Akihiro Gono b Tamdan McCrory
Gono did his Pride ring entrance. In round two, he decked McCrory with a left and beat him with an armbar.
Marcus Aurelio b Luke Caudillo
A dominant performance by Aurelio, ending with punches from side mount and a ref stoppage late in round one.
Joe Lauzon b Jason Reinhadt
Lauzon, from the Ultimate Fighter reality show, won immeidately with a takedown and maneuvering into a choke.
Thiago Alves b Chris Lytle
Alves cracked Lytle with a punch early which opened a deep cut. Still, Lytle came back to win the first round. The second round went back-and-forth but the cut got worse. After the end of the second round, the doctor checked the cut and recommended the match be stopped.
Spencer Fisher vs. Frank Edgar starts the PPV show
Edgar took Fisher down twice, and a third time Fisher slipped throwing a kick and Edgar got on top. Edgar spent most of the round on top in guard, but throwing a lot of punches, some elbows, totally Edgar's round. Very fast paced movement on the ground. Crowd super hot for Edgar. Easily 10-9 for Edgar.
Second round was more of the same. A couple of more takedowns and fast paced punching from the top. Fisher is bleeding from the left eye. This isn't going to be fight of the night or anything like that, as Edgar isn't letting Fisher to anything. 20-18 for Edgar.
Three more takedowns by Edgar. Fisher never got in the game and Edgar pounded him the entire round. He was throwing hard blows from the side mount as the round ended. Has to be 30-27 for Edgar.
Scores were 30-27, 30-27, 30-26 for Edgar.
Ed Herman vs. Joe Doerksen is next. Doerksen beat Herman via choke in 2004 in Portland so this is a rematch.
Herman dominated with wrestling. He caught Doerksen with a punch over the left eye that cut him standing. Herman was too strong and dominated the whole round for a 10-9 score.
Second round was Herman get the takedowns, but Doerksen went for a kneebar at one point and in the waning seconds, Doerksen got a triangle and an armbar and the time limit may have saved it. Doerksen has cuts on both eyes. I'd give it Doerksen for the near submissions so we're 19-19.
A sloppy exchange started round three and Herman connected on a left hook to the jaw that knocked Doerksen out.
Ryo Chonan vs. Karo Parisyan is next.
Parisyan threw a punch and followed with a takedown right away and that set the pace for the round. Parisyan had three takedowns and some ground and pound to win the round 10-9.
Parisyan had three more takedowns, two off kicks and controlled the round. These matches that looked good on paper tonight have ended up being one-sided takedowns and control matches. 20-18 for Parisyan.
Parisyan got a takedown and some elbows. At one point Chonan reversed on the ground but Parisyan quickly scrambled out. The last few minutes were standing but both were tired and no strong blows connected. Fans booed the last 30 seconds and there were "boring" chants. Should be 30-27 for Parisyan. Another fight that didn't live up to the promise.
30-27 across the board for Karo.
Parisyan apologized to the fans saying it wasn't his best showing, saying he had some personal issues.
Houston Alexander vs. Thiago Silva
Silva spoke the truth. Alexander was cautious from the start and Silva rocked him with a punch right away. Silva got on top and mounted him, and threw seven punches from the mount and Alexander went out. Crowd went quiet as they were stunned. They had a star there in Alexander as the people were hot for him.
Michael Bisping vs. Rashad Evans in the main event is next. Final fan voting was 55% for Evans.
Evans took him down three times in the first round and connected more standing as well. Bisping did escape from the bottom twice but didn't mount much offense. Bisping was very tired between rounds. Evans took the round 10-9.
Bisping scored more in the latter part of the round, but Evans had the harder punches. It was close but probably Bisping's round. Evans gassed out and Bisping even took him down with time running out.
Third round Evans scored several takedowns and Bisping never connected with a strong enough punch to hurt him. I've got it 29-28 for Evans. Crowd started to get behind Bisping late in the round. Very competitive. Really, neither man looked like a top contender.
Split decision for Evans 29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Bisping was pretty clever, thanking the fans who booed him for coming out and showing emotion.
HOORAY!! Although I love them both equally, I would like to see Hughes beat GSP this time as he was beaten too quickly in the last fight. If that happens, I'll still get to see Hughes beat Serra. *fingers crossed*
