UFC 152 (Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort) – Live Results and Play by Play

Features, Results, Top Story

Welcome, fans of fisticuffs, to tonight’s play by play of the full UFC 152 card. I am Scott Sawitz and will be updated live from the Inside Fights Chicago HQ for the full card.

Preliminary Card (Facebook):

170 lbs.: Charlie Brenneman vs. Kyle Noke

Round 1: Some light combinations to start the fight and Noke catches him with a big right and pounces, teeing off until the ref stops the fight.

Official Result: Kyle Noke wins via TKO at :45 of the first round.

It looked like a bad stoppage until the replay; Brenneman was clearly out and only came to after the fight was stopped.

135 lbs.: Mitch Gagnon vs. Walel Watson

Round 1: Both guys come out in the opening minute doing more stalking than throwing until Gagnon catches Watson coming in on a superman punch with a monster left of his own. Watson crumbles and after an attempt to finish with strikes Gagnon grabs his back and a rear naked choke that Watson fights off for a while until Gagnon locks it in and get the submission win.

Official Result: Gagnon wins via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:09 of the first round

170 lbs.: Seth Baczynski vs. Simeon Thoresen

Round 1: Both fighters are tentative and come out with some light combinations, not throwing with power but to measure distance. Neither fighter is connecting with any power as this looks more like a light sparring match than a fight so far. Some wild striking but nothing really connects for either man. Thoresen’s punches are really tight though as he’s aiming for and connecting in the same area. Seth keeps looking to grab the clinch and Thoresen is fighting it off consistently and circling away. Seth lands some nice strikes and then an accidental eye poke leads to a quick break from John McCarthy. Not a whole lot of action as Thoresen is working a counter game. Baczynski catches him with a MONSTER left hook, probably the only clean strike he landed all fight, and Thoresen is out. McCarthy jumps in shortly thereafter.

Official result: Baczynski wins via KO at 4:10 of the first round

Preliminary Card (FX Channel):

145 lbs.: Marcus Brimage vs. Jim Hettes

Round 1: Brimage comes off throwing straights and clips Hettes a couple times. Hettes is looking to get the clinch and is trying to get him to open himself up but Brimage is landing big shots. Brimage’s game plan is to keep it standing and he’s doing a great job of throwing big shots but not exposing himself to being taken down. Hettes lands low but Brimage kind of shrugs it off. Brimage’s footwork is remarkable; he’s moving really well and keeping Hettes from setting up a takedown so far. Hettes comes in with a kick and Brimage hits a body shot/sweep that lands him down. Brimage catches him with a big punch and Hettes is down. Brimage goes for the kill but Hettes pulls guard; it’s loose and Brimage backs off as soon as Hettes recovers. His striking looks so sharp right now; Hettes is calm but he’s getting tagged regularly. Brimage is landing body shots regularly and it’s opening up some big hooks that he’s connecting with. Brimage slows down as the round ends and Hettes is looking better but Brimage is landing some big strikes on him. Round ends with Brimage landing some nice strikes to end.

Score: 10-9 Brimage

Score So Far: 10-9 Brimage

Round 2: Brimage comes out and tees off on Hettes as he’s standing in front and eating it. Hattes eats this and grabs a body lock, dragging Brimage down with a foot sweep. Brimage pulls guard and Hettes tries to grab back, Brimage gets up fairly quickly. Jumping knee from Hettes connects, grabs a body lock and grabs side control. Hettes with a guillotine that can’t connect but scramble gets Brimage on his back. Hettes is setting up for a rear naked choke but Brimage is hand fighting it away. Brimage is using his feet well to keep him from getting a body lock. Brimage rolls to his knees and Hettes grabs back again and gets a body triangle this time. Brimage is fighting off Hettes’s hands well, though. They hand fight for a while and scramble as Brimage gets back up to his feet. Comes back with some nice strikes, including a nice left to the body. Hettes goes for a third takedown but can’t finish it, Brimage making him pay with some strikes. Hettes with another takedown but Brimage fights him off. Round ends with some wild exchanges.

