UFC 138: Leben vs. Munoz Live Results and Play by Play

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Tonight, Inside Fights’ own Will Cooling is live at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England for UFC 138: Leben vs. Munoz. The show will air in the US on same-day delay on Spike TV at 8 PM ET, but airs live at 4 PM ET around the globe.

In the main event of the evening, Chris Leben will face Mark Munoz in the first non-title five round headliner in UFC history.

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning NOW!

Vaughan Lee vs Chris Cariaso

Round ONE

The home town fighter Lee is the aggressor at the start, looking good standing. Cariaso goes for a takedown and Lee successfully holds off the initial attempt. Lee seems to be working for a choke but Cariaso is able to get out. They’re battling for control in the clinch with Lee eventually emerging the stronger. Lee takes Cariaso down, and starts looking to work his ground and pound. Lee thinks about going for a submission but this gives Cariaso the space he needs to get back to his feet. Lee has in the clinch and is controlling him against the cage. They go to the ground with Lee once again on top. Cariaso is able to get back to his feet again. Lee goes for a choke but Cariaso pops his head out. In the center of the ring and they’re exchanging. Lee with a high kick. They grapple up against the cage again with lee once again getting the takedown. Lee has certainly shown the superior wrestling so far although Cariaso has been repeatedly able to get back up. This time is no exception. Grappling up against the cage again. Cariaso digging in some knees to the body forces Lee to separate. Cariaso ends with a high kick. Good round. 10-9 to Lee.

Round Two

They exchange leg kicks and then some nasty punches at the start of the round. Lee emerges the better of the exchange despite only getting a glancing blow with a spinning back kick. He follows up with another takedown, threatening again to secure a choke on Cariaso. Cariaso gets back up and starts landing with his short punches. Lee again goes in for the takedown although Cariaso is able to stop the initial attempt. They’re grappling up against the cage now. They separate and Cariaso is again pushing the action with his boxing. Lee throws a looping, overhand punch. Cariaso gets a takedown of his own. Cariaso is in half guard and transitions to full mount. Lee is in trouble but manages to get Cariaso back in half-guard momentarily. Cariaso is transitioning well on top but is not able to create the space to do any damage. Lee threatens to apply a triangle choke but Cariaso quickly regains control. Round ends with Cariaso getting connecting with some short elbows. 19-19

Round Three

Cariaso connects with a right hand that hurts Lee. Cariaso has clearly got the better of the stand up since the opener. Cariaso continuing to press with short punches, provoking Lee into a takedown attempt. Cariaso is able to defend, and they grind to a stalemate up against the cage. Cariaso goes for a takedown of his own but fails to get. Cariaso keeps the fight standing, connecting with some short uppercuts in the clinch. Lee opens up with his striking but the side kicks and spinning back elbows are more flashy than effective. Cariaso gets a takedown and after some short punches/elbows, creates the space for a choke attempt. Lee escapes but Cariaso is still in control. Cariaso takes Lee’s back but Lee roles back. Cariaso gives up the choke attempt to unload some big elbow shots. Takes Lee’s back again, working for the rear naked choke. He doesn’t get it, as Lee survives to hear the final round. 29-28 to Cariaso on my scorecard.

Judges scores are 29-28 to Lee, 29-28 to Cariaso and 29-28 to Cariaso. How anybody could give Lee two rounds I do not know to be honest.

Chris Cariaso defeated Vaughan Lee via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)


Chris Cope vs. Che Mills

Round One

TUF13’s surprise package Chris Cope up against a local circuit veteran in Che Mills. And boy does the man from LEICESTER, ENGLAND make a hell of a impression, just tearing into Cope. He catches Cope with a big left hook, setting a great combination that culminates in a nasty knee to the head of Cope. Cope is down like a shot, and the referee almost stops the fight there and then – seemingly stopping halfway through halting the fight. Mills continues the onslaught, Cope staggers to his feet only to be dropped with another knee and that’s all she wrote at just forty seconds of the first round.

