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Round 1
Kevin Mulhall presides over the opening bout. Assuncao with lazy
kicks to start. Koch is trying to counter with his right cross but
can't land clean. Hard inside low kick by Assuncao. Koch jabs and
Assuncao charges in. Koch lands a right hook that destroys the
Brazilian. Assuncao is out cold on his back forcing Mulhall to
rescue him. Koch's brutal UFC debut ends at 2:32 of the first
round.
Round 1
Our referee for the 195 catchweight bout is Kevin MacDonald. A
tentative opening minute is filled with pawing and no significant
strikes. Catone glances with a jab and the boos start to rain over
the cage. A weak Catone shot leads to a clinch along the fence.
Short shots land inside for both and Catone separates. Philippou
cracks him with a right and Catone responds in kind. More aimless
feinting and booing. A Philippou right grazes and Catone drives him
to the mat. Catone cracks his foe, prompting Philippou to elbow
from the bottom. Catone smashes an elbow into Philippous' head that
rips his skin open at the bell. 10-9 Catone.
Round 2
Both men swing freely to open the second frame but nothing lands.
Catone bulls Philippou into the cage and lands a hard knee to the
guts. Philippou breaks away but Catone drills him with a knee to
the face on the exit. Low kick and a jab connect for Catone. The
Jersey Devil lobs a head kick that is blocked and drives his foe
into the fence again. The crowd boos and with a minute left, Catone
scores a single leg. He quickly gets to half guard and gets mount
for a moment. Philippou regains guard and gets socked in the mouth.
10 9 Catone.
Round 3
A more comfortable Catone probes with his right before slamming
Philippou to the mat. Catone gets to side for a moment but
Philippou reclaims guard. Philippou looks exhausted on the bottom
as Catone drives his forearm into his jaw. He tries to use the
fence to wall walk but Catone sucks him back down. Catone lands a
series of heavy elbows and deftly takes mount. He hammers
Philippou, who is able to turn and scramble back to half guard.
More Catone elbows rain down until the horn. 10-9 and 30-27 for
Catone.
Official scores: 30-27 across the board for Catone, winner by unanimous decision.
Round 1
Kevin Mulhall is our referee for the bantamweight contest. Loveland
advances on Benavidez and backs him into the cage. Benavidez
punches his way free but gets stuffed on a shot. Loveland lands a
nice uppercut after another missed shot. Benavidez lands a hard low
kick then a right hand. He shoots and gets him down for a second,
but loveland is back up. Benavidez bullies his way back in but
can't get the takedown and reverts to swinging wild punches that
Loveland easily avoids. Benavidez gets busier towards the end of
the frame but can't land anything hard. Loveland counters a low
kick with a right cross as the round closes. Sherdog scores the
first round 10-9 for Loveland.
Round 2
Benavidez is met with a Loveland combination as round two gets
underway. He retreats and then darts back forward to hit a double.
Loveland locks up a kimura and uses it to free himself and get back
to his feet. Benavidez misses on a double and rolls but Loveland
pounces and nearly lands a huge hammerfist. Benavidez, back on his
feet, lands a nice one-two and then a hard left in the midst of a
four-punch flurry. Loveland rushes in but Benavidez changes levels
and plants him. He tries to get some ground-and-pound going but
Loveland lands the harder shots, cutting Benavidez somewhere on the
top of his head. Blood is trickling from his hairline and Benavidez
paws at it. Loveland is back up and slips a head kick at the bell.
Sherdog scores round two 10-9 for Benavidez.
Round 3
Benavidez opens the final round with a pair of nice push kicks and
right hand follows. He then locks up a single on Loveland, who is
only looking for right hand counters at this point. He takes him to
the mat and tries for a guillotine but Loveland defends and gets
back to his feet. Benavidez the hurts Loveland with a right hand to
the face. He pounces and tries to flurry. Loveland gets back to his
feet again and lands a right hand and a knee. Benavidez tries to
throw him but ends up on the ground on the bottom at the horn.
Sherdog scores the round 10-9 for Benavidez.
Official scores: 30-27 (twice) and 29-28 for Benavidez, winner by unanimous decision.
Round 1
Herb Dean is in charge of the first of two Facebook prelims. Both
men are just feeling each other out in the first minute. The
southpaw Tibau pops Pellegrino with a short left hand. A moment
later, the Brazilian rushes in and grabs at a single-leg.
