Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

Woo Hoo the first time I've ever been able to watch UFC live, thank you Setanta for actually having a hot contemporary product that more than four goofs in Middlesbrough actually enjoy. Actually Setanta aren't that bad I'm just glad its not the Setanta team covering the event.

Sean Sherk (37-3-1) vs. Frank Edgar (9-1) - Lightweight

Round One: Wow I didn't realize Sherk had had so many fights. Well my money is on Sherk literally, although I'm pretty worried about this one. Franky gets a hed kick as Sherk swings wildly. Sherk gets a jab to the gut, neither man can connect with anything big yet. Edgar's reach advantage is makign his tough. They briefly clinch, Edgar gets a leg kick, Sherk blocks a mid kick, Sherk snaps off a jab but Edgar returns fire with a straight right, Edgar then gts a lovely combo of two body shots and a straight right. Sherk misses a wild swing and Edgar hits another lightening combo. Edgar gets a leg kick and dodges. Edgar gets another nice flurry and bizzarely goes for a takedown btu Sherk stuffs it. Sherk hits a left hook. Sherk gets a leg kick but Edgar trips him and gets a guillotine, Sherk has it blocked but this doesn't look good for Sherk. Sherk manages to pwoer out. Frank catches a jab and dances away. Sherk is really struggling with this reach disadvantage. Frank gets a left hook and they then trade some big shots but neither man has enough power to rock the other.

My Scorecard: 10-9 to Frankie Edgar, he should better skill and control, Sherk kept pressing forward but Edgar dictated the action with a series of nice flurries. Great movement from Edgar Sherk has to close the gap.

Round Two: Edgar dances around and hits an uppercut, Sherk tires to snap off some jabs but Edgar dances around. Sherk lands a hook and an uppercut. Edgar gets a short left hook. Edgar gets a nice counter with a straight left hand and he follows it with a good body kick. Edgar again lights up Sherk with some counter punches. Edgar then knocks down Sherk with a knee to the body. Sherk recovers but continues to walk into counter punches. Sherk gets a couple of jabs but can't connect with the big hooks. Edgar gets a nice leg kick and follows it with a good jab combo. Sherk gets a body shot but is struggling to hit anything. Edgar throws another nice combo but Sherk responds with an uppercut but Edgar replies with a good combo. Edgar lands another uppercut jab combo, Edgar hits a lovely uppercut combo and Sherk explodes with some wild hooks but can't connect with anything. Edgar hits an accidental low blow. Edgar goes for a take down but its stuffed and Sherk blocks it and lands a right hand. Sherk hits an overhand right on the buzzer drawing blood from Edgars nose.

My Scorecard: 10-9 to Edgar again, Edgar's boxing skills are vastly superior he is floating in and out and hitting nice combos, he's been very ellusive and even got a knockdown in that round.

Round Three: Edgar continues to float around picking off Sherk, Sherk hits a left hook and then gets a big takedown on Edgar. Edgar makes it to his feet but eats a pair of jabs, Sherk is bleeding from his eye brow. Sherk swings wildly but gets picked off again. Edgar bobs and weaves, Sherk hits a left cross and blocks a takedown. Sherk can't get a takedowna and eats a kick to the body. They trade and Edgar gets another nice combination. Sherk gets a left hook, and then a straight left, Edgar responds with a nice combination. Edgar continues to pick of Sherk. Sherk goes for a takedown but Edgar counters with a guillotine but the time expires.

My Scorecard: Another 10-9 round for Edgar, making it 30-27 Edgar on my scorecard, Shawn got a takedown but Edgar still controlled the round and the fight with his movement.

Judges Decision: All three judges score the fight 30-27 Frank Edgar wins by Unamious Decision.

