UFC 111 live match-by-match coverage

UFC 111 live match-by-match coverage
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Welcome to our live coverage of UFC 111 from the Prudential Center in Newark,N.J. We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’s show so you can send 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

Greg Soto vs. Matthew Riddle

Crowd pretty hot already. Soto doing the RVD thumbs. Soto didn’t get a big pop even though he’s from Point Pleasant, NJ, and Riddle was booed a little.

Trading low kicks. "Soto" chant. Soto ripped a right to the face but Riddle didn’t seem fazed. Now they are tied up near the fence as Soto got the takedown but Riddle got right back up. Riddle throwing knees in a clinch. Soto with another momentary takedown and Riddle back up. Soto with upper cuts and Riddle with knees while in a clinch against the cage. Hard knees now by Riddle to the body. Knee to the head and some wild punches. Soto trying a takedown but Riddle blocked it, got Soto against the cage and throwing more knees and an overhand punch. Riddle got a double leg takedown with 20 seconds left. He threw a few body punches before the round ended. 10-9 Riddle.

Good body kick by Riddle. Soto trying a takedown but couldn’t get it. Riddle has him against the cage. Riddle with a takedown with 3:55 left in the round. Riddle throwing elbows from the top. Riddle with some punches from the top, but not doing much damage. Some booing althogh Riddle is doing enough that it shouldn’t get stood up. Soto tried a sweep, but it was blocked. Soto up and threw some nice punches but Riddle took him back down and now got his back. Riddle’s round 20-18.

Rachelle Leah looks different. She got a good reaction.

People cheered both as they came out for round three. Soto landed an uppercut. Riddle going for a takedown agianst the cage and didn’t get it. Traded punches and Riddle went low for a takedown and got up and is on top in the guard. With both on the ground, Soto kicked the hell out of Riddle with an up kick while Riddle was down which is an illegal blow. I don’t know if Riddle should continue because he was knocked silly. The doctor is in. Riddle is indicating he wants to go on. Riddle already swelling badly on the right side of his face. There’s no way that kick wasn’t deliberate. They took a point away from Soto. The doctor just stopped the match saying he didn’t think Riddle should continue. That was the right call even though the crowd won’t like it. Nothing has been announced but it should be Riddle winning via DQ.

Riddle has a golf ball growing on the right side of his face. Riddle won via DQ.

Jared Hamann vs. Rodney Wallace

Wallace connected with a right. Single leg takedown by Wallace when he saw Hamann raise his legs. Wallace doing body-and-head punches. Another takedown by Wallace. Back up and Wallace rushing him and connecting with a lot of big punches. Hamann threw a knee and got taken down. Crowd really hot for the first 2:00. Hamann back up. Knee by Hamann and Wallace got another takedown but is starting to tire from going all out so fast. Hamann cut above the left eye. Hamann with a whizzer takedown. Knees by Hamann. Wallace definitely tired. Great head kick by Harmann knocked Wallace down. He’s working for an armbar but Wallace escaped. Wallace on top now. Hamann up. Wallace rushed in and slammed Hamann hard. Hamann back with knees. They traded punches and Wallace went down and is getting pounded but Wallace wrestled his way to top position. Hamann back up and threw a knee and punches on the ground. Crowd went crazy for the round. Hamann 10-9.

Wallace with two punches and danced away. He ducked for a takedown but backed off. . Wallace powered his way to another takedown. Hamann back up. Hamnann with a hip toss takedown and on top throwing elbows. Hamann on his back trying to get an armbar. Wallace is out of trouble and on top. Hamann back up. Another slam by Wallace but he’s doing no damage. Another takedown by Wallace. Wallace had a triangle on Hamann but Hamann out and punched Wallace hard to the face. Hamann with body punches. Now Hamann up and kicking Wallace’s leg before jumping back on top. Hamannn with some hard elbows from the top. Hamann mostly pounding him for the rest of the round. Hamann 20-18.

