UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva

 January 2, 2010

 Las Vegas, Nevada

 MGM Grand Garden Arena

 

  

 

 

 

 MAIN CARD

   – Rashad Evans def. Thiago Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

   – Paul Daley def. Dustin Hazelett via KO (punch) – Round 1, 2:24

   – Sam Stout def. Joe Lauzon via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

   – Jim Miller def. Duane “Bang” Ludwig via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:31

   – Junior Dos Santos def. Gilbert Yvel via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:07

PRELIMINARY CARD

   – Martin Kampmann def. Jacob Volkmann via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:03

   – Cole Miller def. Dan Lauzon via submission (kimura from inverted triangle) – Round 1, 3:05

   – Mark Munoz def. Ryan Jensen via submission (punches) – Round 1, 2:30

   – Jake Ellenberger def. Mike Pyle via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:22

   – Rafaello Oliveira def. John Gunderson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Fights Comments:  

Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva has finished 13 of the 14 opponents he beat. Evans, with his wrestling background has had quite a few wins by decision in the past, but as his striking developed, he has started finishing more and more fights. This is a very interesting match-up. Both fighters want a win so they can get back in title contention. Evans also wants to avenge the loss Silva has over his best friend Keith Jardine.

Rashad is walking out to KRS-One’s “Rapture”, one of my personal favorite rap songs. Just the fact that he is walking out to KRS-One has give him a HUGE advantage. Look out Thiago! He gets mega style points for that. – Rashad crawls very fast into the cage, and does a little knee slide / spin thingy.

Round 1 – They touch gloves and both guys look VERY focused. Don’t blink folks… Rashad moves in with punches and clinches. Pits Thiago against the cage. Thiago grabs the plum but Rashad grabs a double leg and gets the takedown, Rashad picks him up and slams him as Thiago tried to get back up. Rashad gets the mount. Rashad got his black belt from Rolles Gracie today. Silva escapes and is back to his feet. Rashad still clinching, pitting Thiago against the cage. Rashad using a lot of head movement, they exchange punches and Rashad gets the takedown. Silva back tohis feet. Rashad backs up they square off. Leg kick by Thiago Leg kick again. Left hook by Thiago. Rashad comes forward with a combo then clinches. Nice uppercut, then a big combo, with a body shot, then a takedown. Thiago gets up though right away. Rashad dominates the round 10-9 as I see it.

Round 2 – Jorge Gurgel translates between the rounds. I’m glad about that. Rashad comes in with a combo, closes the distance, gets the clinch. Silva with a knee, then an uppercut that misses. Leg kick by Silva. Evans gets another takedown, in Thiago’s half guard. Thiago gets up, eats a punch, then gets slammed. Thiago breathing hard and looks frustrated. He just hasn’t been able to get off because of Rashad’s game plan. Silva is back up, they square off again. Rashad with the head movement, Silva trying to time his strikes. Rashad shoots in, pits him against the cage again. Right hand by Thiago scores big. Right hand by Thiago as Evans slows his head movement. Thiago lands a kick to the body. Evans with a double jab and drove Silva into the middle of the cage wall. Puts him down, then Silva gets up. Ten seconds left in the round. Rashad gets that round fairly easily 10-9 as I see it.

Round 3 – Thiago’s corner tells him he’s losing on points. Rashad tries the combo to takedown but gets stuffed. Evans lands a punch out of the clinch. Left hand by Silva. Silva throws a right, Evans ducks, and gets a takedown. Silva gets right up. Silva stalking. Silva tells him to bring it on. Leg kick by Silva. Silva tells the crowd and Rashad to fire it up. Big overhand right by Rashad. Silva sticks his head out with his hands down. Invites Rashad in. Silva has his hands down. He rocks ‘Rashad with a big punch, drops him. Evans is hurt badly. 1:35 left in the round. Uppercut by Silva. Silva stands there with his hands down. Rashad was hurt badly and now Rashad has recovered for the most part. Rashad tries to shoot, gets stuffed. Thiago was so tired he couldn’t finish him. Rashad looking for the takedown. Oh man, oh man, oh man. If it was Pride rules Evans would have won. Unified rules Evans gets it. (Or possibly even a draw if they give the last round 10-8 to Silva). I would not want to be a judge in this one. The judges are not going to be able to win with this one.

 

Paul Daley vs. Dustin Hazelett

Round 1 – Hazelett did not look at Daley during the staredown. Hazelett rolls across the mat to start off. This makes Rogan chuckle. Head kick by Hazelett. Leg kick by Daley. Goldberg needs to learn he doesn’t always need to talk. Daley with a head kick taht’s blocked, then a leg kick. Leg kick by Daley. Hazelett’s corner is screaming their head off. Head kick blocked then a front kick lands for Hazelett. Daley trying to pick his shots. Front kick lands by Hazelett, he checks a leg kick. Paul Daley lands one big left hand and Dustin Hazelett goes to sleep… he follows it up with a punch for good measure. Daley asked Rogan, “How do you like that sir?” It was a huge left hook that sends Hazelett straight back… has to be KO of the night unless the main event ends in a more spectacular fashion. Daley apologized for his antics after the fight, said sometimes the adrenaline is flowing and you do “stupid things.” I’m not sure exactly what he did but nothing too bad, especially after Aoki’s recent antics.

