Live blog and results for tonight’s exciting UFC card
MILWAUKEE – HeavyMMA.com is reporting live from the Bradley Center for tonight’s UFC on Versus 5 event.
The card is headlined by a welterweight clash between Dan Hardy and the retiring Chris Lytle, who announced yesterday that tonight would be his final mixed martial arts bout.
The preliminary card begins at 5:45 p.m. ET, and we’ll have complete results and commentary for all of the Facebook and Versus fights.
PRELIMINARY CARD
EDWIN FIGUEROA VS. JASON REINHARDT: Reinhardt unveiled an interesting tactic in the first round, straight out of the Houston Alexander playbook. He danced around the cage and implored Figueroa to engage. The problem? Figueroa was trying to engage, but Reinhardt just kept dancing around. He finally took the fight to the ground and got Figueroa’s back, but couldn’t get a choke, and Figueroa reversed. Figueroa did plenty of damage via ground and pound the rest of the round.
The second round saw Reinhardt get another takedown, but Figueroa did a sweet reversal into the mount and finished Reinhardt on the ground with elbows. I suspect this is the last time you will see Reinhardt in the UFC, and for good reason. He gassed badly in the first round and doesn’t have anything to offer. Figueroa is a legitimate prospect in this division. Edwin Figueroa d. Jason Reinhardt via TKO, round 2.
DANNY CASTILLO VS. JACOB VOLKMANN: Volkmann for President won’t be a very successful campaign, but it seems entertaining enough. Both guys did some entertaining attempts at clinch work early, and Volkmann finally got Castillo to the ground. He locked in what looked to be a D’Arce choke and very nearly had Castillo finished, but Danny was able to get out and get back to the feet. Nice job by Volkmann on the takedown defense against a very strong wrestler. He takes the first round on the strength of the choke and avoiding Castillo’s takedowns. Castillo did land a few nice leg kicks and a nasty body kick, but that’s about it.
Castillo came out hard in the second round trying to get a takedown, but Volkmann is just too strong for him. This is a pretty good technical grappling battle. I’m a fan. Volkmann powered out and used a nice sweep to get in half guard. Volkmann tried another D’Arce and had it locked in, but Castillo escaped. Volkmann went right back to the D’Arce, and this one was really deep. Castillo was able to do just enough to defend, though, and survived the round. Volkmann takes the second round. Castillo will need a finish in the third to win this one.
Castillo’s trying a home run shot here and there, but not getting it. Volkmann tried getting it back to the ground, but Castillo scrambled and did a great job avoiding it. Castillo went for a leg kick but Volkmann caught it and takes him to the ground, ending up back in half guard and going for the D’Arce yet again. He slowly works in the D’Arce and finally locks it in, but Castillo is apparently impervious to the choke and gets out yet again after being in the hold for at least 90 seconds. Volkmann is going for the choke yet again. He really wants to finish this fight with a D’Arce. Mario Yamasaki is telling them that he’s going to stand them up. What? He has Castillo in a D’Arce choke! That would be the worst stand-up of all time. Luckily he doesn’t, and the round ends. Volkmann should take the decision here. Great performance all around from Volkmann, and a great job by Castillo in getting out of the 2,500 D’Arce chokes he was put in during the fight. Jacob Volkmann d. Danny Castillo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
COLE MILLER VS. T.J. O’BRIEN: O’Brien gets points for walking out to “Shipping Up To Boston,” although I bet Forrest Griffin is not happy with his choice. Miler does a good job early of checking and avoiding leg kicks. O’Brien lands a nice left hook and follows up with a combo to the body. He keeps attacking but misses quite a bit. Both guys are using a lot of punches straight down the pipe, a strike that is drastically underutilized in MMA. O’Brien appeared to hurt himself on a leg kick and limped, but recovered quickly. Miller attacked the leg and landed several really nice hooks. Nice head switch kick from Miller. Miller may have done enough to steal this round after a slow start, but it’s a close one.
