Hey Freaks!

Last night’s UFC on FOX was a success in my opinion. I was a little surprised the main card didn’t involve more finishes but for something free on TV, I’m not one to complain. Especially considering all the great action that went down on the undercard.

You can read the round by round analysis of the fights in the section below or scroll to the bottom to view a video of highlights from the post fight press conference.

Seasons beatings,

Gabe

Preliminary Card (Facebook)

Scott Jorgensen beats John Albert by first round rear-naked choke submission

Preliminary Card (FX) 

Dennis Siver beats Nam Phan by unanimous decision

Abel Trujillo beats Marcus LeVesseur by second-round TKO

Daron Cruickshank beats Henry Martinez by second-round KO

Ramsey Nijem beats Joe Proctor by unanimous decision

Raphael Assuncao beats Mike Easton by unanimous decision

Yves Edwards beats Jeremy Stephens by first round TKO

Main Card (FOX)

~Welterweight Mike Swick vs. Matt Brown~

Round 1

The first minute of action sees both fighters testing each other with feints and shadow boxing manuevers. Some shots get through but nothing really dangerous. Brown takes Swick down and after a little manuevering he winds up catching swick in a daarce choke. Swick seems to be surviving and breaks out after a minute of patient waiting. Now Swick is trying to land punches but Brown is able to hold him down, refusing to let Swick posture. Swick tries to pass guard and Brown attempts a triangle choke. He loses the triangle a once and then again. The second time he is able to sink it in but Swick seems to stay safe and both fighters are locked in an awkward angle on the ground. Eventually they scramble back to their feet and finish the first round pressed up against the cage.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Swick

Round 2

Both fighters start out swinging a bit and Swick winds up forcing Brown on to the cage. Brown shrugs off the cage and they clash in the middle of the cage only to wind up back against the cage with Brown throwing knees in to Swick from the clinch. Swick looks for the take down and is denied. They circle off the cage again and Mat Brown floors Swick with a solid left hook and right combination which sends Swick skidding along the ground in to the cage!

Brown beats Swick by second round KO

~Welterweight B.J. Penn vs. Rory MacDonald~

Round 1

Both fighters run up and Penn shoots for a single leg take down. Rory holds him off effectively. Rory clinches Rory against the cage and they eventually break apart. Rory towers over Penn. Rory and Penn mix up strikes from all angles. Penn is taking a little abuse but nothing crazy. Rory is really attacking Penn’s legs with kicks. Penn shoots for a take down and succeeds. Rory jumps back to his feet and Penn takes him down again and once again Rory is right back up. Then he spins off the cage and starts throwing punches in to Penn’s face and they circle off the cage. Rory attempts a single leg take down and is denied. Rory wobbles Penn and Penn is in trouble with a minute left! Rory throws a superman punch and it glances off. The round ends and Penn definitely looks out sized at this point.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Rory

Round 2

Penn looks noticeably tired as both fighters start scrapping in the middle of the round. Rory steps it up a minute in the round and starts landing serious punches and kicks on Penn against the cage. Rory looks a lot more technical than Penn at this point. Penn is still connecting a bit as he lands a solid right hand but it may not be enough at this point. Rory hurts Penn’s ribs with a strong punch and kick attack and Penn is taking serious abuse as he wobbles against the cage. Rory notices the apparent injury and starts pouring on shots to the ribs. Rory is now talking to Penn as he tees off on him against the cage. Penn seems to have recovered a bit and is pressing forward but Rory looks unruffled with less than a minute left in the round. Rory takes Penn down and Penn postures in the butterfly guard as the round ends.

mma-freak score card: 10-8 Rory

Rory beats Penn by unanimous decision

Round 3

 Penn’s left eye is bruised as he immediately presses Rory in to the cage with punches and an eventual clinch. Looking for the single leg take down Penn almost takes Rory down but can’t. At this point he’s gotta finish the fight to win. Rory attempts a spinning back kick, misses, falls down, and then jumps back up. Rory dances around and they clinch up, moving back to the cage. Penn looks up at the clock and they circle off the cage. The story tonight is Rory’s ability to mix up his attack and simply out point Penn. Rory starts dancing a jig and moving his hands like Anderson Silva as he mixes up strikes a bit. He’s definitely taking this one unless Penn can finish. They clinch against the cage again and the crowd starts booing. With one minute left Penn is eating a couple punches and kicks as he advances on Rory. Penn attempts a half hearted take down and Rory shrugs him off. The round ends with Rory serving a punch kick combo in to Penn.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Rory

Rory beats Penn by unanimous decision

~Light Heavyweight Maurício Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson~

Round 1

They come out and touched gloves. Gustaf drops Shogun early and jumps on him. Shogun grabs his leg and locks in a leg lock and Gustaf breaks free in a close one. They are back on their feet and Gustaf is dropping bombs as he lands a take down. Shogun grabs a leg and Gustaf jumps away again. They stand up and Shogun shoots and lands a dominant take down. Gustaf gets back up and both men clinch up to the cage. Shogun is winning the dirty boxing in the cage with knees to the legs. Gustaf circles out and lands a couple solid punches. Both men are covering up and closing in on each other. Shogun is bleeding from the nose as neither man is backing down. Gustaf is throwing strong looping punches and is lighting Shogun up but everyone knows Shogun doesn’t go out easy and he still looks dangerous. They clinch in to the cage and Gustaf grabs a leg but can’t get Shogun down as the round ends.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Gustafsson

