UFC runs its first event on Fox Saturday night, an important milestone for the young sport as it begins a lucrative, longterm television deal with Fox. The one fight television card will feature a UFC heavyweight title showdown between champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior Dos Santos. Velasquez and Dos Santos are the consensus number one and number two heavyweights in the world. Preliminary bouts begin around 2PM Pacific.
Aaron Rosa vs. Matt Lucas
Aaron Rosa is coming off a loss in an exciting UFC debut against Joey Beltran. He has moved down from heavyweight to light heavyweight and is in much better shape. Matt Lucas is a 37-year-old fighter in his first UFC contest.
Round 1. The fighters clinch at the start of the first round. Lucas lands a few punches and they separate. They exchange punches from close range, with both men landing solidly. Lucas pushes Rosa against the cage but then backs off. Lucas re-engages the clinch and lands a nice hook before backing off. Again they exchange and again Lucas pushes Rosa against the cage. This time, Lucas ducks lower and pushes more for a takedown. Rosa defends well. He then throws a series of knees to the body. They break, and Rosa opens up with kicks and punches as the round concludes. 10-9 Rosa.
Round 2. Lucas lands a hook and takes Rosa down. Rosa, however, immediately gets back up. Rosa grabs a Thai plum and throws a few knees before they separate again. Lucas once more goes back to the clinch. This has been a slow moving fight due mostly to Lucas' style. He continues to press Rosa against the cage. Rosa looks for a standing kimura but Lucas backs out of trouble. Lucas is deducted a point by referee John McCarthy, apparently for intentionally spitting out his mouthpiece. After the break, Lucas takes Rosa down. He lands a few punches from the top before Rosa stands up at the end. 10-9 Lucas, 9-9 with the deduction.
Round 3. They throw wild hooks to start the round, each looking for a knockout blow. The pace slows back down and Lucas moves to take Rosa back down. They separate again and Rosa catches Lucas with a pair of heavy straight punches and a knee to the body. Lucas grabs a leg and tries to take Rosa down again. Rosa defends and throws elbows to the body. Rosa lands a knee to the body that backs Lucas up and follows with another punch and leg kick. Lucas clinches and Rosa throws some additional knees to the body. Rosa continues to punish Lucas with punches to the body and head plus knees to the body. Lucas is very tired. Rosa has taken over the final round. He blocks one final takedown and the round ends. 10-9 Rosa, 29-27 Rosa.
Winner: Aaron Rosa, majority decision (30-26, 28-28, 30-26).
Mike Pierce vs. Paul Bradley
Pierce and Bradley are both fighters that rely heavily on their wrestling. Pierce has a prior win over Bradley and holds a 4-2 UFC record. Bradley lost in his only UFC bout.
Round 1. Pierce presses forward and looks for a takedown. Bradley defends and connects with a solid hook right on the chin. Bradley follows with a pair of leg kicks. Pierce shoots for a takedown and eats a knee to the body. Pierce staggers Bradley with a right to the jaw but Bradley recovers well. Pierce lands a hard leg kick and shrugs off a Bradley takedown attempt. Bradley changes levels nicely and takes Pierce down for a moment but Pierce immediately stands back up. Pierce pushes in with a couple punches and the round concludes. Very close, competitive round. 10-9 Bradley.
Round 2. Pierce lands a solid left/right combination and clinches. They trade knees from the clinch. Pierce lands punch to the body and head as they break. They then return to the clinch and exchange knees. Pierce lands a pair of big hooks and backs Bradley against the cage. Pierce begins to take over the boxing, connecting with punches and avoiding Bradley's attempts. Bradley seemed to surprise Pierce with his striking early but he has struggled since. 10-9 Pierce.
Round 3. The fighters clinch early and then separate. Pierce begins to establish his jab but Bradley moves back to the clinch. Referee Larry Landless separates them but they throw a few punches and return to the clinch. The pace of the fight has slowed significantly in the second and third rounds. Piece lands a low kick and a straight right punch. Bradley takes Pierce down but Pierce instantaneously starts to get back up and throws a series of punches and elbows in the process. Pierce returns to his feet with a minute left in the fight. Bradley lands a nice left hook and Pierce lands one of his own at the close. 10-9 Pierce, 29-28 Pierce.
Winner: Mike Pierce, split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).
Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo
The colorful Caceres made a name for himself as "Bruce Leroy" on the Ultimate Fighter. He is 0-2 in the UFC and 1-4 in his last 5 MMA bouts and hasn't proved to be a UFC caliber fighter. Cole Escovedo is an experienced veteran of the sport and was once considered one of the premier lighter weight fighters in the world. He is also 0-2 in the UFC.
Round 1. Caceres starts off with a push kick and a superman punch. Escovedo connects with a straight right punch. Caceres backs down Escovedo with punches but Escovedo sends him back with a counter. Caceres throws a nice spinning back fist that connects well. He follows with a few punches up against the cage and a flying knee. They clinch and tumble to the ground, where Caceres lands some punches from the top. Caceres fakes a low kick to the right side of Escovdeo and then lands a cool leaping left head kick. Caceres lands a few straight punches and Escovedo counters with a leg kick. Escovedo drops Caceres with a right head kick and moves forward aggressively but Caceres fires back and dances out of the way to signal he is fine. Heck of a first round performance from Bruce Leroy, both entertaining and effective. 10-9 Caceres.
Round 2. Caceres pushes the pace with a series of punches and then backs off as Escovedo looks to respond. Caceres mixes in punches to the head and body, moving out of range before Escovedo can counter. Caceres is throwing so much more but he doesn't have a ton of power. Caceres throws a spinning back kick and leaping thrust kick. Escovedo goes for a takedown but Caceres comes out on top and stands back up. Escovedo looks to pull guard but Caceres backs away. Escovedo lands a big hook that sends Caceres back. Caceres throws a spinning backfist that is blocked. They clinch and trade a couple knees before separating. 10-9 Caceres.
Round 3. Caceres opens with a solid side kick to the body. Escovedo takes Caceres down but Caceres looks for a guillotine choke and then a triangle choke. Escovedo avoids both but Caceres moves right into an armbar and has it pretty solidly. Caceres tries to crank the arm but can't get it. Caceres then switches into an omoplata. Escovedo gets out of that too. Caceres stands up, having done better on the ground. Caceres throws a few straight punches and mixes in leg kicks. Caceres throws a high kick that makes a loud sound on the shoulder of Escovedo and Escovedo gestures to indicate it wasn't on the head. Escovedo gets a takedown with a minute left and then looks for a rear naked choke. He tries for an armbar but Caceres is out of that too. 10-9 Caceres, 30-27 Caceres.
Winner: Alex Caceres, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Mackens Semerzier vs. Robert Peralta
Semerzier is a ground oriented fighter with a 1-0 UFC record. Peralta is 1-0 in the UFC as well, having scored a decision win in November.
--Todd Martin
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