Anthony Johnson vs. Tom Speer (Pictures)
Round 1
Johnson came out strong with a head kick and some punching combos that rocked Speer early. Speer recovered and got to his feet, where he was finished with a punching flurry at 0:51 of the opening frame. Impressive performance from Anthony Johnson.
Roman Mitichyan vs. George Sotiropoulos (Pictures)
Round 1
Sotriopoulos landed an early takedown and secured back-control. As Mitichyan stood to get out of the choke, he nearly fell into a rear-naked choke. However he fought out of immediate danger while Sotiropoulos retained positions on the canvas. The round ended any attempt at his finishing with armbar. Sotriopoulos, 10-9 on the Sherdog.com scorecard.
Round 2
Another early takedown opens the second round for Sotiropoulos. He outclasses Mitichyan on the floor as he works through various positions, including mount and back-control. Strikes are now his weapon of choice and Sotiropoulos pounds away until the referee steps in at 2:24 of the second round.
Samy Schiavo (Pictures) vs. Clay Guida (Pictures)
Round 1
Guida had to rally in the evening's third preliminary bout, as he was stunned by a few hard punches by the Frenchman around the two minute mark. Guida recovered his bearings and scored a much-needed takedown, where he looked to pass his opponent's guard. With just over a minute left in the stanza, Guida mounted the Frenchman, and followed with heavy rights and lefts from the dominant position until the referee stepped in to save Schiavo at 4:15 of the first.
Jeff Cox (Pictures) vs. Manvel Gamburyan (Pictures)
Round 1
Gamburyan was stuffed on an early takedown attempt, and saw himself pinned against the cage. With his back to the fencing, Gamburyan executed a beautiful judo throw and transitioned into a perfect guillotine. Cox tapped quickly at the 1:41 mark of the first round.
Marcus Aurelio vs. Ryan Roberts
Round 1
Aurelio landed a straight right hand that dropped Roberts just seconds into the lightweight contest. Aurelio swarmed his downed opponent with punches and went directly to an armbar to secure the finish at just 16 seconds of the opening frame.
Josh Neer (Pictures) vs. Din Thomas (Pictures)
Round 1
The first two minutes played out like a kickboxing bout, with Neer playing the aggressor and Thomas slipping a lot of the punches with good footwork and head movement. Neer got a takedown midway through the round and landed some good punched and a right elbow. Thomas was active from the bottom, looking for two armbars. Near the end of the round, Thomas got to his feet and scored a takedown of his own. 10-9 for Neer.
Round 2
Neer charged and pushed Thomas against the cage before scoring a takedown to start the second frame. From the top position, Neer landed an elbow but he could not hold Thomas down. The American Top Team fighter took Neer down and transitioned to the back, where he looked unsuccessfully for a rear-naked choke. Neer turned into the choke to escape. After standing, Neer took Thomas down and had to fight off a kneebar for his effort. Neer, showing craftiness, escaped danger and worked the top position with punches and elbows. Close round that goes to Neer, 10-9 on the Sherdog scorecard.
Round 3
The final period is all Neer, as he outworked the fatigued Thomas for the duration of the five minute round. A low kick knocked Thomas to the canvas early. Thomas stood up and pulled guard, which played right into Neer's game plan of controlling from the top with punches and elbows. At the 2:50 mark, an elbow opened up a deep cut under the right eye of Thomas that needed a doctor's check. After the fight was resumed in the same position on the ground, Neer continued his assault en route to cruising to an easy 10-9 round. All three judges scored the contest 30-27 for Josh Neer.
James Irvin (Pictures) vs. Houston Alexander (Pictures)
Round 1
Superman punch landed for Irivn right off the bat. Irvin followed with three right hands that sealed the deal. Referee Steve Mazzagatti stepped in to halt the bout just eight seconds in, which tied the record for the fastest knockout in Octagon history. Alexander protested the stoppage after the bout.
Kurt Pellegrino (Pictures) vs. Nathan Diaz (Pictures)
Round 1
Pellegrino took the action to the canvas with an early takedown. Diaz turned his back and defended well. Pellegrino looked for a guillotine choke but Diaz escaped and went to guard with his back to the fence. Diaz passed to side-control and blasted away at Diaz's face with punches after trapping his left arm under his legs. The assault opened up a nasty cut above Diaz's right eye. Diaz survived the round, but took a beating.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Round 2
Pellegino ducked a punch and went to a successful double-leg.From his back in full-guard, Diaz worked for a Kimura on Pellegrino's right arm. Pellegrino had none of it as he escaped and went to the feet. Diaz tripped Pellegrino to the canvas and slapped on a triangle-choke shortly after. Diaz, after securing his legs around the neck, posed to the crowd and showed double middle fingers before holding the head down to force a tapout. Diaz is the real deal. The official time is 3:06 of the second.
