UFC 119 Results

I have a feeling that UFC 119 won't be going down as one of the better events in the storied promotions history. The undercard largely produced more fireworks than the slower main card.

In pre-lim heavyweight action, Matt Mitrione went toe to toe with Joey Beltran in a three round slugfest. Each fighter was able to land some heavy punches, but Mitrione had better kickboxing, landing solid leg kicks. Mitirione captured his third straight UFC win and first Fight of the Night with the decision victory.

CB Dollaway used his nifty grappling to secure a guillotine choke win on Joe "El Dirte" Doerkson. With the choke not yet secured, CB bided his time, before rolling and cinching the submission forcing the tap. CB earned the submission of the night bonus.

(CB Dollaway Pictured)

The main card, well, I thought Evan Dunham was absolutely robbed against Sean Sherk. While Sherk got better takedowns and ground and pound in the first round, the 2nd and 3rd rounds belonged to Dunham. Dunahm did more damage and landed far more strikes, with Sherk not able to land strikes from top position.

Frank Mir KO'd Cro Cop in the third round of a very slow fight. Ryan Bader used takedowns and ground strikes to take a unanimous decision. Chris Lytle landed the more accurate punches to win a decision over Matt Serra. Melvin Guillard and Jeremy Stephens engaged in a very close stand-up fight with Guillard getting the decision.

Full Results:

Frank Mir def Mirko "Cro Cop" via KO(knee) R3, 4:02
Ryan Bader def Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via unanimous dec
Chris Lytle def Matt Serra via unanimous dec
Sean Sherk def Evan Dunham via split dec
Melvin Guillard def Jeremy Stephens via split dec
C.B. Dollaway def Joe Doerksen via sub(guillotine) R1, 2:13
Matt Mitrione def Joey Beltran via unanimous dec
Thiago Tavares def Pat Audinwood via sub(guillotine) R1, 3:47
Waylon Lowe def Steve Lopez via split dec
T.J. Grant def Julio Paulino via unanimous dec
Sean McCorkle def Mark Hunt via sub, R1, 1:03

TUF 10 - Big Country

The TUF 10 Finale produced some dramatic KO's and submission victories, a weird ending and an unlikely decision victory. The biggest winner was TUF 10 heavyweight champion Roy Nelson. The 263 pound former IFL Champion was matched up against former football star Brendan Schaub, who played at Colorado in college, Utah Blaze of the arena league and briefly for the Buffalo Bills.

Big Country came out to Weird Al's "I'm Fat" which is a parody of "I'm Bad" by Michael Jackson and let his belly do the talking in the ring. Brendan was the early aggressor, tagging Roy and forcing him to cover up and defend numerous punches. From there, Roy was able to get a takedown and nearly got the fight into his infamous crucifix position.

Brendan was able to scramble and get back to his feet. During the next exchange, Roy threw a massive overhand right that found its mark to Brendan's temple. Brendan crumpled to the canvas and Roy threw a couple follow-ups to seal the first round victory and TUF 10 crown.


In other action, Jon Jones looked athletic, fast and dominating in his performance against Matt Hamill. The extremely long limbed Jones threw front kicks, spinning kicks, and spinning back elbows from southpaw and traditional stances. Midway through the first, Jones nailed Hamill with a massive slam, possibly dislocating Hamill's shoulder.

With full mount, Jones threw wicked ground and pound with amazing quickness. Hamill managed to block many of the strikes with some sneaking threw before Jones threw a 12-6 straight up and down elbow that is illegal. The strike KO'd Hamill, and ref Steve Mazzagatti gave Hamill a DQ win.

Two former college wresting stand-outs Frank Edgar and Matt Veach put on an excellent show. Veach was able to land crowd pleasing slams and use his power. Unfortunately for Veach, eventually Edgar found his mark with right hand sending Veach to the canvas. From there, Edgar working a rear naked choke.

Kimbo Slice made a successful debut in one of the upsets on the card. Most hardcore fans such as myself thought that Houston Alexander and his nasty muay thai put him at a clear advantage. Alexander was circling and shuffling throughout the fight. There were moments of big action and exchanges, with Kimbo mostly finding his mark.

In the second round, Kimbo managed to get a decent slam takedown with good ground and pound. Kimbo continued his dominance in the round working his counter punches. Houston Alexander's best round was the third, where he was able to land some big kicks to Kimbo's legs, at one point knocking the former street brawler down. In the end, it was a unanimous decision for Kimbo.

In other action former NFL players and TUF 10 castmates Matt Mitrione and Marcus Jones did battle in their official UFC debut. Marcus Jones was able to land a big takedown early and batter Mitrione with ground and pound strikes. However, in the second round Mitrione landed a big right hand to floor Jones, whose striking game still needs work.


