THE TORCH: THE #1 WORLDWIDE BRAND IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE - OVER 250 MILLION VIEWS & LISTENS PER YEAR REREACHING MORE FANS EVERY WEEK THAN ANY OTHER INDEPENDENT SOURCE • VIA THE WEB, MOBILE, PRINT NEWSLETTER, AND ITUNES
The UFC’s initial plan to run in Brazil on March 5 for UFC 197 may instead make way for a massive event in Las Vegas, as Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter reports that the organization is [...]
By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch Senior Columnist PFL 5 and UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov were this past weekend and featured some exciting fights and further set the stage for the PFL playoffs. Who won [...]
As I continue on my long journey to become a multi-state sanctioned MMA judge, I will be judging all the upcoming MMA events, along with little K-1 since I will be judging kickboxing matches while working the amateur circuit, that my satellite provider decides to provide to me.
Along with my scoring of the rounds, I will also be providing what I saw that lead me as to how I scored each round. And as always, I am open to constructive criticism. Nobody can be a perfect judge. However, there is no better way to learn than to get feedback on things I might have not caught or have a different perspective on.
Fight 1 - Antonio Banuelos vs. Scott Jorgensen
Round One
Banuelos lands a nice left hand. A combo for Banuelos lands. Jorgensen goes for a takedown but Banuelos isn’t having it. Both fighters are landing punches and knees from the clinch. Jorgensen lands a good overhand right. Left hook from Jorgensen lands to the jaw, and Banuelos returns the favor. They exchange lefts. Banuelos lands a left that puts Jorgensen down. Banuelos passes to half guard. Jorgensen goes for an armbar but Banuelos gets out and they’re back to their feet. They clinch again and Banuelos lands a few knees. Jorgensen goes for another takedown but Banuelos stops it again. Banuelos lands a nice spinning back kick and follows with a good body kick and right hand.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Banuelos. For the better part, they both gave as good and they took, but the nasty left that put Jorgensen down, put him in some trouble gave, and the subsequent ground control by Banuelos gave him the edge in the round.
Round Two
Both fighters come out swinging, but Jorgensen is pushing the pace. Jorgensen lands a nice body and leg kick. Nice right lands for Jorgensen. A few jabs and a kick land for Banuelos. Jorgensen is really pressing now landing left hooks and jabs. The exchange soft left hooks. Jorgensen lands a big right and Banuelos counters with a body kick. They exchange jabs again. Left lands for Jorgensen and Banuelos counters with a left of his own. Another hard right lands for Jorgensen. Jorgensen is finding a home for just about everything he is throwing. A right puts Banuelos down. Jorgenson jumps on Banuelos’ back and lands some good ground and pound. Banuelos eats a knee to the face as he stands up. They both flurry as the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Jorgensen. Jorgensen really turned up the heat this round. He was landing his strikes at a very high percentage rate and it appeared that he broke Banuelos’ nose. This, combined with his overall control of the action clearly gives Jorgensen the round.
Round Three
Jorgensen comes out again pumping the jab and controlling the action. Big left lands for Jorgensen. He follows up with a nice right. Front kick lands to Banuelos’ chin. Jorgensen follows up with a nice left. Banuelos lands a nice right of his own. Straight right lands nicely for Jorgensen. Another puts Banuelos down. Jorgensen jumps on him and starts landing some heavy punches. Jorgensen works a RNC, gets the mount briefly before Banuelos gives up his back again. Jorgensen continues to land some heavy ground and pound. More big punches and elbows from Jorgensen and he works a RNC again but isn’t close to sinking it in. Jorgensen works an armbar as the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Jorgensen. Jorgensen took it to Banuelos again this round and really did some damage to Banuelos. It seemed like Jorgensen couldn’t miss. This was close to a 10-8 round, but Banuelos landed a pair of good punches he did and had Jorgensen never really had Banuelos in danger with any of his submission attempts
-Schielke’s Final Score: 29-28 Jorgensen-
-Judges Final Scores: 29-28 x3 for Jorgensen-
Schielke’s Take: Overall, both fighters put on a very good performance. After having a good first round, Banuelos showed a ton of heart as he took an absolute beating. Jorgensen completely took over the fight after the first round as he landed heavy leather, never took a step backwards, and put Banuelos in spots where some fighters would have tapped.