Another takedown by Wallace but Hamann reversed right before they landed and ended up on top. Hamann is throwing elbows but not doing major damage. Wallace back and throwing hard punches but he now looks gassed . Wallace is throwing wildly and hurt Hamnn. Wallace then went low and slammed him hard. Hamann reversed and is back on top. Hamann throwing knees to the body. A stand-up was ordered although I don’t know why since Hamann was doing damage with the knees. Wallace with punches and knees but then fell down with Hamann back on top. Hamann with the body and head shots. They were scrambling on the ground and Wallace went for an armbar, but Hamann escaped and is back on top throwing hard knees to the body. Hamann trappped the arms and threw punches but Wallace back to his feet. Crowd cheered the fight a lot. A lot of people standing. I didn’t think it was a great fight, but there were points of great action. I had Hamann but this round was close, so I’ve got 30-27.

All three judges have it 29-28 for for Hamann. All three judges gave Wallace the first round. He had more advantage time but to me, Hamann should get the round with the knockdown that came close to finishing.

Tomasz Drwal vs. Rousimar Palhares

Palhares took him down and hurt him bad with a heel hook ending the match in 45 seconds. Drwal is in a lot of pain. What happened was Drwal slipped throwing a kick and Palhares did the heel hook immediately. Drwal tapped right away and Palhares kept twisting for another five seconds even after ref Kevin Mulhall was trying to pry him off. Palhares got really messed up by that.

Joe Rogan went right at Palhares asking about keeping cranking after the tap. He said he didn’t want to hurt him and was very sorry about what happened.

Matt Brown vs. Ricardo Almeida

Almeida got the big home town pop. Almeida’s first fight at 170. It’s funny that years back when he started, he was considered a big 185 pounder. Almeida closed the distance and has Brown against the cage. Almeida took Brown down. Brown back up. Almeida wants another takedown and not getting it. People are starting to boo. Ref Dan Miragliotta ordered a spearation. . Almeida pushed Brown back against the cage. Fans booing again. This is not the fight you wanted on TV. Almeida tried a takedown and couldn’t get it. . But Brown has done nothing on offense this round. Almeida pushed him against the fence, unloaded with a few punches and now is trying for a takedown. Almeida throwing punches, tried a hip toss, but blocked it. And that was it for the round. . Almeida threw a few more punches. Almeida 10-9.

GSP shown backstage sitting on the couch. Thunderous cheers but there were some boos as well.

Almeida got the takedown right away but Brown back up. Almeida with some short punches. Miragliotta separated them again. Brown threw a punch and Almeida countered and knocked him down, now has Brown’s back and working for a choke. Brown bleeding as well. Almeida getting more aggressive. Brown’s cut is right on top of the left eye. Almeida trapped him in a body triangle , got the choke and Brown tapped out. Brown did nothing on offense this fight.

Dan Hardy showed on the screen. He was booed a lot.

Nate Diaz vs. Rory Markham

Just for the record, Markham, who came in at 177, is officially banned from competing as a welterweight after tonight. Officially this is a middleweight fight so Diaz moved up two weight classes and now is an undersized middleweight.

Markham mostly booed. Diaz got a good reaction, not spectacular. Markham looks every bit of 20-25 pounds heavier and threw Diaz away with ease when he wetnt for the takedown. High kick by Markaham. The size difference looks bad here. Markham missed a high kick. Diaz closed for a takedown but again, size difference is too much. Diaz started connecting with punches. Diaz connecting with a ton of punches. Marksham is overwhelmed and hurt. Diaz put him down with a knee and is working for a choke. Diaz has the body triangle on, punching him from behind and again working for a choke. Diaz softening him up with punches while holding the body triangle. He’s got him flattened and throwing more punches. He’s trying to finish with punches instead of the choke and after a ton of punches, it was stopped. This was a hell of an impressive performance by Diaz.

Nate Diaz in his promo kept saying that Nick Diaz is No. 1 in the world. I’m sure Dana is thrilled about it. Now he’s putting over Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez. This is hilarious.

