The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates today for UFC Fight Night 39: “Nogueira vs Nelson.” The event was headlined by a heavyweight bout between jiu-jitsu specialists Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira and Roy “Big Country” Nelson.
Also on the card, Clay “The Carpenter” Guida took on Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri in a featherweight fight. John “Doomsday” Howard battled Ryan LaFlare in welterweight action and Ramsey Nijem faced Beneil Dariush in a lightweight bout. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the main card.
Roy “Big Country” Nelson vs Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira
Round 1:
Nogueira pressed forward early on and the fighters traded right hands. Nelson rocked and dropped Nogueira with an uppercut and a right hook. Nogueira got back to his feet and appeared to be unsteady. Nogueira regained his footing and landed a combination. He dropped Nogueira with another right hand, but a badly dazed Nogueira somehow got back to his feet. As Nogueira retreated, Nelson landed a massive overhand right that sent an unconscious Nogueira crashing to the canvas.
Winner: Roy Nelson by KO (Punch) at 3:37 of round one. He improves to 20-9-0.
Clay “The Carpenter” Guida vs Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri
Round 1:
Guida opened the fight with a one-two and Kawajiri fired back with a spinning backfist. Guida dropped him with a huge right hand and took his back. Kawajiri stood and countered with a kimura attempt. He pulled Guida to the mat with an armbar, but Guida elbowed his way free. He picked Kawajiri up and slammed him on his face. Kawajiri stood and tried for another kimura. He slammed Guida down and Guida worked for a kiumura from his back. Good round. 10-9 Guida.
Round 2:
Guida stuffed a takedown and landed a quick combination in the second round. He tried for a takedown of his own and got it. Kawajiri stood and the fighters battled for position against the cage. A bloodied Guida took Kawajiri back down momentarily, but he could not hold him there for long. Kawajiri worked for kimuras from a standing clinch and he got Guida down with a modified package piledriver. From his back, Kawajiri looked to set up an inverted triangle choke. The fight returned to the feet and Guida tried for a suplex. Close round. 10-9 Guida.
Round 3:
Guida sprawled out of a takedown attempt and locked on a guillotine choke in round two. Kawajiri broke free and held a kneeling Guida against the base of the cage. Back on the feet, Guida ducked under a looping right hook and took Kawajiri’s back. Kawajiri once again countered with a kimura attempt and he switched to a guillotine choke as Guida slammed him down. Guida transitioned from Kawajiri’s back to side control and he finished the round with knees to the body. 10-9 Guida.
Winner: Clay Guida by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 31-14-0.
Ryan LaFlare vs John “Doomsday” Howard
Round 1:
LaFlare scored with a nice body kick right away and he took Howard down seconds later. He moved to side control and looked to secure a Brabo choke. Howard escaped and got back to his feet, but he ate a knee on the way up. Howard briefly took LaFlare down and the fighters clinched after standing. LaFlare kneed Howard’s thigh and threw him to the mat. He tried for a guillotine choke and Howard escaped. Howard landed a combination and LaFlare countered with punches to the body. He followed with a knee and a body kick. 10-9 LaFlare.
Round 2:
Howard hurt LaFlare with a left hook in round two and threw him down to the ground. The fighters scrambled on the mat and traded top position until the fight returned to the feet against the cage. Time was called after LaFlare kneed Howard in the groin. The fight finally continued after a lengthy delay and LaFlare took Howard down. Howard stood and ate knees to the body. He reversed a takedown and the fighters stood. LaFlare pinned Howard against the fence, but Howard cracked him with an uppercut and a left hook. Close round. 10-9 Howard.
Round 3:
Howard knocked LaFlare down with a leg kick early in the final round, but LaFlare quickly returned to his feet and scored a takedown. LaFlare struck from the top until Howard battled back up. Two left hooks landed for Howard and LaFlare got him down again. He landed ground and pound and tried to take Howard’s back. Howard rolled for a kneebar and LaFlare kicked free. Howard attempted a kimura before the bell. Another close round. 10-9 LaFlare, barely.
Winner: Ryan LaFlare by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 11-0-0.
Ramsey Nijem vs Beneil Dariush
Round 1:
Dariush landed a hard left hand early on and he tripped Nijem after catching a body kick. Nijem stood and landed a leg kick. Dariush clinched against the cage and scored with two slashing elbows. Nijem kicked at Dariush’s leg and body and followed with a nice right cross. He wobbled Dariush with a counter right and swarmed on him with more punches.
Dariush narrowly held on and escaped from a power guillotine choke. Nijem continued to batter Dariush with punches and he avoided a heel hook. He mounted Dariush and unloaded with punches as Dariush began to bleed from the nose. After a final flurry of punches from Nijem, the fight was stopped.
Winner: Ramsey Nijem by TKO (Punches) at 4:20 of round one. He improves to 9-4-0.
Undercard Fights:
– Jared “The Big Show” Rosholt defeated Daniel Omielanczuk by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 10-1-0 with the win.
– Thales Leites defeated Trevor “Hot Sauce” Smith by TKO (Punches) at 0:45 of round one. He improves to 23-4-0 with the win.
– Jim “The Beast” Alers defeated Alan Omer by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 13-1-0 with the win.
– Johnny “Brutal” Bedford and Rani Yahya fought to a No Contest (Accidental Headbutt) at 0:39 of round one. Bedford moves to 19-10-1, 1 NC, while Yahya is now 19-8-0, 1 NC.