Tonight, Inside Fights will be broadcasting live results and play by play from UFC 124: Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck from Bell Centre in Montreal. The crowd at Montreal’s Bell Centre is expected to set a new record for biggest attendance at a North American event and this season as opposing coaches on the twelfth edition of “The Ultimate Fighter,” we, as fans, were given a glimpse into the dynamic that exists between Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck. Tonight, we’ll see these two go head-to-head for GSP’s UFC Welterweight title.
Also on the card tonight, Stefan Struve vs. Sean McCorkle, Thiago Alves vs. John Howard, Jim Miller vs. Charles Oliveira, and a battle between season 2 and season 6 winners of The Ultimate Fighter, Joe Stevenson and Mac Danzig.
Stay tuned to Inside Fights for live coverage of all the night’s action.
Follow along with our round-by-round coverage and official results beginning at approximately 10 PM ET for the main card.
MAIN CARD (Live on PPV)
Thiago Alves vs. John Howard
Referee: Yves Lavigne
Round 1
Right connects for Alves. Both men swinging early, but Howard tries a takedown that is stuff. Lock up against the cage and Thiago hiptosses Howard to the mat. In half guard, Alves looks to pass, working short left fists. Howard flips him off of him and scrambles for a leg lock, which Thiago escapes. Both men back on their feet now. Big exchanges from both men. Big left from Thiago leads into a muay thai clinch against the cage. Big knees from Thiago to the head of Howard. Body kick partially caught by Howard, but he lets it go. Howard grabs the clinch and presses Thiago to the cage, but Thiago slips free. Both men swinging free, but Alves is getting the best of Howard with counter lefts and leg kicks.
Alves 10-9
Round 2
Inside leg kick from Alves. Another kick from Alves to the back leg. Right counter, outside leg kick from Howard after they restart. Apparently, Howard can take a grazing kick to the cup. Right leg kick from Howard. High kick from Thiago is blocked. Howard steps in and Thiago gets a big takedown on Howard with just over two minutes remaining in the round. John Howard gets Thiago back into his full guard, but Alves unloads long hammerfists. Elbows and fists from the guard by Alves get him the round.
Alves 10-9
Round 3
Alves starts with another leg kick. Right from Alves connects, followed by a leg kick that is partially caught by Howard. Howard shoots for a takedown and gets him against the cage before Alves works free. Outside body kick from Alves lands. Outside leg kick from Howard lands on Thiago. Big right from Thiago drops Howard, but Howard gets right back up. Superman punch from Alves misses, Howard tries two quick hooks to counter. Alves is defending well and nothing lands. Jab lands from Howard. Big series of strikes from Alves. His ability to link punches has been great. Both fighters miss headkicks in succession. Outside-inside kicks from Alves land. Big combos as we draw close, Howard eats a big knee from Thiago and Howard charges with hooks to end the fight.
Alves 10-9
Winner: Thiago Alves by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Mac Danzig vs. Joe Stevenson
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Round 1
It’s Joe Stevenson’s son’s 10th birthday, so he has a sticker on his banner. Neat. Teep kick from Danzig to start catches Joe in the neck. Big right over the top from Joe just misses. Left hook from Stevenson misses. Outside leg kick from Mac connects. Joe connects over the top with a right that staggers Mac a bit. Stevenson steps into left hook from Danzig as Mac moves backwards. Joe hits the mat out cold, Mac dives in for two quick hammerfists before Dan Miragliotta stops it.
Winner: Mac Danzig (R1, 1:54, knockout)
Jim Miller vs. Charles Oliveira
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Round 1
Head kick from Oliveira. Oliveira comes for a single leg, but Miller stuffs it. Miller throws a punch and shoots for the takedown. He gets it and Oliveira is on his back. Charles is controlling Miller’s left arm and segues from trying for a triangle to an arm bar. Oliveira attacks a leg and Miller gets down to the mat, but Oliveira gets caught in a deep knee bar by Miller. He tries to punch free from Miller instead of kicking free and Oliveira taps.
Winner: Jim Miller by submission (R1, 1:59, kneebar)
PPV shows us coverage of the Matt Riddle vs. Sean Pierson fight. Google the results, I can’t write up something that I know the finish of. :P Needless to say, it goes [SPOILER] three rounds.
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Sean Pierson defeats Matt Riddle via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Montreal crowd really ate up the action. I didn’t blog it because I wanted to eat up the pizza we ordered. Ha.
Sean McCorkle vs. Stefan Struve
Referee: Yves Lavigne
Round 1
Big right lands from Struve, but McCorkle gets a big scoop for a takedown. Struve has McCorkle’s neck, but McCorkle has the kimura. Struve walks back to the cage to prevent the submission finish. Eventually, he rolls free. Against the cage, Struve goes for the armbar, but Sean stacks him and avoids. McCorkle in Struve’s full guard, Stefan goes for a kimura and uses it to flip him over. Struve in the mount and banging away on McCorkle. McCorkle is blocking the shots, but he tries to shrimp up. Struve holds the position and pounds out the stoppage.