Both guys try the front kick – known in the HeavyMMA.com family as the Footercut – but neither guy lands it. They exchange and Miller drops O’Brien with a counter left hook. He doesn’t follow up on the ground and instead chooses to use leg kicks to the downed opponent. O’Brien gets up and tries a takedown, but Miller quickly grasps a guillotine choke and finishes the fight. Cole Miller d. T.J. O’Brien via submission, round 2
ALEX CACERES VS. JIM HETTES: Bruce Leeroy does not disappoint with his entrance. I have no idea what he was wearing, but it was awesome. If entertainment value alone could keep you in the UFC, this guy would have a job for life. A wild exchange starts the fight, followed by another wild exchange. Hettes looks for a knee bar, but Caceres does a good job of staying out and drills him from a standing position. Hettes gets back to his feet and gets a takedown, where Caceres uses a unique guard. Caceres goes for a leg lock and misses, but uses it as a sweep and gets back to his feet where he drills Hettes again. Hettes uses the same move and gets back to his feet, then immediately takes Caceres to the ground. Caceres wants an omoplata and doesn’t get it, but they get back to the feet. Caceres misses a knee and Hettes goes for another leg lock, but Caceres twists and turns his way back on top. Hettes sweeps and gets back on top. This one is tough to type because so much is happening. One hell of a round right there and I have zero idea how to score it.
Hettes gets a very nice judo throw to start the round, and then tries a D’Arce which Caceres slips out of. Hettes gets the back and they transition a bunch, but Hettes ends up on top trying an arm triangle. He doesn’t get it and Caceres transitions out. Hettes tries a guillotine but doesn’t get it, then goes for a triangle and then an omoplata, and once again Caceres gets out. This is awesome. Hettes gets another judo throw and ends up on top in crucifix, but Caceres rolls out and gets back to his feet. Hettes suddenly locks in a rear naked choke from the side and takes Caceres down, where the former Ultimate Fighter almost immediately taps out. This was an incredible fight and will be high on the list of contenders for Fight of the Night. If one of the main card fights is better than this one, they should still give both dudes some extra cash. I suspect they will. Jim Hettes d. Alex Caceres via submission, round 2
RONNY MARKES VS. KARLOS VEMOLA: Vemola could have the best entrance music in the UFC. He uses Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, one of the more intense classical pieces of all time. It makes Vemola even more intimidating than he already is. Markes immediately tries for a takedown and then clinches Vemola against the cage. Vemola reverses, they separate and Vemola swings wildly. I forgot how wild Vemola is. It’s not pretty. Markes gets Vemola to a seated position against the cage, but Vemola gets back to his feet. Markes immediately takes him back down. Vamola scrambles back to his feet, but Markes pulls him back down. And we repeat the same thing again. Vemola is trying an arm-in guillotine but he’s nowhere close to getting it, but he does get back to his feet. This time Markes elects to just press Vemola against the cage. Vemola tries something that looks like a pro-wrestling arm drag and Markes gets out, but Vemola gets a guillotine as the round closes. Markes was in no trouble there. Markes takes this ugly, ugly round.
Vemola comes out with his wild punches, but immediately tries for a takedown. He doesn’t get it. He starts swinging again and Markes takes him back to the mat. I’ll say it: Vemola has the worst striking in the UFC. It’s not even close. Vemola looked to be trying an armbar from the bottom, but doesn’t get it. He ‘s back to his feet and tries a single, but isn’t going down. Markes presses Vemola against the cage. Vemola’s legs are gigantic, like Cro Cop PRIDE legs. Vemola is gassed. Markes gets a single and then uses a trip to put Vemola back on his back and into side control. The round ends with Markes on top. He takes this one. Vemola is really tired and his only hope of winning this fight is landing one of those awful chimpanzee punches in the third.
