-Mark Bocek def. Mike De la Torre via split decision (29-28,30-27,29-28)
=====Fox Sports 1 Prelims=====
-Jon Anik and Kenny Florian open up the broadcast running down what's coming up on the prelims here before tonight's five-fight main card.
PRELIM FIGHT ONE: GEORGE ROOP VS. DUSTIN KIMURA (BANTAMWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Roop tossed out a few jabs and a high kick in the first action of the round. Roop missed a high kick. He popped Kimura's head back with a jab. Kimura blocked another high kick. Roop landed a body kick. Kimura caught it, landed a couple of strikes, drove him to the cage and finished a takedown. Roop got to his feet, but Kimura took him back down. He landed a body punch and Roop turned into him and got to his feet for his own takedown attempt. Kimura stuffed it. Roop landed a hard knee to the thigh. Roop continued to work in the clinch. He then scored a takedown of his own into Kimura's dangerous guard. Roop landed a couple of strikes to stay busy with his ground and pound. Roop was just holding position as Kimura tried to work from his back. Roop got in a hard elbow from the top. Kimura tried to attack from his back again. Roop got in a couple more elbows from the top. Roop held position and did more damage to the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Roop. Kimura got in a little offense, but Roop just did a lot more during the round.
ROUND TWO: Roop came back out on the attack with strikes. Roop tried to chase Kimura down but didn't connect. Roop got in a nice right hand. Roop landed a leg kick but stumbled a bit. They clinched and Kimura got in a knee to the body. Roop drove him to the cage. He backed off with a few strikes. Roop landed a nice jab. Kimura leapt in with a left that grazed Roop. Roop landed the jab again. Kimura shot in nicely and scored a takedown. Roop landed a couple of elbows from his back. He kicked Kimura off of him and got to his feet. Kimura shot in again, but ate a couple of elbows. Kimura scored another takedown, then tried to take Roop's back. Roop got free and tried to turn into him, but Kimura nicely transitioned to his back. Kimura got his underhooks in, but Roop escaped and got to his feet. He landed a body kick and threw some strikes trying to get in some offense. They clinched and traded strikes. He got in a knee to the body. Roop landed a bit as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Kimura. Roop was on the defensive and didn't have enough offense of his own to offset the positional advantages Kimura got.
ROUND THREE: Roop opened up with several strikes in combination and scored a takedown. Kimura tried to control Roop's posture from the bottom. Roop postured up and did some damage from the top. Roop landed some hard elbows from the top. He continued working in strikes to the head and body. He got in another hard forearm. Roop landed another very hard elbow and Kimura tried to attack from the bottom. Roop continued landing hard strikes from the top. Kimura fired back from the bottom. Roop went back to the elbows as Kimura tried to escape. Roop passed and did more damage from the top. Kimura tried to escape but remained on his back. Roop again landed the elbow. Kimura was simply stuck even though he tried to work from his back. Roop finished the round with more strikes from the top and should take the fight.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Roop. Clear round, this should be his fight 2-1.
WINNER: Roop via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-26)
STAR RATING: (**) Just an OK fight. Really odd scorecards, though. I'm not sure how you give Roop the second round, or how one judge came up with a 29-26 scorecard. Very odd.
PRELIM FIGHT TWO: RYAN JIMMO VS. SEAN O'CONNELL (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: O'Connell landed a couple of strikes. Jimmo went for a high kick and tripped. O'Connell got in a couple of strikes but Jimmo worked back to his feet. They battled in the clinch for a bit. Jimmo connected on a few strikes. O'Connell landed several in combination and grabbed another clinch at the cage. O'Connell landed some strikes to the body and head. Jimmo landed a knee to the body. They traded body strikes. O'Connell landed a knee low and the action was halted. Jimmo was cut under his left eye from some of the clinch work of O'Connell. Jimmo landed a couple of strikes as they restarted. Jimmo ducked in and scored a takedown. O'Connell worked right back up to his feet and clinched. They jockeyed for position again as things slowed considerably. They were finally broken up. Jimmo landed a counter-right that knocked O'Connell down. He landed a few strikes on the ground and O'Connell was out. First finish in six fights on tonight's card.
WINNER: Jimmo via KO at 4:27 of the first round
STAR RATING: (**) Good finish, not much before that. O'Connell was actually doing alright for himself, then got caught by that counter-strike.
-After a studio segment on the main event, we get a preview of tonight's Ultimate Fighter 19 debut.
