UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger: Main Card Live Blog

HeavyMMA is here for live coverage of tonight’s UFC on Fuel TV debut in Omaha, Neb. UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger takes place at the Omaha Civic Auditorium and features a main event welterweight contenders fight between hometown favorite Jake Ellenberger and former lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez.

Other action on the main card includes a heavyweight bout between Stefan Struve and Dave “Pee Wee” Herman, plus a middleweight contest between Aaron Simpson and Ronny Markes. Follow all the action on the six-fight main card, which airs live on the Fuel TV cable channel at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Ivan Menjivar vs. John Albert
Menjivar Twitter: @ivanmenjivar | Albert Twitter: @UFCPrinceAlbert
Round 1: We’re ready to go with our first fight on the Fuel TV broadcast. Good overhand right from Menjivar is blocked. Good pace in the first 30 seconds with both fighters throwing big kicks and strikes. They clinch up and not much comes from it, but Menjivar throws a big spinning back fist on the break, then gets the fight to the ground. Alberts is looking for a triangle, then switches to an omoplata. Now big hammer fists from Menjiavar. They then both go for leg locks. But ultimately, Menjivar spins out of it and kicks Alberts right in the stomach. But Alberts counters with a head kick. He seems to have stunned Menjivar, and he lands several big knees and it looks like Menjivar is in a lot of trouble. But he survives, he rolls things over, he takes Alberts’ back, he’s got the ground and pound going. And then he gets the rear naked choke, and it’s deep. It’s good enough to finish. Great comeback win for Menjivar.

Result: Ivan Menjivar def. John Albert, submission (rear naked choke), 3:45 Round 1

T.J. Dillashaw vs. Walel Watson
Dillashaw Twitter: @tjdillashaw | Watson Twitter: @135gazelle
Round 1: Five inches of height and seven inches of reach for Watson over Dillashaw, who also has Urijah Faber in his corner tonight. Immediate Superman punch for Dillashaw, and he transitions to a high-leg single, looking for the takedown. He gets underneath for a double and he dumps Watson right on  his back. Watson up quickly, but he is dumped immediately by Dillashaw. Dillashaw works from Watson’s guard, looking for some ground and pound. After a bit there, Dillashaw is able to take Watson’s back and locks him up with a body triangle. Dillashaw looking for a rear naked choke, but Watson is defending it so far. Watson is able to briefly get out and into half guard. But Dillashaw again takes the back and again isn’t able to get the choke. But he transitions to full mount. Dillashaw again will look for the choke. Again Watson defends sufficiently. And Dillashaw will look to land some strikes from on top. He lands some big shots. It’s an easy 10-9 round for Dillashaw on the HeavyMMA card.

Round 2: Good right from Dillashaw to open the frame. Dillashaw gets Watson to the ground, and “The Gazelle” tries to do something, anything, with his legs to fend Dillashaw off. Dillashaw gets into side control and he works strikes and elbows from on top. Good hammer first from up top, and once again Dillashaw is able to briefly take Watson’s back. Watson turns back over and Dillashaw gets full mount. Watson cvoers up, and he’s not doing anything. Just covering up. Dillashaw is going to finish this fight. The ref gets in to take a close look. Again Dillashaw looks for a choke and he’s got it. Watson trying to defend, and he barely gets out of it. Dillashaw again starts dropping fists down. Watson just has nothing tonight. Dillashaw is dominating him. With 30 seconds left in the round, Dillashaw again starts pounding and looking to finish. BIG bombs. But Watson survives the round. Dillashaw gets a 10-8 second on our card – and really, it could’ve been 10-8 in the first.

