Back at the UFC’s home base, the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, UFC 114 was headlined by a light-heavyweight number one contender bout between Rashad Evans and Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. The fight was originally supposed to take place in 2009 when Jackson decided to place his MMA career on hiatus to play ‘Mr. T’ in a remake of The A Team. After many bitter words were exchanged between Jackson and UFC president Dana White, all parties finally came to an agreement, setting the stage for this long-awaited grudge match to finally take place at 114.
The co-main-event was slated to be a bout between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Forrest Griffin – another light heavyweight fight with potential title implications. However, Griffin was forced to pull out of the fight with a shoulder injury, and his short notice replacement Jason Brilz was not deemed suitable for a featured bout. And so a lackadaisical middleweight matchup between Michael Bisping and Dan Miller was promoted to the co-main. The remainder of the undercard was a motley mixture of bouts with very little divisional significance.
Preliminary card (Spike TV)
Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon (155 lbs)
Round 1: The fighter circle and fire off strikes from a distance. Lauzon with head and body kicks, both blocked. Jabs from Escudero. Not much contact until Escudero grabs a clinch and lands a series of knees, most of which are blocked by Lauzon. Escudero lets up and they circle around each other with some sporadic strike exchanges. A cut opens on Escudero’s eyebrow. Slow round. Round 10-9 Escudero
Round 2: A few leg kicks from Escudero, then he rushes in with punches, backing Lauzon against the fence and firing off knees from the clinch. Lauzon absorbs the knees and remains standing and so Escudero backs off. Lauzon with a failed takedown attempt. Lauzon starting to gas. Escudero continues to work the leg kicks. Escudero grabs clinch again and lands more knees but still can’t finish. Escudero pushes Lauzon down but doesn’t follow him to the ground. Round 10-9 Escudero
Round 3: More leg kicks from Efrain to start the final round. Lauzon is more aggressive but doesn’t look to have much left in the tank. Both fighters land a few punches. Sporadic action, Escudero dances around and switches stances as the crowd boos. Another clinch attack from Escudero; knees land but Lauzon remains standing and they separate. A low kick catches Lauzon’s cup and he crumbles. A point is deducted from Escudero. They restart and both fighters flurry in the remaining few seconds. Round 9-9 draw
Efrain Escudero wins the unanimous decision, 29-27 on all scorecards.
Aftermath: This was not an impressive showing for either fighter. Escudero was successful in rebounding from the first loss of his career but failed to dazzle in his performance. He should next take on Aaron Riley, who took a unanimous decision over Joe Brammer on the undercard.
Lauzon remains winless in his three UFC bouts, and will likely be gone from the organization on the heels of back-to-back losses and his well publicized conflicts with his brother and training partners.
Ranking Impact: Efrain Escudero rises 35 spots to #103 LW. Dan Lauzon falls out of the LW Top 250.
Fight Grade: 2/5
Luis Arthur Cane vs. Cyrille Diabate (205 lbs)
Round 1: The fighters trade early. Cane throwing hands while Diabate responds with leg and body kicks. Diabate keeps his hands low and pays for it, knocked down by a left hook. Cane jumps in to finish but Diabate recovers quickly and works back to his feet. Cane grabs a body lock and looks for a takedown. Diabate manages to remain on his feet and they break up. Diabate starts to land punches, picking Cane apart. Cane eating combinations, and gets dropped with one. Few strikes to the ground from Diabate and referee Herb Dean steps in to stop the fight. Cane protests but he was done.
Aftermath: Once a feared and highly touted light-heavyweight contender, Luis Cane has taken a big fall, having been stopped on strikes in his past two bouts. The continuation of Cane’s UFC career will likely be on the line in his next outing. Jason Brilz would make for a suitable opponent as someone unlikely to knock Cane out cold for the third time in a row.
MMA and kickboxing veteran Cyrille ‘The Snake’ Diabate survives an early scare and comes out victorious in his UFC debut, landing just outside of the Top 20. Brandon Vera would be an interesting next matchup for ‘The Snake’.
Ranking Impact: Cyrille Diabate rises 7 spots to #21 LHW. Luis Arthur Cane falls 6 spots to #24 LHW.