And of course, Vemola tries to land one of those punches and misses all of them. He pushes Markes against the cage, but Markes immediately turns it around and controls Vemola. Markes keeps him there for awhile and then drops Vemola to the mat. He stays in Vemola’s guard and beats him up a little bit with hammer fists. Markes steps a leg over and into half guard, forcing Vemola to trap Markes’ leg with a triangle. Markes gets the leg out and moves into side control. Vemola tries to push him off like Hulk Hogan used to do, but he’s tired. Dominant performance here from Markes, and Vemola looked awful in just about every aspect of the game. This wasn’t the best fight, but it got the job done. Ronny Markes d. Karlos Vemola via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ED HERMAN VS. KYLE NOKE: This should be a good fight. They exchange kicks and punches. Noke tries to trip Herman, but Ed reverses. Noke is back to his feet almost immediately, though, and then takes Herman down. Herman attacks the arm from the bottom, trying for an armbar. He switches to a triangle with an armbar, and Noke could be in trouble. Noke tries to pop his head out and Herman switches to an armbar, but Noke escapes and is free from danger. Good attacking from Herman, who goes right back to the triangle/armbar attempt. Herman rolls into a solid armbar attempt, and it’s tight. Noke is defending well, but Herman is giving everything he has. Noke gets back into the guard and then passes into half guard, where he throws a few punches to Herman’s head. Noke tries to go into mount, but Herman switches into a leg lock attempt. He gets a nasty inside heel hook and Noke taps out. Noke’s leg is hurt. Outstanding performance from Ed Herman here, especially since he spent nearly the entire round on the bottom. Oh, the replay of that heel hook looks nasty. Noke’s knee may be seriously damaged. Ed Herman d. Kyle Noke via submission, round 1
JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ VS. EDDIE WINELAND: And now for one of the most anticipated moments of the night: which nickname will Benavidez use? He goes with no nickname. Bruce Buffer, you suck. Feeling out process early. Nice body kick from Benavidez. Leg kick by Benavidez. And another one. Joe has a cut under his eye. Right hand from Benavidez. Wineland is bleeding from the top of his head. Big right hand from Benavidez staggers Wineland, and Benavidez hits him again. Wineland is now bleeding out of his nose. Wineland’s nose is like a faucet pouring blood now. It is literally leaking all over the mat. That nose has to be broken, and badly. Dominant round from Benavidez. Wineland has blood all over him.
Wineland lands an uppercut. Wineland hits Benavidez and it looks like Benavidez is poked in the eye. He turns away, but the ref doesn’t step in and Wineland attacks from behind. He doesn’t do any damage, though, and Benavidez gets away. Benavidez is feinting level changes to set up his punches. Left hand from Benavidez lands, and then a right hand lands. Benavidez steps under a strike and tries a takedown, but Wineland stuffs it. They clinch. Benavidez keeps trying head kicks but he doesn’t have enough reach to land them. Benavidez tries another takedown, but Wineland stuffs it again and they clinch. Benavidez with knees to the body in the clinch. Wineland reverses the takedown and Benavidez goes down, albeit briefly before getting back to his feet. Benavidez shoots and tries a takedown that he doesn’t get at first, but finally gets it down. I don’t know how to score the round. If you count the part where Benavidez tried to get a timeout for an eye poke, you go Wineland. But I’m not sure that should count.
Leg kick from Benavidez lands a glancing blow. Benavidez clips Wineland with a hook and staggers him, but Joe slips to the mat while trying to follow up. Benavidez sends Wineland stumbling back into the cage, then follows up with a flying knee, but Wineland escapes. If that knee had landed more solidly, Wineland would likely be out. Left kick from Benavidez catches Wineland and staggers him slightly again. Benavidez misses a spinning backlist. Benavidez is pressing forward now. He clips Wineland twice with the right hand. Benavidez fakes a takedown and Wineland sprawls on the mat, but Joe lets him back up. Leg kick from Benavidez. Head kick from Benavidez. Wineland lands a really nice straight right after dodging a head kick. Benavidez tries a takedown but Wineland spraws, then tries a guillotine, but Benavidez shakes it off. Right hand from Benavidez lands. The fight ends. Benavidez should take the decision, either 29-28 or straight 30-27 depending on how you look at that weird segment in the second round. Outstanding performance from Benavidez here, who showed that he can hang with one of the best strikers at 135 pounds. The creator of “Joe-Jitsu” may only have one fight left at bantamweight before he goes down to flyweight and becomes the instant favorite to win the belt. Buffer finally uses the nickname in announcing Benavidez as the winner – it’s “The Beefcake.” Joseph Benavidez d. Eddie Wineland via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
C.B. DOLLAWAY VS. JARED HAMMAN: This is our final Facebook fight before moving on to the main card. This is Hamman’s first fight at middleweight. Hamman pressing forward and uses a couple of leg kicks. Hamman lands a nice right hook to the temple. Dollaway lands one of his own and then takes Hamman down. Dolloway looks for a D’Arce but switches to the back and Hamman gets back to his feet. Dolloway gets another takedown to Hamman in a seated position. Dolloway into the mount and then takes the back, then switches back to the mount and gets an arm triangle. Dolloway circles counter clockwise to increase the pressure, but Hamman escapes and gets Dolloway into his guard. Hamman tried a triangle, but Dolloway throws him off and lands two huge shots on the ground. Hamman back to his feet with Dolloway pressing him against the cage. Dolloway takes the back but he’s too high and Hamman shakes him off, then goes into Dolloway’s guard. Big elbow from the top from Hamman. Hamman stands up and then goes into half guard, then immediately passes into side control and then mount. Dolloway rolls over and Hamman takes his back, but Dolloway rolls over and stands up. Hamman backflips to get away and Dolloway lands a huge right hand that drops Hamman. Hamman somehow survives an onslaught to end the round. Hamman’s jaw is made of iron. Dolloway takes the round at the end. Great round.
