UFC 108: "Evans vs Silva" Live ResultsThe Ultimate Fighting Championship limped into the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for UFC 108: “Evans vs Silva,” which had been hampered by injuries but turned into an exciting card. The event was headlined by a light heavyweight bout between former champion “Sugar” Rashad Evans and aggressive knockout artist Thiago Silva.

In the co-main event, British striker Paul “Semtex” Daley knocked out jiu-jitsu ace Dustin “McLovin” Hazelett in a welterweight contender’s bout. MMARising.com has live play-by-play from the night’s fights.

 

“Sugar” Rashad Evans vs Thiago Silva

Round 1:
Evans pushed forward quickly with punches and clinched against the cage. Silva tried to secure a Thai clinch for knees, but Evans took him down. Silva stood up, but Evans slammed him down again. Evans quickly moved to mount and tried to transition to an armbar, but Silva scrambled to his feet. The fighters clinched against the cage again and exchanged short punches.

Both fighters threw power punches, but neither landed cleanly. Evans scored an emphatic takedown, but could not keep Silva down. Silva jabbed and landed a counter left hook. Evans replied with a pair of overhand rights and clinched. He landed a flurry of punches to the head and body and briefly took Silva down. 10-9 Evans.

Round 2:
As in round one, Evans began the second round with lead right hands and clinched. Short strikes landed for both in close and Evans backed away. Silva landed a pair of leg kicks, but Evans took him down. Silva looked for submissions and stood up, but Evans slammed him to the mat against the cage. Again, Silva stood up, but he appeared to be tired.

Silva stuffed a takedown, but Evans rushed him into the cage. Silva scored with a right hand and escaped the clinch. Another right cross found the mark for Silva and he followed it up with a body kick. Evans shot in and took Silva down again. Silva stood and landed a knee at the bell. 10-9 Evans.

Round 3:
Quick punches began the final round, but Silva managed to defend a takedown from Evans. A brief clinch ended with looping punches from both fighters. Evans scored a takedown and tried to take Silva’s back, but Silva scrambled free. Silva beckoned Evans to stand and trade, but Evans kept his distance. The crowd began to cheer on Silva and Evans cracked him with a hard right hand.

Silva taunted Evans, who did little in return, and Silva rocked and dropped Evans with a right hook. More punches and knees followed for Silva, who staggered Evans again. Silva swung wildly with punches, then backed away. Evans recovered and tried for a takedown, and the fighters clinched. Silva remained on his feet. 10-9 Silva.

Winner: Rashad Evans by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 14-1-1.

 

Paul “Semtex” Daley vs Dustin “McLovin” Hazelett

Round 1:
Hazelett opened the fight with a rolling wheel kick, to applause from the crowd. Daley looked to jab to get in close and the fighters traded kicks. Two high kicks partially landed for Daley and he followed with a one-two and leg kicks. More kicks were exchanged, but nothing damaging landed. Seconds later, Daley dropped Hazelett with a brutal left hook. He landed three more punches on the ground as Hazelett was completely out. Daley firmly plants himself in the welterweight title picture.

Winner: Paul Daley by KO (Punches) at 2:24 of round one. He improves to 23-8-2.

 

Sam “Hands of Stone” Stout vs Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon

Round 1:
Lauzon threw a left hook and clinched, then slammed Stout to the ground. He passed to half-guard, but Stout managed to regain guard and nearly scrambled to his feet. Lauzon kept him down and opened a big cut over Stout’s left eye, then rolled into a very impressive Kimura. Stout escaped and stood up, then scored with punches. Lauzon shot in for another takedown and briefly got it, but ate knees and hammerfists on the way.

Lauzon pulled guard and Stout elbowed from the top. Lauzon looked for a submission from the bottom and Stout stood up. Stout landed a nice counter left hook and stuffed a takedown. He began to pick Lauzon apart with strikes to the body. An uppercut jacked the jaw of Lauzon, but he connected with an overhand right. Stout landed more combinations and a spinning back fist in the final 40 seconds. Very close round. 10-9 Stout.

Round 2:
A right cross scored for Stout early in round two and he stuffed a takedown. Stout continued to target Lauzon’s body with liver strikes. Stout rocked Lauzon with a head kick, but Lauzon scored a takedown. Stout worked to his feet and shrugged Lauzon off, then landed a combination. Stout followed with a kick to the body and Lauzon briefly took his back. Stout broke free and landed jabs.

The fighters continued to trade punches and Stout scored with impressive combinations to the head and body. Both landed leg kicks and Stout backed Lauzon up with a flurry and a head kick. More punches landed for Stout and Lauzon pulled half-guard. Stout stood up and scored with punches before Lauzon pulled guard again. Stout landed elbows until the bell. 10-9 Stout.

Round 3:
Lauzon began the final round aggressively with punches, but failed in a takedown attempt. Stout flurried with punches and easily avoided a takedown. Kicks, punches and elbows over the top all landed for Stout. Lauzon, who was returning after a lengthy layoff due to injury, seemed to slow down as Stout targeted the body with kicks and left hooks. A five-punch flurry backed Lauzon up and Stout stuffed another takedown.

Lauzon covered up as Stout battered him with kicks and punches. Lauzon finally caught a kick and took Stout down. He landed an elbow and moved to half-guard. Lauzon briefly moved to mount and secured a guillotine choke, but Stout escaped and stood up. Lauzon attempted a flying scissor heel hook and Stout easily sidestepped. Quick punches and a vicious uppercut landed for Stout and he followed with a flying knee and a spinning back fist. Amazing fight. 10-9 Stout.

Winner: Sam Stout by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 15-5-1.

 

Jim Miller vs Duane “Bang” Ludwig

Round 1:
Ludwig connected with two right hands and a flurry to begin the fight, but Miller answered with a quick leg kick. Miller scored with a three-punch flurry and a kick, which was promptly returned by Ludwig. The fighters traded punches in an exchange and Miller dropped Ludwig with a counter right hook. He moved straight to mount, then transitioned into an armbar. Ludwig defended, but Miller straightened the arm and Ludwig was forced to submit. Excellent win for Miller.

Winner: Jim Miller by Submission (Armbar) at 2:31 of round one. He improves to 16-2-0.

 

Junior “Cigano” dos Santos vs Gilbert “The Hurricane” Yvel

Round 1:
Yvel opened the fight with a stiff jab and dos Santos answered with a pair of hooks. Yvel threw a spinning back kick to the ribs and both landed punches. Dos Santos backed Yvel up with a flurry, but Yvel stopped him in his tracks with two counterpunches. Kicks landed for both fighters and dos Santos began to target the body.

A head kick partially landed for Yvel, but dos Santos dropped him with a massive left hook. More punches and hammerfists followed on the ground and referee Herb Dean stopped the fight. Another impressive win for dos Santos, who takes a big step towards title contention.

Winner: Junior dos Santos by TKO (Punches) at 2:07 of round one. He improves to 10-1-0.