Pellegrino defends and winds up with his back to the cage. They
split after a bit of dirty boxing and go back to feinting and
pawing. Pellegrino connects with a one-two and eats another left
from Tibau in return. The lightweights still look tentative with
two minutes left in the round. Now Pellegrino looks for takedown
and Tibau defends. Pellegrino gets muscled into the fence again and
tripped to the floor. He stands back up and shoots on Tibau, but is
stifled again. Pellegrino breaks free of Tibau’s clinch and lands a
right hand before the horn.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Tibau
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10
Round 2
Both fighters are letting their hands go a bit more in the opening
moments of the second frame, though neither is gaining an
advantage. Pellegrino raises his arms, Diaz style, to rile Tibau,
to no avail. They resume the slower pace of the first round. Tibau
gets through with a one-two; Pellegrino lobs an inside leg kick.
With just over three minutes on the clock, Pellegrino opens up with
a combination that stuns the Brazilian and takes Tibau to the mat.
Pellegrino landing shots from half-guard, looking to pass as the
hometown crowd explodes. Tibau is grabbing at Pellegrino’s arms to
slow the pace and Pellegrino lays a forearm across his neck.
Pellegrino still can’t pass, but is doing well to hold Tibau on the
floor. Tibau appears to be bleeding from the mouth and near the
eye, and it’s stained Pellegrino’s bleached hair. Tibau finally
breaks loose with 40 seconds on the clock. He slugs Pellegrino with
a one-two, but Tibau looks to be slightly drained as the round
expires.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Round 3
Tibau comes out swinging, the cut near his left eye seemingly
repaired for the time being. He contemplates a single-leg, but
doesn’t get far with it. Head kick from Tibau is blocked.
Pellegrino has the center of the cage, but isn’t throwing through
the first 90 seconds. He finally comes forward and gets clipped by
Tibau’s left hand. Pellegrino bleeding from the nose now as Tibau
pushes him into the fence. “Batman” pushes out and they’re back to
trading. Tibau is throwing the same right-left hook combo over and
over, but not finding much success. Tibau zaps his man as
Pellegrino comes in for a takedown. Tibau stuffs and reverses,
taking Pellegrino to the floor and passing to side control.
Pellegrino quickly works out of the bad position and tries for a
single-leg against the cage with 90 seconds to go. Tibau racking up
short left hands as Pellegrino digs for the takedown. Pellegrino
opts to let go and soon finds himself on the receiving end of a
Tibau single-leg. Tibau desperately pounds from guard as the fight
winds down. Pellegrino stands and has his back taken, then rolls
for a kneebar at the horn.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Tibau (29-28 Pellegrino)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Tibau (29-28 Tibau)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Tibau (29-29 Draw)
Official scores: One judge scores it 29-28 for Kurt Pellegrino. However, the remaining two judges score it 29-28 in favor of Gleison Tibau, the winner by split decision.
Round 1
Kevin MacDonald is the referee for this welterweight contest.
Almeida moves awkwardly from side to side around Pyle, who stands
in the center of the cage. Slapping leg kicks from Almeida as he
feints the shot. Pyle feels the distance with his left jab, but
accidentally pokes Almeida in the eye. Almeida motions, but the
action does not stop. They tie up and Almeida looks for the
takedown. Pyle instead trips the Brazilian to the floor and walks
away. Back on the feet, Almeida has another shot stuffed and gets
spun into the fence. Short knees coming from Pyle, until Almeida
reverses the position and drives a few knees of his own. Pyle
shoves off, then gets driven to the mat, but jumps right back up.
Almeida connects with an overhand right that stumbles Pyle, but the
Xtreme Couture product recovers as Almeida clinches up. They trade
knees in the clinch with Pyle getting the better. Pyle drives an
uppercut into Almeida’s ribs and lands another solid knee before
the horn.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-10
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Pyle
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10
Round 2
Almeida scores with a turning side kick to Pyle’s gut, then drags
him to the floor. Pyle scoots up with his back to the fence and the
Brazilian does his best to pin him against the post. The men jockey
for position with over-unders and stall out. They disengage and
Pyle drives a knee into the body of Almeida. Two minutes to go and
boos start to come from the crowd as the welterweights trade
tentative strikes. Almeida initiates the clinch briefly, but Pyle
won’t stay there. Chopping outside leg kick from Pyle prompts
Almeida to shoot a double-leg. He drags Pyle to the floor and Pyle
immediately turns to his left and frames up a kimura. Almeida
extracts his arm and finishes the round on top.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Almeida
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Almeida
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Almeida
Round 3
Leg kicks are exchanged in the early going of the final stanza.
