UFC 114: Prelims Re-Cap

UFC 114: Prelims
MGM Garden Arena
Las Vegas, Nevada
Saturday May 29, 2010

Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans finally meet tonight but first we get an hour of free fights on Spike TV. Efrain Escudero will fight Dan Lauzon and Amir Sadollah will fight Dong Hyun Kim. As always Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan are your announcers and Bruce Buffer is the ring announcer.

Lightweight Fight- Efrain Escudero (13-1) vs. Dan Lauzon (12-3)

Escudero was the winner of TUF 8. Escudero beat Cole Miller at UFC 103 but then lost to Evan Dunham by submission at Fight Night 20. Lauzon lost to Cole Miller in his last fight by submission in the first round.

R1- Lauzon is throwing bombs early but not connecting. Escudero is doing a good job countering and landed a good knee. Escudero threw knees up against the cage but Lauzon blocked most of the barrage. Escudero has a cut above his left eye. Close round. I've got Escudero 10-9.

R2- Escudero came in with some strikes and landed some knees and then threw a barrage of punches against the cage. Lauzon was able to cover up and Escudero backed out to avoid punching himself out. Lauzon went for a take down but was stuffed. Lauzon looks tired and Escudero is stalking him. Escudero is landing some good kicks. Escudero landed a strike and Lauzon went down but it didn't look like it connected that well. Escudero 20-18.

R3- Lauzon hits Escudero with a low blow early in the round. Escudero threw some strikes and clinched Lauzon up against the cage. Escudero landed a couple of knees and then a leg kick. Escudero returns the low blow near the end of the round. Josh Rosenthal takes a point away from Escudero. I don't agree with that but it will be a moot point since Escudero is winning every round. Both guys throw leather at the end of the round and Lauzon cut Escudero. I've got Escudero 29-27 after the point deduction.

Judges score cards: All 3 judges score the fight 29-27

Winner: Efrain Escudero by Decision (Unanimous)

Light Heavyweight Fight- Luiz Cane vs. Cyrille Diabate

This is a pre-show fight. I'm thinking Cane took this early since they are showing it now. Cane is trying to rebound from his beating at the hands of lil Nog. This is the UFC debut for Diabate.

R1- Cane landed a big shot early in the first round that rocked Diabate. Diabate landed some good strikes and landed two shots that knocked Cane down then he jumped on and finished Cane. Great win by Diabate.

Winner: Cyrille Diabate by TKO (Strikes) R1 2:13

Welterweight Fight- Amir Sadollah (3-1) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (12-0-1)

Amir has won his last two fights over Phil Baroni and Brad Blackburn, both by unanimous decision. Kim is undefeated in his MMA career since his fight against Karo Parisyan was overturned. In the UFC Kim has defeated T.J. Grant by decision, Matt Brown by split decision and Jason Tan by TKO (elbows). Goldberg points out that they have trained together in the past.

R1- Amir landed some strikes early but Kim got a take down in the first 30 seconds of the fight. Kim is controlling on top but not landing anything clean. Kim was able to get on Amir's back in the last minute of the round. Kim 10-9. Amir needs to keep the fight standing if he wants to win this one.

R2- Amir uses some kicks early but then got taken down quickly before the first minute is over. Amir was able to get back to his feet but Kim won't let go of him and takes him down again. Kim trapped one of Amir's arms and landed some strikes. Amir gave up his back very late in the round. Kim is up 20-18 after two rounds.

R3- Kim got an early take down and this one feels like it is over. Amir got back to his feet with 80 seconds left in the fight. Amir avoided a take down. Amir tried a flying knee but Kim got a take down instead. 40 seconds left and Amir was able to get back to his feet. Amir landed some strikes but nothing that came close to finishing the fight.

Judges score cards: 30-27 on all score cards

Winner: Dong Hyun Kim by Decision (Unanimous)