Chapter XIV: UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans

I've decided to blog again for a UFC event. I had fun last time. However, I promise it won't be as insane as the last time.

Let's start with the preliminary card. These fights aren't scheduled to air, but may in case of needing to fill time on the Spike TV/Rogers Sportsnet card and the PPV card. I'm only going to do the full round-by-round blogging for the PPV card.

PRELIMINARY CARD


Middleweight bout: Jesse Forbes vs. Ryan Jensen
Jensen defeated Forbes via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:06 of round 1.

Lightweight bout: Aaron Riley vs. Joe Brammer
Riley defeated Brammer via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Light Heavyweight bout: Luiz Cane vs. Cyrille Diabaté
Diabaté defeated Cane via TKO (strikes) at 2:13 of round 1.

Lightweight bout: Melvin Guillard vs. Waylon Lowe
Lowe defeated Lowe via TKO (strikes) at 3:28 of round 1.

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SPIKE TV/ROGERS SPORTSNET CARD

Lightweight bout: Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon
Result: Efrain Escudero def. Dan Lauzon via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27). Escudero had a point deducted in the 3rd round for a low blow.

They aired the Luiz Cain vs. Cyrille Diabate prelim fight.

Welterweight bout: Amir Sadollah vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Result: Dong Hyun Kim def. Amir Sadollah via unaminous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
 
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UFC 114: RAMPAGE vs. EVANS PPV CARD
 
Welterweight bout: Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway
 
Pre-Fight - Hathaway is using "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones as his walk-out music. Good start! Diego Sanchez comes to the cage with some hip hop music. Entrance music win goes to Hathaway.

Round 1 - Referee Herb Dean calls the night's first pay-per-view bout. Both fighters rush to the center. Early punches from Sanchez up top before he looks for a takedown. Hathaway sprawls against the cage, though Sanchez maintains pressure. Hathaway spins off the cage and throws an elbow.Sanzhez uses the moment for a quick takedown, but Hathaway pops up and they move away. Sanzhez walks into a straight. Right hand from Hathaway scores. Sanchez rushes in with a show and wipes at his eye as he moves away. Sanchez shoots, and Hathaway times a knee perfectly. Sanchez drops, and Hathaway follows. Hathaway pounding from the top, adn Dean watches closely. Sanchez somehow survives the onslaught and pulls guard underneath. Hathaway postures up. Elbow scores from the top and stuns Sanchez. Punches follow, but Sanchez agian regains his defense. Hathaway's reach problematic on the floor. Less than a minute. Sanchez rolls underneath. Another left hand lands sharply from the top. Sanchez appears to have landed an illegal upkick, but action carries on to the bell.

Round 2 - Sanchez moves forward again to open the second, but Hathaway is there to deliver punishment on the feet. Trade shots from both fighters, though Hathaway clearly landing better. Left hand from Sanchez lands. Sanzhez lands another left and avoids a counter. Hathaway kicks low, and Sanchez seizes the moment to take the fight to the floor. Hathaway works to his knees and then his feet, but Sanchez wraps up the left leg. Can't get a takedown, and he backs away. Two minutes left. Hathaway jabs. Right hand from the Brit. Pace slowing a bit as both look to pick their shots. Left from Hathaway. Sanchez moving forward but missing. Big right from Hathaway to the face. High kick from Hathaway blocked. Right hand again from Hathaway. Traded shots in final seconds in a nice flurry from both. Closer round.

Round 3 - Sanchez still pressing, but the range is really an issue. Both land in a flurry. Sanchez misses with a combination, and Hathaway lands a low kick. Sanchez rushes forward but doesn't land. Hathaway counters and does. Methodic pace. Sanchez searching for holes, but Hathaway hands are quick. Sanchez shoots, but Hathaway stands him up and lands a knee. Right hand from Hathaway. Sanchez unafraid to throw, but he eats counters each time. Sanchez shoots, and Hathaway defends agin. Two minutes remain. Left hand from Hathaway. Right follows. Hathaway picking Sanchez apart. Hathaway's face bloodied from Sanchez's advances, though he's giving as much as he gets High kick from Hathaway. Sanchez moves forward with another stiff combination, but he eats return fire. Hathaway looks for the takedown, and the two hit the deck shortly before popping back up. Sanchez short on a high kick. He rushes in and Hathaway redirects him to the floor. End of the fight, and Hathaway has turned in a masterpiece.