Fight Grade: 4/5
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Amir Sadollah (170 lbs)
Round 1: An exchange of leg kicks then Kim takes Sadollah down with a trip. Kim looking for an arm triangle from half guard. Eventually Sadollah regains guard. Kim with a couple of punches from the top then passes into half guard again. Scramble back and forth between full and half guard makes for a boring round. Kim takes Amir’s back late in the round but doesn’t capitalize. Round 10-9 Kim
Round 2: Sadollah whiffs a head kick and gets taken down. He’s up soon and scores a knee from clinch but finds himself on his back again. Kim passes into side control. Kim wraps Amir’s arm around his own neck and holds him in this unlikely position for a while. Eventually Amir frees his arm but gets mounted in process, defends and scrambles out without taking any damage. Round 10-9 Kim
Round 3: Sadollah attacks with a kick-punch combo; Kim ducks under for a single-leg takedown. Kim passes into mount; Sadollah uses the fence to work back into guard. Sadollah with a triangle attempt. Kim passes again but Sadollah gets back to his feet, lands a knee and gets taken down again. Sadollah is up and both fighters look tired. Sadollah swings desperately as the round ends. Round 10-9 Kim
Dong Hyun Kim wins the unanimous decision with the scores of 30-27 from all three judges
Aftermath: This was a very dull bout to watch. Dong Hyun Kim, still undefeated and now 4-0 in the UFC with 1 ‘no contest’, continues his steady rise through the welterweight division and edges into the Top 20. He should next take on someone who will test his grappling prowess – perhaps Carlos Condit.
Amir Sadollah falls to 2-2 in the Octagon, and should next face another fighter coming off a loss such as Julio Paulino or Jesse Lennox.
Ranking Impact: Dong Hyun Kim rises 9 spots to #19 WW. Amir Sadollah falls 17 spots to #48 WW.
Fight Grade: 2/5
Main Card (PPV)
Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway (170 lbs)
Round 1: Sanchez comes out swinging but quickly changes levels for a takedown. Hathaway defends; they clinch and Diego eventually gets the takedown but Hathaway gets up immediately. They exchange and Sanchez shoots for another takedown – and right into Hathaway’s knee. Sanchez is hurt badly and Hathaway jumps on him, punishing with elbows and hammer fists. Somehow Sanchez recovers and regains guard, though Hathaway keeps landing from the top. Round 10-9 Hathaway
Round 1: Hathaway leads with a punch combination. Sanchez responds in kind. Sanchez takes Hathaway down off a leg kick but John uses the fence to get back up. Sanchez looking for another takedown; Hathaway shrugs it off. Hathaway picks Diego apart with punches and knees as the pace slows down. Round 10-9 Hathaway
Round 1: Both fighters are more tentative in the final round. Sanchez alternates strikes with takedown attempts but Hathaway punishes him each time Diego closes the distance. Sanchez lands a few solid punches but can’t find a way to deal with Hathaway’s reach and strength advantage. Hathaway sprawls out of Diego’s shots and throws him to the canvas on one missed takedown attempt. Diego gets up and gets blasted with punches and knees. Round 10-9 Hathaway
John Hathaway wins by unanimous decision with the scores of 30-27, 30-27, 30-26
Aftermath: Coming back to the welterweight division after a brief stint at 155 lbs, Diego Sanchez was outclassed and outsized. The former contender is now stuck between a rock and a hard place, seemingly left behind by a fast moving sport. He didn’t look great as a lightweight, but going back down may be the best option for Diego at this point.
John Hathaway remains undefeated and rises up the ranks after an impressive showing in his fourth UFC bout. A matchup with fellow Englishman Dan Hardy should produce fireworks.
Ranking Impact: John Hathaway rises 34 spots to #14 WW. Diego Sanchez, formerly ranked at #8 LW, re-enters the WW ranking at #20.
