Friday, 20 January 2012

Event Recap: UFC on FX: Guillard vs Miller


Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Friday 20th January 2012

Jon Anik and Kenny Florian are doing commentary tonight. Makes a nice change from Goldberg and Rogan, will be interesting to see how they do. All fights are three rounds on the FX shows, it looks like PPV and Fox shows are the only non-title main events that go five rounds. This has the makings of a good little show, so here's hoping!

Pat Barry vs Christian Morecroft (Heavyweight)

Referee: Herb Dean

Round 1
A great idea to kick off the show with two heavyweight bangers. This should bring the casual fans straight in. Barry goes for a legkick early which is caught and he is taken down by Morecraft. Morecraft has almost taken the back, but Brry defending well and stands up! Morecraft lands a couple of jabs, and Barry hits a huge leg kick which wobbles Morecraft. Morecraft shoots for a takedown but it's stuffed initially. After Barry attempts a weak looking guillotine, he is taken down. Morecraft mounts the back again and gets caught in an armbar. Barry defending well, and manages to transition to the stand up again. Barry with a huge left hook, Morecraft is on his back on the ground and Barry follows up with some big shots. Herb Dean steps in and this is done.

Official Decision: Barry by KO at 3.38 of Round 1

Rating: *** Morecraft was winning the round handily, but got caught with an absolute belter of a shot. That was a great knockout from Barry after he had already shown some good submission defence. There's some real power in his hands on this evidence. Great finish. Just to note, Anik and Florian are excellent in the booth so far.

Mike Easton vs Jared Papazian (Bantamweight)

Referee: Mario Yamasaki

Round 1
Crazy clinch exchange right at the start of the round! It goes up against the cage and Easton is landing some good knees while controlling the pace. Yamasaki breaks them up and we're back into the standup. Papazian lands some shots but Easton walks straight through them. Papazian using his range well and peppering Easton with the jab. Both men landing shots, and a great leg kick from Easton. Very tight round, but just shade it to Easton for the aggression he showed.

Score: 10-9 Easton

Round 2
Easton literally just walking through Papazian's punches, and landing some of his own. Papazian also taking the shots in his stride. The two are exchanging and when they get going it is explosive. Papazian gets the upper hand by pinning Easton against the cage. Easton still landing some knees in the clinch. Yamasaki separates them again, there was a warning about 15 seconds before the split. Another good exchange that Papazian gets the better of. Up against the cage again as Easton lands the trip takedown and lands in half guard. Into side control, but Papazian gets back to his feet. Another really close round, but the takedown from Easton should just about get him the round.

Score: 10-9 Easton

Round 3
Another wild exchange to start the round, and Easton gets the clinch. Papazian pins Easton against the cage, but the two just keep reversing the position. Yamasaki splits them up, and it looks like Easton landed a low knee. Very quickly back to the action and some good leg kicks from Papazian. Takedown attempt from Easton is stuffed. Really good exchange again, both men eat some big shots. It's turned into a boxing match until Papazian forces Easton up against the cage. Easton breaks it up and the exchanges start again. Papazian on the ground, but it looked like a slip. The punches from Papazian don't look as clean now, and the fight ends as it started with a crazy exchange. Papazian just shades the round, but it's Easton's fight.

Score: 10-9 Papazian

Final Score: 29-28 Easton

Official Decision: Easton by Majority Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-29)

Rating: **** 1/2 Great fight. Really exciting from start to finish, with two fighters who just went for it. It wasn't highly technical, but it was extremely entertaining. One judge scored it level, I can only imagine they scored the first round 10-10. The right decision was made though, as it looked to me that Easton won a very close fight. If that's not Fight of the Night we're going to be in for a cracking last two bouts.

Duane Ludwig vs Josh Neer (Welterweight)

Referee: Josh Rosenthal

Round 1
Neer lands a good shot, but Ludwig lands a couple of fantastic counter shots. Neer pushes Ludwig against the cage, but it's well defended by Ludwig. Ludwig lands some really strong shots including a big knee to the body, but Neer stands firm. Neer's mouthguard comes loose and causes a short stoppage. Ludwig is landing well with the counters, but Neer doesn't seem to feel that he's being hit. Neer catches a kick and takes Ludwig down. Ludwig pulls guard, but Neer is all over him and locks in a guillotine. It's in tight and Rosenthal checks Ludwig's arm. He is limp and this is done. Great submission.

Official Decision: Neer by Submission at 3.04 of Round 1

Rating: *** 1/2 Josh Neer

Melvin Guillard vs Jim Miller (Lightweight)

Referee: Herb Dean

Round 1
Guillard goes for a couple of flying knees early and lands a great shot that drops Miller. Miller back to his feet, but gets caught with another hard knee. High kick from Guillard blocked. Miller presses Guillard against the cage, but the takedown attempt is stuffed. Miller throws some shots, but Guillard is in total control here. Knee from Guillard, but Miller lands the takedown. Guillard gets up, but Miller takes the back and locks in a choke and Guillard taps out! Wow.

Official Decision: Miller by Submission at 2.04 of Round 1

Rating: *** 1/2 Miller was getting blasted standing, but as soon as Miller took his back the writing was on the wall. He didn't even have the arm across the throat, but that choke was locked in so tight, Guillard had no choice but to tap. Great comeback from Miller, and a huge win.

Joseph Sandoval vs Nick Denis (Bantamweight) (Bonus Prelim Fight)

Referee: Josh Rosenthal

Round 1
Denis comes out swinging and lands some great shots. Another few punches and three or four elbows in the clinch put Sandoval down. It's over very quickly in the first round.

Official Decision: Denis by KO at 0.22 of Round 1

Rating: *** What a way to make your UFC debut. Stunning finish from Denis. Sandoval had no idea what had hit him.

That was a really enjoyable Fight Night card and a fantastic way to debut on FX. Anik and Florian were excellent on commentary, and it's nice to see the UFC give them the gig on the B-show. It gave the event a different feel from the Pay Per Views, which in my opinion is a good thing. Of course, it helped that they had some really good fights to call. Next weekend sees Rashad Evans vs Phil Davis and Michael Bisping vs Chael Sonnen on Fox (thankfully on ESPN here in the UK!) and I'll be covering that event as per usual.

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