...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
MMATorch correspondent Ian Saul sent the following in person report from UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi
First thing to say is that this arena is the best I’ve ever been too. Clean and comfortable with very professional staff. We got in quickly and so starts my first live UFC show and it just happens to be in Abu Dhabi.
Jon Madsen vs. Mustafa Al Turk
Jon Madsen via decision after an ok fight. Madsen sealed the victory with a hard takedown in the third - very even up to that point - both looked tired; by the end Madsen's punches looked like they had more sting than Al-Turk's
Paul Kelly vs. Matt Veach
Kelly Via second round submission to what looked to me like a guillotine (although I couldn't see particularly clearly). Veach started well until he started bleeding from a shot in the first. Kelly looked good and was in control for most of the fight after the initial flurry. Veach did come close with a choke very early in the fight. Kelly looked like a star out there!
This could possibly be on the main show as it was quality and quite quick
DaMarques Johnson vs. Brad Blackburn
DaMarques Johnson beat Brad Blackburn in the middle of the third round with a TKO. This was an exciting fight with Blackburn looking like he won the first two rounds. We were expecting the same in the third but Johnson made an awesome comeback and just started pounding on Blackburn with a great ground attack - really mixed up the offense until the fight got called off - that was fun!!!
If they have time they should put that on the main show as the comeback was great!
Nick Osipczak vs. Rick Story
Split decision win for Rick story in a fight full of action including slams from story and some type of choke (again I think it was a guillotine but I’m not quite sure). I was very impressed with Osipczak surviving it though. No one really lost in this fight as it was a good showing for both of them.
Paul Taylor vs. John Gunderson was off the show due to problems with Taylors weight cut.
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Phil Davis
Davis looking odd in bright Pink trunks – First round started very close with an energetic start with Davis fighting for the take down. Knees to the legs by Davis looked like they hurt Gustafsson. Davis used very standard wrestler type offence (not a bad thing at all). Beautiful choke to finish with Davis rolling into an anaconda. Fun fight!
And now the important fights start!
PPV Live perspective
I'll be really intrigued as to whether I will see this differently than the writers on MMAtorch.com as I have no where near the level of insight that these guys do as I'm just a fan watching the show from the arena.
The sound system is fantastically clear – the video packages really built anticipation but it would have been nice to put up Arabic subtitles as the ex-pats had to translate for our Arab hosts!
Damn, this crowd is loud – I’ve been to a lot of pro wrestling shows and a huge amount of music concerts and this is the loudest I’ve ever heard a crowd!
Kendall Grove vs. Mark Munoz
There are a lot of Filipino’s in the crowd and they are loving Munoz’s entrance.
Round one: Munoz shoots in and drops Grove. Some good shots as Grove gets up. Grove gets some big shots in as Munoz goes in again. Grove has him tight up against the cage with big shots. The fight slows down with Munoz going for the leg and getting battered. Ref pulls them apart. Grove stuffs the take down and gets a choke. Munoz gets a great punch in. Grove grabs a choke but Munoz slips out. Munoz goes for the leg again but Kendal gets another Guillotine. Great round. I’m thinking 10-9 to Kendal Grove.
Round 2: Grove looks in better shape coming out. Munoz is swinging. BIG knee by Grove and has his back. Looks like he’s trying for a triangle. Grove looking for the armbar. Crowd goes mental as Munoz gets some ground and pound in. Hard body shots by Munoz. Grove looks a bit rattled. Huge Ground and pound by Munoz. Ref stops it a little late by the looks of things
WOW. that was an AMAZING fight live. Crowd are over the moon!
Munoz is doing a very excited little dance in celebration
Munoz just made a name for himself!
We suddenly have Arabic subtitles on the screen – Cool!
Terry Etim vs. Rafael Dos Anjos
The Liverpool lad hits the cage to a round of hearty cheers from the Brits in the crowd as he come out to Phil Collins
First Round: Etim looks a bit nervous coming in. Big “Terry” chant. Etim is going in with high and low kicks and then grabs a guillotine; it looks tight but Dos Anjos is fighting it. Good ground work by both guys. Ref stands them up due to knees to the spine by Dos Anjos. Up against the cage now with Etim defending well and comes down on top of Dos Anjos. Etim posturing up and then drops down to finish the round. No idea who got that one
GSP gets the pop of the night so far in the crowd
Round 2: They exchange leg kicks. Nice knee on the scramble by Etim. Dos Anjos drops Etim into side control, not much happening, but Dos Anjos is trying to get the mount and fails, nasty elbows on Etim from side control. Back to half guard. Dos Anjos is sitting on Etims face and going for and armbar. He’s got it and Etim Taps.
