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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 56
NOVEMBER 8, 2014
LIVE FROM UBERLANDIA, BRAZIL
=====Fox Sports 2 Prelims=====
-Colby Covington def. Wagner Silva via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:26 of the third round
Note: Covington's speed was the story early, then his wrestling took over as both started tiring out in the second. Covington smothered Silva in the final frame for several minutes before securing the choke for the win. Not a great fight, but another solid win for Covington.
-Thomas Almeida def. Tim Gorman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Note: Very impressive work from the undefeated Almeida. Gorman was simply too tough to put away, but Almeida hit him with combination after combination, mixing in punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and anything else he could think to throw through the 15 minute fight. Really fun striking attack from Almeida.
-Leandro Silva def. Charlie Brenneman via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:15 of the first round
Note: Very competitive grappling battle for much of the opening round, then Silva got Brenneman's back and secured the choke. Nice work in first dealing with Brenneman's wrestling, then responding with his own grappling game in kind.
-Caio Magalhaes def. Trevor Smith via KO at :31 of the first round
Note: Ugly finish marred by a string of extremely clear shots to the back of the head. The sequence started when Magalhaes landed a knee to the jaw, and then as Smith was hunched over he slammed down a hammerfist directly to the back of his head. Several more landed back of the head before the referee stepped in.
Note: Completely and utterly forgettable fight. It just ended, and I can't recall anything of consequence happening at all in the entirety of that 15 minute fight. Just brought a complete halt to the momentum of the weekend.
=====Fox Sports 1 Main Card=====
-After a brief intro and rundown of what's still to come tonight, we throw to the lone women's bout of the weekend to open things up on Fox Sports 1.
MAIN CARD FIGHT ONE: JULIANA LIMA VS. NINA ANSAROFF (WOMEN'S STRAWWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Ansaroff moved forward early, and they exchanged kicks to start things off. Ansaroff threw a few strikes and closed the distance, clinching Lima to the cage. Lima scored the takedown on the cage after reversing position, and she did some damage on the ground. A flexible Ansaroff tried to work for something off her back, and she nearly got a triangle locked on. Lima escaped and Ansaroff got to her feet. Lima landed a hard knee as Ansaroff got up. Ansaroff grabbed a guillotine standing and pulled guard. Lima forced her head out. She stood, ate an upkick, and dropped back down into Ansaroff's guard. Ansaroff again went for a submission off her back but couldn't get anything going. Lima passed to half guard briefly, but Ansaroff regained guard. Lima landed some strikes from the top. Ansaroff tried to kick Lima off and landed an upkick to Lima while Lima's knee was down. Lima played up that she was shaken up, then they restarted in Ansaroff's guard, with the horn sounding almost immediately.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Lima. Her top game was the difference there, though Ansaroff is far from helpless on her back there.
ROUND TWO: Ansaroff threw a side kick to start off. Lima landed an inside leg kick. Lima shot in and secured another takedown despite Ansaroff's best efforts to hold it off. Ansaroff grabbed wrist control and went for an armbar. Lima defended well and then attacked for a heel hook. Ansaroff turned into her and tried to defend. Lima then used it to sweep back to top position. Ansaroff managed to stall things and got a stand up from the ref. Ansaroff threw a spinning attack that didn't really land. Ansaroff landed a hard leg kick. She got in a body kick. Things got quite tentative in the final minute. Ansaroff finally landed a hard combination, and Lima shot in and scored a takedown at the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Lima. Ansaroff's not doing much, and though she had a near attempt with that armbar, it wasn't nearly enough to take the round.
ROUND THREE: Ansaroff landed a hard kick. Lima shot in, but Ansaroff stuffed her and they went to the cage. Lima landed a few elbows in the clinch and turned her around. Very little happened on the cage for a significant chunk of time. Ansaroff finally got in a few knees and elbows. Lima fired back a knee to the body. They traded strikes again in the clinch. They were finally separated with under two minutes to go. Both missed a few strike attempts. Lima shot in but got stuffed. Ansaroff landed a few strikes. She connected hard on a right hand, then they clinched and stalled again. Ansaroff landed a few strikes up against the cage, then separated after eating a knee. No urgency out of either fighter in the final minute. Ansaroff landed a spinning back kick. She swung wildly and missed, eating a knee from Lima. Lima held the clinch by grabbing Ansaroff's hair, which brought a warning. They ended in the clinch.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Ansaroff. Too little, too late, but she had more offensively to give in the final frame. Not by much, though.