Solid opening fight, Edgar dance around and hits some loevely combinations and showed some great foot work. Edgar outclassed the one dimensional Sherk in every department. Solid action. (D)

Chael Sonnen (23-10-1) vs. Dan Miller (11-1-1) - Middleweight

Round One: For some reason the fans are booing the ref. Miller catches Sonnen early with some rights and a leg kick. Sonnen goes for a takedown but Miller catches him witha sweet guillotine, Sonnen's face goes bright red but after about thirty seconds he manages to escape and unloads with some big ground and pound. Great opening to the fight, for no apparent reason Sonnen sits down into Miller's high guard. Miller kicks him off but Sonnen explodes with some monsterous big ground and pound. Sonnen blocks a knee bar and gets side control and begins to drop elbows. Miller manages to recover to half guard, Chael hits a nice straight right rocking Miller who manages to squirm back into full guard. Sonnen stands up and hits some monsterous straight rights, Dan is taking the ground and pound but Miller is going to be fucked for the next round.

My Scorecard: 10-9 to Sonnen, Miller started really well with the arm in guillotine but the minute Sonnen escaped he was screwed as Sonnen showed off some impressive ground and pound skills. Miller will get his chance to stand up second round.

Round Two: Both men go for leg kicks and Miller stuffs a takedown, they throw hands before going to the clinch, Sonnen gets a huge takedown and Miller gets the guillotine, he has it locked without the arm but he is totally gassed from the first round and Sonnen powers out with ease. Sonnen tries to ground and pound but Miller is guarding well. The comentators discuss the UFC video game and having to use the tutorial while their kids were asleep. Miller is defending well but not doign anything more than that. Miller goes for an arm bar but he clearly doesn't have the energy and Sonnen hammers his way out. Sonnen lands a nice elbow, Sonnen throw one huge shot but Dan takes it and holds Sonnen in his guard.

My Scorecard: 10-9 Sonnen, Miller is completely gassed, he's had chances but can't take them, he's too tired. That was a pretty dull round as Miller has a good guard and made sure he kept it dull.

Round Three: Miller lands a series of big straight rights an lefts to start the match forcing Sonnen to go for the takedown and gets it with ease, damn. Sonnen gets through Miller's rubber guard easily. This is just too evenly matched, Miller can't get a submission, Sonnen can't get through the guard. Sonnen drops some elbows. The crowd are getting very restless as Sonnen dominates but can't really do anything. Sonnen tries to pass guard but isn't going anywhere.

My Scorecard: 30-27 total domination by Sonnen.

Judge's Decision: 30-27 Unanimous Decision for Chael Sonnen

Not an exciting fight in the least, classic example of a wrestler lying ontop of a gassed opponent, very dominate victory but you can't really see Sonnen going anywhere unless he can become more exciting. Started well though. (E)

Drew McFederies (7-5) vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam (20-10) - Middleweight

Round One: This is the best possible fight to follow up that snoozefest, Rogan describes this fight as Rock'em Sock'em Robots awesome. McFederies goes in swinging wildly and knocks the shit out of Pokam knocking him down, pounding the hell out of him, Pokam gets up and Drew knocks the shit out Pokam whoses falling all over the place, Pokam tries to grab a leg but the referee has no choice but to end it.

Drew McFedries wins by TKO in 0:37.

Well that was dissapointingly short but that was a totally welcome wake up call after the last match, it was pretty funny Proffesor X was hoping around and Drew caught him with some massive shots, fun and short, cool TKO. (D+)

Pre Lim: Soszyinski vs. Gusmount - Heavyweight

Round One: Gus catches his opponent low and they seperate, Gus hits a big leg kick and unloads before going for a high kick but Soszyinzki takes it. Soszyinski hits his opponet with a low blow. Gusmount dances around but gets tag with a combo. Gus gets a leg kick and a front kick. Gus tags his opponent with a left hook and an inside leg kick, Soszyinski rocks Gus and they stand and trade and Soszyinski gets the better of it and huge right cross puts Gus on his arse and the lights have definitely been turned out. On the replay it was the two big right hooks that killed Gusmount.