Fight 2 - Anthony Njokuani vs. Shane Roller
Round One
Roller shoots right out of the gate. Anthony is doing a good job defending it. Roller briefly gets Anthony down, but Anthony gets back up and Roller gets him down again. Roller is in half guard and slides into the mount. Anthony rolls over and gives up the back. Roller is working the RNC but Anthony is defending it well. Anthony tries to roll into guard but Roller holds his position and locks in the body triangle. Roller works the RNC again, gives it up, goes for it again, gets it in deep and Anthony taps.
RESULT: Roller wins via tapout from a rear naked choke at 3:07 of Round one
Fight 3 - Mike Brown vs. Manvel Gamburyan
Round One
Brown clips Manny with a right and follows with a leg kick and another glancing left. Manny Lands A right and a jab. Brown lands a straight right and Manny counters with a leg kick. Good left hook to the body and follows with a overhand right. Brown lands a right, Manny lands one of his own that puts Brown down. Manny follows up with a few hammer fist and the ref stops the fight.
RESULT: Gamburyan wins via KO at 2:22 of Round one
Fight 4 - Brad Pickett vs. Demetrious Johnson
Round One
Johnson leads with a inside leg kick. Pickett lands a good left. Picket lands a left hook. Pickett catches a Johnson leg kick and lands a couple of right. Pickett catches another leg kick and lands another right. Pickett gets a double and lands in side control. Pickett lands an elbow and Johnson works to half, then full guard. Johnson gets up and eats a right. Johnson throws a leg kick and Pickett catches it again and gets the takedown. Pickett and Johnson are fighting for position and are changing frequently. Johnson pushes Pickett off and throws a four punch combo. Pickett gets another takedown but Johnson is up quickly. Johnson goes for a flying knee and Pickett gets side control. Pickett gets the crucifix but Johnson gets up, lands a pair of knees and a right as the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Pickett. Pickett landed the better strikes and scored some big takedowns. Even though he didn’t do much with them, they allowed Pickett to control the better part of the round. Johnson showed good ground defense, but defense doesn’t win rounds.
Round Two
Pickett lands an inside leg kick. Johnson throws two kicks, both of which are caught and countered by a right by Pickett. Johnson actually lands a trio of leg kicks. Johnson lands a straight right and leg kick to the body. A solid leg kick lands for Johnson. Pickett gets a takedown and lands in side control. Pickett lands a knee and Johnson gets up quickly. They exchange and both land. Johnson gets the plum, lands a knee, and is then taken down. Pickett moves to half guard and lands a few punches. Pickett lands a pair of good elbows and a few punches to the body. Johnson gets up his back as he gets up. Pickett throws Johnson, but he gets up again. They clinch and Pickett lands a Knee. Pickett grabs a double and slams down Johnson HARD. Pickett gets mount, lands a few heavy punches and the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Pickett. Johnson landed the better strikes while they were standing, but Pickett took him down at will and landed some very good shots and controlled Johnson on the ground more effectively than he did in the first round. The big slam and subsequent ground and pound solidified the round for Pickett.