WINNER: Lima via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (*) Bad fight. Not a surprising decision, but there's just not much else to talk about on this one.
MAIN CARD FIGHT TWO: DHIEGO LIMA VS. JORGE DE OLIVEIRA (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Lima moved ahead early and landed a kick. He pressured forward, landing several strikes while avoiding the returns from Oliveira. Lima landed a hard jab. He connected with it again. Oliveira kept himself open to that jab. Oliveira got in with an outside leg kick. Lima landed a right hand, but Oliveira hurt him with a counter strike. Lima seemed to recover and clinched. Oliveira landed a knee to the body with his back up against the cage. Lima tried but couldn't drag him down. Things stalled out and the ref asked for action. Lima then exploded with a takedown and got right into side control. Oliveira tried to turn into him, but Lima held control of him and got into half guard. Lima landed a few strikes, then stepped over nicely into mount. Oliveira tried to hold onto Lima, but Lima escaped. He tried to set up an arm triangle. Oliveira tried to defend and managed to escape. Lima then stood and threw a knee to Oliveira while Oliveira was down. So stupid. He only got a warning, too. Wow. He's lucky for that one. They restarted for the final second before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Lima. He's lucky he didn't get a point taken away. Deserved to have one taken with the blatant and illegal knee to Oliveira while he was down.
ROUND TWO: Lima landed a few strikes, then scored a quick takedown. He then moved right into mount and landed a big elbow. He postured up and threw a bunch of strikes. Oliveira tried to escape, but Lima brought him back down. He trapped Oliveira's arm and got in some strikes. Back to mount. He went for an Americana, but let it go. Oliveira just didn't have an answer for the attack. He tried to kick off the cage but failed. More strikes from Lima on top. Oliveira tried to escape after eating several big strikes. Lima continued the ground attack up against the cage. He took his back and went for the choke. Oliveira escaped as Lima couldn't get his hooks in, and he got to his feet. Lima easily took him down, but Oliveira popped back up. Oliveira then pressed in and hurt Lima. Lima ducked in and took him down again. Lima landed more strikes from the mount to the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Lima. Would have been a 10-8 until Oliveira hurt him in that final minute, but Lima still firmly in control. Has to avoid the power of Oliveira in the last round here.
ROUND THREE: Lima landed a right hand. He pulled off a nice step-in trip, then dropped into side control. He trapped the arm for the mounted crucifix and landed a couple of strikes. Oliveira circled into him and stood up. Lima pressed him to the cage. Oliveira got some separation. Lima landed a hard body kick. They traded punches. Oliveira threw wild. Lima responded in kind. Both looked exhausted with three minutes to go. Oliveira threw a spinning kick that partially landed. They traded punches. Lima landed a left hook. Lima shot in, picked Oliveira up, and dropped him. He landed strikes as he moved into half guard. Lima tried to move to mount again but Oliveira snuck out and got to his feet. They traded kicks. Lima shot in again and got him to the ground. Lima landed some hard elbows and moved to the mount. He postured up and threw down a few strikes. Lima finished strong with ground and pound.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Lima. Well, it wasn't pretty, but it got the job done.
WINNER: Lima via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
STAR RATING: (*+) More action than the last fight, but a very ugly bout overall.
MAIN CARD FIGHT THREE: CLAUDIO SILVA VS. LEON EDWARDS (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Silva quickly scored a takedown and worked from half guard. Edwards tried to defend from his back. Silva landed some strikes, but Edwards connected from the bottom and pushed him off. Silva tried to press in and Edwards landed a hard strike. Silva landed a nice left. They ran into each other a couple of times. Silva landed a hard two punch combo, then shot in. Edwards countered a takedown attempt and wound up in half guard. Silva escaped after a short time on bottom and got to his feet. Edwards landed a two punch combo. He got Silva to the ground in an awkward exchange. These two are just flailing around the cage. Really odd fight. Silva got to his feet. Edwards walked him down and landed a couple of strikes. Silva landed a hard right hand. They clinched late and Edwards landed a hard knee to the body at the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Silva. I suppose. Edwards did some damage, but Silva did as well and had more time on top on the ground. Odd round regardless.