Some boo’s from the Brits in the crowd. Another good fight! This show is blowing away UFC 111.
Matt Hughes vs. Renzo Gracie
BIG reaction for the Gracie from the Arabs in the crowd – he’s a hero here in the capital of Arabic Jiu Jitsu – looking over at the Royal box there is a lot of excited Royals right now!
Hughes gets a mixture of cheers and boos – Hughes is a lot shorter than I had realised
First Round: Here we go! Hughes misses a big kick to start. Renzo is throwing hands but nothing is connecting in the first couple of mins. Couple of nice jabs from Gracie but Hughes has him up against the cage. They separate and start the stand up again. They go into the clinch and up against the cage with Hughes in the dominant position as the crowd starts a “Gracie” chant. Gracie throws and misses then they punch each other simultaneously. Couple of knees land. Hughes with some kicks and a missed superman punch. That round seemed to go to Gracie but it was very close
Bit of a slow start – hopefully they will kick it up a notch in the second.
Round 2: Leg kicks by Hughes to start the round. Into the clinch, slight low blow by Hughes but they don’t stop and Hughes apologises . They go to the ground but get straight back up. Looked to me like a clash of heads but I maybe wrong. Crowd is booing the slow action. Gracie is trying but Hughes isn’t really engaging. Couple of nice jabs from Hughes. The crowd is getting bored by this. They look gassed out at this point. Nice leg kick by Hughes. Big over hand right by Gracie gets blocked. Hughes with a flurry to finish but fails to get the take down. Hughes gets that round
Round 3: Another leg kick by Hughes to start. Not a lot happening except those leg kicks. More leg kicks. Hughes with a nice combo and gets the clinch against the cage but keeps hold and and gets some BIG shots in with the right hand. Gracie looks stunned. A leg kick takes Gracie down. Hughes helps Gracie up then knocks him down again with the leg kick. This is looking bad for Gracie. Some BIG HARD punches by Hughes and Gracie goes down again – Hughes lets him up. Hard jabs finish the fight late in the third.
Dull for three quarters of the fight but the last couple of mins were brutal. Good stoppage as there could have been damage done!
B.J. Penn vs. Frankie Edgar
Edgar looks ready to go and very relaxed.
And here comes the prodigy as the lights go out in Abu Dhabi. The lighting guys tonight deserve a lot of credit for the job they have done.
B.J. has a slightly nutty look on his face. I’d be very nervous if I was Frankie Edgar!
Before the introductions there is a nervous hush over the crowd as people watch what they think maybe a massacre
Round 1: “B.J.” chant from the crowd. Edgar is moving fast. Nice leg kick from Edgar. Penn is stalking him. Exchanging jabs, Edgar is the aggressor late in the round. Penn being patient waiting for an opening. Nice combo by Edgar. Edgar slips in the last few seconds. I think that Edgar may have won that round
Round 2 : Both look fresh coming out. They are engaging more to start the second round. Couple of jabs are connecting but B.J. lands a punch as Edgar misses a take down. Nice leg kick by Edgar. Edgar is having a very good showing right now. Total chess match but an exciting one. Edgar goes for another take down but nothing comes of it. Penn hitting some shots as Edgar comes in. Nice defensive boxing by Edgar. Couple of nice combo’s by Edgar. EDGAR GETS THE TAKE DOWN but nothing comes of it.
With the take down I have Edgar winning both rounds.
Round 3: Ref is wiping off Edgar for some reason. A few shots are getting through for Penn. Edgar gets a nice leg kick. Edgar has incredibly fast movement. The cooler night air here maybe helping the energy levels right now (although it's not cool by any stretch of the imagination - just cooler). Edgar shoots again. Brutal kick from a takedown attempt by Edgar. Edgar's cardio must be amazing. This is so much closer than anyone expected.
Probably Penn's round but it’s very very close. I’d love to know who the announcers have winning the fight as I have Edgar in the lead.
Round 4: There are some nice exchanges with a loud crack from one shot but I have no idea who it was that connected with what I assume was a kick. Edgar is the aggressor. Crowd are getting a bit restless but I’m loving how competitive this is. B.J. stops a takedown attempt. B.J. just doesn’t seem to have got the target as well as usual. Nice right from Edgar. B.J. is stalking Edgar again. If nothing changes we may have a title change. And as I say that Penn starts to connect. Edgar bulls Penn against the cage but they soon separate. Big left from B.J. A nice combo for Edgar to finish.
