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By Wade Keller, MMATorch supervising editor
-After the usual opening montage, they showed scenery of Abu Dhabi and the stadium. Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan introduced the show. Goldberg listed all of the international cities UFC has held live events in. They didn't do a great job with the camera shots of the crowd actually in the stadium, nor did he tout the attendance, but he did say this is the first time UFC has been outdoors. They previewed the fights and then moved to the video preview package of the opener...
1 -- MARK MUNOZ vs. KENDALL GROVE
Rogan touted Munoz's training partners. He said he has a strategy to offset Grove's reach advantage... Rogan said Grove has had focus, then lost it, then regained it. He said when he's focused and in shape, he's a dangerous middleweight... Great fight ending at 2:52 of round two with a ground and pound stoppage win for Munoz. He lost the first round and looked nearly done two or three times but survived. In the first round he took Grove down, but Grove got up seconds later. He went in for another takedown and took an uppercut that rocked him. He survived, but took a knee later in the round. Grove went for chokes several times during and late in the first. The second was back and forth, but he ended up taking Grove down and just dominating with the ground and pound. Grove covered up and the ref stepped in at the right time. Grove had a swollen shut eye... In the post-fight interview, the likable Munoz admitted with a smile he was in trouble in the first, but said he didn't give up. He was clearly excited and relieved that he pulled that one out... Really good fight. About as exciting and competitive as 7:52 Octagon-time can be... (***)
2 -- TERRY ETIM vs. RAFAEL DOS ANJOS
The pre-fight video touted Etim as the future star from the U.K. He said he wants to win with a KO... Etim had ground control early but Dos Anjos managed to take control mid-round. He was forced to break because of throwing knees to the spine. Rogan said he hadn't seen that before... Dos Anjos finished the round in control... They showed Georges St. Pierre in the crowd between rounds. Rogan said he has an eye on the main event since Anderson Silva has talked about dropping to 170... More of the same i round two, mostly ground work with Dos Anjos in control. He landed some elbows that gave Etim a sense of urgency to get out, but Dos Anjos held him down. Dos Anjos slipped to a full mount. Rogan called that "black belt Brazilian jiu jitsu right there." A minute later Dos Anjos submitted Etim with an armbar... Etim watched the replay from his corner, just shaking his head at what Dos Anjos was able to do to him... Great display of jiu jitsu... (**+)
-Between fights we got what amounted to Goldberg raving about various areas of Abu Dhabi, as if he was pitching it as a vacation spot.
A -- ALEXANDER GUSTAFSSON vs. PHIL DAVIS
The first prelim aired... Rogan said Davis looks like "a giant GSP." Goldberg touted that he's a national champion at Penn State... Davis moved in for a takedown, but Gustafsson resisted against the fence. Gustafsson stuffed takedown near 2:00 and tried to take him down, which caused Rogan's voice to crack with surprise. He said he was trying to send a message... Davis maneuvered into an attempt as a choke, but Gustafsson escaped. Davis controlled Gustafsson and threw punches, but Gustafsso escaped and returned to his feet at 3:30... Gustafsson stuffed another takedown attempt. Rogan said he's very impressed. Davis did wrestle Gustafsson down a minute later. Davis rolled into an anaconda choke and got a rapid frantic tapout at 4:55 from Gustafsson. Gustafsson stood up afterward and exhaled, clearly disappointed, especially since there were just five seconds left in the round. Goldberg said it was tapout or pass out... Rogan interviewed Davis, nicknamed "Mr. Wonderful," who said he promises to put on a better show next time because he has a lot to work on. He said being a wrestler, he can't afford to fail on a takedown attempt... (**)
3 -- RENZO GRACIE vs. MATT HUGHES
ROUND ONE: In the fight video, Gracie said it's his technique against Hughes's aggression. Hughes said he thinks this fight "will bring back the violence in me." Rogan said he's had a chance to rejuvenate after taking some off from fighting. Rogan said Hughes isn't ranked in Brazilian jiu itsu, but if he was he'd be a black belt. He said he could have broken Royce Gracie's arm, but chose to pound him out instead. Renzo is 43, Hughes is 36... Buffer introduced them as two mixed martial arts legends. Rogan and Goldberg talked about Gracie's history in the region. Gracie bowed to the crowd and got a big ovation. Hughes was booed... Gracie looked slightly sharper on stand-up. Hughes was the first mid-round to go for takedowns. Hughes through a roundkick to the leg of Gracie at 3:30. After the first round, they slapped hands out of respect. This first round didn't exactly bring back any violence. It was a tentative sparring session between two fighters who respect each other. Rogan called it a round of feeling each other out. He complimented Gracie's takedown defense and hands... In his corner, Hughes said Gracie is getting closer each time. Hughes asked if he lose the round. His corner said he won, but it was close...
