UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar – Prelims Results Recap

Gleison Tibau (35-8) vs. Evan Dunham (13-3)

3-Round, Lightweight Bout

The last match of the preliminary card featured Tibau taking on Dunham in a spirited affair that was fought mainly on the feet as the two traded leg kicks and punch combinations with an occasional takedown attempt.

Once he saw that Dunham handled the strikes well, Tibau set up a shot using his punches and got the takedown. From there, he went for the finish with minutes left in the round by jumping guard and going for a guillotine choke. Dunham defended it well and took over the match in the next two rounds.

By circling out, using angles and lots of head movement, the Las Vegas fighter kept Tibau guessing for the following 10 minutes. In the 2nd round he used a feint to get a takedown on Tibau and work a little ground and pound as he fished for a submission attempt. The 3rd saw the same type of action but, Tibau used a double leg takedown inside the first minute to get Dunham to the mat.

He again tried the guillotine but had no luck. Dunham picked up the pace and landed the better of the strikes using his great footwork moving in and out of the pocket throwing jabs and 1-2 combinations on his way to a decision triumph.

Result: Evan Dunham defeats Gleison Tibau by split decision. Two judges see it (29-28) while the remaining judge sees it (29-28) for Tibau.

Tyron Woodley (10-1) vs. Jay Hieron (23-6)

3-Round, Welterweight Bout

The third Strikeforce export on the card making his Octagon debut, Woodley took on Octagon veteran, Hieron in a 170-pound fight that ended in devastating fashion. For the first few seconds, both welterweights circled one another in the middle of the cage looking to find their range. Woodley threw a left jab followed by and overhand right that caught his foe perfectly behind the ear.

That threw Hieron’s equilibrium off completely leaving him on shaky legs. Woodley never let him recover as he swarmed him with some lightning fast follow-up punches. Hieron curled up attempting to block the powerful strikes but Woodley instinctively maneuvered around and found himself in his foe’s then began throwing some hay makers.Three of those right hand bombs exploded unto Herion’s face, instantly separating the UFC veteran from his senses. (Photo: ESTHER LIN / MMA FIGHTING)

Result: Ex-Strikeforce fighter, Tyron Woodley announces his arrival to the UFC 170-pound division with a highlight reel KO of Jay Herion at (0:36) of round 1.

Jacob Volkmann (15-3) vs. Bobby Green (19-5)

3-Round, Lightweight Bout

The second ex-Strikeforce versus UFC bout of the night was fought in the 155-pound weight class. This one was expected to go a specific way since Volkmann was a 4-1 favorite. Well, that might not have helped the cause for the Minnesota native seeing as how Green was everything but green in the cage.

He weathered the storm and avoided a rear naked choke early in the match as Volkmann used his great wrestling to take the fight to the ground. Going into the 2nd, Green made some adjustments and used his footwork and punches to avoid finding himself on his back due to his foe’s powerful takedowns.

The 3rd round is when Green really came on. Following a scramble along the fence, Volkmann got the better of the position by taking his foe to the ground. However, Green reversed the move and was able to get top control on Volkmann. From there he threw some serious ground and pound, hurting the UFC alum and making him give up his back to avoid more damage. Instantly, Green took Volkmann’s back, sinking in a rear naked choke that was tight and his opponent had no choice but to tap.

Result: Bobby Green splashes into the UFC’s lightweight division with his upset of Jacob Volkmann by rear naked choke submission at (4:25) of round 3.

Yves Edwards (42-18-1) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (13-3-1)

3-Rounds, Lightweight Bout

One of the first 3 bouts of the night that featured a Strikeforce fighter making his debut inside the Octagon showcased UFC veteran Edwards welcoming Vallie-Flagg to the UFC. Edwards brought his opponent up to speed with an array of strikes. Whether it was high kicks or punches up the middle and elbows on the inside, Edwards looked great in the opening round.

Still, Vallie-Flagg was prepared to make a statement in his debut absorbing straight right hands from his foe and not letting up on his approach to come forward. He returned fire and showed real heart in pushing the pace early.

In the 2nd round, the New Mexico fighter closed the distance but Edwards got the fight to the ground and immediately worked from Isaac’s guard to get side control. He succeeded and looked for a submission as Issac gave up his back. This enabled Yves to take his back and sink in his hooks on Issac. Edwards couldn’t find the finish with a submission and it would cost him going into the final round.

There, Vallie-Flagg’s gas tank determined the round as he walked down Edwards from every corner of the cage. Edwards did his best to slip punches and use upper body movement to avoid trouble. Nonetheless, Vallie-Flagg came on using the clinch to land some knees and elbows on his man. Yves tried to get a takedown but Isaac stuffed it and continued throwing punches moving. Towards the end of the round, Yves threw some upper cuts and hooks or combinations before the round came to an end to impress the judges but it wouldn’t be enough.

Result: Isaac Vallie-Flagg defeats Yves Edwards in his UFC debut by split decision. Two judges see it (29-28) Vallie-Flagg while the remaining judge sees it (29-28) for Edwards.
　
Chico Camus (12-3) vs. Dustin Kimura (10-0)

3-Round, Bantamweight Bout

In the 1st round a two-punch combination from Camus caught Kimura early making him stumble backwards along the cage. Camus closed the distance looking to land some more punches but Kimura jumped guard. He fought off of his back for the remainder of the fight going for a few submissions to try and even the round following the partial knockdown.

Camus felt comfortable enough on the mat to shoot for a single leg and take Kimura down to the mat. He got the takedown but found himself defending Kimura’s attacks once he was there. Off of his back, the California native attempted a couple arm submissions to keep Camus at bay. Camus attempted the same approach of taking the fight to the ground in the 3rd and final round. He went for another single leg but this time Kimura used it to transition to mount. From there he took Camus’ back, sinking in a rear naked choke to get the win and make a successful UFC debut.

Result: Dustin Kimura defeats Chico Camus by rear naked choke submission in round 3.
　
Edwin Figueroa (9-1) vs. Francisco Rivera (8-2)

3-round, Bantamweight Bout

To start off the night from the Mandalay Bay Arena, both bantamweights set a frantic pace by swinging for the fences early in the first round. Wild hooks, deadly uppercuts and overhand punches were thrown by both men. During a heated exchange, Figueroa countered with a clean left hook, sending Rivera to the canvas about a minute into the fight. Rivera kept his composure and fought out of his guard while recovering from the punch. Once they stood back up, Rivera managed to take Figueroa down to the mat but failed to keep him there and do much damage.

In the second round Rivera threw a leg kick but Figueroa caught it and used it to take his man down to the mat. Rivera instantly went for a triangle choke but couldn’t secure the move tight enough. Eventually, Rivera got the fight standing again and the two returned to trading wicked punches at close range. Rivera was the fresher of the two following the pace of the heated 1st round and it showed as his strikes were more crisp and accurate.

Rivera used his fresher legs to walk the visibly fatigued Figueroa down, unleashing a barrage of punches to the head and body of Figueroa. The Texan stumbled along the cage on wobbly legs as Rivera threw 3 more punishing right hands. The last one, a straight right, sent Figueroa to the mat as the referee stepped in to call off the match.

Result: Francisco Rivera defeats Edwin Figueroa by TKO at (4:20) of round 2.