| Date: 02/07 | 8:00 PM |
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* Anthony Johnson v. Luigi Fioravanti (Welterweight Bout)
Johnson is looking for his fourth victory in the Octagon and he says in this fight he'll score a knockout. Fioravanti says he's much toughter than anybody else Johnson has faced. Fioravanti has a 13-4 record to back that up. Goldberg says if he defeats Johnson he'll be one step closer to the top of the division and he'll be a title contender. Johnson says if Fioravanti wants to test out his fists on his face, it'll be his pleasure. Commercial.
Tale of the tape Fioravanti to Johnson - 28 to 24, 5'8" to 6'2", 171 each, 70" reach to 78" reach. Wow - Johnson is taller and lankier - that could be a hard difference to overcome, OR Johnson could be fighting well outside of his weight class and Fioravanti could be packing a lot more muscle and power at his height. We'll see how it plays out. Johnson is in the blue corner for this fight and is 6-2 overall. His home fighting town is San Jose, California and his nickname is 'Rumble'. Fioravanti is 13-4 and fights out of Coconut Creek, Florida - making him the hometown favorite of sorts in the red corner. The ref in charge is Troy Waugh. Here we go!
Both men feel each other out for the first round, although Johnson seems to be more aggressive coming forward with an inside leg kick. Fioravanti tries to get close for a punch and Johnson uses those legs to keep him at a distance. Goldberg notes this will be a problem if Fioravanti won't be able to get in range and strike. He definitely needs to find an angle and connect from it. Crowd seems to be getting a little impatient with the feeling out process, but they pop when Johnson fires a headkick and another inside leg kick. Fioravanti nearly clocks him with an overhand right. Round one is halfway done. Rogan notes that Johnson can really use his reach advantage to fire a kick and a followup punch right away. Johnson tries a heel strike, Fioravanti catches the leg and nearly catches him. Fioravanti shoots for a single leg and Johnson stuffs it, and we end up against the cage with 90 seconds left in R1. Fioravanti hits an unintentional knee to the groin that looks fairly intentional on the replay and the ref calls time. Johnson recovers quickly and the two touch gloves and go back to the standup. UFC turned off the fight clock but when Fioravanti gets hit with a big right Goldberg says we have about 30 seconds left. Fioravanti can't recover, keeps trying to back away, wobbling the whole time, and Johnson gets him down to the ground and pounds on him 'til the ref stops it. JOHNSON WINS BY TKO. We'll get the official time in a moment.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN REFEREE TROY WAUGH STOPS THIS CONTEST AT 4:39 OF THE VERY FIRST ROUND DECLARING THE WINNER BY TKO ANTHONY 'RUMBLE' JOHNSON. Johnson says he's happy to get a win but he could have done so much better and he's got a lot of improving to do. He says despite being sloppy he hopes he put on a good show for the fans. Rogan says he set everything up nicely with the kicks. Johnson gives a shoutout to his grandma (in attendance) and grandpa (passed away), his sponsors Tapout, and everybody else on his team.
* Mac Danzig v. Josh Neer (Lightweight Bout)
If you don't know Mac 'I Love Hummingbirds' Danzig and Josh 'The Dentist' Neer by now you probably haven't been following UFC. They take a commercial after the interviews so it's already 8:32 before we come back for the tale of the tape. Danzig to Neer goes 29 to 25, 5'8" to 5'11", 154.6 to 156 in weight, and 70" to 72" in reach. Buffer introduces both men. First in the blue corner is Neer with a 24-7-1 record, fighting out of Des Moines, Iowa. Danzig is in the red corner with a 19-5-1, and fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Our referee in charge of the fight is Jorge Alonso. Here we go!
Neer is in the black trunks for this fight and Danzig is in the white. Neer catches Danzig with a bunch of solid headshots right at the start of the fight, backs him into the fence, but Danzig is able to recover and survive in the clinch. Neer keeps loading up the right, spinning his arm around waiting to fire it, but Danzig is being much more wary and cautious of coming in close. Danzig is now jabbing with the left and finding his range, and the first 90 seconds of this fight have been a hell of a slugfest by both men. Goldberg puts over how tough Neer's chin is and says he fought approximately 100 amateur fights in Iowa with only 1 loss. (If true that's pretty amazing.) Danzig pushes Neer up into the fence at the halfway point and you can see some huge red bruises and a cut on Danzig's back. Neer has a cut on his face too. Danzig is now keeping Neer at range with leg kicks. The cut over Neer's left eyebrow is almost exactly where Danzig tags him with a punch that knocks him down with 90 seconds to go. Danzig jumps into guard and Neer looks for a triangle. He's not able to lock it up and Danzig gets free, but when they scramble to their feet Danzig takes a serious amount of punishment. Neer starts mocking him for backing away! Danzig mocks him right back in return! Danzig survives round one but is in some ways lucky to do so - one HELL of a first round all around.