I may be completely wrong but I think Edgar is in the lead. He is fighting an incredibly intelligent fight!
Round 5: Edgar looks the freshest of the two at this point. Penn starts to move in but Edgar gets the take down. Straight back up and B.J. looks very angry. If Edgar can stay away I think he has this! Head kick blocked by Penn. Edgar looks so fresh. And Penn is fighting very well but Edgar is fighting a very smart fight. Hard right by Edgar connects. Penn with a high kick but Edgar blocks it. Take down is avoided twice by Penn. Great movement by Edgar for the entire fight. Penn needs to do something if he wants to be safe with his title. Crowd pops for the 1 min left mark and they are thinking that they may see a change in the title holders name. Edgar still the aggresser. Nice combo by Penn.
That’s it – I think Edgar won but it could go either way!
I’m actually nervous for the announcement. – the arena is silent and waiting. Penn looks very tired but Edgar looks like he could go for another 5 rounds!
Penn looks unhappy.
EDGAR WINS AND THE CROWD GO MENTAL!!!!!!!!!
Anderson Silva vs. Damien Maia
Maybe we will have a crazy night with two giant upsets but I doubt it!
We are in a black out again for Silva’a entrance. Silva looks happy and chilled dancing to the cage.
It’s still warm here but not as warm as earlier. I wonder if that may have an effect on the fighters
Respect shown by both men with the bow.
First round: And it begins with a feeling out between the fighters with Maia showing good confidence and Silva just looking as relaxed as any fighter ever has. Silva has his hands down. Nasty low kick by Silva. And another nasty leg kick. Silva is in a weird stance. “Silva" chant starts up. Silva keeps grabing the mat for some reason. Nasty kicks to the legs of Maia. High kick by Silva misses. Silva hits a punch from a weird angle and hits a knee to the head and kicks Maia on the floor – ref stands up Maia.
Maia looked scared to death at the end of that round.
Round 2: Silva is doing the Matrix routine. Maia has nothing for Silva here. Silva is leaving openings but Maia is too scared to advance (not that I blame him). Silva stuffs a take down and the ref stands up Maia. Silva is talking trash and begging Maia to come in. Total show boating. I’m begging for Maia to catch him with a lucky shot and knock him out but I really doubt it could happen. Crowd is Booing the lack of action. Another takedown stuffed. Brutal leg kicks. HARD jabs by Silva. Maia is not ready for this fight.
Maia is trying hard but has nothing for Silva.
Round 3: They are back at it. Silva eats a left from Maia with no effect. We had a brief “Maia” chant so that was nice. Silva appears to be pretending to be a robot. Maia is getting a few shots in by Silva is not in any danger. Head kick by Silva. Maia tried to shoot and missed. Silva is hitting combo’s now. Maia got a punch in. Maia tried for another take down but is eating canvas. Silva is mocking him.
The crowd is starting to feel bad for Maia. This is starting to turn Silva into a Heel in the eyes of the crowd.
Round 4: BIG left from Maia but Silva didn’t flinch. Silva is getting booed. Silva has turned the crowd totally against him with the shows of disrespect and the lazy attitude. Massive GSP chant. Maia looks tired and pissed off. Not much in the way of comments of this round as nothing is happening.
Silva is now HATED by the crowd
Round 5: People are actually leaving the arena. Maia is a real mess. Maia is at least trying. High kick by Silva blocked. Maia is still coming forward with shooting attempts. Flurry from Maia. The heart on Maia is incredible. COME ON MAIA!!! I’m with the crowd on this one. Maia is now a hero to this crowd. MAIA has a leg. Lost it! I can’t wait for Rogan's interview. Swing and a miss by Silva. Maia still moving forward as Silva runs in circles. Ref gets a huge cheer for telling off Silva. Big swing by Maia. I think that a certain Mr. White is gonna be very angry!
That’s it – Silva wins a Decision. Maia is getting a hero’s reception though. If UFC builds on this then Maia has a chance of being a real star. Ref looked unhappy to raise Silva’s hand.
So a great show ends on a down note as the Silva fight disappoints. People streamed out at the final buzzer, not waiting for the interview of Silva.
RELATED STORY: Anderson Silva embarrasses Maia, loses fans in decision victory in Abu Dhabi: [CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE]
DON'T GO YET... WE SUGGEST THESE MMATORCH ARTICLES, TOO!
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
