Review of UFC 54: Boiling Point

Introduction

Subtitled "Boiling Point", this is the latest offering from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is currently proving so successful in America, both on cable TV and on pay-per-view.

Held on 20th August 2005, from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, UFC 54 featured a main event of Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell - the most famous UFC competitor - defending his title against submission specialist Jeremy Horn.

Video

Video is presented in 4:3 fullscreen PAL and is excellent. As with all American shows, the video image is somewhat softer than we have come to expect in the UK. But that is not to the detriment of this excellent production, and truthfully, 4:3 - especially recorded live for television - doesn`t get much better than this.

Audio

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 and is very good for a DVD of this genre. Everything is clearly spaced, so that not only can you hear the commentators and the crowd, but also the cornerteam`s instructions, and the strikes landed by the fighters themselves.

Commentary is provided excellently by Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan.

Features

The more recent UFC discs continue to contain excellent extras. With the event itself lasting over two hours, there is little room here for anything substantial. But the extras provided - including weigh-ins, pre-match medicals, interviews from the combatants etc. - provide the viewer with a fuller picture of the event. As such, this is a good set of extras, that were a worthwhile addition to the disc.

Conclusion

Excellent production aside, I am delighted to say that the action contained on this disc more than lives up to UFC expectations. Whilst there are no poor bouts on the show - and that is something to be thankful for, as they can wreck any previously-built momentum - the contests between Georges St. Pierre and Frank Trigg, and Tim Sylvia and Tra Telligman are particularly well-fought and do not drag at any point.

However, the jewel in the crown is the excellent main event of champion Liddell vs Horn. Fought consistently as a stand-up contest (ie. no wrestling on the ground), this is one of the best "long" matches that I have ever seen, right up there with the Fedor Emelianenko vs Mirko CroCop fight from Pride "Final Conflict" 2005.

This DVD will act as both an excellent introduction to the Ultimate Fight game, yet also to regular viewers looking to get their fix of mixed martial arts. Highly recommended.