PRELIMS
LIGHTWEIGHT: (tDW) Jim Miller versus (BtA) versus “The Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard
RESULT: Jim Miller via Guillotine 0:46 into Round 1.
FEATHERWEIGHT: (tDW) “The Machine” Mark Hominick versus Alexandre “Pequeno” Franca Nogueira
RESULT: Alexandre Nogueira vis Armbar 2:12 into Round 1.
WELTERWEIGHT: (BtA) Karo “The Heat” Parisyan versus Jonathan Goulet
RESULT: Karo Parisyan via Unanimous Decision.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: (tDW) Brandon “The Truth” Vera versus (BtA) “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane
RESULT: Brandon Vera via Unanimous Decision
UCL 2: Team Deathwind vs. BattleArts
FEATHERWEIGHT: (tDW) “The California Kid” Urijah Faber versus (BtA) Mike Thomas Brown
Round 1: After circling around, Faber scores the takedown and smothers Brown by lying on top of him. Faber gets past Brown’s guard with relative ease and enters side control. Brown fights off an Americana attempt and tries to sweep Faber, who has resorted to hard knees to the rib of Brown. Faber tries to go into the mount, but Brown rolls through and gives away his back. Faber peppers Brown with elbows, forcing the referee to jump in and save Brown from taking any more damage.
RESULT: Winner, by TKO 3:51 into the First Round, URIJAH FABER!
(Faber scores 5 points for himself and Team Deathwind!)
In the post-fight interview, Urijah Faber says he is a dangerous fighter and that he could potentially dominate the Featherweight Division.
WELTERWEIGHT: (tDW) Nick Diaz versus (BtA) Thiago “Pitbull” Alves
Round 1: The fighters trade blows to begin the round until Alves pulls Diaz into the grapple and pushes him against the cage. Alves smothers Diaz, keeping firm control, with Diaz doing little to fight back. He soon tries to escape, but Alves is not letting him work, but Alves isn’t doing much either. Some dirty boxing is traded, leading to Diaz turning Alves against the cage. The crowd and the referee get sick of the lack of action and the two are separated. Alves went in for another grapple, but Diaz keeps him at bay with a jab. Time expires on the round just as Diaz hits a big jab that looked like it hurt Alves.
ANALYSIS: Alves dominated until the last minute, so he wins this round, but I’d say the last punch from Diaz has been the most telling thing about round one.
Round 2: Diaz dodges a punch from Alves and hits one of his own, another effective one at that. Alves tries to grapple, but Diaz backs off and hits a punch combination. Alves swings widely, but Diaz easily gets out of the way and lands a sound jab. Alves finally dodges Diaz’s boxing and hits a strong punch of his own, and Diaz answers with a series of smaller strikes. Diaz keeps sidestepping and punching, continuing to successfully avoid wrestling with Alves. The round ends on the two fighters throwing little shots.
ANALYSIS: Diaz’s round, no question. He is avoiding Alves’ grapple attempts and is scoring points with his fists.
Round 3: Alves comes out of his corner and lands some punches; none too damaging though. Diaz is on the prowl, waiting for an opening, which comes when Alves throws a knockout punch allowing Diaz to score with more strikes. Diaz comes in, waiting for Alves to make a move. Alves launches a bomb of a right hand, and Diaz is caught! Diaz is out cold!
RESULT: Winner, by Knockout 1:11 into the Third Round, THIAGO ALVES!
(Alves scores 5 points for himself and BattleArts!)
Rogan mentions in the post-fight interview that Alves was being out struck by Diaz, but Alves said it didn’t matter, he ended the fight and that is all there is to it. Diaz underestimated his punching power and he paid for it.
MIDDLEWEIGHT: (tDW) Jake Shields versus (BtA) Demian Maia
Round 1: Shields sends a few quick punches Maia’s way to set up the takedown and Maia goes down easily. Shields advances his position and Maia gets his legs up for the triangle! Shields is in danger but he pulls his arm out before Maia to lock it in. Shields tries once again to pass guard into side control, but once again is nearly ensnared in the triangle. Shields defends against the triangle and ends up in half guard. The round ends on Shields struggling to get out of half guard.
ANALYSIS: Shields was doing more, but those two triangle attempts were dangerously close.
Round 2: The begin this round with an exchange of punches, ending in Maia going for a vicious uppercut that only narrowly misses. Shields steps back and Maia throws another punch, but Shields shoots in and takes Maia down. They spend a while in stalemate, neither man letting up, but when the referee threatens to stand them up Maia attempts a guillotine choke. Shields defends against the submission, but is caught off guard by Maia, who uses the hold to sweep into side control. Maia scores a few punches, but Shields forcefully sweeps Maia, which results in both fighters scrambling to their feet. The round ends as both men tease unleashing their fists on each other.
