Hello all and welcome to InsideFights.com’s live coverage and play-by-play of UFC Fight Night 26 headlined by a five-round light heavyweight bout between Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Chael Sonnen. I’m Ryan Frederick and I’ll be covering tonight’s event from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Stay tuned for live play-by-play coverage of the night’s preliminary card airing on Facebook. Stick around following this set of prelims as there will be more preliminary card action on FOX Sports 1 as well as the main card also on FOX Sports 1. Enjoy the fights everyone.
Ramsey Nijem vs. James Vick
Referee: Kevin McDonald
ROUND 1- Nijem and Vick get us underway on this evening. Nijem gets this started with a leg kick and misses on a takedown. Nijem goes for another takedown but Vick stuffs it. Nijem gets the takedown and is looking to maintain top position but Vick gets back to his feet. Vick locks in a guillotine choke and Nijem falls down to the ground to defend but Vick gets it in tighter. Nijem taps! Nijem taps to the guillotine and Vick has scored the win in his UFC debut. Quick finish for Vick as he had it locked in deep.
Official Result: James Vick def. Ramsey Nijem by submission (guillotine choke) at :58 of Round 1
Cody Donovan vs. Ovince St. Preux
Referee: Herb Dean
ROUND 1- Herb Dean is the third man in the Octagon as we get the second bout underway. St. Preux comes out as a southpaw. Donovan pushes him back with a series of punches to start off the fight. St. Preux goes for a takedown but Donovan stuffs it and works him against the cage. Donovan with a knee to the body and a series of uppercuts as they break. Donovan goes for a takedown but St. Preux defends it and they’re back against the cage. Donovan with a knee to the body against the cage. Donovan going for the takedown but St. Preux showing good defense. Donovan picks St. Preux up and gets the takedown but St. Preux reverses and is on top. St. Preux then starts throwing left hands from inside the guard. Several punches connect and Donovan is in trouble. It’s over! Herb Dean steps in to stop the fight and Donovan is finished by St. Preux.
Official Result: Ovince St. Preux def. Cody Donovan by KO (punches) at 2:07 of Round 1
Manny Gamburyan vs. Cole Miller
Referee: Yves Lavigne
ROUND 1- Both men quickly take the center of the cage. Gamburyan with a leg kick as Miller looks to impose his length. Miller misses on a front kick. Gamburyan fires a right hand that misses. Miller with a teet kick. Gamburyan with a combination. Miller with a front kick to the face. Miller with a right hand that catches Gamburyan on the temple. Gamburyan backs Miller up with a right hand that has a lot of power. Miller lands another jab. Gamburyan misses on two left hands but lands a grazing right hand. Miller on the defense on the feet. Miller has outlanded Gamburyan thus far. Miller lands a jab and Gamburyan fakes a takedown and misses an overhand right. Gamburyan goes for a takedown but Miller defends for a moment before Gamburyan lands a slam. Miller is solid on the ground. Miller looking for a submission but Gamburyan looks to break the guard. Gamburyan with an elbow from the top. Miller landing short punches from the bottom. Gamburyan with another big elbow from inside the guard. Gamburyan postures up and Miller looks to push him off. They get to the feet and Gamburyan grabs Miller’s back and lands a knee. Gamburyan drops for a takedown but the round ends. 10-9 Gamburyan
Gamburyan is hurt as the round ends and is holding the back of his head. On a replay, Miller landed some elbows at the end and the second one may have been illegal. Gamburyan is still holding his head and the doctor is checking him to see if he can continue. He will be able to continue.
ROUND 2- Gamburyan rushes out and is looking to land big right hands. Miller backs him up with a jab but Gamburyan gets a few leg kicks that land. Miller with a right hand and follows with a combo and a leg kick. Miller with a straight right hand and Gamburyan lands a leg kick. Miller with a knee and Gamburyan drives in for a takedown that he gets. Miller is looking to drag Gamburyan fully to the ground. Gamburyan with a right hand. Miller tries to get this fight back to the feet and lands some elbows. Gamburyan is cut open and Miller lands some knees. Gamburyan drops to the ground and Miller takes his back. They scramble back to the feet and Gamburyan has Miller against the cage. Gamburyan scores a takedown and Miller is on his back. Miller with punches from the bottom. Gamburyan lands some punches from the top. Both land punches on the ground as Miller looks to create a scramble to the feet. Miller looks to push Gamburyan off and he does and they get back to the feet. Miller with an elbow to the head of Gamburyan. And he lands another elbow. Gamburyan goes for a takedown but can’t get it. Miller with some more elbows. Miller goes down to the ground and Gamburyan lands from the top. Miller pushes him off and they get back to the feet. Gamburyan lands two punches as they get up. Gamburyan with a leg kick. Miller misses a head kick and the round ends. 10-9 Gamburyan. 20-18 Gamburyan.
ROUND 3- They touch gloves to start the final round. This could be anyone’s fight. Gamburyan with a leg kick to start. Miller lands a left but Gamburyan fires back with a right hand. Gamburyan with another leg kick. Miller with a combination. Gamburyan lands two left hands in succession. Miller with a left jab that is countered by a leg kick. Miller goes for a knee but Gamburyan lands a big overhand right. Miller lands a combo and ends it with a knee. Miller lands a knee and Gamburyan is rocked and scores a takedown to recover. Miller lands from the bottom and is looking to find a submission from the guard. Miller with punches from the bottom as Gamburyan lands from the top. Gamburyan is bleeding over Miller. Gamburyan tries to break Miller’s guard but Miller has a good grasp of him. Gamburyan fires more from the top. Gamburyan with an elbow. Gamburyan tries to push Miller up against the fence and does. Gamburyan stands up and is controlling Miller’s legs. Miller tries to push Gamburyan off and they get to the feet. Gamburyan goes back for the takedown and Miller falls to the ground looking to switch. They get back to their feet and Gamburyan lands a slam back to the ground. Both are firing off with ten seconds left. Miller with a flurry of elbows but Gamburyan with a flurry from the top to end the fight. 10-9 Gamburyan. 30-27 Gamburyan.
Official Result: Manny Gamburyan def. Cole Miller by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
