WOODLEY AND TEYMUR SCORE A PAIR OF UPSET VICTORIES VIA DECISION AT UFC 209

The first 10 minutes were every bit as technical as a point fight type of match could be but, that was not what was originally advertised on the various UFC 209 PPV countdown shows and analysis segments leading up to the UFC 170-pound title bout rematch from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, welterweight king Tyron ‘The Chosen One’ Woodley (17-3-1) did what was needed in order to make a successful first defense of his UFC crown via majority decision with scores of 48-47, 47-47 and 48-47 over challenger, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson (13-2-1).

That tactical set of opening rounds lacked the physical action and explosiveness however, it wasn’t too much of a surprise coming from two counter strikers. From the opening bell this was the strategy employed by both men regardless of how much the fans booed during the rounds.  ‘Wonderboy’ used a wide Karate stance or stayed southpaw while Woodley circled to his own right ‎in a conventional stance while pawing away with his jab.

Early in the 3rd Round, Woodley was able to use a single leg to plant his foe on the mat for half of the round until Thompson finally worked out of half guard, wall walked and got the title fight upright. And once again, they returned to their cat and mouse’ game of hit and don’t be hit or fighting not to lose in essence. ‘The Chosen One’  stuck and moved while Thompson tried to cut the cage off and walk him into a straight shot coming in. In the final minute they both exchanged heavy punches at close range but just missed landing any game changing blows.  The leather wooshed and zinged just past the other’s head, coming up short by just inches.

Going into Round 4 ‎the chess match resumed of the ‘hit and not be hit’ approach as both fighters were extremely frugal with their punch and kick output.  A few head kicks from Thompson followed by a small serving of jabs and crosses then back to cutting off the cage he went. As for the St. Louis champion, he returned fire using an overhand right counter while pacing along the cage wall over the course of those 5 minutes.

Heading into Round 5, Woodley pressed forward a bit more and seemed extremely ‎eager to close the show. He did so in the final minute catching his man with a clubbing right hand punch during an exchange hitting the South Carolina native on the top of the head, sending him stumbling backwards hard along the cage wall.  Thompson had nowhere to go seeing as how he landed in an almost sitting position against the cage and was blasted with some wicked standing to ground punches from Tyron. On two instances Thompson seemed all but knocked out surviving on pure heart and making it to the final bell.

Following the title bid and at the post-fight press conference , the talented warriors gave each other credit for limiting one another’s offense and not giving up any space to work with.  A part 3 isn’t completely out of the question as Stephen Thompson feels he will challenge for that strap again and Tyron Woodley knows his foe can one day possibly even be a title holder but, Woodley now just looks forward to fighting someone not at all like ‘Wonderboy’- not tactical, not so strategic.

TEYMUR IMPRESSES WITH FAN-FRIENDLY OUTING

Lando Vannata (9-2) and David Teymur (6-1) had a heated exchange of words at the face-off Thursday and the weigh-in Friday and that heat did not fizzle out whatsoever tonight. If anything, it made their rivalry that much more exciting seeing it personified inside of the Octagon for the course of 15 action-packed minutes. For the bulk of the bout ‘Groovy’ Vannata landed the cleaner combinations and pressed forward; able to cut off the cage and initiate the exchanges. Nonetheless, for every time that he led with something fierce, his foe landed something even meaner out striking him each time. Vannata’s lead hook was countered by a powerful right hand from Teymur and when he punched first it was a creative and picture-perfect Superman punch or a few left hook-right hand combinations. Those shots were usually power punches and when they landed they caught Vannata pulling away with his hands at his side snapping his head back repeatedly.

A major factor in the match was the Swedish fighter’s masterful timing of his opponent. He scored just about everyone of his takedown attempts while Vannata opted to stand and trade and not more than twice seriously threaten with his own wrestling. If Teymur wasn’t ending a combination with a single or double leg, he cleverly threw a boxing combo in order to bring his man’s hands up, shot in, turned the corner and stuck him on the canvas every round.

In the end the judges saw it 30-27 all across the board for David  Teymur by way of a unanimous decision as he upsets 2 to 1 favorite Lando Vannata and makes the most of his co-main event slot.

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‘OLD’ MAN KELLY SPOILS 185LBS DEBUT FOR EVANS  WITH SPLIT POINTS VERDICT

Ex-light heavyweight champion, ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans (24-6-1) landed in the middleweight division tonight after a ‎small layoff and a planned rejuvenation to his MMA career. He did what he was supposed to and looked relatively good doing it over the course of 15 minutes.