Che Mills defeated Chris Cope at forty seconds of the first round


Michihiro Omigawa vs. Jason Young

Round One

Omigawa almost immediately goes for the takedown, throwing a right hand only to set it up. He gets it but Young is back on his feet straight away. Both are light on their feet – Young connecting with a high kick. Follows up with some high kicks as Omigawa tries to get inside. Omigawa lunges in with a straight right. Young is doing well striking from the outside, with Omigawa looking almost unrefined in comparison. Omigawa does look the stronger and always puts Young under pressure when he’s close enough for a takedown. He finally gets one midway through the round. Omigawa on top but doing absolutely nothing. Stand them up chant starts. Young gets back to their feet, with Young connecting with a high knee and some elbows in the clinch. They get off the cage and exchanging in the center of the cage. Omigawa gets some punches in and Young responds by going for the takedown. He doesn’t get it. They’re exchanging up against the cage. Young goes for another takedown. Gets it but Omigawa ends up on top. The round ends with Omigawa reigning down the elbows. 10-9 to Omigawa

Round Two

Omigawa gets a takedown very early and proceeds to not do very much at all. The crowd is booing furiously as the Japanese veteran dominates the positioning without mounting any real offense. He finally gets to side control where he starts throwing some elbows. Young is able to create the space to roll through and escape back to his feet. Young trying to force the fight on the feet but he must be very tired after being made to carry Omigawa for half the round. He has slowed down noticeably. Omigawa clinches up, and Young doesn’t have the speed or energy to explode away. Instead Omigawa gets the takedown into side control. Not much is happening once again as Omigawa is fairly impotent when it comes to ground offense. The round ends with Omigawa having dominated the positioning but done nothing with the advantage. 20-18.

Round Three

We actually start with action in the first as they trade punches up close. Young is hurt but Omigawa fails to follow up with a telling blow. They’re keeping trading with Young holding his own against his more experienced opponent. Young goes for a jumping knee but it only partially connects. Omigawa obviously decides that that’s enough entertainment, quickly getting the takedown. And now we’re back to lay and pray…or maybe not as Omigawa actually mounts some offense by going for a leg lock. Young pops out and gets back to his feet. Young goes for a takedown but Omigawa nicely rolls into a choke. He doesn’t get it but he winds up on top position, in half guard. Omigawa working the elbows and some short punches to the head. Young is struggling to get back to his feet but Omigawa is not letting him up at all. Omigawa gets Young back down from one knee. The round ends with Young briefly on top after half climbing to his feet. Still it doesn’t change the result which is surely a shutout decision victory for Omigawa. I had it 30-27 on my scorecards although judges give Young a round (that’s seem generous to the home fighter).

Michihiro Omigawa defeats Jason Young via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)


Rob Broughton vs. Philip De Fries

Round One

Philip De Fries goes for a takedown early on. Broughton struggles to stay on his feet for a prolonged period. Broughton eventually however succumbs and then the rest of the round is De Fries controlling the fight from top position without actually doing anything. 10-9 De Fries.

Round Two

De Fries takes Broughton down early and it feels like here we go again but Broughton puts in a great effort of his back in a round fought almost entirely on the ground. Broughton sweeps De Fries and not only goes close with a couple of armbar attempts but dominates the final minute having trapped De Fries in a crucifix, where he was able to reign down punches on the prone body of his opponent. Much more fun than the first round 19-19.

Round Three

Its groundhog round here in the LG Arena as for the third round in a row De Fries get the early takedown (have I mentioned that Rob Broughton is British?). De Fries does a better job of controlling Broughton than in the round just  gone, although the big man is proving moving than a handle on the bottom. De Fries briefly gets Broughton’s back but Broughton is able to roll back to safety. As with the opener De Fries cannot do much with Broughton except hold position, even after moving to the mount he struggles to land anything meaningful. Broughton on the otherhand really is doing anything worthwhile to get off his back – he’s trying to cagewalk but ineffectively so. Eventually the referee has seen enough and stands them but far too late. The crowd is not happy, and one cannot blame them. 29-28 to De Fries on my scorecard.The judges have it the same.