Almeida repeatedly fakes a shot on Pyle in the first two minutes,
but doesn’t commit. Pyle is throwing combos to the head and body,
but not landing much flush. He scores with a kick to the body and
Almeida shoots, whereupon Pyle drives a knee into his gut. Pyle
slams Almeida to the canvas, but Almeida shoves him right off. Pyle
stands over him, slapping with leg kicks, allowing Almeida to drive
forward on a single-leg as he gets back up. Almeida digging for the
takedown with 90 seconds to go, then fires a level elbow over the
top. Pyle loops his right arm over Almeida’s head for a guillotine,
can’t get it, and settles for a jumping knee as they separate.
Another knee lands and Almeida’s face is showing signs of wear in
the final minute. Almeida scores a takedown, but Pyle instantly
stands. Pyle finishes with a takedown of his own.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Pyle (29-29 Draw)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Pyle (29-28 Pyle)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Pyle (29-29 Draw)
Official scores: The judges cageside have it 30-27 (twice) and 29-28, all in favor of the winner by unanimous decision, Mike Pyle.
Round 1
Keith Peterson is the referee for the first Spike TV prelim. The
lightweights come out whipping leg kicks at one another. Barboza
thumps one to Njokuani’s body, then clips him with a right hand.
Njokuani lands a left, but eats a brutal right hand that makes him
tilt. Barboza doesn’t pounce and Njokuani survives. He slips a
right from Barboza and lands a counter right of his own. Njokuani
lands a front kick; Barboza retaliates with a punch that makes
Njokuani check his mouthpiece. Njokuani is pawing at his left eye,
where Barboza has been landing stiff jabs. Peterson steps in as if
to pause the action, but then does not. Njokuani sneaking some jabs
through, gaining confidence as the round wears on. Right hook
connects for Njokuani, then another before the bell.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Barboza
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Barboza
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Barboza
Round 2
Njokuani continues to flash his quick left hand in Barboza’s face
at the start of the second. Kicks to the body and head follow, and
it’s Njokuani taking the driver’s seat after a rocky start. Turning
side kick lands for Barboza, but Njokuani catches a follow-up kick
to the body and drives Barboza to the floor. The Brazilian takes a
few punches as he stands back up. Njokuani drills his man with a
hard spinning elbow. Barboza is having trouble with the range and
counters of Njokuani, and is landing mostly leg kicks. Njokuani
clinches and they trade knees before splitting. Barboza ducks for a
single-leg, lifts Njokuani and slams him against the base of the
fence. He flattens Njokuani out with 10 seconds to go, but Njokuani
stands just before the end of the round.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Njokuani
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Njokuani
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Njokuani
Round 3
The strikers are sniping at the start of the final round. Njokuani
looks loose as he counters Barboza’s punches lands inside thigh
kicks. Nice flurry from Barboza, but it doesn’t stun Njokuani as it
did in the opening frame. Njokuani leaps in with a knee to the gut
of Barboza. Jabs and kicks flowing from Barboza, who looks to be in
control with 90 seconds to go. Barboza isn’t giving up though,
pushing forward and landing turning side-kicks. He catches a knee
from Njokuani and finishes a takedown against the fence with 20
seconds to go. Njokuani gets to his feet and eats a massive
spinning back-kick just before the horn. He stays vertical, but on
wobbly legs. Barboza raises his hands as though he stole the fight
with the kick, but it’s going to be a close call.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-10 (29-29 Draw)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Barboza (29-28 Barboza)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-10 (29-29 Draw)
Official scores: All three judges have it 29-28 in favor of the winner by unanimous decision, Edson Barboza.