Score: 10-9 Hettes

Score So Far: 19-19, even

Round 3: Brimage comes out looking for some more body shots followed by a left hook; his combinations are starting low and he’s trying to get Hettes to drop his hands and get a head strike. Hettes is circling away and making Hettes come in; he’s hitting some nice left hooks that don’t have a lot of power behind them. They don’t have the zip to them he had in the first. Hettes is controlling the center but he’s taking a lot of punishment to do so, though, but it’s not doing a lot of damage though. Hettes is going to grab the clinch, to go for the takedown, but Brimage is keeping away. Hettes keeps chasing and Brimage is catching him with overhand lefts every time; it’s repeating itself for a while iun this round. Single leg from Hettes doesn’t go through. Round ends as Brimage keeps his distance.

Score: 10-9 Brimage

Score So Far: 29-28 Brimage

Official Result: 29-28 Brimage by Unanimous Decision

170 lbs.: Sean Pierson vs. Lance Benoist

Round 1: Both guys come swinging and Benoist goes for a throw, Pierson counters and they’re up against the cage. Circle away by Benoist and its slowed down a little bit. Benoist is using kicks as he’s moving backward to counter, Pierson with a big right that catches him and Benoist grabs him and pulls him against the cage. Release and they’re back against the cage on the other side. Benoist circles away and follows up with a nice leg kick, Pierson catches a kick and knocks him down. Goes down and Benoist grabs an armbar off bottom, Pierson gets out and its full closed guard. Benoist grabs another armbar and then into a shoulder lock, Pierson scrambles out and back to their feet. Nice exchange and Pierson lands some body shots and a nice left gook. Pierson goes inside and grabs the clinch, back into the cage, and now it’s a battle to get a takedown. Benoist with a nice knee and Pierson back to the center. Some nice lefts from Pierson to end the round.

Score: Pierson 10-9

Score So Far: 10-9 Pierson

Round 2: Some striking exchanges and it’s back to the cage, not much action and circle back to the middle of the cage. Benoist is being more aggressive but he’s getting caught on the counter from Pierson. Benoist goes for the takedown but can’t finish, Pierson on the sprawl and front headlock. Benoist is doing a good job of keeping him from grabbing the back, gets up and eats a knee on the way out. Benoist with a straight left. Benoist is decidedly less aggressive as Pierson is pushing the pace; he wants nothing to do with Pierson’s power and it shows. Pierson’s boxing looks really good right now; Benoist is trying to be aggressive and throwing wildly and Pierson is countering him all day.

Score: 10-9 PIerson

Score So Far: 20-18 Pierson

Round 3: Benoist comes out throwing more wild, rangy strikes and Pierson is doing a terrific job on the counter-striking perspective. Benoist is throwing more but Pierson is connecting more and better. Pierson’s head movement is getting him out of strikes as he’s trying to land the straight left and not connecting; everything else seems to though. Eye poke but no stoppage for time. Pierson is countering with hooks and jabs but not landing flush; Benoist is doing a good job avoiding getting tagged but not getting hit. Benoist goes for the takedown but unsuccessful; he’s setting up still the same by leaping and going for big strikes. Pierson is seeing him coming and sliding out of the way. Pierson is just out-countering him and Benoist isn’t doing anything to set up big shots. Left from Benoist catches and Pierson is in trouble; Pierson is down and Benoist is unloading on the ground. Benoist landing elbows from side control and Pierson is hanging on; Pierson goes for back mount and loses the rear naked choke. Pierson is wobbling and Benoist is pouring it on; round ends before he can finish, though.

Score: 10-9 Benoist

Score So Far:, 29-28 Pierson

Official Result: 29-28 Sean Pierson by UD

155 lbs.: Evan Dunham vs. T.J. Grant

Score: Dunham comes out with some nice combinations on counter strikes; Grant is coming in but not throwing, eating some punishment in the process. After a little bit he starts throwing and is looking really crisp; both guys are bloodied up a little bit early. Grant with a nice knee and he’s dictating the place. Dunham is moving away and Grant is using his footwork to trap him in corners. These guys are really throwing when they exchange. Grant is looking to grab the clinch and Dunham is countering with some nice uppercuts to make him pay. These guys are really laying into each other as they are throwing wildly and connecting. This is a bit of a sloppy brawl as they’re throwing down. Grant gets him next to the cage and lands some nice short elbows; nice combination as he moves away from the cage. Dunham with a double leg and gets the takedown; Grant is in full guard moving to butterfly, Dunham lets him up to dive back into this guard. Round ends as they battle for position on the ground.

