CT (Just In Case!!)

UFC 120 - 02 Arena - October 16th 2010

Can't wait for this - why? Because I'll be f*cking there that's why!!

The fight I'm really looking forward to is Dan Hardy and Carlos Condit which should be a belter. Michael Bisping will have a tough night with Akiyama but I still think he'll win, and John Hathaway has another tough one with Mike Pyle. Obviously I want all the English guys to win but I just hope they're all great fights -

I'll be there with my Nephew - bring it f*cking on!!

...more later.

UFC 120 - The Aftermath

What a night! Even with so many of the English fighters losing and Dan Hardy getting spearked out, it was a fantastic event - really enjoyable. The 02 is a brilliant venue and I look forward to going there again.

Before the start my Nephew's girlfriend has said about 02 customers going into a bar if they text a number - I did that so we got into an "exclusive" area and won UFC2010 for the XBox 360 - only problem being I don't have one!!

Drinks were expensive (we were prepared for that) - food was diabolical, the only minor downside to a superb night.

Onto the action then - here goes....

IT'S TIME!!!!

James McSweeney vs. Fabio Maldonado

McSweeney starts the contest with a couple of outside leg kicks. Maldonado retaliates by charging forward with punches, but none of them land. The Brit is still kicking. First, he goes upstairs and then follows with a shot to Maldonado’s thigh.

A right hand from McSweeney lands solidly. The crowd is chanting the Brit’s name, and he accidentally hits the Brazilian with a shot below the belt. Maldonado recovers and bulls forward with more punches. McSweeney locks up the Thai plum on him and lands a knee. The pair clinches against the cage and McSweeney shoves Maldonado against the fence. McSweeney slips a big right hand from the Brazilian and lands knees to the head of the prone Maldonado, followed by a high kick. Maldonado points at his chin, taunting McSweeney.

The Brit obliges him and lands another shot. Maldonado is unfazed, again pointing to his chin. McSweeney lands multiple shots on the Brazilian against the cage, and all Maldonado can do is cover up. McSweeney backs up as the round ends.

The crowd is fired up to start round two, and McSweeney starts this frame as he did the first one, firing off a leg kick. McSweeney looks a little tired, and he’s backing up. He pushes out a front kick. The crowd is still cheering him on. Maldonado connects with a right hand to the body that hurts McSweeney. Maldonado smells blood and continues his assault on the Brit’s ribs. Hurt from the body shots, McSweeney falls to the floor to protect himself. The Brazilian follows him to the floor and ends up in side control.

McSweeney recovers half-guard. Maldonado transitions back to side mount and is working for an americana. McSweeney escapes, but Maldonado is there to deliver more punishment. The Brit works up to his knees, but Maldonado is on his back and drags him back to the mat. Maldonado decides to stand back up late in the round, and McSweeney obliges. The Brit looks tired now. Maldonado capitalizes, landing combinations as the round ends.

Exhausted, McSweeney is tossing out front kicks to keep the Brazilian at a distance. He lands a jab, but Maldonado again points at his chin and let’s McSweeney know the punch did nothing. McSweeney slips, but Maldonado allows him to stand.

The Brit covers up against the cage, but Maldonado is relentless with his body attack. The Brazilian can see it’s his fight to win, and he unleashes a flurry of hard punches, forcing referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight at 48 seconds of Round 3.

Spencer Fisher vs. Curt Warburton

Fisher comes in looking to throw leg kicks, Warburton obliges him hitting the more powerful leg strikes. The kicking exchange continues for 90 seconds until Fisher decides to clinch up. Warburton reverses and has the American on the fence. Warburton hitting knees to the thigh and takes down Fisher with 2:30 left. He's in side guard working a guillotine. It looks tight but Fisher wiggles out of at at 1:45 left.

Round two starts with a low kick exchange as well until Fisher catches the leg and moves to clinch. Warburton promptly reverses him. Both fighters' offense in the clinch consists of knees to the thigh, but the Englishman is more active in throwing those. The referee separates them with three minutes left. Fisher misses a spinning back kick and clinches up again, this time he has his opponent on the fence. The fighters separate and Fisher lands a right during coming out. Warburton clinches again, dropped levels for a takedown that was easily stopped. Fisher catches the leg and sweeps Warburton. Warburton rolls for a leg during an axe kick with Fisher on top of him but doesn't get it. Fisher now tries some GNP but stands up and goes for the axe kick again and same scenario happens. 10-9 Warburton.

