UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva 1/02/10 Re-Cap

UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva
1/02/10
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas, Nevada

Heavyweight Fight- Junior Dos Santos (9-1) vs. Gilbert Yvel (36-13-1)

Dos Santos is 3-0 in the UFC and is a Top 10 Heavyweight. This is Yvel’s return to the UFC. This is an important fight for both guys. Dos Santos comes out to the theme to Rocky with his ear looking similar to James Thompson’s did when he fought Kimbo in Elite XC.

R1- Both guys throwing freely in the early going of this fight. Dos Santos floored Yvel with a huge left hand two minutes into the round and then started peppering him with punches on the ground and Herb Dean stepped in and stopped the fight. Dos Santos is no joke.

Winner: Junior Dos Santos by TKO (Strikes) R1 2:07

Lightweight Fight- Jim Miller (15-2) vs. Duane Ludwig (27-9)

This is Duane Ludwig’s return to the UFC but he was 2-0 in his previous UFC fights. Ludwig is taking this fight on 2 weeks notice and Joe Rogan points out that he cut down from the 180s. Jim Miller comes out to CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising”.

R1- Miller hit a right that floored Ludwig and Miller quickly jumped on top and mounted. Ludwig tried to get out and Miller clamped on an arm bar and got the submission victory.

Winner: Jim Miller by Submission (Arm Bar) R1 2:31

Takanori Gomi is in the crowd and they show some of his highlights from Pride and they announce that he has signed with the UFC.

Lightweight Fight- Joe Lauzon (17-4) vs. Sam Stout (15-5-1)

R1- Lauzon got a quick take down in the opening moments of the round. Lauzon opened up a cut on Stout’s head and then grabbed a kimura but Stout was able to slip out and get back to his feet. Stout came back in the second half of the round and landed some good shots. Lauzon 10-9 but Stout almost stole that round.

R2- Stout got a take down about one minute into the round but Stout got to his feet without any damage. Stout is getting the better of the stand up in this round. This round definitely went to Stout as he ended the round in Lauzon’s guard.

R3- Stout controls the early part of the round by avoiding take downs and continually throwing strikes. Lauzon got a take down with two minutes left in the fight. Lauzon mounted and then tried for a guillotine but couldn’t clamp it in and Stout got back to his feet with one minute left in the fight. Stout really attacked at the finish and I’ve got him taking this round and the fight.

Judges score cards say: 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27

Winner: Sam Stout by Decision (Unanimous)

Welterweight Fight- Paul Daley (22-8-2) vs. Dustin Hazelett (14-4)

Daley came in overweight at 172 but Hazelett agreed to take the fight. This is Daley’s second fight in the UFC, with his first being a victory over Martin Kampmann.

R1- Both fighters felt each other out for the first half of the round mostly throwing leg and front kicks. At the half way point of the round Daley exploded with a big left hand and then jumped on top and finished the fight as Herb Dean stepped in. Very impressive finish by Daley.

Winner: Paul Daley by TKO (Strikes) R1 2:24

Light Heavyweight Fight- Rashad Evans (18-1-1) vs. Thiago Silva (14-1)

The UFC tells us that Rashad lands 58% of his take down attempts, has won 4 of his last 5 by knockout and holds the UFC record for most take downs without being swept. Thiago has won 12 of 13 fights by strike stoppage, his average UFC fight length is 3:48 and he has a 77% take down defense rate. Both fighters only have one loss on their record and it’s to the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida.

R1- Rashad quickly came at Thiago and clinched and then got a slam at the one minute mark. Rashad mounted but Thiago didn’t take any damage and got back to his feet. They threw some strikes and then Rashad got another take down about half way through the round. Silva again got to his feet without taking any damage. Rashad hit some good strikes against the cage and then got another brief take down. Rashad looks like he’s wearing Thiago down and is up 10-9 after one round.

R2- Rashad got a take down in the second minute of the round. Silva got up again but Rashad slammed him back down. Thiago landed a couple of strikes but then got taken down again. Rashad 20-18.

R3- Rashad got a quick take down but couldn’t hold it. Rashad missed a big swing and then Thiago put his gloves down and leaned his chin in and he and Rashad hammed it up for the fans for a minute. Thiago landed a big time right hand that wobbled Rashad’s knees. Thiago got Rashad down but Rashad clamped onto a leg. One minute and forty five seconds left in the round and Thiago got Rashad back to his feet and Rashad is looking at the clock. Thiago is landing some good shots but he looks like he’s running out of steam. Rashad clinched Thiago against the cage and held on to win this one by decision on my score card 29-28.

Judges score cards say: 29-28 on all score cards

Winner: Rashad Evans by Decision (Unanimous)