Sport category: Fighters UFC 53 ARLOVSKI DEFENDS INTERIM HEAVYWEIGHT CROWN
Date: 04-03-2006 10:59
ATLANTIC CITY , NJ -- Rich Franklin (20-1) of Cincinnati , Ohio , defeated Evan Tanner (33-5-0) of Gresham , Ore. , by doctor's decision at the 3:25 point of the fourth round to become the new UFC middleweight champion, while interim heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (9-3-0) of Minsk, Belarus, vanquished challenger Justin Eilers (9-4-1) of Nampa, Idaho, by technical knockout with :50 left in the first round to headline an exciting eight-fight card as UFC 53: Heavy Hitters took place before a near-sellout crowd at Boardwalk Hall on Saturday.
With the win, Franklin also won a starring role as a coach on the second season of the Spike TV hit reality show The Ultimate Fighter™.
“I want to thank my training team for preparing me for this fight,” said Franklin, who is now 2-0 lifetime against Tanner. “This was a team effort tonight.”
Tanner took a lot of punishment from Franklin , as the former high school math teacher landed several fists and knees to the now-former champ's head. With blood streaming down Tanner's face and his eyes nearly swollen shut, referee Hubert Dean asked for a medical review early in the fourth round. The doctors then stopped the fight, giving Franklin the crown.
“Rich did an awesome job,” said Tanner. “It was his night. Congratulations to him.”
Franklin got caught early by a Tanner left hook, but came away from the fight largely unscathed.
“I don't remember much about that punch,” said Franklin . “That means he must have got me pretty good.”
Franklin has now won his last six fights and is a perfect 5-0 in UFC action.
Arlovski was in control of his fight from the beginning and capitalized when Eilers—a former football player from Iowa State —went down with an apparent injury to his right knee. Arlovski then pounced and delivered several blows before the referee stopped the fight.
With the win, the stage may now be set for Arlovski to take on the reigning heavyweight champion, Frank Mir, who is recovering from an injury.
“I'm very anxious to have that fight,” said Arlovski, who has won his last five fights and is now 6-2-0 in UFC matchups.
The next UFC title fight will come on August 20, 2005, in Las Vegas , Nev. , as light heavyweight champion Chuck ‘The Iceman' Lidell takes on Jeremy Horn at UFC 54: Boiling Point . The eight-fight card will also include a bout between Randy ‘The Natural' Couture and Mike Van Arsdale.
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ATLANTIC CITY , NJ -- Rich Franklin (20-1) of Cincinnati , Ohio , defeated Evan Tanner (33-5-0) of Gresham , Ore. , by doctor's decision at the 3:25 point of the fourth round to become the new UFC middleweight champion, while interim heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (9-3-0) of Minsk, Belarus, vanquished challenger Justin Eilers (9-4-1) of Nampa, Idaho, by technical knockout with :50 left in the first round to headline an exciting eight-fight card as UFC 53: Heavy Hitters took place before a near-sellout crowd at Boardwalk Hall on Saturday.