-Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan open up the pay-per-view broadcast and run down the fights coming on tonight's main card. Nothing new here. Ready for these fights tonight already! Five excellent matchups on paper, and it should be a highly entertaining night on pay-per-view. First up, bring out the flyweights!
FIGHT ONE: JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ VS. IAN MCCALL (FLYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: They traded leg kicks early and Benavidez pressed in. He closed the distance and McCall tried to shoot in. Benavidez defended well, and landed a nice right on the break. He stalked and put McCall's back to the cage again. Benavidez landed a couple of strikes as he ate a strike from McCall. Benavidez got in a kick to the body. Benavidez scored with a right as McCall landed a punch. Benavidez got in a couple more strikes and McCall fired a counter. Benavidez rocked McCall with a big combination. He pressed him to the cage and landed another strike and McCall smiled. Benavidez scored an accidental low blow in a rush that briefly halted the action. McCall landed a leg kick. Benavidez rocked McCall again with a counter right. He landed a few strikes in combination. The power difference between the two is clear. He landed another nice combination and scored with a knee to the body. McCall threw a kick and ate a double jab. Benavidez went inside with another kick. He landed a short combo and McCall caught a kick briefly before letting the leg go. McCall landed a nice kick but ate a bunch of punches in return. Benavidez got in a short elbow. Benavidez just missed an overhand right. McCall scored a strike the cut Benavidez on the top of the head. McCall threw Benavidez down in close before the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Benavidez. McCall came on strong late, but the power from Benavidez was the real difference to begin. On replay, it was a head butt that cut Benavidez.
ROUND TWO: Benavidez landed a nice right as McCall threw a kick. Benavidez landed a hard kick to the body and got in an overhand right behind it. He blocked a high kick and kept McCall backed up. He landed another right. He swung a big overhand right that didn't connect. They traded strikes in the center. McCall landed a hard inside leg kick. Benavidez landed a nice quick right and backed out. He landed again and McCall swung and missed on the counter. Benavidez landed another combination that caused McCall to smile again. Benavidez landed another hard body kick. Benavidez landed a nice uppercut, then stuffed a shot from McCall and drove him to the cage. They traded short knees and punches before Benavidez popped out. Benavidez blocked a kick and ate a jab to get in close. He connected on a right and McCall backed away. McCall landed a right. McCall landed a hard right and Benavidez countered. Benavidez landed a short combo. Benavidez slipped and McCall got on top and landed a few hammerfists. He got his back in a scramble. Benavidez got out and had to defend some strikes before working to his feet. McCall held his back standing and landed a knee to the face. McCall got in another knee before the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Benavidez. McCall took advantage of that duck under shot, but his offense wasn't enough to negate the first four minutes of the round.
ROUND THREE: Benavidez scored a huge right and a few more that rocked McCall early. He got in the clinch and scored a short elbow. He backed off and landed a couple strikes. Benavidez countered a kick with a right that dropped him. McCall worked back to his feet, though. Benavidez kept the pressure on. Benavidez missed a few counter strikes after McCall landed a kick. Benavidez landed another nice combo. He landed a hard kick to the body and a straight left after it. McCall shot in and scored a takedown, but Benavidez scrambled and got right back up. Benavidez landed a leg kick and McCall returned one of his own. Benavidez landed a kick to the body. McCall got in a right. They traded kicks again. Benavidez caught a kick and landed a strike. He rushed in and scored a couple strikes. Benavidez popped in with a nice two punch combo. McCall got in a strike to the body but couldn't rush Benavidez. Benavidez then scored another combination. Benavidez landed a hard kick to the body. He stuffed a takedown attempt and pressed McCall off. Benavidez landed a right and a kick to the body. He threw one more combo as the fight ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Benavidez. Recovered from a bad last minute to round two and just dominated the striking start to finish in this fight. Very good performance.
WINNER: Benavidez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (***) That was an awesome three round fight, and Benavidez continues to prove himself as one of the very best fighters at 135 lbs. and below. McCall was a tough opponent and gritted through some bad spots, but he just didn't have nearly enough to offer Benavidez in this one.
FIGHT TWO: JON FITCH VS. DEMIAN MAIA (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Maia rushed in and immediately shot for a takedown. He got him down right away, got his back, and tried to set up a choke. Fitch stood and defended as Maia held a body triangle with Fitch standing. Fitch continued to defend. Maia stayed patient and tried to get both hands free. Fitch stayed patient and worked to defend the choke attempts. Maia tried to open him up with strikes. The crowd started booing as the action stalled. Maia finally lost his position but kept on Fitch and dragged him back to the ground. Fitch got to his feet again. Maia again dragged Fitch down. Maia landed some knees to the thighs. He got another body triangle and landed some strikes. Maia continued working through the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-8 Maia. Fitch didn't have any offense at all. That has to be a 10-8 for Maia.