Jim Miller vs. Mark Bocek

Bocek landed a punch and shot in for a takedown. Miller defending well. Miller looked on a guillotine but Bocek’s head popped out and he’s on top. They are trading knees standing. Now trading body kicks. Miller threw a punch and Bocek ducked under and got the takedown. Miller thinking about a Kimura from the botto and used it to sweep. Bocek escaped the hold. Miller on top but not doing any damage. Very close round. I’d go Bocek 10-9 but really it’s a 10-10 type of round.

Lesnar came out. Good lord what a reaction. He came out with Paul Heyman. They instead shot Frankie Edgar and Renzo Gracie at ringside.

Another takedown by Bocek. He’s smothering Miller. Bocek has improved greatly. I don’t think most gave him a shot, figuring he was a guy with a few undercard wins so Miller can get a win to open the show and he’s taking the fight. Bocek is bleeding from the top of his head. He’s Trying an amr triangle. Miller snuck in a leglock but Bocek isn’t in any trouble and remains on top. Bocek got his back with a body triangle. Bocek punching the side f Miller’s head. He’s trying to sink in the choke but Miller defending. Bocek continues to punch the head. There is a blood stain where they are. Bocek trying for the choke as time runs out in the round. Crowd really into Miller fighting to escape. Miller stood up. Tried to slam Bocek backwards but Bocek held on. The round ended. I’d almost go 10-8 for Bocek but I’m expecting 10-9s from the judges. They are checking the cut. Miller is all fired up.

Miller landed a punch. Low kick by Miller. Miller looking at opening the cut with punches. Low kick by Miller. Bocek shot in and Miller sprawled away. Another low kick by Miller. USA chant since Bocek is wearing a Canadian flag on his trunks. Another low kick by Miller. Bocek jumped in for a takedown. Miller turned him around and now Miller going for a takedown. Now Bocek turned him and he’s going for a taekdown. Bocek got him down. They are in a scramble on the mat. Both now up. Bocek going low for a takedown. Crowd starting to boo, they want Yves Lavigne to separate the two. Lavigne told them to do something. Bocek got the takedown. Bocek tried a guillotine and then Miller got his back at the end. Another close round. Miller close. I’ve got it 29-28 for Bocek, but it could easily go 29-28 for Miller. Either way, Bocek overall won the fight even though you can justify giving Miller one and three, the only round that wasn’t even was two, and Bocek won that solidly.

Scores were 29-28 for Miller

Jon Fitch vs. Ben Saunders

For a guy ranked No. 2 in the world Fitch got zero reaction coming out. We’ll see if that kicks in.

They are in a clinch. Watch the knees fly. They didn’t, since Fitch took him down and has him jammed against the fence. This is like the Swick fight. Saunders is jammed against the fence and can’t get up. Fans want a stand-up. Dan Miragliotta seems to be ignoring it sicne Fitch is working and grinding hinm out. Saunders nailed him with a legal up kick. All Fitch 10-9. Crowd mildly booed the round. This isn’t looking pretty.

Fitch has him up against the cage. He did a high slam. Now throwing body punches. Crowd is booing heavily as Fitch has him in a ball against the cage throwing body punches. Now he’s on top throwing punches to the head. You can’t stand it up with Fitch continually scoring even with a "Stand them up" chant, which didn’t really pick up. Dan stood them up while I was getting texts from movie theaters nationwide. Do not text in the theater. DAMN IS THIS BORING. Saunders looks like he’s bleeding from the mouth. Fitch with a knee. Remember Stevie Richards and Tomko? Fans didn’t boo that much at the end of the round, probably because most are sleeping. Fitch 20-18.

They showed Chuck at ringside and there was a big pop. Rachelle got a big smile, not knowing, thinking it was for her.

