Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping (James Law/HeavyMMA)
Main card from Chicago’s United Center airs on Fox
CHICAGO – HeavyMMA is at the United Center in Chicago for Saturday’s UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis card. We’ll have live round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of each of the three “tripleheader” bouts on the main card right here starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.
The main card features a light heavyweight bout between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, with a 205-pound title shot on the line for Evans and a certain rise up the ladder for Davis. In the middleweight division, a shot at Anderson Silva‘s belt is up for grabs between Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping in a fight that was made last week when Mark Munoz was injured and fell out of his fight with Sonnen. And Bisping’s original opponent in Chicago, Demian Maia, now faces fast-rising middleweight Chris Weidman to open the action on Fox.
UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis is the promotion’s first Fox-broadcast event under its seven-year network deal that began on Jan. 1. The three-fight main card airs live on a two-hour Fox broadcast at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman
Maia Twitter: @DemianMaia | Weidman Twitter: @ChrisWeidmanUFC
Round 1: Herb Dean to officiate this 185 lb. contest. Touch of gloves to kick things off. Weidman looking for a kick, but doesn’t throw. Maia misses with a big punch. He trips, but quickly recovers. Weidman misses with a right hand, but Maia lands a left. Knee from Maia. Long straight right lands for Weidman. He continues to look for long punches, and is warned by the referee to watch the fingers. Another knee lands for Maia, and Weidman comes back with a leg kick. Maia lands a kick of his own. He follows with a left hand shortly after. Neither fighter really wants to push too hard early. Weidman nearly wraps him up, but Maia avoids. Body kick from Weidman. 90 seconds remain in the round. Weidman catches a kick, then counters with a kick of his own. Big uppercut misses for Weidman, but he is landing more frequently than his opponent. He looks for a takedown, and Maia finds himself on his back. The Brazilian escapes to his feet, throwing. He slips and takes a few shots. They briefly clinch. Weidman blocks a head kick. The frame closes without any significant action in the final moments. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Weidman.
Round 2: Fighters touch gloves to begin the second round, and Weidman ducks a punch to earn the takedown. He is in side control. Maia works back up and avoids another takedown. Weidman lands a jab, takes a leg kick, then delivers a kick of his own. Right hook from Maia is blocked, but he lands a left. Weidman still maintaining position in the center of the cage. Jab from Weidman, and a leg kick follows. The two reach the midpoint of the round, and the crowd is not pleased with the action. Weidman looks to clinch, but is pushed away. Maia circles and misses with a jab. Maia with a decent couple of shots and a leg kick, but Weidman comes back with a much stronger kick. Maia misses with a big hook, which has essentially been the story of the striking game of this fight. Weidman ducks out of the way of another hook and looks for the takedown. He fails to get it, and Maia comes back with a nice knee. Weidman grabs a kick, but does nothing with it. Takedown from Weidman with 20 seconds remaining in the round. Maia attempts to roll out and nearly gives up his back. Guillotine attempt from Weidman, but the round comes to an end. Still, he stole that one. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Weidman.
Round 3: Maia looks to land and gets tangled up, but Maia escapes. Knee from Weidman, who looks tired, but remarkably composed after what may have been a vicious weight cut. He presses forward, driving Maia against the cage. Takedown for Weidman. Maia rolls and works back up. He misses with a knee and looks for a takedown of his own. He fails, but lands a knee. Weidman stuffs another takedown and lands two strikes. Maia with a very poor takedown attempt. Both men seem tired, very tired. Another takedown from Maia, and Weidman moves to Maia’s back. Maia quickly gets back up. Midpoint of the round. These two are absolutely exhausted, trading weak punches, landing few and far between. Kick lands for Maia, who attempts a takedown, but fails again. Uppercut lands for Maia, followed by a few more rounds. Knees from Weidman. Long jab lands for Weidman, and a minute remains in the fight. These guys are drained. Weidman with a straight right. He counters Maia with a left. Knee from Maia. 10 seconds left, and Weidman lands a head kick to finish the contest. HeavyMMA.com scores the sloppy round 10-9 for Weidman.
Official Decision: Chris Weidman d. Demian Maia via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Sonnen Twitter: @SonnenCh | Bisping Twitter: @Bisping
Round 1: Sonnen rushes forward and earns a quick takedown. Bisping eats several shots on the ground, but immediately stands up. Nice right hand lands for Bisping. Sonnen moving forward for another takedown, pressing Bisping against the cage. Bisping moves away, but Sonnen wraps him up again and trips Bisping down. Sonnen overpowering his opponent, but not dishing out much damage. Bisping back to the feet again. Incredibly fast-paced fight thus far. Very quick 90 seconds. Bisping drops down for a takedown in the clinch, but lets it go. Sonnen turns him around, but they separate shortly after. Nice left hand from Sonnen. Bisping pressed against the cage, but reverses and presses Sonnen against the fence now. Knees from both fighters, but Bisping separates and dodges a big punch. Sonnen with another takedown, but he is only able to drive Bisping against the cage again. Bisping turns him around yet again. Very interesting clinch battles in the opening round. Knees from Bisping. Bisping eats a right and misses with an uppercut. He lands on the next exchange. Sonnen misses with a combination, and Bisping wraps him up, pressing him against the cage. 20 seconds left in the round. They separate, and Bisping misses with a spinning kick. Nice left from the Brit. Tough round to call. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Bisping.
