The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin tonight for UFC 164: “Henderson vs Pettis 2.” The event featured a much-anticipated UFC Lightweight Championship rematch between “Smooth” Benson Henderson and Anthony “Showtime” Pettis.
Also on the card tonight, Frank Mir faced fellow former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett in the co-feature. Chad “Money” Mendes battled Clay “The Carpenter” Guida in a featherweight contender’s bout. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for tonight’s UFC 164 card.
UFC Lightweight Championship
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis vs “Smooth” Benson Henderson
Round 1:
Pettis landed a combination right away and Henderson clinched in search of a takedown. He landed a knee and Pettis circled away. A straight left scored for Henderson and he dropped levels for another takedown attempt. Pettis stuffed it, but Henderson landed an uppercut and a leg kick before clincing once more. He used front kicks to the calf to soften Pettis up. Pettis broke away and landed a series of hard body kicks. He slipped while throwing one and Henderson entered his guard. Pettis locked on an armbar from the bottom and Henderson verbally submitted.
Winner: Anthony Pettis by Submission (Armbar) at 4:31 of round one. He improves to 17-2-0 and becomes the new UFC Lightweight Champion.
Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett vs Frank Mir
Round 1:
Barnett immediately pressed forward with knees and Mir scored with numerous uppercuts in the clinch. Barnett answered with uppercuts of his own and he landed a hard knee and a one-two. Mir backed up against the cage aBarnett pulled his head down into a vicious knee. Mir fell face-first to the canvas and the bout was stopped. Mir quickly returned to his fight, but the fight was over.
Winner: Josh Barnett by TKO (Knee) at 1:56 of round one. He improves to 33-6-0.
Chad “Money” Mendes vs Clay “The Carpenter” Guida
Round 1:
Mendes threw an early left-right combo to the body and Guida answered with a winging right. The fighters traded punches in close and Guida attempted a takedown. Mendes countered with a guillotine choke and the fight returned to the feet. Guida began to bleed from below the left eye and Mendes landed a one-two. He followed with another one and took Guida down. Guida worked back to his feet and Mendez briefly eyed another guillotine choke on the way up. 10-9 Mendes.
Round 2:
Both men landed quick punches in an early exchange in the second round. Guida pressed the action and landed a one-two, but time was called when a Guida switch kick landed to the groin. Mendes was given time to recover and the fight resumed. Mendes sprawled out of a takedown attempt and took Guida’s back. He landed a knee to the kidney and another one to the face after Guida stood up.
Guida stuffed a takedown and tried for one of his own. Mendes sprawled out once more and countered a knee from Guida with an uppercut. Mendes pulled Guida down to the mat and took his back. Mendes eyed a kimura and then a guillotine choke. Guida stood and tried unsuccessfully for a takedown. Mendes held him against the fence and landed knees. A left hook also scored for Mendes before the bell. 10-9 Mendes.
Round 3:
Mendes dropped Guida with a counter right hook in the final round. Guida recovered on the ground and stood to escape a rear-naked choke, but Mendes continued to strike against the cage. A right hook put Guida down again and Mendes landed punches until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Chad Mendes by TKO (Punches) at 0:30 of round three. He improves to 15-1-0.
“Big” Ben Rothwell vs Brandon “The Truth” Vera
Round 1:
Vera landed an inside-leg kick early in the fight and Rothwell immediately countered with a right cross. Vera put together a combination of kicks and punches, but Rothwell backed him up with another right hand. Vera scored with a vicious liver kick and Rothwell continued to press forward with punches. A big left hook landed for Vera and Rothwell threw another one-two.
Vera landed another liver kick and a short left hook. Rothwell flurried as Vera circled on the outside. Two more kicks to the body and lead leg landed for Vera. Rothwell attempted a head kick that missed. The fighters were cautious in the final seconds and Rothwell landed a brutal kick to the groin just before the bell sounded. 10-9 Vera.
Round 2:
Vera continued to chop at Rothwell’s lead leg with kicks in the second round. Rothwell clinched and landed knees to the body. He attempted a head kick and it barely grazed Vera’s chin. Rothwell landed a combination in close and Vera eventually circled away. Short uppercuts connected for both fighters and Vera fired off an elbow over the top.
Rothwell began to kick at Vera’s left leg and Vera replied in kind. He missed with a head kick and Rothwell fought off a takedown with two uppercuts. Rothwell landed a four-punch combo to the body and head and he followed with a right cross. Both men landed standing elbows and Rothwell kicked to the body. He blocked a head kick and Vera landed a one-two. 10-9 Rothwell.
Round 3:
Rothwell clinched and held Vera against the cage in round three. Referee Herb Dean separated the fighters and Rothwell attempted a head kick. He landed an uppercut and pressed forward with punches. A knee and a combination hurt Vera, who wilted against the fence. Rothwell unloaded with punches and another knee and Vera fell to the mat. Rothwell landed a few more punches before the fight was waved off.
Winner: Ben Rothwell by TKO (Knees & Punches) at 1:54 of round three. He improves to 33-9-0.
Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier vs Erik “New Breed” Koch
Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of hard leg kicks and Poirier hurt Koch with punches. Koch fell to his back and Poirier landed more hard shots from the top. Koch recovered and locked on a tight triangle choke from the bottom. Poirier barely survived, but he managed to pull his head free. After another triangle attempt from Koch, the fighters returned to their feet.
Both fighters landed knees in the clinch and Poirier followed with an uppercut and a left hook. He dropped Koch again with a brutal right hook and swarmed with more shots on the ground. Koch somehow weathered the storm, but Poirier stayed on him and looked to move to mount. Poirier secured a Brabo choke and Koch narrowly made it to the bell. 10-8 Poirier.
Round 2:
Koch kept his distance and picked his shots with jabs and one-twos in the second round. A left cross landed for Poirier and Koch’s legs appeared to be wobbly. Poirier took him down against the cage. He tried for a neck crank, then mounted Koch and worked for an arm-triangle choke. Poirier punched from the top and attempted a mounted triangle choke. Koch stood and both men landed knees. Poirier connected with two more hooks before the end of the round. 10-9 Poirier.
Round 3:
Koch flurried to begin round three, but Poirier landed a counter left hook and worked for a takedown against the cage. Poirier dropped levels for the takedown, but Koch defended well and secured a takedown of his own. Koch landed slashing elbows and avoided an armbar attempt. He took Poirier’s back with just over a minute to go. Poirier nearly escaped out the back, but Koch held him down and secured a body triangle. He tried for a rear-naked choke before time expired. 10-9 Koch.
Winner: Dustin Poirier by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 14-3-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)