[Show: UFC 189] [Location: Vegas] [Date: 7/11/15] [Airing Live On PPV]
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET)
Yosdenis Cedeno vs. Cody Pfister
Round 1: Cedeno comes quickly with leg kicks and is a bit wild early on. Cedeno using some great head movement as Pfister throws a bunch of punches. Pfister shot in, but stuffed. Cedeno back to his feet at 2:44. Cedeno is taunting Pfister by point to an area on Pfister’s body and kicking it. Pfister stalks him and throws some wild punches in bunches.
Round 2: Both fighters keeping up the fast pace fight style. Pfister lands a single leg takedown at 4:05 and gets into side control moments later. Pfister works and gets the back of Cedeno. Pfister works him over with strikes, he works for the rear-naked choke, but Cedeno hip tossed him into top position. Cedeno in guard, but is stood up by the referee. Good call. Pfister shot in and got a double-leg takedown with just two minutes remaining in this round. Pfister in guard and working towards a better position. Pfister does when he gets the back of Cedeno. He switched to the mount with thirty seconds remaining. Cedeno made it to his feet to close the round.
Round 3: Pfister shoots right away and lands a double leg takedown. Great shooting ability. They are stood up very quickly and Joe Rogan hates it. Pfister shot in again and landed a double leg takedown. Cedeno tried for a choke, but there was no threat to it. Cedeno scrambled off his back to his feet, but Pfister stayed with him. Pfister got another takedown, got the back and the bell rang.
Result: Cody Pfister def. Yosdenis Cedeno via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Neil Seery vs. Louis Smolka
Round 1: Smolka tried to clinch, but Seery landed some big overhand rights to break up that attempt. Seery bum rushed him and dropped him. Seery wrestled around with Smolka and at one point had his back. Smolka ends up on top after some more scrambling. Seery is now bleeding from the eye. Seery went for a guillotine choke, but Smolka just powers through it. Smolka moves into high guard, he looks for a one-arm choke, but Seery scrambled off his back. Smolka puts him back down to the ground, he went for the Darth choke at one point, but nothing came from it. Smolka moved to back mount and worked him over with strikes.
Round 2: They clinched to begin the round with Seery dragging him down to the ground. Smolka made it to his feet by wall walking. Seery shot in, but stuffed and began a wild scramble that saw Smolka throwing Seery down to the ground. Seery went for an armbar while Smolka stood up. Smolka broke it up and got the back of Seery. Smolka rolled to the top position to ground and pound to end the round.
Round 3: Smolka lands a takedown right away to begin the round that leads him into guard. Seery scrambled off his back to his feet. Smolka stays close, lands some big shots. They clinch and exchange knees to the body of one another. Seery dragged Smolka and locked in the guillotine choke, but Smolka defended well and got out. Smolka got into side control where he locked in a choke, but let it go to go to mount. Smolka transitions to the back of Seery and works him over with strikes.
Result: Louis Smolka def. Neil Seery via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)
Henry Briones vs. Cody Garbrandt
Round 1: Briones landed a stiff jab that stunned Garbrandt. Briones shot in on a double leg takedown and got it, but not for long as Briones got right back to his feet. A slow start to this fight. Garbrandt with another takedown with just seconds left in the fight. He landed some big shots and a good finish to the round.
Round 2: Garbrandt uses his jabs excellent. This busts up Briones noise and has him bleeding from it. Garbrandt went to clinch but ate a right hook. Briones presses forward and tried to throw several punches, but Garbrandt caught him off with a trip takedown. Briones made his way back to his feet and closed the round strong.
Round 3: I had technical issues and missed the entire third round.
Result: Cody Garbrandt def. Henry Briones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
John Howard vs. Cathal Pendred
Round 1: Pendred came out with a flying knee, but missed it. They clinched with Pendred putting Howard up against the fence and using his knees to the body of Howard. They get off the fence but still are in the clinch for most of the round. Pendred uses the knees to the body of Howard, which could led to some serious damage later on. Howard finally separated and landed a good straight right hand. Howard starts to stalk Pendred. Pendred closed the distances with another clinch attempt to close the round.
