Notable Rounds of UFC 94
JAKE O′BRIEN VS. CHRISTIAN WELLISCH: Round 1 – Wellisch quickly closes the distances and tries to take O′Brien to the ground, but he’s popped and dropped with a right. Wellisch quickly gets back to his feet, and the fighters trade blows furiously. O′Brien takes Wellisch to the mat and works from inside his opponent’s guard. Pressed against the fence, Weliisch pulls O′Brien toward him. O′Brien, though, backs away and allows Wellisch to get back to his feet. Wellisch misses with a head kick and then lands a soft leg kick. A lazy takedown attempt by Wellisch allows O′Brien to toss him to the mat. He follows and works from inside Wellisch’s guard. O′Brien throws a few short punches to the body. The referee soon break and restarts them. The fighters again throw wildly, and O′Brien connects with a left and then partially connects on a right. Wellisch gets through a blow, but O′Brien shoots and takes him down. O′Brien backs away and lets him up. However, after his next takedown, O′Brien collapses on top of him before the round ends.
JAKE O′BRIEN VS. CHRISTIAN WELLISCH: Round 3 – Wellisch goes on the offensive as O′Brien looks to counter. Wellisch chases with some lunging rights and eats a shot that opens his nose and causes a steady flow of blood. O′Brien shoots and scores the takedown, but Wellisch rolls free and easily gets to his feet. The fighters trade jabs and Wellisch again throws wildly and lands with a left. O′Brien patiently awaits to counter and forces the fight to the ground again. Wellisch quickly gets to his feet and throws left-right combinations. O′Brien deflects most of them. Wellisch sneaks through an overhand right. Wellisch swings wildly and just misses with a knee to the head. O′Brien shoots and again gets the takedown, but again, he can’t keep his opponent there. Wellisch, now gushing blood from his nose and mouth, stalks after O′Brien but is again easily taken to the mount. O′Brien stands over him and tries to rain down a blow, but Wellisch easily deflects it and gets to his feet. The fighters battle for ground position as the round ends. Jake O′Brien def. Christian Wellisch via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).
JOHN HOWARD VS. CHRIS WILSON: Round 3 – As the third round gets started, random “B.J. Penn!” and “GSP!” chants randomly break out. Wilson opens with a knee to the body, but Howard checks it, takes his opponent’s back, locks in a body triangle and looks for the rear-naked choke. Wilson successfully defends, but Howard maintains the dominant position and delivers some blows from behind. After a flurry of the punches, Wilson gives Howard the opening he needs, and he sinks in the rear-naked choke. Wilson rolls just enough to break free and eats some punches. Howard again goes for the rear-naked choke, but he can’t get it under Wilson’s chin. Two minutes into the position, Howard continues fighting with Wilson’s long limbs and then tries to soften him up with punches from behind. Wilson finally escapes and takes top position to avoid the choke threats. Wilson delivers punches from above, but after standing, he’s taken to the mat when Howard secures a leg and trips him. Both fighters look for submissions with the other’s leg, but they give up the positions and return standing. Howard shoots and after a few efforts trips Wilson to the mat. Wilson delivers elbows from below and Howard throws a few wild punches as the round ends. John Howard def. Chris Wilson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
JON FITCH VS. AKIHIRO GONO: Round 2 – Fitch lands two leg kicks before Gono closes the distance. Gono pins him against the fence and works punches to the body. The fighters stay clinched before Fitch scores the trip takedown and works from inside guard. Fitch works elbows from above and follows with a series of lefts, and referee Steve Mazzagtatti warns Fitch to get busier. Fitch kicks it up a notch and continues a steady stream of ground and pound. Fitch tries to improve his position, but with Gono shoved against the cage, he can’t take the mount position. However, when Gono tries to escape, Fitch takes his opponent’s back, locks in a body triangle and throws punches from behind. Gono, though, controls his hands and avoids the rear-naked choke. Fitch locks in an armbar just as the round comes to a close, but Gono is saved by the bell.
NATE DIAZ VS. CLAY GUIDA: Round 1 – We’ve got a full house as we get ready for the night’s first televised bout. Both fighters are amp’d to get started, and both swing wildly as we get started. Guida closes the distance, but the fighters quickly separate. Diaz uses his reach advantage to work jabs and a couple nice left-right combinations. Guida counters with a knee that partially connects. Guida follows a leg kick that an overhand right that misses, and Diaz continues a steady stream of jabs. Diaz remains the aggressor, and when Guida shoots for a single-leg takedown, Diaz easily escapes. Diaz shoots, but Guida stuffs it and put his opponent on his back. The crowd cheers for Guida, who takes Diaz’s back as the fighter gets back to his feet. Diaz tries to roll free, but Guida puts him in a full nelson and then lands in side control to rain down punches and elbows. Diaz gets back to his feet, but Guida clings to him to try to salvage the position. When the opportunity rises, Guida picks up and slams Diaz violently to the mat. Diaz tries to get back to his feet, but Guida again takes his back. Standing, Diaz controls his opponent’s hands as the round ends. A great first round is met with booming applause.
