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Apologies that this recap is a little late tonight - I was at an annual Christmas party that to be perfectly honest I didn't want to skip just for UFC. Nevertheless I realize this is a significant card because there are two name fights and two TUF Smashes finals here, so we're certainly not going to overlook it or skip over it. You can hit F5 or refresh as often as you like while the recap is in progress.

* Hector Lombard vs. Rousimar Palhares (Middleweight Bout)

Tale of the Tape: 34 to 32, 5'9" to 5'8", 186 each, 71" reach each from Lombard to Palhares. It's Cuba vs. Brazil in our opening fight of the night on FX! Our ring announcer is long time WEC veteran Joe Martinez. (SO GOOD to hear Joe announcing the fights, and the crowd in Australia is eating it up.) Palhares is in the white trunks, 23-4, hailing from Rio de Janeiro. Lombard is in the black trunks, 31-3, 1 NC, now fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida. Our referee in charge of this fight is Marc Goddard. Here we go!

Lombard comes out aggressively throwing kicks, forcing Palhares to back up and find his range. Palhares responds with a good leg kick 40 seconds in. Kenny Florian reminds us that all Palhares wants is to grab a leg and take it home with him. Lombard is steadily approaching, pawing away with his right hand to feel the distance. Palhares goes down at 3:25 left but I think it was more of a slip than a knockdown. Now Palhares is starting to throw out a right hook. Lombard answers in kind and Palhares backs away. 2:40. PALHARES IS HURT AT 2:29. Lombard jumps on top and gets tied up in guard, and Goddard wastes no time threatening to stand them up. Palhares is bleeding over his left eye. Lombard backs out and lets Palhares stand back up at 1:52. Now Lombard is feeling it, and he's wailing away. PALHARES DROPS AGAIN AT 1:27 AND MOMENTS LATER THIS FIGHT IS +OVER+. That's the fighter we EXPECTED to see at UFC 149 and didn't get. You can see the lefts and rights just cracking away at Palhares on replay before commercial.

Let's go to Joe Martinez to make it official. 3:38, ROUND NUMBER ONE, MARC GODDARD CALLS A HALT TO THE BOUT, THE WINNER BY TKO HECTOR 'LIGHTNING' LOMBARD. Lombard: "Aussie Aussie Aussie!" Crowd: "Oy! Oy! Oy!" Lombard dedicates his first UFC win to the enthusiastic fans. Anik talks about the fight. Lombard: "I'd like to do that to Bisping! Bisping, stop talking! My first fight was here in this city. Getting my first win in the UFC, it means a lot." Lombard is ALL SMILES as Anik wraps up the interview and we go to break.

* Colin Fletcher vs. Norman Parke (TUF Smashes Lightweight Final)

29 to 25, 6'2" to 5'11", 155 pounds each, 78" to 70" reach from Fletcher to Parke. Jesus, 6'2" and 155 pounds? No wonder they call Fletcher 'The Freak Show.' Makes me wish they had shown TUF Smashes in the States so I could've seen how good he is. Tme to find out which man gets a 6 figure contract. Parke is 17-2 in the blue trunks and fighting out of Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. Fletcher is in the red trunks, he's 9-1, and he hails from Sunderland, England. Our referee in charge is John Sharp. Here we go!

Parke goes for a clinch right away and Fletcher uses his long arms to push him off, but Parke drives him into the fence. Parke gets him to the ground at 4:07 left but it's only for a split second. Parke still has him tied up in the fence and finally gets an outside leg trip to the ground at 3:39 and is working from half guard. Fletcher is trying to get his back to the fence to wall walk. Anik reminds us these 2 have 20 submissions between them. Parke is trying to get a kimura. Fletcher tries to sneak a leg up around his head. Smart crowd as they are popping for the submission attempts. 1:55 left in R1. Parke is starting to smash Fletcher with elbows, no pun on TUF intended. Parke is in side control at 1:20 then winds up in North-South at 1:06. He's back to side control with 45 seconds and trying to crucifix his opponent but he lets Fletcher up when he goes for his back, giving Fletcher side control with 30 seconds to go. That's where R1 ends.

No commercial between rounds - we stay in the Octagon the whole time. Fletcher is starting to spin around and mix up his strikes. Parke ties him up and puts him in the fence again. Takedown at 4:09 via body lock. Parke rides Fletcher everywhere that he goes. He has a one-arm guillotine as we pass the 2 minute mark but lets it go. Moments later he's got the full mount and Fletcher slowly but surely gives up his back. He goes for a rear naked choke at 2:12 and loses it as Fletcher gets back up. Fletcher is trying to use his height advantage for leg kicks but Parke is closing the distance and landing strong combos. Parke gets another takedown before the horn to seal the deal - I've got him up 20-18 so far.