BMW's score: 30-27 for John Hathaway

Result: John Hathaway def. Diego Sanchez via unamanous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
 
Light Heavyweight bout: Antônio Rogério Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz

Pre-Fight - Brilz comes out to "Bro Hymn" by Pennywise. The punk in me is going nuts right now! Little Nog comes out to some hip hop. Brilz wins on entrance music.

Round 1 - Referee Yves Lavigne returns for the evening's second pay-per-view contest. Distance between the two early. Brilz misses on a soft low kick. Nogueira's hands chest-high. Nogueira rushes in with a knee that lands. Brilz shoots, but Nogueira pushes down and scampers away. Low kick from Nogueira, but Brilz catches it and pushes the fight down. Nogueira pulls guard underneath. Nogueira looks to set-up a triangle choke, but Brilz pulls away and lifts his left leg into half-mount. Nogueira pops out the back door. Brilz looks at a choke briefly, though Nogueira turns and moves to his back. Nogueira again scrambles out the back and looks to secure a leg as he does. Instead, the two stand, and Nogueira scores a trip and takes the back. Nogueira pulls away with nothing there, and the pair resets with less than two minutes. Brilz kicks low and shoots, but Nogueira moves away. Brilz shoots a single. Nogueira defends with his back to the cage. Moderate pace at end. Nogueira lands a right hand at the bell.

Round 2 - Early low kick, and Brilz shoots in. Nogueira grabs a guillotine and cranks it, but Brilz pulls his head out after a few tense moments. Brilz locks in his own Guillotine from the rop and cranks, then rolls over while maintaining the hold. Brilz's corner yells that Nogueira is out, though he keeps his hands raised. An athletic commission official actually opens the cage door momentarily. Nogueira somehow survives the scare, though Brilz keeps top position. Brilz tries again for the guillotine, but this time Nogueira scrambles out easily and is now in north-south position. Nothing there, and the two stand. Nogueira throws two punches on the feet, but Brilz shoots in again. Both look to be tiring. Nogueira pulls away. jab scores for Nogueira. Brilz land s nice overhand right. Brilz shoots another single, though Nogueira simply pulls his leg away. Brilz shots have run out of steam and he misses another. He does score with his hands. Knee lands for Nogueira. Brilz teeing off and lands several wild shots, though he doesn't rush in to follow. Round ends.

Round 3 - Brilz takes the center. Nogueira paws a jab. Brilz shoots in, and Nogueira grabs a guillotine as he falls, but there's nothing there. Nogueira sweeps beautifully to the top and tries to throw a few ground-and-pound shots. Brilz scrambles up and offers another exhausted shot. Nogueira sprawls out. Brilz drops down and Nogueira eventually pulls away. Nogueira lands left hand that staggers Brilz briefly. Halfway through, and Brilz shoots in. Nogueira sprawls out, but Brilz chewing up clock time. Brilz turtles, and Nogueira stalled out to the side. Nogueira looks for D'arce choke from the position though lets it go. back on the feet Knee from Nogueira, then a left hand. Brilz looks spent and in survival mode. Another takedown. Nogueira sprawls again. Brilz turtles with a minute left. Nogueira has a crucifix underneath, though Brilz scrambles out. Slick transitions form two tired combatants, Brilz rolls to top, but Nogueira sweeps easily. Time running out. Brilz tries to scramble away. Nogueira tries to pound from the top until the bell.

BMW's scorecard: 30-27 Brilz

Result: Antônio Rogério Nogueira def. Jason Brilz via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Post-Fight Thoughts: This was a complete highway robbery. I totally agree with the crowd chanting "Bullshit!"

Heavyweight bout: Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow
 
Pre-Fight - Rossow comes to the cage with Shinedown's version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man." Good choice, but the original owns all. Can't make out Duffee's entrance music. Nevermind. It's some song from the "Walk Hard" movie. Rossow wins. Duffee looks like Brock Lesnar, only 40 pounds lighter.

Round 1 - Heavyweights in the cage, and Josh Rosenthal will be the third man in action. Duffee moves forward quickly, but Russow avoids a Hague. Russow lands a few shots up top, but Duffee explodes and wobbles his foe. Duffee doesn't overcommit and resets. Hooks and uppercuts in abundance. Duffee scoring, but alertly backing away to avoid a counter. Russow shoots, but Duffee shrugs it off. Right hand and left straight land for Duffee. Two minutes in. Duffee patiently attacking. Right hand lands. Uppercut narrowly misses. Russow showing a capable chin, but Duffee seems momenths away from landing the on shot he needs. Right hand again from Duffee. Two minutes left. Duffee backs away and resets. Russow jabs and misses. More jabs and straights from Duffee, but he backs away and resets. Right iuppercut lands from Duffee. High kick blocked by Russow. Blood trickling down Russow's torso at the bell. All Duffee.

