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UFC 58: USA vs.
Canada – Las Vegas, Nev. – Mandalay Bay Events Center - March 4, 2006
UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin cruised to a lopsided
win over David “The Crow” Loiseau in the main event of UFC 58.
Not only did Franklin retain his title, he secured a 5-3 win
over America in the “USA vs. Canada” themed pay-per-view.
Even more impressive, Franklin broke his left hand and his
left foot in the second round and still won the five-round bout.
Loiseau had earned the title shot with consecutive TKO
victories over Gideon Ray, Charles McCarthy and Evan Tanner in 2005.
George St. Pierre tied the score for Canada at 3-3 by
winning a split decision over B.J. Penn.
GSP’s win earned him another title shot against Matt Hughes
at UFC 63, but Penn ended up getting the shot due an injury to GSP.
Mike “Hands of Stone” Swick then moved the USA ahead by
defeating Steve Vigneault with a guillotine choke.
Franklin then clinched the victory for the USA as the judges
scored the bout 50-43, 50-43, 50-42.
In other pay-per-view fights, Nate Marquardt scored one for
America with a unanimous decision over Joe Doerksen; and Canada’s Mark Hominick
used a triangle armbar to beat “The Master of Thug-Jitsu” Yves Edwards in Round
2.
During the prelims, the lightweight division returned for
the first time since 2004. Canadian Sam Stout won a split decision over Spencer
Fisher.
In other preliminary bouts, Tom Murphy of the USA beat Icho
Larenas by TKO in Round 3, and Jason Lambert used a kimura to submit TUF 2
alumnus Rob MacDonald in 1:54.
Glad that the champion of the UFC is back on track. It will be a hard time for him to cut through the other opponents after this fight but I hope that he will get through.
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