Headlined by a pitoval light heavyweight bout between Randy “The Natural” Couture and Brandon “The Truth” Vera, UFC 105 determined the career direction for many of the participants on the main card as some aimed for title contention while others fought to stay relevant in the sport.

MMARising.com has live play-by-play of the action as it happened from the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England, including a middleweight showdown between Michael “The Count” Bisping and Denis “Super Korean” Kang.

Randy “The Natural” Couture vs Brandon “The Truth” Vera

Round 1:
Vera rocked Couture right away with a head kick and a one-two. He secured a Thai clinch and landed two knees, but Couture muscled Vera against the cage. Sparse knees were exchanged in the clinch, but little transpired and the referee separated the fighters. Couture immediately clinched and took Vera down. Vera scrambled to his feet and Couture threw knees.

Again, Couture tried to take Vera down, but a stalemate followed. Couture grabbed onto Vera’s leg and attempted to drag him to the mat, but met with no success. The clinch continued until the referee separated the fighters with 20 seconds left and Couture quickly clinched again. Lacklustre round. 10-9 Couture based solely on cage control.

Round 2:
Time was called early in round two when Couture was kicked in the groin and poked in the eye at the same time. The fight resumed and Vera landed a kick to the body. Couture pushed forward and Vera landed a one-two and a kick. A clinch ensued and Couture tried for a takedown. Vera reversed and landed knees to the legs. Couture could not take Vera down, but he landed knees and short punches.

The fighters separated and Vera threw a head kick and a hard kick to the body. Couture missed with a one-two and Vera hurt him badly with a knee to the ribs. Couture collapsed to the mat, but survived and trapped Vera in his guard. The fighters were stood up and another clinch followed. Couture landed two punches over the top, but the action was few and far between. 10-9 Vera.

Round 3:
Vera landed a nice leg kick early on, but Couture answered with a big flurry of punches that stunned Vera and backed him up to the cage. More punches scored for Couture and he tried for a takedown. Two elbows and a knee landed for Couture and he kept busy with short punches. The referee separated the fighters and Vera landed a big kick to the body and one to the head.

Another body kick scored for Vera, but Couture answered with a knee. Couture secured a Thai clinch and landed a knee and two punches. Vera clinched and tried for a takedown against the cage. He scored a takedown and moved right to mount. Couture scrambled to his feet and the fighters finally turned up the pace with knees and elbows before the bell. 10-9 Couture by the slimmest of margins.

Boos followed when Couture was announced as the winner, as this was one of the most lacklustre fights of his entire career.

Winner: Randy Couture by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 17-10-0.

Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy vs Mike “Quick” Swick

Round 1:
Hardy tagged Swick with two quick counterpunches as Swick rushed forward and clinched. Hardy pressed Swick against the cage and landed knees, but Swick reversed and threw knees of his own. Both fighters landed more knees, but one from Swick strayed low and time was called. Action resumed and Swick dove in for a takedown.

Hardy stayed on his feet and both fighters landed short punches in close. The fighters alternated knees to the legs and body and Swick tried again to take Hardy down. More short knees and punches were exchanged until just before the bell when Swick landed a nice right hand. Extremely close round. 10-10.

Round 2:
Hardy rocked Swick with a one-two just seconds into the second round and backed him to the cage with more punches. Swick survived and Hardy clinched, then landed knees and elbows over the top. Swick regained his composure, but Hardy kept him against the cage and scored with punches to the body. Both fighters landed punches over the top and the clinch continued. Hardy landed an uppercut and a trio of foot stomps.

Hardy looked to take Swick down, but could not and the fighters were separated. Swick fell while throwing a head kick, but got right up. Both landed leg kicks and Hardy scored with a counter left. Hardy just missed with a huge haymaker and Swick landed a left hook. Another left landed for Swick, but Hardy answered with a one-two and backed Swick up with a flurry. An elbow and a left hook followed from Hardy. 10-9 Hardy.

Round 3:
Swick landed a right cross and Hardy countered with a leg kick. Quick punches landed for both fighters and each connected with a pair of right hooks. Swick landed a big one-two and Hardy answered with a huge right cross that badly rocked Swick. Hardy followed with a head kick and a combination, then clinched and took Swick down. Hardy cut Swick with elbows from the top and he added punches to the body.

The fight returned to the feet and Hardy staggered Swick with a left hook counter. Another left hook landed for Hardy and he urged the crowd to chant his name. A big leg kick scored for Hardy and Swick answered with a one-two. Swick landed a nice left hook late in the fight, but it was too little, too late. 10-9 Hardy.

Absolutely tremendous victory for Hardy, who will now battle Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship.

Winner: Dan Hardy by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 23-6-0, 1 NC.

Michael “The Count” Bisping vs Denis “Super Korean” Kang

Round 1:
Bisping opened with a head kick and Kang answered with a leg kick. A one-two landed for Kang and Bisping missed with a wild punch. Kang dropped Bisping with a right hook to the temple, but Bisping quickly recovered. Kang moved from half-guard to side-control, but Bisping regained half-guard. Kang punched from the top and looked for an arm-triangle choke.

Bisping defended the choke, but Kang moved to mount. Bisping fought back to half-guard and ate more punches from Kang. Again, Kang moved to mount and Bisping regained half-guard a second time. Bisping got back to guard and briefly looked for an armbar. Kang defended and fought off a second armbar, then passed to side-control briefly. Kang worked from half-guard until the bell. 10-9 Kang.

Round 2:
The fighters traded jabs in round two and Bisping missed with a head kick. Stiff jabs followed from Kang and he briefly staggered Bisping with a looping right hook. Another right hook landed for Kang and Bisping clinched. He took Kang down and landed short elbows from the top. Kang looked to set up a submission from his back, but Bisping landed punches and hammerfists that cut Kang on the nose.

Bisping scored another takedown and further bloodied Kang with punches and elbows. Kang scrambled back to his feet, but looked weary. A one-two landed for Bisping and he began to take control of the exchanges. Bisping took Kang down and Kang turtled. Bisping landed knees to the body and head and Kang fell to the ground. The referee stopped the fight, giving Bisping a huge win.

Winner: Michael Bisping by TKO (Knees & Punches) at 4:24 of round two. He improves to 18-2-0.