Round 3: Flying kick from Watson just misses. He’ll obviously need to finish the fight with something big and knock Dillashaw out or submit him, because he’s way down on the cards. Dillashaw comes in and lands a nice right, though. Then another. But Dillashaw shoots for a takedown, and nearly gets caught in a guillotine. But Dillashaw pushes out of it and gets the takedown, once again in top position in side control. Watson gets up, though, and he’ll look for a couple knees. They’re not there, but it probably gives Dillashaw something to worry about. And pretty quickly, Watson lands a few shots, and he jumps into guard and has a triangle on Dillashaw. Dillashaw escapes, but Watson goes for the arm. Dillashaw gets out of that, and Watson goes for a heel hook. But Dillashaw gets out of that one, too. Dillashaw will go for the rear naked choke with 50 seconds left, but it’s a one-arm, and Watson is defending. Even though Watson had the submission attempts, it’s a 10-9 for Dillashaw thanks to a beautiful flurry at the end, and HeavyMMA has it for him 30-26. 

Result: T.J. Dillashaw def. Walel Watson, unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)

Stipe Miocic vs. Philip De Fries

Miocic Twitter: @smiocic | De Fries Twitter: @phildefriesmma
Round 1: Good right from De Fries, and another one has Miocic backing up. Miocic counters, and then they trade. But Miocic gets the better of the exchanges – and soon De Fries is on the ground. Miocic lands three lefts, then a series of rights on the ground, and it’s all over.

Result: Stipe Miocic def. Philip De Fries, knockout, 0:43 Round 1

Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes
Simpson Twitter: @aaronsimpson | Markes Twitter: @Markesoficial

Round 1: Markes is fighting at middleweight for the first time, and he lands a few nice shots against Simpson early. Simpson is wobbled and Markes looks for a single. They clinch on the fence. After 40 seconds of little action, the ref breaks them for a restart. Big uppercut from Simpson sends Markes to the ground, and Simpson pounces on him quickly for ground-and-pound. Markes survives the bulk of it, and then looks for an armbar. Simpson goes back and looks to pass and land some big shots from up top. At the 1-minute mark, Simpson lets him back to his feet. They’ll end the round clinched against the fence. But it’s a 10-9 first round for Simpson.

Round 2: Good right hand for Simpson again, and countered by a Markes leg kick. Markes just misses a big roundhouse, and Simpson looks for a takedown. But Markes defends it nicely, and again they clinch up. Little activity in the second as they continually clinch. Simpson looks for a trip takedown, but it’s not there, and Markes finally bullies his way to a takedown and winds up in half guard. Markes works his way toward some big elbows . But Simpson gets back to his feet. Simpson looking for knees, but Markes answers back. It’s a close second round, but HeavyMMA gives it to Markes 10-9.

Round 3: Giant right hand from Simpson to open up, but it just glances. They clinch up for 20 seconds, then break. Good inside uppercut from Simpson. Markes comes with a nice right, then they trade leg kicks. Again they clinch. The ref will break them at 3:10. Good body shot from Simpson, then to the head. Outside leg kick from Markes. Simpson just misses a right. Markes also just misses one. Front kick from Simpson just as Markes looks for a flying knee. They clinch again with Simpson’s back on the fence. Markes works the foot stomps, then tries for a trip takedown. Again tehy’re warned by the ref, who has a ridiculous tattoo on the back of his head. Simpson with a nice right hand on the restart, and then a nice knee from Markes. With a minute left, it’s an insanely close final round. Simpson comes with a right hand, and then hits the canvas. It looks like he slipped, but he also looks hurt. Markes gets on him, clinches him up and gets a double-leg takedown. Simpson gets to his feet. The round will end in the clinch. And crazily enough, it may be an accidental slip that costs Simpson this fight. HeavyMMA scores the last round for Markes, 10-9, and the fight for him 29-28. Could go either way, though.