ROUND TWO: Edwards landed a counter strike. They threw kicks, Silva's was sloppy, and caught Edwards in the groin. On the restart, Sila landed a leg kick. Edwards landed a jab. He connected on a hard left hook. Edwards caught a kick. They had another awkward exchange. Again, Silva's offense is flailing his arms about hoping they hit something. Silva shot in, but Edwards again stuffed it. Silva got a warning for grabbing the shorts. Edwards landed a hard body kick. Silva looked completely gassed. Edwards landed a left hand. Edwards dropped Silva with a left as he caught a kick. Silva got up and blood was trickling from his left cheek. Edwards hit him again. Edwards landed a hard body strike. Edwards rocked Silva with another left hand. Edwards landed a counter right. Silva kept trying to step in, and kept getting countered. Silva tried to run right into Edwards, with little to show for it. He closed distance and tried for a takedown, but Edwards did a good job holding off the attempt. Silva landed a knee to the body. Silva secured the takedown with a minute left and stepped into mount. He postured up and landed a bunch of strikes. Edwards gave up his back. Silva landed more strikes and looked for the choke. Silva got in a couple more strikes before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Edwards. The judges may screw him on the basis of that last minute, though, meaning he might need to finish in the third to win this one.
ROUND THREE: Silva immediately scored an early takedown. He tried to pass to mount, but Edwards held it off. Silva landed some knees to the body. Silva continued throwing those knees to the body. Edwards got him back to half guard. Silva tried to pass but was held there. He tried again and successfully moved to mount. Edwards tried to escape, but couldn't. Silva postured up and landed some strikes. Edwards gave up his back. Silva moved back to mount. Silva postured up for a few more strikes. Edwards almost gave up his back but turned back as Silva threatened an arm triangle. Silva postured up again and landed more strikes. Silva tried to set up the arm-triangle, and Edwards rolled through with a reversal into Silva's guard. Silva attacked from the bottom with an armbar, then triangle, but Edwards backed off and got to his feet. He came forward and missed a right. Silva tried to avoid him as the clock ticked down. Edwards got in a hard two-punch combo just before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Silva. Edwards let Silva take control of that fight. Depending on what the judges think they saw through the first ten minutes, this fight is anywhere from a 29-28 for Edwards to a 30-27 for Silva.
WINNER: Silva via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (*) Sloppy, ugly, no good fight. Easily could see Edwards taking that first round, and perhaps he should have, though I doubt anyone's going to re-watch that one closely. Just a bad fight.
MAIN CARD FIGHT FOUR: WARLLEY ALVES VS. ALAN JOUBAN (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Alves rushed in with a kick and threw a big flurry. Jouban blocked. Alves dropped him to the ground and started unleashing strikes. Jouban tried to recover but Alves stayed on him. Alves went for a guillotine choke. He didn't have the best angle for it, though. Alves stayed on it, but finally had to let it go. Jouban escaped and got to his feet, but ate a few strikes before Alves clinched. Alves slowed down the attack a bit. He tried to separate, but Jouban kept him in the clinch and they jockeyed for position a bit. Both seem to be taking a breather here. They backed off briefly, and Jouban landed a big counter-left. Jouban got in an elbow. Jouban got in a knee to the body. Alves finally backed him off and they separated. Jouban landed an errant low blow, but Alves brushed it off. Alves landed a hard combo. Jouban landed a hard left hook. Alves tried to catch a kick. Alves may have gassed himself out with the early flurry. Jouban pressed in and scored with an elbow. Alves nearly pulled off a trip. Alves landed a big head kick but Jouban took it. Jouban scored a short combination. He landed a hard body kick. He rocked Alves again late. Alves fired back with a few strikes. Close, competitive round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Alves. Jouban did a lot of damage late, but I don't think it was quite enough to retake the round. Close, though.
