Tonight, UFC gives back to our country’s armed services with “UFC Fight Night 23: UFC Fights for the Troops 2” live from Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. As Will and myself discussed on this week’s “MMA 24/7” Radio Show, tonight’s event is a fundraiser for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, providing support for families of U.S. military personnel lost in service to our nation, severely wounded military personnel and veterans returning home.
Please feel free to contribute this evening at FightForTheTroops.com.
Follow along with Inside Fights’ round by round updates and official results beginning at 9 PM ET for the main card. Be sure to tune to UFC’s official Facebook page for a four fight preliminary card that begins streaming FREE at 7 PM ET here: http://Facebook.com/UFC .
UFC Fight Night 23: UFC Fights for the Troops 2 Live Results and Play by Play “after the jump”
UFC Main Card Live Results (Live on Spike TV)
The show opens with a great piece on the history of the Intrepid Fallen Soldiers Fund.
Interview with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who says we all need to help them these brave men and women for all they do for us. Hear, hear.
Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Round 1
Both fighters stalk one another, pacing back and forth during the announcements. Wiman refuses a touch of gloves and opts to head fake instead. Two big outside leg kicks from Wiman. Big combos early on from both fighters. Thai clinch from Miller is broken and Wiman charges back across the cage with flurries. Miller checks to leg kicks, but Matt counters with two punches into a leg kick. Tied up against the cage with Wiman in control, Wiman releases and they’re toe to toe in the center of the Octagon. Cole Miller tries for a knee, but Wiman catches. Miller tries to hop up and pull guard, but Wiman shoves him off and rains down blows. Cole controls the leg of Wiman, who drops into half guard and lands hammerfists. Cole tries sweep, but Wiman backs out of the open guard and hits big hooks, even tossing in a sledge hammer. The round ends with Wiman in control.
Wiman 10-9
Round 2
Early takedown attempt that Wiman counters with a guillotine attempt. Both fighters separate. Cole throws a knee that Wiman catches and tosses Miller onto his back. Miller works back to his feet. Wiman controlling Cole against the fence, as they release, Wiman lands a knee that sends Cole Miller stumbling backwards. Big shot from outside of the guard by Wiman. Matt Wiman again backs out of the guard and drops a huge punch. In Cole’s closed guard, Wiman pops free and begins raining Sakuraba style shots (two fist sledge hammer blows) and alternating hooks. Cole manages to get him back in tight, but Wiman gets a big elbow on the side of Cole’s head. More double sledges and punches lead to Cole on his right side, and he eats a big elbow to end the round.
Wiman 10-9
Round 3
Cole Miller is talking to Wiman as the round starts. Combination from Matt followed by a leg kick. Missed superman from Matt leads to him controlling Cole against the fence. Left hook, right hook combo leads to Miller dropping his head to escape the next flurry from Matt, only to have his head and neck taken instead. Matt mounts Cole from the move, but Cole recovers back to his side, but Matt stacks him and rains down long punches and more Sakuraba-type blows. Mark Coleman-type would work as well. Cole Miller tries to take Matt’s left leg, but Wiman puts all of his weight on it and then jerks it free. Miller doesn’t recover quickly enough and Wiman steps back on top of the stacked Cole, hitting more long punches. Wiman sits down into the closed guard and lands elbows and short punches as a prelude to something bigger. Wiman gets free, lands two punches, steps back and kicks Miller’s leg. Wiman cartwheels over the top and tries to land a superman punch. Miller rolls over to avoid more punches or get a sub, giving Wiman a chance at his back. Wiman takes it, but can’t get the neck. Miller tries to roll out of Wiman’s hooks, but Matt gets up and rains blows to end the fight.
Wiman 10-9
Winner: Matt Wiman by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Joe Rogan interviews Vitor Belfort about his upcoming fight with UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Not sure who you’re calling, but it’s going to be exciting either way.
Pat Barry vs. Joey Beltran
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Round 1
Lots of circling for the first 45 seconds before both men engage simultaneously. Barry gets Beltran against the cage and is quickly reversed. Big body punch from Beltran. Beltran takes a single leg, but Barry gets underhooks and ends up free. The ref separates both men after the fighters appear at a stalemate. Leg kick from Barry. Beltran comes forward with 4 punches that miss. Leg kick from Barry. Left high kick from Barry just misses. Beltran comes at Barry with punches to the body and presses him against the cage. Both fighters with dirty boxing against the wall. Accidental left knee to the groin on Barry (the second such strike) leads to a quick break for the fighters. Barry is glaring at Beltran. Barry is obviously very annoyed with the strikes thus far, and is probably frustrated with the state of the fight in general, but the round ends with Barry looking at Beltran and wanting to unload.
Beltran 10-9
Round 2
Inside leg kick spins Beltran. Right head kick hits the top of Beltran’s head and rattles the cage a bit. Beltran comes forward with punches but Barry counters with another high kick that is blocked. Outside leg kicks are landing solidly for Barry, you can see Beltran hopping on that left leg a bit. Beltran comes forward with hooks and gets Barry against the cage. Barry ends up down to a knee after a takedown from Beltran. Pat Barry is back up right away and is getting foot stomped before Mario Yamasaki stands them up. High head kick from Barry is blocked, Beltran comes forward to counter. Beltran eats a leg kick into a quick left high kick. Beltran is barely standing and Beltran eats another leg kick. Barry with another leg kick. Uppercut from Barry as Beltran comes in. Right body kick from Barry lands. Good striking combo with the hands from Beltran, as Barry has let him off the hook. “The Mexi-cutioner” finishes strong with several knees to Barry’s body as the round ends. Barry looks incredulous that Beltran won’t slap five after the round ends.