Phil De Fries defeated Rob Broughton by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)


Terry Etim vs. Edward Faaloloto

Round One

This is a return fight for Terry Etim who has been away from the Octagon for over a year after battling numerous injuries. Big Terry, Terry chants. And oh my god it’s a huge hometown squash matches. Etim connects with a spinning kick. Faaloloto tries to respond with a slam but Etim manages to catch him with a guillotine whilst in mid-air and secures the submission victory in only 17seconds! The crowd is going absolutely crazy! A great moment for a fight that has battled back from so much adversity!

Terry Etim defeated Edward Faaloloto via submission (guillotine choke) at 17 seconds in the first round.


Anthony Perosh vs. Cyrille Diabate

Round One

Cautious start to begin as Diabate looks for the right moment to connect with a front kick. He eventually throws it to little effect. The grappler Perosh looks out of his depth standing against Diabate, getting clipped whenever his opponents deigns to throw. All Perosh can do is lunge in from distance with uneducated hands. Not much happening in the fight, with both taking it very cautiously. The crowd are booing at the midway point. Perosh finally has the space to shoot in for a takedown but Diabate is able to move out of danger. Perosh goes for another takedown that Diabate blocks. He decides to briefly go to the ground and work his ground and pound from top position, but sensibly quickly gets back up. Perosh finally gets his man down after grabbing a kick. He is however unable to do anything with the position – Diabate to tie him up to begin with and even when Perosh created more space evade taking any damage. A bad round of action that’s difficult to score as with so little happening that takedown may have stolen the round for Perosh but I’m giving it to Diabate 10-9.

Round Two

More cagey exchanges on the feet until Perosh gets the takedown with a minute of the round gone. Perosh secure in top position as he works towards a rear naked or side choke attempt. He gives that up to work his ground and pound. He transitions around Diabate, seemingly trying to create the space for an arm triangle choke attempt that as soon as he has it he gives up. Perosh is in the mount and Diabate gives up his back. Perosh soon gets the rear naked choke applied for the victory via submission at 3:09. A boring fight but Perosh showed genuine skill in his ability to maneuver around his opponent at will on the ground.

Anthony Perosh defeated Cyrille Diabate via submission (rear naked choke) at three minutes and nine seconds of the second round


Papy Abedi vs Thiago Alves

Round One

A superstar reaction for Thiago Alves. Both trading strikes early on. Abedi is holding his own against Alves and indeed gets the better of the striking exchanges after connecting with a front kick. Abedi follows up by pushing Alves up against the cage, and digging in some knees to the mid-section. They separate but Abedi is still after the better of the standup exchanges, landing more shots and pushing Alves back. The Pitbull counters with some kicks but Abedi is clearly gaining in confidence. Abedi throws some monster left hooks. However, Alves catches the Swede with a right-left combination that staggers the debutant and then drops Abedi hard with a right to the temple. Alves is all over Abedi, and the referee comes very close to stopping the fight. Alves continues to press the advantage, forcing Abedi to give up his back. He quickly applies the rear naked choke for the submission at 3:32. Abedi looked good until he was caught but Alves showed a great killer instinct to swarm in like that.

Thiago Alves defeated Papy Abedi via submission (rear naked choke) at three minutes and thirty two seconds of the first round.