FULL RESULTS:

Roy Nelson def Brendan Schaub via KO (punch) R1, 3:45
Matt Hamill def Jon Jones via DQ (illegal elbow) R1, 4:14
Kimbo Slice def Houston Alexander via unanimous dec
Frankie Edgar def Matt Veach via sub (RNC) R2, 2:22
Matt Mitrione def Marcus Jones via KO (punches) R2, 0:10
James McSweeney def Darrill Schoonover via TKO (strikes) R3, 3:20
Jon Madsen def Justin Wren via split dec
Brian Stann def Rodney Wallace via unanimous dec
John Howard def Dennis Hallman via KO (punches) R3, 4:55
Mark Bocek def Joe Brammer via sub (RNC) R1, 3:36

*Dana White announced the coaches for TUF 11, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz.

TUF 10 Preview

TUF 10's regular season will wrap this Wednesday with a two hour episode featuring four fights. On Saturday, the TUF 10 Finale will take place, with Matt "The Hammer" Hamill and Jon "Bones" Jones headlining.

So far, Roy Nelson and Brendan Schaub from Team Rashad have made the final 4. Darrill Schoonover and Marcus Jones will fight first and James McSweeney will fight Matt Mitrione or an alternate.

Darrill Schoonover, an Army Vet, is 10-0 in his young career with a big victory over BJJ ace and former NFL player Rex Richards in the Shark Fights promotion. Schoonover has good stand-up to go along with his ground game. In his first TUF fight, Schoon peppered Zak Jensen standing, nearly getting a KO, before locking in a triangle choke.

Marcus Jones, a former 1st round pick of the Tampa Bay Bucs, is a big guy with huge power. Jones' stand-up is still not refined as he looks like a zombie stalking his prey. However, once the fight gets to the ground, it enters Jones' comfort zone. Against Mike Wessel in the first round of TUF, Jones secured a fast and nasty armbar, almost causing Wessel serious injury.

James McSweeney against Matt Mitrione will be a pure stand-up fight if the fight occurs. McSweeney has solid leg kicks that he would use to cut down a big tree like Mitrione. Mitrione took a beating in his fight with Scott Junk, however he has complained quite a bit since the fight.


TUF 10 FINALE MAIN CARD

Matt Hamill vs. Jon Jones
Frankie Edgar vs. Matt Veach
Finalist No. 1 vs. Finalist No. 2
Houston Alexander vs. Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson*

PRELIMINARY CARD

Dennis Hallman vs. John Howard
Brian Stann vs. Rodney Wallace
Mark Bocek vs. Joe Brammer
TUF 10 Final 4 runners-up
TUF 10 Second Rounders

TUF 10, Matt the Rat

This episode of TUF focused on former NFL player Matt Mitrione as he struggles with living in the isolation that is the ultimate fighter house. Matt has lost his temper, tried to play mind games with teammates, and looked completely out of focus.

With Matt acting crazy and the fighters bored, Wes Sims seems to be the guy to liven things up. While clad in a massive black gi, the 6'10" Sims looked to scale the wall as a ninja, and sneak up on Mitrione as he shot some hoops alone. As Sims crept closer, he began hiding in the trees. The secrecy continued until he was right up on Mitrione. Hilarious.

Rampage and Rashad continued to bicker at each other, mocking the KO's that each has suffered in their superb careers. The animosity seems to boil over to practice sessions.

The final fights are announced as Mitrione will fight Scott Junk. That leaves Marcus Jones fighting Mike Wessell in the final fight. In a weird move, Mitrione drops Junk a note, saying that Wessell was scared to fight him. Why did Mitrione completely throw Wessell under the bus? Maybe just trying to play mind games.

As the fight between Junk and Mitrione starts, Mitrione clearly has the advantage in size and reach. Miotrone landing jabs and kicks with effectiveness. The smaller Junk tries to throw a kick, and a Mitrione jab lands square in Junks face. Apparently, Junk was poked in the eye.

Despite having his eyelid inside out, he is peppered by Mitrione. Junk tries to kick, but that is caught by Mitrione who punches Junk again and throws him down. Junk tries for a desperate single and is teed off on by Junk. Near the end of the round, Junk manages a brief flurry.

In the second, Junk manages a takedown, but Mitrione keeps throwing punches. Both fighters run out of gas, barely able to throw punches as they battle until the end of the second. Two judges score it for Mitrione, one scores it a draw.

With the win it is now 7-0 for Rashad. Rampage lives up to his nickname, destroying a door in the gym that is apparently made out of cardboard and toothpicks.

(Matt Mitrione on the Vikings)

2nd Round Qualifiers - Jon Madsen, James McSweeney, Roy Nelson, Brendan Schaub, Justin Wren, Darrill Schoonover, Matt Mitrione