UFC Fight Night 12 Results
by Robert Sargent
Just days after a solid UFC 80 event, a lacklustre UFC Fight Night 12 concluded with a controversial Majority Decision victory for Mike Swick, while Patrick Côté's winning streak in the UFC continued with a TKO victory over Drew McFedries.
In other action on the event's main card, Thiago Tavares, Nate Diaz and Kurt Pellegrino all picked up hard-fought victories.
Mike "Quick" Swick vs "The People's Warrior" Josh Burkman
This fight was anything but the high-octane showdown that both fighters had promised in the pre-fight interviews.All three rounds were nearly identical in this bout, with brief striking exchanges and Burkman repeatedly pushing Swick up against the cage and clinching, but never able to get Swick down.
In round one, Burkman landed more strikes in the exchanges and seemed to also land the more damaging blows, with left hooks to the face. Swick rebounded in the second round, to an extent, and landed a number of kicks, including one to the head at the beginning of the round. He was still unable to counter Burkman's clinching against the cage, but the striking won Swick the close round. Round three was more of the same, but Burkman controlled position for most of the round. Aside from a handful of strikes and one jumping knee, Swick did not appear to do enough to win the round. It seemed as though Burkman would emerge as the victor. However, the judges saw differently.
Winner: Mike Swick by Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29) after three rounds. A pretty poor performance for Swick's debut at 170 pounds.
Patrick "The Predator" Côté vs Drew McFedries
After falling short in his first four UFC bouts - but going 10-0 outside of the UFC - Côté made it three straight UFC wins by defeating McFedries by TKO early in the first round.Côté opened up the first round with a right hook, and McFedries countered with an inside leg kick. After a kicking exchange, Côté landed a flurry, but McFedries countered with an uppercut, hook and a hard leg kick. Côté landed another good combination, then went for a high kick. McFedries came back with a hard left cross, but Côté was not fazed and landed a quick uppercut and a hook, which sent McFedries to a crouching position against the cage. Côté landed a series of follow-up strikes, and the referee called a stop to the fight.
Winner: Patrick Côté by TKO (Strikes) at 1:44 of round one.
Thiago Tavares vs Michihiro "Micci" Omigawa
In what was easily Tavares's worst UFC performance to date, he managed to come away with a close decision victory against a very game Omigawa.Tavares scored a takedown to begin the first round, then later picked Omigawa up and slammed him. Omigawa looked for an armbar from the bottom, then got back to his feet. However, Tavares took his back and got him back down, then looked for a rear naked choke. Omigawa defended well, then later took top position after a failed armbar attempt from Tavares. Omigawa landed some ground and pound and leg kicks to end the round. Tavares controlled position for enough of the round to win it, but Omigawa nearly stole it at the end.
The second and third rounds were fairly slow, with Tavares scoring occasional takedowns and Omigawa trying unorthodoxed strikes. Tavares landed a few hard punches and two high kicks in the second round, then finally scored a takedown with one minute left to take round two. Tavares scored a takedown early in round three, with Omigawa again trying for an armbar from the bottom. After a scramble, Omigawa took top position, but was cut badly between the eyes by an upkick from Tavares. The fighters exchanged takedowns, with Omigawa finishing the round with some weak ground and pound. A close round, but likely Omigawa's, as he controlled position more often.
Winner: Thiago Tavares by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) after three rounds in an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance.
Nate Diaz vs Alvin "Kid" Robinson
With his brother Nick finally permitted to corner him, Diaz came out flying in this fight and secured a submission in the middle of the first round.Diaz picked Robinson up and slammed him down to begin round one, then landed a series of elbows and punches from the top. Robinson locked in a very tight guillotine choke, but Diaz eventually managed to work his way out of it. Diaz moved to side-control and landed more elbows from the top. Robinson managed to scramble and take top position, but Diaz transitioned into an omoplata and a sweep. Robinson reversed, took top position and began landing strikes from the top. However, Diaz soon locked in a very tight triangle choke and Robinson was forced to tapout.
Winner: Nate Diaz by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 3:39 of round one.
Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino vs Alberto Crane
After nearly being knocked out by a head kick - a kick which caused his bottom teeth to go all the way through his lip - seven seconds into the fight, Pellegrino came back and managed to pound out a TKO victory in the second round.Crane, a fighter not known at all for his striking, drilled Pellegrino with a vicious head kick only seven seconds into the fight, badly dazing Pellegrino and sending him to the canvas. Crane immediately went for a guillotine choke, but Pellegrino managed to escape. Crane then went for a series of armbar, omoplata and triangle attempts, but Pellegrino recovered and managed to survive. Back on the feet, Pellegrino's superior striking took over, and he won most of the exchanges between the two. Pellegrino knocked Crane down with a knee with one minute left, but the fight quickly returned to the feet. Pellegrino peppered Crane with punches and took Crane down just before the end of the round.
Crane went for a takedown to begin round two, and nearly got it, but Pellegrino defended and eventually reversed and took top position. Pellegrino landed a hard elbow strike, then a punch to the eye of a now bloody Crane, and Crane turtled up and the referee stopped the fight.
Winner: Kurt Pellegrino by TKO (Punch) at 1:53 of round two.
Undercard Fights:
Gray "The Bully" Maynard defeated Dennis Siver by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds.Jeremy "Lil' Heathen" Stephens defeated Cole "Magrino" Miller by TKO (Strikes) at 4:44 of round two.
"The Real Deal" Corey Hill won his official UFC debut over "Mighty" Joe Veres by TKO (Strikes) at 0:37 of round two.
"Handsome" Matt Wiman defeated Justin Buchholz by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:56 of round one.
Unable to follow up on the success of UFC 80, this event marked a step back for the promotion.