Brad Pickett vs. Renan Barao

Round One

Thunderous response for Brad Pickett, who is incredibly over with the crowd considering that this is his UFC debut and that his matches in WEC were never shown live. They just start trading leather to begin with – neither man taking a backward step as both hit and are hit with numerous big shots. Barao who is in coming into Birmingham on a twenty-six fight winning streak seems to have landed the better of the punches in that opening exchanger, having a nasty left-right combination. Barao catches Pickett flush with a straight left. Pickett responds by landing one of his own. Barao gets a takedown but Pickett is straight back up. Barao lands a front kick but misses with an overhand right. Pickett rushes in but is clip by Barao. Pickett misses with a couple of uppercuts but is working the body well. This is just an all action fight. Barao badly rocks Pickett with a knee to the head and quickly drops him after unleashing a barrage of punches. On the ground Barao quickly takes the back of Pickett and sinks in a rear naked choke for the submission much to the annoyance of the home fans. A great fight.

Renan Barao defeated Brad Pickett via submission (rear naked choke) at four minutes and nine seconds of the first round.


Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz

Round One

What a difference three years makes. The last time Chris Leben was in the UK he left in disgrace after failing a drug test after losing to Michael Bisping. Now he enters the arena to a huge superstar reaction having successfully rebuilt a career that at one point looked on the brink of imploding. He’s the underdog against the highly regarded Mark Munoz but he’s certainly got the fan’s backing. Including on fan who somehow managed to rush into the Octagon! Despite all the backbaiting from online hardcore fans this feels a genuinely big deal. A reminder that this is a five round non-title fight – the first in UFC history!

And we begin. Munoz makes the first connection with a leg kick. Leben swings wildly but misses. Munoz quickly takes Leben down. Leben connects with elbows from the bottom. Leben stands back up but Munoz still retains control of his body. Up against the cage, Munoz is digging in some punches to the mid-section. He has the leg and completes a single leg, only for Leben to shot right back up. Leben then gets a takedown of his own. Munoz shoots back up but Leben lands some punches up against the cage. Munoz establishes control in the clinch. They separate and return to the center of the Octagon. Leben walking forward and connects with a right hand. Leben catches a high kick from Munoz and slams him to the ground! Munoz straight back up! Leben trying for a choke but Munoz gets the fight to the ground. This fight has been as action packed as predicted. Munoz throws some big punches from top position but Leben gets back to his feet much to the delight of the ground. The round ends with Leben on the offense but it’s Munoz’ round 10-9. Great start to our main event.

Round Two

Munoz tries for a straight right but its blocked by a Leben trying for an uppercut. Leben on the offensive and they clinch up against the cage. Munoz gets the takedown, and starts working his ground and pound. Leben is coming back with hard elbows off the back. Munoz landing the threatened bombs from top position and Leben is cut. But he manages to make it to his feet. Leben connects with a high knee but it just gives Munoz the chance to take him down again. The cut on Leben is above his left eye. The fighters take a breather for the first time in the fight. Munoz is working to take Leben’s back – somehow Leben not only avoids that but actually gets to his feet before dropping down for a choke attempt. Leben is an absolute mess, with Munoz covered with his blood. The referee stops the fight to check the cut. The fight continues as an exchausted Leben argues against it being stop. Leben comes out swinging, forcing Munoz to drop down for the takedown. Munoz pushes Leben up against the cage and is punishing The Crippler with short punches to the head. But again Leben scrambles. They’re up against the cage now with Munoz in control but Leben showing plenty of guts. 20-18 to Munoz.

In between rounds the fight is called to a stop by Leben’s corner to stop their fighter taking on any more damage. The crowd does not like this at all. Hilariously they actually boo Munoz as he dedicates the fight to Jesus Christ – only in England!!! I think the crowd reaction was more disappointment that their favorite had lost than genuine annoyance with the decision. Either way it was the right call by his corner as the the cut was nasty and in that dangerous position right above the eye. Its no surprise that he couldn’t see out of the left eye at the end of the fight.

Mark Munoz defeated Chris Leben via corner stoppage at the end of round two.

A Comics Nexus original, Will Cooling has written about comics since 2004 despite the best efforts of the industry to kill his love of the medium. He now spends much of his time over at Inside Fights where he gets to see muscle-bound men beat each up without retcons and summer crossovers.