The fighters abstain from leg kicks electing to use their hands more. Fisher tags Warburton with a "Superman" punch and clinches up again. Both fighters get reversed on the fence a couple of times. Referee separates them with 2:30 left. Warburton misses a takedown but still forces Waburton against the fence. Referee steps in much quicker here. Warburton lands a mid kick but gets tagged by a right hook. Warburton knees low again forcing the referee to step in. 70 seconds left. Double jump flying knee at least partially lands for fisher. Warburton elects to try a takedown but get reversed and Fisher goes for a rear-naked choke, doesn't get it but has mount and soon after tries again. With less than 10 seconds left he lets it go and tries to punch as the horn sounds. 10-9 Fisher.

Fisher takes the unanimous decision with scores of 29-28 across the board.

Paul Sass vs. Mark Holst

Holst comes in swinging on Sass, who changes levels but decides to work from guard. He threatens with his trademark triangle but Holst doesn't have much trouble defending it and standing up. Same scenario on the feet with Sass grabbing a hold of Holst and pulling guard. Sass attacking with elbows from the bottom. Holst trying to stand up but Sass has him well tied up. Sass goes for a heel hook but finally Holst returns to his feet. Sass very slowly throws a spinning-back kick but uses the opportunity to tie up Holst on the ground again. 1:40 left when the fight returns to feet. Sass again is reversed on his takedown attempt and works from his back. after throwing some initial elbows Sass stops his offense until he gets Holst in a triangle. The American tries to defend and forces Sass to readjust a couple of times but ultimately can not find a way out and submits to the Englishman with a triangle choke at 4:45 of round one.

Rob Broughton vs. Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz

Spartan throwing heavy hands and connecting on his opponent with a right and a leg kick that bends over Broughton. Then he muscles the Englishman to the ground and works from half guard. Powerful rights land from that position. Broughton regains full guard and Queiroz still working hard. Broughton tries to rise to his feet but he gives up his back. Queiroz has his hooks in but not working hard for the choke.

Broughton almost does a 180 on a haymaker and Queiroz jumps on his back. He can't secures the position and the Englishman shrugs him off. Spartan has slowed much in this round and Broughton gets inside of his range an lands repeatedly a jab, hook combo. Queiroz wisely takes the fight to the ground with Broughton offering no defense of the takedown. nothing much happens on the ground and Goddard stands them up after less than a minute. Broughton goes back to his jab to right hook combo to score some more points, Queiroz answers with a light head kick that landed and again takes his opponent to the mat.

The crowd is quick to boo as the Brazilian does almost nothing. Broughton actually is busier of his back with some light punches. The fight returns to feet and after a few successful combos by Broughton he again can do nothing about the takedown. Spartan is in full guard just holding on. 10-9 Broughton.

Double jab, right hook lands for Broughton. Again with the looping hook, he finally defends a takedown and catches a standing guillotine. He lets it go but in the process muscled the Brazilian to his back. Queiroz tries to get up but Broughton keeps him in his half guard. Broughton now working a straight armbar and Queiroz rolls to turtle position. Queiroz has to fend off left hand punches from Broughton before the local gets his hooks and gets the rear-naked choke victory. Broughton takes the win at 1:46 of round three.

James Wilks vs. Claude Patrick

Referee Dan Miragliotta presides over the first fight of the main card. Wilks opens up with a leg kick, which is returned by Patrick. The Canadian ducks inside and pushes Wilks to the fence with double underhooks, then trips the Brit to the ground. Patrick lands in half guard, but Wilks stuffs him back to full. Triangle attempt makes Patrick stand, and Wilks tags him with an upkick. Patrick dives back into Wilks’ guard and Wilks closes up. Patrick stands and chops at the grounded Wilks with leg kicks, then spins into side control on Wilks’ right.

Patrick steps right into mount with two minutes left. Wilks again manages to stuff him back, but Patrick looks for an arm-triangle, then transitions to a north-south choke. Neither stick, and Patrick winds up back in Wilks’ guard after stacking him up and landing a few hard shots. Again, Patrick stands, keeping out of range of upkicks from the lanky Wilks. From half-guard, Patrick lands a hard left hand, then mounts Wilks for the final 10 seconds.

As the round begins, Wilks is cut under his right eye. Patrick changes levels, feinting a single-leg, but it’s Wilks who comes forward and pushes Patrick into the cage. They jockey for position, reversing along the fence in the clinch. Left straight connects for Patrick as he backs out, but they’re soon back to clinching.

Patrick finds the double unders again, drags Wilks to the mat. Wilks ties up Patrick’s right arm, making offense from half guard difficult, so Patrick stands and slaps away with more leg kicks. The Canadian goes back down and scores with short punches to the body and face from Wilks’ open guard. As Wilks tries for rubber guard, Patrick stands and eats another solid upkick, but it doesn’t seem to faze him, and he goes right back to half-guard with a minute left. Patrick looking to isolate Wilks’ right arm, but the round ends before he can do anything.