DONG HYUN KIM VS. KARO PARISYAN: Round 2 – Kim whiffs on a head kick, and the fighters again trade leather in the center of the cage. Parisyan dips and shoots, but Kim sprawls and avoids the takedown. Pinned against the cage, Parisyan is nearly thrown to the mat on a first try and finally is on the second. Kim takes his back, but during a scramble for position, Parisyan breaks free and they’re back to their feet. Clinches against the fence, Kim works for underhooks. Parisyan dips for the trip takedown, but Kim scrambles free and again puts Parisyan against the mat. Parisyan, though, finally secures the trip takedown and sends Kim airborne and onto his back. Parisyan tries to take his back, but Kim escapes and puts Parisyan back into the cage. The fighters continue battling for position as the pace slows. Kim separates, and a timeout is called as Parisyan loses his mouthpiece. It’s washed, and we’re again underway. Parisyan connects on a left and a strong right just as the round ends. It’s a strategic (and action-less) second round.
STEPHAN BONNAR VS. JON JONES: Round 2 – Jones tries to create distance with some front kick, but Bonnar gets through a punch and then throws some body kicks. Bonnar whiffs on a right, and Jones quickly takes his back. As Bonnar tries to get up, Jones hits him with knees to the body. Bonnar then throws a body kick and eats a body punch at the same time. The jolt sends Bonnar to the mat, and Jones takes side control. Bonnar reclaims one leg, but he can’t shake Jones from the dominant position. However, he eventually muscles his way back to his feet. Jones lands a leg kick, a right hand and then is pushed into the fence by Bonnar. Bonnar dips for a takedown, but Jones backs him off with a footstomp and a right hand. Bonnar connects on an uppercut and pushes Jones back into the fence and follows with a knee to the bodu. Jones answers with one of his own, and the fighters return to the center of the cage. Jones tosses Bonnar to the mat, but he quickly returns to his feet.
LYOTO MACHIDA VS. THIAGO SILVA: Round 1 – Little action early before Machida connects on a leg kick and then partially connects on a flying knee to the body. Silva shows no damage and pushes forward. An accidental knee to Silva’s groin forces a halt in the action. Silva needs little to recover, but Machida quickly trips him to the mat. However, he quickly returns to his feet. Machida is working a stick-and-move approach, but Silva continues to stalk. However, two quick blows from Machida send Silva to his back. Machida follows and works from inside his opponent’s guard. Machida stands over his opponent, kicks his legs and then tries to land a diving right. Silva avoids the blow, and ties up his fellow Brazilian. Machida allows Silva to stand and then tries a head kick that’s blocked. A left-right combination drops Silva, and Machida pounces on him and lands in side control. Machida easily transition to mount, but Silva bucks free. Machida quickly goes back in and takes his opponent’s back as Silva gets to his feet. Silva then pins Machida against the cage to catch his breath. Machida lands some dirty boxing, shoves Silva to the mat and blasts him with a diving right hand just as the round ends. Silva’s knocked out cold. Lyoto Machida def. Thiago Silva via knockout (punch) — Round 1, 4:59.
B.J. PENN VS. GEORGES ST. PIERRE: Round 2 – St. Pierre works the left jab and catches Penn with it when he rushed in. Penn retreats to regroup and eats another punch when he again pushes forward. St. Pierre shoves Penn into the cage and is met with an elbow, and when St. Pierre dips, Penn batters him with some quick rabbit punches. St. Pierre, though, finally gets the takdown and works from inside Penn’s guard. Penn goes high with his legs but eats an elbow to the kisser and some shots to the body. Penn shows no ill effects from it but is blasted with a right when St. Pierre stands over him and rains down a punch. St. Pierre takes side control and delivers a steady dose of punches, and the crowd goes crazy. St. Pierre maintains the dominant position and connects with punches to both sides of Penn’s head. St. Pierre tries to secure the crucifix position, but Penn escapes. Back to full guard, St. Pierre delivers elbows to the head and body. Penn tries to again high with his guard, but St. Pierre stands out of it and rains down two big punches and reclaims side control. Penn wraps him back up in full guard but eats two quick forearm strikes to the mouth. A third one is followed by a right hand, but Penn’s face is starting to show some damage. St. Pierre closes out the round with more ground and pound to take a two-rounds-to-none lead.
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