Result: Ronny Markes def. Aaron Simpson, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman
Struve Twitter: @StefanStruve | Herman Twitter: @davehermanmma
Round 1: They touch ’em up and we get going. Herman is one hairy dude this time around – everywhere. Big high kick from Struve is partially blocked. Herman has Struve’s back to the cage and he lands a couple shots and clinches. Struve overhand right misses. Body kick from Herman is blocked. Big right from Herman, and then another one. Struve blocks Herman’s kick. Another big right from Herman lands on an inside scramble. Big right from Struve, and then Herman with a leaping kick that just misses, but gets the crowd buzzing. Herman the more effective striker three minutes into the round. He appears to have Struve feeling a little uncomfortable. Despite Struve’s height and reach advantage, Herman isn’t letting it be a factor. Teep from Herman. Good right from Struve, and then Herman catches a Struve kick and lands a counter right. HeavyMMA scores the first round for Herman 10-9.

Round 2: Good leg kicks from each guy, and Herman tries to clinch – but Struve takes him down and right into mount. Herman rolls over, though, and gives his back. But Herman gets out of there and they stand back up. They trade rights. Struve works some inside leg kicks, then lands a nice kick to the body. Good left from Struve chases Herman back a little. A nice combo from Struve follows, and Herman is cut under his left eye. Struve starts to smell blood a little and cstarts chasing Herman down. And boom – Struve lands a nice uppercut that drops Herman. Struve gets inside and starts to work ground and pound. Struve gets the full mount and he’s raining down punches. Josh Rosenthal takes a close look, and it’s gonna be all over.

Result: Stefan Struve def. Dave Herman, TKO, 3:52 Round 2

Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger
Ellenberger Twitter: @EllenbergerMMA
Round 1: Quick start for Ellenberger, and he backs Sznchez to the cage. The crowd instantly starts to chant “Jake! Jake! Jake!” Sanchez looks to counter with some leg kicks, and then they both come with one simultaneously. Sanchez pushes forward with a three-punch combo, but it just backs Ellenberger up. Sanchez comes forward again, but it’s Ellenberger with the better counter. Good knee from Ellenberger as Sanchez pushes forward. But after 20 seconds, Sanchez has a nice combo. High kick from Ellenberger misses, but lets Sanchez know he’s there with it. Good right from Sanchez, and they both throw a flurry. Big right from Ellenberger sends Sanchez to the canvas. He pops back up fairly quickly, though, and they clinch against the fence. They scramble at the end of the round, Sanchez throws a kick – but Ellenberger lands a giant right as the round ends. That knockdown was big for Ellenberger. He gets the round 10-9 on the HeavyMMA card.

Round 2: Slow action for the first minute, both guys feeling things out. High kicks from each are checked. Spinning back fist from Sanchez misses. Ellenberger with some nice counter strikes. Both guys hit with inside lefts. Then another from Sanchez. Uppercut from Ellenberger just misses. With 90 seconds left, we’ll see if the last part of this round has a ton of action the way the last part of Round 1 did. And with 1:10 left, Ellenberger shoots and gets a beautiful takedown. Sanchez falls back into guard, and Ellenberger starts to look for ground-and-pound. Sanchez very active from the bottom, staying defensive and looking for possible submissions. But Ellenberger lands ttwo giant elbows and two big right hands. He gets another 10-9 round on the Heavy card, and Ellenberger should be up 20-18 going to the final round.

Round 3: Traded punches and kicks for the first minute, but nothing major. But an Ellenberger right loosens his legs. But Sanchez keeps coming forward. He lands some good shots and Ellenberger’s back hits the fence. He has to shoot for a takedown, and it’s not there. But Sanchez may have showed he’s not calling it quits yet. Ellenberger is cut, and then a nice left hand from Sanchez lands. Sanchez has the momentum now, and with 1:40 left, we could still have a fight. But just as those words are typed, Ellenberger shoots in and gets a nice takedown. Sanchez gets back to his feet, and Ellenberger manages to somehow give his back. Sanchez is delivering some good shots. Ellenberger is covering up and defending as best he can. But Sanchez has him mounted. He’ll try for a choke, but it’s not there. And Ellenberger is getting dominated here in the last minute. Ellenberger will survive the round. It’s Sanchez’s round, 10-9, but it’s Ellenberger’s fight, 29-28, on the Heavy card.

Result: Jake Ellenberger def. Diego Sanchez, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

 

 

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