After an exciting first round, eight fighters look to make the leap into the final four.
With the first round wrapped up in this first ever UFC Fantasy Lightweight Grand Prix, it’s time to kick off the quarterfinals.
The eight combatants remaining include the top four seeds (Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca, Kenny Florian and Joe Stevenson), as well former UFC Lightweight champion Jens Pulver and current Pride Lightweight champ, Takanori Gomi.
The first round saw some excitement, but saw no upsets thus far. Only Gomi had a tough time in his first round as he found himself in a back-and-forth battle with BJ Penn.
Well let’s take a look at the quarterfinals and see who makes it into the final four.
#1 Sean Sherk vs. #9 Roger Huerta
Can there be any better way to kick off the quarterfinals than with a great bout between two impressive fighters?
Sherk is the UFC Lightweight champion. He defeated Kenny Florian to become the first Lightweight champion since Jens Pulver.
Sherk will face Hermes Franca at UFC 73 in July. He defeated Melvin Guillard to get into the quarterfinals.
Huerta found himself in a three round war with Sam Stout, managing to come out on top.
Huerta won the first round and Sherk won the second round. Sherk dominated the third round and won the match, making him the first fighter to go to the semifinal.
#4 Joe Stevenson vs. #5 Spencer Fisher
Stevenson, the TUF season two Welterweight winner, made the drop to Lightweight and has had a successful run thus far.
“Daddy” defeated Kurt Pellegrino in the first round of the grand prix to make it to this point.
Spencer Fisher defeated Din Thomas via decision in his first round match.
The ride stops here for Fisher though, as Stevenson picks up a knockout victory, putting him in a semifinal showdown with Sean Sherk.
#2 Hermes Franca vs. #7 Jens Pulver
Franca went through Doko Mishima to get to this point. While Jens Pulver got revenge for a loss to Joe Lauzon, last September.
Pulver manages to pull off one of the first major upsets in this grand prix as he defeats Franca by unanimous decision.
#3 Kenny Florian vs. #6 Takanori Gomi
Florian, a graduate of the TUF show, has really had a lot of luck in the UFC. His only loss came to Lightweight champion Sherk last October.
Florian defeated Tyson Griffin to make it to this point.
Gomi, the Pride Lightweight champion, defeated BJ Penn to get to this point.
Florian pulls out a victory, via decision, putting KenFlo in the semifinals.
So here are the semifinal matches in the first ever UFC Lightweight Grand Prix.
#1 Sean Sherk vs. #4 Joe Stevenson
#7 Jens Pulver vs. #3 Kenny Florian
Who knows how these semifinals will go down.
