UFC 122 (Somewhat) Live Blog
Without giving away too much of tonight’s tape-delayed UFC 122 decisionfest show that went down in Germany today, we will tell you that the guaranteed slugfest between Jorge Rivera and Alessio Sakara got yanked from the main card of the event due to Sakara pulling out of the bout today because of illness.
We’ll be “live” tonight at 9:00 pm ET to give those of you who don’t have cable, who are too cheap to go to a bar or who think we’re really your friends and want to hang out on a Saturday night a rundown of the action via the Spike TV re-broadcast.
Check out the preliminary card results and main card play-by-play after the jump:
PRELIMINARY CARD
Vladimir Matyushenko def. Alexandre “Cacareco” Ferreira via TKO (strikes) – 2:20 R1
Pascal Krauss def. Mark Scanlon via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Kyle Noke def. Rob Kimmons via submission (rear-naked choke) – 1:33 R2
Karlos Vemola def. Seth Petruzelli via TKO (strikes) – 3:46 R1
Carlos Eduardo Rocha def. Kris McCray via submission (kneebar) – 2:21 R1
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MAIN CARD
Duane Ludwig vs. Nick Osipczak
Round 1
Osipczak is attacking the legs while Ludwig seems to be waiting to land that right hand. Both fighters exchange a pair of leg kicks, and both wade in with ineffective punches. Ludwig lands with a right head kick and clinches, pinning Osipczak into the cage. Osipczak reverses, knees to the body of Ludwig and tries for a single. Ludwig lands another head kick and follows up with a knee to the body, but Osipczak recovers. Ludwig really wants a head-kick KO, as he brushes Osipczak crown with a left high kick. Osipczak drops Ludwig with a left, and again with a right, as “Bang” recovers. He pounces to full mount, and punishes Ludwig with elbows before moving to side control. Ludwig capitalizes and gets back to his feet before getting tripped to his back again. Blood is pouring from Ludwig’s right eye, and he is moving his hips to try to neutralize Osipczak in his guard, but he can’t stop the barrage of elbows from connecting with his head. Round one 10-9 Osipczak
Round 2
Osipczak starts out the round the same as he did the first with leg kicks. Ludwig is throwing out the lazy jab, trying to set something up. Chants of “USA…. USA” cheapen the fight. Ludwig decides to throw some leg kicks to fool Osipczak into thinking he’s not going to throw more head-kicks this round. Osipczak now is the aggressor, and seems to be landing cleaner shots. Ludwig continues to move forward, as he grabs Osipczak in a thai clinch, and spins him into the cage, but his much taller opponent stands up out of the hold and makes space. Osipczak’s movement is keeping him out of danger as Ludwig continues to move forward. Ludwig is flat footed, and seems to be waiting for the opportunity to knock Osipczak out, but it doesn’t come, as Osipczak takes him down yet again. Ludwig working in his half guard with shin on belly, trying to sweep, but is thwarted by the cage. The referee stands them up with 20 seconds as Osipczak fails to improve his position on the ground, and with 8 seconds left, Bang drives him into the cage, but fails to get the takedown he’s after. Round two 10-9 Osipczak
Round 3
Ludwig knows he’s behind in the score cards, and comes forward with a combination that doesn’t land. He tries again for a takedown, but Osipczak defends and backs up out of danger. Osipczak seems more in defensive mode at this point than offensive mode, perhaps realizing he’s ahead, and just needs to get through the round. Now it’s looking like he’s just tired, as he’s breathing heavy and dropping his hands as he slowly backs away from Ludwig. Ludwig capitalizes and begins to punish Osipczak with knees to the body, and Osipczak can barely keep his hands up, he’s so exhausted. Ludwig connects with a knee to the face, and Osipczak stumbles away with a minute and a half left. Ludwig continues to pound away with knees to the body, and lands at will with combinations. Osipczak finally throws a kick, but then fades away back into the cage, as Ludwig moves forward. This is looking more like a sparring session than a fight. Ludwig dumps Osipczak on his back seconds after the bell, frustrated that he couldn’t finish his opponent. Round three, 10-9 Ludwig.