Round 2: Howard opens up the round in the clinch with a bunch of punches while in the clinch. Good word from Howard. Pendred separated with a good led jab. A very active crowd I might add. Pendred clinched again, this time putting him against the fence. Howard went for a single leg, but couldn’t get it. Howard let go, fired away with multiple strikes.
Round 3: Howard’s corner thinks that Pendred’s jabs are lazy. Much of the same from the previous rounds. A lot and I mean a lot of clinching that really leads to not a ton of action. The crowd died down for this fight quite a bit. Prended pulled guard and went for a guillotine choke, but Howard slipped out. Howard then made it to his feet, he landed a good counter right and that’s how we end the fight.
Result: John Howard def. Cathal Pendred via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Alex Garcia vs. Mike Swick
Round 1: Garcia gets a takedown right away, he gets into the guard of Swick, but Swick scrambled off his back. Back on their feet, Garcia clinched and got a double-leg takedown. Swick is breathing hard already. Swick scrambled yet again to his feet halfway through the round. Swick caught a kick and landed one of his own. Both men with smiles on their face and ready to engage.
Round 2: Garcia landed a double leg takedown thirty seconds into the round. Garcia Placed him against the fence, where he works over Swick with some strikes. Swick got to his feet, he landed a knee to the ribs of Garcia. Swick not throwing a ton of punches, but is picking his spots well. The fans do not like this fight at all and is booing most of the time. Garcia with a trip takedown right into side control to end the round.
Round 3: Garcia pressed on early with a bunch of punches. Swick is bleeding from his left eye. Garcia shot in and landed a double leg at 2:17 in this round. Garcia is on top and is just so much stronger than Swick. Garcia transitions into mount and works over Swick with strikes to end the round.
Result: Alex Garcia def. Mike Swick via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Matt Brown vs. Tim Means
Round 1: Means tagged Brown right away with a straight right. Brown back peddles as Means continues to put the heat on him. Means was poked in the eye early on. Means is mixing it up well with different strikes. Means clinched and landed a knee to the gut. Brown clinched and landed one of his own. Brown with his own clinch and put Means up against the fence. This goes nowhere and they separate. Brown with some knees to the body of Means then a head kick. Means shot in on a double but stuffed and Brown locked in a guillotine, but quickly let it go. Brown keeps Means on the fence in the clinch, he separates and lands a counter right. Brown tagged Means that led to Means falling and Brown locking in a guillotine choke for the win.
Result: Matt Brown def. Tim Means via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:44
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Thomas Almeida vs. Brad Pickett
Round 1: Pickett showing off his boxing technique and his speed early on. Pickett tagged Almeida with a right hook then followed off with a left. Almeida back peddled then landed a head kick and Pickett tried to swarm. Almeida went for a heel hook, but Pickett got out. Pickett with an elbow strike. Almeida with a devastating right hook that sent Pickett to the ground. Pickett recovered, they scrambled to their feet. Almeida with a press kick to the ribs of Pickett. Almeida is bleeding from his nose and the top of his head.
Round 2: Almeida opens the round with a flying knee that knocked out Brad Pickett!
Result: Thomas Almeida def. Brad Pickett via knockout (flying knee) – Round 2, 0:29
Gunnar Nelson vs. Brandon Thatch
Round 1: Nelson clinches and works him over with strikes. Both guys changing stances and really active early on. The fans were really behind Nelson during his entrance. Nelson landed a straight right that drops Thatch. Nelson on top in guard and works him over with strikes. Nelson moves into mount at 2:48. Nelson transitions into back mount and works him over with hammer fists. Nelson locked in the rear-naked choke for the win.
Result: Gunnar Nelson def. Brandon Thatch via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:54
Dennis Bermudez vs. Jeremy Stephens
Round 1: Stephens shoots for a takedown right away. Bermudez tagged Stephens that cut his eyebrow. Bermudez stalks him and is throwing for the fences. Stephens’ cut is bleeding really bad now. Bermudez clinches and puts Stephens on the fence. Bermudez drags him down to the ground. Pure domination by him with strikes. Joe Rogan said that a headbutt busted open Stephens. Bermudez got the back of Stephens, but Stephens got out. They clinch on their feet with Bermudez beating him up with kicks. Bermudez shot in on a takedown, but stuffed.