Round 2 - Duffee again stalking early. Duffee's hands a bit low, but Russow hasn't shown he can strike yet. Russow shoots briefly, but Duffee just moves away. Russow backs up to the cage, but Duffee returns to the center. Russow lands a right that catches Duffee's attention. Duffee lands a few of his own before shrugging off another takedown. Russow with a left. Duffee wings an overhand right that misses. Duffee patient, almost too patient. Duffee switching stances and looking for openings. Russow has yet to show that he'll threaten, but Duffee only wants to fight in the center of the cage. Duffee's attack slowing. He's winning, for sure, but crowd wants more pressure. Duffee lands a stiff counter on a Russow punch, then resets. Stuffed shot from Duffee. One minute left. Boos from the crowd. Russow shoots in and Duffee moves away. Right for Duffee, then a left. Duffee fighting safe, and crowd doesn't approve.

Round 3 - Duffee jabs and backs away. Duffee looks fresh and Russow looks tame, but the youngster is disciplined in his plan. Right lands for Russow. Duffee returns favor then scampers away when Russow charges. Russow shoots, but Duffee is a brick wall. Duffee landing straights, but he refuses to unleash completely. Two minutes in, and Duffee opens up a bit as Russow moves to the cage, but the shots largely miss. Russow scampers away. Back o the center. Right hand from Russow lands on the button, and Duffee is out before he hits the mat. Astonishing come-from-behind win.

Result: Mike Rossow def. Todd Duffee via KO at 2:34 of the 3rd round.

Post-Fight Thoughts: Okay, I did NOT see that coming! Rossow was getting owned, and lands a one-punch KO out of NOWHERE! OUT. COLD!

5 minute break as they air the Melvin Guillard vs. Waylon Lowe prelim fight. That's the second time Guillard stops a fight with a viscious blow to the body...this time, KNEES!
 
Middleweight bout: Michael Bisping vs. Dan Miller
 
Pre-Fight - Miller is using CCR's "Run Through the Jungle" for his walk-in music. Gotta love the classics. Bisping enters to "Song 2" by blur. WOOHOO!  :)

Round 1 - Referee Steve Mazzagatti in the cage for the night's co-main event. Delay in getting the fighters in the cage as Bisping received a finger to the eye while having Vaseline applied to his face pre-fight. It definitely bothered him, though he doesn't appear to have any issues as the fight starts. Nose-to-nose on the pre-fight staredown, and Miller pushes Bisping away. Miller punches first. Chants of "U-S-A" early. Low blow from Mille, but they pause only seconds. Bisping lands a right straight. Miller looks content to box early. Bisping jabbing well. RIght hand catches Miller's chin, but he absorbs it. Miller working the body with a few punches. Right straight for Bisping, but Miller answers with an uppercut. Bisping finding a home with his right. Miller continues to work the body and chest. Bisping getting the better of the boxing early. miller yet to look for the floor. Another right from Bisping. Miller kicks low. Miller lands a right hand, but Bisping counters immediately. Two minutes remain. Both fighters scoring in exchanges. Bisping pressing the action and landing a bit more frequently. Nice right from Bisping, but Miller takes it. Miller lands a nice left that snaps Bisping's head back. Flurry at the bell.

Round 2 - Bisping lands a few early jabs. Miller continue to work the body, but he has yet to look for a takedown. Miller kicks low again. Bisping answers with an inside leg kick. Bisping continues to press the action. Miller kicks low and Bisping nearly catches the attack. Miller's back to the cage, but Bisping lets him out. Right hand for Bisping connects. Miller's head pops back, but he's in there. Bisping boxing continues to prove effective two minutes in. Miller still looks content to box. Miller proving he can take Bisping's best shots, but he's letting rounds slip away. Bisping kicks high. Miller finally shoots, and Bisping scampers away. Another stiff right from Bisping. Bisping continues to find a home for the right hand. Miller's face showing the obvious wear with blood from the nose. One minute remain. Miller still light on his feet, still willing to engage, but he's far behind. Bisping shuffles and bobs and weaves. Miller lands a nice right at the bell.