We see a replay of the triangle which was nearly turned into an armbar as Danzig was trying to escape. Neer is coming straight ahead with punches as R2 gets underway, and Rogan notes that Neer is showing no fear at all. Danzig goes to the ground, Neer jumps on top and starts throwing HUGE elbows at his head. Neer stands up momentarily like he's going to throw one down the pipe, then goes back to the elbows again, then moves to side control, then Danzig rolls back to guard, then Danzig gives his back up and Neer jumps on top. Neer is so high up he starts to slide off, and Danzig manages to use this to reverse Neer and get on top. Danzig wants to pass but Neer manages to keep him in full guard. Rogan compliments Neer's excellent ground defense, saying it was far better than Danzig's, which if you've seen both men fight before is the opposite of what you'd expect. Two minutes left. Neer goes for the triangle again and this time he's got it cinched up tight. IT IS ALL OVER - JOSH 'THE DENTIST' NEER GETS DANZIG TO TAP. We'll get the official time momentarily.
First a fight replay sponsored by Street Fighter IV, we see how tight the triangle was locked in, and now here's Bruce Buffer. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN REFEREE JORGE ALONSO STOPS THIS FIGHT AT 3:36 OF R2 DUE TO TAPOUT VIA A TRIANGLE CHOKE FOR THE WINNER: JOSH 'THE DENTIST' NEER. Some cheers and a lot of boos, similar to the finish of the fight. Neer says "I don't care what you guys think about me. Love me or hate me it don't matter to me. I felt like I got headbutted in the first round, I'm mad the ref didn't call it, and that's why my eye got split open. I was never hurt, I felt the cut happen, and I was worried they were going to stop it. I came to this fight ready to die - I wasn't going to leave without a win." Rogan asks about the triangle. "I called the referee, I knew it was over." Rogan compliments him on a tremendous performance and the crowd has another mixed reaction as he leaves the cage the victor.
They're padding for time now by previewing upcoming UFC cards and interviewing people at cageside (Boyle somebody or other). Who gives a shit - show me some more fights! Something from the undercard at least, damn!
* Cain Velasquez v. Denis Stojnic (Heavyweight Bout)
Velasquez is considered the next big thing in the heavyweight division (no pun on Lesnar) but Stojnic says he's very hungry and he wants to be the champion in the future. Velasquez says he knows he has to win impressively, not by decision, and even says he needs to PROVE he's quote unquote "the next big thing." Well that's fine then - if Velasquez says it himself Lesnar can't complain. Stojnic promises that he'll show the fans what he can do in the Octagon, but Velasquez is rolling strong being 4-0 in four fights and having beaten the likes of Jake O'Brien in the process. Commercial.
Tale of the tape from Cain to Denis. 26 to 29, 6'1" to 5'11", 239 to 246 in weight, and 77" to 74" in reach. Basically Cain is younger and longer but Stojnic is more stout. Speaking of Stojnic he's in the blue corner, 12-1, and fights out of Amsterdam. His nickname is 'The Menace'. Ugh that's terrible. Cain is in the red corner and fights out of San Jose, California. Thankfully he has no nickname. Our referee in charge is Jorge Ortiz. Here we go!
The more I look at Stojnic, the more pudgy his midesction seems to be, but I suspect that like Roy 'Big Country' Nelson and 'Big' Ben Rothwell it's very deceptive in terms of his speed and power. Cain and Denis both swing hard for the first minute, then Cain puts the big European up against the fence and fires knees at his legs. They break apart and Cain fires off a big headkick that connects. Cain gets a muay thai clinch and starts punishing Stojnic with it. Stojnic manages to break free to save himself but he's having to turtle up again at the two minute mark to avoid another clinch worth of knees and head strikes. Velasquez is punishing Stojnic at every opportunity, whereas Stojnic is just swinging wildly hoping to rock him. Stojnic seems like the kind of guy who was dangerous fighting scrubs but is outclassed fighting at the top level of guys in the UFC. He's being outstruck, he's being controlled on the fence, he's being rocked in the clinch, and he looks like he may be gassing out already (I wonder how many of those 12 wins were quick knockouts). Stojnic is getting rocked hard as we pass the 4 minute mark. He'll be lucky to survive to round two. Rogan notes that Stojnic is very one-dimensional and I'd have to agree. Meanwhile Velasquez is beating him up from every angle and looking for possible takedowns to boot. Stojnic survives but definitely loses R1.
