Couture Submits Toney, Edgar Dominates Penn At UFC 118

UFC 118 Results

The pay-per-view broadcast features a lightweight championship rematch between title-holder Frankie Edgar and former longtime champion BJ Penn, along with a co-main event between UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and former boxing champion James Toney.

The remainder of the card includes a middleweight bout between Demian Maia and Mario Miranda, a lightweight contenders tilt between Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard, and a welterweight contest between Marcus Davis and Nate Diaz that will open the main card action.

Marcus Davis vs. Nate Diaz

The two welterweights exchanged early, and Nate Diaz was quick to talk trash inside the cage. The controversial fighter taunted Davis, and Davis happily began to exchange. “The Irish Hand Grenade” rocked Diaz early, but Davis could not come close to finishing, and Diaz separated and taunted yet again. The two continued to exchange with Davis, who was landing the better shots. However, blood began to drip down the right eye of Davis, and Diaz continued to press forward. The two clinched against the cage with Diaz playing the role of the aggressor continuously. Both fighters stayed busy on the feet, throwing punches without much concern about the damage being received. The final exchange was all Diaz, and Davis walked back to his corner already bloodied up.

Prior to the second round, the doctor checked Davis to make sure he was fine to continue. The doctor allowed the fight to go on, and the two wasted little time picking up where they left off in the first. Both fighters traded shots, taking punches and dealing them out consistently and without hesitation. Diaz thought about the takedown, and the two clinched up against the cage. They separated and Davis landed a nice left hook, but it did not intimidate Diaz, who immediately dealt out some punishment of his own. Davis continued to get tagged, and blood began to spill out of his nose. But that did not stop him from landing a nice shot of his own. Davis attempted to utilize head movement in the center of the cage, but Diaz continued to land his punches fairly effortlessly. Davis began working kicks into his arsenal, as Diaz continued to work the hook from a distance. With 30 seconds left the two clinched, and Davis scored the takedown with only moments left. A late reversal by Diaz closed out the second frame.

The two met in the center to kick off the final frame of the first fight on the main card, and Diaz landed a nice combination right off the bat. The two clinched against the cage and Diaz began peppering Davis with short punches. They separated and Diaz continued to get the better of the striking game due to his extensive reach advantage. Davis finally landed a nice shot, but it was once again followed up by several punches from Diaz. Davis reaches up at his eye, and Diaz capitalizes with a combination. Davis appeared to be damaged, and Diaz could smell the blood, scoring the takedown. From half guard, Diaz began peppering his opponent with punches and elbows before going for a choke. Diaz locked on the guillotine and Davis decided against tapping, sliding into unconsciousness. Sorry, Joe Lauzon, but Nate Diaz has also entered his name into the running for Submission of the Night. Diaz def. Davis via technical submission (guillotine choke) at 4:02 of Round 3.

Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard

One minute went by in the opening frame of the lightweight contender bout without anything landed, but Florian broke the ice with a nice head kick. The two did little for the next few minutes, save a few brief exchanges. Florian was the first to land anything significant, scoring a nice right hand that Maynard clearly felt. Maynard looked to work the uppercut, but Florian moved in and out of his combinations beautifully. With 1:30 left, Maynard shot in for the takedown, but Florian stuffed it, and the two clinched up against the cage. Maynard continued to work for the takedown, picking up Florian and throwing him down to the mat. Maynard did little on top, and the round came to a close with a late punch immediately following the bell, courtesy of Maynard.

The second opened up the same as the first round, as neither fighter did much of anything to earn points. Florian remained sharp on his feet, displaying solid footwork that Maynard clearly did not have. Florian landed a nice kick, after missing several earlier in the round, but Maynard remained clear-headed. The pace began to quicken, and Maynard looked for a takedown, which he earned. Florian worked back to his feet, but Maynard continued to bully him against the cage before earning another takedown. Maynard looked to work his ground and pound, but failed to land anything significant. Blood began to roll down the face of Florian, and Maynard postured up, looking to throw down. Maynard worked body shots from the top, and Florian looked to latch onto a leg for a submission attempt. Maynard finished the round on top of Florian, and the former top contender found himself down on the judges’ scorecards heading into the final frame of the tilt.

Much like the first two rounds, the third began with little action. Florian raised his hands, questioning Maynard’s decision not to engage. However, Maynard was not the only fighter being rather inactive. Florian comes out of nowhere with a spinning back kick, but it does not land flush. Maynard lunged in for a takedown and earned it, pushing Florian up against the cage. Maynard postured up, and Florian attempted to escape by pushing off Maynard’s hips. Maynard stayed on top and continued smothering Florian, who was running out of options with time ticking away on the fight. Referee Mario Yamasaki told Maynard to remain active, and the wrestler did his best to keep the fight down. Florian pushed off the hips of Maynard and stood back up, but was immediately brought back down to the canvas. Florian attempted a late omoplata, but Maynard powered out of it with one minute left. He then attempted another one, which was much deeper, but, once again, Maynard powered through it. The two went back to the feet with moments remaining, and the fight ended with little action. Maynard def. Florian via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda

Maia was the first to bring the action, throwing a big overhand right that missed. However, the submission ace immediately moved the fight to the floor, where he operates most efficiently. Maia attempted to work towards Miranda’s back, and it was clear the underdog was in trouble early. Maia took the back and worked for the hooks, landing several shots to his opponent’s head. Miranda attempted to roll over, and Maia continued to threaten from the back, looking for the armbar. The submission was nearly locked on, but Miranda survived and the two stood back up. Maia continued to close the gap, and Miranda clearly wanted to avoid the takedown. Maia continued to look for the overhand punch, but it just would not land for him. The time ticked away on the first round with neither fighter doing much as the bell rang to signal the end of the initial frame of the contest.

