HSBC Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Saturday 14th January 2012
Main Pay per View report once again, as I was watching the NFL Playoffs while the prelims were taking place. It's the UFC's return to Brazil after a highly successful show last August.
Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim (Lightweight)
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Round 1
Crowd is absolutely rabid. Massive boos for Etim during the introductions. Some good early strikes from Etim after a takedown attempt. Etim gets a takedown but Barboza sweeps back to the feet. Good leg kicks from Barboza. Both men trading some nice strikes, with some good punches landing from both. Spinning back kick to the body from Barboza right at the end of the round may just have nicked the round.
Score: 10-9 Barboza
Round 2
Strikes landing again, mainly leg kicks from Barboza. Etim shoots for a takedown but gets stuffed. Good technical striking from Barboza, but Etim managing to land some good shots. Head kick from Etim only partially blocked. Takedown from Etim but Barboza gets back to the feet again. The round ends with Barboza landing some more kicks. Etim is landing, but Barboza is landing harder and more accurately.
Score: 10-9 Barboza
Round 3
Barboza misses a couple of strikes, and Etim tries to capitalise. He fails with his strikes and gets stuffed on a takedown attempt again. Spinning back kick from Barboza and it's a highlight reel knockout. Stunning stunning stunning.
Official Decision: Barboza by KO at 2.02 of Round 3
Rating: **** It was a nice little fight, with Barboza looking good after the first 90 econds or so. The knockout was absolutely outstanding, one of the best I've ever seen. It came out of absolutely nowhere and will be on the UFC highlight reels for quite some time. Incredible.
Erick Silva vs Carlo Prater (Welterweight)
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Round 1
Tentative start from both men, but Sliva hits a knee to the body to drop Prater. Silva jumps all over him and Yamasaki steps in to stop the fight. Explosive finish. There is some talking between the officials here, and I think I've heard something about illegal shots being mentioned. This may end up in a DQ. Yamasaki has ruled illegal shots to the back of the head.
Official Decision: Prater by DQ at 0.29 of Round 1
Rating: N/A The shots looked legal from the first view and the replays. One or two may have strayed to the back. Yamasaki attempts to explain the decision, and says he had to make a decision on the spot. It looks like an uncharacteristic mistake from Yamasaki, and we may see this get changed to a No Contest. Very very unlucky for young SIlva, who looked absolutely explosive.
Rousimar Palhares vs Mike Massenzio (Middleweight)
Referee: Leon Roberts
Round 1
Pre-fight reaction for Palhares was incredible! Leg kicks from both men early, and an accidental low blow from Palhares. Massenzio takes a minute and the fight starts again. Takedown from Palhares straight into a leglock. Massenzio taps immediately.
Official Decision: Palhares by submission at 1.03 of Round 1
Rating: *** Great submission from Palhares, who, still only 31, can push himself back to the upper echelon of the division. Outstanding finish.
Vitor Belfort vs Anthony Johnson (197lbs Catchweight)
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Round 1
Johnson came in a ridiculous 12lbs overweight, but Belfort agreed to the fight. Say goodbye to 20% of your purse, and possibly your job as well. Great takedown from Johnson early, his power is impressive. Belfort pulls guard, but Johnson gets a couple of good shots in. Belfort pulls guard and neutralises things, and Miragliotta stands them up. Belfort stuffs a takedown attempt and lands some good shots from the sprawl. Miragliotta stands them up. Johnson misses a shot and gets hit by some good shots. The two end up on the ground and Belfort pulls guard again. Miragliotta stands them up again, that one seemed a bit premature. Belfort takes the back and rains some shots down on the head of Johnson. Belfort flattens Johnson out, softens him up with some big punches and elbows and locks in a rear naked choke. The crowd is going mental as Johnson taps out.
Official Decision: Belfort by Submission at 4.49 of Round 1
Rating: **** Great back and forth fight for the first three and a half minutes, then Belfort took control. It was a great submission, and the lead up to it was absolutely perfectly executed. The crowd are utterly stunning tonight, they are chanting like at a football match, and Joe Rogan says it's giving him goosebumps. Belfort calls Johnson unprofessional, but says he just had to get on with things. Great performance from Belfort, and at just 34 years old, he can have another run at the top, and I'd love to see him back there,
Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes (UFC Featherweight Championship)
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Round 1
Powerful leg kicks from Aldo. Mendes tries to counter, but gets hit hard. Takedown attempt from Mendes, stuffed effortlessly by Aldo. Low blow from Mendes, but Aldo ready to go right away. Huge uppercut from Aldo and Mendes attempts a takedown on the counter. Stuffed again by Aldo. Mendes holding his own standing, but goes for another takedown. Aldo grabs the cage to stuff a takedown, and gets a warning. Knees to the thighs from Mendes as he has Aldo's back standing. Aldo breaks out and smashes a knee square into Mendes' face. Two shots on the ground and it's all over at the buzzer. Aldo runs straight from the cage into the crowd to celebrate and is swarmed by fans. This is an amazing visual. He is being carried on the shoulders of a sea of fans around the arena. Absolutely incredible. I've never seen anything like this before.
Official Decision: Aldo by KO at 4.59 of Round 1
Rating: **** 1/2 It was a great one round fight, of which we have seen so many of recently. Chad Mendes was holding his own, and had maybe done enough to win the round by holding Aldo's back. But what a finish from Aldo, he broke away from Mendes and landed the most perfect knee to the head. His reaction after winning was spellbinding, the guy is an absolute star.
Ricardo Funch vs Mike Pyle (Welterweight) (Bonus Prelim Fight)
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Round 1
Both men trade some blows early. Pyle catches Funch with a straight right hand, follows up with a knee and lands some shots on the ground until Yamasaki steps in.
Official Decision: Pyle by TKO at 1.22 of Round 1
Rating: *** Good win from Pyle who saw an opportunity and took it.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs Ednaldo Oliveira (Heavyweight) (Bonus Prelim Fight)
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Round 1
Gonzaga comes in looking a little soft. It's a tentative starts as both men try to find range. Oliveira lands a few punches as Gonzaga circles around the cage. Hge single leg takedown from Gonzaga into side control. The two men stand and Gonzaga lands another takedown. Knee to the body from Gonzaga who locks in a rear naked choke. Oliveira taps.
Official Decision: Gonzaga by Submission at 3.22 of Round 1
Rating: ** 1/2 It was a good win from Gonzaga, who never looked in any real trouble from Oliveira
Thiago Tavares vs Sam Stout (Lightweight) (Bonus Prelim Fight)
Referee: Leon Roberts
Round 1
Score: 10-9 Tavares
Round 2
Score: 10-9 Tavares
Round 3
Score: 10-9 Stout
Final Score: 29-28 Tavares
Official Decision: Tavares by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Rating: * 1/2 Pretty stuffy fight that neither man will have gained or lost much from.
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