Score So Far: 10-9 Grant

Round 2: Dunham comes out wild and Grant obliges as the second round starts off resembling the first. Nice exchange of combinations from both guys as this round is a duplicate of the first. Both guys are throwing as Dunham is moving away from Grant, who is cornering him with his footwork very well. Both guys are just throwing punches; this is a brawl. Grant is winning the exchanges and is a bit of a bloody mess, as a couple of Grant knees have cut him open. Dunham goes for the double late and gets it, Grant wall walks as Dunham goes for the back; Grant gets up and back to the middle of the cage. Round ends in some more brawling.

Score: 10-9 Grant

Score So Far: 20-18 Grant

Round 3: Round begins as they’re throwing down in nearly the same manner. Dunham is pushing the pace more and controlling the cage better; he’s come out trying to win and this is a near mirror of the first two rounds. Dunham looks like he has more in the gas tank as he’s landing more this round. Midway through the round Grant begins to push the pace a bit more and claim control of the middle; a double leg from Dunham is for naught. These guys start throwing again as Dunham is a bloody mess right now. Dunham taunts Grant and they seem to be inclined to just stand and trade until Dunham goes for a double again to no avail. Dunham gets a double with 30 seconds left and Grant is working into guard. Round ends with Dunham trying to work with some ground and pound but can’t quite set anything up to finish.

Score: 10-9 Dunham

Score So Far: 29-28 Grant

Official Result: 29-28, 30-27, 29-28 for TJ Grant by UD

205 lbs.: Vinny Magalhaes vs. Igor Pokrajac

Round 1: : Vinny grabs the clinch early to go for the takedown, Igor pushes him up against the cage to stop. Tie up against the cage and some knees being exchanged between the two. Vinny with a nice foot sweep throw, lands in side control. Vinny in full guard and some ground and pound; Igor trying to use wrist control and Vinny is slowly working. Vinny is looking to pass and eats some elbows for his trouble, moves quickly into side control. Vinny with a kimura, rolls into an armbar and Igor fights his way back to his feet. Vinny lets him go and into guard on his back. Igor tries ground and pound and misses. Vinny looking to move into mission control in rubber guard and lands some elbows from the bottom. Igor is holding and praying right now, it seems, and then lets him up. Igor presses him against the cage and back to what started the round out as it ends.

Score: Magalhaes 10-9

Score So Far: Magalhaes 10-9

Round 2: Round 2: Some light strikes from Igor and Vinny ties him up, Igor grabs the takedown. Vinny locks in a triangle and has it tight but quie locked up. Switches it to an armbar and Igor taps after he flips over; he may have seriously hurt his arm on that from how he clutched it immediately after.

Official result: Vinny Magalhaes wins via submission (arm bar) at 1:14 of the second round

Main Card (pay-per-view):

145 lbs.: Charles Oliveira vs. Cub Swanson

Round 1:Both fighters come out a little tentative, some light striking that doesn’t connect. Oliveira gets a beautiful takedown after Swanson misses a wild overhand punch, Oliveira into side control. Swanson manages to grab full guard as Oliveira begins to work some ground and pound. Swanson uses a butterfly guard to get back up and back to the feet. Swanson’s boxing is looking quite good today but Oliveira is making back up wildly with strikes. Swanson with a left hook to the body and then follows with a big right haymaker, Oliveira falls to the ground and it’s over.

