UFC 125 kicked off the promotion’s 2011 season, this Saturday in Las Vegas. In the main event, Frankie Edgar was put through the wringer, but hung on to his lightweight belt. Check out the breakdown of the fights on the main card and the results:
It ended in a draw, but there was no lack of excitement in the fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, a rematch between the two worth the lightweight belt. Following a first cross that dropped Edgar, Maynard pounded mercilessly on the champion throughout the rest of the opening round. The champion seemed done but held out and lived to see a second round, where he began a comeback landing good strikes and a picture-perfect takedown. From there on it was an even match, with a slight advantage to Edgar at certain moments. The fighters traded blows till the final moments. With the cards in and judges’ decision announced after five rounds, one of the authorities picked Maynard, the other Edgar, while the third gave a draw. The overall result was a draw and a second successful title defense for Frankie Edgar.
Brian Stann put an end to Chris Leben’s three-fight win streak. With a combination of well-placed knees and puches, the technical knockout came just 3:37 minutes into the first round.
After a year away from the ring, Thiago Silva did well against Brandon Vera. Brandon had some good moments standing, but Thiago got the takedown in all three rounds. On the ground, the American Top Team representative did well in the ground-and-pound department and in achieving positions of superiority. In the third, Silva worked his way to the back of Vera, whom only defended, and suffered a disfigured nose. Thiago Silva took the unanimous decision for the win.
Dong Hyun Kim and Nate Diaz had an evenly-matched fight. Kim, from Korea, managed to land solid takedowns and did a good job on the ground. Diaz showed better stamina than his opponent in the final round, pressing him up against the fencing. When the scorecards came in, the unanimous-decision win went to Kim, who remains undefeated in fifteen fights. Boos were clearly heard from the crowd.
In the opening fight of the main card, Clay Guida faced off against Japan’s Takanori Gomi. After dominating the first round, Guida sunk a slick guillotine in the second for the finish.
UFC first-timer Diego Nunes faced off against former WEC champion Mike Brown. Diego took a hard-fought split judges’ decision.
Check out the results:
UFC 125
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
January 1, 2010
Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard fought to a draw
Brian Stann defeated Chris Leben via TKO at 3:37 min of R1
Thiago Silva defeated Brandon Vera via unanimous decision
Dong Hyun Kim defeated Nate Diaz via unanimous decision
Clay Guida submitted Takanori Gomi via guillotine at 4:27 min of R2
Jeremy Stephens defeated Marcus Davis por KO at 2:33 min of R3
Dustin Poirier defeated Josh Grispi via unanimous decision
Brad Tavares defeated Phil Baroni via KO at 4:20 min of R1
Diego Nunes defeated Mike Brown via split decision