PRELIM FIGHT THREE: SARAH KAUFMAN VS. LESLIE SMITH (WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Both came out swinging and they traded strikes in bunches early. Smith grabbed a clinch and drove Kaufman to the cage. Kaufman got in some knees from the clinch. Smith tossed up a high kick but got hit by a right hand. Kaufman landed a hard leg kick that knocked Smith off balance. She got back up and they traded shots again. Kaufman was getting the better of these wild exchanges. Kaufman continued landing and Smith clinched up. They traded knees. Smith got in a couple of body punches and foot stomps. Kaufman broke free with a strike. They traded punches again. Kaufman landed the right hand. Both fighters were marked up from the exchanges. This is a brawl. Smith clinched and got in another knee to the body. Kaufman separated and landed another combo. She tossed in a couple of kicks. They traded strikes again. Smith got in a nice elbow. Kaufman landed a couple of knees. The clinch drove to the cage again. Kaufman landed a big right hand, then another. Kaufman landed another combo. Smith fired back. Kaufman landed several punches and got in a couple of knees in the center of the cage. Kaufman drove her to the cage with a few knees in the clinch. They jockeyed for position. Kaufman landed a hard right. They traded punches in combination. Smith clinched, but it was Kaufman getting in a couple more strikes before the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Kaufman. Good opening round. They're both throwing everything they have, but it's Kaufman who is much more effective at this point.
ROUND TWO: More wild exchanges to start this frame, though things were slower through the first minute. Kaufman landed a big combination ending with a hard left hand. Kaufman landed several punches with a couple of knees and Smith missed a few strikes as she tried to fire back. Kaufman powered her over to the fence and landed a knee. They traded strikes in the center, though Smith missed quite a few. Kaufman landed a couple of strikes. Kaufman again landed quite a few strikes in combination. She covered up as Smith tried to fire back. Kaufman landed the overhand right again. She drove Smith to the cage again and landed some knees. She separated and landed some strikes. Kaufman landed a real nice left hand in an exchange. Kaufman continued landing strikes. Smith turned her around and tried for a takedown but got stuffed. Kaufman landed more strikes and turned her around, backing off with strikes. Kaufman with even more strikes in combination. Smith landed a couple of strikes before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Kaufman. Close to a 10-8 with how much Kaufman was landing.
ROUND THREE: Kaufman went back on the attack early in the round, landing several strikes at a time while avoiding or blocking many of Smith's return fire. Kaufman continuing to put strikes together in combination. Kaufman grabbed a brief clinch but backed out with a few strikes. She drove back in with strikes. Kaufman drove Smith to the cage and landed a few more strikes before letting her go. Kaufman again popped in and connected with a combination. Kaufman continued landing strikes while blocking Smith's counters. It's a lot of rinse and repeat at this point. Kaufman scored a trip takedown into side control. Smith tried to scramble and Kaufman rolled with her and landed a bunch of strikes from behind. Smith got to her feet and they traded strikes, with Kaufman connecting again on several to the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Kaufman. Clearly her fight this time. There won't be any controversy.
WINNER: Kaufman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
STAR RATING: (**+) Kind of a Leonard Garcia-style fight there. A whole lot of punches thrown, good accuracy from Kaufman, less so from Smith. Tons of strikes but not tons of damage. Still, needed performance for Kaufman, who hopes to turnaround quickly.
PRELIM FIGHT FOUR: SAM STOUT VS. K.J. NOONS (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: They opened up with some kicks back and forth. Noons then cracked Stout with a huge right hand that dropped him. He landed a few brutal strikes on the ground and Stout went out cold before getting woken back up. The referee got in there, but Stout tried to grapple with him. He got brought to his feet and stumbled to the corner. Damn.
WINNER: Noons via KO at :30 of the first round
STAR RATING: (***) That was a hell of a KO by Noons on a guy with a historically good chin. Stout got knocked out cold, then brought to by another strike on the ground. Perfectly placed strikes from Noons, and a big win for him here.
=====Fox Sports 1 Main Card=====
Anik and Florian open up the main card broadcast after extended studio time to close out the prelim hour.