However, his opponent Daniel ‘Old Man’ Kelly ‎(13-1), wasn’t aware that the Suga’ Evans coming out party was to be on the Aussie’s tab nor did he bother reading the memo of being a 3 to 1 underdog according to the sports books. The pride of Australia was just a little sharper, a little quicker and better prepared than any one on Evans team expected.  The key to his game plan was to shut down Evan’s bread and butter: his wrestling-top heavy offense. Kelly stuffed multiple single leg, double leg and body lock takedown attempts by the original Blackzilian member. When Evans landed a punch, Kelly landed two. And when Evans strung together a combination Kelly slipped and ducked his way out of harm’s way.

His most potent moves where on the inside. Once he cancelled out Rashad’s approach to force the fight to the ground or lack of being able to keep it standing,the look of the fight totally changed. The match being kept upright and at the Aussie’s pace undoubtedly benefited Kelly as he was kicking just outside of range, landing 1-2 combinations and leading with a sneaky uppercut that rung his foe’s bell on numerous instances,  especially the 3rd and final round. Those crucial moments saw Kelly mix in some dirty boxing at close range, constantly coming forward either being first or being active often with his high output and variety of strikes which topped off with his ability to constantly stop his man’s takedowns in each round prompted two of the three judges to give him the nod.

Once the scorecards were read it was official for Daniel Kelly with two of the judges seeing it 29-28 for him and one score of 29-28 for Rashad ‘Suga’ Evans.

During the post-fight interview Kelly disclosed coming into the match with a bad knee somewhat limiting his movement.

CALVILLO ENDS COOPER‎ IN STYLE AND QUICK

Cynthia Calvillo (4-0) acted fast while making the most of her UFC pay-per-view spot ending Cooper’s momentum for their women’s strawweight affair by finishing Amanda Cooper (3-3) via rear naked choke at (3:19) of the opening round. Calvillo tangled with her on the feet for a few minutes before stepping it up a level and hitting a takedown to take the match to the ground. Calvillo’s ground game, scrambles, and submission attacks were too much for the over matched Cooper who gave up her back in a scramble and almost got caught in a triangle choke before her foe switched to her back looking for the choke. Cooper fought it for a bit but the end was inevitable as Calvillo was too slick for her, sunk in her hooks and slid her forearm under her opponents chin before forcing the tap.

OVEREEM FINISHES HUNT IN 3 VIA VICIOUS KNEE

Alistair Overeem (42-15) started off very smary by keeping the fight at his range and snapping away at the Super Soman’ Mark Hunt (12-11-1) with lead kicks to the body and head then a straight jab, mixing everything up. The Netherlands native also picked him apart from the outside with an oblique kick usually showcased in many a Jon Jones fight. This put Mark in a box and made his offense drop significantly until the final two minutes when he was able to let his hands go and ‎put some combinations together. Still, Hunt was lunging and had gotten caught both in the body and face by the accuracy of Overeem.

Going into the 2nd Round, Hunt’s mouth was a bloody mess, his shin was a bloody mess as well from throwing a body kick of his own to his feo. The one-time UFC Interim heavyweight title challenger’d conditioning looked to be in question now as he easily gave up ground to a come-forward Overeem. Hunt let himself be pinned along the fence wall for a good minute or so before pulling away after trying to circle out. With less than two minutes leftin Round 2 he caught Overeem coming in with a flush using a  step in elbow. The former Strikeforce belt holder staggered back momentarily as Hunt nailed him with some punches while Overeem covered up but nothing fight-ending happened by Hunt. The crafty ‘Reem’ managed to get the fight back where he wanted it and took over the last minute , landing some great knees and kicks to the body of Hunt on the inside plus using the Thai plum to keep him pinned against the cage wall as the round came to a close.

Heading into Round 3, Hunt was clearly tired and was not breathing with his mouth wide open ‎. The ex-K-1 champion marched forward hoping to land big on Overeem but was wide with the rights and lefts. Overeem smelled the blood in the water and went for the finish once he managed to use the clinch to get Hunt’s back along the fence.   In close quarters Overeem hit his man with a left inside elbow followed by a huge standing right knee, then a left hook plus one more standing knee from Overeem had Hunt go to sleep. The ‘Super Somoan’ ‎face planted lifelessly on the mat as the referee stepped in to call the fight.

The official time for Alistair Overeem’s stoppage of Mark Hunt via 3rd Round KO came at (1:44) thanks to a devastating pair of knees and follow up strikes.