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Fight #1 (Ion TV)
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Phil Baroni (13-12-0) vs. Brad Tavares (5-1-0)
Referee: Josh Rosenthal
Round One
Phil Baroni wore his sunglasses inside the octagon during the fighter introductions, sadly he will not wear them during the fight. Phil Baroni dropped Brad Tavares early and got top position instantly, this should be interesting because Phil Baroni is far better on the feet. Brad Tavares rebounded after the fight went back to the feet by hitting Phil Baroni with knee strikes, Phil Baroni then nailed Brad Tavares in the land of testicles with a knee strike. Apparently kicking Brad Tavares in the testicles means that you will be destroyed shortly thereafter because Phil Baroni was destroyed just moments later with punches and knee strikes until the referee stopped the fight. Sadly, this will most likely be the last time UFC fans will see Phil Baroni in the octagon.
Result: Brad Tavares def. Phil Baroni by TKO (4:20, R1)
Fight #2 (Ion TV)
UFC Featherweight Division Fight
Josh Grispi (14-1-0) vs. Dustin Poirier (8-1-0)
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Round One
This could be a potential upset of the year special in this fight, because Josh Grispi was originally set to fight Jose Aldo and now fights a dangerous, but lesser known foe. Most of Josh Grispi’s fights last less time then it will take me to write this sentence, the same can be said about Dustin Poirier. Dustin Poirier is attacking early and that’s a good strategy for a late replacement fighter to do against a much better fighter in Josh Grispi. Dustin Poirier is looking good early and is just dominating Josh Grispi in the striking department, even reversing a takedown attempt. Josh Grispi has been attempting a kimura for over a minute on Dustin Poirier, which is the smartest move he has done in the first round.
David Tees Scorecard: Dustin Poirier - 10/Josh Grispi - 9
Round Two
Dustin Poirier immediately attacked Josh Grispi right when the round began, which is an excellent way to continue his upset bid. Dustin Poirier is a beast after escaping both a guillotine choke, triangle choke and arm bar attempt by Josh Grispi. Pulling guard is the act of a desperate fighter and Josh Grispi is definitely a desperate man in the second round. Josh Grispi attempted a triangle choke again and Dustin Poirier picked him up and power bombed him. Dustin Poirier followed up the power bomb by nailing Josh Grispi with knee strikes and punches until the round ended.
David Tees Scorecard: Dustin Poirier - 20/Josh Grispi - 18
Round Three
Josh Grispi could be entering the last round of this fight with Dustin Poirier wondering why he just didn’t wait for Jose Aldo to heal. It took less than a minute into the round for Dustin Poirier to once again attack Josh Grispi with knee strikes. Josh Grispi finally showed some signs of life in this fight after securing a takedown halfway through the round. Josh Grispi started to go for a submission attempt, but Dustin Poirier held onto him for dear life to close out the fight. Joe Rogan said it during the fight, but how much more damage would Josh Grispi have suffered if Jose Aldo was across from him instead of Dustin Poirier?
David Tees Scorecard: Dustin Poirier - 30/Josh Grispi - 27
Result: Dustin Poirier def. Josh Grispi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Fight #3 (Ion TV)
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Marcus Davis (22-8-0) vs. Jeremy Stephens (18-6-0)
Referee: Kim Winslow
Round One
Marcus Davis doesn’t look drawn out at all as a lightweight, as he has previous fought in the UFC Welterweight Division. Jeremy Stephens must do the smart thing and take Marcus Davis to the ground, but he hasn’t done yet in the fight. Marcus Davis just scored a takedown, so I can now add him to the list alongside of Kimbo Slice as fighters I never thought would score a takedown. The fighters separate and Marcus Davis is in the zone as he clubbed Jeremy Stephens with a left to the noggin. Marcus Davis then showed brains aren’t his forte as he decided to clinch with his opponent after rocking him.
David Tees Scorecard: Marcus Davis - 10/Jeremy Stephens - 9
Round Two
This round has started off promising as both fighters have thrown a few strikes at each other and Jeremy Stephens is trying to slow his foe down with leg kicks. Jeremy Stephens attempted a spinning back fist and memories of Shonie Carter/Matt Serra flashed through my mind. Jeremy Stephens nearly collected a submission of the night check for nearly tapping out Marcus Davis with a kimura while both were falling to the ground. Considering the two fighters who are facing each other in the octagon, one might ask “what the hell is going on with this ground festival?â€
David Tees Scorecard: Marcus Davis - 19/Jeremy Stephens - 19
Round Three
Jeremy Stephens begins the round in head hunting mode, which is a dangerous mode to be in when fighting Marcus Davis. Marcus Davis catches Jeremy Stephens with an impressive left, but then just stares at him afterwards, its like round one all over again. That was a costly mistake because Jeremy Stephens destroyed Marcus Davis with a haymaker and Marcus Davis went down and out. Jeremy Stephens just saved his job in the UFC and Marcus Davis is hoping a pink slip is not heading his way.
