The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to Goiânia Arena in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil tonight for UFC Fight Night 32: “Belfort vs Henderson.” The event was headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort and former Strikeforce champ Dan “Hendo” Henderson.
Also on tonight’s card, Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira tried for his third straight win when he battled Daniel Sarafian in middleweight action. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante took on Igor “The Duke” Pokrajac in a featured bout at 205 pounds. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for tonight’s main card.
Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort vs Dan “Hendo” Henderson
Round 1:
After close to a minute of cautious circling, Henderson pressed forward with two right hooks. Belfort avoided them and countered with a short left uppercut that dropped Henderson. Belfort punched from the top and Henderson used an armbar attempt to buy time to recover. He got back to his feet, but Belfort floored him with a head kick and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Vitor Belfort by KO (Head Kick) at 1:17 of round one. He improves to 24-10-0.
Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira vs Daniel Sarafian
Round 1:
Sarafian clinched against the cage and tried for a takedown in the opening two minutes. A stalemate ensued and the fighters were separated. Sarafian landed a three-punch combo and countered a takedown with a guillotine choke. Ferreira escaped and the fight returned to the feet. After a brief clinch, the fighters traded right hooks and uppercuts. Sarafian landed a hard one-two and dropped to a knee after a counter left from Ferreira, who finished the round with a head kick. 10-9 Sarafian.
Round 2:
Sarafian landed two leg kicks and ducked under a spinning back elbow in round two, but Ferreira took him down. Ferreira landed short strikes from the top and cut Sarafian near the right eye. He escaped from a guillotine choke attempt and the fighters stood up. Sarafian rocked Ferreira with a right hook and followed with a left. Ferreira took Sarafian down again and Sarafian tried to sweep. Ferreira worked for an arm-triangle choke until referee Mario Yamasaki stood the fighters up for no reason. The round ended in a clinch against the cage. 10-9 Ferreira.
Round 3:
Sarafian took advantage of an ill-advised spinning attack from Ferreira by taking his back in the final round. Ferreira turned into the clinch and Sarafian blasted him with a one-two. Ferreira scored a takedown and struck from the top in half-guard. Once again, Mario Yamasaki stood the fighters up for no apparent reason and Ferreira immediately took Sarafian down again. He hopped on Sarafian’s back as Sarafian stood up. Ferreira attempted a rear-naked choke until the final bell. 10-9 Ferreira.
Winner: Cezar Ferreira by Split Decision (30-27, 30-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 7-2-0.
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante vs Igor “The Duke” Pokrajac
Round 1:
Pokrajac closed the distance and threw hard punches right away. The fighters exchanged power punches and both landed. Pokrajac held Cavalcante up against the cage and Cavalcante countered with big knees. Pokrajac covered up and retreated. Cavalcante landed punches and Pokrajac dropped, then tapped out on the mat.
Winner: Rafael Cavalcante by Submission (Knees & Punches) at 1:18 of round one. He improves to 12-4-0, 1 NC.
Brandon “Rukus” Thatch vs Paulo Thiago
Round 1:
Thatch pressed the action with kicks and one-twos early on. Thiago caught a knee and took him down, but Thatch quickly stood up against the cage. The fighters separated and exchanged hard punches. Thatch ate a pair of solid right hands that opened a cut above his left eye, but it did not slow down his forward momentum. Thatch landed a brutal knee to the liver and Thiago crumpled to the mat. He tapped out and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Brandon Thatch by Submission (Knee To The Body) at 2:10 of round one. He improves to 11-1-0.
Ryan LaFlare vs Santiago “Gente Boa” Ponzinibbio
Round 1:
LaFlare secured a takedown into mount in the first minute of the fight and he used elbow strikes to set up an arm-triangle choke attempt. Ponzinibbio escaped from a kimura and a scramble ensued. Ponzinibbio stood and appeared to be fatigued. LaFlare took him back down and punched from the top. Ponzinibbio escaped to his feet again and the fighters exchanged kicks. 10-9 LaFlare.
Round 2:
Ponzinibbio threw a side kick and missed with a spinning backfist in round two. LaFlare got him down and landed punches from back control. Ponzinibbio stood and LaFlare landed knees. Ponzinibbio threw more kicks, but LaFlare countered nicely with jabs and combinations. Ponzinibbio hurt LaFlare with a flurry and LaFlare was forced to retreat and circle away. Ponzinibbio kept the pressure on with more punches and he mixed in kicks to the lead leg and body. LaFlare took Ponzinibbio down and passed to half-guard. He punched to the body until the bell. Close round. 10-9 LaFlare, barely.
Round 3:
The final round began with both fighters landing kicks and LaFlare got the better of the exchanges. He took Ponzinibbio down and threw knees to the body from side control. Ponzinibbio got back to his feet and LaFlare landed a flurry. He dropped Ponzinibbio with a knee and dove on him with more punches. Ponzinibbio survived and LaFlare punished him with hard knees to the body and elbows. Ponzinibbio stood and LaFlare threw a head kick. Ponzinibbio dropped him with a right hook, but LaFlare swept on the ground and finished the fight in side control. 10-9 LaFlare.
Winner: Ryan LaFlare by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 9-0-0.
Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens vs Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra
Round 1:
The fighters circled in the opening round until Mariano Bezerra ducked directly into a vicious head kick from Stephens. He collapsed to the mat and Stephens landed a follow-up right hand before the brief bout was stopped.
Winner: Jeremy Stephens by KO (Head Kick) at 0:40 of round one. He improves to 22-9-0.
Undercard Fights:
– Sam Sicilia defeated Godofredo “Pepey” Castro by TKO (Punches) at 1:42 of round one. He improves to 12-3-0 with the win.
– Omari Akhmedov defeated Thiago “Bodao” de Oliveira Perpetuo by KO (Punches) at 3:31 of round one. He improves to 12-0-0 with the win.
– Thiago Tavares defeated Justin “J-Bomb” Salas by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:38 of round one. He improves to 18-5-1 with the win.
– Adriano Martins defeated “The Detroit Superstar” Daron Cruickshank by Submission (Straight Armbar) at 2:49 of round two. He improves to 25-6-0 with the win.
– Dustin Ortiz defeated Jose Maria “No Chance” Tome by TKO (Punches) at 3:19 of round three. He improves to 12-2-0 with the win.