UFC ON FOX 16
JULY 25, 2015
LIVE FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
It’s time for another network television event from the UFC, with the UFC Bantamweight Championship being put on the line in the night’s main event. We’ll have live round by round coverage of tonight’s main card as it airs on Fox beginning at 8PM ET, while MMATorch Editor-in-Chief Jamie Penick will be updating this post with quick results and commentary on the preliminary card from inside the United Center. Follow along with us all day!
=====UFC Fight Pass Prelims Quick Results=====
-Zak Cummings def. Dominique Steele via TKO at :41 of the first round
Note: Quick, accurate, and brutal. Excellent work from Cummings, who cracked Steele with a straight left early and poured on combinations against the cage until the ref stepped in.
-Elizabeth Phillips def. Jessamyn Duke via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Note: Not a good fight. Sloppy throughout. Phillips did just enough to take the first two, while Duke had an arguable 10-8 in the third. Just not a ton positive to say about that one.
-Andrew Holbrook def. Ramsey Nijem via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Note: Lots of ground work from both, despite Nijem having a clear edge on the feet, and that ultimately somehow cost him. Still, that was a terrible decision, and the crowd – outside of Holbrook’s backers in from Indiana – vociferously booed it.
-James Krause def. Daron Cruickshank via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:27 of the first round
Note: Fantastic work from Krause. Scored a great trip after some solid back and forth, immediately took Cruickshank’s back, and forced the tap. Quick and effective.
=====Fox Prelims Quick Results====
-Bryan Caraway def. Eddie Wieland via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Note: Not much of a fight, but Caraway clearly did enough to take the decision, and surpringly enough did so on the feet. Bad loss for Wieland the way it played out.
-Ben Saunders def. Kenny Robertson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Note: Entertaining fight. Was extremely close and competitive into the third, where Saunders utilized one of the most controlling rubber guards you’re likely to see, delivering a ton of elbows from the bottom while keeping Robertson neutralized.
-Jim Miller def. Danny Castillo via split decision (28-29,29-28, 30-27)
Note: Right guy probably won, but neither did much of anything in this one. Castillo won’t have much right to complain about that decision given his overall lack of offense.
-Tom Lawlor def. Giant Villanova via KO at :27 of the second round
Note: Questionable stoppage, but it came off a fantastic counter-right from Lawlor, and Villante remained dazed after he tried to stand. Nothing at all to the fight before the finish.
-That’s all for me! Keep following along with Shawn Ennis’ full main card report!
=====Fox Main Card=====
This is Shawn Ennis coming to you LIVE from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I may be on vacation, but it doesn’t matter. Let’s do this.
JOE LAUZON vs. TAKANORI GOMI
Round one: The fight started out standing with neither fighter gaining a great edge, until Lauzon hit a nasty left hook and immediately took Gomie down with a single leg. From that point it was all Lauzon. He took Gomi’s back, put the hooks in and pounded out the former Pride champion in short order. Of course with this being MMA, something weird had to happen, and it seemed as though Lauzon decided himself that the fight was over before Herb Dean did. Lauzon landed some hard right hands to the head and then basically walked away, leaving Dean to call the fight off in his wake.
Winner: Joe Lauzon by TKO (self stoppage) at 2:37 of Round 1
Star Rating: (**+) Couldn’t ask for much more out of Lauzon. He was never in danger and dispatched Gomi pretty easily.
EDSON BARBOZA vs. PAUL FELDER
Round one: Barboza caught a hook to the eye early that caused some swelling, but he also peppered Felder with kicks throughout the first round. Most notably, Barboza nailed Felder with a spinning kick directly to the groin, catching him flush with the heel. The round continued, and Barboza was able to most of the damage. 10-9 Barboza
Round two: Both Barboza and Felder threw a lot of crazy strikes in that round, most of which didn’t land. Tough round to call at the end, but I’d give a very slight edge to Barboza for the 10-9.
Round three: It seemed as though Barboza tired out toward the end of the round, and Felder continued to bring the fight to him for the duration, despite the punishment he took. Another close one, but I’d give it to Felder 10-9. Narrow decision for whomever takes it.
Winner: Edson Barboza via unanimous decision.
Star Rating: (***) Solid fight with both guys getting in plenty of offense, though a lot of the offense missed the mark. Felder showed a good chin and a diverse set of offensive skills.
JESSICA EYE vs. MIESHA TATE
Round one: Eye got the best of Tate early in the round, but Tate was able to floor her with a nasty right hook, which led to the former title challenger dominating the rest of the round on the floor. 10-9 Tate
Round two: Another round for Tate. Domination on her part, as Eye has no answers on the feet or on the mat.
Round three: Clean sweep for Tate – just a dominant performance in every aspect of the game. eye looked good early, but once Tate landed her first clean shot, the fight, it was a matter of time.
Winner: Meisha tate by unanimous decision
Star Rating: (***-) About as good as a one-sided beatdown can be. Tate looked tremendous in what could very well be a number one contender fight for Rhonda Rousey’s title after she does terrible things to Bethe Correia.
MAIN EVENT: T.J. DILLASHAW (c) vs. RENAN BARAO
Round one: Fantastic round with both men landing some serious shots out of the gate. Tough round to call, but I think Dillashaw landed the hardest punches. 10-9 for the champ.
Round two: Dillashaw remains sharp, tagging Barao with stiff punches and getting out of the way. Barao was able to land a couple of shots, but the bulk of the offense went to Alpha Male product in the second. 10-9 Dillashaw.
Round three: Barao is tough as nails, but Dillashaw is pulling away here. Dillashaw was able to land most of what he was throwing in the third, coming close to stopping the fight at the end of the round. Three straight for Dillashaw.
Round four: Well if Dillashaw came close to finishing in the third, he must have known it because he picked up right where he left off. Dillashaw landed a left hand that was the beginning of the end, triggering a huge barrage of power shots to the head of the former champion and causing Herb Dean to step in and call a stop to the beating under a minute into the round.
Winner: T.J. Dillashaw at 0:35 of Round Four.
Star Rating: (****-) Dillashaw absolutely validated the first beatdown with this performance. There was no doubt about this one from the time that Dillashaw started landing. He was there to hit Barao, and he was gone when the counter came. Excellent performance by the champion.
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