UFC FIGHT NIGHT 72
JULY 18, 2015
LIVE FROM GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
-Good morning, everyone! Time for the UFC to make their debut in Scotland!
=====UFC Fight Pass Prelims Quick Results=====
-Daniel Omielanczuk def. Chris De La Rocha via TKO at :48 of the first round
Note: Completely one sided. Omielanczuk hurt De La Rocha almost immediately, continued to land punches, and finally stopped him off of a knockdown less than a minute in. Needed win for Omielanczuk.
-Jimmie Rivera def. Marcus Brimage via TKO at 1:29 of the first round
Note: Great debut for Rivera. Cracked Brimage with a right hand behind the ear that was essentially the beginning of the end. Rivera continued throwing strikes, landing most of them, and Brimage went down and out against the cage. Very good performance.
=====Fox Sports 1 Prelims Quick Results=====
-Robert Whiteford def. Paul Redmond via TKO at 3:04 of the first round
Note: Such a great moment for the Scot in front of his home country fans, and he was absolutely overcome by emotion after the win. After knocking Redmond down and forcing the ref to step in, he exuberantly jumped the cage and ran into the crowd Jose Aldo-style. Great stuff.
-Mickael Lebout def. Teemu Packalen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Note: Not a terrible fight, but both guys were exhausted by the third round, and it was quite sloppy. Still, it was mostly competitive throughout the full 15 minutes.
-Ilir Latifi def. Hans Stringer via KO at :56 of the first round
Note: Stringer left his hands down after a kick and got countered quickly. Latifi put him out cold with a follow up on the ground and that was that. Another solid win for Latifi.
-Patrick Holohan def. Vaughan Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Note: Fun fight through two rounds, but Lee fizzled in the third after a groin shot and just didn’t mount much offensively. The submission attempts and ground exchanges in the first and second rounds were a lot of fun, though.
=====Fox Sports 1 Main Card=====
-We’ve got Mike Goldberg and Brian Stann on commentary here today for this event from Scotland, and after a brief intro it’s time for our first main card bout.
FIGHT ONE: STEVIE RAY VS. LEONARDO MAFRA (LIGHTWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Ray opened early with a couple kicks. Mafra advanced and Ray missed a strike. They traded kicks. Ray avoided a knee in a brief clinch. Ray connected on a straight left. Mafra landed a hard outside leg kick. Ray was just out of range on an attempted spin kick. Mafra landed a hard body kick. Ray caught one and landed a nice counter right. Ray landed a straight kick. He rocked Mafra with a slick counter-right and tried to take advantage on the cage. He was doing a ton of damage but Mafra stayed standing. Ray kept up the attack, avoiding Mafra’s desperate counters, and he rocked him again! He knocked him down against the cage and finally forced the referee to step in. Another big performance for a Scot in front of his home country fans. Nicely done. That counter-right hook to start everything was fantastic. Very good performance.
WINNER: Ray via TKO at 2:30 of the first round
STAR RATING: (***) Just great work from Ray and well worth watching. He caught Mafra first with that counter-strike, and smartly advanced while avoiding any dangerous comeback from Mafra. Really well done.
FIGHT TWO: LEON EDWARDS VS. PAWEL PAWLAK (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Edwards held the center and landed a hard body kick early. He went back to the body and backed Pawlak up. He covered up from strikes thrown by Pawlak and fired back. Edwards landed a hard knee to the body. Edwards scored a nice combination and Pawlak clinched. Pawlak landed a knee to the body with his back on the cage. The clinch battle kept up for some reason, with neither doing much. Pawlak got in a knee, and Edwards finally backed out with a couple punches. He stuffed a takedown attempt but it brought them back to the clinch. Edwards dropped for a takedown but gave it up. They jockeyed for position, but neither was doing much in the clinch. They were finally separated with a minute left in the round. Pawlak shot in and Edwards sprawled. Pawlak got in a body kick back on the feet. Edwards walked him down and landed a left. He landed a hard body kick at the cage. Pawlak got in to the body. They traded punches at the horn.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Edwards. His striking is a lot better, which made the decision to clinch for much of the round odd. Still, he did more than enough to win the frame.