Duane Ludwig def. Nick Osipczak by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-30)
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Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Goran Reljic
Round 1
Soszynski comes out and attacks Reljic’s legs off the bat. Both men seem to be unwilling to commit, as they dance around the outside. Both fighters take turns moving forward, but their punches end up glancing off their opponent’s chest. Relijic stuns Soszynski, but the Canadian recovers. Relijic is cut but it doesn’t stop him from dropping his head and swinging for the fences. Soszynski snaps his head back with a straight left, but the Croatian recovers and pins Krzysztof into the fence. Soszynski holds on with double underhooks and a Gable grip for a few seconds, prompting the referee to call a break. Relijic has had enough of this song and dance, and drives Soszynski into the mat. Soszynski is content to go for the kimura –his go-to move. Relijic defends and punishes Soszynski’s hip with elbows for the effort. Round one 10-9 Relijic
Round 2
Soszynski comes out swinging, but Relijic isn’t having any of it, opting to take “The Polish Experiment” to the ground instead. Once on his back, Soszynski goes to work trying to secure that kimura again. Relijic defends the hold and pushes Soszynski into the cage, but can do little more than sit in his guard, prompting a stand-up by the referee. Relijic pushes him back into the cage, but can’t lock in underhooks to control Soszynski, as they jockey for position. Both fighters seem somewhat tired as the speed of the fight slows to a crawl. Relijic half-heartedly tries a takedown, as Soszynski turns him into the cage and punishes his thighs with knees. Another break. Relijic tries a head-kick but is blocked, and a takedown, which is also blocked. They end the round looking like they’re playing a spirited game of Dance Dance Revolution, going knee for knee to each other’s legs. Round two 10-9 Soszynski.
Round 3
Both men are breathing heavy as the third frame begins, but that doesn’t stop them from winging punches at each other. Soszynski catches Relijic on the top of the head, but it seems like it’s more of a slip. Soszynski is definitely getting the better of these exchanges now, and he succesfully defends the double-leg, pinning Relijic in the fetal position on his belly and punishing him with short punches as he takes his back. Relijic rolls for a kneebar, but Soszynski recognizes it and continues to land shots to Relijic’s face. He is warned by the referee not to punch behind the ear, and Relijic again rolls for a kneebar, which again is unsuccessful. Soszynski stands, giving up halfguard, and lands with a pair of heavy shots. Relijic gets back to his feet, but is soon stunned by a short right, which prompts him to clinch after an unsuccessful double-leg attempt. Soszynski is trying for a standing kimura, but Relijic locks his hands together to avoid the submission. Soszynski is able to tweak the arm after pulling it away, but Relijic slips out. Not sure if it’s a slip or if Relijic was trying to pull guard, but it costs him dearly as he takes a pair of heavy shots to the face, and a handful of elbows and punches to close the round, with hammer fists and chin checks that seem to flash KO him at the bell. Round three 10-9 Soszynski
Krzysztof Soszynski def. Goran Reljic by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Amir Sadollah vs. Peter Sobotta
Round 1
Sobotta connects first, but Sadollah’s hands are always up, and he shrugs off the ineffective punches. Sobotta clinches and turns Amir into the cage. Sadollah turns out and narrowly avoids a huge right hook. He takes Sobotta into the cage and works with one underhook, punishing Sobotta’s thighs with knees. The German turns away, and throws a combo that Amir swats away. Sadollah keeps moving forward and is bouncing on his toes, and lands with a left-right. Sadollah throws a high left kick that wiffs air, and Sobotta capitalizes, taking his back, but can’t do much with it, as Amir immediately takes wrist control and lowers his weight. Turning out of trouble, Amir tries for the plumb, but Sobotta turns and attempts a whizzer. He relinquishes the hold and tries for a takedown. They spend the final 40 seconds of the round agains the side of the cage. Round one 10-9 Sadollah
Round 2
Sadollah is showing better movement, and feints as the round opens. Sobotta is dropping his hands, and pays for the mistake with a left to the temple. Spinning back kick brushes Sadollah’s hip and he follows up with a head-kick that Sobotta blocks. Sobotta is countering well, but seems to be fading as the round goes on. Amir leads with a kick and connects with a right. Sobotta seems to be backing up more than pressing forward, and Amir has switched to attack mode. A teep lands on Amir’s solar plexus, but does little to slow Sadollah down. Sobotta is breathing with an open mouth, and Amir continues with hands up, to press forward. Sadollah lands with a front kick with his own, and follows up with a pair of leg kicks, that Sobotta returns in kind. Sobotta tries to get to fancy with another spinning back-kick, and Amir drops him to his back before stepping back and allowing his opponent up. Amir continues the barrage of punches, and Sobotta seems content on his heels, attempting to counter. A pair of front kicks to the chest knock Sobotta back, and Sadollah lands a stiff knee to the shoulder as the round ends. Round two, 10-9 Sadollah
Round 3
Sadollah is feinting and landing with front and leg kicks. Sobotta seems like he’s gotten his second wind, but Amir keeps beating him to the punch. Sobotta doubles up on the right, but Amir doesn’t seem affected, as he continues to pour it on. Sobotta says “f**k this,” and grabs a leg, bearing his head into Amir’s chest to avoid any power shots. Sobotta finally connects with a strong left, but Amir shakes it off and continues to press forward, mixing up his shots with low and high kicks, and combinations. Sobotta’s hands are at his waist now, and his mouth is wide open. Less than a minute and a half on the clock, and he throws another spinning back-kick that Amir turns aside. Amir has controlled the bout from start to finish, and unless Sobotta does something drastic, he is en route to a unanimous decision win. Sobotta’s whole game is based around counters, which isn’t great when you’re fighting a guy who attacks from all angles, and has solid head movement, like Sadollah. The fight ends with both fighters raising their hands. Round three 10-9 Sadollah
Amir Sadollah def. Peter Sobotta by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
———-
Dennis Siver vs. Andre Winner
Round 1
Both men swing and miss, but Siver follows up with a left kick to the body. He’s dropping his hands when he throws that kick, and he checks Winner’s chin, as the Brit throw a leg kick. Winner is counter-punching, connecting with every other shot. Both fighters connect with head shots, but Siver has had enough and tries for a single-leg. Winner defends. Siver continues to throw leg kicks, dropping his fists each time he does. Winner is swinging for the fences now. He wants a knockout. Winner connects with a body kick, and Siver glances a left hook off Winner’s temple. Winner’s head movement is good, helping him avoid the power shots of Siver, that are coming rapidly. Siver keeps planting his feet, and unleashing. He drops Winner, and the Brit rolls to avoid follow-up shots on the ground. Siver takes his back and works for a choke, and eventually gets the tap with a neck crank-guillotine choke, which Joe Rogan calls a Severn choke.
