UFC WWGP: Quarterfinals
Serra Looks To Make His Way Into the Semifinals
The Welterweight champ, Matt Serra, takes on Josh Burkman, while three other bouts determine who makes the semifinals.
The quarterfinal matches are set in the UFC Welterweight Grand Prix. These eight men are fighting for the right to be in the final four of the grand prix.
Let’s take a look at who makes the cut and who falls short.
#1 Matt Serra vs. #9 Josh Burkman
The UFC Welterweight champion made his way into the quarterfinals after taking care of Rich Clementi in the preliminaries.
Serra defeated Clementi in the second round of the match, via knockout.
Burkman defeated Drew Fickett in the preliminary round.
He will take on Karo Parisyan at UFC 71, this week. The bout has the potential to be one of the best during the night.
The first round starts and ends a few minutes later. Serra took care of his business and is the first fighter to enter the final four.
#5 Diego Sanchez vs. #13 Jon Fitch
Sanchez made his way into the quarterfinals, defeating Joe Riggs. It was his second victory over Riggs as he previously defeated him at an Ultimate Fight Night event in December.
Fitch made it to the quarterfinals after pulling a stunning upset against the fourth seeded, Josh Koscheck. Does the Cinderella continue on to the final four, or will the clock strike midnight for this fighter?
Unfortunately for Fitch, his time has run out. Sanchez picks up the victory, via submission in the first round, putting the “Nightmare” in the final four.
#2 Matt Hughes vs. #7 Jeff Joslin
Hughes got to this point after defeating Luke Cummo in the preliminaries, while Joslin took out Shonie Carter.
Both fighters go back and forth, with Hughes taking the first round and Joslin taking the second.
The third round is a close stalemate with both fighters landing terrific shots. The third round ends with no clear cut winner and goes to the judges scorecards.
Hughes takes the third round and the match, winning by a split decision. This makes him the third fighter to go into the quarterfinals.
#3 Georges St. Pierre vs. #6 Karo Parisyan
It’s the rematch that has been three years in the making, St. Pierre and Parisyan. The last time these two battled it out, it was January of 2004 and St. Pierre was making his debut in the Octagon.
Now these two are fighting for a right to advance to the final four.
St. Pierre defeated Chris Lytle in the preliminaries to make it to this point, while Parisyan defeated Roan Carneiro.
Parisyan would get his revenge and upsets the third seed to be the final fighter in the semifinals.
Let’s review the semifinal matches:
Top seeded Matt Serra takes on fifth seed Diego Sanchez. The second seeded Matt Hughes will face seventh seed Karo Parisyan.