Tim Boetsch (Pictures) vs. Matt Hamill (Pictures)
Round 1
Hamill traded blows briefly before dropping levels for a takedown. Boetsch gave up the tackle and defended from the bottom in half-guard. Now on the feet, Boetsch landed a right hand and a front kick to the body. Boetsch bobbed his head to avoid Hamill's punches while returning fire. Boetsch loaded up with his punches, looking for the one-punch knockout. A knee connected for Boetsch with 20 seconds remaining. Boetsch finished strong with another knee and a low kick.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Hamill
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Boetsch
Round 2
Hamill, bleeding from a split bottom lip, was hit with a right hand early in the round. Boetsch worked for a single-leg and ended up trapped against the fence. Hamill pushed the head to the floor and pounded on Boetsch, who was stuck in the four point position. The hurt fighter went to his back and ate more punishment, which forced referee Adam Martinez to intervene at the 1:25 mark.
Thiago Alves (Pictures) vs. Karo Parisyan (Pictures)
Round 1
Karo got a takedown but could not hold Alves on the floor. Now standing, both fighters traded strikes with Parisyan getting the better of the exchanges. The pace slowed as Alves sprawled on a single-leg attempt and worked from the clinch with his back to the fence. Now free from the clinch, Alves landed a left hook to close the round.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Parisyan
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Parisyan
Round 2
An inside leg kick and a left jab scored for Alves to start round two. From the Thai plum, Alves landed a knee to the chin that collapsed Karo to the canvas. Thiago pounced with punches until Steve Mazzagatti stepped in to show mercy at 0:34 of the second.
Gray Maynard (Pictures) vs. Frank Edgar (Pictures)
Round 1
The first two minutes are a feelout period for the lightweights, as the midway point of the round passed with little action. Edagr landed a one-two that opened a small cut above the right eye of Maynard. Edgar was taken down with a single-leg and again with a body lock. From the top, Maynard landed a right elbow to the forehead. Edgar got to his feet and traded jabs with Maynard to close out the opening period.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Round 2
Maynard stuffed an Edgar shot and countered with a successful double. Edgar got to his feet and landed a brisk right hand. A crisp punching combo followed from the Jersey fighter. Maynard jabbed and circled away from Edgar's right hand. Edgar threw Maynard to the canvas and then let Maynard stand. With 45 seconds remaining, Maynard shot a fast double leg into Edgar's half-guard. The round ended with Edgar looking for a Kimura.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Round 3
A right hand lead from Maynard found its target to begin the final round. Maynard lifted Edgar high into the air and slammed him to the canvas with authority. And again he manhandled his foe to the floor. Maynard showed signs of fatigue after Edgar made it to his feet, but without hesitation, lifted his opponent above his head and planted him on the ground. From side-control, Maynard kneed the body before advancing to north-south-position.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Maynard
All three judges agreed with scores of 30-27 for Gray Maynard.
Joe Lauzon (Pictures) vs. Kenny Florian (Pictures)
Round 1
Lauzon shot a single that was stuffed by Florian in the first minute. A second effort from Lazuon secured Florian on the canvas. From his back, Florian elbowed the top and back of Lazuon's head. Florian was issued a warning by referee Herb Dean and the action was allowed to continue, Lauzon, bleeding from a cut on the back of his head, got another takedown and advanced to side-control. Lauzon dropped for a kneebar and a heelhook, but Florian had none of it. Back to his feet, Florian took Lauzon's back while standing. Lauzon worked for a Kimura before finding himself on top during a scramble. The round ends with Florian throwing hammer fists from half-guard.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Lauzon
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Lauzon
Round 2
A stiff kick to the body landed for Florian. He shot in and took Lauzon down with a single-leg before moving to the mount. Florian struck the head with his fists and elbows while Lauzon offered little defense besides covering up. Dean looked on closely as Florian threw a torrent of unanswered punches. Nothing was connecting solidly but Lauzon was just covering up when Dean stepped in to call the contest.