Result: Jeremy Stephens def. Marcus Davis by KO (2:33, R3)
Fight #4
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Takanori Gomi (32-6-0-1NC) vs. Clay Guida (27-8-0)
Referee: Josh Rosenthal
Round One
Great fights follow Clay Guida around wherever he goes, just like a trail of dirt follows Pig Pen (of Peanuts fame) around wherever he goes. Jason Guida was sure to put the mouthpiece in the mouth of Clay Guida before the traditional slaps began, that’s brotherly love folks. Clay Guida is bouncing around the octagon like a madman and Takanori Gomi couldn’t look more confused. The dancing paid off as Clay Guida clocked Takanori Gomi with a head kick and two punch combination. Clay Guida again danced himself into a head kick to Takanori Gomi and then followed it up with a takedown.
David Tees Scorecard: Clay Guida - 10/Takanori Gomi - 9
Round Two
Not to much dancing this time for Clay Guida as he shot for a takedown on Gomi is just a few seconds into the round. Guida seemingly has Gomi confused in just about every way possible as he dances him way to a nice right to the skull. The dancing ended for Guida after Gomi caught him with a knee to the head, but Guida rebounded with a quick takedown. Guida then showed superb ground skills and forced Gomi to tap out after locking in a guillotine choke. If this is what the new training of Clay Guida has done for the fighter, then the UFC Lightweight Division might want to take notice.
“(To Gomi) You might be the new years man, but I’m everyday Clay.â€
- Clay Guida in the post fight interview
Result: Clay Guida def. Takanori Gomi by submission via guillotine choke (4:27, R2)
Fight #5
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Nate Diaz (13-5-0) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (13-0-1-1NC)
Referee: Yves Lavigne
Round One
This fight is a lot more important than the fans think because the contender pool for Georges St. Pierre’s welterweight title is very shallow right now. Kim did what essentially was the smartest move in the fight, which was to put Diaz on the ground as quickly as possible. The problem is that Diaz is probably even more dangerous on the ground than he has been on his feet recently. Diaz peppers Kim with punches off of his back and Kim nearly takes his head off with a right while posturing up. If there was a great example to show people of ground fighting in MMA, then this fight is definitely that example. Diaz used a brilliant heel hook attempt to put the fight on the feet, but the buzzer sounded to end the round.
David Tees Scorecard: Nate Diaz - 9/Dong Hyun Kim - 10
Round Two
Diaz is starting to get into his rhythm with his punches, but Kim is quick to put Diaz right onto his back with little resistance. It is amazing to watch how many small intricacies are involved in the ground game, especially when it comes to Diaz. Diaz uses a push kick to get Kim off of him, but has no answer when Kim takes him down again in the second round. Diaz again makes a late push as the round concludes, but it is to little to late in this round.
David Tees Scorecard: Nate Diaz - 18/Dong Hyun Kim - 20
Round Three
Diaz must do something spectacular in this round to take the fight and he starts off well by peppering Kim with strikes. Diaz apparently caught Kim with an illegal knee to the cranium, but the replay definitely left everything in an argumentative state. There was a nice scramble on the ground between Diaz and Kim, but Kim got top position in the end of it all. Diaz got a nice reversal on Kim and started rocking him with tons of strikes, but Kim is one tough fighter. Diaz ended the fight like a fighter going for the “Wâ€, while Kim finished the fight hoping to never see Diaz again.
David Tees Scorecard: Nate Diaz - 28/Dong Hyun Kim - 29
Result: Dong Hyun Kim def. Nate Diaz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fight #6
UFC Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Thiago Silva (14-2-0) vs. Brandon Vera (11-5-0)
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Round One
Less then ten seconds into the fight and these two fighters are going at it like there is no tomorrow, Vera has the early edge. Silva scored a takedown on Vera and has top position, Keith Jardine will tell anybody that Silva is this position is not a good thing for opponents. Silva gets to side control and Vera must start praying that Silva doesn’t posture up and rain down punches on him. Vera got woken up quickly when Silva destroyed him with an elbow strike to the noggin and a knee bar attempt.
David Tees Scorecard: Thiago Silva - 10/Brandon Vera 9
Round Two
Vera should always be listening to his corner because he came out brilliantly to open up the round by out striking Silva until he was taken down. Sadly Vera hasn’t learned his lesson for the remainder of the round as Silva has continued to destroy him on the ground. Vera must enter the third round fighting for his job, because he could lose it if this poor performance continues.
