The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the LG Arena in Birmingham, England today for UFC 138: “Leben vs Munoz.” The card was headlined by a middleweight bout between contenders Chris “The Crippler” Leben and Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz, contested over five rounds.
In the bantamweight co-feature, Brad “One Punch” Pickett looked to take one step closer to a UFC title shot when he faced Renan “Barao” Pegado, and former welterweight title challenger Thiago “Pitbull” Alves battled Papy “Makambo” Abedi. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz vs Chris “The Crippler” Leben
Round 1:
Munoz took Leben down early in the fight and fought his way out of a guillotine choke. Munoz tried for an arm-triangle choke, but Leben escaped back to his feet. Leben stuffed a takedown and took Munoz down. He landed punches briefly, but Munoz quickly got back to his feet. Leben scored with punches against the cage and Munoz backed away. Leben walked forward and landed a one-two before clinching again.
Leben caught a knee and slammed Munoz down to the mat. Munoz stood and Leben pulled half-guard with a guillotine choke. Munoz escaped and Leben landed elbows from the bottom. Munoz punched to the body and landed a big right hand as the fighters stood. Munoz tripped Leben and landed big punches, but Leben stood and the fighters traded haymakers. Munoz tried for more late takedowns and Leben punished him with punches and elbows. Very close round. 10-9 Leben, just barely.
Round 2:
The second round began with a clinch and Munoz got Leben down to the mat. He landed punches to the body and Leben elbowed from the bottom. Munoz postured up and landed big punches that cut Leben near the left eye. Leben stood and was taken down again. From half-guard, Munoz landed elbows and nearly took Leben’s back. Munoz landed hard punches, but Leben locked on a guillotine as the fighters stood.
Leben used the choke to take Munoz down to the mat, but his eye continued to bleed heavily all over the place. Munoz escaped the choke and time was called to check the cut. The fight appeared close to being stopped, but the doctor allowed it to continue and Leben landed a one-two. Munoz dropped down for a takedown and escaped a guillotine. He landed big punches from the top and Leben continued to bleed badly. Munoz remained on top until the bell. 10-9 Munoz.
In between rounds, the fight was stopped as Leben could not see out of his left eye.
Winner: Mark Munoz by TKO (Corner Stoppage) at 5:00 of round two. He improves to 12-2-0.
Renan “Barao” Pegado vs Brad “One Punch” Pickett
Round 1:
Barao landed a leg kick to open the fight, which set off a lengthy exchange of big power punches. Both fighters landed, but Barao appeared to get the better of the exchange. Barao targeted both the head and body, while Pickett looked for a one-punch knockout reminiscent of his nickname. Barao tried for a takedown and Pickett just missed with a looping haymaker. Barao jabbed and both fighters connected with hooks at the same time.
More big punches were exchanged, but neither fighter backed down. Barao dropped Pickett with a knee and punches and Pickett appeared to be on the brink of unconsciousness, but he somehow survived Barao’s barrage of strikes. Barao took Pickett’s backed and secured a rear-naked choke. Pickett held on, but was forced to submit.
Winner: Renan Barao by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:09 of round one. He improves to 27-1-0, 1 NC.
Thiago “Pitbull” Alves vs Papy “Makambo” Abedi
Round 1:
Alves opened the bout with leg kicks and Abedi answered with a counter cross. Abedi clinched and landed a knee and a standing elbow. More knees landed for both fighters and Alves circled away. Abedi threw a combination and a leg kick. Alves replied with a hard kick to the body. Alves continued to kick and Abedi landed a variety of punches in return. He remained the aggressor and clinched against the cage.
Alves broke free of the clinch, but ate a combination. He badly rocked Abedi with a three-punch flurry, however, and Abedi fell to the mat. Alves landed punches and elbows on the ground that cut Abedi and moved to mount, but Abedi held on. Abedi rolled over and gave up his back, and Alves locked on a rear-naked choke for the tapout victory.
Winner: Thiago Alves by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:32 of round one. He improves to 19-8-0.
Anthony “The Hippo” Perosh vs Cyrille “The Snake” Diabate
Round 1:
Diabate kept his distance early on and landed body kicks and quick punches. One of the punches cut Perosh near the right eye and Diabate landed another hard left cross. Diabate sprawled out of a takedown attempt and scored with a flurry. Perosh tried to pull guard, but Diabate punished him with hammerfists and stood up.
Diabate landed another body kick and followed up with a second one, but Perosh caught it and took him down. From side control, Perosh tried for an arm-triangle choke, but Diabate easily escaped. Perosh stood and avoided upkicks before returning to side control in the final seconds. Close round. 10-9 Diabate.
Round 2:
Diabate landed a body kick and stuffed a takedown in round two. He lunged in with a right hand, but Perosh ducked under and took Diabate down. Diabate landed an upkick as Perosh stood over him, but Perosh was unfazed and moved straight into mount. Diabate surrendered his back and Perosh tried for a rear-naked choke. Perosh returned to mount and then secured an arm-triangle choke.
Perosh let go of the choke and went back to mount, then took Diabate’s back. Perosh landed punches and elbows to set up a rear-naked choke. He got the choke and Diabate tapped out.
Winner: Anthony Perosh by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:09 of round two. He improves to 12-6-0.
Terry Etim vs Edward “Falo” Faaloloto
Round 1:
Etim landed two lead left hooks and a spinning back kick to open the fight, then pulled guard with an arm-in guillotine choke. Faaloloto briefly held on, but tapped out. Impressive win for the returning Etim.
Winner: Terry Etim by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:17 of round one. He improves to 15-3-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)