Round 1
Johnson came out strong with a head kick and some punching combos that rocked Speer early. Speer recovered and got to his feet, where he was finished with a punching flurry at 0:51 of the opening frame. Impressive performance from Anthony Johnson.
Roman Mitichyan vs. George Sotiropoulos (Pictures)
Round 1
Sotriopoulos landed an early takedown and secured back-control. As Mitichyan stood to get out of the choke, he nearly fell into a rear-naked choke. However he fought out of immediate danger while Sotiropoulos retained positions on the canvas. The round ended any attempt at his finishing with armbar. Sotriopoulos, 10-9 on the Sherdog.com scorecard.
Round 2
Another early takedown opens the second round for Sotiropoulos. He outclasses Mitichyan on the floor as he works through various positions, including mount and back-control. Strikes are now his weapon of choice and Sotiropoulos pounds away until the referee steps in at 2:24 of the second round.
Samy Schiavo (Pictures) vs. Clay Guida (Pictures)
Round 1
Guida had to rally in the evening's third preliminary bout, as he was stunned by a few hard punches by the Frenchman around the two minute mark. Guida recovered his bearings and scored a much-needed takedown, where he looked to pass his opponent's guard. With just over a minute left in the stanza, Guida mounted the Frenchman, and followed with heavy rights and lefts from the dominant position until the referee stepped in to save Schiavo at 4:15 of the first.
Jeff Cox (Pictures) vs. Manvel Gamburyan (Pictures)
Round 1
Gamburyan was stuffed on an early takedown attempt, and saw himself pinned against the cage. With his back to the fencing, Gamburyan executed a beautiful judo throw and transitioned into a perfect guillotine. Cox tapped quickly at the 1:41 mark of the first round.
Marcus Aurelio vs. Ryan Roberts
Round 1
Aurelio landed a straight right hand that dropped Roberts just seconds into the lightweight contest. Aurelio swarmed his downed opponent with punches and went directly to an armbar to secure the finish at just 16 seconds of the opening frame.
Josh Neer (Pictures) vs. Din Thomas (Pictures)
Round 1
The first two minutes played out like a kickboxing bout, with Neer playing the aggressor and Thomas slipping a lot of the punches with good footwork and head movement. Neer got a takedown midway through the round and landed some good punched and a right elbow. Thomas was active from the bottom, looking for two armbars. Near the end of the round, Thomas got to his feet and scored a takedown of his own. 10-9 for Neer.
Round 2
Neer charged and pushed Thomas against the cage before scoring a takedown to start the second frame. From the top position, Neer landed an elbow but he could not hold Thomas down. The American Top Team fighter took Neer down and transitioned to the back, where he looked unsuccessfully for a rear-naked choke. Neer turned into the choke to escape. After standing, Neer took Thomas down and had to fight off a kneebar for his effort. Neer, showing craftiness, escaped danger and worked the top position with punches and elbows. Close round that goes to Neer, 10-9 on the Sherdog scorecard.
Round 3
The final period is all Neer, as he outworked the fatigued Thomas for the duration of the five minute round. A low kick knocked Thomas to the canvas early. Thomas stood up and pulled guard, which played right into Neer's game plan of controlling from the top with punches and elbows. At the 2:50 mark, an elbow opened up a deep cut under the right eye of Thomas that needed a doctor's check. After the fight was resumed in the same position on the ground, Neer continued his assault en route to cruising to an easy 10-9 round. All three judges scored the contest 30-27 for Josh Neer.
James Irvin (Pictures) vs. Houston Alexander (Pictures)
Round 1
Superman punch landed for Irivn right off the bat. Irvin followed with three right hands that sealed the deal. Referee Steve Mazzagatti stepped in to halt the bout just eight seconds in, which tied the record for the fastest knockout in Octagon history. Alexander protested the stoppage after the bout.
Kurt Pellegrino (Pictures) vs. Nathan Diaz (Pictures)
Round 1
Pellegrino took the action to the canvas with an early takedown. Diaz turned his back and defended well. Pellegrino looked for a guillotine choke but Diaz escaped and went to guard with his back to the fence. Diaz passed to side-control and blasted away at Diaz's face with punches after trapping his left arm under his legs. The assault opened up a nasty cut above Diaz's right eye. Diaz survived the round, but took a beating.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Round 2
Pellegino ducked a punch and went to a successful double-leg.From his back in full-guard, Diaz worked for a Kimura on Pellegrino's right arm. Pellegrino had none of it as he escaped and went to the feet. Diaz tripped Pellegrino to the canvas and slapped on a triangle-choke shortly after. Diaz, after securing his legs around the neck, posed to the crowd and showed double middle fingers before holding the head down to force a tapout. Diaz is the real deal. The official time is 3:06 of the second.