ANALYSIS: That round could have gone either way. Shields looks technical, while Maia looks wild.
Round 3: Half the round passes with only one punch thrown by Maia, but it doesn’t connect. Shields has been looking tentative, staying out of Maia’s way and letting him circle. They eventually clash and trade an equal amount of punches. Maia bobs and weaves and scores a shot to the ribs of Shields. Shields keeps backing away, happy to let the clock run out.
ANALYSIS: Got the sense that Shields wanted the fight to end. He must be pretty confident about the first two rounds.
RESULT: Winner, by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27), JAKE SHIELDS!
(Shields scores 4 points for himself and Team Deathwind!)
(Maia scores 1 point for himself and BattleArts!)
HEAVYWEIGHT: (tDW) Brett “The Grim” Rogers versus (BtA) Frank Mir
Round 1: Rogers goes straight into the grapple and punches Mir in the side of the head while he holds him. Rogers pushes Mir into the cage and uses some dirty boxing to punish Mir. Rogers scores with two knees to the ribs of Frank Mir. Mir grapples back and pulls Rogers in tighter, stopping him from launching any more knees and eventually reverses it. The referee separates them and Mir throws a body kick, which Rogers dodges and scores with a crisp jab. Rogers scores one more punch before grappling Mir and pushing him back to the cage as the round comes to a close.
ANALYSIS: Mir was doing little to defend, and he didn’t hit a clean strike. That round was all Rogers.
Round 2: Mir scores a takedown a few seconds into the round and passes the guard into side control with relative ease. Mir hits some knees to the ribs and then attempts to apply in a kimura. Mir gets it locked in! Rogers taps!
RESULT: Winner, by Submission 1:36 into the Second Round, FRANK MIR!
(Mir scores 5 points for himself and BattleArts!)
In the post-fight, Mir reflects on what he was doing before UCL came about and said that he is in the best shape of his career. He says he can’t wait for his long awaited third fight with Brock Lesnar!
LIGHTWEIGHT: (tDW) Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez versus (BtA) “The Answer” Frankie Edgar
Round 1: Edgar swings and Sanchez lets him before scoring some shots of his own and taking down The Answer. Sanchez holds Edgar in place and ends up in half guard. From half guard he makes it to mount without any obstacles. Sanchez unloads on Edgar, who can do little to defend. The ref swoops in and pulls Sanchez off of Edgar.
RESULT: Winner, by TKO 3:03 into the First Round, DIEGO SANCHEZ!
(Sanchez scores 5 points for himself and Team Deathwind!)
In the post-fight Sanchez says he was denied by BJ Penn, but this time things will be different. It seems people are talking about the Lightweight division in the context of “Who is better? Penn or Aoki?” well, the answer is Diego Sanchez.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: (tDW) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua versus (BtA) “Sugar” Rashad Evans
Round 1: Takedown right off the bat followed up by some elbows by Evans, but Shogun deals with them well. Shogun pulls Rashad in close, but he answers by firing more elbows. Rashad forces some punches through, but constantly has to defend against being taken in the double underhooks. As we get to the half-way point, Rashad passes into side control and knees Shogun. Rashad fires some big punches too, but most of them are caught on the gloves. Shogun attempts to sweep, but Rashad keeps him in place. Rashad sprinkles some soft punches to score points at the end of the round.
ANALYSIS: Evans wins that round, but he hasn’t caused much damage to Shogun.
Round 2: Two punches catch Evans off guard, but he manages to catch Shogun’s body kick and take him down. Evans scores more punches, but Shogun can handle most of them, but they are just moves to set up the pass into side control. After a few venomless strikes Rashad nails a knee from side control to the hip of Shogun. The knees keep coming, wearing down Shogun. Rashad moves to the mount with ease and begins to rain down with punches! Shogun can do little to defend! The ref stops this fight!
RESULT: Winner, by TKO 4:43 into the Second Round, RASHAD EVANS!
(Evans score 5 points for himself and BattleArts!)
In the post-fight, Rashad says the Light Heavyweight division is easily the most packed, but Rashad is on the top of it. He is looking forward to fighting the likes of Rampage Jackson and his rematch with Lyoto Machida.
HONOURS
Fight of the Night: Faber/Brown
Sub of the Night: Frank Mir
Knockout of the Night: Thiago Alves