ROUND TWO: They slapped hands at the start of round two... Hughes was aggressive with the roundkicks to the leg early. Hughes went for a takedown. He thought he might have landed a low knee, but Renzo offered another hand slap... Hughes bled from the forehead early in this round... Mid-round the crowd grew restless and began to boo. It seemed a bit too friendly, although each really was executing a sound strategy. Renzo looking to land a big punch and Hughes trying to weaken his lead leg. Rogan said Renzo was playing a conservative game, moving in for a punch and then backing right up... The whistling began, which translates to boos. The crowd was very unhappy with what appeared to be a half-speed sparring session to them... Hughes landed more leg kicks, Renzo pelted Hughes more with his right. Nothing came close to ending the fight... Hughes got aggressive with a guillotine attempt and some aggressive punches late in the round, but it wasn't enough to stop a cascade of boos from the crowd after the horn sounded...
ROUND THREE: At 2:10 Hughes rocked Gracie with a barrage of punches, but then backed off. He landd another right and Gracie was unsteady on his feet. He threw another kick and then a punch. Gracie looked winded and unsteady. Hughes kicked Gracie's leg and Gracie collapsed. Hughes told him to get up. Gracie asked for help to get up. Hughes obligated, but then he kicked Gracie's leg out from under him again. Hughes threw punches and more leg kicks. Gracie looked wobbly. Rogan said nothing but pride is keeping him on his feet. Hughes took Gracie down with a right at 4:05. Gracie didn't get up and the crowd booed. He finally stood ten seconds later, but Hughes pelted him repeatedly and Gracie collapsed and the ref stepped in at 4:47. Gracie was basically giving up without tapping after eating seven kicks, the ref saw it. Rogan said it took a while for the fight to heat up, but in the end Hughes poured it on. He said it was the most impressive use of the leg kick in Hughes's career... Hughes hugged Gracie afterward... Slow tentative start, but satisfying finish... Rogan asked Hughes about his kicks. Hughes said he was happy with the execution of the gameplan... Renzo said he went two-and-a-half years without training and then had six months to get ready for Hughes and "it wasn't an easy task." Rogan asked in retrospect if he should have taken a warm-up fight first. Gracie said, "What kind of a fighter would I be then?" The crowd liked that and applauded... Raised a notch in excitement because of who was involved. Had it been two unknowns with no history, this is one star... This did feel like it was seven years too late and no longer relevant, worse than Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman in that way... (**-)
-More hype, with Goldberg touting the local racing stadium.
4 -- B.J. PENN vs. FRANKIE EDGAR -- UFC Lightweight Title Fight
ROUND ONE: Rogan said Penn is as dangerous as he's ever been and it's a really tough time to fight him. Goldberg touted that Penn hasn't lost at 155 since 2002. Edgar definitely billed as a big underdog by the announcers... Rogan said Edgar doesn't cut weight as he walks around at about 158 compared to Penn who walks around at 165 and has to cut 10 pounds. it gives Penn the size advantage at fight-time, but gives Edgar the edge in terms of not putting his body through a weight cut shortly before the fight... Rogan said Edgar won't fight scared and he'll fight to his best which is always improving. He said the big question is whether a better-than-ever Edgar is enough to beat Penn... Edgar looked good on his feet, was more active, but didn't cause any damage... By 4:00 Penn began landing more punches with more force than Edgar. Rogan said he had found his range... Round one goes to Penn, but not a dominating round by any means... Penn's corner said the only way he go off on him is when he stops, so go after him first... Edgar's corner told him to change the angle of his head ever few times he throws punches... Rogan called it simply "a very interesting first round." Rogan is a very interesting announcer...