Barry 10-9
Round 3
Pat Barry with a high head kick that partially lands. Beltran misses a cross and Barry hits another head kick. Body kick on the left size from Barry. Big head kick misses from Barry. Beltran throws leather at the body. Leg kick from Barry. Beltran backs Barry to the cage and hits two big punches to the body. Beltran backs out and tees off on Pat Barry before stepping back in and hitting him. Knees to the thighs from Joey Beltran and he’s dirty boxing on Pat Barry, finally bloodying up the face of Barry. High Kick from Barry, but Beltran pushes him back again. Barry gets free when the ref separates again. Barry pushes for space and accidentally pokes Beltran and levels a leg kick. On the restart, two quick leg kicks end up with Beltran on the deck with Barry mounting him and hammering away on the injured leg. Beltran tries to tie him up but Barry gets out and makes Beltran stand up. Beltran comes forward to box, leaving the leg exposed for three more big leg kicks to end the round. As the fight ends, Beltran collapses to the mat.
Barry 10-9
Winner: Pat Barry by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Post-fight, Pat Barry begins talking about his father, who served the United States and passed away 25 years ago. He’s very emotional about being able to give his time to the troops. About his opponent: “I kicked him in his face 300 times…that dude is a monster man.”
Don’t forget to contribute this evening at FightForTheTroops.com, these brave men and women need our support and help when they come home from combat.
Mark Hominick vs. George Roop
Referee: Don Turnage
Round 1
If Hominick wins tonight, it is NO small secret that he will get the first title shot at Jose Aldo’s UFC Featherweight title. George Roop is a “whirling dervish” to open the fight, but after 5-6 kicks that don’t do much, Hominick begins to time his punches and is connecting with big shots. Big left hook drops Roop to the floor. Hominick is standing over him and levels another big left hand that gets a stoppage from the referee. George Roop was out on his feet, as when he stands up to complain about a fast stoppage, he literally falls into Mark Hominick’s arms. Good thing they were former teammates.
Winner: Mark Hominick by TKO (R1, punches, 1:28)
Joe Rogan interviews UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva about his preparation and the challenges that Vitor Belfort presents. This might be the first time that Anderson Silva is facing an “elite-level striker” and will be well worth the PPV purchase (it’s 2/5 if you didn’t know already!)
Tim Hague vs. Matt Mitrione
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Round 1
Inside leg kick from Matt. Counter leg kick from Hague. Inside leg kick from Mitrione. High kick misses from Hague, followed by a leg kick. Mitrione has his leg kick caught and is walked to the cage by Hague. Mitrione switches positions, lands a shot to the head of Hague before releasing and stepping back. Inside leg kick from Matt. Leg kick from Hague. Left high kick misses as Hague ducks under. Matt Mitrione lands a crisp left hand that drops Hague to the mat. Mitrione whiffs on the big shot from above, but Hague turtles up. Mitrione drops elbows and punches on his downed opponent and referee Dan Miragliotta steps in to stop the fight.
Winner: Matt Mitrione by TKO (R1, punches, 2:59)
Evan Dunham vs. Melvin Guillard
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Round 1
Body kick from Dunham. Big right lands from Guillard and Dunham goes down. Dunham gets up and gets the takedown on Guillard after a struggle, but Melvin ends up back on his feet. Combination from Melvin connects. Front kick from Guillard. Body kick from Dunham lands on Guillard as he jumps in the air. Both fighters miss on hooks. Two big punches from Melvin rock Evan who grabs the leg to protect himself. Guillard counters with an uppercut and a big knee to the skull. Dunham looks out on his feet and is leaning heavily on the cage. Guillard is too strong and lands another big knee as Evan Dunham is heading to the mat. Mario Yamasaki begins to step in to stop the bout, but not before Dunham eats another illegal knee, as Dunham was a ‘grounded opponent’. Either way, the bout is over and Guillard wins.
Winner: Melvin Guillard by TKO (R1, strikes, 2:58)
Post-fight, Joe Rogan calls tonight Melvin’s “best overall performance” for the fighter. Guillard wants a title shot. It’s gonna be a while, eh?
That’s it for tonight’s coverage of UFC Fight Night 23: UFC Fights for the Troops 2. Great night of fights with three straight stoppages (Guillard, Mitrione, Hominick) to end the show. Heck, the Barry-Beltran fight was awesome as well. For a free show, this was stacked, but this was about more than that. Get out to FightfortheTroops.com and donate whatever you can. Take care of the American men and women who have sacrificed so much for their country and need our help right now.
Preliminary Results
Chris Cariaso beat Will Campuzano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Charlie Brenneman defeated Amilcar Alves via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Waylon Lowe over Willamy Freire via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Rani Yahya defeated Mike Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
DaMarques Johnson submitted Mike Guymon (R1, verbal submission/injury from body triangle, 3:22)
Yves Edwards beat Cody McKenzie (R1, rear naked choke, 4:33)