Winner: Stefan Struve by TKO (R1, 3:55, punches)
Mark Bocek vs. Dustin Hazelett was up next from the prelims. The fight was featured on UFC.com’s coverage before the main card aired on PPV and features a great fight. I, however, need a Pepsi.
Winner: Mark Bocek by submission (R1, 2:33, triangle choke)
UFC Welterweight Championship
Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. Josh Koscheck
Referee: Herb Dean
Round 1
While Herb Dean offers instruction, no glove touch from Koscheck, who backs away. GSP jabs away early, but shoots for an early takedown. Kos wall walks back to his feet. Big “ole, ole” kicks. GSP is tearing through Koscheck with lefts already. Koscheck stuffs another major takedown and we’re back standing in the middle of the Octagon. Big right over the top misses from Josh. GSP tags Josh with a left and Kos sprawls another takedown, which is counter with a knee. Another stiff jab from St. Pierre, leads to a big right from GSP. Leg kick from Georges. Jab from GSP is counter by three jabs from Josh. Inside leg kick from Georges and Josh shoots for a takedown, pressing GSP against the fence. Koscheck hoists GSP into the air after fighting for a takedown for a minute, ending the round in full guard.
St. Pierre 10-9
Round 2
Koscheck’s face is a mess already. His right rye is almost closed already. GSP goes for the Superman on the side that Kos can’t see as well. Right over the top from Josh misses. Georges continues to land that jab at will with power. Big “eff you, Koscheck” chants breaking out. Georges is aiming for that right eye and is prepared to avoid Kos’ biggest punch. Georges lands Superman to the left eye and Kos misses his big right hand. Koscheck eats a kick that Georges slips away from. Big combos landing from GSP. Kos tries to reset but GSP comes at him kicks and another Superman. Koscheck lands his big combo, but it doesn’t move GSP. Switch kick blocked by Koscheck. GSP presses forward to end the second round before the horn sounds.
St. Pierre 10-9
Round 3
Jab into a big right hand from GSP. Head kick is blocked by Kos. Superman punch from GSP. Koscheck is being thrown off by GSP’s left. GSP shoots for a takedown, but Kos sprawls and is presses against the cage. Knees into the thighs from Georges. St. Pierre is just laying into Josh’s thighs with knees. The two men separate. After a few jabs from GSP, both men end up back on the fence. Inside leg kick from Georges lands clean. Right hook from GSP. Head kick from Kos misses. GSP with jabs and rights that continue to land.
St. Pierre 10-9
Round 4
Before the round starts, the “Santa Claus” of Montreal doctors comes to check that Koscheck can fight. He gives no indication of wanting to quit. This is the first time Koscheck has been into the championship rounds. Inside and outside leg kicks from GSP follow a Superman punch. GSP shoots for a takedown, but Kos gets back to his feet. Koscheck is taken to the mat again, but gets Georges’ knee. GSP explodes out the back and both men are back on their feet. GSP assumes control against the fence and knees Kos in the face. Herb Dean breaks it up after they fail to advance. Head kick from GSP is blocked. Leg kick from GSP, followed by a leg hook from St. Pierre. Left hook from Georges catches Koscheck on his nearly closed eye. Eight total punches and kicks from Georges are landing clean. Josh is barely surviving this fight, he isn’t pressing and probably cannot see GSP at all.
Round 5
St. Pierre is hooking away at that closed eye. Koscheck has to go for broke, but can he, especially since he appears to: a) not be able to see and b) might have busted up his foot too. Koscheck dives in with a punch and GSP is still tearing him up with the jab. Similar to Jose Aldo’s demolition of Urijah Faber via leg kicks, GSP has worked his jab efficiently. Koscheck eats a body punch from GSP and misses his big hook. GSP leads with the jab to the damaged eye and shoots for a takedown, but it’s stuffed by Josh. The cut under Kos’ swollen eye is bleeding now and Kos gets taken to the but Josh wall walks up. GSP takes him down again and Josh goes for a leg, but GSP lets him up and leans him against the fence. GSP presses and gets more punches in before the final horn sounds. Both fighters embrace after the fight ends.
Winner and STILL UFC Welterweight Champion: Georges St. Pierre by decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Alright everyone, that’s it for our live coverage of UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck 2. Great night of fights from the great city of Montreal. We’ll see you again on 12/16 for the WEC’s final event. Feel free to get on the phone to chat with us later tonight as the team discusses all the big fight action from this weekend!
Good night, everybody.