Christoph Soszinski wins by KO in 3:17.

Really good knock out, some brutal shots, I'm amazed that Gus managed to take the first hook but the second one finished it in devastating fashion. Fun pre lim match. (D+)

Matt Hughes (43-7) vs. Matt Serra (16-5) - Welterweight Weight

Pre Match Hype: Well I've already lost fifty pence on Shawn Sherk but now its time to back it all back I've got two pounds on Hughes, i know know what your thinking Woah big spender but its on. These two guys really hate each other, this fight has been building for over a year, its not as big a fight as it would have been back then, Serra constantly calls Matt Hughes a dick. This is the definition of a grudge match and it truly could be the last fight ever for a true MMA legend in the form of Matt Hughes.

Round One: God I'm suddenly all nervous, seriously I can see Serra knocking him out, I don't know why, it was just too much of a sure thing that Hughes was gonna win. Both men feel ech other out, Serra lands a big punch that rocks Hughes and Hughes is all over ht place and Serra beats the crap out of him. It turns out that Hughes was caught with a head butt, Hughes picks a leg and goes to the clinch to slow the match down and recovers. Hughes pins Serra against the cage and grinds away. Fuck I'm even more nervous now. Hughes lands a jab, Serra lands an insde leg kick. Hughes looks very groggy. Matt misses a big kick and goes to the clinch, but Matt gets a big belly to belly takedown and pounds away on Serra getting the back and goes for the rear naked choke but Serra is fighting out of it well. Serra escapes and both men make it to their feet. The crowd chant for Hughes. Hughes dodges a big kick and dodges a wild swing and goes for a takedown.

My Scorecard: 10-9 Hughes, fuck its really tough to call, Serra was more tough and got the big the knock down, but Hughes got the takedown and back control some I'm edging it to Hughes. It turned out to be a headbut and a rabbit punch that took Hughes down.

Round Two: Hughes got hurt bad as he doesn't know what happened to him. The crowd chant for "Serra" but that's met with lots of boos, Hughess dodges a huge left and catches a jeb. Hughes gets a jab and a belly to belly takedown. Hughes gets to half but Serra is defending well. Hughes is stuck as both men battle and Hughes lays in some big body shots. Hughes lays in some shots to the face. Hughes continues to ground and pound, its not overly exciting but I feel alot more confident. Serra looks cocky as Hughes pounds away. Hughes catches Serraw with some decent shots. Hughes hits Serra in the face who looks a little more nervous now. The crowd aren't happy and the referee stands them up. Serra misses some big shots as the round ends.

My Scorecard: 10-9 Hughes, Hughes took him downa and dominated the round, Serra has to come and look for a knock out. I know Hughes is looking for takedowns but I'm worried by the south paw stance.

Round Three: Hughes manages to back up Serra who swings with an uppercut but misses. Serra is looking for the big shot, Hughes gets a good right hand and Hughes relentlessly chases Serra and gets the takedown but lands in the armuplata. This could be bad news for Hughes. Hughes slugs and escapes to the full guard. Hughes drags Serra to the cage and Serra locks up Hughes again but he escapes. Serra goes for a triangle but Hughes escapes easily. Serra is holding on to try and stand up the fight and the referee oblidges. Serra is coming after Hughes. but Hughes catches him with a big right hand. Serra misses a big kicka dn Hughes gets the clinch but Serra gets the takedown OH SHIT. Serra nails Hughes with a big punch. Thank christ time expires. The two men hug at the buzzer. Hughes raises Serra's arm.

My Scorecard: 10-9 Serra I think, that was tough, I think that takedown at the end gave it to Serra, as he tried submission on the ground and showed better aggression very close. 29-28 Hughes in my opinion. But I would say that.

Judges Decision: 29-28 Unanimous decision to Matt Hughes.