Round Three
Johnson leads with a leg kick and is countered with a right from Pickett. Johnson shoots in and lands some elbows from side mound. Pickett gets up and eats some knees on the way up. Pickett gets the body clinch and gets the takedown. Pickett is working some ground and pound from half guard and Johnson gets to guard, and Pickett quickly moves back to half guard. Johnson works his way back to his feet, gives up his back and gets away from Pickett. They both throw some good punches and kicks and Johnson gets another takedown. Pickett works his way up and Johnson gets the hip toss. Pickett gets up and takes Johnson down and is working from side mount and gets the mount. Pickett lands some good body punches. Johnson bucks up and gets back to half guard. Johnson gets back up, throws a few punches and they clinch. Pickett goes for the takedown, lands a knee, they scramble changes positions multiple times and the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Johnson. Johnson came out as the aggressor this round, landed the better shots, and was more effective in controlling the ground game. It was a very good back and forth battle on the ground, but I felt that Johnson controlled the action, even when he was on his back.
-Schielke’s Final Score: 29-28 Pickett-
-Judge’s Scores: 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 for Pickett-
Schielke’s Take: This was a very exciting back and forth battle. Pickett got the better of Johnson the first two rounds, but I felt Johnson came out in the third round and pushed the pace, landed the best shots he landed in the fight, and controlled the fight on the mat. This was another exciting match in a so far very solid show.
Fight 5 - WEC Lightweight Championship Bout - Ben Henderson (c) vs. Donald Cerrone
Round One
Henderson lands a slapping leg kick. Cerrone goes for a leg kick and Henderson goes for a single. Cerrone gets back to his feet and Henderson works some very good knees to the legs and head from the clinch. Henderson gets the takedown and rolls into a guillotine. It’s in tight and Cerrone taps.
RESULT: Henderson retains his belt via tapout from a guillotine choke at 1:57 of Round one
Fight 6 - Brandon Visher vs. Tyler Toner
Round One
Toner comes out and lands a nice leg kick. And he lands another. Visher leads with a right and a leg kick. Toner lands another 4 leg kicks. Visher leads with the right two more times, lands one and is answered by a right from Toner. Toner throws a nice one two. Visher charges with some punches and licks, but Toner lands a nice punch that stuns Visher. Toner lands a big left-right that puts Visher down. Toner jumps on him, hands at least a dozen hard elbows and the ref stops the fight.
RESULT: Toner wins via TKO at 2:36 of Round one
Fight 7 - Chad Mendes vs. Anthony Morrison
Round One
Mendes leads out with an inside leg kick with is returned by Morrison. Mendes looks for the takedown but can’t get it and eats a punch or two on the way out. Morrison lands a left hook. Double jab from Morrison. Mendes shoots and gets it on the rebound attempt. Mendes working from the half guard. Mendes sinks in a guillotine and Morrison taps.
RESULT: Mendes wins via tapout from a guillotine choke at 2:13 of Round one
Fight 8 - WEC Featherweight Title Fight - Jose Aldo (c) vs. Urijah Faber
Round One
Faber comes out early with some punches and kicks but all are missing. Aldo lands a leg kick. Another leg kick from Aldo. One two glances Aldo. Aldo lands a pair of leg kicks, one of which sweeps Faber. Nice left hook to the body and leg kick landed by Aldo. Faber shoots but Aldo stuffs it. Faber lands a decent right. Aldo misses a leg kick and is countered by a punch by Faber. Faber rushes in and eats a knee to the body. Leg kick lands for Aldo. Faber lands a pair of body-head combos. Flying knee to the body puts Faber down. Faber lands a decent punch.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Aldo. I think Faber landed more strikes, but Aldo landed the harder, cleaner shots. This round could go Faber’s way due to his work rate, but I’m going with quality over quantity.
Round Two
Aldo lands a good body kick and follows with a nice leg kick. Faber leads with a right that might have glanced Aldo’s face. Left lands for Aldo. Leg kick Lands for Aldo and he follows with a one two and a leg kick. Leg kick lands for Aldo. Left hook clips Faber’s body. Leg kick for Aldo. Another leg kick for Aldo. And another. And another. Front kick lands for Faber. Another leg kick for Aldo. Right to Faber’s head lands. Another leg kick for Aldo followed by a body kick and the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Aldo. Not too much action this round, but Aldo wins the round with his leg kicks.