ROUND TWO: Maia tried to strike to start the second round and ate a couple kicks as he missed a left. He landed a strike. Fitch got in a nice right. Maia shot in and scored a single leg takedown. Fitch held off Maia's pass attempt and worked to his feet nicely. Maia missed a jab and ate a counter, but he got him to the cage and dragged him down with a hook in. He got his second hook in and tried to work for the choke again. Maia got the choke locked on, but Fitch peeled the hand down. Maia continued trying to work, but Fitch remained nigh in-submittable. Maia landed some strikes from the back. Fitch tried to sit up but got pulled back down. Fitch tried to spin out, but Maia continued working to the horn again.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Maia. Fitch had a little early offense, but Maia remains completely in control right now.
ROUND THREE: Fitch threw a high kick and Maia ducked under and went for another takedown. He tried to drag Fitch down and Fitch landed a few strikes. Fitch defended the takedown into the clinch on the cage. Maia took his back standing again and dragged Fitch down and again got his back. The crowd booed the fight going back down. Fitch scrambled and got back to his feet. Maia shot in and Fitch stuffed it. Fitch grabbed a guillotine and used it to score a takedown. He landed a big elbow. Maia worked to his feet and got Fitch's back again standing. Fitch finally got free with a little over a minute left. Maia shot in for a single leg. He worked through and scored the takedown. Maia got the body triangle again. they traded a few strikes on the ground and Maia mounted at the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Maia. Impressively dominant performance from Maia. His grappling was quite simply superior, and Fitch's defense was just enough to keep him from stopping it.
WINNER: Maia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
STAR RATING: (**+) That's not everyone's kind of fight, but it was an excellent technical affair with one of the best grapplers in the sport just dominating one of the other top grapplers for three rounds. Fitch is still pretty much impossible to submit, but he wasn't able to do much more than survive tonight.
FIGHT THREE: ALISTAIR OVEREEM VS. ANTONIO "BIGFOOT" SILVA (HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Overeem smiled and came straight ahead. Overeem popped in with a leaping left that got through. He landed an uppercut to the body and Silva clinched. Overeem landed a knee to the body, then shrugged out of the clinch. Silva threw a leg kick. Overeem landed a jab and an uppercut. He got in another punch to the body and they clinched. The clinch was a stalemate and Overeem backed out. He landed a right and they clinched again. He got in a knee to the body. Overeem continued with knee strikes and then backed out again. Silva was hesitant to do anything. He tried to clinch and got turned around, eating another knee from Overeem. Overeem continued the attack with knees as Silva threw a couple body punches. He backed out again. Silva landed a knick to the body, but ate a big right and a big knee to the body behind it. Overeem showed zero respect to Silva's striking. He kept his hands down and landed a hard kick after a jab. Silva clinched again but got pressed to the cage. He got in another hard knee to the body and backed out away from a punch. Overeem landed a jab. He avoided a right and landed an uppercut. Silva clinched again and ate a knee before the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Overeem. Not quite enough damage or offense for a 10-8, but this is all him right now.
ROUND TWO: Silva landed an outside leg kick but ate a counter punch. Overeem ripped a right. They clinched again, but this time Overeem scored a big throw into side control. Silva landed a couple of elbows from the bottom. Overeem landed a punch and elbow to the body. He landed a hard hammerfist as Silva got him into guard. Overeem stayed busy from the top with shots to the body. Silva tried to kick Overeem off and landed a couple straight kicks to the leg before Overeem dropped right back down. Overeem landed some more strikes from the top. Overeem stood and landed a strike before dropping down again. Silva got his back to the cage. Overeem stayed busy enough to avoid the standup. He passed to half guard after a brief flurry. Silva kicked him off and Herb Dean stood it up. Silva came out swinging but missed. He got in a knee and a strike. Overeem fired back and scored a short forearm at the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Overeem. It's not been pretty, and it's certainly not how fans expected this to play out, but it's still been all Overeem from the beginning.
ROUND THREE: Overeem came straight ahead. Overeem landed a knee to the body. Silva threw a head kick and landed a few strikes. Overeem was hurt. Silva rushed him on the cage and opened up and knocked Overeem out! Herb Dean had to hold Silva back from attacking after the stoppage.
WINNER: Silva via TKO at :25 of the third round
STAR RATING: (****+) That star rating is all for the third round. That's one of the craziest come from behind upsets ever. Overeem disrespected Silva's striking game all fight, talked plenty of garbage before the fight, and Silva finally made him pay in that final round. Incredible finishing flurry from Bigfoot.