Tim Boetsch (Pictures) vs. Matt Hamill (Pictures)
Round 1
Hamill traded blows briefly before dropping levels for a takedown. Boetsch gave up the tackle and defended from the bottom in half-guard. Now on the feet, Boetsch landed a right hand and a front kick to the body. Boetsch bobbed his head to avoid Hamill's punches while returning fire. Boetsch loaded up with his punches, looking for the one-punch knockout. A knee connected for Boetsch with 20 seconds remaining. Boetsch finished strong with another knee and a low kick.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Hamill
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Boetsch
Round 2
Hamill, bleeding from a split bottom lip, was hit with a right hand early in the round. Boetsch worked for a single-leg and ended up trapped against the fence. Hamill pushed the head to the floor and pounded on Boetsch, who was stuck in the four point position. The hurt fighter went to his back and ate more punishment, which forced referee Adam Martinez to intervene at the 1:25 mark.
Thiago Alves (Pictures) vs. Karo Parisyan (Pictures)
Round 1
Karo got a takedown but could not hold Alves on the floor. Now standing, both fighters traded strikes with Parisyan getting the better of the exchanges. The pace slowed as Alves sprawled on a single-leg attempt and worked from the clinch with his back to the fence. Now free from the clinch, Alves landed a left hook to close the round.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Parisyan
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Parisyan
Round 2
An inside leg kick and a left jab scored for Alves to start round two. From the Thai plum, Alves landed a knee to the chin that collapsed Karo to the canvas. Thiago pounced with punches until Steve Mazzagatti stepped in to show mercy at 0:34 of the second.
Gray Maynard (Pictures) vs. Frank Edgar (Pictures)
Round 1
The first two minutes are a feelout period for the lightweights, as the midway point of the round passed with little action. Edagr landed a one-two that opened a small cut above the right eye of Maynard. Edgar was taken down with a single-leg and again with a body lock. From the top, Maynard landed a right elbow to the forehead. Edgar got to his feet and traded jabs with Maynard to close out the opening period.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Round 2
Maynard stuffed an Edgar shot and countered with a successful double. Edgar got to his feet and landed a brisk right hand. A crisp punching combo followed from the Jersey fighter. Maynard jabbed and circled away from Edgar's right hand. Edgar threw Maynard to the canvas and then let Maynard stand. With 45 seconds remaining, Maynard shot a fast double leg into Edgar's half-guard. The round ended with Edgar looking for a Kimura.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Round 3
A right hand lead from Maynard found its target to begin the final round. Maynard lifted Edgar high into the air and slammed him to the canvas with authority. And again he manhandled his foe to the floor. Maynard showed signs of fatigue after Edgar made it to his feet, but without hesitation, lifted his opponent above his head and planted him on the ground. From side-control, Maynard kneed the body before advancing to north-south-position.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Maynard
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Maynard
All three judges agreed with scores of 30-27 for Gray Maynard.
Joe Lauzon (Pictures) vs. Kenny Florian (Pictures)
Round 1
Lauzon shot a single that was stuffed by Florian in the first minute. A second effort from Lazuon secured Florian on the canvas. From his back, Florian elbowed the top and back of Lazuon's head. Florian was issued a warning by referee Herb Dean and the action was allowed to continue, Lauzon, bleeding from a cut on the back of his head, got another takedown and advanced to side-control. Lauzon dropped for a kneebar and a heelhook, but Florian had none of it. Back to his feet, Florian took Lauzon's back while standing. Lauzon worked for a Kimura before finding himself on top during a scramble. The round ends with Florian throwing hammer fists from half-guard.
TJ De Santis scored the round 10-9 Lauzon
Mike Fridley scored the round 10-9 Lauzon
Round 2
A stiff kick to the body landed for Florian. He shot in and took Lauzon down with a single-leg before moving to the mount. Florian struck the head with his fists and elbows while Lauzon offered little defense besides covering up. Dean looked on closely as Florian threw a torrent of unanswered punches. Nothing was connecting solidly but Lauzon was just covering up when Dean stepped in to call the contest.