I'm willing to bet at least one judge gave Velasquez a 10-8, although by normal judging standards most would have called that 10-9. Cain comes out right away to punish the body with kicks and follows up with a big right that sends Stojnic staggering back into the cage. Stojnic starts swinging wildly again and this time Velasquez takes him to the ground with ease. The ref warns Stojnic about grabbing the fence. Velasquez schoolboys him and pummels him with elbows. Stojnic gives up his back and the ref warns him to work as he is getting punished. Stojnic keeps rolling and Velasquez punishes him anywhere he goes. The ref keeps saying over and over again "You gotta work Denis!" He's showing almost no defense and is turtling up to avoid more punishment. The crowd boos because Stojnic sems okay when he's stood up, but THIS FIGHT IS OVER because Stojnic got stopped for not intelligently defending himself. We'll get the official result momentarily.
Bruce Buffer: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ORTIZ STOPS THIS FIGHT AT 2:34 OF R2 DECLARING THE WINNER BY TKO: CAIN VELASQUEZ. Here's Joe Rogan for the interview. Velasquez: "I have to come in here and do my job. I could have finished him a lot better though, I need more ring time. I'd like to thank team AKA, my whole family, my girlfriend we're going to have a baby soon. I love you Michelle! Whatever the UFC gives me, I have to go back to the gym and train hard. Next time you'll see a lot better showing." Rogan congratulates him and Goldberg notes that despite winning performances a lot of these fighters are being hard on themselves. Commercial.
* Matt Grice v. Matt Veach (Lightweight Bout)
This has to be bonus because we get no introduction - we go straight to the fight after commercial without even a tale of the tape. Grice is in the red trunks, Veach is in the light blue. Veach is all over him from the start of the fight. We're told he took this fight on short notice but that he trains with Matt Hughes and Robbie Lawler. Veach has Grice down on the ground but he manages to get back to his feet at the one minute mark. Veach hits him head with head shots as he breaks away, but Grice nearly manages to get the anaconda choke before Veach slips away. 3:20 to go. Veach tries to clinch but Grice catches him with an uppercut and starts pouring on punishment when it goes to the ground. The ref warns about the back of the head but then says "you're good." Grice tees off on him over and over, Veach rolls and almost gets up, but he's still in bad shape and is basically holding Grice on top of him to prevent more damage. 2:15 left. Grice is looking for a full mount or a switch to side control. He goes for a guillotine and ends up on the ground with Veach on top trying to improve position. Amazing fight. Both men are up to their feet with 1:10 left. Grice hits a nice uppercut and left hook combo but Veach survives it this time. Both men start swinging for the fences, Veach gets the better of it and knocks Grice down, the fight is stopped and IT IS ALL OVER. Grice is protesting the stoppage almost IMMEDIATELY. Even Joe Rogan thinks it was premature. Official decision after commercial.
Bruce Buffer. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN REFEREE TROY WAUGH STOPS THE FIGHT AT 4:34 OF THE FIRST ROUND FOR THE WINNER BY TKO: MATT VEACH. He wins in his first UFC fight. Rogan congratulates him on an exciting fight, but I'm going to skip the interview to be honest. If this is just his fight UFC fight he'll have plenty of time for more interviews down the road.
* Joe Lauzon v. Jeremy Stephens (Lightweight Bout)
Lauzon to Stephens on the tale of the tape - 24 to 22, 5'10" to 5'9", 156 each, 70" reach to 71". It's time for the main event of the evening and Bruce Buffer is excited about it. The fight is sanctioned, the doctors and ringside officials are ready, and the USF Sundome in Tampa, Florida is pumped up to see it. IT'SSSSS TIIIIIIME! In the blue corner, a freestyle fighter with a record of 16-3, fighting out of Des Moines, Jeremy 'Lil Heathen' Stephens. Ugh, another awful nickname. Lauzon is 16-4 and fights out of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Joe 'J-Lo' Lauzon may be even worse. Our referee in charge is Troy Waugh. Here we go!
