UFC 147 Recap & Analysis

In June 2009, Rich Franklin defeated Wanderlei Silva by unanimous decision in a three round fight in Europe.

In June 2012, the continent was different and there were two more rounds, but the result was the same.

Rich Franklin defeated Wanderlei Silva by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 147 early Sunday morning in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

The fight was an entertaining standup battle that capped off a night of good, but unremarkable fights. The next big show for the promotion will be on July 7, when Anderson Silva will defend his UFC Middleweight Championship in a rematch with top contender Chael Sonnen.

UFC 147 Main Card Recap

Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin

Round 1: Silva hit a leg kick 45 seconds into the fight and followed with a right hand seconds later. Franklin hit a left  hand and another. Franklin scored with an inside leg kick and a right hand. Silva threw a head kick but Franklin caught it and was able to land some right hands. Franklin got the best of an exchange. Franklin staggered Silva with a right hand. Silva backed off. Franklin was clearly the agressor early. Silva tried a body kick but Franklin checked it. Silva hit a glancing head kick as Franklin moved in. Franklin stepped away but then got the best of another exchange of strikes. Franklin missed with a head kick but followed up with a right hand. Clearly Franklin's round.

Round 2: Silva's footwork looked better early in rthe second round. Silva slipped while throwing a kick but Franklin could not capitalize. Franklin hit a big right hand and a kick to the body. He pressed forward and scored with a combination of punches, opening a cut on Silva's face. Franklin missed with a head kick and right hand combination but landed a shot to the body seconds later. It was clear that Franklin had the better technique, the only question would be whether or not Silva could overwhelm Franklin with his power. That question was answered seconds later as Silva hit a knee to the body and swarmed on Franklin with big right hands, dropping him with a right hook. Silva continued to rain down strikes but Franklin did just enough to avoid a stoppage  as the round drew to a close. Silva's round, 10-9, for sure.

Round 3: The pace slowed in the first two minutes of the round as each fighter looked to recover from the furious flurry that ended round 2. Franklin hit a body kick. Franklin scored with a right hook and Silva barely ducked an attempted head kick. Franklin landed a left jab. Silva scored with a jab but Franklin came back with another body kick. Franklin instigated a grappling battle and took Silva down. Franklin ended up in half guard and landed some big elbows. He briefly slipped to mount, then stood over Silva and tried to throw strikes from up top, but Silva survived the attack. 10-9 Franklin.

Round 4: Silva looked to be the fresher of the two fighters early in the round. Silva hit a right hand. Franklin threw a left that glanced off of Silva's forehead. Franklin threw a shot to the body. Franklin's technique was slipping here as he began to drop his hands. Franklin landed a left jab and a right hook. He threw another shot to Silva's midsection. Silva hit a body shot but Franklin threw another jab, targeting the cut on Silva's face. Silva landed an accidental low blow and a pause was called for. Franklin landed a good combination after the restart. Franklin threw another body kick but Silva countered with a right hand. Silva threw a combination as the round ended but no significant strikes landed. Franklin 10-9.

Round 5: The two fighters hugged at the start of the round. Franklin hit a right hand and dodged a right hand from Silva. Silva missed with a head kick. Franklin hit a left hand to the body. Franklin was hardly running away from Silva, but he was clearly hesitant to engage at close range in the last round of a fight he had reason to believe that he was winning by a comfortable margin. Franklin continued to score with right jabs. He dropped his hands, perhaps trying to bait Silva, but Silva did not take it immediately. Silva waited until the final minute of the fight to pounce. Silva rushed forward throwing wild rights and lefts. In the final ten seconds, the two engaged in a wild exchange of strikes, both landing some, but Franklin got the best of it, briefly dropping Silva with a left hand as the fight ended. Probably Franklin's round, so I had the fight 49-46 for Franklin.

Result: Rich Franklin defeated Wanderlei Silva by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

Cezar Ferreira vs. Sergio Moraes

Round 1: Ferreira looked a full weight class heavier. He scored with a kick and a solid left hand. He hit a knee to the body. Moraes was getting beat on every exchange early. Moraes scored with a body kick. Ferreira hit another good left hand. He hit another left and a front kick. Moraes conncected with a forearm shot in a good exchange. Ferreira hit Moraes below the belt with a front kick. Moraes took a moment to recover. Moraes hit a good right hand after the fight restarted. Ferreira pushed Moraes against the fence but Moraes landed a series of right and left hands. Ferreira hit a high kick that glanced off the back of Moraes' head and the first round ended.

Round 2: Ferreira hit a straight left hand and a hard left uppercut. Moraes tried to pull guard but failed and stood back up. Ferreira hit a big wheel kick that dropped Moraes. Ferreaira rained down strikes and a stoppage looked imminent, but Ferreira may have gassed himself out as he backed off and Moraes stood back up. The pace slowed as the fighters circled. Ferreira looked re-energized and hit another left uppercut. Moraes charged forward but swung and missed with right and left hands. Moraes hit a big right hand that dazed Ferreirahe pressed forward and looked to have Ferreira in danger, but he could not do any further damage as the round ended.

