UFC 104 live coverage

Welcome to our live coverage of UFC 104 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stefan Struve b Chase Gormley with an armbar from the bottom

Kyle Kingsbury vs. Razak Al-Hassan

Al-Hassan trying a takedown off a kick, they struggled over a throw but Hassan got it. Kingbury went for a sweep, Al-Hassan tried a guillotine but Kingsbury is on top in a mount. Kingsbury was on top doing a little and Al-Hassan has gotten him into a guard. Al-Hassan has gotten a full guard. Kingsbury starting to open up but landing nothing solid. Kingsbury throwing a few punches. Stand-up at :49 left. Kingsburty with jabs. Al-Hassan scored a solid counter. Al-Hassan connected with a combination and some kicks low and body. Al-Hassan probably won the round in the closing seconds 10-9.

Al-Hassan showed a stand-up edge late. Kingsbury brused under the right eye. Kingsbury got a takedown into a half guard. Al-Hassan reversed and on top in a full guard. My feeling is both these guys need a win to stay in UFC, particularly after a dull first round. Kingsbury back up. He has Al-Hassan bulled into the cage. Kingsbury tried a takedown but it was blocked. Al-Hassan now has Kinsburgy pinned against the cage and threw a knee. Al-Hassan tried a headlock takedown but blocked. They separated. But back in a clinch against the cage. Neither man is doing anything on offense. Al-Hassan trying knees but to no effect. Both men tried bodylock takedowns but neither was effective. Ref called for separation. Al-Hassan hit two good punches and two body kicks after a ref ordered separation. Same as round one, with Al-Hassan winning in the closing seconds after nothing had happened up to that point. 20-18 Al-Hassan

Good low kick by Kingsbury to open the round. Al-Hassan with a backfist like punch and trying sidekicks. Al-Hassan with a good counter and Kingsubry moved forward. Very little happening. Al-Hassan connected with a low kick. Another good counter shot by Al-Hassan. Both in a clinch with 2:00 left. Kingsbury trying for a single and got Al-Hassan down momentarily but he got right back up. Kingsbury with a whizzer takedown but again Al-Hassan right back up. 25 seconds left. Sidekick by Al-Hasssan. Kingsbury going in and got punched moving in. Some light boos. You won't be seeing this one later. I've got 30-27 Al-Hassan

Kingsbury has a fan club here, a small group that made all the noise. The place is less than half-full at this point. Atmosphere isn't hot at all so far.

Susan Thomas 29-28 Al-Hassan Doc Hamilton 29-28 Kingsbury Cecil Peoples 29-28 for Kingsbury. Kingsbury was very lucky here but all three rounds were close. I'm just not that much into one guy is on top doing nothing for 4 minutes, even if it's a mount, locks him the round, unless the other guy also does nothing for 5 minutes.

Susan Thomas gave Al-Hassan rounds two and three. Doc Hamilton gave Al-Hassan only round two. Cecil Peoples gave Al-Hassan the third round only.

Jorge Rivera vs. Rob Kimmons

Kimmons bulled him into the corner. Rivera with a few punches and Kimmons right back Rivera throwing more in the in-fighting. Kimmons threw a knee. Rivera with a knee and some punches. Rivera hurt Kimmons, followed with an uppercut. Both swinging, Rivera getting the better of it. Kimmons got a takedown with 48 secoonds left. Kimmons scoring with elbows. Close round. Rivera won the stand-up, but Kimmons controlled final 48 seconds. I'll go 10-9 Rivera

Kimmons going low for a single, gets nowhere and eats a knee. Rivera on top connecting with punches. Kimmons got half guard to slow him up. Hard punch by Rivera. More body and head punches by Rivera. Rivera first backed off to let him up, but then went back down. He backed off again. Rivera in with punches. Kimmons starting to throw back. Not sure about giving up the position now. Rivera's round 20-18.

Both out throwing and Rivera knocked him down and is pouding away on the ground. Kimmons is bleeding badly. Looks like a cut near the left eye from an elbow. Rivera with more hard shots from the top. Kimmons slowed him down. They are going to check the cut. The doctor allowed them to continue. Rivera throwing punch after punch and it's over.


Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen

Sonnen got the first takedown and throwing punches. Sonnen has Okami's back. High takedown and slam by Sonnen. Sonnen behind Okami throwing knees to the hamstring as Okami is back up. Okami escaped. Body kick by Sonnen. Now standing and trading. Sonnnen throwing kicks. Sonnen connecting more and mixing up his shots. Another takedown by Sonnen. I can't recall seeing Okami on his back in UFC and how he's there twice this round. He's back up. Good left by Sonnen but Okami back with a right and Sonnen connected. Crowd isn't that into this but a lot better than expected. Sonnen's round 10-9

Okami with a left that conneced. Sonnen moving forward. He got another takedown. He tried to use the trunks for a takedown but got the Okami down without it. Sonnen behind Okami again. Okami tried to turn and reverse but Sonnen got back up. Nice side kick by Sonnen. Good fast paced striking thanks to Sonnen. Sonnen with a left, Okami back. Both connecting with good shots. Okami backing off. Good left by Sonnen and Okami right back. Another good left by Sonnen. Sonnen even tried a spin kick at the end. Sonnen 20-18

Sonnen tried a takedown but Okami sprawled and stayed standing. Both throwing. Good left by Sonnnen. Good one-two by Okami. Crowd not reacting but this is a good fight. Okami coming back. Both trading and connecting. Okami connecting more now. Sonnen's face is more marked up than Okami but Sonnen's punch output is higher. High crotch takedown by Sonnen with 2:21 left. He's got Okami's back on the ground. Sonnnen throwing punches to the side of the head while maintaining back position. Now he's kneeing the hamstring. Another knee to the hamstring. One after another to the hamstring. Okami trying a Kimura with 45 seconds left. Sonnen throwing body punches and broke the hold. Sonnen with aggressive ground and pound as time runs out. Okami came in a contender for the title and he should have lost all three rounds. 30-27 Sonnen

All three judges have it 30-27 for Sonnen

Sonnen came out of this fight with upward trajectory, unlike TNA.

Pat Barry vs. Antoni Hardonk

Hardonk refued to shake hands. Barry with a right. Hardonk with a high kick. Actually it's a middle kick but Barry is so short for a heavyweight. Barry with sick low kick. Barry with a good right. Another low kick by Barry. Hardonk with a knee. Low kick by Hardonk. Barry got poked in the eye. Ref Josh Rosenthal was slow catching it. Low kick by Hardonk. Another one by Hardonk. Knee to the gut by Hardonk. Barry with body kick. I think he got poked again. There's a mark under Barry's right eye. Barry with a shot coming in but Hardonk down. Hardonk tried a takedown after going down but Barry is on top. Hardonk has a bloody nose. Hardonk back up. Barry throwing. Barry with a good shot. High kick by Hardonk. Low kick by hardonk. Good left by Hardonk. Barry's right eye looks like hell, like he's been gouged. High kick by Hardonk. Good right by Barry. Good round. Barry 10-9 but at press row more have Hardonk winning the round.

Another high kick by Hardonk. Barry with the two best shots really hurt Hardonk. He nailed him again with a right. Then Hardonk moved in and Barry with a clean knockdown. Hardonk up. He tried a takedown but Barry blocked him. Hardonk throwing. Barry with a hard right. Another good shot by Barry. Left clipped and stunned Hardonk. Another left stunned him and a right staggered him. Left moved him back and a right put him down. Hardonk basically quit on the ground after 2 punches and it's over.

For the record, two of the three judges gave round one to Barry

This was the first fight that really got a good reaction. Place is still nowhere near full even with the Spike matches on.

Ryan Bader vs. Eric "Red" Schafer

Eric is now Ravishing Red Schafer. Bader is the first guy on the show so far to get a star reaction. Not a superstar reaction, but at least a star reaction. Right by Bader. Bader missd a haymaker. Left by Bader caught Shafer's chin. Bader missd another wild punch. Hard right by Bader . Second hard right put Schafer down and now Bader is all over him trying to finish. Bader throwing punches. He did a high waist lock takedown and more punches. Bader almost got caught throwing wildly. Now has Schafer until control and pounding him. Schafer tried a wrist lock. Schafer tried uma plata and Bader out with a punch. Fans booing heavy as Schafer stayed on his back. 10-8 Bader

Bader was poked in the eye. Schafer connected. Bader may have burned himself out in the first. Slow round after an exciting first round. Very little happening. Schafer rocked Bader with a punch late in the round. Bader with two good rights later. Bader tried a takedown and couldn't get it. Schafer threw a punch as a counter. Bader went for a takedown at the end of the round. This round was a pick-em, very slightly to me to Schafer so I've got 19-18 Bader. Who knows if the judges would go 10-8 in the first.