ROUND TWO: Jouban came forward to start the second. Alves hurt him with a right hand to the eye. Jouban was cut open from that. Alves caught a kick and threw Jouban to the ground. He dropped into his guard. Jouban held control from the bottom with rubber guard and landed some short strikes. Alves stepped over, but Jouban tried to work towards a gogoplata. He finally had to let it go. Silva stepped into half guard. Jouban tried to escape, but Alves held on. Jouban finally worked to his feet. Alves pressed him off. Jouban threw a high kick that was blocked. He threw a wild combo, connecting on a couple of strikes. Jouban landed a leg kick. Alves landed a couple of hard strikes. Things slowed down a bit. Jouban connected on a nice combination that backed Alves up. Alves tried to goad him to throw wildly. Jouban instead landed one hard strike. Alves landed a hard right hook. Alves letting Jouban back into the round. Going to be another close one. Jouban landed a body punch. Alves landed a hard left hand. Then a right hand. Jouban accidentally poked Alves in the eye. Alves was fine to restart after the doctor checked it. Jouban landed a kick, and Alves tried to paw out a few more strikes. Alves said he got poked again but the ref missed it. Alves threw a spinning kick at the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Alves. Again, Jouban had some offense, but not quite enough to take the round back from Alves.
ROUND THREE: They both came straight ahead and missed their opening punches. Alves landed a right hand. Jouban threw a kick that hit Alves in the groin. Unintentional, but yet another illegal blow landed. Replay shows it right on the cup. Alves took his time. Alves came out swinging on the reset and landed a right hand. Jouban fired back and connected on a bunch of punches. Alves landed another hard right. They traded wildly, neither landing flush. Alves got in a spinning kick to the body. Jouban fired a knee off. Both slowed down a little and Alves was breathing heavy. Alves tried to set up a spinning attack but didn't throw it. Alves landed an uppercut. He got in a body kick. Jouban's eye was swelling shut. They traded punches. Alves landed another hard right hand. Jouban pressed in with a combo. Alves fired back and looked at the clock. Alves landed a nice uppercut. Jouban landed a couple of punches in combination. Alves landed a good counter right. Jouban to the body with a kick. Alves landed another strike. Alves said he got poked again but the ref didn't see it, and Jouban landed a few punches. Jouban hurt him with a combination. Alves had his hands at his sides and ate a few more strikes. Alves missed a wheel kick. Jouban landed a leg kick. He backed Alves to the cage. Another seeming poke went unstopped even as the ref was right there. Alves got separation. He threw a kick. Jouban threw a combination and backed him up. They traded strikes. Jouban picked up the output. Alves was exhausted. Jouban pressed in with another combo. Alves fired back. Alves landed a left. Jouban connected on two. Alves landed a few hard strikes. Jouban fired back with several. They traded strikes to the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Jouban. Alves just ran out of gas, and Jouban kept throwing combinations all round. Another close one, this time edged by Jouban, but all three rounds were extremely close and scores could be all over the place.
WINNER: Alves via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (**-) Competitive, close, not the robbery that some are already calling it; All three rounds were close at times, and Alves did some damage in his own right. He did gas out, and tried his hardest to give it away in the third, but he had an argument for the first two rounds.
MAIN EVENT FIGHT FIVE: MAURICIO "SHOGUN" RUA VS. OVINCE ST. PREUX (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: St. Preux landed a hard body kick to start off as Shogun tried to walk him down. St. Preux with another one. St. Preux caught him with a left hook that dropped him. He followed up with a bunch of strikes on the ground. Mario Yamasaki gave Shogun every chance to recover, but it was all over. The crowd went dead silent.
WINNER: St. Preux via TKO at :34 of the first round
STAR RATING: (**) Great win for St. Preux, likely end to Rua's career. That's two decisive losses in a row, and this one was just sad. It's a far cry from the Shogun of even two years ago, and with brutal losses in two in a row, I don't know that anyone's going to be in a hurry to see him fight again.
-That concludes a two-event weekend from the UFC, we'll have plenty of reaction to the weekend's results in the coming week as we move forward into a three-card Saturday a week from tonight!
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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