UFC 137 takes place from Las Vegas Saturday night headlined by a welterweight bout between Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn. Both are action fighters with fan pleasing styles. Diaz is looking to secure a UFC welterweight title shot against Georges St. Pierre, a fight he had scheduled before he skipped a pair of press conferences promoting the event. Penn is a former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion, one of St. Pierre's top career rivals.
Dustin Jacoby vs. Clifford Starks
Jacoby is an undefeated Illinois prospect making his UFC debut. He possesses unusual height for a middleweight fighter. Starks is an undefeated Arizona Combat Sports fighter with a collegiate wrestling background also making his UFC debut.
Round 1. Neither man throws much at the start of the contest. Each throws out a few jabs, with Starks collecting a little bit more. Starks connects with a few straight punches but they don't have a lot of power behind them. Starks lands a straight right punch that is the best blow of the round three minutes in. Jacoby answers with a couple of quality hooks. As Jacoby throws a punch, Starks changes levels and secures a takedown with 30 seconds left in the round. Jacoby looks for a kimura as the round comes to a close. Dull round. 10-9 Starks.
Round 2. Jacoby lands a hard straight right punch early in the round. Jacoby then lands a spinning back kick to the body. Jacoby lands another straight right punch moments later. Starks responds by getting more aggressive, moving forward with straight punches. There is very little diversity in the offense of either man. Starks takes Jacoby down with two minutes left into the round. Starks throws punches and some elbows from inside Jacoby's guard. Starks is pretty active throwing punches towards the end of the round and pulls ahead in the scoring. 10-9 Starks.
Round 3. Starks lands a nice overhand right early in the round that connects solidly on the chin of Jacoby. Jacoby counters Starks well as Starks moves in. Jacoby lands a nice knee to the head but Starks then takes him down 90 seconds into the final stanza. Starks just methodically pounds away from inside Jacoby's guard while Jacoby isn't able to do much at all off his back. Jacoby looks for a kimura again with a minute and change left in the round. Starks tries to pass guard and ends up in half guard towards the end of the fight. 10-9 Starks. Jacoby is not a UFC caliber fighter.
Winner: Clifford Starks, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Chris Camozzi vs. Francis Carmont
Camozzi is an Ultimate Fighter alumnus with a 2-1 UFC record. Carmont trains out of the Tristar Gym in Montreal and has a 16-7 MMA record. Georges St. Pierre, who was originally supposed to headline this card, is in Carmont's corner.
Round 1. Carmont lands a few leg kicks early. He takes Camozzi down 40 seconds in but Camozzi is able to work his way back up. Camozzi then looks for a takedown of his own halfway through the round. Carmont avoids that and they separate. Camozzi again looks for a takedown and eats some knees to the body in the process. Carmont then reverses and looks for a takedown of his own. Carmont hits a spinning back elbow and breaks. Camozzi presses forward with punches and a nice flying knee to the head before pressing Carmont back against the cage. They jockey for position as the round comes to a close. 10-9 Carmont.
Round 2. Carmont looks for a high front kick and a few hooks from close range early, but Camozzi closes the distance and presses Carmont back against the cage. They struggle back and forth for position next to the cage. Neither man is able to come close to a takedown but Carmont does use some effective knees to the body. He lands some more heavy knees and Camozzi backs up. Carmont mixes in knees to the body and head and has Camozzi in a little bit of trouble up against the cage. Carmont grabs a body lock and slams Camozzi down spectacularly. Carmont postures up high and drops down some punches. He lets Camozzi up but as Camozzi gets up, he is dropped with a big right hook/left hook combination and Carmont looks to finish the fight. Camozzi is able to weather the storm and looks for a guillotine choke at the close of the round. Carmont won that round decisively but not quite enough for 10-8. 10-9 Carmont.
Round 3. Carmont comes out swinging with big punches as Camozzi just covers up. Camozzi then looks to counter with punches of his own and presses Carmont against the cage. Carmont quickly reverses and lands some knees. They separate and Carmont opens up with leg kicks and straight punches. Carmont is pulling away. Camozzi lands a couple nice straight punches and pushes Carmont against the cage. Carmont pushes him off and takes him down. Carmont can't get a position he likes on the ground and lets Camozzi stand back up. Camozzi grabs a standing kimura as the round comes to a close and drops down. He cranks the arm and shoulder pretty well but Carmont holds on for the end of the round. 10-9 Carmont, 30-27 Carmont.
Winner: Francis Carmont, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27).
Danny Downes vs. Ramsey Nijem
Downes is as unintimidating looking a fighter you're going to find, but he sports an 8-2 record and fights out of the highly respected Duke Roufus team in Milwaukee. Nijem was runner up on the last season of the Ultimate Fighter, gaining notoriety (perhaps infamy) for acting like a stripper.
Round 1. Nijem immediately lands a nice left/right combination. He charges forward with additional punches and takes Downes down.
--Todd Martin
No comments:
Post a Comment