ROUND TWO: Edgar went for a takedown at 1:00 and ate a punch in the process. Penn easily defended it, which was no surprise... Rogan said Edgar moves more than any fighter and he has tremendous cardio and can do it for five rounds. If that's the case, he'll test Penn's endurance and improved cardio at the rate the first round and a half went... Pretty dull for through 4:30, but then Edgar took Penn down. Penn sprung back up, but it was still something that hasn't been done in many fights. Rogan said a takedown is good for Edgar, but not actually taking him down, in that he can score with a takedown, but he's better off standing against Penn... Edgar closed the round with a right. Rogan said, "Very interesting"... Before the start of round three, the ref wiped Edgar's upper body down with a towel...
ROUND THREE: Rogan complimented Edgar as a more evolved striker than Diego Sanchez... A lot of the same, with each getting in some shots, but nothing all that damaging... Edgar's corner said it's "about 2-1, so we need this next round"... Penn's corner told him to take Edgar to the ground...
ROUND FOUR: More of the same in round four. Rogan said late in the round these are difficult rounds to score. Agreed. Edgar was being more aggressive and showed more energy and movement. Penn was never rocked or in trouble, though...
ROUND FIVE: The crowd applauded as the round began, anticipating and hoping for an exciting finish with both fighters stepping up and not wanting to leave it in the hands of the judges... Edgar too Penn down 25 seconds in. He couldn't hold him down, as Penn got up after less than five seconds. It was still amazing. Goldberg said no one has taken Penn down in six years. Rogan said, "This is getting really interesting." He said if judges are looking for damage, Penn's face shows more damage. Edgar could smell a huge huge upset was within his grasp, but so was sudden defeat if he got sloppy or too aggressive. At 2:30 Edgar landed a strong right to Penn's head. At 3:00 Penn swatted away two takedown attempts. Rogan said Edgar is winning this final round. The crowd cheered with one minute left. Rogan said Edgar hadn't lost any pep, whereas Penn had slowed down considerably... It heated up in the final 20 seconds, with Penn showing a last burst of energy but Edgar countering it. Rogan said, "Certainly a lot more competitive than people thought it was going to be"... One of the more tension-filled waits for a judges' decision. Does a challenger have to really beat a champion, not just fight him to a stalemate? Do tie rounds go to the champion? Or does aggression and energy and an impressive underdog performance give the challenger a deserving huge upset title win, especially since he dished out more punishment and had the takedowns? Penn looked worried...
DECISION: Edgar via unanimous decision!!!!!!!!! 50-45, 48-47, 49-46. Penn didn't look shocked and immediately congratulated Edgar. I'm surprised he seemed so accepting of the decision. (**+)
POST-FIGHT: Edgar said Penn is the greatest lightweight ever and he just beat him. He said the belt doesn't fit, so maybe he is 145... No post-fight interview from Penn, who's the king of disappointing the paying audience when it comes to insight into his fights afterward... That was a different Penn than the one who beat Diego Sanchez... I'm not outraged by the decision, if for no other than reason than giving a wake-up to champions who don't try to win but just try to survive. They're hurting the sport. I used to argue that it's the job of champions to retain their titles first and foremost, but if they think they're going to win on reputation and completely stop trying to win, give the win to the more aggressive challenger...
-As Rogan and Goldberg were shown at ringside to preview Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia, Rogan said said he was still in shock. He said Edgar just shocked the world. He said he's blown away.
5 -- ANDERSON SILVA (25-4) vs. DEMIAN MAIA (21-1) -- Middleweight Title Fight
Heaps of deserved praise from Goldberg and Rogan as Silva made his ring entrance... Referee Miragliotta... Judges are Doug Crosby, Sal D'Amico, Howard Hughes... Silva is 34 and 6-2. Maia is 32 and 6-0. Silva has a five inch reach advantage... GSP was shown at ringside. Rogan said Silva will fight GSP at 170 if he wins tonight...
ROUND ONE: Silva just played with him early. It was a video game performance, where he seemed to just outclass Maia in sheer athleticism on his feet. Maia stood and tried to just wait out Silva's showmanship and survive. It appeared Silva could finish it any time. Rogan: "This is just confidence-crushing clowning." You'd have to see it to fully grasp the type of show Silva was putting on, but it became shameful and disrespectful because it was so over the top. He bowed to Maia before the fight, then tried to humiliate him.