Fitch threw a low kick, punches and knees. He’s going for a takedown. Didn’t get it. No points for Fitch. Crowd booing. Saunders bleeding from the mouth. Dan Miragliotta separated them. Fitch unloaded with punches and knees and now has him against the cage going for a takedown. 23 text messages in the last round. A couple of uppercuts by Fitch. Nice body kick by Saunders. Nailed a second one and Fitch took him down with 1:56 left. Boring chants. Fitch is punching and elbowing Saunders in the face. Saunders looks cut over the right eye. Fitch is hammering himn with punches and elbows. Well, it’s finally over 30-27 Fitch easy.

All three 30-27 for Fitch.

No interview for you Jon Fitch.

We just received word that Brock is going to leave the arena before GSPs fight.

Anyway, for those of you who have kids, get a tape of this match and whenever they use dirty words or talk back, tell them they have to go to their room and watch Fitch fight.

Fabricio Comoes vs. Kurt Pellgrino

Comoes has Pellegrino’s back. He’s in the piggy back position looking for a choke. He’s got the choke in. Pellegrino’s in real trouble. Pellgrino dropped him right on the top of his head and is now on top. Comoes was trying a triangle. That spiking someone should have been called a foul. Pellegrino on top in side control. Now he’s got Comoes back. Comoes rolled over and has Pellegrino in full guard. Pellegrino was on top most of the round. Honestly a hard one to call again. I’d go Pellegrino close but can go either way and Comoes did have a great choke in. 10-9 Pellegrino.

Comoes tried a single leg but Pellegrino got the takedown. Pellegrino got a second takedown and threw some elbows from the top. Let’s go Kurt chant. He’s throwing some elbows. Comoes up and Pellegrino threw some knees froma clinch and took him down again. He’s got Comoes’ back and looking for a choke. Comoes tapped.

Francisco Mir III vs. Shane Carwin for the Interim heavyweight title

Carwin out to "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor." Brock’s now next to Dana. Mir took forever to get to the cage. Mir got a standing ovation. No boos at all. Brock was totally booed when they showed him. Mir is taller than Carwin and they list Carwin at 6-5. That makes Lesnar 6-8 at the least.

Place really buzzing. Totally different Carwin than I’ve seen. He bulled Mir into the cage and is throwing body and hea d punches. Mir’s takedown defense has improved. Carwin punching Mir in the face and kneeing his thigh. More body punches and knees. Crowd booing. Dan Miragliotta spearated them. Longest Carwin fight in history. Mir in with punches. Carwin turned him against the cage and kneeing the thigh and holding him there. Carwin continues to knee the thigh. Carwin just unloaded on him with 6 upppercut and Mir went down and he just destroyed him with punches on the ground. It was like the switch went off and this guy became an unstoppable monster. Carwin at 3:48

Carwin said this was the culmination of a lifetime of work. Carwin was speechless. Lesnar walked to the cage. Lesnar looks huge next to Carwin. Lesnar said he’s wearing a make believe belt and that his belt is the real championshp belt. Carwin agreed. That’s thinking fast on your feet. They shook hands and it’s on for July 3rd.

GSP vs. Dan Hardy

GSP vs. Dan Hardy for the welterweight title

They are booing Hardy. St. Pierre got the biggest reaction. Loud GSP chants from the start. He does look bigger to me than before. GSP took him right down. Hardy using a rubber guard for a moment. Hardy looks trapped. He’s passed to side control. Hardy made his move to escape and GSP got his back. Hardy reversed, GSP got right up and took him right back down. The takedowns are just too easy. Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole singing. GSP got full mount with 1:24 left. He went to unload, Hardy turned his back and now GSP is high on the back looking for a choke. Hardy’s game plan is not working. Set up an armbar. It’s just about over. Hardy escaped. Good for him. Crowd went crazy. Hardy totally earned the crowd’s respect escaping that ambar. GSP 10-8

Crowd going nuts at the start of round two. Low kick by GSP. Hardy threw a right that missed. GSP exploded for the takedown. GSP passed to side control right away. GSP with knees and punches to the body. Now he got his back. He’s working for an armbar again. Hardy escaped and is on top. GSP right back up. Front kick by GSP. High kick by Hardy. Right and left by GSP. Superman punch in by GSP. GSP with a high takedown with 34 seconds left. GSP working the body. Hardy lasted two rounds. GSP 20-17.