Round 2

Both men come out throwing and Shogun is dropping bombs. He lands a good shot and Gustaf seems clipped. Shogun is moving forward now and drops a solid left hand on the Brit. Gustaf closes the distance and clinches Shogun against the cage. The crowd boos a bit as the fight slows down. The ref stops the action and repositions the fighters in the center of the cage. Gustaf trips Shogun but he jumps up. Shogun then shoots for a trip of his own and Gustaf reverses him and lands on top. Gustaf gets back up and lets Shogun up as well. Shogun lands a couple big shots and this one is officially a slug fest. Shogun throws a big right hand and Gustaf ducks it for the easy take down but Shogun is gets right back up. They clinch back in to the cage and eventually Gustaf scores another take down. He’s then tees off on Shogun as he climbs back to his feet. Shogun is bleeding a lot but looks very dangerous as this fight is definitely going to be close. The round ends with both fighters dancing around and obviously ready for a third.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Gustafsson

Round 3

Shogun comes out and catches Gustaf with a couple solid punches. Gustaf lands a takedown again. Both fighters are jumping in and exchanging leather in the middle of the cage as they bounce out and clash again in the center. Gustaf lands another takedown and it looks like he may be securing a victory with take downs and more strikes as the fight reaches the middle of the third round. Gustaf looks a little more crisp as he lands a solid body shot on Shogun and he’s got him hurt. Shogun is up against the cage as Gustaf is landing knees to the body. Shogun is circling around the cage as Gustaf stalks him now. They clinch against the cage and are eventually separated. Gustaf lands an upkick and they clinch in the center of the cage and Gustaf lands a take down to round out the fight.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Gustafsson

Gustafsson beats Shogun by unanimous decision

~Lightweight Title Fight Benson Henderson vs. Nate Diaz~

Round 1

 Right away Henderson is landing leg kicks and Diaz is taunting. Diaz gets Bendo’s back and the clinch in to the cage. Bendo reverses Diaz in the clinch against the cage. Diaz is landing knees on Bendo and tries to flip Bendo but he doesn’t budge since he currently has double under hooks on Diaz. Bendo is trying to take Diaz down and it’s not working. Diaz may appear smaller but he’s definitely not weaker and he has landed more strikes so far half way through the first round. Bendo lands a leg kick and shoots for a single leg take down and Diaz instantly looks for submissions from his back and Bendo postures up and starts landing shots. Diaz scrambles back to his feet as Bendo presses him up against the cage. THey tussle a bit against the cage and separate. Bendo lands a leg kick and Diaz loses his footing and Bendo drops on him. The stand back up and Diaz is stalking Bendo and the clinch up. Both land knees from the clinch then separate. They clinch against the cage again as the first round comes to the end.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Bendo

Round 2

They come out swinging, clinch up, and Bendo secures a take down. He follows it up with viscous ground and pound, then when they pop back up he lands a solid knee. Diaz is relaxed and looks composed. So far neither fighter has hurt the other significantly. Bendo presses Diaz back in to the cage. They exchange some strikes and scramble along the cage. Bendo lands a nice elbow. They break away and circle back to the center of the cage. Diaz is trying to establish his boxing but Bendo is staying safely out of his striking range and mixing up strikes of his own. Bendo is now jabbing Diaz’s knee then lands a high right hand and drops Diaz. Diaz is hurt as Bendo drops strikes from the top. Diaz gives up his back and stands up. He looks a little bloodied and they exchange strikes. Bendo keeps working the low leg kicks and Diaz finishes the round pressing forward with strikes.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Bendo

Round 3

Bendo instantly lands a kick as the fight begins. Diaz is stumbling a bit yet pressing forward with strikes as Bendo avoids them. Diaz throws a punch and Bendo takes him down with a double leg. Bendo takes his back and they pop back up. Both men are landing strikes. Bendo takes Diaz down and lands strikes from the standing position. Bendo is trying to land strikes from the top as Diaz sends up kicks towards Bendo. Diaz is hunting for a leg lock and Bendo is scrambles out and takes Diaz’s back. He’s looking for a rear naked choke but Diaz defends. Bendo starts trying to ground n pound again. and Diaz wraps him up and looks for a leg lock. Diaz lets the hold go and they jump back up. Bendo lands a big right hand and drops Diaz. Then he starts landing solid ground and pound and Diaz taunts him from the bottom to show he is fine. The round ends with Bendo with on top dropping bombs on Diaz’s body.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Bendo

Round 4

This is the first time Diaz has gone to the fourth round and both men come out and clinch up. Bendo secures a takedown. They stand up yet Bendo takes down Diaz again and stops dropping bombs as Diaz gives up his back and hunts for the submission but it isn’t working as the stand up again. Bendo continually takes down Diaz over and over again as the round reaches the half way point. THey scramble around on the ground with Bendo on top. Bendo lands strikes from the top. Diaz jumps up, Bendo lands a kick and the round ends.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Bendo

Round 5

They come out clinching and Bendo pushes him in to the cage and they stay there for two minutes in the fifth. Bendo grabs Diaz, picks him up, and drops him in to the canvas. Bendo starts landing viscous elbows now. Diaz scrambles back up and they clinch against the cage instantly. Bendo looks to be running away with this one as the last round reaches the half way point. Bendo takes Diaz’s back and drags him to the ground. Diaz gets back up and Bendo is still locking him up from behind. Diaz spins and Bendo still holds him in to the cage as he drops kicks to his legs. Bendo secures a takedown, does some ground n pound, and they pop up again. Diaz just can’t get a breather as Bendo pressures him in to the cage again. They push away and Diaz and Bendo are swinging wildly. Ten seconds left and Diaz is going for broke as the round ends and the fight is over.

mma-freak score card: 10-9 Bendo

Bendo beats Diaz by unanimous decision

UFC on FOX 5 Post-Fight Press Conference Highlights

Video courtesy of mmafighting.com and the UFC.