Maia began the second by closing the gap quickly. He worked for a single leg takedown and earned it. Maia looked to lock a guillotine choke, but opted to work the fight to the floor. Maia stuck on to Miranda like glue, looking to continue improving his position on the ground. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace moved into full mount, and Miranda appeared to be in a dangerous situation. Maia seemed to be biding his time in the mount, but it seemed only a matter of time before a submission attempt was thrown out by him. He looked for an arm triangle choke, but decided against it, going back to the ground and pound. Maia began working towards a submission while in a high mount as the time ran down on the round. He began isolating an arm and moved towards an armbar, but Miranda slipped out of it. With 10 seconds left Miranda worked a bit of ground and pound, but he found himself down on the judges’ scorecards after two.

The third round began with Maia once again displaying his dominance, scoring a takedown and moving to the back effortlessly. Maia utilized ground and pound from the back, and, once again, Miranda was in serious trouble. Maia continued peppering his opponent with punches before going for an arm, but Miranda powered out of it once again. Miranda moved to top control, and for the first time in the fight Maia was not dominating the positional game. However, the two stood back up, and it was clear that Miranda needed a stoppage to win this contest. Maia immediately scored another takedown and moved to the mount once again. The former top contender then moved for another armbar attempt, but Miranda slipped out yet again. Maia may not have been able to secure the submission, but he certainly dominated the fight en route to a unanimous decision. Maia def. Miranda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Randy Couture vs. James Toney

The two touch gloves in the center, and Mario Yamasaki gets the fight underway. Couture immediately shoots and moves to full mount. The UFC Hall of Famer continuously peppered Toney with shots from the top, and the former boxing star seemed completely outmatched early. Toney threw some punches from the bottom, but Couture remained dominant in the full mount. The crowd began chanting “UFC”, and it was clear that the crowd was rooting for the mixed martial artist. Toney continued to take shots on the ground, in deep trouble early, and Couture seemed intent on punishing him. Couture reached for an arm triangle up against the cage, but Toney insisted that he was fine. The former UFC champion decided against the choke, opting for the ground and pound. However, moments later, Couture locked on the arm triangle, forcing the tap. Completely dominant performance by Couture in what will most certainly be the Submission of the Night. Couture def. Toney via submission (arm triangle choke) at 3:19 of Round 1.

Frank Edgar vs. BJ Penn for UFC lightweight championship

Edgar came out of the gate looking for the takedown, and he earned it. The lightweight champion attempted to improve his position, but Penn managed to utilize his jiu-jitsu to work the fight back to the feet. The two exchanged in a striking contest for a bit, but Edgar moved in and out of combinations nicely, scoring on Penn. Edgar once again scored a takedown, this time via slam, and Penn’s takedown defense seemed a bit nonexistent. However, he once again moved back to the feet, where he failed to score anything significant. The champion ended the round with a nice body kick, and Penn exited the first down on the scorecards.

In the second, both fighters exchanged on the feet for the better part of the first 1:30, and Penn managed to stuff a takedown, then another. Penn remained in the center of the Octagon, with Edgar moving in and out of exchanges. However, Penn began to land better shots, working the jab nicely. Edgar shot in for a takedown and earned it, landing in half guard. Penn worked the butterfly guard and once again moved back to the feet. Edgar once again attempted to stay quick on the feet, and Penn appeared a bit confused. Penn was content to work counters and did so on a few occasions, but Edgar seemed to be getting the better of the striking game. The final minute of the round was fairly uneventful, and it appeared that Edgar took yet another round.

Penn entered the third seeming a bit more concerned, throwing more combinations and even a head kick. Edgar looked to wrap him up, but the former champion pushed him away. Edgar began to circle, closing in for a brief combination. The two closed in on one another, and Penn landed a nice knee in the clinch. Halfway into the fight, Edgar landed a solid combination, and Penn continued to be a bit timid. Edgar thought about shooting in for a takedown, but thought better of it, landing another nice combo. Penn attempted to use the jab, but Edgar continued to run through it with his striking. The champion looked for a takedown, but it was stuffed again. His next takedown attempt was stuffed as well, as the two fighters moved into the clinch. The two separated and exchanged briefly as the round came to a close.

The third round began quite differently, as  Penn immediately shot in for the takedown, and he earned it. Penn looked for the mount, and, for the first time in the fight, Edgar was in some sort of trouble. However, the champion pushed away and moved back to his feet, but Penn had made a big point in the opening minute of the frame. But that did not stop Edgar from continue to be the aggressor, as he scored another takedown. Penn worked the rubberguard, which neutralized Edgar’s top game. However, Edgar pushed away and began landing big shots to his downed opponent. The champion moved into side control, but opted to stand up, looking to land another nice combination. Edgar worked in and out of exchanges, just as he had the majority of the first three rounds, and Penn could simply not land anything big. In the closing seconds of the round, Penn finally landed a nice combination, but he remained down on the scorecards.

The final frame began, and it appeared that it was Edgar’s fight to lose. Penn immediately scored the takedown and nearly earned Edgar’s back, but was reversed by the champion. Edgar was content to sit in the guard and throw some ground and pound, landing several nice shots. Penn worked the butterfly guard and was able to stand up, but it was clearly do-or-die time for the former longtime champion. The clock ticked down to one minute, and Penn seemed seriously discouraged. With 15 seconds left, Edgar landed a big knee and it seemed all but over for Penn. The clock ran down to 0:00 and Frank Edgar had done the impossible twice. Edgar wins an easy decision after dominating Penn for five rounds. Edgar def. Penn via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).