Hamman lands a nice jab and then a right straight. Hamman is bleeding from under his right eye. Hamman peppers Dolloway with shots, but Dolloway returns fire. Hamman presses forward with huge punches. Dolloway drops for the takedown, then goes to his back. Hamman passes into side control. Hamman stands up and uses ground and pound, but Dolloway is covering up. Hamman still lands shots. Hamman goes into side control and drops short elbows. He has Dolloway in a mounted crucifix and is landing more elbows. Hamman into the mount and raining down blows. Dolloway uses the cage and spins out, but Hamman goes right back on top and drills Dolloway. Dolloway uses the cage and spins out, trying a guillotine, but Hamman goes right back to the ground and pound. Herb Dean stops the fight. Amazing middleweight debut for Jared Hamman. Jared Hamman d. C.B. Dolloway via TKO, round 2.
MAIN CARD
DUANE LUDWIG VS. AMIR SADOLLAH: This should be a great striking battle. Of course, now that I’ve typed those words, it means we’re in for a boring wrestling match. That’s the kind of karma I have. The first half of the first round saw a clinch battle, but when they separated, Ludwig began battering Sadollah on the feet. Ludwig staggered Amir twice and continually landed all manner of punches, knees and kicks. Sadollah looked incredibly uncomfortable on the feet. Ludwig takes the round easily. Sadollah needs to rethink his plan of striking with Ludwig.
Ludwig’s countering was the theme of the second round. He continually landed a sharp left hook whenever Amir stepped in with a jab, and he seems to have Sadollah scouted very well. Amir couldn’t get Ludwig to the ground and we even saw a rare Duane Ludwig takedown attempt that failed. Sadollah needs a finish in the third round because he’s been battered throughout the first two.
Ludwig tired noticeably in the third round, which should have given Sadollah a chance to capitalize, but Sadollah’s punches were coming in slow. He tried several takedowns but Ludwig stuffed all of them. Sadollah continually relied on the push kick to Ludwig’s stomach, keeping Ludwig at bay but doing zero actual damage. Still, though Sadollah did far more and landed far more in this round than he did in the first two, but Ludwig still landed plenty of counters, including the left hook he’s been landing all night long. Ludwig got another takedown late in the round. We’ll give Sadollah this one, but just barely. Duane Ludwig d. Amir Sadollah via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
DONALD CERRONE VS. CHARLES OLIVEIRA: This was my pre-show pick for Fight of the Night, but it has plenty to contend with from the prelims. Both guys exchanged strikes early with neither guy getting the better of it, but Cerrone landed a few nice leg kicks. Oliviera has nasty leg kicks as well. Cerrone hit Oliveira in the junk with a kick – Cerrone disagreed with it, but it did look to be at least a glancing blow. Oliveira wanted to get Cerrone to the ground several times, but Cerrone did a great job getting away. Cerrone drilled Oliveira with a knee, causing Oliveira to drop to his back, and then finished the Brazilian with ground and pound while Oliveira covered up. Huge win for Donald Cerrone. Donald Cerrone d. Charles Oliviera via TKO, round 1
BEN HENDERSON VS. JIM MILLER: This could be amazing, or it could be a wrestling match. Henderson established his jab early. Miller landed a sweet short elbow that annoyed Henderson. They struggled in the clinch until Jim Miller got a standing arm triangle and jumped up to pull guard. Henderson remained standing, though, and defended the choke very well. Henderson ended up on top of Miller. Henderson landed a few nice elbows on the ground. Miller got back up, and Henderson landed a nice head kick as Miller scrambled away. Miller went for a kimura from the bottom but couldn’t get it. Henderson got another takedown and rained down big shots from the top. Huge elbow and ground and pound from Henderson as the round ends. He takes the round.
