By Angelina Licchelli
NOTE - This DVD contains spoilers/results of matches.
Available from - www.silvervision.co.uk / www.fightdvd.co.uk
Price - £8.99 (Price correct as of July 1st 2010)
Match Listing
Interim Heavyweight Championship Match
Tim Sylvia vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar
Rob Yundt vs. Ricardo Almeida
Nate Marquardt vs. Jeremy Horn
Tyson Griffin vs. Gleison Tibau
Chris Lytle vs. Kyle Bradley
Marvin Eastman vs. Terry Martin
Keita Nakamura vs. Rob Emerson
David Heath vs. Tim Boetsch
DVD Extras:
UFC 81: Behind the Scenes
I'll start off with the bonus feature. A very interesting and lengthy 'Behind the Scenes' look into UFC. I would recommend watching this at the end of the show if you do not want to know the outcome of the matches as it shows the aftermath of the Mir/Lesnar fight.
This extra contains Interviews with the main event players of this DVD and trainers, as well as showing you some of the intense training and relaxation that the fighters go through in preperation of an event. This is a nice featurette as it helps humanise these often quite intimidating and larger than life figures. The nervousness of Brock Lesnar hours before his debut in the MMA world is surreal considering the massive audiences he has performed in front of as a pro wrestler, just goes to show how daunting the anticipation of entering the octagon can be.
There are also glimpses of the THQ UFC game, in an unashamed plug . But the full body scanning for the game and the preview featuring Chuck Liddell and Quinton Jackson shows how impressive the game is shaping up to be. Plus the sight of the fighters giggling at the sight of a rendered fighter's thingy is stupidly funny.
The Press Conference for the event is also featured in part as are warm-ups for the show. So, it's a 30 minute feature which succeeds in showing the personalities of the UFC guys as well as the preperations and PR that goes into an event with candid interviews and even a plug for the game. A very worthy and fascinating Extra. Thumbs up.
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The show begins in typical fashion with interviews and a fired-up crowd. We are then treated to a video package showing the history between the contestents of the first match. So lets get to it:
Keita Nakamura vs. Rob Emerson
Coming off the exciting 'no-contest', this rematch begins with the loss off Nakamura's mouthguard and an impromptu time out. After this blip they get to it with a feeling out process which features some strong and calculated leg strikes by Emerson. He then moves to punches which Nakamura finds difficulty in matching, Emerson's counterstrikes are all on target and although the Japanese fighter is placing well thought out jabs, he is outclassed by his opponent. However, this changes quickly when Nakamura capitilises by kneeing Emerson in the face and then mounting the American. Back on their feet he then proceeds to trip Emerson when the bell saves him.
Emerson is bleeding from the nose but starts the next round in good shape, both men utilize the same technique as the first round. More leg strikes on Nakamura but the trading of jabs and head strikes makes for an even second round. Nakamura succeeds in another takedown but they are quickly back up, by round-end the young Japanese fighter is busted open due to an elbow. Very even round.
The round begins in similar fashion to the previous two. Emerson trips but recovers before he can be mounted, Emerson steps it up for the final minute but Nakamura also picks up pace and succeeds in a takedown, the match ends with judges decision, with Emerson still on the ground.
Winner by Split-Decision - Rob Emerson
Marvin Eastman vs. Terry Martin
Video package starts this match. Terry Martin takes down his opponent in the opening seconds. Whilst in a clinch Martin hits some nasty knee strikes. After a minute locked-up the referee seperates them, Eastman then replies with some headstrikes but is then victim to another clinch which leads to more strikes. The Referee again splits them. Out of the Clinch, Eastman is the aggressor, with his vicious striking he is a sure threat. Martin tries to suppress him with a clinch at every turn but by round end Eastman is in control with a series of nice elbow shots.
Round two starts with both men throwing hard punches. Eastman is again stopped with a clinch, but hits a few knee strikes in response. Again the Referee splits up the fighters and again Martin clinches the bigger man. The round ends with the clinch to which Marvin Eastman seems frustrated.
Round three starts with nice punches and Eastman takes down his opponent. Eastman has a great back position but lets go of Martin, instead preferring to use his Muay Thai skills by landing leg strikes to the head. This continues into another clinch, which is soon broken up and Martin executes a takedown which is muscled out of in quick time. The bell ends the bout to judges decision.
Winner by Unanimous Decision - Marvin Eastman
David Heath vs. Tim Boetsch
Tim Boetsch makes his debut replacing an injured fighter. Tentative start has Boetsch in the driving seat with some pretty leg strikes and right hands. His body strikes cause instantaneous welting to David Heath, Boetsch's methodical and unorthodox style is causing problems for the more experienced Heath. His dodging of offense and flurry of knees take down Heath quickly. Wrestler, Boetsch out-strikes the Striker making for a very decisive debut.