Both fighters exchange a hug to open up our third and final round. Anik is surprised that Fletcher isn't showing the skills he did on TUF Smashes, and Florian says he needs to fight like the big man that he is. I'd say he's been competitive in the fight, but Parke's hands just seem to be a little quicker and he's unable to stuff Parke's takedown attempts. Fletcher may feel the pressure of being down 2-0 because he's trying to pick up the pace with his kicks. Fletcher winces on a body shot with 2:06 left. His face is wearing the war of this fight but he's still in it as he's kicking and jabbing and landing a lot of combos. Now would be a good time for him to sellout and go for a KO. He lands a spinning back elbow. Flashy, but go for damage. Parke takes him down at 0:38, he gets up, Parke takes him down again at 0:31 and looks content to hang on. Fletcher gets up, Parke keeps his back, then presses him into the fence until the final horn and a few late air strikes that don't hit.

Joe Martinez: 30-27 X2 AND 29-28 FOR YOUR WINNER OF THE TUF SMASHES LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: STORMIN' NORMAN PARKE. Definitely the right man based on his performance. He says thank you to Colin Fletcher, calls him "a true gentlemen of the sport" and says he adores him. "This has been the best experience of my life, apart from meetin' my fiance I better say that right there." That gets a healthy chuckle from the crowd. "Everyone from Northern Island back home, I told you I'd put you on the map. Aussie Aussie Aussie!" Crowd: "Oy oy oy!" This is my first taste of Norman Parke, but I like the kid, and I hope he has a good future now that he's officially on the UFC roster.

* Robert Whittaker vs. Bradley Scott (TUF Smashes Welterweight Final)

21 to 23, 6'0" to 6'1", 170 to 171 and 71" to 72" reach from Whittaker to Scott. Joe Martinez is our man on point again for the introductions, as Jon Anik reminds us Whittaker is the last Australian standing. Scott is wearing blue trunks, 9-1, and he's from Melksham, England. He pumps his fists in the air as the crowd gives him a hearty boo. Whittaker is in the green trunks, he's 10-2, and he's fighting out of Sydney, Australia. Steve Perceval will ref. I'm not exactly thrilled to see him in an Octagon again, but either way, HERE WE GO.

Scott pushes Whittaker into the fence and tries to change levels for a takedown as we pass the first minute. Not surprisingly Perceval starts calling for more work - that's his M.O. The two break apart of their own accord at 3:10 and Whittaker tries to hit a home run with his left hook. Scott is keeping him at bay with a jab and a left hook so Whittaker goes for a leg kick, Scott ties him up and we're in the fence again at 2 minutes left. They break apart quicker this time, WHITTAKER COMES FORWARD WITH A FLURRY AND SCOTT DROPS TO THE CANVAS. Scott pops back up at 1:25 but he definitely got caught and was in danger for a moment. Whittaker kicks him right in the neck but Scott's looking for another takedown and pushes through it. 40 seconds. They break apart at 33 seconds and for God knows what reason Perceval tells them to KEEP WORKING after they chose to on their own. "10 seconds gentlemen!" As if they can't hear the clapper? SHUT, UP, PERCEVAL. R1 is now in the books.

Whittaker pops Scott with a solid right hand 52 seconds into the second. LOW BLOW ON AN INSIDE LEG KICK AT 3:45 LEFT. Perceval tells Whittaker it's an accident and he's not going to deduct a point for it. Scott recovers quickly and we're back to action. Whittaker has really nice combos - I enjoy how he uses the leg kicks to set up multiple head strikes. Scott has had enough and takes him to the ground at 3:02 left. Scott is all over his back and methodically working toward a submission, but as usual PERCEVAL IS CALLING FOR WORK - WHAT A MAROON. How do you tell a guy trying to get a rear naked choke that he needs to WORK? WHY DO THEY LET PERCEVAL REFEREE FIGHTS? HE IS BLOODY ARSE HORRIBLE! With 90 seconds to go Scott is doing his best to soften him up. Anik calls Scott a "Forrest Griffin stunt double." Well, kinda, but much smaller. Whittaker escapes as we enter the last minute. Florian says it has been a very close fight so far, and I'd agree, but I'm going to give R1 to Whittaker and R2 to Scott.