Official result: Swanson wins by KO at 2:38 of the first round

205 lbs.: Matt Hamill vs. Roger Hollett

Round 1: Hamill comes out super aggressive and is walking down Hollett. It’s interesting to see because Hamill never is this aggressive. Hamill is working his striking early to find his range and both guys are throwing power shots pretty early. Hollett is countering fairly effectively as Hamill is throwing a lot of leg kicks and straight strikes; not a lot of setups from the wrestler as he’s throwing down the pipe fairly often. He’s looking like a kickboxer and not even going for his wrestling at this point. He kind of looks like Nick Diaz at this point as he’s taunting Hollett by dropping his hands. Double leg from Hamill goes to a single and he grabs the single. Hamill is unloading on a prone Hollett, who isn’t doing much but covering up at this point. Hamill is teeing off on him right now with punches; shocking this hasn’t been stopped as of yet. Hollett gets back up and lands some strikes as the round ends. 10-9 Hamill

Round 2: Hamill comes out aggressive this round again as he’s walking him down; Hollett with a nice spinning back kick but he’s bracing for the takedown in his stance. Hamill goes for a single but can’t connect but Hamill looks to be getting ready for another shot at a takedown. Hollett with a leg kick that gets caught and Hamill power double shim down. Hamill going for some ground and pound as Hollett is playing wrist control to keep him from striking. Hamill postures up and then lets Hollett back up. Hollett is looking for body shots and leg kicks as Hamill looks to be tentative; the first round may have taken out everything he has left. Another takedown attempt that’s mainly a Hamill reach and Hollett pushing his arm off. Round ends with both not doing much until Hamill slams Hollett down in the closing seconds. 10-9 Hamill, 20-18 so far

Round 3: Neither guy really wants it as they come out; both guys look gassed and like a couple of drunks fighting outside a bar at this point. Sloppy punches without much on them until Hamill with a beautiful double to get him to the ground. He postures up and starts throwing down, Hollett scrambles but gives up his back against the cage. Hamill throwing some light strikes as Hollett is just covering up and not doing much. Hollett keeps trying to stand and Hamill is doing a good job keeping the pressure on with strikes that aren’t doing much in noticeable damage. Hollett tries a roll and winds up in half guard, Hamill still on him with strikes. Hollett finally manages to get away right around the two minute mark and Hamill with another power double to the ground. Hollett pulls full guard at this point and Hamill is content to ride out the rest of the round in strikes. At the minute mark there’s a standup and both guys look gassed. Hamill presses Hollett against the cage and another takedown. 10-9 Hamill, 30-27 Hamill

Official Result: 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 UD for Hamilll

185 lbs.: Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann

Round 1: Stann comes out looking for an overhand right and Bisping is using his footwork to stay away. Stann gets him against the cage and it’s time to play the cage game for a little bit. Bisping backs off and now back to the center of the cage. Stann is looking to set up that right and Bisping is staying away fairly successfully. Stann connects with a nice right down the middle and Bisping with a nice counter jab. Stann is setting everything up for his right and Bisping goes for the double and Stann fights it off, Bisping goes for a trip and Stann defends it well. Back against the cage for Stann and Bisping goes to work with some nice dirty boxing. Bisping goes for an inside leg kick and he connects below the belt, Stann doesn’t take any time. Stann is setting his right up well and Bisping gets caught low but walks it off as well. He ends up taking some time but not much. Back to themiddle and they’re throwing down as Stann is throwing leg kicks to the body well and Bisping’s counter game is working well. Another takedown attempt fails and Stann lands a big right, Bisping is hurt but he grabs the clinch to ride out the round. 10-9 Stann

Round 2: Bisping comes out with nice jabs and Stann is looking for that big right. Bisping grabs a double and slams Stann beautifully into side control. Stann reverses him with more muscle than technique and Bisping into full guard with his legs open. Stann presses him against the cage as Bisping is using hand control to prevent him from throwing hands. He’s setting up a triangle and Stann is moving his hips to avoid. Bisping sets up the scramble and Stann gets thumbed in the eye as Bisping takes advantage by pressing him against the cage. Bisping is looking to go for the takedown again and Stann is doing a good job keeping him away. Bisping backs off and back to the center of the cage. Bisping is moving away from Stann’s right much better this round; Stann’s moving more to set it up and there isn’t as much on it. Last minute and Bisping goes for the double and with another big takedown into side control. Bisping is working on a kimura and a scramble by Stann is stopped midway as the round ends. 10-9 Bisping