Winner by TKO in Round 1 - Tim Boetsch
Chris Lytle vs. Kyle Bradley
The newcomer Bradley takes on the experienced Lytle but is very quickly outclassed. It's over in seconds. The overwhelmed Kyle Bradley does not realised the match ended and mistakes the referee for his opponent. Blink and you'll miss it.
Winner by Knockout in Round 1 - Chris Lytle
Tyson Griffin vs. Gleison Tibau
Exciting start from the youngsters with legstrikes by the thick-legged Griffin. The taller Tibau uses punches to counter. They enter into a clinch which Tyson tries to muscle out of resulting in an unsuccessful takedown by the Brazillian. They enter a punching contest which Griffin wins, forcing Gleison to take him down. The round ends with Tibau on top of Griffin in a takedown, but this was an even contest thusfar.
Round Two - another quick, fist-lead start into a clinch, this time initiated by the American. Seperating quickly the enter into another striking contest. Gleison grounds Tyson into side control position, but Griffin wrestled out. Another strike contest starts this time more tentatively, Gleison is bleeding from the nose now, Griffin is connecting with more of his shots than his opponent, he again utilises his strong lower limbs with stiff, quick leg strikes. Tibau takes him down but he wriggles free. Round ends with both men at a vertical stance.
The last Round begins with a feeling out process with a head shot from the Brazillian and a leg strike from Griffin. Gleison soon takes him down and gains a lot of control. He seems to have figured out how to keep hold of the slithery Tyson Griffin. The teflon-covered Tyson spins out and attempts another strike contest. Another takedown means another wriggle free and the pace is slowed as both men try to work out a new strategy. Griffin goes for a clinch which results in both men finding difficulty acquiring the upper hand. After freeing themselves they wait out the clock and after a jog around the ring by the energetic American we go to the judges decision.
Winner by Unanimous Decision - Tyson Griffin
Rob Yundt vs. Ricardo Almeida
Almeida returns to UFC for the first time since 2002 to face the debuting wrestler Rob Yundt in this Middleweight contest. After a touching of the gloves, Yundt starts out striking, but is taken down quickly by the returning Almeida, he transitions into a guillotine choke and ends it quickly after just over one minute.
Winner by Tap-Out - Ricardo Almeida
Nate Marquardt vs. Jeremy Horn
They lock up in the centre and after a jockeying for position Marquardt takes him down. Hard strikes to Horn's head as he unsuccessfully attempts to free himself lead to more strikes before the referee splits them.
Jeremy Horn attmepts a takedown but it is countered and he himself ends up on his back. He wrestles to his feet but an unsuccessful trip of Marquardt means that Nate is soon back on top. His hard kicks only serve to cause more of a mauling by Marquardt but he uses this to put on a Gogoplata shoulder submission. Round ends with Nate still locked in the hold.
A mistake early on in the second round lands Marquardt on his back, Horn capatalises by mounting his fallen opponent. Nate's eye is split open and as they get to their feet Nate Marquardt puts on a Standing Guillotine for the victory.
Winner by Tap-Out - Nate Marquardt
Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar
A hot video package hypes up this Heavyweight Bout. Lesnars debut starts out well with a quick takedown and massive strikes to the head. A time out is called and Lesnar is given a one point penalty for the illegal strike. He mauls Mir again immediately and continues punching. A rookie mistake leads to Mir's beautiful Knee Lock to end the bout. Unlucky for Brock as he was the aggressor before this hold. Strong Debut despite the quick loss.
Winner by Tap-Out - Frank Mir
Interim Heavyweight Championship Match
Tim Sylvia vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Quick strikes by Silvia early on lead to a grounding in which he is trapped in a lock which he escapes. Silvia gets him down with brutal strikes to the head, whilst still in a body scissors, Nogueira is bleeding from his right eye now, and they are back on the ground. Tim frees himself and Nogueira attempts another takedown but is shaken off with knees which do not connect. With seconds left in the first round, Nogueira takes Silvia down, he's saved by the bell.
Round two starts with some striking, Nogueira is struggling with the 3" reach advantage of the towering Tim Silvia. The round continues with this boxing-like contest which sees us to the bell just as Nogueira finds a connection with his shots.
Round three of this five round contest begins as the last round ended, a leg kick by the Brazillian is returned by a headstrike by Silvia. Nogueira gets the big man down in hopes of a submission. He has him on his back and then up and into a guillotine choke to win the fight and become the Interim Heavyweight Champion.
Winner by Tap-Out - Minotauro Nogueira
Overall:
Another top class release from UFC. The event is as exciting as it is brutal and with a good mix of styles and debuts this is a great DVD to own. Technically it is a superior release in both picture and audio, with a crisp, clear video and the always excellent commentary team both loud and clear, aesthetically the menues and navigation are pleasing and the bonus feature is very worthwhile. Fantastic event given a great package and at a reasonable price. Recommended.
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