UFC 147 Results
Photo by Fuel Tv
UFC 147 Results: Franklin Survives Silva; and other results
By Don Avila
No matter the talent or the odds it’s never easy defeating a country’s hero as Ohio’s Rich Franklin accomplished against Wanderlei Silva in that fighter’s country Brazil.
Even if it’s the second time around.
Franklin (29-6) trekked across the southern hemisphere where the weather is upside down and was nearly tossed upside down by Silva (34-12-1), but survived on Saturday. Ultimate Fighting Championship 147 was held in Belo Horizante, Brazil.
Brazilians take pride in their fighting ability and when performing in front of their hometown crowds that gets boosted a thousand fold.
Silva fought in near-like demonic possession against Franklin whose steadiness in face of pressure is his niche. He needed the whole niche on Saturday night. A head-hunting right hand sent the American MMA fighter into the land of smoke and mirrors. He mustered up all of the electrodes of alertness to survive Silva’s hysteric onslaught at the culmination of round two.
Franklin must have snapped his brain to attention quickly for the next three rounds. Silva continued to seek the proper missile to end the contest but missed with all of his heat-seekers.
“I was operating on autopilot,” Franklin said later.
The Ohioan out-maneuvered the Brazilian fighter for the next three rounds to garner a deserved unanimous decision from the judges 49-46.
Other bouts
Cezar Ferreira (5-2) survived a crushing elbow strike from Sergio Moraes in round two to win the middleweight fight for Brazil’s The Ultimate Fighter finale by decision. Ferreira also wins the contract with UFC.
Fabricio Werdum (16-5-1) annihilated American Mike Russow (15-2-1) in 2:28 of round one in the heavyweight clash. A crushing right uppercut found the chin of Russow and that was enough to send him to defeat. Werdum culminated the fight with a barrage of blows. Now he wants fellow Brazilian and current UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos. Sounds logical.
Brazil’s Hacran Dias (21-1-1) defeated the favored Yuri Alcantara (27-4) by unanimous decision in a featherweight showdown. Dias prove superior in take downs and used it to win the three round bout. It snapped Alcantara’s 13-fight win streak.
In the featherweight finale of Brazil’s The Ultimate Fighter it was Rony Mariano (11-3) emerging victorious by unanimous decision over Godofredo Pepey (9-2) after three rounds. All three judges scored it 29-28 for Mariano.