ROUND TWO: More of the same in round two. Rogan: "This is a scene in the movie whereyou go, 'Come on, this isn't real.' This is just a showcase of Silva's talent." Maia's takedown attempts didn't work, and the ref had to step between the fighters to let Maia stand several times. It really seemed like Silva was going to pick a moment and finish Maia. But it didn't happen.
ROUND THREE: Silva began to slow down after a couple of minutes. While you were thinking in the first two rounds that Maia should just throw in the towel and tapout before getting his jaw broken or his body sliced in half by a Silva kick. However, early on Silva seemed to slow down. Maia began landing some punches. Nothing threatening to end the fight, but enough to get the crowd, which began to get restless and turn against Silva, some hope that they'd see a fight. Rogan said one criticism of Silva over the years is his inability or unwillingness to take a chance and try to finish opponents he has an advantage over. He said there's no bigger advantage than the first three rounds of this fight...
ROUND FOUR: More of Silva looking less than aggressive. As quick as he is on offense at humiliating an opponent, he's also just that quick and able to avoid being hurt, so he went into the mode of being up 3-0 and protecting his record-setting win. That's what it appeared he was doing to the crowd, as at 2:30 the crowd began loudly chanting "Maia! Maia!" wanting to see him make it competitive, and perhaps tiring of Silva's perceived arrogance and now lack of willingness to finish him after calling on Maia to engage earlier... The crowd then began a "GSP! GSP!" chant... At 3:30 Maia put his hands on his hips, frustrated that Silva wasn't engaging with him. Rogan wondered if Silva was tired. A very loud "Maia!" chant started again. Rogan said, "This is the type of stuff that drives Dana White nuts!" Maia called on Silva to engage, extending his arm out in frustration. Silva put on a show, as if it was Maia who wasn't engaging. Maia's face looked like it was through a war... Rogan said White walked up to Silva's manager and looked very upset... Rogan said Maia's eye is closed and he can't see out of it. He said he might have blown his nose, which can lead to an eye swelling shut...
ROUND FIVE: Maia scored with some punches at 1:15 and the crowd popped. He moved in again and really pushed forward and the crowd loved it. He literally swung at Silva from his knees. Silva backed off and let Maia stand. Rogan said he thinks Silva is tired and Maia senses it. "I think he's tired and doesn't want to show it and that's why he's not attacking," he said. The crowd again chanted "Maia! Maia!" at 2:30... Maia extended his arms like Silva did to him early in the fight. Rogan said he has two minutes plus to swing like a berserker. He grabbed his leg and pressed him against the cage. Silva slipped out. Rogan had pointed out how humid and sweaty the fighters are outdoors and how it works against Maia's style... The ref paused the fight and told Silva he's taking a point away if Silva keeps running. The crowd burst out with cheers. Rogan said he wasn't a fan of the yellow card system in Pride, but he'd like to see it now... The crowd very very very loudly chanted "Maia! Maia! Maia!" afterward for about 10 seconds. Rogan said Silva was masterful for nearly three rounds and then he shut down. He said he didn't know what to say about it...
DECISION: Silva via unanimous decision. They didn't announce the scores, which is odd... Tough to score this one. Went from fascinating to odd to frustrating to puzzling... (**)
POST-FIGHT: Silva bowed and shook hands with Maia. They exchanged words... Rogan asked Silva why he seemed to coast after two rounds. Silva gave a very long answer in Portuguese. He said Maia surprised him with his punching power. He apologized to. He said he didn't know what got into him. He wasn't as humble as he should have been. He said he guarantees it won't happen again...
THOUGHTS: A remarkable fight. It's what makes MMA so fascinating, yet at the same time this wasn't fascinating in entirely good ways. Silva lived down to his reputation for being an arrogant bully who turned into a hypocrite by the end, and the crowd called him on it. He tried to humiliate Maia early and shamed him for not engaging, but in the last two rounds, it was Maia telling him to bring it on. Maia took chances - and his face showed it - while Silva was pretty unscathed yet wasn't willing to risk losing. I don't blame Dana White for being upset. The dream match between Silva and GSP looks less appealing because neither finished his most recent opponents in their title wins. That said, those who want to have a likable favorite and a heel fans can rally against, this fight may have set that, Silva's empty post-fight words notwithstanding...
FOR A MUCH MORE DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF EACH FIGHT, check out Jamie Penick's report: CLICK HERE
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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