Paulo Thiago vs Jacob “Christmas” Volkmann

Round 1:
Thiago landed a head kick early on and looked to set up another uppercut knockout. Volkmann clinched and pressed Thiago against the cage, but Thiago tripped him to the mat. Volkmann, cut on his nose, scrambled back to his feet. Thiago tripped Volkmann to the ground again and Volkmann’s knee appeared to bend awkwardly.

Thiago looked to work from mount, but Volkmann regained half-guard, then full guard. Thiago threw elbows from the top and stood up. A nice leg kick landed for Thiago and he defended a takedown attempt. Knees were exchanged in a clinch against the cage and both landed punches over the top. Thiago connected with a left hook and an uppercut, then a one-two that dropped Volkmann just as the bell sounded. 10-9 Thiago.

Round 2:
Thiago connected with quick punches in round two and tripped Volkmann to the ground with a very impressive counter kick. Volkmann stood up and took Thiago down. He tried to move to mount, but Thiago regained half-guard and then tried to scramble to his feet. Volkmann attempted to set up a rear naked choke, but Thiago escaped and stood up.

Punches were exchanged in a clinch and Thiago attempted a flying knee. Volkmann took Thiago down again and tried to take his back, but Thiago spun free and stood up. He drilled Volkmann with a diving punch and fell into Volkmann’s guard. Thiago, bleeding from a cut on the bridge of his nose, stood up again and landed a huge punch. He stayed in side-control until the bell. Very close round. 10-9 Thiago.

Round 3:
Thiago landed a pair of one-twos early in the final round and dropped Volkmann with a counter right hook. Volkmann survived, but Thiago moved to side-control and then to North-South. Volkmann scrambled out and the fight returned to the feet. Volkmann shot in for a takedown, but failed and flopped to his back. Thiago tried to move straight to mount, but Volkmann reversed.

Volkmann moved to mount and Thiago gave up his back. Thiago spun free, but Volkmann moved to side-control and trapped Thiago in a crucifix. He landed elbows, but Thiago escaped and stood up. Thiago threw a lunging punch from the top and looked to set up a submission, but Volkmann impressively locked on a D’Arce Choke from the bottom.

He seemed to have Thiago in serious trouble, but let the choke go and Thiago swept him. Thiago landed punches from the top until the bell. Another close round. 10-9 Volkmann by a very slim margin.

Winner: Paulo Thiago by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 12-1-0.

Antonio Rogerio “Minotoro” Nogueira vs Luiz “Banha” Cane

Round 1:
Cane opened with leg kicks and the fighters exchanged jabs. Cane remained the aggressor, but Nogueira scored with two left hooks. A huge left hook rocked Cane and he began backpedalling away. More big punches landed for Nogueira and he swarmed on Cane. One more massive left hook crushed Cane and sent him to the mat. Nogueira added a final punch on the ground and the fight was quickly stopped.

Extremely impressive UFC debut for Nogueira, who instantly enters the title picture at 205.

Winner: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by TKO (Punches) at 1:56 of round one. He improves to 18-3-0.

Amir Sadollah vs “The New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni

Round 1:
Baroni rushed forward with big punches and a knee right away. He dropped Sadollah briefly with a right hook, but Sadollah stood up. Baroni continued to tee off with uppercuts and hooks over the top as Sadollah clinched. Sadollah landed two knees of his own and added more as Baroni slowed down. Both fighters landed knees and short punches in a clinch against the cage.

Four uppercuts scored for Baroni, but Sadollah maintained a Thai clinch and answered with knees. Baroni scored a takedown and pushed Sadollah against the cage. Sadollah tried for an armbar, but Baroni escaped and stood up. Baroni landed a quick flurry and Sadollah answered with a body kick.

Baroni landed a knee and Sadollah countered with a huge right hand that cut Baroni beside the eye. Knees were exchanged and Sadollah landed the more damaging strikes as Baroni’s face became a bloody mess. Very close round. 10-9 Baroni, just barely.

Round 2:
Sadollah began round two with kicks and backed Baroni up with a flurry and a big knee. Baroni weathered the storm and answered with a pair of combinations. Sadollah landed a front kick to the face and a Superman Punch, then clinched. Both fighters landed knees to the body and Sadollah used more front kicks to keep Baroni at a distance. Sadollah pushed forward and clinched, then scored with knees and elbows against the cage.

A nice combination found the mark for Sadollah and Baroni answered with counter hooks. More front kicks landed for Sadollah and he added a hook to the body. Sadollah landed a jumping switch knee and followed with a short elbow in the clinch. A right hook counter landed for Sadollah, but a fatigued Baroni continued to fire back bombs. 10-9 Sadollah.

Round 3:
Sadollah continued to pick Baroni apart with knees and quick punches early in the final round, but Baroni landed a nice counter left hook. Leg kicks followed for Sadollah and he rushed in with a one-two and knees. Baroni fought him off with wild punches and Sadollah blasted Baroni with more vicious kicks to his lead leg. A one-two and a trio of standing elbows landed for Sadollah and a huge gash opened on the forehead of Baroni.

Sadollah landed another jumping switch knee and Baroni answered with a one-two. Sadollah backed Baroni around the cage with leg kicks and rocked Baroni with punches and a knee. Baroni survived and threw back punches of his own, but Sadollah was relentless with strikes. A badly bloodied Baroni landed a looping right hook and Sadollah rushed in with more strikes. Sadollah landed kicks and knees until the bell. 10-9 Sadollah.

Winner: Amir Sadollah by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 2-1-0.