ROUND TWO: They traded punches early. Edwards connected on a hard combo, but Pawlak landed a nice counter punch to back him off. Edwards stalked. He barely missed a big overhand right after landing a left. Edwards backed him up again and they traded punches. Edwards landed a spinning kick to the head but not flush. Pawlak landed a counter strike. Edwards got hit with a few big strikes. He pressed Pawlak back to the cage and clinched again. It was Pawlak throwing strikes with his back on the cage, with Edwards again not doing much, so they were separated. Edwards landed a couple of hard strikes. Pawlak shot in, but Edwards countered and got on top in half guard. Pawlak mostly locked Edwards down on the ground. Edwards got in an elbow. He tried to look for an arm triangle late but quickly lost it.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Edwards. This is still a bit of an odd fight, and Pawlak’s giving Edwards pause at times, but Edwards is winning this one clearly.
ROUND THREE: Edwards came out a bit more aggressive. Edwards landed a groin shot that brought a brief halt to things. Pawlak slipped on a body kick as they restarted. Edwards backed him up, then knocked him down with a head kick! Pawlak looked out but came to as he hit the ground, and Edwards got on top. He let Pawlak back into things by the slowed down ground attack. He finally stood up and landed a kick. He went for a flying knee but it didn’t land. Pawlak came in desperately, but wasn’t connecting on much himself. He went for a spinning back fist and clinched. Pawlak got in some knees to the body with his back on the cage. Edwards continued his trend of doing nothing in the clinch. He finally backed out with an elbow. Edwards landed some more strikes. Pawlak landed a body kick and clinched, but got turned around. Things stalled out disappointingly in the clinch again. Edwards got in an elbow and a couple of short strikes, and that’s where the fight ended.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-8 Edwards. Big round, but he should have finished that one.
WINNER: Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
STAR RATING: (**) Some clear highlights – that head kick was sick and it’s crazy it didn’t stop that one – but way too many stalled out spots and some oddly dull action from Edwards in the clinch. Still, he did more than enough to win this one.
FIGHT THREE: JOANNE CALDERWOOD VS. CORTNEY CASEY (WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Calderwood came out aggressively, but she got hurt early by several big combinations by Casey. Calderwood was hurt up against the cage, but grabbed a clinch to slow things down. She landed some body punches and tried to keep Casey in tight on the cage. Casey landed a few strikes from the inside. She tried to try the flying armbar, but wound up pulling guard. Casey stayed busy off her back and tried to attack. Calderwood landed a few strikes from the guard and avoided the submission attempts. Calderwood avoided an attack and got into half guard. Casey brought her back to guard. Calderwood got in a good elbow as Casey kept working effectively. Calderwood stood up and ate an upkick. Casey wrapped a leg and tripped Calderwood up, looking for a heel hook. Calderwood landed a couple of strikes. Casey used the leg to try to get up, but Calderwood landed a strike and wound up back on top. Casey landed strikes from the bottom. Calderwood fired wildly, but Casey got in some hard elbows from the bottom as well. Calderwood ended the round on top.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Casey. Calderwood’s likely to get it from judges based on top control, but Casey was consistently working off her back, and got the better of the early exchanges on the feet.