Round 2: Sonnen lands a left, but not flush. Bisping misses with a combination. Sonnen presses his opponent against the cage, but, once again, Bisping surprises with a reversal. Clinch war going on here, and both fighters are landing, but Bisping is landing far more shots. Referee separates the two. Knee from Bisping, followed by a right. Long takedown from Sonnen, but he gets Bisping down against the cage. Bisping takes a few shots, but works his way back up. Sonnen misses with another combination. This fight is not even close on the feet. Bisping pressing Sonnen against the cage again. 30 seconds left, but neither are doing much against the cage. They separate, and Bisipng lands a knee. Spinning kick from Bisping misses. The fighters trade as the round comes to a close, and Bisping immediately puts his hands on his knees. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Bisping.
Round 3: Touch of gloves to start the final round. Bisipng lands a left, and Sonnen looks for a big takedown. He gets it, but Bisping is once again up against the cage. Sonnen needs to do something from this position. Bisping looks like he is looking for a leg lock, but Sonnen throws it aside. He is in Bispings’ guard. Bisping attempts to stand, but gives up his back with 3:30 left in the round. Sonnen gets one hook in, and now has the second. The referee tells them to work, which is entirely uncalled for. Sonnen transitions from the back mount to the full mount and finds himself in a very dominant position with just over two minutes left in the round. Sonnen landing body shots, but not much else. Bisping hip escapes and finds himself back in full guard. Much-needed escape. Sonnen moves to half-guard. He is working for an anaconda choke. One minute left in the frame, and Bisping regains full guard. Bisping moves back to the cage and looks to stand. Sonnen is holding him down at the moment. Bisping is back up to the feet and presses Sonnen against the cage. He drops down for a takedown, and Sonnen nearly grabs hold of a submission. Bisping avoids and lands elbows in the final seconds. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Sonnen.
Official Decision: Sonnen d. Bisping via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
Evans Twitter: @SugaRashadEvans | Davis Twitter: @PhilMrWonderful
Round 1: Davis comes up short with several strikes and a body kick. Good movement from Davis. Same goes for Evans. Big leg kick from Davis, who is looking scary-fast. Another kick, but it is blocked. Evans comes up short with a jab. Davis slips after a kick, and the two clinch. Evans presses his opponent against the cage. They separate. Davis shoots for a takedown, but Evans stuffs it and has control of his opponent’s head. Davis back up. Davis tries to close the distance again, but can’t get the job done in order to earn the takedown. Evans checks a leg kick. The fighters exchange, but neither land flush. Superman punch for Davis misses, and he looks for the takedown. He presses Evans up against the cage, but the former light heavyweight champion escapes. Evans pressing forward now, but not throwing many shots. He catches a leg kick and slams Davis down. He is in half guard. Good form from Evans on top. He has Davis in the mounted crucifix. 30 seconds remain in the round, and Davis is attempting to escape, but is struggling. He escapes, but not before eating several big shots. Evans takes his opponent’s back, but the round comes to a close. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 2: Davis misses with a head kick. Evans comes up short with several shots. Davis is moving very well, but not getting any significant offense going. Evans, meanwhile, seems content to let his opponent try to get to him. He checks a leg kick. Evans is not doing much, but he is looking very good. Body kick from Davis, who wraps his opponent up. They are clinched in the center of the cage, but separate. Evans moves forward with several big punches that lead to a clinch. Davis moves away, but eats a right hook. Davis comes up just short with a right. Evans checks a leg kick. Knee from Davis. They clinch again in the center of the cage, but Evans walks Davis back against the cage. Davis thinks kick, but pulls back. Body shot from Davis is caught, and Evans takes him down. Side control from Evans, but not much time left. 10 seconds. A few punches from Evans as the round comes to a close. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 3: Superman punch from Davis comes up short. Leg kick from Davis is checked. Evans in the center of the cage. Davis just seems so hesitant. He shoots for a takedown, but Evans stuffs it again. Davis grabbing hold of a single and he needs to get it. They both go to the ground, but Evans has Davis wrapped up. Davis on top now, but Evans looks to be working his way back up. Davis almost takes the back, but Evans reverses and is on top again. He has Davis’ back, but Davis escapes and stands. Evans still pressing the action against the cage. Davis looks simply out-matched here. Davis drops down after eating a punch, but stands back up. It would appear that Davis is having a miserable time. Nice uppercut from Evans. Davis shoots for another takedown and, this time, he gets it. He is in Evans’ guard, but he can’t keep him down. Davis has him wrapped up against the cage, landing solid knees. Nothing significant happens in the final 10 seconds. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 4: Davis misses with the first shots of the fourth round. Kick from Davis, who needs a stoppage if he wants the victory. Evans countering really well against Davis’ striking. He pushes Davis away after a combination. Davis shoots from far out and can’t get it. Davis throwing a lot of shots, but Evans is landing the much better punches. Davis’ kick is blocked, and Evans grabs onto a front headlock. Davis transitions to a headlock of his own, but fails to do anything with it. Another takedown attempt for Davis fails. Evans is back on top and has Davis’ back. Davis escapes to the feet, but Evans presses him up against the cage. They separate and, after several failed takedowns, begin striking again. Uppercut from evens lands, but nothing else. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Evans.
Round 5: Final round begins with the two trading jabs. Kick from Davis comes up short. Leg kick checked by Evans. Body kick from Davis caught by Evans. He lands heavy on Davis, who goes down to the mat. Evans on top, looking for the finish. He moves to the mounted crucifix from half-guard. Davis escapes, but gives up his back. Midpoint of the round. Davis escapes to the feet, but Evans has his back. They separate, and Evans lands a nice right. He misses with a strong right hook, but lands a shot to the body. Another nice right hand by Evans. Davis shoots, but Evans stuffs it again. Davis back up, but the former champ is pressing him against the cage. They separate, and Davis misses with a head kick. Under a minute left in the fight. Evans misses with an uppercut. He counters with a nice right hand and is pouring it on, but this fight goes the distance. HeavyMMA.com scores the round 10-9 for Evans.
Official Decision: Evans d. Davis via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)