Another takedown by St. Pierre to start round three. Hardy is punching from the bottom. GSP dropped an elbow. GSP dropped another elbow. Now working the body. Good punch from the top by GSP. Hard lefts from the top by GSP. Hardy went for an armbar from the bottom and GSP was out right away. GSP wanted to set up an armbar but Hardy defending well. GSP throwing elbows to the body. Hardy got up but was taken right back down. Hardy turned his back. 27 seconds left. Hardy’s out but GSP tripped him back down. GSP 30-26.

Hardy’s done a good job surviving and he hasn’t taken super damage either. GSP took him right down to start round four. Now he’s got full mount. Hardy turned his back again. Some fans are getting tired of the wrestling match. Hardy almost got a takedown. Okay, maybe he wasn’t close but GSP ended up on top again. GSP with body and head punches. Hardy sucks chant. GSP working a Kimura. Hardy thinking about tapping but didn’t and got out. GSP was thinking kneebar at the end of round four but time ran out. That’s a 10-8, 40-34.

GSP with a low kick and a takedown. Fans are booing GSP now for doing the takedown. GSP threw a knee to the side. Now he’s punching the body and head. He went for a straight armbar. Hardy escaped. GSP grinding it out. He went for another straight armbar. GSP with knees to the side again. Another slam by GSP with 21 seconds left. He went for a heel hook again at the horn. I’ve got it 50-43.

50-43, 50-44, 50-45 for GSP.

GSP:

"I just asked him, I thought he was made of rubber. It’s a win but I’m not very happy with myself. I did a lot of stupid technical mistakes. I’m going to talk to my Jiu Jitsu instructor to see what I did wrong."

"I wanted to avoid where my opponent was the strongest and fight him where he’s the weakest, on the ground, but he was better than I thought."

"I just want to apologize to my fans. I’m sorry. I want to come back better next time and finish next time."

Dan Hardy: "All I can say is I can see now why he’s the champion. He’s a very strong athlete. Great technical skill. But it won’t be the last time time. I’ll be back.

"You know, the one thing that I do above everyone, I may lack in technicality, I may lack in strength, but I don’t give up. I don’t know the meaning of tap."

TNA Destination X card

*TNA champion AJ Styles vs. Abyss.

*TNA X-Division champion Doug Williams vs. Shannon Moore.

*Ultimate X for TNA Tag Team championship shot: Generation Me vs. The Motor City Machineguns.

*TNA Tag Team champions Hernandez & Matt Morgan vs. Beer Money Inc.

*Sean Waltman & Scott Hall vs. Kevin Nash & Eric Young - The Band wins or leaves TNA.

*Ken Anderson vs. Kurt Angle.

*Brian Kendrick vs. Amazing Red vs. Kaz vs. Daniels - Ladder Match

I tre gorssi nomi previsti per la puntata di Impact di stasera

Sting è confermato ufficialmente, mentre sono molto probabili le apparizioni di Jeff Hardy ed RVD.

TNA Impact rating

1.14.

Rivelata la causa della morte di Umaga

L'attacco cardiaco che ha portato alla morte di Edward “Umaga” Fatu, è stato causato da un mix letale di: Vicodin, Valium e Somas.

Prima della sua morte fu contattato dalla TNA per un suo possibile approdo, ma infine raggiunse un accordo verbale per ritornare in WWE.

Una Knockout rilasciata, un'altra in forse

Tracy Brooks è stata rilasciata oggi dalla TNA. Dopo essere stata fuori per tanto tempo dalle scene tornò mesi fa dopo il book fotografico girato per il sito di Playboy.

Lo stato di Awesome Kong non è ancora chiarissimo; nonostante il suo post su twitter in cui asseriva di aver chiuso con la TNA, il managment ha negato l'ufficialità della cosa.