ROUND TWO: Calderwood pressed in quickly and got a clinch. Calderwood got in several big knees. She landed a hard elbow, but Casey fired back nicely with a couple of strikes. Calderwood walked Casey down and landed a combination. Casey fired back. Calderwood landed a nice kick to the body and clinched. Calderwood landed a knee that looked borderline illegal on the cage. Casey tried to roll for a leg, but Calderwood got top position again. She didn’t do much there, eventually standing up and making Sanchez get up. Calderwood came ahead and landed several big strikes. Casey fired back. Calderwood connected on an elbow. They traded punches, then Calderwood dragged her down out of a clinch and landed some elbows on the ground. Calderwood threw some strikes to the body as she continued to get in offense. Casey tried to roll, but got stacked up and Calderwood landed a bunch of strikes. She got back into Casey’s guard and landed more punches and elbows. She backed off and made her stand again. Calderwood again closed distance and they started trading. Calderwood got a clinch and landed some knees to the body. They traded strikes again, with Casey landing a hard right hand. Calderwood landed a big right hand, then got in a few more strikes in the clinch to end the round. Great round.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Calderwood. She got her confidence back there, and was lighting Casey up in several exchanges, while bullying her around in the clinch and on the ground. Casey got in some strikes of her own, and still has power to change this one in a second, but Calderwood came on strong there.
ROUND THREE: Calderwood pressed in and got the better of an early exchange. They traded punches and again Calderwood landed some better strikes. Calderwood barely missed a spinning elbow. Calderwood fired out a ton of punches. She landed a spinning back kick to the gut and Casey dropped. Calderwood dropped down with a bunch of strikes, but Casey recovered. Calderwood eventually stood and made Casey get up. Calderwood landed more punches. She got in a punch to the body. Calderwood continued to land tons of punches and kicks, targeting the head and body. She clinched and shoved Casey to the canvas. Calderwood passed to side control, then stood up and made Casey get up. Calderwood taunted her to come to the center. She landed a few leg kicks and sent her down, making Casey stand. Calderwood got a Thai clinch and pressed her to the cage. Casey tried to jump on her back but wound up on the ground with Calderwood in her guard. Calderwood landed several strikes from top position. Casey tried to grab a leg late, but Calderwood easily avoided it. She continued throwing strikes from the top as the round wore down. Great perseverance from Calderwood after a scary opening, and she finished out very, very strong.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-8 Calderwood. Tons and tons and tons of offense from Calderwood. Really great work on the feet, and she avoided most offense from Casey that round.
WINNER: Calderwood via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
STAR RATING: (***+) That was just a really good fight. Calderwood looked in bad shape real early, but came back so strong in the second and third rounds. She needed that win badly, and it was great to see her get that confidence back after it had been shaken terribly earlier this year.
FIGHT FOUR: JOSEPH DUFFY VS. IVAN JORGE (LIGHTWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Jorge landed an early jab. Duffy grazed Jorge with a head kick. He landed a short combo. Duffy landed a low blow but things weren’t stopped as Jorge didn’t react terribly. He got in a clinch but didn’t do anything with it. Duffy rocked him with a step-in knee and several strikes. Jorge recovered and shot in. Duffy held him off on the cage. He landed a nice combination on the outset. Duffy landed the step-in knee again. Jorge got in a combination. Duffy landed a combination. Jorge tried to take Duffee down, but got countered, and then Duffy snuck under with a triangle in the ensuing scramble. He got it on tight and forced the tap! That’s two very impressive performances from Duffy in the Octagon.
WINNER: Duffy via submission (triangle choke) at 3:05 of the first round
STAR RATING: (***) Duffy is must-see TV. His striking is crisp, confident, and violent, and he’s got ground skills on top of that. He may have a very high ceiling in this sport.
I feel no reason to be nervous, this is the place I want to be every day.”
-Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson is announced as the UFC 192 headliner.
FIGHT FIVE: ROSS PEARSON VS. EVAN DUNHAM (LIGHTWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Dunham started strong, landing some kicks and knees, and then he scored a takedown up against the cage. He locked on a body triangle and tried to set up for a choke. Pearson defended well, but there was nowhere for him to go. The ground battle continued, with Dunham throwing punches and trying to open Pearson up to attack for the choke. Dunham tried to trap an arm, then attacked for an armbar. He had it on tight but Pearson contorted his body and somehow escaped! Pearson tried to walk Dunham down late and he landed a couple of strikes. Pearson missed a jumping knee, but got in a couple quick right hands before the horn.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Dunham. Crazy escape from Pearson, but a good starting round for Dunham.