FIGHT FOUR: RASHAD EVANS VS. ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUEIRA (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Nogueira took the center and Evans circled around. Evans landed a kick to the body. He avoided a strike from Nogueira. Very tentative start through the first two minutes brought about some boos from the crowd. Evans threw a kick high but it was blocked. Nogueira landed a jab. Evans backed away. Nogueira landed a right. He landed a straight left. Nogueira landed a left again. Evans landed a hard right and landed another. Evans finally shot under a punch and scored a takedown. Nogueira popped up but ate a few strikes on the way up. He backed off, avoiding a knee. Evans landed a nice straight right. He landed a nice right out of a brief clinch. Evans went high with a kick, but it was blocked before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Evans. Was a close round with not a lot going on, but Evans found some success late with his strikes and the brief takedown.
ROUND TWO: Nogueira landed an early jab and got in a left to the body. He barely missed a short combo. Evans got inside with a leg kick. He landed a right in a short flurry. He popped in a right to the body. Nogueira tried to rush in but didn't connect. Nogueira landed a left, then another to the body. He connected on a few strikes. He landed a straight kick. Evans fired back with a right. He landed an inside leg kick. Nogueira landed the straight left. Evans threw a couple of wild rights that missed their target. He shot but got stuffed. Nogueira landed the jab. He got in with a nice left to the body. Nogueira landed a right. Nogueira landed a left. Evans landed a two punch combo. Nogueira landed a hard body kick and a jab behind it. He landed a right and sprawled on a takedown attempt. He landed a left and they exchanged punches in the center. Nogueira landed a hard right. Evans swung the overhand and missed. Nogueira landed a hard kick to the body. He tried to close the distance but Evans circled away. Evans threw a right. Evans threw a head kick that was blocked before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Nogueira. He out-struck Evans that round, and the former Champ just seems very off tonight.
ROUND THREE: They traded strikes early, but it was more of the same from the first two rounds with a very tentative attack from both. Nogueira landed a kick. Evans connected on a couple of punches. Evans threw a couple of strikes. Nogueira landed a jab. They traded ugly punches in close. Both fighters missed winging punches. Nogueira landed a kick to the body, then a jab, and then Evans poked him in the eye. They checked on Nogueira, and ultimately restarted. Nogueira got in with a straight left, then got one in to the body. He landed a hard body kick. Evans rushed in but gave up on a shot. Nogueira landed the body kick again. Nogueira got in a kick to the leg. He landed a couple lefts in close. The crowd got a bit restless at the (lack of) action. Evans shot in again and Nogueira easily stepped out. They traded punches, with both missing a lot. Nogueira landed a knee to the body. Evans landed a right. Nogueira landed a body kick. The crowd voiced their displeasure with the fight as it came to an end with an exchange of strikes.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Nogueira. He was trying to be somewhat active at least. I don't know where Evans was tonight, but it certainly wasn't in the cage.
WINNER: Nogueira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (*) That was a bad fight. Evans wasn't there mentally, and Nogueira did just a little bit more than Evans to take that decision. Hugely disappointing from Evans when he had a likely bout with Anderson Silva in front of him.
MAIN EVENT FIGHT FIVE: JOSE ALDO VS. FRANKIE EDGAR (FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)
ROUND ONE: Edgar landed an early leg kick to start things off. Aldo landed a kick to the body as Edgar circled on the outside. Aldo landed a nice jab that popped Edgar's head back. Edgar got in with an inside leg kick as the crowd chanted for Aldo. Edgar popped in with a nice right and backed away from a lunging strike from Aldo. "Frankie" chant started up. Hot crowd to start. Aldo landed a nice uppercut as Edgar ran in. Aldo landed the jab again. He again got in with that jab. He again scored with it. He landed a nice straight right as Edgar tried to come in. He landed again on Edgar. The jab got through once again as Edgar circled. The jab continued to get through. He backed off as Edgar rushed in. Edgar scored with a right, but got hit with the jab again. Edgar threw a spinning kick that missed. Another loud Aldo chant. He landed a nice counter right as Edgar tried to engage. He duked under a right and landed one of his own. Edgar began bleeding from the nose as he kept getting hit with the jabs. Aldo landed a hard outside leg kick. Aldo connected on a short combo while avoiding Edgar's attack. Another hard leg kick and a right in close. Aldo threw a head kick that was blocked as the horn sounded.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Aldo. The Champ looked great that round, and Edgar's got a big hill to climb right now.
