The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the famed Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan tonight for UFC 123: “Rampage vs Machida.” The main event featured a light heavyweight bout between former champs Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.
Also on the main card, another pair of former UFC champions squared off when “The Prodigy” BJ Penn took on Matt Hughes for the third time, while George Sotiropoulos faced Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon in a pivotal lightweight bout with title implications. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida
Round 1:
Jackson walked Machida down early in the fight until Machida landed a leg kick. Another leg kick followed soon after, and a third not long after that. Machida kept Jackson at bay with the kicks, but Jackson finally landed a one-two counter to a leg kick. Three punches scored for Jackson and he clinched.
Jackson threw short punches to the thigh of Machida and broke free of the clinch with an uppercut. Machida landed two body kicks and Jackson clinched again. Machida reversed against the cage and landed knees. The fighters separated again and Jackson looked to set up a right hand. Machida stayed on the outside and backed away from a combination late in the round. Very close round. 10-9 Machida by a slim margin.
Round 2:
Machida landed a knee and a body kick in the second round and Jackson clinched. Time was called after a knee from Jackson strayed low. The fight resumed and Jackson just missed with a lunging left hook. He clinched and landed a knee to the body, but Machida pressed him against the cage. Jackson scored a takedown, but he was unable to keep Machida down. A right hand scored for Jackson as Machida backed away.
Jackson pushed forward with a right hook and Machida clinched. Machida put him up against the cage again and Jackson fought out with a knee. The fighters separated and Machida threw a head kick. Jackson stunned him with an uppercut, but Machida quickly recovered and resumed circling. Machida landed a leg kick and the fight returned to the clinch. Machida landed a left hook that sent Jackson off-balance at the bell. Another razor-thin round. 10-9 Jackson.
Round 3:
Jackson began the final round with a leg kick and Machida responded with one of his own. A right hook scored for Jackson and Machida circled away. Machida jabbed and Jackson landed another leg kick. Jackson attempted a combination, but missed. Machida rocked him with a counterpunch and swarmed with punches, a body kick and two knees. Jackson weathered the storm and fired back a flurry of his own. Machida took him down and worked from the top in Jackson’s half-guard.
Machida tried to free his leg to move to full mount, but Jackson kept his leg pinned. Machida attempted a Kimura on Jackson’s left arm and used the transition to move to mount. Short punches and elbows landed for Machida and he postured up. Machida spun into an armbar and Jackson picked him up for a slam. Machida released his grip and backed away. He clinched soon after dragged Jackson to the ground. The fight ended with Jackson in Machida’s rubber guard. 10-9 Machida.
Winner: Quinton Jackson by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 31-8-0.
“The Prodigy” BJ Penn vs Matt Hughes
Round 1:
Penn opened the fight aggressively with punches and caught a body kick. He landed a big right hand that dropped Hughes and followed with four more punches that turned Hughes’s lights out. Very quick and impressive win for Penn, who desperately needed a big win to get his career back on track.
Winner: BJ Penn by KO (Punches) at 0:21 of round one. He improves to 16-7-1.
Maiquel Jose “Big Rig” Falcao Goncalves vs Gerald “Hurricane” Harris
Round 1:
The fighters circled cautiously early on and Harris missed with a left hand. He connected with a stiff jab. And another. And a third. Harris threw a lunging right hook that missed as Falcao continued to do absolutely nothing. Harris jabbed again and Falcao threw his first strike with a body kick. Harris landed a jabd and a one-two. Falcao suddenly swarmed with a lightning-fast flurry of punches and a knee to the ribs.
Harris buckled and fell to his back. Falcao punched from the top and scored with some solid shots. More punches landed for Falcao and he tried for a rear-naked choke. Harris managed to get to his feet and slammed Falcao backwards. Falcao maintained back control and secured a rear-naked choke. Harris just barely survived until the bell. Very interesting round. 10-9 Falcao.
Round 2:
A big right hand from Falcao set off an exchange of heavy punches in the second round and Harris wound up on his back. Falcao took back control and tried for another rear-naked choke. Harris defended, but Falcao landed punches. A bloodied Harris spun and reversed position as the fighters returned to their feet. Both landed punches and backed away.
