The ‘open’ workouts prior to UFC 129 kicking off had a traditional flavour with GSP showing off his Kyokushin Kata skills. He performed Pinan Sono Yon and even some very average bunkai too! Obviously this was a bit light hearted but there was a traditional flavour to certain of the fights during the actual fight night itself, with both a crane kick and flying triangle choke finish! But first here is the video of GSP, in gi, doing kata and bunkai in the cage!
Daft and gimmicky but it was certainly in tune with Lyoto Machida’s karate background and fighting style. For me his fight with Randy Couture was one of the most interesting on paper as it really was a clash of styles, although Randy has managed to alter his somewhat since his reinvention a few years back, he has a lot more boxing in him than he used to.
Knockout of the Night – the Karate Kid Crane Kick!
Following on from the front kick finish from Anderson Silva a few shows back, Lyoto Machida out does the Spider with a crane kick right out of Karate Kid 1984. Well, that’s taking it a little too far but according to Joe Rogan it was a crane kick. It was somewhat more disguised than the kick Daniel san pulled off one leg. Faking a left kick, after setting up from a fake or two, Machida switches and kicks Couture smack on the chin snap his head back and getting the KO. Fantastic straight line attack, right down the pipe, great stuff.
Submission of the night – flying triangle choke!
Of course, the crane kick won KO of the night and earned Machida a bonus. Submission of the night also had a traditional flavour to it, or at least a gi flavour. Straight out of a BJJ ‘how to’ book Pablo Garza pulls off a flying triangle choke! Another first in the UFC, unless I’m completely mistaken. OKay this was in the prelims, but it was watched by millions on facebook!
After taking a few heavy kicks Garza moved in and delivered some strong knees from a Muay Thai clinch and switches to flying triangle choke smooth as you like. After a little adjustment the choke is on and he’s got his tap. Brilliant and well deserving of the submission of the night award, if a flying triangle choke doesn’t get it, it has to be a double spectacular submission to win it.
Full results can be found on Wikipedia UFC 129 page.
UFC 129 has crane kick and flying triangle choke finishes!: The ‘open’ workouts prior to UFC 129 kicking http://bit.ly/lXrZ2q
[...] Jon Law breaks down UFC 129. The ‘open’ workouts prior to UFC 129 kicking off had a traditional flavour with GSP showing [...]
Link to the flying triangle video is fixed, soz!