UFC 128 Results & Live Play-by-Play (7:05 p.m. ET)

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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.