Harris shot in for a takedown and Falcao stuffed it. Harris continued to try to take Falcao down, but could not. Finally, he picked Falcao up and slammed him down, only for Falcao to get right back to his feet. Falco kicked to the body and followed with a head kick. He sprawled out of a takedown attempt and threw short punches and elbows to Harris’s head. The fighters stood before the bell. 10-9 Falcao.
Round 3:
The fight returned to cautious circling in the final round, as very little transpired in the opening minute. The crowd booed the lack of action as Harris pawed out with a handful of weak right hands. Harris missed with a lead right hook as Falcao finally threw a leg kick.
Harris landed a jab and missed with an uppercut. He followed with a one-two and a combination that partially landed. Falcao stuffed a takedown and shrugged Harris off, then circled away. He flashed out a head kick, but Harris ducked. The fighters finally traded strikes in the final eight seconds. 10-10.
Winner: Maiquel Falcao by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 26-3-0, 1 NC.
Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis vs Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch
Round 1:
Boetsch threw a leg kick as Davis landed a right hand and the fighters exchanged head kicks that were blocked. Davis followed with a leg kick, a one-two and a kick to the body. More kicks landed for Davis and he avoided a pair of counterpunches. Boetsch caught a kick and landed a right hook behind the ear. Davis regained his balance and landed a body kick. He threw a kick to the arm and took Boetsch down.
Davis struck from the top to the head and body from Boetsch’s half-guard. Boetsch could not move and ate a series of short elbows. More elbows and knees to the body scored for Davis, but Boetsch managed to regain full guard briefly. Davis passed back to half-guard, then returned to his feet. He landed knees to the body before the bell. 10-9 Davis.
Round 2:
Davis clinched in the second round and took Boetsch’s back while standing. Boetsch spun, but Davis maintained the clinch. The fighters battled for position against the cage and Davis shot in for a double-leg takedown. Boetsch secured a tight guillotine choke as he fell to his back, but Davis escaped and locked on a partial Kimura. He readjusted his position and wound up pulling Boetsch’s arm behind his back from the far side.
Winner: Phil Davis by Submission (Modified Hammerlock) at 2:55 of round two. He improves to 8-0-0.
George Sotiropoulos vs Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon
Round 1:
Crisp punches scored for Lauzon in the opening 30 seconds and he followed with a nice left hook. Sotiropoulos caught a kick and tried for a takedown, but Lauzon easily shrugged him off and landed a knee and a right hook. A right cross snapped Sotiropoulos’s head back, but he managed to land a combination and clinched. Lauzon punished him with elbows to the side of the head, but Sotiropoulos maintained the clinch. Both fighters landed right hooks in close and Sotiropoulos circled away.
Sotiropoulos pulled half-guard, but Lauzon landed two elbows from the top. A scramble ensued and Lauzon wound up in Sotiropoulos’s half-guard again. He stood and Sotiropoulos followed. Sotiropoulos took Lauzon down and took partial back control. He dragged Lauzon down and moved to North-South. Sotiropoulos punched and moved to mount, then spun for an armbar. Lauzon avoided it and blasted him with punches. Good round. 10-9 Lauzon.
Round 2:
A brief striking exchange opened round two and Sotiropoulos tried to pull half-guard. The fight remained on the feet and Sotiropoulos attempted a takedown. He was unsuccessful, but landed a nice combination of punches after the fighters separated. Sotiropoulos scored with a knee and fought off an armbar in a scramble. He moved to North-South position and isolated both of Lauzon’s arms.
Sotiropoulos tried to spin into an armbar and lost the position. He stayed on top and secured a Kimura instead. Sotiropoulos wrenched Lauzon’s arm back and Lauzon was forced to submit. Referee Marc Fennel, out of position, allowed the hold to stay on for close to five seconds.
Winner: George Sotiropoulos by Submission (Kimura) at 2:43 of round two. He improves to 14-2-0.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)
machida should have won!!