It’s Wilks who initiates the clinch to start the third, but it’s Patrick who once again scores the takedown with an easy trip. Pattering shots to the body by Patrick, as Wilks just tries to tie up and maintain guard. Patrick stands and Wilks looks for a leg lock, which Patrick defends easily. Light boos coming from the British crowd as Patrick passes to Wilks’ right with two minutes remaining in the bout.

Wilks escapes and pushes Patrick up with the butterfly guard, but Patrick stays on top and gives Wilks a couple hard punches for his efforts. Wilks looks for a desperation omoplata in the final seconds, but doesn’t really come close.

Cheick Kongo vs. Travis Browne

Referee Marc Goddard in the cage for this heavyweight bout. Browne comes out swinging wild, not connecting. Kongo answers with some hard kicks to the inside and outside of Browne’s left leg. More wild strikes from Browne, ugly head kicks missing by a bunch. Browne’s looking for a home run left hook, but Kongo’s evading it every time.

Browne finally connects with the left about three minutes in, and Kongo begins to look a bit more tentative. Body blow from Browne, answered by Kongo with a kick to the liver. Browne steps in with a single, looping overhand right that clubs Kongo about the ear. Then another. Kongo clinches briefly, but can’t hold Browne against the fence as the frame ends.

The pair clash inside leg kicks, then Kongo follows up with a few more. Browne goes to duck inside with another overhand, but Kongo’s ready this time and tags him. They clinch against the fence and Kongo lands a knee to the groin. Browne recovers quickly and they restart.

Again, Browne rushes Kongo with flailing shots, and again the Frenchman sees it coming. Kongo bullies Browne into the fence, but Browne shoves him out and Kongo falls to his rear. Kongo seems to motion that he’s been poked in the eye, but Goddard tells them to fight on. Kongo pushes Browne into the cage with over-unders, landing liberal knees all over Browne’s legs. Goddard warns Kongo to work; he doesn’t, and they’re restarted. Browne misses with a further four punches, then opts to push Kongo into the cage. Kongo reverses and goes back to working the inside right thigh of Browne.

With a minute remaining, Goddard again cautions them to stay busy. Browne now trying to check the knees. Goddard splits them up, and they clinch again almost immediately. Browne trips Kongo to the mat just before the horn sounds.

Browne pushes forward instantly and muscles Kongo into the fence. Goddard warns Kongo for holding the shorts of Browne. He lets go, but Browne tells the ref Kongo’s still holding them. Goddard disagrees, but a moment later, Kongo grabs them again. Goddard splits the heavyweights up and deducts a point from Kongo for the infraction. Kongo pushes Browne into the fence, tries some foot stomps, and is again warned for grabbing Browne’s trunks. They disengage. Kongo is pressing the action now, with Browne moving backward. Kick to the midsection by Kongo, then back to the familiar clinch.

Kongo grabs at Browne’s shorts again, and Goddard doesn’t take another point, but instead manually removes Kongo’s grip. The ref splits them up for inaction, and Kongo begins unloading punches on the visibly weary Browne. Single right hand lands for Browne with 40 seconds left; it’s his best offense of the round. Kongo pushes Browne into the cage once more, and again Goddard takes his hand away from Browne’s shorts. Browne scores a takedown in the last five seconds of the bout.

All three official judges see the bout 28-28 for a draw.

* Marciniak and Rysiewski saw the third round 10-10. Kongo's point deduction gave Browne the frame on their scorecards, 10-9.

John Hathaway vs. Mike Pyle

Leon Roberts is the third man in the cage. Hathaway works from the center of the cage as Pyle circles outside. Pyle ducks inside, pushes Hathaway across the cage and trips him down against the base of the cage. Hathaway uses the fence to quickly work back to his feet and reverses the position, putting the sitting Pyle’s back against the cage post.

Hathaway can’t advance and lets Pyle back up. Pyle goes low again as Hathaway misses with a one-two, but Pyle can’t get a grip on the Brit’s leg this time. Quick flurry lands for Hathaway; Pyle answers with a hook which stumbles Hathaway. Another right lands flush for Pyle, then a follow-up left. Hathaway trying to stick and move with his jab as Pyle continues to head hunt. Shots to the body by Pyle now, who trips Hathaway to the mat with 10 seconds left and finishes punching from Hathaway’s guard.

Hathaway begins the second frame looking to establish his left jab, then swinging hard with the right. Pyle ducks in with a body lock, spins Hathaway around, but can’t complete the takedown. Then, it’s Hathaway pushing the American into the fence, exiting with a short-range elbow and a solid left hand.