Round 1
Dan Miragliotta is the referee for the evening’s final preliminary
contest. The 205-pounders are swinging heavy leather early, Cane
getting the better of the exchanges as Marshall looks for an
opening to attempt a takedown. Cane drops the American with a hard
left hand and swarms all over Marshall. Cane lands a dozen punches
from the top as Marshall struggles to survive. After a brief break,
Cane goes back after it, slamming hammer fists into Marshall’s head
as Marshall tries to roll for a kneebar. Marshall is no longer
intelligently defending himself from Cane’s assault, and
Miragliotta steps in to halt the beating at 2:15 of the first
round.
Round 1
Schaub comes with a kick to the body and a few short uppercuts. The
younger righty ties up with the veteran and they exchange thumping
shots to the ribs. Referee Herb Dean splits them up and issues
Schaub a “hard warning” for strikes that strayed to the back of Cro
Cop’s head. Schaub brings Cro Cop down and eats an upkick as he
stands from the Croatian’s guard. The American dives back in and
Mirko closes up his guard, tying up Schaub’s arm briefly to stifle
the punches. It doesn’t last long, as the “Hybrid” postures up and
slams right hands into Cro Cop’s face. Filipovic hits the switch
and scrambles to his feet, shoving Schaub into the fence with a
minute to go in the round. Schaub drives forward and tries to trip
Cro Cop down, but the striker hops backward and stays up. Not much
action in the clinch down the stretch. Schaub lands a few knees to
the gut and an uppercut before the horn.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Schaub
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Schaub
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Schaub
Round 2
Cro Cop fires a left high kick that’s partially blocked and Schaub
takes him straight down. As Schaub stands, Mirko lands an upkick to
the face. Herb Dean stops the action and issues Cro Cop a warning
of his own, as Schaub’s knee was barely touching the mat (while his
hand grabbed the fence) when the upkick landed. They resume and go
back to the clinch. Schaub bullies Cro Cop into the fence and tries
to come over the top with elbows. Cro Cop reverses and the
heavyweights trade knees up the gut. Schaub’s bleeding profusely
from the nose as they jockey for position along the perimeter. Herb
Dean breaks them up and deducts a point from Schaub for further
strikes to the back of Cro Cop’s head. Filipovic closes out the
round with more elbows from the clinch. Replays show it was one of
those strikes that cracked Schaub’s nose and cut him above the left
eye.
TJ De Santis scores the round 9-9 (10-9 Schaub)
Chris Nelson scores the round 9-9 (10-9 Schaub)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Filipovic (10-10)
Round 3
Filipovic lands a low kick early in the final round and Schaub
needs a break to recover. Upon resuming, he plows Cro Cop to the
mat in the center of the cage. Filipovic ties up the right arm of
Schaub and scrambles up, only to be taken right back down. Schaub
works to pass, can’t and Cro Cop stands again. Two minutes to go
and it’s still looking like anyone’s fight. Cro Cop initiates the
clinch, but doesn’t do much from the position. They tie up again,
and break just as quickly. Cro Cop stuffs a long shot from Schaub
and tags him on the way up. Suddenly, Schaub lands a winging right
hand behind the ear of Filipovic and the Croatian crumbles to the
mat. Herb Dean rushes in to save the helpless Pride vet from
further punishment at 3:44 of the third round.
Round 1
Dan Miragliotta is back in the cage for this middleweight bout.
Marquardt rushes in behind a combination, stuffs a single-leg from
Miller and looks for a guillotine from the sprawl. It doesn’t come
and Miller continues to drive on the takedown attempt, finally
depositing Marquardt against the base of the fence. Miller can’t
flatten Marquardt and Marquardt gets to his feet. He slams Miller
down, but Miller grabs for his go-to guillotine choke on the way.
Marquardt turns into the hold and pops his head loose. Miller ties
up with rubber guard and they stall out along the fence.
Miragliotta stands them up with a minute left in the round.
