This Saturday UFC 114 took place in Las Vegas before a star-studded audience. Scattered around the front rows were the likes of the NBA’s Tim Duncan, boxer Mike Tyson and rapper Snoop Doggy Dog, who watched former champion Rashad Evans eliminate his rival Quinton Jackson in the race for a light heavyweight title bout. The two had been at odds with each other ever since filming of the “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show, but Evans got the better of the showdown and could fight for the title. In other much-anticipated matchups Rogério Minotouro won his second fight in the UFC and England’s Michael Bisping recovered from his setback at the hands of Wanderlei Silva. Further demonstrating England’s burgeoning momentum in MMA, John Hathaway didn’t give favored-to-win Diego Sanchez a chance.
Check out the results and the analysis of the fights on the main card:
Rashad Evans vs Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
Photos: Josh Hedges
Rashad Evans showed what was to come in the first 30 seconds with a powerful punch that dropped Quinton Jackson. However, the fight that started out heated only began to stir excitement in the third and final round. Rampage was being handled by Rashad when he landed a punch that knocked Evans to the ground. Rashad managed to recover and reciprocate with a takedown followed by ground and pound. The unanimous decision that came thereafter in Evans’s favor looks to have decided who will face Maurício Shogun in a light heavyweight title challenge.
Michael Bisping vs Dan Miller
In a lackluster affair, Michael Bisping calmly set the pace against Dan Miller throughout the three rounds. The bout played out entirely standing and the Englishman connected with better strikes. In the end, Bisping recovered from his loss to Wandlerlei Silva by taking the unanimous decision.
Todd Duffee vs Mike Russow
Holder of the record for quickest knockout in UFC history (7 second) Todd Duffee had a taste of his own medicine against Mike Russow. After nearly ending the bout in the first round, Duffee went on to dictate the pace from there on out, but the chubby Russow caught his muscle-bound opponent off guard in the third with a hook that dropped Duffee definitively.
Rogério Minotouro vs Jason Brilz
Anyone who thought Rogério Minotouro would have it easy against late replacement Jason Brilz was sorely mistaken. The Brazilian had his work cut out for him. After an evenly-matched first round that saw Minotouro taken to the ground, but recovered with a sweep and more aggressive striking, Brilz sunk a tight guillotine in the second. Mino managed to get back in the action, but suffered solid strikes in the standing exchanges. In the final round, the American ran out of gas and the Brazilian worked well on the ground with sweeps, gaining top position and landing a crucifix, where he trapped his opponent’s arm with his legs and threw punches to his helpless opponent’s face. The split decision rewarded Minotouro angered the crowd, which was rooting for Brilz.
John Hathaway vs Diego Sanchez
Undefeated in MMA, John Hathaway passed his first big test in the UFC in grand style. Against a Diego Sanchez returning to the welterweight division the Englishman landed a knee in the first round and nearly ended the fight with the ground and pound that ensued. In the final stages, Hathaway got the better of the standup and contained Sanchez in the minutes preceding his well-deserved unanimous-decision victory.
Preliminary fights
In the UFC 114 opening show, Ryan Jensen put away Jesse Forbes with a guillotine choke in the first round. Luis Banha lost his second fight in a row in the promotion, having been knocked out by Cyrille Diabate. Now Melvin Guillard kept up his winning ways with a knee that knocked Waylon Lowe out in the opening round.
Full results:
Las Vegas, United States
May 29, 2010
Rashad Evans defeated Quinton “Rampage” Jackson via unanimous decision
Michael Bisping defeated Dan Miller via unanimous decision
Mike Russow defeated Todd Duffee by KO at 2:32 min of R3
Rogério Nogueira defeated Jason Brilz via split decision
John Hathaway defeated Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision
Dong Hyun Kim defeated Amir Sadollah via unanimous decision
Efrain Escudero defeated Dan Lauzon via unanimous decision
Melvin Guillard defeated Waylon Lowe via TKO at 3:28s of R1
Cyrille Diabate defeated Luiz Cane por TKO at 2:13s of R1
Aaron Riley defeated Joe Brammer via unanimous decision
Ryan Jensen submitted Jesse Forbes via guillotine at 1:06 min of R1