David Tees Scorecard: Thiago Silva - 20/Brandon Vera - 18
Round Three
This moment will go down in the blunder hall of fame because Vera knocked Silva down with a punch and raised his hands like the fight was over, but Silva popped back up and put Vera on the ground. Silva now has complete back control on Vera and he is dominating him with only a few minutes left in the round. Silva looks like a kid in a candy store as he is just sitting on the back of Vera and destroying him with punches to the face. Vera got to his corner at the end of the round and his nose is easily broken as it has been moved to the other side of his face by Silva.
David Tees Scorecard: Thiago Silva - 30/Brandon Vera - 27
Result: Thiago Silva def. Brandon Vera by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Co-Main Event
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Chris Leben (21-6-0) vs. Brian Stann (9-3-0)
Referee: Josh Rosenthal
Round One
Stann looks good early as he is trying to slow Leben down with leg kicks and then forcing him into the cage wall. Stann is one tough dude as Leben connected with several uppercuts to his jaw while both fighters were in the clinch. Stann catches everybody off guard by dropping Leben with a three punch combination to the jaw and then he rocks him again with another combination. Stann then pulls off the huge upset by dropping Leben a third time and nailing him with strikes until the referee stops the fight. It’s a good thing we got this exciting fight because the main event has the potential to put everybody to sleep. Brian Stann then dedicates the fight to a former soldier in his military unit who passed away earlier this week.
Result: Brian Stann def. Chris Leben by TKO (3:30, R1)
Main Event
UFC Lightweight Title Fight
Frankie Edgar (13-1-0) (Champion) vs. Gray Maynard (11-0-0-1NC)
Referee: Yves Lavigne
Round One
Edgar starts the fight off properly by attacking the legs of Maynard with the hopes that it will slow the takedown attempts. Maynard rocked Edgar huge with a left and follows it up with a staggering amount of blows that sends Edgar all over the cage. Edgar is bleeding out of his nose after getting his face destroyed by Maynard’s strikes for more than a minute. Maynard catches the bloodied Edgar twice more with uppercuts and it seems that Edgar hasn’t recovered from earlier in the round. Edgar somehow survived the rest of the round, despite stumbling around like a drunk person after taking a beating.
David Tees Scorecard: Frankie Edgar - 9/Gray Maynard - 10
Round Two
Edgar looks to have recovered from that opening round beating, even landing a few strikes on the challenger. Edgar then hits Maynard with a hard right that rocks the challenger and then follows it up with a few leg kicks. The crowd seemingly turns on Maynard and chants for Edgar just as Edgar scores a monstrous takedown on Maynard. Edgar and Maynard both swing and Edgar gets the better of the exchange, Maynard looks like he is tired.
David Tees Scorecard: Frankie Edgar - 19/Gray Maynard - 19
Round Three
Edgar continues to get the momentum in the fight as he connects with some early strikes on Maynard and Maynard has not scored a takedown in the fight as of now. The scary thing is that if Maynard keeps failing on his takedown attempts, then Edgar’s confidence will continue to grow. Maynard then nails the champion with a nice left hook and follows it up with a right hook to the facial area. Maynard finally scores a takedown on Edgar, but does nothing with it until Edgar locks him in a guillotine choke as the round ends.
David Tees Scorecard: Frankie Edgar - 28/Gray Maynard - 29
Round Four
The shocker occurs here as Edgar scores a two straight takedowns on Maynard and nearly catches him with a standing guillotine. Edgar then shoves an incoming Maynard into the cage wall as Maynard looks like he is starting to fade quickly. Edgar gets Maynard near the cage wall and nails him with three straight blows to the side of the head. Edgar and Maynard continue exchanging rounds, the fifth and final round will be as crucial as it can possibly be.
David Tees Scorecard: Frankie Edgar - 38/Gray Maynard - 38
Round Five
Edgar begins the round landing the first blow with a leg kick to Maynard and then hitting him with a punching combination. Maynard recovers by connecting with a left hook on Edgar, but fails at the follow up takedown attempt on the champion. Maynard gets a hold of Edgar’s head to hit him with a knee strike, Edgar may have broken the left hand in the fourth round. Maynard continues to attempt the takedown and Edgar continues to stuff them, Edgar makes Maynard eat a few punches. Each fighter just swings wildly at each other all the way up to the final bell sounds.
David Tees Scorecard: Frankie Edgar - 48/Gray Maynard - 47
Result: Frankie Edgar fights Gray Maynard to a draw (48-46, 46-48, 47-47)
