The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana tonight for UFC Fight Night 68: “Boetsch vs Henderson.” The card featured a brief middleweight bout between Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch and former two-division PRIDE champ Dan “Hendo” Henderson.

Also tonight, “Big” Ben Rothwell took on Matt Mitrione in the heavyweight co-feature. Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier battled Yancy “The Kid” Medeiros in a catchweight contest, and Thiago Tavares met Brian “T-City” Ortega at featherweight. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the main card.

 

Dan “Hendo” Henderson vs Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch

Round 1:
Henderson rocked Boetsch with an early right hook and he dropped him with an uppercut soon after. Boetsch tried to get back to his feet, but Henderson unloaded with right hands and the fight was stopped. Big win for Henderson.

Winner: Dan Henderson by KO (Punches) at 0:28 of round one. He improves to 31-13-0.

 

“Big” Ben Rothwell vs Matt Mitrione

Round 1:
Mitrione landed quick punches in the early goings, but Rothwell countered with a knee and a flurry that backed him up. Power punches were exchanged and Mitrione shot in for a takedown, but Rothwell stuffed it and locked on a front choke. Mitrione immediately tapped out with both hands.

Winner: Ben Rothwell by Submission (Front Choke) at 1:54 of round one. He improves to 35-9-0.

 

Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier vs Yancy “The Kid” Medeiros

Round 1:
Kicks were exchanged early on and Poirier dropped Medeiros with a right hook. Medeiros stood and was floored again by a looping left. He battled back to his feet again and Poirier blasted him with huge punches. He took Medeiros down and transitioned to back control. Poirier attempted to move to mount and Medeiros escaped to his feet. Poirier hurt him with a body shot and he threw a non-stop barrage of punches as Medeiros wilted against the cage, forcing referee John McCarthy to finally stop the fight.

Winner: Dustin Poirier by TKO (Punches) at 2:38 of round one. He improves to 18-4-0.

 

Brian “T-City” Ortega vs Thiago Tavares

Round 1:
Tavares landed a nice right hand and a head kick in the opening seconds. He took Ortega down and fought off an armbar attempt. Tavares postured up and landed punches to the head and body. Ortega bloodied him up with strikes from his back and he used an armbar to sweep into mount. Slashing elbows further opened the cut on Tavares’s forehead, but he initiated a scramble and slammed Ortega to the mat after the fighters briefly stood. Ortega got back to his feet again and he flurried to the head and body. Tavares threw him down and Ortega landed more elbows. Close round. 10-9 Ortega, barely.

Round 2:
Ortega dropped Tavares with a spinning back elbow in round two and he rushed forward with punches after Tavares stood back up. Ortega reversed a throw, but Tavares wound up on top after a brief scramble. He landed punches from Ortega’s guard, but Ortega opened an even larger cut on Tavares’s forehead with elbows. A badly bloodied Tavares unloaded with punches from the top and Ortega countered with a leglock attempt. He upkicked from his back and locked on a triangle choke, but Tavares slid out. Another close round. 10-9 Ortega again.

Round 3:
The final round began with an exchange of punches and Ortega landed a left hook to the liver. Tavares answered with a knee that struck Ortega in the groin. Time was called to allow him to recover. Action resumed and Ortega countered a body kick with a right cross. He followed with a spinning back kick to the face. Tavares clinched, but little transpired and the fighters were separated. Time was called again when Ortega knocked out Tavares’s mouthpiece with a left hook. He stunned Tavares with a one-two and dropped him with more punches. Ortega mounted Tavares and teed off with punches until the bout was stopped.

Winner: Brian Ortega by TKO (Punches) at 4:10 of round three. He improves to 9-0-0, 1 NC.

 

Anthony “El Toro” Birchak vs Joe “One Bad Mofo” Soto

Round 1:
Birchak began the fight with one-two combinations and Soto replied with an overhand right. A knee and a right hand dropped Soto, but he weathered the storm and battled back to his feet. Birchak unloaded with standing elbows and punches until an unconscious Soto fell face-first to the canvas.

Winner: Anthony Birchak by KO (Elbows & Punches) at 1:37 of round one. He improves to 12-2-0.

 

Francisco “Cisco” Rivera vs Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres

Round 1:
Rivera opened the action with a right hand and he floored Caceres with a huge left hook seconds later. Rivera rushed in and landed more punches on the ground until the referee rescued a barely-conscious Caceres from further punishment.

Winner: Francisco Rivera by KO (Punches) at 0:21 of round one. He improves to 11-4-0, 1 NC.

 

Undercard Fights:

– Shawn “The Savage” Jordan defeated Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis by TKO (Front Hook Kick & Punches) at 0:48 of round two. He improves to 18-6-0 with the win.

– Omari “Wolverine” Akhmedov defeated Brian “Bad Boy” Ebersole by TKO (Knee Injury) at 5:00 of round one. He improves to 15-2-0 with the win.

– Chris Wade defeated Christos “The Spartan” Giagos by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 10-1-0 with the win.

– Joe Proctor defeated Justin “Fast Eddy” Edwards by Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:58 of round three. He improves to 11-3-0 with the win.

– Jake “The Prototype” Collier defeated Ricardo “Demente” Abreu by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 9-2-0 with the win.

– José Alberto “El Teco” Quiñonez defeated Leonardo “Chimmy” Morales by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:34 of round one. He improves to 4-2-0 with the win.