UFC 164 – Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis 2 – Live Results and Play by Play (Pay Per View Main Card)

Results, Top Story

Welcome back, fight fans, to the pay per view portion of this card.

-Erik Koch (13-2) vs. Dustin Poirier (13-3)

Round 1: Koch is the hometown boy and the crowd really likes him.  Poirier … not so much.  Both guys come out slinging leather, doing similar leg kick/punch combos.  both fighters are similar in style, as well, which makes it interesting they’d start the same way.  Poirier clips him early and lands some big shots, Koch grabs a triangle and latches it tight.  He’s got it deep and sinks it in, Poirier trying to roll out of it.  He does in a spectacular sequence.  Koch has it in again and eventually Poirier lets him up.  Poirier with the taunt and we’;re to the clinch, Poirier against the cage.  Poirier reveres position and we’re nearly at a stalemate.  Koch is landing some nice knees to the body and Poirier backs out.  Poirier with a big right and Koch goes down.  Poirer jumps on him and is landing some big shots, Koch is just trying to survive here.  He postures up and lands some big shots as Koch tries to get the scramble.  Koch back up and Poirier drags him back down, landing in half guard.  Poirier looking for a darce choke and has it in deep.  Koch battles out.  Sweet Jesus WHAT A ROUND.  Poirier 10-9

Round 2: Koch has taken a beating and is back, still intense.  Poirier is looking for that big overhand right and Koch is backing out; Poirier is telegraphing it a little bit and he’s spotting it.  Koch is trying to set up a counter strike but Poirier is being cautious with his punches.  koch goes for the body clinch and poirier reverse to a hip toss, Koch right agianst the cage and back up quickly.  Poirier grabs back and Koch is hand fighting him, keeping him grabbing a choke.  He rolls to his stomach and Poirier looks for an arm triangle, Koch defending that well.  Poirier is landing some strikes but nothing major; Koch is doing a good job and makign him move instead of setting up strikes.  Koch back to his feet and we’re into a clinch against the cage.  Poirier is trying to drag him down and Koch is doing a good job using underhooks to keep him away.  Poirier with a couple of nice punches and Koch is willing to oblige him.  Koch looks the worse for wear but he’s not out of it.  10 seconds left and we’re back to the clinch against the cage.  10-9 Poirier, 20-18 Poirier

Round 3: Koch comes out firing; he knows he’s probably down two rounds now and is fighting with nothing to lose.  Poirier is looking to get a takedown and seal it using top position.  He gets a body clinch and we’re up against the cage a minute in.  Not much as its knees from Poirier and underhook positioning from Koch.  Koch with a nice trip and Poirier is on his back, in half butterfly guard.  Koch is looking to pass and Poirier is doing a great job in guard preventing him.  Poirier is looking to sweep and KOch is doing a good job with his posture to keep him from doing so.  Hes not landing much in the process, though.  POirier with the scramble and Koch grabs hiback, rolling onto his back and grabbing the hooks.  He goes for the rear naked but can’t finish it.  Poirier stands up with Koch on his back and nearly bucks him off.  Good positional awareness from Koch.  Poirier is doing a good job of playing defense as Koch goes for a choke late and can’t finish.  10-9 Koch, 29-28 Poirier. This could be close depending on how you scored the first round.  The second was clearly Poirier, Third was Koch.  First was a candidate for round of the year and very close.

Official Result: Dustin Poirier def. Erik Koch by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27) 


-Ben Rothwell (32-9) vs. Brandon Vera (12-6-1)

Round 1: Rothwell is a crowd favorite as he’s from local Wisconsin/Illinois border town Kenosha, WI. Both guys are a little tnteative to start but Vera is clealry quicker.  Vera throws a kick and Rothwell lands a nice counter combo.  Vera wants nothing to do with his power.  anytime Rothwell gets close Vera gets away.  Rothwell is using his footwork to trap Vera near the cage, though, and lands a nice right that wobbles Vera.  Vera is looking for body kick and finesse and Rothwell is looking for a one shot KO.  Rothwell’s hands loo faster than they have in years.  Vera has thrown that body kick enough that Rothwell has timed it; he’s throwing as soon as he sees Vera’s hip moving.  Nice uppercut against the cage for Rothwell; Vera is trying to mvoe into space and rothwell is doign a great job at isolating him near the cage.  Rothwell with a hard kick to the legs; Verais using his quicks but Rothwell is doing a good job using angles.  Nice headkick from rothwell that grazes Vera.  Vera is moving well but he’s not pulling the trigger a lot; Rothwell is trying to make him engage with his movement.  Rothwell goes for the low kick and hits Brandon in his Veras.  He’s in the corner and he’s in a lot of pain.  Fight resumes … and round is over.  odd. 10-9 Rothwell.

