The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan tonight for UFC Fight Night 52: “Hunt vs Nelson.” The event was headlined by a five-round heavyweight showdown between hard-hitting contenders Mark “Super Samoan” Hunt and Roy “Big Country” Nelson.
Also on the card, Myles “Fury” Jury took on Takenori “Fireball Kid” Gomi in the lightweight co-feature. Yoshihiro Akiyama battled Amir Sadollah and former UFC title challenger Miesha “Cupcake” Tate welcomed Rin Nakai to the Octagon. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the main card.
Mark “Super Samoan” Hunt vs Roy “Big Country” Nelson
Round 1:
Hunt opened the fight with a combination and he fought off a takedown attempt. Time was called after Nelson was poked in the eye. Action resumed and Hunt countered an overhand right with a hard leg kick. Hunt landed two right hooks and he ducked under Nelson’s punches. A big exchange followed and both men landed. Hunt fought off a takedown attempt, but Nelson turned him around with a leg kick. He just missed with haymakers late in the close round. 10-9 Hunt.
Round 2:
Nelson shot in for a takedown and briefly took Hunt’s back in round two. Hunt scrambled back to his feet and landed a left hook, but Nelson answered back with an uppercut. He followed with leg kicks and Hunt cracked him with a right hand. Three big punches bloodied Nelson’s nose and Hunt stuffed a takedown. He landed a massive uppercut and Nelson fell face-first to the canvas.
Winner: Mark Hunt by KO (Punch) at 3:00 of round two. He improves to 10-8-1.
Myles “Fury” Jury vs Takenori “Fireball Kid” Gomi
Round 1:
Jury mixed things up with a variety of kicks in the early goings and he avoided Gomi’s winging punches. Gomi stuffed a takedown, but Jury dropped him with a big right hook. He dove in with more punches on the ground as Gomi turtled and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Myles Jury by TKO (Punches) at 1:32 of round one. He improves to 15-0-0.
“Sexyama” Yoshihiro Akiyama vs Amir Sadollah
Round 1:
Akiyama threw Sadollah to the mat in the opening minute and he worked from the top in half-guard. He landed short elbows and punches as Sadollah tried to create space with his forearm. More short elbows landed for Akiyama until Sadollah scrambled up to his feet. Both men landed single right hands in an uneventful final minute. 10-9 Akiyama.
Round 2:
Sadollah attempted head kicks in the second round and Akiyama ducked under and answered with right hands. Sadollah threw more head kicks and Akiyama stunned him with a powerful right cross that damaged Sadollah’s nose. Akiyama dropped Sadollah with a jab and he followed with more punches on the ground. Sadollah tried to counter with upkicks, but Akiyama stayed on top and scored with punches and elbows until the end of the round. 10-9 Akiyama.
Round 3:
Akiyama employed crisp jabs and right hands in the final round as Sadollah continued to bleed heavily from the nose. A spinning back kick to the body scored for Akiyama and he followed with a grazing uppercut. Sadollah fell to the mat as Akiyama pressed forward with punches and Akiyama took top position on the ground. Sadollah attempted an armbar and Akiyama punished him with right hands. He continued to rain down punches all the way until the bell. 10-9 Akiyama.
Winner: Yoshihiro Akiyama by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 14-5-0, 2 NC.
Miesha “Cupcake” Tate vs Rin Nakai
Round 1:
Tate landed a combination and a knee early in round one and she easily reversed a clinch attempt from Nakai. Tate threw Nakai to the mat, but Nakai countered with upkicks and returned to her feet. She caught a kick and tried again to take Tate down, but Tate stayed up. A head kick scored for Tate and she followed with elbows over the top in the clinch. Nakai got her down to a knee momentarily, but Tate quickly rose back to her feet. She landed quick punches and fought off a suplex attempt. The round ended with Tate landing a hard leg kick. 10-9 Tate.