Round Three
Left hook to the body lands for Aldo. Leg kick lands for Aldo that hurts Faber. And another. Faber lands a jab. Body kick hurts Faber. Leg kcik for Aldo. Straight right and a left to the body and a leg kick all land for Aldo. Another leg kick by Aldo followed by a flurry of punches and kicks to the head and body of Faber. Slapping left lands from Faber. Another leg kick for Aldo. And another. Big left to the body and another leg kick by Aldo puts Faber down. Aldo works a little ground and pound and the round ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Aldo. Aldo is just owning Faber by working the legs and body. Faber has no answer to anything Aldo is doing. Nothing much else to say.
Round Four
Aldo lands a leg kick. And another. And another. Faber falls to the ground and Aldo gets the mount and lands some good shots. Aldo gets Faber’s back and is working for a RNC but can’t get it. Faber gets up. Another leg kick puts Faber down. Aldo falls into Faber’s half guard and lands a punch or two. Aldo passes to half guard and Aldo gets the crucifix. Aldo is just blasting away at Faber’s face. More elbows from Aldo. And more elbows and punches. And more…and more…and more…round ends
Schielke’s Score: 10-8 Aldo. Aldo is completely having his way with Faber. The highlight of this round for Faber was getting up the first time he went down. I can’t recall Faber landing a single strike. On the other hand, Aldo just blasted Faber with leg kicks, worked him over on the ground, and went to town on Faber’s face from the crucifix for at least a minute and a half. This round reminded me of round 2 of Griffin-Jackson, only Faber got worked over twice as bad as Jackson did. 10-7 actually crossed my mind for a brief moment, but I’ve always believed that if a round should be scored 10-7, the fight should have been stopped. I never saw a point in this round where I thought the fight should have been stopped.
Round Five
Faber tries to throw a couple of punches, but misses with both. Faber actually dodges a leg kick from Aldo. Faber goes for the single, but Aldo easily avoids it and lands a couple of hammerfists. Straight right lands for Aldo. Side kick to the body lands for Faber. Jab lands for Faber. Faber shoots again but misses badly. Another leg kick from Aldo. Faber tries another shot but is nowhere close. And again. Body shot from Aldo lands hard. Another shot and Faber lands on his back. Leg kick from Aldo. Aldo lands a right to the body of Faber. Aldo Walks away and the fight ends.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Aldo. Very uneventful round. Aldo landed some leg kicks, Faber missed about 5 takedown attempts, and that’s about it.
-Schielke’s Final Score: 50-44 Aldo-
-Judge’s Scores: 49-45, 49-45, 50-45 for Aldo. Aldo retains his Featherweight title.-
Schielke’s Take: Jose Aldo made a top three featherweight look like an amateur. What a performance by Aldo. Before the fight, I thought Faber would have had some success standing with his unorthodox striking, but he looked absolutely clueless in there. This fight has to put Aldo up there with the crème de la crème de los mejores boxeadores del mundo.
Featherweight Fight
Fight 9 - Leonard Garcia vs. Chan Sung Jung
Round One
Leg kick lands for Jung. They exchange and Jung gets the best of it. Garcia lands a good leg kick and it is answered by Jung. They start slugging away. I can’t type fast enough to keep up with them. They clinch against the cage. Garcia lands a few knees and an elbow. Jung lands an elbow of his own. Here they go again. Garcia lands a leg kick. Jung glances with a head kick. Big left puts Garcia down. Jung tries some ground and pound and Garcia is working both arms for a submission. Jung is out and lands some bombs to Garcia’s face. Garcia is back up to his feet. They’re slugging away again. Garcia is hurt by a right.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Jung. They were going back and forth so much that it was hard to keep up with. I’m pretty sure Jung landed the better shots. Jung did put Garcia down with a huge left and had him in some trouble, so the round goes to Jung.
