The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey tonight for UFC 169: “Barao vs Faber 2.” The event was headlined by a UFC Bantamweight Championship rematch between Renan “Barao” Pegado and challenger “The California Kid” Urijah Faber.
In tonight’s co-main event, UFC Featherweight Champion José “Scarface” Aldo defended his title against Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir took on Alistair Overeem in a pivotal heavyweight clash. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
UFC Bantamweight Championship
Renan “Barao” Pegado vs “The California Kid” Urijah Faber
Round 1:
Faber caught an early leg kick and landed a one-two over the top. He fell while throwing a kick and Barao landed a series of punches as Faber stood. Barao scored with another combination and he floored Faber with a massive right hand. Faber survived the follow-up onslaught on the ground, but Barao hurt him again with more punches on the feet. A looping right hand dropped Faber face-first to the mat and Barao landed a series of hammerfists until the fight was stopped, much to Faber’s dismay.
Winner: Renan Pegado by TKO (Punches) at 3:42 of round one. He improves to 34-1-0, 1 NC and remains the UFC Bantamweight Champion.
UFC Featherweight Championship
José “Scarface” Aldo vs Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas
Round 1:
Aldo threw a lunging one-two in the opening minute and Lamas attempted leg and body kicks that were blocked. A one-two and a leg kick scored for Aldo and he followed with a spinning back kick to the body. Lamas landed a body kick of his own, but he slipped and Aldo swarmed on him with punches as he stood back up. Aldo landed a counter right cross and a combination to the ribs. He jumped in with a flying knee and punches just as the bell sounded. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 2:
Aldo jabbed and kicked to the body in round two, and he countered a leg kick from Lamas with a vicious counter leg kick in return. A combination to the body scored for Aldo, but Lamas replied with stiff jabs. Aldo knocked him off-balance with an overhand right. He kept the pressure on with leg kicks and a left hook. Two leg kicks nearly knocked Lamas down, but he recovered and attempted a spinning wheel kick. Lamas threw a head kick, but Aldo hurt him with another leg kick. Lamas tried again to land two more spinning wheel kicks before the end of the round. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 3:
Aldo landed an uppercut and more leg kicks early in round three. He punished Lamas with hooks and leg kicks that forced Lamas to clinch in search of a takedown. Aldo pulled his leg free and blocked a head kick. He turned Lamas around with a leg kick and followed with more. Lamas continued to try to end the fight with head kicks, but Aldo blocked them and countered with punches and more kicks. Aldo continued to control the striking exchanges with quick punches and leg kicks in the final minute. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 4:
Aldo opened round four with kicks and Lamas clinched in search of a takedown. Aldo reversed and tripped Lamas against the cage. He looked to set up an arm-triangle choke, but Lamas defended. Aldo punched to the body and moved to mount, then took Lamas’s back. He tried for a rear-naked choke, but Lamas escaped out the back. The fighters stood and Lamas kneed Aldo’s thigh. Aldo countered with elbows to the temple as time ticked down. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 5:
The final round began with body kicks from Lamas, who closed in against the cage. Aldo took him down and fought off a loose omoplata attempt. He mounted Lamas, but Lamas exploded to his feet and took over top position on the ground. Lamas dropped punches and elbows from the top, but Aldo blocked many of the strikes. The fight ended with Lamas landing punches from the top. 10-9 Lamas.
Winner: José Aldo by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) after five rounds. He improves to 24-1-0 and remains the UFC Featherweight Champion.
Alistair Overeem vs Frank Mir
Round 1:
Mir countered a right hand to the body with a quick one-two early in the fight. Overeem landed a knee in close and circled away. Mir scored with a short right hand, but Overeem knocked him off-balance with a looping left. A big knee to the body landed for Overeem and he knocked Mir down with a knee to the face. Mir held on as Overeem punished him with punches on the ground.
More punches and knees to the body scored for Overeem, but Mir battled back to his feet. Mir missed with a wild left hand and he dropped down for a leglock attempt. Overeem defended and worked from the top in half-guard. Big hammerfists scored for Overeem and Mir held on in defence. Overeem closed out the round with more hammerfists from the top. 10-8 Overeem.