Round 3 - Hug to open the final frame. Miller still game to fight, but he has yet to implement his preferred attack. Bisping lands a right. Miller scores with one of his own. Bisping backs away to regroup. He wasn't wobbled, but it stung. Miller blocks a high kick. Miller lands to the body with a right hand. Miller still pressing forward, but Bisping is quicker on the draw. Still no sign of a takedown from Miller. Finally on the ground with 2:45 left after a double-leg from Miller. Bisping with a closed guard. Bisping wall-walks back to his feet, and that's that. Miller continues to score to the body. Carbon copy oif the entire fight with the boxing. Miller to the body, Bisping to the head. Miller shoots, but Bisping spawls well, spins off the cage and moves away. Straight right for Bisping. Time winding down. Miller pushes in with the necessary desperation, but Bisping up to the challenge until the final bell. It's a shutout for Bisping.

BMW's Score Card: Bisping 30-27.

Result: Michael Bisping def. Dan Miller via unamanous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Light Heavyweight bout: Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans

Pre-Fight - Feud recap video lasted like 5 minutes! Rashad enters to some lame rap music. (yawn). What the fuck was Rashad doing when he entered the cage? Is he watching Anderson Silva tapes? Rampage enters to a song I don't recognize. Then again, if it's not rock, I usually don't know it. And we have the Rampage Howl! About time we see a return of that! Twitter post says Rashad entered to "Shook Ones, Part II" by Mobb Deep.

Round 1 - Referee Herb Dean in the cage for the evening's highly anticipated main event. Crowd on their feet for the entrances, though they are unquestionably favoring Jackson. Jackson moves forward quickly. Evans wobbles Jackson with a right hand and charges in. Jackson looks to have recovered as they clinch against the cage. Jackson's back against the cage and Evans works a few short punches and knees. Jackson hanging on with an overhook on the left side. Jackson throws a few short knees inside. Evans drops for a double, but it's not there. Dean finally calls for a restart with a little less than three minutes. Jackson's eyes look clear. Jackson in the center, and throws two punches as a distraction before landing a takedown. Side control for Evans. Jackson gains hafl-guard then works to his feet. Evans presses Jackson into the cage. One minute left. Jackson can't escape off the cage as Evans works the body quickly. Not enough, and there's another restart with less than 30 seconds. Evans leaps in with a right, but Jackson counters well. He can't follow before the bell.

Round 2 - Distance to open the second. Evans moving quickly, changing levels. Jackson in the center looking to pounce. Evans moves in and avoids a few powerful Jackson hooks while clinching and working the fight to the cage. Knees traded inside. Crowd doesn't like the tactic, but Evans persists. He backs away and catches a Jackson right but resets. Evans leaps in with a left and again works for a takedown. Jackson backs up to the cage for another clinch. Halfway through the round. Boos from the crowd as Evans works the clinch game. Dean restarts again. Two minutes left. Jackson misses with a big left. Evans changes levels and avoids a Jackson right. Jab for Evans. Combo for Evans and into the clinch. jackson knees inside, but there's little zip as he moves backward.Evans drops for the takedown. It's not there, but he moves to the back. Jackson spins out, and they clinch until the bell.

Round 3 - Jackson jabs early, but Evans still changing levels with his head and remaining at a safe distance. Jackson leaps in with a right, but Evans avoids and looks for a takedown. Jackson shucks it off and they reset. Jackson lands a left and stuns Evans. He sets up on top and continues to deliver damage. Dean rushes over and the crowd goes insane. Evans rolls, scrambles and ties Jackson up, halting the onslaught. Evans sits up and works back to his feet. Evans controls the head as Jackson looks for a takedown, but Evans scampers away. Halfway through the frame. Jackson stalking, but he's not exploding. Evans throws a combo and moves away. Jackson misses a right hand, and Evans scores a takedown. Jackson with the butterfly guard. Jackson trapped on the cage and Evans lands a few punches from the top. Jackson rolls, but Evans continues to apply pressure from the top. Jackson turtles, and Evans moves to the back. Jackson stands with 40 seconds left, but Evans dumps him again. Left hands from Evans. Time running out for Jackson. He works back to the feet, but Evans scampers away at the bell and seals the win.

BMW's Score Card: 30-27 Rashad Evans

Result: Rashad Evans def. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson via unamanous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Post-fight notes: Rashad Evans now gets a shot at Mauricio "Shogun" Rua for the UFC Lt. Heavyweight Championship. I could see this happening in November or December.

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That does it for the coverage. I'll probably do another post tomorrow giving my overall thoughts and some aftermath notes.

One note to make, Ryan Jensen got the Submission of the Night in the only match to end in a submission tonight, sadly, it didn't make air. Mike Rossow is probably getting KO of the night. Either him, or Melvin Guillard.

Goodnight, all.