Round 3: BIsping grabs a single and gets him down to the mat again but Stann’s right back to his feet. Bisping backs off and eats a big left for his efforts. Bisping is setting up his combinations really effectively; he’s looking much better now than he did in round one. Bisping is using his footwork to keep Stann’s right hand away. He goes for another takedown and Stann defends well. Another exchange and Bisping goes for the takedown again; Stann defends but Bisping has underhooks against the cage. Stann gets the thai clinch and lands some solid knees as Bisping backs off. Another exchange and Stann hits a right that doesn’t connect fully. Bisping’s footwork and movement is superb right now. Another takedown attempt defended but the followup gets him down. Back up and they start swinging; Bisping ends the round trying to take him down again. 10-9 Bisping, 29-28 Bisping.

Official Result: 29-28 Bisping by UD

125 lbs.: Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson for first-ever flyweight championship

Round 1: Round 1: Benavidez catches him with a nice left early and Johnson stumbles into the cage but doesn’t follow as Johnson bounces out rapidly. Johnson goes for the clinch and Beanvidez with some nice knees to the body as they play against the cage for a while. Benavidez throws some strikes and goes for the body clinch; Benavidez is going for a hip toss and can’t finish, Johnson rolls out back to the middle of the cage. A lot of stick and move from these guys as neither is connecting with big shots but with smaller stuff. Lots of movement and back to the clinch, Johnson against the cage but landing some nice knees to the rib cage. Benavidez is throwing some big shots but Johnson is missing them all; his foot speed is making Benavidez look slow on occasion. He’s not throwing a lot but he’s landing a lot; Benavidez is playing the aggressor but Johnson is using his speed to make him miss. Benavidez rolls for a knee bar to end the round but can’t quite finish it as Johnson gains dominant position as the round ends. Johnson 10-9

Round 2: Johnson with more of the same with his movement but Benavidez is adjusting well to close the cage on him. He’s loading up with power shots as Johnson is looking to counter. Benavidez is landing solid shots but he’s throwing a lot more and having to move because Johnson is moving so quickly. Benavidez is chasing down Johnson and catching him, landing some solid work, but Johnson is so fast that he’s getting away with ease. Benavidez goes for a takedown and Johnson gets away fairly easy. Benavidez spends most of the fight setting up for the takedown and not getting it but he’s cornering Johnson much more than he did in the first round. Johnson counters a miss from Benavidez and gets his back standing but Benavidez moves out quickly before Johnson can do anything. Benavidez ends the round with a couple of nice overhands. Benavidez 10-9, 19-19

Round 3: Benavidez comes out and it starts out the same as the first two rounds. Johnson is moving quickly and Benavidez is being remarkably aggressive; he’s either telegraphing more or Johnson has figured out his movement. Benavidez is throwing wild, not connecting with a lot, and Johnson is connecting on counters regularly. Benavidez is getting wild and less technical as Johnson is being much more technical in his striking. Benavidez is bleeding and Johnson is avoiding his strikes in a similar manner. Benavidez gets the takedown but Johnson is immediately back up and gets back to his feet. Benavidez with a nice knee on the break. Benavidez with a nice right with 70 seconds left. Johnson with a nice right as Benavidez stuffs Johnson’s takedown attempt. 10-9 Johnson, 29-28 Johnson

Round 4: Johnson comes out more aggressive this round as he’s throwing more. Benavidez catches him with a big right hand and Johnson goes for a single, Benavidez goes for a guillotine and grabs mount. He has it deep and Johnson is fighting it off. Johnson is fighting and Benavidez can’t connect his hands on the guillotine. He’s got mount and he’s got it in deep, then loses it and Johnson grabs for a heel hook. Can’t finish and lands in half guard. Benavidez spins into side control and Johnson spins back up as Benavidez goes for north/south. Johnson is back into the cage and Benavidez goes for a lateral drop, can’t finish and Benavidez has back control as Benavidez gets up. Back to their feet in a scramble and Johnson has back control again, Benavidez against the cage. Some knees are exchanged and it’s back to the middle of the cage. Johnson goes for a takedown and scramble leads to an exchange between the two. Johnson with a beautiful takedown at the end of the round and into side control, some nice short elbows to the body as the round ends before he can finish a kimura. Benavidez 10-9, 38-38 overall