Round 3: The two men started the third round with an embrace. Ferreira dropped Moraes with a punch but could not follow up. He was clearly respectful of Moraes' ground game and wanted no parts of it all fight long.  Moraes got back to his feet. The pace slowed significantly. Neither guy looked totally exhausted, but more like they were saving themselves for one big push in the final minutes. Ferreira missed with a left and a front kick. Ferreira charged in but got caught by a right hand. It stunned him but did not drop him. Ferreira fired back with a big left hand that knocked Moraes down. Ferreira again wanted nothing to do with Moraes on the ground and allowed him to stand back up. Ferreira may have secured himself the decision with that last knockdown.

Result: Cezar Ferreira defeated Sergio Moraes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
I can understand scores of 29-28 in either direction, but I just can't see how you could give all three rounds to Ferreira here. Still, I believe that the right man won.

Godofredo Pepey vs. Rony Jason (Mariano Bezerra)

Round 1: Pepey grabbed a clinch against the cage but Jason stuffed a takedown attempt. Pepey chose to pull guard. He was warned for throwing punches to the back of the head and started working for a kimura. He was then warned for grabbing the cage with his toes. Jason defended it well. Pepey was again warned about hitting the back of the head. The referee stood the fighters up. Jason connected with a huge flying knee but Pepey quickly recovered. He again pulled Jason to the ground into his guard. A baffling round that I had no idea how to score.

Round 2: They came out swinging at the start of the round. The effort was there, but neither guy was impressing me with their standing technique. Pepey again pulled guard. Jason briefly slipped to half guard and landed an elbow to the body before choosing to stand up. Pepey stood back up as well. There was another wild exchange that consisted of swings and misses. Jason landed a good left hand. Pepey hit a left hook and followed with a good jab. Jason threw a left hook. Pepey missed with a spinning back fist. The round ended. I had it for Jason, 10-9.

Round 3: Jason hit a big right handbut looked to be gassed and could not follow up. Pepey missed on another attempted backfist. Jason used the occasion of a glancing low blow to catch his breath. The fight restarted in the center. Pepey tried to pull guard again but Jason did not go down and stood over him hitting leg kicks and dodging upkicks. The referee stood Pepey back up. Pepey hit Jason with another low blow. There was another stop in the action as Jason was allowed to recover. Pepey scored a takedown as the horn sounded. Pepey did not stop immediately at the horn and even after the referee dove in to seperate the two men, the two exchanged words. A bizarre end to a weird fight.

Result: Rony Jason defeated Godofredo Pepey by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Russow

Russow walked to the cage to "Simple Man". Is it an unwritten rule that someone on every show has to come out to this song? C'mon guys. Check out some of our IHJJR Summer Playlists. Werdum was dancing in the cage before the introductions. Outstanding.

Round 1: Russow moves pretty well for a fat guy. He charged in but Werdum's reach was too much and he got tagged and cut on his face. Werdum got the better of the striking exchanges, but Russow held his own in the grappling game early on. Werdum hit a leg kick and followed with a a straight right hand. Werdum caught Russow with a right uppercut and he went down to his hands and knees. Werdum finished the fight with hammerfists and punches from that position.

Result: Fabricio Werdum defeated Mike Russow by TKO (strikes) at 2:28 of Round 1

Yuri Alcantara vs. Hacran Dias

Round 1: Alcantara rushed forward but Dias pushed back and grabbed a clinch against the fence and scored  a trip takedown. Dias got an underhook and controlled Alcantara against the mat. Alcantara worked his way back to guard and looked for a triangle choke but Dias worked his way around and took his back. Dias slapped on a kimura from a standing position, but Alcantara was able to keep his hands together, negating any damage from the hold. The referee called for a break and the round ended with a brief standing exchange.

Round 2: Alcantara landed a solid body kick but Dias countered by taking him down again. Alcantara slapped on an armbar and had Dias in trouble but Dias slipped out and ended up back in Alcantara's guard. Dias passed to half guard. Alcantara worked his way back to guard and the referee stood them back up. Alcantara got the best of a short standup exchange that ended the round.

Round 3: Both fighters looked tired as the standup exchange that strarted the round featured little in the way of movement. Dias landed a good kick to the body with 3:30 left on the clock. Dias got another takedown. Alcantara briefly got back to his feet but Dias took him back to the ground immediately. The referee stood them back up. Dias shot for another takedown but Alcantara ended up on top in Dias' guard. He landed some punches but nothing too solid connected and the fight ended. A good showing from Dias on the ground.

Result: Hacran Dias defeated Yuri Alcantara by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

For UFC notes & other commentary, follow me on Twitter @EthanRenner