Round 2: Vera comes out landing some leg kicks and Rothwell responds in kind.  vera goes to the clin and Rothwell gets him against teh cagel some knees to the body from each and Vera backs out.  Vera is back to using movement and Rothwell using his footwork to corner him.  Big leh kick lands flush and Vera walks through it.  Rothwell grabs the clinch and we’re against the cage.  Vera is landing some knees to the body and Rothwell lets him go.  Back to the same as Rothwell is throwign more leg kicks this round; he’s looking to slow Vera down and make him more hittable.  Nice short elbow from vera.  Half hearted takedown goes nowhere and we’re back to movement from vera and footwork from Rothwell.  VEra is starting to aim kicks higher now, as he has one bounce off Rothwell’s hands.  Single leg from vera goes nowhere.  Big flurry from Rothwell and Vera is against the cage, eating some shots.  Rothwell is keeping him there, landing some big shots, until Vera moves out.  Rothwell is more aggressive towards the end but Vera is keeping him away with distance.  10-9 Rothwell, 20-18 Rothwell

Round 3: Big body shot from Rothwell early and we’re against the cage.  Break from herb Dean and we’re back in the mdidle.  Rothwell taunts Vera and barrels into him against the cage.  nice combination and he;s unloading.  Vera is eating a ton of punishment and VERA GOES DOWN.  Rothwell uncorks and Herb Dean pulls him off at 1:56 of the third round.

Official Result: Ben Rothwell def. Brandon Vera by TKO (punches) at 1:54 of Round 3


-Chad Mendes (14-1) vs. Clay Guida (30-13)

Round 1: Guida comes out with movement and Mendes isn’t getting suckered in.  He’s waiting for his moment to strike as Clay is making a lot of effort but not doing much.  Mendes is looking to counter and is getting close to landing a number of times; Guida’s speed is what saving him from getting hit.  Guida goes for a takedown  and Mendes grabs a guillotine, turns it into a darce and nearly lands but Guida gets away with a scramble.  Guida is starting to trade but Mendes is making him move every time he hits.  Mendes drags him to the ground with a minute left and Guida pulls full guard, open.  Mendes is content to work out of it slowly.  Guida is doing a good job defensively but Mendes is smother him.  Guida makes it to his knees but Mendes won’t let him out of a front headlock as the round ends.  10-9 Mendes.

Round 2: Guida come sout more aggressive and Mendes matches him; Mendes is looking for the takedown more and Guida is staying away, making him have to overcommit (which he isn’t doing).  Mendes is staying away, looking to counter, as Mendes gets hits in the nuts.  Mendes comes out firing and Guida goes for tje takedown.  Mendes spins around and takes back.  Guida gets up and we have some exchanges.  Mendes drags him to the ground and spins to take back.  Guida stands up and spins away; Mendes is just out classing him at this point.  Guida is game but Mendes is another level better.  Another single from Clay and Mendes gets him down, punishing him against the cage.  He lets him off again as Gudia is game to throw; Mendes is just out-classing him at this point.  10 seconds left and Mendes is waiting for the counter.  10-9 Mendes, 20-18 Mendes

Round 3: Mendes clips Guida Early and tees off, Guida is down and Mendes is just uncorking on him.  30 seconds in and Mendes is pulled off.

Official Result: Chad Mendes def. Clay Guida by TKO (punches) at :30 of Round 3


-Frank Mir (16-7) vs. Josh Barnett (32-6)

Round 1: Barnett comes out swinging and Mir is more than willing to oblige him.  Barnett grabs Mir and body locks him against the cage.  We get an underhook battle from the two as they are just throwing leather.  Barnett goes to the Thai clinch and Mir moves out, Barnett gets him against the cage.  Barnett is landing some big shots as Mir lost his mouth piece.  Big knee from Barnett and Mir goes OUT at 1:57 of the first round.  Mir is protesting the decision but he was knocked out cageside to press row; he was unconscious.

Official Result: Josh Barnett def. Frank Mir by TKO (knee) at 1:56 of Round 1


-Benson Henderson (19-2) vs. Anthony Pettis (16-2)

Round 1: The crowd is bonkers for Anthony Pettis.  They really don’t like Benson Henderson.  Henderson also has his hair in cornrows, too, instead of tied back like normal. Henderson comes out the aggressor but neither guy is throwing.  Henderson with a double but can;t finish.  Turns it to a high crotch and Pettis is fighting him off well.  Benson drops the leg when he can’t finish  the takedown and Pettis moves away.  Another double from Benson and he’s in deep, pettis using hand control to get him out though.  He switches to a lhigh single and Pettis fights out.  Henderson is working the clinch and lands a nice uppercut.  Big shot from Pettis and Benson is in against the cage again.  Henderson goes for a double against it and Pettis is doing a great job in defense.  Henderson is kneeing the thighs whil in the clinch; he may not get the takedown but he’s trying to slow him down later in the fight.  Pettis fights out and we’re back to the middle.  Pettis lands som egreat kicks on henderson and goes for a cartwheel kick.  Henderson catches him and gets the takedown with a minute, landing in full guard.  Pettis grabs an armbar from bottom and Henderson taps.  anthony Pettis wins via submission at 4:31 of the first round

Official Result: Anthony Pettis def. Benson Henderson by submission (armbar) at 4:31 of Round 1