Dennis Siver def. Andre Winner by tapout due to choke at 3:37 R1
———-
Alessio Sakara vs. Jorge Rivera
*Sakara has been forced off the card due to illness. The bout has been removed from the card.
———-
Nate Marquardt vs. Yushin Okami
Round 1
Touch of the gloves, and both fighters are circling to their right. Surprisingly, Marquardt is backing away from Okami. Okami shoots, Marquardt stuffs and attempts a guillotine, with Okami on his back. The Japanese fighter uses butterfly guard and a left underhook to keep Marquardt from doing any damage, but can’t sweep. Marquardt passes to half guard, but Okami holds him down to avoid any ground and pound. Marquardt misses with an elbow and drops down into a guillotine that Okami pops out of and now Okami is in Marquardt half guard. Marquardt is trying to use his own butterfly guard to sweep, as Okami tries to pass. Marquardt is holding Okami down, and rolls for a kneebar, as both men scramble to their feet. Okami continues to press forward and Marquardt seems to just be waiting for whatever Yushin does next. Okami connects with a left hand, and then pins Marquardt up against the cage, tying up his leg. Marquardt lands a knee to Okami’s abdomen, and Okami catches him off-balance, and tosses him once again to the canvas as the horn sounds to end the frame. 10-9 Okami
Round 2
Surprising that Okami seems so much bigger than Marquardt, and that Marquardt seems tired after only one round, but again he’s in defensive mode. Okami catches him on the chin with a left and Marquardt shakes it off. Okami shoots, Marquardt defends, sprawling, and Okami bullies him into the cage wall. Okami hooks a leg with an underhook and an overhook, but Marquardt is able to push him on his back against the fence. Okami is wall walking and Marquardt is content to hold him. Okami gets back nearly to his feet, and is dumped on his head by Marquardt before he pops back up. Okami is definitely the aggressor again as he forces Marquardt back into the fence and tries for a single. Marquardt is trying for a switch, but Okami traps his arm with an overhook-underhook combo, and again tries for a takedown. Marquardt is cranking the shoulder of Okami, and softens him up with an elbow to the collarbone. Yushin really wants that single leg, but eventually lets go, and stands back up ready to trade. Okami lands with a left-right, and Marquardt connects with a big right as Okami tries for a flying knee. The round ends as Marquardt connects with a shot to the temple. 10-9 Marquardt
Round 3
Neither man wants to commit, knowing that the fight is dead even. Okami throws the first shot and misses at the 30 second mark. Marquardt throws a handful of jabs that also miss, and at the one minute mark, no one has landed yet in this round. Marquardt cheek is bleeding from a glancing shot. Okami is landing at will now, left right, right left. Marquardt seems gun shy, and Okami lands again with a right-left that forces Marquardt back into the fence. A short left snaps Marquardt’s head back, and a second later a right cross does the same. Marquardt is feinting, waiting for an opening to land the big shot, but Okami keeps pressing forward. Okami is like the Japanese zombie that was depicted in the mock poster the UFC put out. Marquardt finally gets the takedown, but can do more than pin Okami down momentarily, as “Thunder” pops back up to his feet again. Marquardt’s breathing heavy, and Okami continues to have him on the defensive. Marquardt lands with a knee to the body and latches on with an underhook, overhook, and lands the best shot of the round after the buzzer. 10-9 Okami
Yushin Okami def. Nate Marquardt by unanimous decision (29-28. 30-27, 29-28)