Bader with a great over hand right that put Schafer down. But he's in Schafer's guard and Schafer is a good submission guy. Schafer bleeding badly from the cut off the big punch. Schafer is cut in the eye and the side of the nose. Schafer looked at the clock. Cut may have been from a head-butt. Bader with at takedown with 1:20 left. Baderf riding it out on top, threw a few punches from the top and time ran out. The knockdown and takedown should clearly make this Bader's round, so I've got 29-27.

30-27, 29-26 and 30-27 for Bader

Tony Weeks gave Bader 10-8s in one and three but gave Schafer the second round. Cecil Peoples and Marcos Rosales went straight 10-9s

Anthony Johnson, six pounds overweight, against Yoshiyuki Yoshida.

Johnson is just killing him with punches and connected with a straight right and it's over in seconds. Too big, too much power, too much reach. Never should have taken the fight once the guy didn't make weight. Several strong rights in the fight and a right to the side of the head ended it.

Johnson apologized for not making weight and blamed it on getting heavy while he was out with a knee injury. He apologized a second time.

Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson

Stevenson with a left and Fisher back. Fisher cut near the right eye. Slow first 90 seconds. Stevenson tried a taekdown and Fisher blocked it. High crotch lift by Stevenson but Fisher stayed on his feet. Stevenson has in him in the dreaded pinned against the cage position and crowd is booing. Loud booing now. Herb Dean ordered a break. Fisher's eye looks bad. Fisher getting the better of things until Stevenson got a takedown. Stevenson thinking a choke with 18 seconds left. Stevenson punching him in the side of the head until the round ended. 10-9 Stevenson.

Stevenson got a takedown. Crowd popped big for it. Stevenson thought about going for a heel hook and then changed his mind. He's throwing short elbows from the top. Stevenson went to town on him on the ground with what looked like one forearm after another until Fisher tapped out. Real good performance here by Stevenson.

Crowd liked Stevenson . Said his little sister and big sister used to do that finisher to him and put make up on him when he was little.

Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau

Tibau out and times have changed so much that nobody but Michael Schiavello is saying it's the Road Warriors music.

Big Slam by Tibau Neer said how Tibau would waste all his energy failing to take him down. Another big waste of energy failing to take the guy down slam put Neer down. He wasted his energy a third time slamming Neer down, but Neer got up right away. Neer told Tibau to come on. So Tibau picked him up and slammed him again. Tibau went for a guillotine but let it go quickly when he saw he didn't have it. Trading punches as time ran out. Neer seemed the better striker but didn't hurt him. 10-9 Tibau

Another slam by Tibau. Another slam by Tibau. Third slam this round. Tibau got his back. He did this cool armbar attempt but didn't get it and now Neer is on top, but Tibau escaped and is back on his feet. Tibau may be tired. He's dancing backwards. Got anther takedown but Neer back up right away. Neer didn't hurt him standing but had the edge in the last minute. 20-18 Tibau

Pop for Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher

Tibau took Neer down once again. Neer's idea that Tibau couldn't take him down couldn't be more wrong. Crowd booing as Tibau seems content to ride out the time. Neer coming forward but not getting any big shots in. Tibau with another takedown. Tibau got another takedown. And another takedown. Crowd has gone from cheering takedowns to booing them. I think the redundancy of takedown and no damage for three straight rounds bured out the crowd. 30-27 Tibau

Jeremy Piven got a big pop. Evidently these people didn't watch that episode of Raw.

30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 for Tibau

No post-match interview here. Not like we're pressed for time with 90 minutes left and two fights.

Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell

They are booing the hell out of Rothwell. Velasquez got a very good reaction in his intro, not superstar level but best of anyone so far.