Round 2:
Both men landed punches early in round two and Overeem followed with knees to the body. The fighters were separated and Overeem landed a three-punch combo. Mir took him down and moved to mount. He used a guillotine choke attempt to prevent Overeem from standing. Mir pulled half-guard with a second guillotine, but Overeem pulled his head free and dropped elbows from the top.
Overeem bloodied Mir’s face with punches and elbows from Mir’s half-guard. A hard elbow caused Mir’s forehead to swell up, but he held on as Overeem pressed him against the base of the cage. Mir tried to press off of the fence to set up an armbar from the bottom, but Overeem stood up to avoid danger. He allowed Mir to follow before the bell. 10-9 Overeem.
Round 3:
Mir pulled guard 45 seconds into the final round. Overeem stood and Mir followed. Overeem stuffed a takedown and Mir fell to his back. From the top in half-guard, Overeem landed punches and knees to the body. More hard punches connected for Overeem and Mir seemed to have no answer. The fight eventually returned to the feet and Overeem landed a powerful right hook. He landed one more two-punch combo late in the round. 10-9 Overeem.
Winner: Alistair Overeem by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 37-13-0, 1 NC.
Ali “Puncher” Bagautinov vs John “Hands of Stone” Lineker
Round 1:
Lineker opened the fight with a right hook and Bagautinov promptly took him down. Lineker landed elbows from the bottom and Bagautinov postured up with punches. Lineker attempted a heel hook and Bagautinov countered with one of his own. The fighters scrambled up and Lineker landed a leg kick. He followed with a body kick, but Bagautinov caught it and slammed him down. Lineker worked for a kimura from the bottom late in the round and Bagautinov punched his way free. 10-9 Lineker.
Round 2:
The second round began with an exchange of head kicks and Bagautinov caught a kick. He rushed in for a takedown and kicked at Lineker’s other leg, but Lineker stayed on his feet. Bagautinov landed right and left hooks and ate a right hand to the body. Lineker continued to target Bagautinov’s midsection with punches.
A hard one-two landed for Bagautinov, but Lineker walked right through the punches and he hurt Bagautinov with shots to the head and body. Bagautinov dropped levels for a takedown and landed a knee. He fired off looping punches, but could not get Lineker down. In the final 30 seconds, both fighters landed knees and punches to the body. Close round. 10-9 Bagautinov.
Round 3:
Bagautinov scored with a combination early in round three and he briefly took Lineker down. Lineker stood, but Bagautinov slammed him down again and passed to mount. Lineker countered with a kimura and got back to half-guard. Bagautinov freed his arm and landed punches and a knee on the way up. He rushed forward and took Lineker down once more. Bagautinov struck from the top with punches and knees to the body. In the final minute, Bagautinov landed a left hook and scored a takedown. He landed punches from the top and taunted Lineker until the bell. 10-9 Bagautinov.
Winner: Ali Bagautinov by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 13-2-0.
Abel “Killa” Trujillo vs Jamie “C-4” Varner
Round 1:
Big punches scored for both fighters in the opening 90 seconds of the fight and Trujillo stunned Varner with looping hooks. Varner recovered and fired back with haymakers of his own. Trujillo clinched, but Varner reversed a takedown into back control. Trujillo tried to stand, but Varner locked on a North-South choke. Trujillo refused to submit, so Varner tried to transition to mount. Trujillo stood and landed a big combination. Varner answered with one of his own. The round ended with another exchange of power punches. 10-9 Varner.
Round 2:
After another exchange in round two, Varner rocked Trujillo with winging hooks. Trujillo staggered, but he stayed on his feet and rocked Varner with wild counterpunches. Varner recovered and stunned Trujillo yet again. Trujillo fell to his knees and Varner teed off with right hands. Trujillo stood and the fighters exchanged haymakers. Varner mixed in knees, but Trujillo landed a massive right hook that sent Varner crashing face-first to the canvas.
Winner: Abel Trujillo by KO (Punch) at 2:32 of round two. He improves to 12-5-0, 1 NC.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)