Henderson gets the better of early exchanges, avoiding Miller’s punches with great speed. Henderson clinches and then trips Miller to the ground. Miller is bleeding. Miller attacks the leg from the bottom, but can’t get anything. Henderson drills Miller with shots from the top, but Miller is still going for the leg lock. Henderson says he’s going. Henderson gets away, then reversed a takedown and ends up back on top. Miller attacks the leg again, this time a heel hook, but Henderson rolls to safety. Henderson lands huge shots from the top, then more from standing, then gets another takedown. Miller gets back to his feet only to get taken down again. Miller looks for a kimura from the bottom, but Henderson defends. Henderson is really controlling Miller here, almost shockingly well. Henderson rains down more punches as the round ends. The former WEC champion takes yet another round, this one even more dominant than the first.
Dan Miller just told Jim that he needs to take the action to Henderson. Leg kick from Henderson. Henderson is doing a great job of avoiding Miller’s strikes. He lands a huge short elbow of his own. Miller gets a left hook. A left hook from Miller either drops Henderson or Henderson slipped, but either way Henderson is back up and then gets a takedown. Henderson back on top and drilling Miller with ground and pound. Miller rolls over and Henderson takes his back. Miller tries to dive forward and plan Henderson on his head, but Henderson stays on and tries the rear naked. He doesn’t get it, so he throws bombs. He’s battering Miller and this one could be stopped shortly. Henderson on top in side control now. He continues raining down huge shots. Miller is being annihilated here. Miller is seated, and Henderson stands up to throw more shots. Henderson goes for the guillotine and he’s mounted with it, but doesn’t quite have it. Big knee to the body from Henderson. The fight ends. Amazing and utterly dominant performance from Ben Henderson, who just put himself straight into the title picture. Ben Henderson d. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-26)
DAN HARDY VS. CHRIS LYTLE: As noted, this is Chris Lytle’s final fight, as he’ll retire afterwards. For the first time I can remember, Hardy gets more cheers than boos when he enters the arena. He’s fighting for his job here, as I cannot imagine them keeping him on the roster with a fourth straight loss. Lytle immediately lands a big right hand. Big shots to the body from Lytle. Hardy staggers Lytle with a left hook. Lytle catches Hardy’s leg kick and tosses him, but lets him back up. Big knee from Hardy to the face. Huge left from Lytle, and then another combo. Hardy just smiles, so Lytle blasts him again. Both guys are just throwing huge bombs. Lytle lands two more hooks, then one to the body. A left hook from Lytle staggers Hardy. Straight right from Hardy. Another left hook from Lytle. Both guys are landing, but Lytle lands three in a row that hurt Hardy. Hardy gets drilled with an uppercut. Lytle lands more left hooks. Lytle takes the first. If this keeps up, it’s your Fight of the Night.
Lytle opens round two by landing more huge shots. Hardy is not protecting himself at all. More shots from Lytle. Hardy gets rocked, but then rocks Lytle. Hardy staggers Lytle, and Lytle clinches. That one was nasty, but Lytle still didn’t go down. Huge body shot from Lytle. Hardy gets poked in the eye on accident. Yeah, that one looked bad. He takes a few seconds to gather himself and then starts again. Huge hooks from Lytle. Hardy backs up and just smiles. Hardy fires back with hooks of his own. Hardy rocks Lytle bad. Hardy shoots for a takedown, but Lytle stuffs it and they are back to their feet. Lytle lands two hooks. Hardy swinging wildly too. They’re beating the piss outta each other. Uppercut from Lytle and then a huge winging right. They exchange more. This is an awesome slugfest. Big right from Lytle to the body, then a left hook to the face. Big left from Lytle. They are killing each other. Lytle lands a big right and then a left and the round ends. Lytle takes the round as he landed more, but it’s close.
The crowd is giving both fighters a huge ovation. Left and right from Lytle. Hardy lands his own left. Lytle with another body shot. He’s landing those at will. Another left hook for Lytle. They’re standing in the pocket and trading. Big left from Lytle. Hardy finally throws a leg kick, but Lytle answers with a big left hook. Big right from Lytle is countered with a right from Hardy. Another left for Lytle. And another. Hardy is finally moving around, but it might be too little, too late. Left hook from Lytle. Both guys exchange. They’re letting it fly now with a minute left. Hardy goes for a takedown, but Lytle gets a guillotine and Hardy taps out. What an incredible brawl this was, and what a way for Chris Lytle to go out. Chris Lytle d. Dan Hardy via submission, round 3
A fitting end to one of the best cards of the year. This was great almost from top to bottom.