Velasquez got the takedown right away. Rothwell about to get up and Velasquez took him backd down. Velasquez threw him. Rothwell back up. Velasquez trading with him. Loud "Mexico" chants. Another takedown by Velasquez. Some ground and pound. Rothwell back up. Another takedown by Velasquez and getting strong shots in from the top. He's throwing elbows to the face. Pouding Rothwell from the top. Veleaseuz pounding on him with punches. Huge takedown and more punches. Velasquez contiues to pound on him. Rothwell back up. 10-8 round for sure. Crowd going nuts. This round is the first time I've seen him really come off like a star.

Another takedown by Velasquez and just beating him up. Rothwell is looking for a rope break and it's not happening. Left after left to the face, six in all, and it was stopped by ref Steve Mazzagatti. Rothwell is pissed. Honestly, I thought bad stoppage, not that Rothwell wasn't getting his ass kicked from start to finish. They are booing Rothwell complaining. This was the performance that got Velasquez over.

Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua for the light heavyweight title

Fans are booing Shogun. Machida got a very big reaction, equal to Velasquez.

Loud Machida chants. Shogun almost kicked him. Shogun with a low kick that landed. Shoguan bulled himinto the cage. Shogun throwing knees to the thigh. Knee by Machida, Shogun got a momentary takedown but Machida back up. There is a Shogun footprint on the left side of Machida's body from a kick. In a clinch again and now separated. Shogun with another body kick. Another body kick by Shogun. Shogun chants. Shogun walking him down. Machida got a counter shot in. Shogun keeps connecting on the same spot with kicks. I'd give the round to Rua 10-9, breaking the streak of 20 straight U.S. rounds won by Machida

shogun connecting with low kicks. Another low kick by Rua. Machida finally fired back but Rusa backed off. Body kick by Machida. Another body kick by Rua. Knee by Machida. Rua going for a takedown. Machida blocked it. Machida seems to be tired while Shogun isn't winded at all. Who'd have thought. Another couple of body kicks by Rua. Good body kick by Machida. Anoher body kick by Rua. And another. Machida is losing the points game and has less than a minute to do something. Rua bulled him in to the corner and throwing knees both thighs. 20-18 Rua

Another body kick by Rua. Machida back with his best offense with two kicks and a punch. Low kick by Rua. Rua trying to target the ribs for kicks and Machida moving. Some booing here. Machida in with a punch. Rua bulled him into the corner. Rua with another kick. I think Machida's left leg is in trouble. Shogun chants. Shogun ran in with punches. Good body kick by Machida and ran back but Shogun got a low kick in. Machida moved forward with punches and we've got a brawl, best offense by Machida so far. Close round, very slightly for Machida. 29-28 Shogun at this point.

Trading low kicks. Loud Machida chant. Good low kick by Rua. Machida swithed lead leg whcih shows the left leg is hurt the low kicks. Machida with head kick. Rua going for a takedown. Machida blocked. Machida came in with punches and Rua with a knee. Machida got a punch in but Rua countered with a low kick. Rua is detroying his lges with those low kiks. Machida switched legs again. Fans booing the end of the round. Tactical. I think Rua took the round so it's 39-37. Unless Machida finishes him, odds are a title change. Scores at press row are either 3-1 or 2-2 (38-38) so this could decide it.

Another low kick by Rua. Great low kick. He's destroyed Machida' right leg. That's the story of the fight. Another body kick. Body kick by Machida and low kick by Rua. Shogun ran in but Machida backed out. Two knees by Machida. Shogun tied himn up. 2:30 left. Herb Dean separated them. Another body kick by Rua. Clinch and two punchdes by Rua. Machida bleeding from the mouth at this point. Rua came in with a punch. Crowd hot. 49-46 Rua.

48-47 across the board Machida. Fans booing. Not one person at press row had it for Machida.

Crowd booed the hell out of the decision. Crowd cheering Rua like crazy. Rua said he thought he won every round. Rua practiced 1,000 kicks per day. the one thing is, he got himself a rematch and made himnself a star.

Cris Cyborg just walked past here in a mini-skirt. I swear she looked far too much like Chyna of a decade ago for comfort.