A great night of action in a stacked Fight Night card, featuring Kenny Florian vs. Joe Lauzon in the main event. Also featured are Nate Diaz, Matt Hamill, and Karo Parisyan.
Houston Alexander vs. James Irvin (Light Heavyweight)
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Two big bangers here. They touch gloves and just as quickly Alexander’s back touches the canvas. Irvin nailed him with an opening Superman punch. Irvin followed with a clean right hand while Alexander was down and the ref stops it.
Winner – James Irvin by TKO at 0:08 of the first round.
Nate Diaz vs. Kurt Pellegrino (Lightweight)
Referee: Herb Dean
Pellegrino opens with a takedown and gets Nate’s back. Nate gets to his feet but Kurt trips him back down. Kurt tries to work a choke but Diaz is too slick on the ground for that. At least this early in the fight. Pellegrino gets on top but Diaz gets full guard. Pellegrino gets into side control and has both of Nate’s arms tied up. Kurt rains punches to an unprotected face of Nate Diaz and creates a cut. About eight unanswered punches land before Nate finally is able to protect himself. Nate finally gets to his feet and has Kurt pressed up against the cage. Diaz lands some jabs and has Pellegrino up against the cage as the first round comes to an end.
They attempt a standup fight at the start of the second round but nothing really happens. Pellegrino with the takedown. Diaz goes for a kimura and the crowd responds. Pellegrino waves off the crowd as he pulls out of the kimura. To their feet and Kurt has Diaz from behind and Diaz scores a trip takedown. Back up and Pellegrino picks Diaz up and slams him down. Diaz traps him in a triangle choke and immediately starts celebrating. While Pellegrino tries to fight out of the triangle, Diaz is flipping him off and flexing his muscles. Great stuff. Pellegrino taps seconds later.
Winner – Nate Diaz by submission (triangle choke) at 3:06 of the second round.
Matt Hamill vs. Mark Boetsch (Light Heavyweight)
Referee: Adam Martinez
They swing into a clinch to start and Hamill scores a double leg takedown. Hamill is in side control but moves into mount as Boetsch secures half guard. Little action on the ground so the referee stands them up. They trade kicks and wind up in the clinch again. Boetsch is throwing heavy shots but has yet to land any of them. He does, however, land a knee to Hamill’s chin. They circle the cage as blood comes from Hamill’s mouth. Another knee from Boetsch connects. Hamill responds with a nice punch combo. The round ends with blood all over Hamill’s chest.
The intermission shows the cut from Hamill is on his bottom lip. Kinda gross. Hamill slips during an exchange but gets back to his feet as they trade shots. Boetsch is taken down and Hamill lands punches. And more punches. And then more punches. Hamill in full mount now and continues to land punches. The ref finally stops the punishment.
Winner – Matt Hamill by TKO at 1:25 of the second round.
Thiago Alves vs. Karo Parisyan (Welterweight)
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Karo gets a clinch into a takedown to start. Good for him as Karo doesn’t want to strike with Thiago. Alves gets up after a brief spell on the mat. They separate from the clinch. Karo with some kicks. A jab lands for Karo. Parisyan is far more active in the standup game so far. Karo gets a clinch and forces Alves up against the cage. Alves pushes Karo off and connects on a few shots. Alves with a nice knee-punch combination. Alves goes for a sweep but fails. Karo jumps on him but the round comes to an end.
Inisde leg kick opens the second round for Alves. Followed by a punch and then a knee. The knee puts Karo down. A few more punches land and the ref stops it. Karo is pissed. Big time pissed. That’s two controversial stoppages for Steve Mazzagatti in one night.
Winner – Thiago Alves by TKO at 0:34 of the second round.
Tommy Speer vs. Anthony Johnson (Welterweight)
Referee: Tim Mills
This fight was a part of the untelevised undercard. Speer was a finalist in last season’s Ultimate Fighter. Johnson doesn’t seem to care about those credentials. Johnson lands an inside leg kick and then a straight right. Speer shoots but is stuffed. Johnson lands a knee and Speer is wobbling around the cage trying to get away from Johnson. Johnson finishes Speer with one more shot that leaves Speer motionless against the cage.