MAIN CARD FIGHT ONE: DUSTIN POIRIER VS. AKIRA CORASSANI (FEATHERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Poirier came straight forward and they traded strikes. Poirier landed a hard right hand. Corassani swung wildly but missed. Poirier backed Corassani up with a combination and Corassani grabbed a clinch. They separated. Poirier landed a left hand. He landed a hard jab. Corassani cracked an impatient Poirier and Poirier was hurting. Corassani landed another right and Poirier grabbed at his left eye. He was a little wobbly, but he regained his bearings. Poirier landed a left. They traded punches in the center. Poirier landed a nice left. He tagged Corassani with a straight left. Corassani missed a couple of strikes. Poirier came back with the left hand. Poirer just missed an uppercut. They both fired out some strikes and Poirier landed a hard right hand. Poirier fired out a few more strikes. Corassani shot in and Poirier grabbed a head lock. He tried to turn it to a D'Arce choke, then turned it into Peruvian neck tie but Corassani got loose and to his feet. He was bleeding as he popped up and took another shot before the horn. That was one hell of a round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Poirer. He left himself open to a bit too much damage, but he came back strong after that.
ROUND TWO: Poirier came out firing again, and after a brief exchange, Poirier had Corassani hurt bad. Corassani went down and Poirier landed a few more before the ref stepped in to stop it.
WINNER: Poirier via TKO at :42 of the second round
STAR RATING: (***+) Awesome fight. Corassani showed Poirier not to leave himself open like that, but Poirier was just the better fighter. He came back strong in the first round, then scored a fantastic uppercut to start things out in that second round. Broke Corassani's recently repaired nose and picks up another win here. Really fun fight.
MAIN CARD FIGHT TWO: CHAD LAPRISE VS. OLIVIER AUBIN-MERCIER (TUF: NATIONS WW FINALS)
ROUND ONE: Mercier opened up the offense with an overhand left that connected. He went high with a kick that was blocked. Laprise threw out a couple of leg kicks. Mercier landed a short right hand. Laprise blocked another high kick. Laprise went back to the leg kick. Mercier landed a right hand. He shot in and got a clinch. Laprise tried to break out and did after eating a knee. Mercier landed a nice two punch combo as he stepped in. Laprise landed a right hand to the body. Mercier landed a right hook. He landed another right hand as Laprise moved in. Laprise landed a good counter left. Mercier shot in but got violently stuffed, with Laprise landing a few strikes as he shrugged him off. Mercier landed a left. Mercier landed a good body kick. Laprise got in a body punch. Mercier landed a left hand. They traded strikes. Laprise got in a body kick. Mercier landed a right hand and they traded shots at the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier. Close round, but I think Mercier was a bit more active and effective overall.
ROUND TWO: Laprise landed a good right hand to start the round. Mercier came back with a left hand. He missed a couple of strikes, but then landed a couple in combination. Laprise landed a hard leg kick. Mercier shot in and tried for a single leg. He picked Laprise up and took him to the ground. Mercier tried to pull him into a guillotine, but Laprise got out and to his feet. Laprise landed a hard body strike. Laprise sent him off balance with a straight kick. They traded strikes. Mercier got in some body kicks. Laprise fired off a combo. Mercier got in a body kick. They traded strikes. Laprise got in a punch to the gut. Laprise backed Mercier up and landed a strike. Laprise tossed out a hard right hand that was blocked. Mercier landed the left hand. He got in a jab. Laprise stayed busy with leg kicks. They traded strikes again. Laprise got in a solid combination.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Laprise. He's doing more damage at this point, but both rounds have been very close and I could see either of them up 2-0 at this point.
ROUND THREE: Mercier started swinging, but then shot in. He was stuffed, though. Mercier landed a left hand. He got in a hard leg kick. They traded strikes. Mercier caught a kick and scored a takedown a minute into the round. Laprise kicked him off and jumped up to his feet. Mercier chased and briefly took his back standing, but Laprise broke free. Mercier landed a couple of body strikes. He got in a few more kicks to the body. Laprise slipped after landing a knee. Mercier got in a right hand. They traded punches again, with Mercier landing a right. Laprise landed a combination and stuffed a takedown attempt. He caught a kick and kicked out the back leg of Mercier. Mercier landed a nice uppercut. Mercier got in a few more strikes. He landed a kick to the body, then the leg. They traded strikes. Laprise threw several in combination but Mercier covered up. Laprise landed a hard spinning kick to the body. They traded strikes again. Laprise tossed out some big strikes and finished the round with a combination to the body.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Laprise. Another really close round, and honestly I can see cards 30-27 either way here. Each had success in all three rounds, and neither ran away with any of it.
WINNER: :apprise via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
STAR RATING: (**) Just OK. It was competitive, but not all that exciting overall
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