Round 5: Johnson opens with a leg kick that’s partially caught by Benavidez, who responds with a big right. Johnson comes out aggressive again in this round; both fighters think the fight is tied and think this is sudden death. Johnson with an amazingly fast takedown and slams Benavidez to the ground. Benavidez right back up and then back to the ground, Benavidez back up and gets away. Johnson is now the aggressor as Benavidez is looking to counter. Johnson grabs another takedown and lands into side control on Benavidez. Scramble and Benavidez backs his way up, Johnson releases and back to the center of the cage. Benavidez wades forward and lands a nice left. The pace they’re setting is amazing; this is as fast as they were in the first round. Benavidez is going for the takedown and can’t quite finish it. Benavidez with a nice counter and at the minute mark he starts going after Johnson for that final takedown. Can’t finish again and against the cage, misses a spinning elbow but a nice flurry at the end of the fight ended with Johnson failing on a takedown attempt. 10-9 Johnson, 48-47 Johnson

Official result: 48-47 Johnson, 48-47 Benavidez, 49-46 Johnson

Demetrious Johnson is the inaugural flyweight champion.

205 lbs.: Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort for UFC light heavyweight championship

Round 1: Jones comes out on all fours and Belfort throws a hide kick as he’s standing back up that nearly connects. Jones with a single and pulls Belfort to the ground. Belfort in an open full guard, grabbing onto Jones. Vitor grabs an armbar and Jones slams him down, eventually getting him out. Jones with a big elbow to the head in full guard. Jones is taking his time with some small elbows and Vitor is bleeding; Vitor is looking to grab that right arm in an armbar; he’s obviously trained off his back to go for it. Jones is brutalizing him on the ground as Vitor is a mess right now. That armbar has made Jones a bit leery as he’s not posturing or giving him any space; he’s content to go with short elbows and not nearly as much damage as he could do. Vitor is working his hips from the bottom but Jones is grinding him out right now. Now a lot of posturing but he’s using his length to generate power. Vitor rolls for it again and Jones stands up. Vitor with an axe kick to the body and round ends with Jones attacking him some more. 10-9 Jones

Round 2: Doctor checks the eye but Vitor wants to go. Another high kick from Vitor as Jones is just stalking him at this point. Front kick misses but a side kick doesn’t; Jones is waiting for an opening and a spinning elbow misses. Vitor with some nice strikes but can’t connect. A number of nice sidekicks from Jones as he’s working that front leg of Vitor. Jones is throwing some beautiful kicks that Vitor isn’t checking or defending well. Some wild punches from Jones miss but Belfort isn’t moving or doing anything; he’s letting Jones dictate the fight and eats a side kick to the thigh after a front kick to the chin. Nice combination from Jones and Belfort with a nice one of his own. Jones grabs the clinch and Jones throws Belfort to the ground; Belfort in an open guard and Jones is using some solid ground and pound, some nice elbows to the side of the face. Jones is pounding him out at this point and the round ends this way. Jones 10-9, 20-18

Round 3: Jones is walking him down again and throws out some beautiful leg kicks. Superman punch lands and Vitor shows some life with a leg kick of his own. Vitor is letting Jones dictate the pace and a body kick plants Vitor down. Jones follows him to the ground and lands in his guard, landing some short elbows. Vitor goes for an omaplata but can’t secure it, both fighters back on their feet. Vitor with a nice counter left and Jones is using his right much more now; the effects of that armbar have worn off temporarily, it seems. Belfort goes for the clinch and gets Jones against the cage, then pulls guard. Vitor is clinging to Jones and not doing much, as Jones is using some short elbows and punches to the body. Jones moves into half guard with 40 seconds left in the round and Jones starts with some beautiful elbows out of it. Round ends with Vitor back in full guard. 10-9 Jones, 30-27 Jones

Round 4: Jones comes out with some nice jabs with his left and a head kick from the right. Vitor pulls guard again and Vitor is in side control. Jones is looking for a kimura and Vitor taps at 0:52 of the fourth round.

Official result: Jon Jones wins via submission (kimura) at 0:52 of the fourth round