This Saturday’s UFC 123 event brought plenty of excitement to Detroit, Michigan. Check out the breakdown of the main card:
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida
The two first rounds were even. Jackson would advance and Lyoto would respond with his traditional counter attack. In the second round, Rampage managed to get a takedown, but the karate stylist got immediately back to his feet. The third round was Lyoto’s, as he launched a salvo of strikes, got the takedown, passed guard, mounted, and even tried for an armbar. The judges understood Jackson to have gotten the best of the first two rounds, though, outweighing Machida’s performance in the third. The split decision went to Rampage, who even expressed surprise with the result. Another controversial decision in the UFC.
BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes
The deciding match in the trilogy of BJ Penn versus Matt Hughes was the Hawaiian’s, taking the lead two to one. Unlike his last two performances, against Frankie Edgar, BJ came back determined. Hughes was coming off of important wins against Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Cachorrão, but couldn’t handle the pace BJ brought on in boxing, throwing precision strikes from the opening bell. Hughes was dropped by a potent straight blow to the chin and Penn threw a few more in for good measure until the referee intervened, all in only 21 seconds.
Maiquel Falcão vs. Gerald Harris
Maiquel Falcão showed veteran-level experience in his UFC debut, against Gerald Harris, who was until then undefeated in the promotion. In the first round he threw potent strikes and nearly got the finish with a rear-naked choke but Harris was saved by the bell. In the second Falcão again landed with good strikes and kicks to made it to back mount. The final round saw the two fighters studying each other. Following the round, Falcão took the fight by unanimous decision.
Tim Boetsch vs. Phil Davis
Phil Davis used his knees well and got a takedown in the second round that would prove decisive. After sinking a kimura lock, the fighter set up a variation of the armlock that left Tim Boetsch no choice but to tap out 2:55 minutes into the round.
George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon
Australia’s George Sotiropoulos again put on a Jiu-Jitsu clinic. The first round against Joe Lauzon was a hard-fought one, with an exchange of sweeps, but Sotiropoulos came out ahead in the end. In the second, he set about imposing his ground game and set um a fight-ending kimura lock at 2:43 minutes of the round. With the result, Sotiropoulos notches his seventh win in the UFC and gets close to a lightweight title.
The preliminaries also offered heaps of action. Brazilian newcomer Edson Jr. had a solid debut, against Mike Lullo, punishing him with kicks and managing the knockout in the second round. Nik Lentz took a unanimous decision over Tyson Griffin, as did Mark Munoz against Aaron Simpson. Now Dennis Hallman knocked out Karo Parisyan in just 1:47 minutes of combat.
Check out the complete results:
UFC 123
Detroit, Michigan, USA
November 20, 2010
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson defeated Lyoto Machida via split decision
BJ Penn defeated Matt Hughes via TKO at 0.21 min of R1
Maiquel Falcão defeated Gerald Harris via unanimous decision
Phil Davis submitted Tim Boetsch via armbar at 2:55 min of R2
George Sotiropoulos submitted Joe Lauzon via armbar at 2:43 min of R2
Brian Foster submitted Matt Brown via guillotine at 2:11 min of R2
Mark Munoz defeated Aaron Simpson via unanimous decision
Dennis Hallman defeated Karo Parisyan via TKO at 1:47 min of R1
Edson Barboza defeated Mike Lullo via TKO at 0.26 min of R3
Paul Kelly defeated T.J. O’Brien via TKO at 3:16 min of R2
Nik Lentz defeated Tyson Griffin