Winner – Anthony Johnson by TKO at 0:51 of the first round.
Gray Maynard vs. Frank Edgar (Lightweight)
Referee: Adam Martinez
This is a matchup of two outstanding wrestlers in the lightweight division. Gray misses a punch and Edgar shoots in. Maynard stuffs it and they are back on their feet. They are circling the cage in a feelout process. Edgar lands a nice combo and Maynard is cut over his right eye. Maynard scores a takedown. To their feet but Maynard won’t let go of the body lock. Edgar tries to elbow Maynard but is taken back down. A scramble leads to both men getting back on their feet. Stiff jab from Maynard closes the first round.
Maynard opens the second by landing a left. Maynard fakes a shoot attempt and lands a left hook. Frankie fights out of a clinch against the cage. Another good combination from Edgar. Both seem to respect the other man’s wrestling and are trying to outstrike the other. Maynard charges in and Edgar hiptosses Maynard down. Right back up for Maynard and he lands a nice combo. Maynard goes for a takedown and Edgar catches a guillotine. They go down and Edgar turns his attention to a kimura. Time runs out in the second round.
A right from Maynard begins the third round and Edgar lands a nice counter. A clinch leads to a scramble on the ground which goes back to a clinch against the cage. Back to the center of the cage. Maynard bullies Edgar to the cage and Maynard trips Edgar down. Edgar gets back up but Maynard slams Edgar down this time. Back to his feet goes Edgar and Maynard slams him back down. Maynard gets his back and tries to hook his feet in. Edgar up and lands three good punches to create some distance. Maynard pushes Edgar back and is able to grab him for another slam. Maynard is stuffing Edgar against the cage, not allowing him up to do any damage or make any kind of comeback. The round ends and we go to the judges.
Winner – Gray Maynard by unanimous decision.
Kenny Florian vs. Joe Lauzon (Lightweight)
Referee: Herb Dean
Maybe a battle of the two worst nicknames in MMA. Florian should have been “Ginsu” after leaving TUF. I believe “J-Lo” is already taken and doesn’t translate into MMA very well. Lauzon presses the action early. Florian with a leg kick and Lauzon with a takedown. Lauzon on top and Florian rains down elbows. Lauzon is cut but Dean stands them up, warning against elbows to the back of the head. Florian points out the cut on the top of the head but other elbows did land to the back of the head. More solid action during the standup but Lauzon takes it back down to the mat. Crazy frenetic pace from these two. Lauzon goes for a kneebar into a heel hook. The heel hook was tight but Kenny not only escaped but is back to his feet. Both men are exhausted as they rest in a clinch against the cage. Florian gets a takedown but Lauzon winds up on top. Lauzon back to the heel hook but Florian escapes and lands hammerfists as the first round ends. Awesome action from both guys.
Kenny Florian gets a takedown early in the second. Full mount from Florian and Lauzon is in trouble. Punches come down from Florian. Lauzon defends well but can’t buck Florian off. Now elbows from Florian. Lauzon almost escapes but Florian gets side control. More punches but Lauzon is hanging in there. Back to full mount and Florian has got to be tired. Florian is throwing punch after punch, not very many connecting, but trying to get the ref to stop it. Lauzon can’t get Florian off of him and this sequence is going nowhere, with Florian continuously landing shots. Dean finally stops it.
Winner – Kenny Florian by TKO at 3:28 of the second round.
Undercard Results
– Josh Neer defeated Din Thomas by unanimous decision.
– Marcus Aurelio defeated Ryan Roberts by armbar in the first round.
– Manvel Gamburyan defeated Jeff Cox by guillotine choke in the first round.
– Clay Guida defeated Samy Schiavo by TKO in the first round.
– George Sotiropoulos defeated Roman Mitichyan by TKO in the second round.
– Anthony Johnson defeated Tommy Speer by TKO in the first round.