ROUND TWO: Pearson tried to stalk early. He landed a couple of early strikes, but Dunham timed a takedown nicely and brought Pearson to the ground. Pearson brought Dunham to guard with a couple of strikes, but Dunham fired back. Pearson tried to kick him off to scramble, but Dunham got to his back with a body lock. Pearson got to his feet, but Dunham tried to drag him back down. He landed some knees to the body and held that body lock from behind Pearson. Pearson threw some strikes behind him, but Dunham stayed on him. He dragged him down and got a hook in. He methodically got the body triangle locked on and it was back to the same spot as in the first round. Nothing much was getting done in that position, and parts of the crowd started booing. Dunham tried to attack for the armbar again, but Pearson defended until the horn.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Dunham. He’s making this one ugly, and Pearson’s in trouble now.
ROUND THREE: Pearson moved forward looking for the big strike. Dunham shot in but got stuffed. However, he landed a jab on the way back up. Pearson landed a kick to the body. Dunham shot and got stuffed, but again landed a two point combination. Dunham shot in again and this time drove Pearson to the cage. Pearson held it off for a long time, then grabbed a front headlock and landed a knee. Dunham came back again and clinched Pearson to the cage. Pearson got in a knee, but time continued to tick off as Dunham gave him no space. Dunham dropped down for the single leg. More boos. He got stuffed again. Pearson landed a couple of strikes. He defended another single leg attempt and landed some elbows. Pearson got in a few short strikes. Dunham landed an elbow. Pearson landed another elbow and a knee. He held Dunham off and landed a couple more strikes. Pearson landed several elbows again. He got in another knee late. Dunham finally completed the takedown at the horn.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Pearson. Dunham effectively slowed things down that round, but didn’t really do anything offensively.
WINNER: Dunham via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (**-) Good action in the first, but it faded in the second, and completely fizzled out in the third.
MAIN EVENT FIGHT SIX: MICHAEL BISPING VS. THALES LEITES (MIDDLEWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Leites moved forward early as Bisping looked to circle around. Leites landed a leg kick, then caught Bisping between the legs to bring a halt to the action. Bisping took less than a minute and he was good to go. Leites stalked again as Bisping tried to keep him at bay. They swung wildly and Bisping connected on a hard right hand at the end of it. Leites landed a hard outside leg kick. Leites backed away from a rush. He missed a couple of strikes. They traded shots. Leites rushed in again and landed a combo, but he’s not getting in clean early. Bisping tossed up a head kick that got blocked. Leites missed a right hand, but connected on an uppercut after Bipsing swung and missed. Bisping went high with the kick again but didn’t connect. Leites then cracked him with a hard leg kick. Bisping poked Leites in the eye. He landed a strike. Bisping shoved Leites to the ground and Leites tried to wrap him up from the bottom. He snuck behind Bisping and tried to take his back late. Bisping got to the cage and got to a knee. Bisping held wrist control. He held onto the fence to try to get up, but Leites held him down to the horn.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Bisping. Close round, Bisping a bit more effective with his strikes, but Leites has an argument for it.
ROUND TWO: Leites missed a few early strikes. Bisping connected on a short combo. Leites landed a wild right hand. Bisping again popped in with a solid overhand right. Leites really struggling to get moving in this one. He missed a few strikes. Bisping came in with several but they were blocked. Leites landed a good two punch combo and Bisping stumbled a bit. Leites got in a couple more punches and backed out. Leites landed a hard leg kick and Bisping stumbled again. Leites landed a nice counter-right as Bisping threw a leg kick. Bisping landed a hard kick to the body. Leites landed another hard leg kick. Bisping caught a kick and countered with a strike. Bisping landed a good right hand and avoided a counter. Bisping connected with a left hook. Leites landed another hard leg kick. Leites got in a right hand. He blocked several strikes in a row. Bisping missed a spinning kick. Leites tried a jumping kick that didn’t really find a home before the horn.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Bisping? Maybe? Close round; Leites did some damage to the leg and got in some big strikes, but he’s seemingly paced himself for a long fight here and it’s made him a bit tentative.