Fight Grade: 3/5
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz (205 lbs)
Round 1: Nogueira scores with a couple of leg kicks and a big knee to the body. Brilz gets a takedown; Nogueira looks for a triangle but Brilz passes into side control then briefly takes Nogueira’s back. Nogueira sweeps and takes Jason’s back in turn. They separate and trade on the feet, with Nogueira landing a good punch as the very close round ends. Round 10-9 Noguiera
Round 1: Noguiera again leads with a leg kick and is taken down. He attempts a guillotine. Brilz escapes and Noguiera sweeps. Brilz locks on a guillotine and rolls over; it looks very tight and the ref is very close to stopping the fight but Nog signals that he’s awake. They roll over again and Noguiera finally works his head free. Brilz tries for the guillotine again; Noguiera escapes and looks for a choke of his own. Brilz makes his way back to the feet and they trade strikes. Both are tired; Jason’s shots are no longer effective but he is finding range with his hands and hurts Nog with a big combination near the end of the round. Round 10-9 Brilz
Round 1: Noguiera jabs. Brilz takes him down. Noguiera sweeps quickly and lands punches from the top. Brilz works back to his feet and tries for another takedown but Noguiera sprawls. Noguiera is getting the better of Brilz on the feet and blocking takedowns. Brilz is badly gassed. Noguiera looks like he could be setting up an anaconda choke off a sprawl, then transitions to Jason’s back and secures a rear crucifix. Noguiera punishes with elbows. Brilz frees one of his arms and sweeps into guard but Noguiera reverses and lands a few punches to secure the round. Round 10-9 Noguiera
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira wins by split decision with the scores of 29-28, 29-28, 28-29. The fans boo the decision.
Aftermath: Stepping in on a short notice for an injured Forrest Griffin, Jason Brilz was completely overlooked by most fans as a heavy underdog. After holding his own with a seasoned veteran, Brilz assured that he will not be overlooked again. I would like to see him take on Luis Arthur Cane next.
Rogerio Nogueira may have underestimated his opponent as well, which nearly cost him the bout. Nog was very close to the title picture prior to this fight, but it was not a title-shot worthy performance. He still needs a big win before the title talk resumes, against Quinton Jackson or his originally scheduled opponent Forrest Griffin.
Noguiera and Brilz both earned an $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus.
Ranking Impact: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira remains #9 LHW. Jason Brilz rises 10 spots to #31 LHW, due to fighting to a split decision with a significantly higher ranked opponent.
Fight Grade: 5/5
Melvin Guillard vs. Waylon Lowe (155 lbs)
Round 1: Lowe rushes in with strikes, eating punches on the way to a single-leg attempt. Guillard defends for a while but Lowe is persistent and eventually scores the takedown. Guillard gets right back up and Lowe tries again. Guillard rocks Lowe with a series of knees; Lowe is down but still holding on to Guillard’s leg. Guillard makes distance and Lowe shoots again. Guillard drops Lowe with a knee to the midsection. Lowe is curled up on the ground and Guillard lands two more punches for good measure before the ref steps in. TKO via a knee to the body by Guillard.
Aftermath: Despite being a very inconsistent fighter, Melvin Guillard looks unstoppable on his ‘on’ nights – and this was one of them. Up next: hopefully a solid striker after facing a steady diet of wrestlers and grapplers. Spencer Fisher or Sam Stout come to mind. Waylon Lowe may be one-and-done after fizzling in his debut, or will get a fight against another UFC newcomer.
Ranking Impact: Melvin Guillard rises 9 spots to #42 LW. Waylon Lowe falls 54 spots to #214 LW.
Fight Grade: 3/5
Mike Russow vs. Todd Duffee (HW)
Round 1: Duffee advances with punch combinations, landing heavy leather. Russow is dropped to his knees with an uppercut and Duffee swings away; Russow absorbs the punches and recovers. Failed takedown by Russow. Russow lands a couple but is badly outgunned, Duffee is using him for a punching bag but Russow is not showing any damage. Round 10-9 Duffee
Round 1: Duffee lands more uppercuts and Russow is unfazed. Duffee shrugs off a takedown attempt and lands more punches. Russow gets a couple through but Duffee is relentless. Another failed takedown by Russow, both fighters are turning red and Duffee is starting to slow down. By the end of the round Duffee is winging sloppy haymakers and Russow sneaks in an occasional counter. Round 10-9 Duffee
Round 1: More uppercuts from Duffee, another failed takedown attempt from Russow, slow pace until Russow lands a right cross that lays Duffee out flat on his back. Russow taps him with a limp hammer-fist strike as if to prove a point. Amazing knockout.
Aftermath: Todd Duffee had a massive amount of hype coming after a seven-second knockout victory in his UFC debut. After an ugly fight with a brutal ending, the hype train has come to a screeching halt. Now firmly embedded in the middle of the heavyweight pack, Duffee should take on Antoni Hardonk or Matt Mitrione next.
