Ryan “Darth” Bader vs Eric “Red” Schafer

Round 1:
Bader connected with two overhand rights early in round one and just missed with a haymaker. A right hook and a flurry scored for Bader and Schafer answered with a left. More punches were exchanged and Bader landed a left hook to the body. Bader walked forward with a lead right hook and dropped Schafer. He unleashed a barrage of punches on the ground and had Schafer in big trouble.

Schafer managed to stand up, but was slammed to the mat. He got up again and Bader sent him to the ground with more huge power punches. Schafer turtled and weathered the storm, then locked on a Kimura from the bottom. Bader spun out of it and wound up in Schafer’s guard. Schafer locked on an omoplata, but Bader punched himself free. 10-9 Bader. Could easily be a 10-8.

Round 2:
Bader scored with leg kicks in the second round and time was called after he was inadvertently poked in the eye. The fight resumed and both fighters landed jabs. Two right hooks connected for Bader and Schafer answered with a pair of one-twos. Bader slowed down and missed with a wild combination. The fighters continued to trade jabs and Bader missed with more slow punches.

Bader scored with a flurry, but Schafer answered with three quick combinations and sent Bader off-balance with a counter left hook. He landed a lead right hand and began to take over the striking exchanges. Bader fired back with two overhand rights, but Schafer continued to find a home for his lead right. He landed a hard hook and stuffed two takedowns. 10-9 Schafer.

Round 3:
Bader’s pace had slowed way down by the time the final round began, but he badly rocked Schafer with a right hook behind the ear. Schafer stumbled and fell to the mat, but recovered quickly and regained guard. Bader stood up and time was called to check a cut on Schafer’s nose from an accidental head butt. The fight continued and Schafer landed a nice right cross counter.

The fighters traded hard punches and Schafer began to push the pace. Bader landed a stiff jab and tried for a takedown. His first attempt was unsuccessful, but he took Schafer down on the second try. From side-control, Bader landed weak punches to the body and a handful of short elbows. Schafer regained guard and tried for a last-second omoplata. Great fight. 10-9 Bader.

Winner: Ryan Bader by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-26) after three rounds. He improves to 10-0-0.

Pat “HD” Barry vs Antoni Hardonk

Round 1:
Barry tagged Hardonk with an overhand right and ducked under a head kick. The fighters exchanged leg kicks and Barry landed two more right hooks. Hardonk landed a hard leg kick and time was called after Barry was poked in the eye. Action resumed and more kicks and hard punches were traded. Hardonk landed leg kick after leg kick and Barry tried to counter with quick combinations.

Barry dropped Hardonk and moved directly to side-control. He tried to pass to mount, but Hardonk trapped him in half-guard. The fight returned to the feet and Barry landed looping hooks. Hardonk mixed up his strikes with kicks and one-twos, then tried for a head kick. Barry answered with a body kick before the bell. Good round. 10-9 Barry.

Round 2:
Barry’s eye was very swollen to begin round two, but he opened the round with quick kicks. He drilled Hardonk with a quick one-two, then sent him staggering backwards with a second one. A third combo dropped Hardonk and Barry began to tee off. Hardonk tried for a takedown, but Barry stuffed it. A stiff jab scored for Barry and he followed with another one. Barry staggered Hardonk with another one-two, then dropped him with a lead right straight. Hardonk crumpled to the canvas and Barry finished him off with a brutal hammerfist.

Winner: Pat Barry by TKO (Punch & Hammerfist) at 2:30 of round two. He improves to 5-1-0.

Chael Sonnen vs Yushin “Thunder” Okami

Round 1:
Sonnen shot in for an early takedown, but Okami defended. Sonnen managed to get Okami down and punched the sides of Okami’s head. He slammed Okami down again and looked to set up a choke. Okami worked back to his feet and ate a series of knees to the thigh. Sonnen switched to foot stomps, then jumped onto Okami’s back. Okami spun free and Sonnen landed leg kicks.

Both fighters landed leg kicks and quick jabs and Okami followed with a one-two. More strikes were exchanged and Sonnen continued to score with solid combinations of quick punches and leg kicks. He took Okami down briefly, but Okami quickly stood up. Both fighters landed hard overhand lefts late in the round. Excellent round for Sonnen. 10-9 Sonnen.

Round 2:
Sonnen pushed the pace with more kicks and punches immediately in round two, but Okami tagged him with a hard two-punch combination. Jabs were exchanged and Sonnen dragged Okami to the mat. Okami stood up, but Sonnen maintained back control and pulled him to the ground again. Okami scrambled to his feet and Sonnen connected with a spinning back kick to the body.

Sonnen’s offence was relentless and he continued to throw kicks and punches with no breaks in between. Okami answered with a hard three-punch flurry, but Sonnen fired back with more punches. He landed a right hook and followed with combinations. Sonnen scored with a body kick and a right hook, then a nice one-two. A pair of overhand lefts landed for Sonnen and he pushed the pace until the bell. 10-9 Sonnen.

Round 3:
More quick strikes landed for Sonnen early in the final round and he shot in for a takedown. Okami stuffed it, but Sonnen punched and kicked at will. Okami landed two big punches, but Sonnen was unfazed. The fighters traded hard punches and both threw looping hooks. Sonnen followed with more kick-punch combinations, then threw Okami to the mat.

Sonnen took Okami’s back and sunk in both hooks. He punched the sides of Okami’s head and tried to set up a rear naked choke. Okami escaped to his feet, but Sonnen stayed on his back. He kneed Okami’s legs and Okami tried to counter with reverse elbow strikes. Okami pulled guard with a Kimura, but Sonnen punched his way free. He landed more punches from the top. Amazing performance from Sonnen. 10-9 Sonnen.

Winner: Chael Sonnen by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 24-10-1.