The two touch gloves and come out ready to rock. Stephens in the black trunks is trying to throw bombs right away. Lauzon goes to the ground and is looking for BJJ positions, but gets a warning for holding on to the trunks. Rogan and Goldberg both note that Joe-Lo (I prefer that to J-Lo, ugh) was on a hot streak until he ran into Ken Florian. Both men get back to their feet at the one minute mark. Joe drops down for a leg lock at 3:18 but can't get it. Joe with a takedown instead right before the 3 minute mark. Stephens pulls guard and Joe-Lo keeps on grinding away with Stephens' head pushed up into the fence. Lauzon hits some big elbows, Stehens momentarily gives up his back, then Joe-Lo ends up taking full mount. Roll to an armbar. Lauzon gives it up since he doesn't have a deep hook in, and Stephens is for the moment on top. Stephens fires some big shots and Lauzon manages to block enough of them to stay in the fight. 30 seconds to go. Lauzon goes for a guillotine, Stephens hits a body slam, and those are the last big moves before the horn ends R1.
No commercial between rounds this time, just chit-chat in the corners. Lauzon comes forward and Stephens fends off with some big wild punches, but Lauzon drops down levels for the takedown and Rogan puts over a fireman's carry as "old school pro wrestling style." Lauzon works away from the top, getting one elbow to the chin right at the 4 minute mark. Rogan puts Lauzon over as wild and unpredictable. Lauzon takes side control at the 3 minute mark, moves to North-South momentarily, gets to the other side, then finally gets the full mount so he can rain down damage. Stephens gives up his back and Lauzon starts to sink in the hooks. Goldberg notes he's going for a body lock and that he's very patient. Lauzon loses position and Stephens gets on top, but Lauzon isn't letting him do much with it. 1:05 left and Stephens is on top with Joe bleeding but Joe reverses and takes top again. Joe looks to mount again, moves to side, gets the full and goes for the armbar LIGHTNING QUICK AND GETS THE TAP. An outstanding impressive performance by Joe! We'll get the official time momentarily.
Buffer: TROY WAUGH CALLS A STOP TO THIS CONTEST AT 4:43 OF R2 DECLARING THE WINNER BY TAPOUT DUE TO AN ARMBAR: JOE 'J-LO' LAUZON. Lauzon compliments Stephens on how hard he hits. "I heard 20 seconds, 30 seconds left, I was a little worried he'd tough it out as he didn't tap against Din Thomas but I got the stoppage. I want another tough fight. When I fought Kenny I was a little starstruck, but this time I was ready for the main event. Now I want somebody tough."
* Dan Miller v. Jake Rosholt (Middleweight Bout)
I could have sworn I just saw Rosholt on a card not long ago - maybe it was Adrenaline MMA on HDNet from the Quad Cities. There's an attempt at a leglock very early. Rosholt's corner warns him to look out for the guillotine but Dan Miller keeps coming with it anyway, sinks it in with no hooks and without his legs wrapped around, gets it from what's barely half guard and Rosholt is tapping right away. THE FIGHTING MILLER BROTHERS WIN AGAIN. Official time coming up!
ALONSO STOPS THIS FIGHT AT 1:03 OF R1 DUE TO TAPOUT VIA GUILLOTINE CHOKE FOR THE WINNER: DAN MILLER. Miller: "I sunk it all the way through, it was almost like a rear naked choke from the front. I'm extremely happy. I just love fighting. Fighting for the fans, fighting for the UFC." Rogan puts him over strong and Miller strikes a pose for the crowd. That's it for the Ultimate Fight Night tonight as we see Lauzon being interviewed backstage while Rogan and Goldberg start to wrap it all up. Thanks for reading the recap! Here are the results from the fights that didn't air.
* Welterweight bout: Steve Bruno vs. Matthew Riddle
Riddle defeated Bruno via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
* Middleweight bout: Nick Catone vs. Derek Downey
Catone defeated Downey via submission (keylock) at 1:15 of round 2.
* Lightweight bout: Rich Clementi vs. Gleison Tibau
Tibau defeated Clementi via submission (guillotine choke) at 4:35 of round 1.
* Lightweight bout: Kurt Pellegrino vs. Rob Emerson
Pelligrino defeated Emerson via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:14 of round 2.