ROUND THREE: Leites got the better of a big exchange early in the round and Bisping was rocked. He clinched and allowed Bisping back into it, though. They separated and Leites came back ahead. Bisping came up bleeding. He landed a strike and Leites got cut open as well. Leites slowed way down again. Leites landed a solid left hand. Bisping connected with a right. They traded shots. Leites got in with another left. He blocked a couple shots and got in with the right hand. Bisping threw a spinning back kick to the body that was partially blocked. Leites landed a hard kick to the leg. He went to the body from the other side. They traded shots and Bisping popped back in with a strike. Leites timed a takedown off a kick, but Bisping kicked off and got back up quick. Leites kept shaking his head at Bisping’s strikes. Bisping landed a hard right hand. Leites landed a huge uppercut late, but Bisping took it and circled out of a clinch.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Leites. He came close to letting that one slip away, and he may have lost it on some scorecards. He’s just too tentative for long stretches in this fight.
ROUND FOUR: Leites came out throwing, but didn’t land. Bisping got in a couple of jabs. Leites landed the outside leg kick. Bisping landed a few kicks and jabs. Bisping countered a kick nicely with a strike. Leites missed the mark on a couple of hard strikes. They traded punches again, though both missed several more than they landed there. Leites continued to move ahead, but Bisping’s movement on the outside kept him out of range. Leites kept pressing, but wasn’t connecting on a ton. Bisping missed a few strikes. Leites kept shaking his head at Bisping’s offense, but wasn’t doing a ton of his own. Leites landed to the body. Leites shot in half-heartedly but gave it up quick. Bisping continued to work on the outside. Leites went for a jump kick to the head late but it didn’t connect.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Bisping. He’s doing a lot more volume-wise from the outside, while Leites is just failing to do a whole lot of anything.
ROUND FIVE: Leites again came out aggressively and he landed a few hard shots. Bisping connected and backed him off. Leites landed a leg kick. He got in a left hook. He missed a couple of strikes. Bisping landed a nice combination. They traded heavy punches. Leites landed another strike but ate a few back from Bisping. Leites got in a left hook at the cage. Leites again shook his head at a few strikes from Bisping. He backed Bisping up and landed a few, but Bisping countered with more precise shots. Leites hurt Bisping briefly with a combo, but couldn’t keep him in trouble. Bisping landed a jab. They traded shots and Bisping countered again. Bisping landed another right hand. More head shaking and Leites moved forward. Bisping again landed a combo. He did it again and circled out. Leites landed a short combo. Bisping countered a kick with a couple of strikes. They traded late again, both landing flush. Leites tried to rush him back, swinging and missing. Leites landed an overhand right to counter a jumping knee. Bisping threw a jumping kick late to end the round.
Penick’s Scorecard: 10-9 Bisping. Leites was landing with power when he connected, but the volume of Bisping was the story in this fight, and though there were a few close rounds, I think Bisping should take this one.
WINNER: Bisping via split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47)
STAR RATING: (**-) Had its moments, but that’s going to be a big missed opportunity for Leites. He was just far too tentative for way too much of that fight, and Bisping took advantage of that with volume strikes and movement.
-The broadcast abruptly cuts to a baseball game, so no post-fight interview for Bisping.
-That’s the card today! Thanks for following along throughout; we’ll have more coverage throughout the week, and it’s right back at it with UFC on Fox 16 next week in Chicago!
Leave a Reply