 

Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout

Round 1 – Lauzon throws an overhand left, then shoots, gets the takedown immediately and is in Stout’s half guard. Lauzon dives for kimura and rolls with it about three flips. Stout is up but has a cut over his left eye that is bleeding down his face. Stout lands a couple of punches. Lauson shoots, grabs a single leg and Stout makes him pay with a few punches. Lauzon finishes the takedown, Stout gets up though and lands a knee to the body. Lauzon shoots, pulls guard. Stout with an elbow that scores. Lauzon gets full guard. Lauzon looking for subs. Stout stands up and lets Lauzon up. Stout lands a nice uppercut, stuffs the takedown, lands a big body shot and is picking Lauzon apart with strikes. Lauzon’s stand up is looking shoddy. Right hand by Lauzon but he’s wincing with his punches. Leg kick by Stout. Liver shot by Stout. Lauzon walking into Stout’s punches like a zombie. Stout wins that round in my opinion 10-9.

Round 2 – Lauzon shoots, gets stuffed, and thrown off. Stout with another liver punch. Lauzon walking into Stout’s strikes. Big leg kick from Stout. Head kick by Stout rocks Lauzon. Lauzon gets the takedown. Stout bleeding pretty badly over the eye. Stout getting up, makes it after a struggle. Left hook, right leg kick combo from Stout. Lauzon clinches up, looking for a takedown and pays for it. Lauzon moves forward and covers his head. Eats a stiff left. Right hand by Lauzon. Nice combo by Stout. Stout’s striking is much crisper than Lauzon, and more technical. Left punch by Stout, Lauzon pulls guard. Stout stands up and lets Lauzon up. Body kick by Stout. Lauzon pulls guard again. Elbow by Stout. 20 seconds left, another elbow. Big elbow by Stout to finish the round. Stout gets another round 10-9 in my eyes.

Round 3 – Interesting advice from Thompkins. He tells Stout to go out there and play with him this round, and all Lauzon has is a puncher’s knockout chance at this point. Lauzon with a lazy shot. Nice right by Stout scores. Stout tearing him up with combos and kicks. Lauzon shoots, gets stuffed. Body shot by Stout. Nice three punch combo followed by a front kick. Stout putting on a clinic. Lauzon gets pushed to the ground when going for a takedown. Lauzon has the worst gameplan right now, just moving forward with his hands covering his face. Very ugly. Lauzon finally gets a takedown after eating a million strikes. Lauzon lands and elbow. 1:45 left in the round and fight. Lauzon gets full mount, goes for a guillotine, no dice, Stout is out and up. Lauzon dives for some crazy heel hook but no dice. Stout picking him apart again. 30 seconds left. Huge uppercut by Stout. Spinning backfist barely misses by Stout. Stout lands a few more as the bell sounds. Holy smokes, very impressive performance by Stout. I score that round 10-9 for Stout and the fight 30-27 for Stout. It is the first fight Joe Lauzon has ever gone the distance.

 

Jim Miller vs. Duane “Bang” Ludwig

Round 1 – Will Miller stay standing? Ludwig lands a straight punch. Leg kick by Miller. Miller lands a nice combo and a inside leg kick. Ludwig fires back with a combo, nothing much landing. Ludwig lands a shot but Miller counters and drops Ludwig, Miller mounts Ludwig, and goes for an armbar as Ludwig scrambles. That’s it, Ludwig taps. Very very impressive performance by Miller. He stood and banged with Bang, dropped him with a right hand and submitted him quickly. Great showing by Miller.

 

Junior dos Santos vs. Gilbert Yvel

Two big powerful heavyweight strikers. What a great way to start the show. The undercard was great, and if it is any indication of what is to come, we’re in store for a great card. The most cursed card in the history of the UFC – could it turn out to be one of the best? We shall see… dos Santos walks out to the theme from Rocky. This fight could cause a shift in the Earth’s axis. Nogueira is in dos Santos’ corner. Herb Dean the ref.

Round 1 – Body shot by dos Santos. Yvel with a leg kick that misses. Yvel ducks a punch. Leg kick by dos Santos. Yvel looks calm. Dos Santos socres with a shot and Yvel fires back and connects. BIG punches from both guys. Big leg kick by dos Sanots as Yvel moves in with a punch. Body punch by dos Santos. Head kick by Yvel. Huge left hand by dos Santos drops Yvel to the mat, he takes quite a few more unanswered blows and the ref stops it. It was a huge left hook that put Yvel down, dropped like a tree going T-I-M-B-E-R… Yvel protests, but also asked the ref if he was out. Big big power by dos Santos.