Time for our third and final stanza. I admit I'd get a kick out of Whittaker winning the third round and the fight because I think this crowd would go bonkers for it. He's doing a good job so far as he lands a big group of punches at the 40 second mark - Florian calls it a BLITZ. Scott ties him up at 3:52 but Whittaker slips and circles away, which gets the Aussie fans to cheer. Whittaker tags him with a right at 3:27. He's using his right elbow like a punch and throws a left hook as a counter when he backs away. His lip appears to have been bloodied in one of the exchanges. Whittaker pops him with a nice jab. 2:30 left. Whittaker with another big left at 2. Anik reminds us that if it's a draw in the third we can go to Sudden Victory in a bonus round. (Thank you Ian McCall and Mighty Mouse.) 1:15 left. We haven't seen a "significant strikes" stat but I'd think Whittaker was ahead, especially as he turns it up going into the last minute. He's opened Scott up with an elbow and he's landing uppercuts, kicks and hooks now with impunity. Scott won't quit but he's getting battered as both men go toe to toe to the horn. DAMN GOOD FIGHT.

Joe Martinez will make it official. ALL THREE JUDGES AGREE 29-28 FOR THE WINNER OF THE SMASHES WELTERWEIGHT FINAL, FROM SYDNEY AUSTRALIA, ROBERT WHITTAKER! The Aussie has pulled it off and the crowd is ecstatic. "The contract's a bonus but the real prize is defending my country and making everyone proud. I just wanted to seal that third round and make sure they knew who won it." That you did Whittaker, well done!

* George Sotiropolous vs. Ross Pearson (TUF Smashes Lightweight Coaches Bout)

35 to 28, 5'10" to 5'8", 155 each, 71" to 69" from Sotiropolous to Pearson. Martinez once again welcomes us to the sold out Gold Coast Convention Center in Queensland. Mark Collett, Anthony Dimitriou and Howard Hughes are our judges, and Marc Goddard is our referee. "Australia, make some noise, if YOU, ARE, READY." Pearson is in the white trunks, fighting out of San Diego by way of Sunderland, England with a 15-6 record. Sotiropolous is in the blue trunks, 14-4, and he's fighting out of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. HERE WE GO.

No one has gained a big advantage in the first minute of the fight. PEARSON LANDS A BIG RIGHT HAND EARLY IN THE SECOND MINUTE. Sotiropolous is reeling and looking for a takedown to survive. Anik says Rashad Evans calls it "drunk driving" when you get hit that hard. Pearson is still head hunting and throwing head kicks. Sotiropolous seems to have his wits about him again as we hit the halfway point. Sotiropolous goes down on a leg kick but he's back up at 2:08. Sotiropolous may have gotten caught in the eye as he's covering up like he can't see for a bit, then he NAILS a jab into Pearson's face. He's not out of this by a long shot. Sot goes for a double leg and gets Pearson down at 49 seconds, then takes his back with under 40 to go. The crowd gets electric as he tries to sink in a rear naked choke but he runs out of time and is in side control on the ground at the horn.

R1 is very tough to call - it may be a matter of who more of that 5 minutes, which would favor Pearson, but both guys came close to getting a finish. Sot is letting Pearson come forward and tagging him when he does. Anik has noticed the gameplan too. 2:20 to go. One wonders why Pearson doesn't try to mix it up with some leg kicks or a takedown to keep Sot guessing. Sot his about 6 or 7 sots in a row but A LEFT HOOK FROM PEARSON KNOCKS HIM DOWN AGAIN though he gets up quickly this time. Pearson slips on a leg kicks and Sot presses him into the fence looking for a takedown then backs away before the horn. One wonders if that knockdown will sway judges, but I think Sot won R2.

PEARSON ROCKS SOT EARLY IN R3. Sot recovers and is on his feet again at 30 seconds but HE GETS DROPPED WITH ANOTHER LEFT HOOK AND GODDARD DECIDES THAT'S ONE KNOCKDOWN TOO MANY - THIS FIGHT IS OVER. The official time of the stoppage is after the break so I'll fast forward to that announcement... and here is Joe Martinez. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE END COMES AT 0:41 OF R3, MARC GODDARD PUTS A HALT TO THIS BOUT FOR THE WINNER BY TKO VICTORY, ROSS 'THE REAL DEAL' PEARSON. So much for my prediction Sotiropolous would come through in his home country. Pearson thanks all his coaches and his training partners in San Diego. "I thought about it, picked me shots, and made him miss." His team awards him a blue belt, which Anik says looks nice around his neck. Sot admits Pearson got the better of him in the 3rd in a very brief post-fight interview. That's it for UFC on FX!