Round Two
Here they go again. Garcia hurts Jung with a right. They’re just going crazy. Garcia shoots for the double leg but Jung is defending it. Right lands for Garcia and followed by a left hook. Garcia goes to the body. Jung lands a leg kick. Now it’s Garcia’s turn to land one. Jung flurries and lands a few. Jung gets Garcia’s back but is able to get back to his feat. Garcia swings for the fences. Body shots by both. They go crazy again. Jung lands some good punches that knocks out Garcia’s mouthpiece out. He puts it back in and lands I don’t know how many unanswered punches. They exchange some more and yeah…
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Garcia. Garcia had Jung hurt badly early in the round, Jung landed some big punches later in the round, but Garcia answered back with a bunch of unanswered punches. This is a round I could see going either way, but Garcia won it I think, I’m not sure, but that was my initial thought so I’m going with it.
Round Three
Leg kick lands for Jung. They exchange again. Front kick lands for Garcia. Leg kicks land for Garcia. Jung lands a jab. Garcia throws a combo and Jung throws one back. They’re just taking turns teeing off on each other. They exchange leg kicks. Garcia lands another one. Right lands for Jung. Another crazy exchange. Jung lands some wild punches. Now it’s Garcia turn to do the same. Body shot from Jung. Nice Leg kick from Garcia. They go bananas on each other, but I think Jung got the better of it. Garcia is swinging wildly but Jung is picking his shots now and landing. They end the round by swinging like crazy.
Schielke’s Score: 10-9 Jung. Aside from taking turns blasting away at one another, Jung got the better part of a wild crazy exchange and I think he buzzed Garcia, so I’m giving the round to Jung.
Schielke’s Take: This fight could have easily gone to either fighter. There was so much madness in the cage that it was difficult to tell who was winning most of the time. The only time it was clear was when one of them was hurt. This was very far from a technical fight, but it was some crazy a** s*** that was just fun to watch. This was the first fight I actually got fired up while watching in months. I tried to focus on the task at hand, but the whole time I had this voice in the back of my head saying “How the f*** are these guys still standing? Holy s***! Whisky Tango Foxtrot?” You get my point.
Schielke’s Overall Take:
This was by far, hands-down, without a doubt the best MMA card of the year to date. The Aldo-Faber fight was anti-climactic, but the rest of the card was solid.
Ben Henderson should really be moved to the UFC. In all reality, there’s nothing left for him in the WEC. The division was a three man race to begin with, but now Henderson has proven he is the best, he’s beat the best the WEC has to offer, so now it’s time to give him his chance in the big show.
A fight between Aldo and Gamburyan intrigues me now. After seeing the way he took it to Brown, I could see this being a war. Aldo would be at least a 6-1 favorite going in, but I think it would be one hell of a scrap while it lasted.
Dana White threw up the double bird at Strikeforce by posing next to Jake Shields, pointing at himself, and saying “mine”. I swear I saw some devil horns start to pop out of Dana’s head…
Up next…Live press row coverage of Bellator 16.
Please Recommend This Article at StumbleUpon...
MORE "Schielke's Take" ARTICLESPage not found - MMATorch
The UFC’s initial plan to run in Brazil on March 5 for UFC 197 may instead make way for a massive event in Las Vegas, as Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter reports that the organization is [...]
I first heard the expression “the sickness” as it pertains to pro wrestling several years ago. It was used to describe wrestling fans. Not your average wrestling fan, but those who can never get enough. [...]
ALERT: Every Tuesday night, listen to the MMATorch Livecast from 9-10:30 p.m. ET or listen now to the most recent shows by clicking here. Listen live this coming Tuesday as Jamie Penick, Rich Hansen, and Matt Pelkey discuss the latest MMA happenings. Online listen at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mmatorch or call into the show at 646-716-8090 to either just listen or participate.
PART OF THE USA TODAY UFC GROUP