Round 2:
Nakai secured another very brief takedown in the second round and she clinched with Tate against the cage. Nakai jumped on Tate’s back and looked to set up a standing rear-naked choke. Tate leaned forward and tried to shrug Nakai off, but Nakai held on and pulled her into her guard. Tate scored with elbows and Nakai tried for an armbar. The fighters stood and Tate jabbed. She threw a right hand and Nakai ducked under and tripped her for a split second. A nice right hook landed for Tate late in the close round. 10-9 Tate.
Round 3:
Nakai hopped on Tate’s back again in the final round and she once again looked to secure a rear-naked choke. Tate fought free and turned into a clinch, then broke away with punches. Nakai closed the distance once again and tried to take Tate down, but she could not do so. Tate attempted a takedown of her own and she also failed. A Nakai ankle pick got Tate down for a second and she scored a second takedown soon after. Tate stood and finished the close round with punches. 10-9 Nakai, barely.
Winner: Miesha Tate by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 15-5-0.
“Strasser” Kiichi Kunimoto vs “Filthy” Richard Walsh
Round 1:
After an inadvertent low blow, Walsh dropped Kunimoto with an early one-two and the fighters traded hard punches after Kunimoto got back to his feet. Walsh floored him again with a head kick and Kunimoto began to bleed from the nose. He stood and Walsh landed knees in the clinch. Time was called after Kunimoto was kneed in the groin. The fight resumed and Walsh landed more kicks and right hands. He backed Kunimoto up with a flurry and he landed more punches in close before the end of the round. 10-8 Walsh.
Round 2:
Walsh opened round two with a big combination and Kunimoto clinched against the fence. Kunimoto continued to bleed heavily from the nose and Walsh stuffed his takedown attempts. Walsh landed a nice kick to the body, but he began to slow down and Kunimoto connected with a one-two and a knee. Walsh reversed a clinch and he landed short knees in close until the bell. 10-9 Walsh.
Round 3:
Both men landed punches early in the final round and Kunimoto fought off a clinch attempt with a knee. He countered a head kick with a combination and a knee in close. Walsh connected with a right hook and a series of leg kicks, but Kunimoto took him down and quickly transitioned to back control as Walsh got to one knee. Kunimoto trapped Walsh in a body triangle and worked for a rear-naked choke. Walsh defended well until the end of the fight. 10-9 Kunimoto.
Winner: Kiichi Kunimoto by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 18-5-2, 1 NC.
Kyoji Horiguchi vs Jon “The Heat” delos Reyes
Round 1:
Horiguchi hurt delos Reyes with a liver kick early in the opening round and he followed with punches on the ground as delos Reyes tied him up and bought time to recover. The fighters stood and Horiguchi landed right hands and body kicks. Delos Reyes replied with kicks of his own and a flying knee. Short knees and a right hook scored for Horiguchi in the clinch and he dropped delos Reyes with a looping left. Delos Reyes stood, but Horiguchi swarmed on him with more punches and knees. Delos Reyes fell and Horiguchi unloaded with punches until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Kyoji Horiguchi by TKO (Punches) at 3:48 of round one. He improves to 14-1-0.
Undercard Fights:
– Masanori Kanehara defeated Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 25-11-5 with the win.
– Katsunori Kikuno defeated Sam Sicilia by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:38 of round two. He improves to 22-6-2 with the win.
– Hyun Gyu “The Ace” Lim defeated Takenori Sato by TKO (Punches & Elbows) at 1:18 of round one. He improves to 13-4-1 with the win.
– Kyung Ho “Mr. Perfect” Kang defeated Michinori Tanaka by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 13-7-0, 1 NC with the win.
– Johnny “Hollywood” Case defeated Kazuki Tokudome by Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:34 of round two. He improves to 19-4-0 with the win.
– Maximo “Maxi” Blanco defeated Daniel “The Hangman” Hooker by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 11-6-1, 1 NC with the win.