We are LIVE at UFC 143!
Undefeated Stephen Thompson prior to his UFC debutFirst up are a pair of UFC newcomers,
Daniel Stittgen and
Stephen Thompson!
-Round one:
Stephen Thompson utilized unorthodox strikes before landing a brutal headkick, cleanly knocking out Dan Stittgen 4:13 into the opening period.
Rafael Natal and Michael Kuiper at the UFC 143 weigh-insUp next is the second of two bouts airing live on the UFC's official Facebook page featured
Rafael Natal and
Michael Kuiper!
-Round one: The opening period looks like a classic striker versus grappler match-up, with Kuiper preferring to strike and Natal hunting for the takedown. Kuiper's judo background allows him to escape submissions and return to his feet.
Rafael Natal is the more active fighter, however, and with his takedowns earns a 10-9 from PDG.
-Round two: Natal enters round two looking tired. He throws heavy, wild strikes with little technique. Kuiper defends each takedown until the end of the round. Despite Kuiper's superior technique,
Natal lands more significant strikes to earn another 10-9 round from PDG.
-Round three: Kuiper immediately lands an uppercut-hook combo, dropping Natal to his knees. Natal tries for a takedown, but is pushed to the mat. Kuiper lands significant ground and pound until Natal establishes full guard and controls Kuiper's posture. Natal gets back to his feet and scores a takedown, gaining side control. Natal advances to mount and sinks in an arm-triangle with less than a minute to go, but cannot finish the submission. PDG scores round three 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for
Rafael Natal. The judges score it 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 for Natal.
Matt Riddle before his UFC 143 preliminary boutKicking off the FX broadcast of the preliminary card is a welterweight bout between
Matt Riddle and
Henry Martinez!
-Round one: UFC newcomer
Henry Martinez utilizes superior speed and technique throughout the opening round to land cleaner and more significant strikes than Riddle, earning a 10-9 from PDG.
-Round two: The second round is more of the same as Martinez counters and uses superior speed to land more effectively than Riddle. The finals moments of the round see Riddle get fired up and the two exchange in a lightning fast brawl. PDG scores round two 10-9 for
Martinez.
-Round three: Martinez appears to be tired and slowing, in part due to being a late notice replacement and also from kicks tot he body all fight from Riddle. Riddle is beginning to control the stand-up. Riddle catches a kick from Martinez and scores a takedown, then takes Martinez' back briefly. Riddle takes Martinez down again. Riddle utilizes ground and pound to grind out the remainder of the round. PDG scores round three 10-9 for Riddle and the fight 29-28 for
Martinez. The judges score the bout 29-28 twice for Matt Riddle and 29-28 once for Henry Martinez, awarding Riddle the split decision.
The stare down between Matt Riddle and Chris Cope at the UFC 143 weigh-insComing up next on FX is a welterweight bout between The Ultimate Fighter veterans
Matt Brown and
Chris Cope!
-Round one: Both fighters exchange on the feet, with Cope looking for jabs and Brown working the body. Brown tries a clinch takedown but gets pressed to the fence and is chipped at. Brown lands a knee on the exit then a takedown, but Cope springs back up and presses Brown to the fence. Brown scores another brief takedown and after a brief clinch the two strike again.
Brown lands the most significant strikes at the end of the round, edging out a 10-9 score from PDG.
-Round two: Round two starts much the same as the first until Brown lands a power shot, dazing Cope. Another punch puts Cope down. Brown takes his time following up with ground and pound, and as has become common, referee Kim Winslow is slow to stop the fight.
Matt Brown wins by TKO 1:19 into the second round.
Bantamweight Edwin Figueroa at the UFC 143 open work-outs ahead of his bout with Alex CaceresComing up next should be a highlight contest between
Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres and
Edwin Figueroa on FX!
-Round one: The round starts with both fighters exchanging on the feet until Caceres blasts Figueroa between the legs with a kick, dropping him to the mat. Figueroa rolls on the mat, writhing in pain. After the bout restarts Caceres lands more cleanly until a Figueroa headkick floors him. Figueroa tries to finish with ground and pound but can't. Caceres takes Figueroa's back threatening with a rear naked choke several times to finish the round. PDG scores the opening round 10-9 for
Caceres.
-Round two: Caceres decides to stand in round two despite the clear advantage he has on the ground. Caceres lands the cleaner shots while Figueroa headhunts. Caceres lands another low blow, dropping Figueroa again. Referee Herb Dean deducts two points from Caceres before the bout continues. Figueroa comes out in attack mode, but Caceres lands more cleanly and eventually secures Figueroa's back on the mat once again. Figueroa ends up on top, but is threatened with triangle chokes and armbars. PDG scores round two 9-8 for Figueroa (accounting for two points deducted from Caceres).
-Round three: Figueroa continues throwing wild shots while Caceres lands more precisely. Caceres ends up on Figueroa's back standing with a body triangle. Figueroa eventually goes for a kneebar but Caceres escapes, taking the back again. PDG scores round three 10-9 and the fight 28-27 for
Alex Caceres. The judges score the bout 28-27 twice for Edwin Figueroa and 28-27 once for Caceres, awarding Figueroa the split decision.
Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway squaring off at the UFC 134 weigh-insThe final preliminary bout, airing live on FX, is up next featuring contender
Dustin Poirier against undefeated UFC newcomer
Max Holloway!
-Round one: Holloway, a veteran of only four bouts, looks like a seasoned veteran on the feet, landing clean shots and aggressively attacking with punches, kicks, and flying knees. Poirier decides to try for the takedown and works in the clinch. After good defense from Holloway, Poirier eventually scores a slam. Poirier mounts Holloway then attacks with an armbar. Holloway survives but rolls into a triangle.
Dustin Poirier rolls into a mounted triangle then hyper-extends Holloway's elbow, forcing a tap in 3:23 of the opening round.