Thank fucking christ that was so bloody scary, it looks like I had it scored correctly, that was so close the judges easily could have gone the other way. Not dominant at all from Hughes but then he did get knocked silly by a fluke headbutt and a illegal rabbit punch. The fight wasn't a classic but it was incredibly tense, very nervy and had lots of twists and turns, definitely drama over quality. I won my money whoop, whoop. On a serious note Hughes should retire he has nothing left to prove, he's equalled Liddell's record and there is no need to avenge the Silva fight as Hughes was past his peak. For christ sake he's had 51 fights! That is so many especially by modern MMA standards it's time to hang it up and go into the hall of fame. (C+)

UFC Light Heavyweight Title
Lyoto Machida (14-0) vs. Rashad Evans (18-0-1)

Round One: Rashad looks cool and calm like he's having fun in the intros and Lyoto looks very determined. My money is on this fight too but I'm not so nervous I got Machida by decision. Evans won't push the fight and you can see Machida isn't happy having to push the fight. This is incrediblee no one has thrown a punch in the first two minutes. Machida hits a gut kick and this is so cagey its beyond belief. Machida nails another kick to the guy after another minute. Machida tries leg sweep but Rashad hits a glancing hook. Rashad swings wildly, they go into the clinch and immediately break. Machida rocks Evan with a right taking Rashad down hard and unloads with a furious flurry but cannot finish and Evans fights back and recovers. Rashad blocks a pair of big kicks.

My Scorecard: 10-8 Machida, I'm going out on a lim with the 10-8 score, but Machida hit the only two kicks of the fight before knocking Rashad down and unloading like hell.

Round Two: The crowd chant "Ma-chi-da" as another sixty seconds passes without any strikes being thrown. Machida gets a gut kick and goes for a takedown but the cage saves Evans, lucky boy. Evans has taken the centre and will he show any aggression? No, Machida retakes the centre and Machida unloads with a lightening flurry but Rashad responds with a big flurry of his own. God exchange but not very heavy hands. Rashad finally shows some aggresiona and comes forward with a wild flurry. Evans gets a gut kick and he's finally starting to bring it but looks very nervous. Rashad comes swinging and Machida knocks him down with a huge counter punch, Rashad is all over the place falling over and over again but Machida can't finish, Rashad gets stuck against the cage and Machida punches the holy hell out of Rashad with a big kick and then a humongous flurry of straight right and lefts knock Rashad out cold. Rashad's legs buckle and he is flat out. The slow mo shows us that it was a straight right that rocked Evans originally, then it was a huge right hook that knocked Evans silly and a big straight right, left combo that finished it.

The winner by Knock Out and New Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida!

Well I got the right winner wrong finish, I should make some good money there. The fight itself had a very cagey first round, but Machida got the big knock down, the second round was the same until Machida picked his spot and that led to a very memorable insanely precise knocked out. Not the greatest fight overall but that shocking second round knockout will be replayed many many times. Machida is a scary proposition I have absolutely no idea who can beat him, maybe a Matt Hughes type who can take him down, pin him and sit out a rounds victory. The post match interview with Machida was very fun he seemed like a nice guy, Rashad Evans is very humble in defeat. Evans puts over Machida's cleverness and timing. Not sure where we go from here, Rampage-Machida would be the obvious fight, but its hard to see Rampage winning, unless he catches Machida with a big shot. Evans has several potential opponents but its tricky because he's too good to drop down the ladder but I don't think there is much money in a rematch. Maybe Evan's fights the winner of Silva-Franklin. Regardless a cagey start leading to an explosive finale. (B-)

Overall Thoughts: Not the greatest card you'll ever see but you definitely got three cool knockouts and exciting fights, one grueling nerve racking grudge match between a legend and a pesky fighter. There were certianly some duds on the card but this is a show were if you ordered you got your money's worth but nothing more, just like WWE Judgement Day. I'm glad this airs for free int he UK. The newsworthiness of the two main events bumps up the rating slightly. (7/10)