Round 2: Stephens with a wicked leg kick opens the round. Bermudez pressed forward, Stephens dropped him with a straight right. Bermudez back to his feet, Stephens tried to finish, but Bermudez clinches. They separate, Stephens with a series right hook. Stephens continued to use his leg kicks that is doing some serious damage to Bermudez’s legs. both guys throwing some big bombs and an entertaining fight none the less. Stephens finished off the round with a series of knees to the face of Bermudez while in the clinch.
Round 3: Bermudez presses early, but ran into a flying knee by Stephens. This led to Stephens finished him on the ground. He goes and shakes hands with Lorenzo Fertitta at ringside.
Result: Jeremy Stephens def. Dennis Bermudez via TKO (flying knee, punches) – Round 3, 0:32
Welterweight Title Bout: Robbie Lawler (c) vs. Rory MacDonald
Round 1: MacDonald throwing a lot of kicks early on and his range is starting to become effective. Both guys very calm and taking their time. Very similar to their first fight. A ton of feeling out in this round. MacDonald shot in on a double-leg but stuffed by Lawler.
Round 2: The fans are starting to become annoyed with the lack of action in this. MacDonald landed a high kick to the head of Lawler. Both fighters are using their jabs well. MacDonald’s range is becoming a factor in Lawler’s lack of offense. Lawler becomes more active with his punches, so this leads to MacDonald to do the same. Lawler opens it up with his strikes and as of a results has MacDonald bleeding. Lawler tagged MacDonald in a middle of exchange to close the round.
Round 3: Lawler snaps MacDonald’s head back with a lead straight left to open the round. Lawler’s footwork has improved so much since we last saw him in action. MacDonald shot in on a double-leg but stuffed. MacDonald on top and lands some strikes, but MacDonald makes his way to his feet. MacDonald is starting to bleed from his nose pretty good. MacDonald tagged Lawler with a straight then followed it up with a head kick. They exchange in the pocket, Lawler is hurt. MacDonald lays it on him with a flurry of strikes, but somehow someway Lawler survived.
Round 4: The round opens with MacDonald tagging him again with a head kick. MacDonald with a flurry of strikes that has Lawler hurt. Lawler screams at Big John saying he’s fine. MacDonald blitz’s him with strikes. MacDonald lands a superman punch halfway through this round. They clinch with both men landing some strikes. MacDonald shot in but stuffed by Lawler.
Round 5: Both fighters come out swinging for the fences. Lawler tagged and dropped MacDonald with a straight left. Lawler swarms on him and this fight is over!
Result: Robbie Lawler def. Rory MacDonald via TKO (punches) at 1:00 of R5
Interim Featherweight Title Bout: Chad Mendes vs. Conor McGregor
Round 1: McGregor with a spinning back kick to start the fight off. Mendes with a single leg and put McGregor on his back. McGregor back to his feet right away. McGregor talking trash while he fights. McGregor tagged Mendes with a straight left. Mendes with a one-two punch. Mendes is starting to breath heavy. Mendes shot in on a takedown and got it. Mendes in guard, McGregor with strikes to the head of Mendes. McGregor up to his feet, but ate some strikes. He’s bleeding from his right eyebrow. McGregor targets the body of Mendes and Mendes is showing that those are hurting. Mendes with a double leg takedown with ease. Mendes passes full guard and got into high guard.
Round 2: Mendes shot in, but stuffed and right back to his feet. McGregor lands with a straight left, but Mendes lands a double leg takedown. Mendes is landing some big elbows from the top. McGregor with some elbows from the top. Mendes thought McGregor’s elbows were illegal, but they were not. Mendes stepped over and looked for a guillotine choke, but lost it. McGregor swarmed Mendes with strikes. McGregor tagged Mendes with a straight left and put him on his back. McGregor finished him on the ground with under ten seconds left in the fight.
Result: Conor MCGregor def. Chad Mendes via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:57