ROUND TWO: Aldo popped in with a nice combo as Edgar got in. He landed a jab right after. Edgar connected on a right. Edgar tried to close the distance and got hit with a few more jabs. Edgar landed a leg kick but ate a right. Aldo shrugged off a half-hearted takedown rush. Edgar landed a nice kick to the body. They traded strikes in the center. Edgar rushed for a takedown but got stuffed again. Aldo landed a vicious leg kick that nearly took Edgar's leg out. Aldo landed a few strikes in combination. He crumbled Edgar with another leg kick, but Edgar stood up. Edgar landed a left. He ate another leg kick. Edgar landed a right. Edgar got in a couple of strikes. Aldo threw a flying knee. Edgar got a clinch and landed a strike. Edgar backed off. Edgar caught a kick and got Aldo down with a right hand, but Aldo popped right back to his feet. They traded jabs. Aldo landed a couple more jabs. He missed a spinning kick but got in a left hook. They traded strikes to end the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Aldo. He's looking great through ten minutes, but if he starts tiring Edgar can get back in this thing. Great fight so far.
ROUND THREE: Edgar caught the first kick from Aldo and briefly took him down but Aldo immediately popped up. Edgar got in a leg kick. Aldo landed a nice right as Edgar tried to close the distance. Edgar landed a straight kick to the body. Edgar landed a right. Aldo landed a jab. Edgar landed a right and Aldo returned one as well. Aldo landed a straight kick to the face Anderson Silva style and Edgar somehow took it. He came forward with a short combo. Aldo landed a left hook. Edgar landed a right. Aldo landed another hard jab. Edgar landed a kick to the body. His face was a bloody mess as Aldo continued to connect on the jabs. Edgar landed a right. He landed a couple of leg kicks. He landed another nice kick to the outside of Aldo's lead leg. Aldo landed a left hook. Edgar landed a combo, Aldo a knee, and they traded knees after that. Edgar landed a hard right. Edgar landed a hard overhand right. Aldo landed a leg kick. Aldo shrugged off a takedown attempt. Edgar landed another hard right. Edgar landed an inside leg kick. Aldo landed a jab. They traded kicks as Edgar got one into the body.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Aldo. Very close round, and I can see an argument for Edgar there. We've got a fight here, and he can come back strong in the championship rounds. That might be a swing round right there.
ROUND FOUR: Edgar got in an early leg kick. He got in another one after an exchange. He landed the inside leg kick. Aldo landed a spinning kick to the body. He landed a hard leg kick. Edgar got in a right as Aldo moved in close. They traded strikes in the center. Edgar got in a solid kick to the body. Aldo got in the jab moving backward away from Edgar. Aldo landed a nice body punch. Edgar rushed in and couldn't score a takedown, but got in a couple of punches before separating. The crowd chanted for him again. He landed a short uppercut. Aldo landed an elbow. Edgar landed a body kick again. Edgar got a body lock and slammed Aldo. Aldo stood again as Edgar had his back standing. He landed some knees to the thighs. He tried to trip Aldo up. He continued landing knees to the thighs. He separated with a kick and backed off. Edgar landed the leg kick again. They traded punches. Edgar faked a shot and landed a right. He avoided a jumping knee from Aldo. He landed a right as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Edgar. Aldo had some offense, but Edgar had a higher output, scored the slam, and had some nice damage with the knees to the thighs.
ROUND FIVE: Aldo landed a couple jabs, but Edgar continued moving in. Edgar pawed in with a jab and took a poke. He fought through it and landed another kick. Edgar landed a nice right. Aldo threw a jumping knee but it didn't connect. Aldo landed a nice jab. He got in another. Edgar tried to pop in with a takedown but missed it. Edgar landed a nice right. Edgar threw a spinning kick that Aldo blocked. Edgar missed a couple strikes and ate a jab. Edgar shot in with the clinch, but Aldo held it off. Edgar got in a short left. Edgar landed a nice uppercut. Edgar landed another leg kick. And another. Aldo got in a right. Edgar landed a right. He closed the distance, got a clinch, and landed a knee. He landed a nice combo in the center. He got in a few jabs. Edgar picking up the offense. He landed a head kick that was partially blocked. He got an inside leg kick. They traded big strikes int he center. Edgar with another nice combo. Edgar with another. Aldo looked at the clock with just under a minute left. Edgar with another combo. Aldo landed a hard jab. He avoided a head kick. Edgar landed a leg kick. Edgar landed a nice counter right and Aldo countered. Aldo landed a punch with a kick off the cage before the end of the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Edgar. He came on strong with a lot of output in that round, and depending on how the judges scored a close third round, this could be interesting.
WINNER: Aldo via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
STAR RATING: (****) Fantastic five round title fight. Exactly what fans hoped for, and Aldo did enough to win the fight through the first three rounds. He was effective, and he was simply up against a gritty former Champion in Edgar who will be a challenge like that to everyone he fights. Another huge win for Aldo, but Edgar retained the respect of everyone with that showing.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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