Junior Assuncao vs. Kurt Pellegrino (Pictures)
Round 1
Pellegrino wins by rear naked choke at 2:04 of the first. Both fighters came out swinging, with Pellegrino later scoring a takedown. Kurt landed a heavy punch then moved to the crucifix position, and later to his opponent's back where he forced the tap at the 2:04 mark.
Clayton Guida (Pictures) vs. Justin James (Pictures)
Round 1
James worked some brutal knees to the head and body from the clinch in the opening minute of the round. Guida scored a takedown and some ground and pound that had James reeling. With 40 seconds left in the period, James nearly finished the fight with a deep armbar, but Guida fought it off with a beautiful escape. Sherdog.com scores the razor close round 10-9 for Justin James.
Round 2
Clayton Guida wins by rear naked choke at 4:42 of the second round. Guida got a quick takedown to start the round. From inside James' guard, Guida landed a barrage of strikes, including a few Sakuraba style Mongolian chops. Guida then stood up from James' guard and landed heavy punches. Guida then landed a huge right followed by a left that forced James to turn his back to get out of harms way. Guida promtly hopped on his back and secured the choke to end the fight at 4:42.
Yushin Okami (Pictures) vs. Kalib Starnes (Pictures)
Round 1
Sherdog.com scores the first round for Okami, 10-9. Starnes landed a straight right early in the period. After a minute of unactivity against the cage, the referee restarts the action. Okami started to find his range with punches. Okami then scored a single-leg takedown and worked punches from Starnes' guard. The round ends just as Starnes escapes the bottom and makes it to his feet.
Round 2
Not much action in the second frame. Okami hit an unintentional knee to Starnes' groin but he was able to continue. Okami landed a few punches and body kicks. Sherdog.com scores it 10-9 for Okami.
Round 3
Okami wins at 1:40 of the third via TKO (strikes from the back). Okami landed a punch that had Starnes retreating, then Okami scored a trip takedown. He worked some punches from the guard, forcing Kalib to roll over. Okami then landed a big left uppercut from his opponent's back that rocked Kalib. Okami straightened him out and finished with more punches to the head.
Keith Jardine (Pictures) vs. Mike Nickels
Bout was cancelled.
Spencer Fisher (Pictures) vs. Dan Lauzon
Round 1
Lauzon scores a single leg takedown and works from Fisher’s guard. Lauzon pounding away from guard while Fisher trying to land an upkick. Lauzon now working from half-guard. Fisher escapes to his feet only to be dragged back down to the canvas. Fisher escapes again and lands a flying knee. Fisher attacks with knees and punches and a beautiful knee to the body. Fisher ends the fight with an uppercut and a left straight. Fisher wins by TKO at 4:38 of the first frame.
Cheick Kongo (Pictures) vs. Carmelo Marrero
Round 1
Kongo throws several leg kicks before finding his target on a snapping right low kick to his opponent’s lead leg. Marrerro scores a fast takedown and works from side-control. Marrerro landing knees to the body. Elbows land for the American. Kongo is able to get back to guard but he eats some punches before the round closes. Sherdog.com scores the first round 10-9 for Marrero.
Round 2
Marrero scores a beautiful takedown and traps Kongo against the cage. Kongo has a guillotine from the bottom but it’s unlikely he can force a tap from half-guard. Kongo now has full guard. The choke is deep. Marrero escapes and answers with a flurry of punches. The referee restarts the action. Marrero scores another takedown. Another referee restart. Marrero again hits a double-leg takedown. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 for Marrero.
Round 3
Kongo stuffs a takedown attempt and unsuccessfully tries to trip Marrero to the mat. Kongo blocks a hip toss but Marrero scrambles and takes the top position. Due to lack of action, the referee again restarts the action. Kongo sprawled and stuffed a Marrero shot and took Marrero down. Kongo tried to attack with a keylock but Marrero had none of it. With 40 seconds left in the bout, the referee restarts the fighters on their feet. The boring fight ends to a chorus of boos. Sherdog.com gives the final frame to Kongo, but Marrero gets the nod on my card, 29-28.
Official Score:
29-28 Marrero
29-28 Kongo
29-28 Marrero
Jon Fitch (Pictures) vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka (Pictures)
Round 1
Fitch lands a left hand then clinches Hironaka against the fence. Inside trip from Fitch takes the fight to the canvas. Hironaka slaps on a deep triangle. Fitch is in trouble. Fitch muscles Hironaka to the cage but the triangle is still deep. Fitch slowly defending the triangle. Finally Fitch escapes with 75 seconds left in the round. Fitch scoring with punches from Hironaka’s guard. Fitch passes and takes Hironaka’s back with both hooks. Fitch pounding away with punches as the round ends. Sherdog.com scores the first frame 10-9 for Fitch.
Round 2
Fitch lands a punch-kick combo then slams Hironaka to the mat. Fitch landing punches from Hironaka’s guard. Referee Mario Yamasaki restarts the action at the 2:40 mark. Fitch lands a headkick then takes the fight back down to the canvas. Hironaka is going for a triangle but Fitch defends well. 30 seconds left n the round. Fitch postures up and lands some big shots ad elbows. Sherdog.com scores the frame 10-9 for Fitch.
Round 3
Fitch lands a series of punches to Hironaka’s head. Hironaka answers with a right uppercut. Spinning back kick lands for Hironaka. Fitch shoots and powers Hironaka to the mat. Fitch's nose is bleeding bad. The fight is stopped so the doctor can check it. The action resumes. Fitch, back on top inside Hironaka’s guard, turns up the heat with some steady ground and pound. After a referee restart, Fitch lands a hard lowkick then scores with a single-leg takedown. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 for Fitch (30-27).
Official score:
30-25
30-27
30-27 all for Jon Fitch.
Sean Sherk (Pictures) vs. Kenny Florian (Pictures)
Round 1
Sherk rushes and gets a double-leg takedown. Florian lands a sharp elbow from his back. Sherk answers with two left elbows of his own. Florian has a guillotine from half guard. Sherk escapes and tries to mount. Sherk now working from side-control. Sherk spins around for an armbar but Florian defends. Sherk gets busy with some punches from Florian’s guard as the first stanza expires. 10-9 for Sherk.
Round 2
Florian lands a hard body kick but Sherk muscles him to the canvas with a single-leg. Florian lands a elbow from the bottom that opens up a serious cut on Sherk’s forehead. The fight pauses so the doctor can check it. Action resumes back on the ground with Sherk in Florian's guard. Florian opened up for a armbar attempt but Sherk retaliates with 2 hard right hands. Sherk moves to the mount. Florian reverses and lands a right hand from Sherk’s guard. Both fighters now standing. Sherdog.com scores the close round 10-9 for Sherk.
Round 3
With blood still pouring from Sherk’s head, Florian lands a left body kick. Sherk scores a double-leg takedown into half-guard. Sherk moves to side-control, then to Florian’s back. Florian rolls over and gets back to guard, but Sherk continues to score with elbows. Florian lands another body kick. Both fighters pick up the pace and trade wildly to end the third round. 10-9 for Sherk.
Round 4
Another takedown from Sherk. With the pace slowed to a crawl, the crowd chants KEN-NY, KEN-NY! Sherk moves to half guard. Sherk lands 4 straight elbows that forces Florian to cover. The ref stands them back up with 20 seconds remaining. Florian lands a body kick as the round ends. 10-9 for Sherk.