along with lots of boos by much of the crowd. Another low kick. Leties threw a hard punch but Silva moved his head away. Leites went for a takedown but Silva escaped. Silva let him up and punched him. Another kick to the knee by Silva. Punch by Silva. Punch to the body by Silva. Leites went for a takedown and laid on his back. Silva looks to be disgusted right about now. We need some yellow cards to be handed out. 39-37 Silva.

Leites tried two takedowns but ended up on his back. Silva doing ground and pound a little and then stood up. Crowd booing like crazy. Leites bleeding heavy from the nose. Leities tried another takedown but Silva got on top and pucnhed hyis head a few times and walked away. 3:00 left. What a way to end the show. "Bullshit" chant. Among the worst UFC main events in history. Leites tried another takedown, Silva punched him in the bloody nose and let him up. 2:00 left. Leites tried a takedown, didn't even come close. Leites in with a punch. Another kick to the knee. Kick by Leities and Silva caught the leg and Leites went down. Silva with a punch to the face. Leites laid down and Yves Lavigne ordered him back up. Fight is over. I've got 49-46 but could be 50-45.

49-46, 48-47 and 50-46 for Silva.

. Silva said it was unfortunate that things don't work out like the public likes it. Silva was walking out of the cage in the middle of the interview when he was called back. Crowd booing Silva pretty heavy. Silva praised Leites, called him a tough guy and the crowd booed him becuase they don't want to hear about Leites being tough right now.