Fight #8:
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MMANEWSTim Sylvia (c) vs. Jeff Monson (UFC HW Title)
Round 1: Sylvia starts out trying to establish his jab. Monson tries for a takedown early, and nearly gets it. Sylvia ultimately shucks him off. Not long after that, Monson tries again for a takedown. He's got a leg secured and continues fighting to get him down for a lengthy period of time. He scrambles around, trying to get Sylvia on the bottom in the process - but fails. We're in a lull now, with both flat on the ground, Monson holding onto a leg and Sylvia in a flat-sprawling position. "Big" John restarts them on the feet. Now on the feet, the action stays pretty slow with Sylvia only throwing the occassional jab. Monson trying to get his stand up going. Monson goes for another takedown, again - no dice. Back on the feet, Sylvia continues to avoid takedowns and lands the occassional jab, but no clear cut dominance. Just dominance in the form of one guy not allowing the other to do what he wants. Monson lands a good jab that seems to wake up a bit. He tries another takedown, Sylvia again avoids it with ease. Sylvia being overly caution, and Monson is playing the same game now after trying hard for takedowns earlier on. Monson brushes Sylvia's face with a not-so-powerful hook that doesn't fully land. Lots of circling and posing. Monson lands a decent punch later in the round. Sylvia finishes the round with a kick. Sylvia wins the round based on controlling where and how the action goes, but Monson was more aggressive - pushing forward more and more on the offense in terms of the round as a whole. Despite that, probably 10-9 Sylvia, although personally I would probably go 10-9 Monson - even if not clear-cut.
Round 2: Most of the same earlier on in the second. Sylvia trying to keep the pace slow and keep his established distance. Monson fails at a takedown. Monson's eye is swelling a bit from the jabs of Sylvia. Crowd is boo'ing and "Big" John has repeated his warning to pick up the action several times. Sylvia lands a decent shot, nothing really major and the fight resumes the same pace. Monson fails a takedown again and Sylvia gets back up with Monson going to his back taking leg kicks from a standing Sylvia until he backs up to let him back on his feet. Nothing happening for lengthy periods again, crowd again boo'ing heavily, referee again demanding more action again. Monson loads up for a home run overhand right, but only connects with Sylvia's shoulder. More of a lot of nothing. Really nothing else happens for the next minute-plus, and the horn sounds as a round of boo's from the crowd punctuates the round. From body language and facial expression, towards the end of the round it seemed that both Monson was losing hope and Sylvia was gaining more courage. Could get exciting, but really depends on Sylvia based on the first two.
Round 3: Sylvia lands a decent jab, goes for another and Monson gets his first takedown of the fight. Sylvia has full guard though. Sylvia defending and squirming well to avoid punishment, and despite the crowd popping for most of Monson's offense in the guard, nothing big is landing. This is the longest we've seen Sylvia on the ground in the UFC, and against one of his best submission-fighting opponents too. He's doing better than you'd think. Monson stands up and tries diving into a better position, but Sylvia eventually wraps him up in the guard again. Monson breathing out of the mouth, fatigue-factor could be coming into play now, even though it seems early to say so. Monson stands up, Sylvia remains high guard. The distance for Monson's punches is so great that by the time they get near the target, they don't have much effect. Monson gets side mount! Sylvia goes to scramble up but Monson locks in a guillotine, looking to be dangerous. Sylvia escapes. Monson still on top in side mount again. Sylvia working elbows from the bottom. Monson moves and Sylvia tries scrambling up again. Monson goes for a guillotine again, commits to it and because of that Sylvia gains top position, stuck in the choke but gets out. Sylvia pushes away and stands up. Fight is stopped to check a cut on Monson that was caused by an elbow from Sylvia on the ground. Monson has a bad cut and swelling, but under the eye. Fight resumes. Good jab by Sylvia. A good right and a solid knee that hurts Monson as the round closes. He drops and the horn sounds. Few more seconds, the fight was over and Sylvia would win. Didn't though, so we continue.
Round 4: We're through an entire minute, literally nothing has happened outside of two Sylvia jabs. Lots of circling and missed shots with nothing behind them. Monson shoots, Sylvia sprawls and they end up with Sylvia on top in side mount over Monson. Sylvia stays there and works small, but effective, elbows to inflict more damage. Monson turns to his stomach, is up on all fours and Sylvia is seemingly looking for a rear naked choke. After scrambling, the two end up with Monson on bottom and Sylvia on top in half guard, just barely missing the mount position. Sylvia's on top and controlling the action and position, but much like on the feet - when in control, Sylvia has a slow pace. Sylvia tries for a kimura and it looks good so far, after some moving around Sylvia gives up on the submission. Monson reverses and Sylvia looks for a triangle or armbar. He avoids and is now on top in Sylvia's full guard. One minute left in the round and it looks like Monson has lost his mouth piece. Monson stacks up and Sylvia slaps on a triangle that looks good. Sylvia goes to tighten it up and lets it go. That's two submissions Sylvia could have had if he believed in them and commited to them. Fight ends with Monson in Sylvia's guard doing nothing. Monson's eye looks worse.
Round 5: Some jabs and a failed takedown by Monson filled minute one of round five. Sound familiar? Back on the feet, Sylvia is working his jab again and Monson's eye is a complete mess. Sylvia doing a lot of feinting, seeming to try to set something big up. Both guys' mouths are open, but Monson seems the more tired of the two. My friends are enjoying this fight, personally to me it seems the majority of the rounds are dominated by Sylvia doing nothing but using his reach advantage and good jab to keep this fight slow and safe. They have moments here and there that keep you into it though. Standing the ref stops them and says "this is a fight, you guys got to fight." It's that slow-paced. Monson tries another takedown, not even close. Sylvia on the feet with Monson on his back taking leg kicks. Crowd is relentless is boo'ing the action. It's a footsie battle standing and grounded, with the referee coming to the rescue and restarting the fight on the feet. One minute left, the two are circling and posing some more. Monson shoots again, fails again. Same position. Ali-Inoki "buttscoot" position. Still there, 20 seconds to go Sylvia lets him back up to his feet. Sylvia half-ass being busy for the last few seconds. Each land a decent shot to the other as the horn sounds. Sylvia wins by 4 or 5 points in a non-impressive fight. Not just because it wasn't exciting, which Sylvia is now in desperate need of an exciting fight, but Sylvia didn't really do anything but avoid losing as opposed to trying to win. Monson couldn't take him down, outside one time, and couldn't deal with him standing. I have it 4-1 Sylvia.
Tim Sylvia def. Jeff Monson via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) to retain the UFC Heavyweight title after 5 Rounds.
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