Marquardt decks Miller with corkscrew right hand and then deposits
him back on the floor. Miller twists to his left, looking for a
kimura on Marquardt’s right arm, but he can’t get it. Marquardt
lands a few punches from the top at the horn.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Marquardt
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Marquardt
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Marquardt
Round 2
Marquardt connects with a combo, goes high with a left kick and
then slaps an inside thigh kick. Big right hand and a left high
kick from Marquardt, then a flying knee. Miller drives forward and
takes Marquardt down, then looks to take the Greg Jackson fighter’s
back as they stand. Marquardt is aware of this and keeps his back
glued to the fence as he works to his feet. Two minutes left in the
round. Marquardt is pumping his jab on a tired-looking Miller
before he decides to take the New Jersey native down. Miller grabs
another guillotine from guard and falls back, but Marquardt again
extracts his head. He finishes the round on top.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Marquardt
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Marquardt
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Marquardt
Round 3
Miller gets an uppercut through and Marquardt answers with another
head kick. Marquardt scores with a leg kick and a one-two to the
now-bloodied face of Miller, who retaliates with a combo and leg
kick of his own. Marquardt tags his man with a solid right and
sprawls on a takedown with three minutes left in the fight. Miller
is slow to get up from the takedown attempt, allowing Marquardt to
spin around him. Rather than give up his back, Miller falls to
guard. He leans to his left and looks for an arm, but Marquardt is
smashing with elbows from top position. They scoot into the fence
and Miller grabs at the kimura again to no avail. Marquardt grinds
and punishes in the final minute, much to the displeasure of the
pro-Miller crowd. Miller throws up his legs, hunting for an armbar
or a triangle, but he runs out of time.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Marquardt (30-27 Marquardt)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Marquardt (30-27 Marquardt)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Marquardt (30-27 Marquardt)
Official scores: It’s a clean sweep for Nate Marquardt with scores of 30-27 from all three judges.
Round 1
Referee Kevin Mulhall is in the cage for this lightweight bout. Big
exchanges early from both men, with Miller landing punches and
Shalorus leg kicks. Chants of “U-S-A” start up less than a minute
into the bout. Miller ducks in with a stiff left and Shalorus
misses his winging counter punches. Shalorus catches a kick from
Miller and slugs him with a right hand. Shalorus is throwing more
punches, but Miller is landing the crisper, cleaner strikes. Miller
comes in with a leaping knee and gets spun to the ground, but he
stands right back up. Shalorus keeps the leg kicks coming and
Miller answers in kind. Left high kick connects for Miller, but
Shalorus doesn’t go down. Instead, he stays up and continues
slinging wild, looping punches in Miller’s general direction.
Miller scores with a punch and a follow-up knee to the gut, then
jumps guard with a guillotine. Shalorus’ head slips right out and
the pair scoot around the mat, trading short shots. Shalorus gets
Miller against the fence and Mulhall stands them up with 20 seconds
left. Miller puts his shin on Shalorus’ face again and dives for
another guillotine at the end of the round.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Miller
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Miller
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Miller
Round 2
Shalorus begins the round with a significant mouse under his left
eye. Back to the exchanges of the opening round until Shalorus
scores a takedown. Miller may have partially pulled guard there,
and he stands right back up. Now Miller takes Shalorus down,
instantly taking the back of the “Prince of Persia” and locking up
a tight body triangle. Miller complains that Shalorus is grabbing
his glove and Mulhall warns Shalorus. Still 2:30 left on the clock
as Miller continues to work for the rear-naked choke. Shalorus is
looking to twist around and into Miller’s guard, but Miller’s body
lock is tight. Unable to slip his arm under the chin, Miller opts
for a palm-to-palm RNC attempt. Shalorus grimaces but doesn’t tap.
Miller goes for it again; the hold is more of a neck crank than a
choke, and Shalorus doesn’t look like he’s going to tap to it. The
round ends with Miller firing off punches from back control.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Miller
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Miller
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Miller
Round 3
Shalorus throws the first dozen or so punches of the round, but
doesn’t appear to land any. Miller lands an accidental knee to the
groin of Shalorus and they pause momentarily. Shalorus recovers
quickly and goes back to lobbing bombs. Miller blasts Shalorus with
a left uppercut and drops him with a follow-up knee. Shalorus is in
bad trouble, turtling against the cage with blood pouring onto the
mat. Miller pounces and finishes the fight with a dozen hard hammer
fists. Mulhall steps in for the stoppage at 2:15 of the third
round, giving Shalorus his first loss and Miller his seventh
straight win.
Round 1
Keith Peterson is the referee for tonight’s co-main event. The
bantamweights tie up and Wineland shoves Faber into the fence.
