The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey tonight for UFC on FOX 15: “Machida vs Rockhold.” The event was headlined by a middleweight matchup between former UFC champ Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida and top contender Luke Rockhold.
Also on the card, Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza took on last-minute replacement Chris Camozzi in a middleweight rematch. Cub Swanson battled Max “Blessed” Holloway at 145 and Felice “Lil’ Bulldog” Herrig met “12 Gauge” Paige VanZant at 115. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
Luke Rockhold vs Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida
Round 1:
Machida scored with a left-right combination early on and he tagged Rockhold with another one-two soon after. Rockhold knocked Machida down with a counter hook and he attempted a guillotine choke on the ground. Machida escaped and Rockhold targeted his body with elbows. He took Machida’s back and Machida scrambled. Rockhold unloaded with huge punches from the top and nearly finished the fight with a rear-naked choke before the bell. 10-8 Rockhold.
Round 2:
Rockhold opened round two with kicks to the body and lead leg of Machida, who was wobbly on his feet. Rockhold knocked him down with an elbow and immediately jumped on his back. He trapped Machida’s arm behind his back and landed punches and elbows. Rockhold took Machida’s back and locked on a rear-naked choke for the tapout win.
Winner: Luke Rockhold by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:31 of round two. He improves to 14-2-0.
Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza vs Chris Camozzi
Round 1:
Souza closed the distance with punches in the opening minute and he scored a takedown into Camozzi’s guard. From there, Souza methodically worked his way into side control and he locked on an armbar in a scramble. Camozzi tried to defend by keeping his hands clasped together, but Souza broke his grip and pulled back on his arm, forcing Camozzi to verbally submit.
Winner: Ronaldo Souza by Submission (Armbar) at 2:33 of round one. He improves to 22-3-0, 1 NC.
Max “Blessed” Holloway vs Cub Swanson
Round 1:
Both fighters landed hard kicks throughout the opening two minutes of the fight, but Holloway used his reach advantage to keep Swanson at bay with jabs and step-in punches. He threw lead right hooks and mixed in spinning back kick attempts. Swanson looked to counter, but Holloway darted in and out and avoided his opponent’s strikes. Holloway backed Swanson up with punches and body kicks, and he just missed with a cartwheel kick. The round ended with an exchange of looping hooks. 10-9 Holloway.
Round 2:
Swanson opened round two with a head kick attempt, but Holloway backed him up with a kick to the liver. Swanson kicked at Holloway’s lead leg and Holloway countered with a quick one-two. He cracked Swanson with five more punches and Swanson’s left eye began to swell up. Another big flurry landed for Holloway and he avoided two spinning kicks from Swanson. Holloway hurt Swanson with a jumping knee to the chest and he followed with a head kick. Big punches and a knee landed for Holloway before the bell. 10-9 Holloway.
Round 3:
Holloway avoided an early clinch attempt and put together a combination of quick punches and a leg kick. Swanson fell after missing with a spinning back kick, but Holloway allowed him to stand. He hurt Swanson by targeting his liver with punches and a kick. Swanson attempted a desperation takedown and Holloway countered with an arm-triangle choke from the top. The fighters stood and Holloway rocked Swanson with punches. He jumped on Swanson and locked on a mounted guillotine choke. Swanson tried to fight it, but he was forced to tap out.
Winner: Max Holloway by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 3:58 of round three. He improves to 13-3-0.
“12 Gauge” Paige VanZant vs Felice “Lil’ Bulldog” Herrig
Round 1:
Herrig pressured VanZant with punches right away and VanZant responded with knees in the clinch. VanZant used a headlock throw to take Herrig down, but she gave up her back in the process. Herrig attempted a rear-naked choke, but VanZant escaped and she slammed her way out of an armbar. The fighters stood and Herrig threw more punches.
VanZant continued to land knees in the clinch, but Herrig pinned her against the cage. VanZant threw her to the ground and struck from the top. She dropped punches and elbows and continued to punish Herrig with strikes from half-guard. In the final seconds of the round, VanZant attempted a heel hook, but time expired. 10-9 VanZant due to the late rally.
Round 2:
Herrig knocked VanZant down with a body kick in round two and she rushed in with punches as VanZant stood up. Herrig tried to take VanZant’s back, but VanZant defended and she landed some nice knees to the body. Herrig reversed a takedown attempt, but VanZant swept into top position. Back on the feet, VanZant fought off Herrig’s takedowns with short right hands.
Herrig caught a knee and dumped VanZant to the canvas, but VanZant rolled through and she wound up on top in side control. She scored with punches until Herrig scrambled and attempted an armbar. VanZant defended well and she pulled her arm free. In the final seconds of the round, VanZant teed off with punches while standing over Herrig. 10-9 VanZant.
Round 3:
VanZant punched her way into a clinch and threw Herrig to the mat in the final round. She attempted a rear-naked choke and blasted Herrig with more punches. After eating a series of left hands, a bloodied Herrig managed to take VanZant’s back. VanZant squirmed free and she resumed striking from the top. Standing over Herrig, VanZant unloaded with punches. She dropped down into Herrig’s guard and landed punch after punch until the end of the lopsided round. 10-8 VanZant.
Winner: Paige VanZant by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 5-1-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)