Hathaway puts together a nice one-two, then a knee to the midsection, and Pyle tries another takedown. Hathaway defends momentarily, but Pyle whips him to the ground with a second effort. Hard elbow from the top by Pyle as he tries to step over. He does, and Pyle locks up a very tight inverted triangle from mount, then punches away at the face of the defenseless Hathaway. Still 90 seconds left in the round, and Hathaway is just hanging on, trying to use his only free hand, his left, to defend his bare face. The choke won’t put Hathaway out, but these punches are accumulating, and Pyle starts to add elbows to the mix. Hathaway somehow survives to see the final round.

Hathaway looks recovered and pushes the action as the third round begins. He puts Pyle’s back to the fence, but Pyle puts him down. Hathaway stands, only to be dragged down once more. This time, Pyle scoots the Brit away from the cage and works from Hathaway’s closed guard. Hathaway throws up his legs for a sub attempt and Pyle shucks them aside, advancing to half-guard. Hathaway pushes Pyle back to guard and tries to explode, but Pyle stays right on him and pushes him into the fence.

Pyle pouring on the punches from half-guard as Hathaway angles for a last-second sub. He can’t find anything, and Pyle finishes on top, much to the displeasure of the London crowd, who boos at the final horn.

Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit

Dan Miragliotta returns to ref this welterweight match. Condit opens up with four or five inside leg kicks, and Hardy gives back a few of his own. Left hook from Hardy finds its mark as Condit continues to slap away with kicks, now sending some to the body as well. Tentative exchanges through the first half of the round. Condit tries a hard spinning elbow which just misses, as does the counter left from Hardy.

Condit pops Hardy with a solid left hook, and Hardy lands one in return. One minute left and Hardy puts his left in Condit’s face again. The pair swing hard left hands at one another, and Condit’s lands first, sending Hardy crashing to the mat. Condit pounces with a right which puts the Brit out cold. The official time is 4:27 of the opening frame.

Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama

Referee Marc Goddard draws officiating duties for the main event. Akiyama connects with a cracking right hand just seconds into the bout. Bisping quickly regains his composure and tries for a head kick, which is blocked. Left straight lands for Akiyama, then a left hook. Bisping tries to trip Akiyama down, can’t get it, tries again and succeeds, but Akiyama pops back up instantly. Kick from Bisping appears to land low, but Goddard tells them to proceed and Bisping lands a few punches.

Akiyama lands a low kick of his own and Bisping waves it off. Right straight from Bisping finds the mark, followed by a partially blocked head kick. The Brit goes low for a single, but thinks better of the takedown attempt and wades back out. Spinning back-fist attempt from Akiyama puts a grin on Bisping’s face. Bisping tries a takedown, can’t get it, and instead opts for a flying knee attempt just before the end of the round.

One-two combo from Akiyama opens the round. Bisping kicks to the body, Akiyama catches it and lands a right straight. One minute into the round, Bisping motions that he’s been poked in the eye; Akiyama stops the action, but Goddard tells the fighters to continue after just a few seconds. Bisping missing on his combinations as Akiyama backs out of range each time he comes forward. Right straight lands for Bisping, he goes for a leg, then backs out again. Another right for Bisping, and the pair trade stiff jabs. Bisping capitalizes on Akiyama standing in the pocket and tags him with a right cross, then follows up with some leg kicks and a teep to the body.

Now it’s Akiyama who ducks Bisping’s spinning strike attempt. Akiyama slowing down, not throwing with anywhere near the volume of the first frame. Single shots coming from Akiyama now, and a solid right lands. Another right from Akiyama with 10 seconds left appears to hurt “The Count.” Akiyama smells blood and tries to punch him out as Bisping backs into the fence, but the round ends there.

UFC 120

Akiyama looking to land the same right hand again, and he does about 30 seconds into the round. Left high kick connects for Bisping, but Akiyama absorbs it. Another kick from Bisping, then a flush straight right 10 seconds later. Bisping finding his mark with the straight right repeatedly now. Left inside thigh kick from Bisping connects square to the cup of Akiyama, who collapses to the mat in obvious pain, kicking his legs on the mat. Referee Goddard wants Akiyama to stand almost immediately, but it’s clearly not happening and he calls for the ringside doctor.

After two or three minutes, Akiyama gets to his feet. Bisping wanders over from his neutral side and apologizes, embracing the judoka. Action resumes with a little over three minutes left in the bout. Akiyama catches a leg kick and tries to sweep, nearly kicks Bisping low, but Bisping stays vertical. Bisping doing well with head and body kicks. Left hook lands for Akiyama, who’s pushing the action now with two minutes remaining.

Akiyama stands stock-still in front of Bisping with his hands at his waist, allowing the Brit to land a few blows. Bisping pours on the combinations, his best punches coming in the form of right hooks. One combo sends Akiyama stumbling backward. Akiyama only throwing single punches with 30 seconds left, and continues trading blow-for-blow with Bisping to the final horn.

Official scores: 30-27 across the board for Michael Bisping, the winner by unanimous decision.

What a night!