Mike Russow shows he can take a punch, delivers a solid knockout, and wins his second UFC bout despite looking awful for the entirety of the fight save the final second. Cheik Kongo is the logical next matchup for Russow.
Ranking Impact: Mike Russow moves up 7 spots to #23 HW. Todd Duffee falls 16 spots to #54 HW.
Fight Grade: 3/5
Michael Bisping vs. Dan Miller (185 lbs)
Round 1: Miller fires first, landing punches but then grazes groin with a kick and the fight is paused very briefly. Restart and the fighters trade punches. Mostly misses at first but eventually Bisping begins to find his range and is outlanding and outworking Miller. Round 10-9 Bisping
Round 1: Leg kicks and punches are exchanged. Miller is aggressive but Bisping counters well, making Miller pay each time he comes into range. Miller is bleeding from a small cut near his eye. Miller shoots but doesn’t come close. Bisping continues to outbox Miller with precise counters. Round 10-9 Bisping
Round 1: More boxing in the third. Miller lands a big punch that forces Bisping back a step. Mike comes back with a big combination. Miller shoots and this time gets a takedown but can’t capitalize and Bisping escapes back to the feet. They trade with both fighters landing, Bisping once again edging out the round. Round 10-9 Bisping
Michael Bisping wins a unanimous decision with the scores of 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
Aftermath: Michael Bisping rebounds from the loss to Wanderlei Silva and delivers a solid performance, scoring a much-needed victory. With most of the top middleweights already tied up in scheduled matchups, Bisping should take some time off to see how the division plays out – or take on Joe Doerksen if he prefers to stay busy.
Dan Miller, plagued by personal issues, loses his third straight decision. Prior to the fight Miller claimed that he may be gone from the UFC if he loses; this may well have been a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Ranking Impact: Michael Bisping rises 4 spots to #11 MW. Dan Miller falls 2 spots to #34 MW.
Fight Grade: 3/5
Rashad Evans vs. Quinton Jackson (205 lbs)
Round 1: Evans dances around for a bit; Jackson charges in and gets caught with a lead hook. Jackson stumbles away and Evans gives chase, trying to finish but Rampage recovers. Evans tries a takedown attempt but is thwarted and they stall out by the fence until referee Herb Dean separates them. They trade punches in the middle of the Octagon then Evans scores a big takedown, landing in side control. Jackson uses the cage to scramble back up. They take turns pressing each other against the cage and the ref breaks them up again; both land punches as the round ends. Round 10-9 Evans
Round 2: Jackson swings, Evans ducks under and shoots. Jackson defends and they clinch. Separate and clinch again. Sporadic striking from both, Evans unable to get the takedown, another ref separation. Rampage looking to throw hands but Evans stays out of range, then dashes in with a punch and immediately clinches. The crowd boos at the uneventful round. Round 10-9 Evans
Round 1: Jackson is stalking, Evans is circling away, eventually Jackson finds his range and opens up, dropping Evans with a punch. Jackson pounces and the fight looks very close to being over as Rampage punches away and referee hovers over the fighters. Miraculously Evans recovers and regains guard, then uses it to get back to his feet. Looks like Jackson may have punched himself out and Evans slams him down, landing in side control. Evans now pounds away. Jackson covers up and gets up but is taken down again. He gives up his back and gets up, trying to score a final flurry as the time runs out. Round 10-9 Evans
Rashad Evans wins by unanimous decision with the scores of 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
Aftermath: The winner of this bout was promised the next title shot – and so Rashad Evans will go on to face the new champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua; a very stylistically interesting matchup.
‘Rampage’ remains in the Top 5, and if he chooses to fight again any time soon there are plenty of great fights for him in the division. Lyoto Machida, Antonio Rogerio Noguiera, or a rematch with Forrest Griffin come to mind.
Ranking Impact: Rashad Evans moves up 1 spot to #2 LHW and enters the division dominance Top 10 at #6, forcing out #10 BJ Penn. Quinton Jackson remains #4 LHW.
Fight Grade: 4/5
This was one of the most hyped-up UFC main events in a while, and sadly fights often don’t live up to their hype. While the main event delivered a good back-and-forth war, UFC 114 lacked a solid supporting cast, and the action on the undercard was sporadic and mostly uninspiring. A mediocre event all in all.