Wineland controls with underhooks and looks to trip Faber to the
floor, but Faber stays up and drops for a shot of his own. Wineland
stuffs this and socks Faber on his way back up. Faber charges
forward again and brings Wineland down momentarily. Soon back up to
his feet, Wineland gets underhooks again and looks for a takedown
against the cage. He finally gets it about midway through the
round, but Faber stands quickly. Faber trying to time Wineland’s
right hand, lands a few counter rights before shooting in. Wineland
stuffs the shot once more and Faber goes back to headhunting. Faber
is scoring with single right hands and gets Wineland to bite on a
takedown fake before the horn.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Wineland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-10
Round 2
Faber continuing to find his range in the first minute of the
second round, landing punches and making Wineland miss on his. He
floors Wineland with a takedown and postures up in full guard,
driving hard, short elbows down into Wineland’s face. Faber picks
his man up and drives him back into the mat. More elbows from Faber
on top as Wineland tries to tie up and stifle the action. Faber
stacks up again and pins Wineland’s throat to the mat with his left
hand while punching with his right. Wineland tries to throw his
legs up for a submission late, but Faber is just too strong on
top.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Faber
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Faber
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Faber
Round 3
It’s clinch work in the early going of the final frame. Faber
drills a few knees to the midsection of Wineland, who answers with
a slapping leg kick when they break. Faber gets a shot stuffed and
Wineland tries to take his back standing. It doesn’t work and they
go back to striking. Wineland sticks a left jab in Faber’s face,
and Faber socks him with a hard uppercut. More punches follow, then
a takedown from the “California Kid” with 70 seconds on the clock.
Faber lifts Wineland and slams him down again. Wineland throwing
his legs up again and trying to avoid the elbows of Faber, but he
can’t scoot free before the fight ends.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Faber (29-28 Faber)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Faber (30-28 Faber)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Faber (30-28 Faber)
Official scores: All three judges see it 29-28, giving Urijah Faber the win in his UFC debut.
Round 1
Referee Herb Dean is the referee for tonight’s light heavyweight
championship bout. Should it go the distance, the judges at
cageside are Douglas Crosby, Cardo Urso and Dave Tirelli. The
challenger opens the bout with a leaping knee, then a spinning
back-kick that misses. The men clinch and Jones scores a trip
takedown with ease against the base of the cage. Rua stuffs Jones
back to open guard and looks to isolate the arms from the bottom.
Jones spins to Shogun’s right and tries to pass half-guard while
looking at a guillotine. Rua puts him back in full guard and Jones
mashes with elbows from the top as he tries again to pass. Rua
scoots free and stands, but eats a barrage of knees and punches on
the way up. The champ is dazed against the cage as Jones backs up
to give him space. Rua looks absolutely spent coming forward with
90 seconds still to go in the opening round. Jones corks Rua with
more long punches, then a kick to the knee. Shogun scores with a
one-two of his own and takes Jones’ back staning, but Jones
reverses and finishes the round in Rua’s guard.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Jones
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Jones
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Jones
Round 2
Jones whips a leg kick at Rua, then backs him up with a teep. They
tie up and Jones blasts him with a spinning elbow as they split.
Jones going high and low with his kicks, playing matador to the
tired-looking Rua. Now Shogun connects with a combination, but
Jones instantly ties up. Jones sticks a hand in Shogun’s face to
show the distance and backs up when the champion comes forward.
Superman punches, elbows and more low kicks from Jones. Shogun
throws a leg kick of his own and gets tripped down, winding up with
Jones postured up in his guard. Jones smothers Rua and then drives
an elbow into his face. Jones cracks Rua with more elbows, then
lays his forearm across the Brazilian’s throat. The right side of
Rua’s face looks battered and swollen as the last minute of the
second frame ticks down. Herb Dean warns Jones not to elbow Rua’s
neck. That’s where the round ends.
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-8 Jones
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Jones
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Jones
Round 3
Jones plants a one-two on Rua and misses with a head kick. Rua
takes the opportunity to duck inside, then dives for a leg lock.
Jones will have none of it and flattens Rua out, then works on
advancing past half-guard. Rua breathing heavy on the bottom as
Jones opens up with heavy punches and elbows. A series of elbows
causes Shogun to cover up. Jones tries to finish but Rua turtles.
Jones drives a nasty knee into the body. Rua stands and wobbles
backward into the cage. Jones stalks him, finds his opening and
drills him with a brutal left hook to the body. Another knee lands
on the way down and Herb Dean rescues Rua at 2:37 of the third
round, making 23-year-old Jon Jones the youngest champion in UFC
history.