UFC 94 Results & Recap
by Robert Sargent
Showcasing what was arguably their best main event fight on paper to date, the UFC's prized UFC 94 event instead ended with a lopsided battle, as UFC Welterweight Champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre easily defeated "The Prodigy" BJ Penn.
In the co-main event, undefeated Brazilian light heavyweight star Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida shocked everyone in attendance by knocking out Thiago Silva at the very end of round one.
UFC Welterweight Championship
Georges "Rush" St. Pierre vs "The Prodigy" BJ Penn
Nearly three years in the making, St. Pierre and Penn finally did battle for a second time, but the Welterweight Champion was far too much for his Lightweight Champion counterpart, and St. Pierre dominated the fight until Penn's corner threw in the towel after round four.The fighters immediately clinched and moved to the cage, where both threw knees to the thighs. St. Pierre attempted a single-leg takedown, but could not get Penn down. St. Pierre continued to latch onto Penn's leg, and both fighters landed punches. They separated and St. Pierre landed an overhand right. Once more, the fighters clinched against the cage and St. Pierre worked for a takedown. Penn fought it off and landed a jab. St. Pierre fired back with a one-two and an overhand right. Following another brief clinch, St. Pierre scored with a pair of kicks, then landed a quick combination of short punches before the bell. 10-9 St. Pierre.
Penn landed a pair of solid lefts early in round two, then came forward with a quick flurry. St. Pierre clinched again and landed knees, then elbows over the top. Finally, St. Pierre got Penn to the mat, but Penn promptly trapped him in guard. St. Pierre postured up and landed elbows, then stood and threw big punches from the top. He passed to side-control and landed strikes as Penn grew weary. St. Pierre continued to score with knees to the body and hammerfists, but Penn managed to regain guard. St. Pierre landed elbows from the top, then stood up a second time and landed more big shots. Moving to side-control, St. Pierre looked to land more strikes, but Penn used a jail break to regain guard. More elbows from St. Pierre opened a cut below Penn's left eye shortly before the bell. 10-9 St. Pierre.
St. Pierre came out aggressively in round three, landing a one-two and a leg kick, then a picture-perfect left Superman Punch. More punches landed for St. Pierre, as a tired Penn seemed to be losing hope. St. Pierre scored a takedown and landed in half-guard, as Penn bled from the nose. Penn managed to regain butterfly guard, but St. Pierre rained down more strikes from a semi-standing position. St. Pierre landed hammerfists from half-guard, but Penn rose to his feet and looked for a takedown of his own. St. Pierre reversed position against the cage and landed punches, then scored another takedown. He postured up and landed over a dozen punches and elbows, while Penn seemed content to simply hang on until the bell. 10-9 St. Pierre.
St. Pierre alternated between jabs and leg kicks early in round four, then took Penn down yet again. He moved to side-control and battered Penn with elbows to the face and short punches. St. Pierre trapped Penn in a crucifix and looked to end the fight with punches and elbows as Penn's arms were trapped, but Penn held on. Penn regained half-guard briefly, only to be hit with punches as St. Pierre moved to side-control once more. St. Pierre landed knees to the body and more short punches, then looked to move to mount, but stayed in Penn's half-guard and landed more elbows. Once again, St. Pierre trapped Penn in a crucifix and landed strikes, then moved to mount. Each time Penn regained guard, St. Pierre would pass right back to side-control. St. Pierre poured on the offence in the final 30 seconds and nearly stopped Penn with strikes, but Penn barely survived until the bell. 10-8 St. Pierre.
In between rounds, a dejected Penn refused to acknowledge his corner as he looked down at the ground against the cage. His brother told the doctor to stop the fight, and referee Herb Dean signalled the end of the bout. An extremely impressive and dominant performance from St. Pierre, who will next face Thiago Alves.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre by TKO (Corner Stoppage) at 5:00 of round four. He improves to 18-2-0 and remains the UFC Welterweight Champion.
Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida vs Thiago Silva
This battle of 13-0 Brazilians ended in stunning fashion, as Machida surprisingly battered Silva with strikes throughout round one and knocked out his counterpart with a diving punch just as the bell sounded to end the first stanza.Silva stalked forward throughout the opening minute, but Machida landed kicks to the legs and body, as well as a pair of leaping knees to the ribs, while Silva was unable to land anything. After an accidental low blow from Machida, the fight resumed and Machida scored a quick trip takedown. Machida rose to his feet and dropped Silva moments later with a knee to the liver and a looping punch. Machida looked to finish, but Silva quickly regained guard. Machida stood and kicked the legs of Silva before diving back into Silva's guard. Silva stood up and blocked a head kick from Machida. However, Machida dropped Silva for a second time with a quick one-two combination and once again looked to finish from side-control. Silva got back up and the fighters clinched against the cage. With seconds to go, Machida shoved Silva to the ground and dove forward with two huge punches right at the bell. Silva was out cold and the referee waved off the fight.
No longer just a defensive fighter who wins three-round decisions, Machida quickly became a crowd favourite with his vicious stoppage of Silva, and should finally be next in line for a title shot.
Winner: Lyoto Machida by KO (Punches) at 5:00 of round one. He improves to 14-0-0.
Jon "Bones" Jones vs "The American Psycho" Stephan Bonnar
Though still new to the UFC, Jones made a name for himself in this fight as a future contender, as he dominated Bonnar throughout the fight and nearly knocked him out with one of the most impressive spinning back elbows ever seen in MMA.Jones opened up with a spinning back kick and another kick to the body, then two more kicks to the midsection. Bonnar caught a leg and clinched, but Jones scored a brief takedown. The fighters traded knees to the body, and Jones used a Judo throw to take Bonnar down. Bonnar worked back to his feet, only to be thrown down again. Back on the feet, Bonnar landed a kick to the body and a grazing spinning back fist. Jones landed knees in a clinch, then used a unique takedown to take Bonnar's back. Jones suplexed Bonnar to the mat, but Bonnar got up. Jones then landed what was arguably the most impressive strike in UFC history, as he drilled Bonnar behind the ear with a spinning back elbow. Bonnar dropped to the mat like he'd been shot, but somehow survived the follow-up onslaught of punches. Bonnar, bleeding from the head, managed to get back to his feet, but Jones drilled him with a knee and scored another takedown before the bell. 10-9 Jones.
Jones landed more assorted kicks early in round two, then used a trip to take Bonnar's back. Bonnar twice got to his feet, only to be thrown down again. Jones allowed Bonnar to stand, then cracked him with a right cross as Bonnar threw a body kick. Jones scored a takedown and landed elbows from half-guard. Bonnar eventually managed to stand up, and was met with a knee for his efforts. The fighters traded kicks and punches as Jones began to tire slightly. Bonnar tried for a takedown, but made no progress and was hit with an elbow and a hook. Jones threw kicks as Bonnar pushed forward with a combination. The fighters continued to trade strikes in close quarters, and Jones threw Bonnar to the mat with another extremely impressive throw just before the bell. 10-9 Jones.
Bonnar clinched in the early goings of the third round, but was unable to do anything against the cage. He landed a combination and an uppercut as Jones came forward, however, and followed it up with a pair of solid punches seconds later. Jones countered with a knee from a Thai clinch, but Bonnar continued to be the aggressor. Bonnar attempted a takedown, but Jones reversed and took top position. Bonnar threw punches and elbows from the bottom, then partially locked on a triangle choke. Jones escaped and landed a knee to the body. The fatigued fighters clinched against the cage, with neither able to do much damage. Bonnar stalked Jones with punches, but Jones used kicks to keep his distance. Another clinch just before the bell yielded little offence. Very close round, 10-9 Bonnar due to aggression.
Winner: Jon Jones by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 8-0-0.
Karo "The Heat" Parisyan vs Dong Hyun "Stun Gun" Kim
Once again putting on a dreadful performance that all but ensures that UFC title contention will forever be outside of his reach, Parisyan escaped from this fight with an undeserved Split Decision victory after both fighters did essentially nothing in the final, lacklustre round.Round one was all Kim, as he beat Parisyan at his own Judo game. Kim scored an early trip takedown and landed punches from the top, then took Parisyan's back. Like in his fight with Matt Brown, Kim took Parisyan's back in a koala position while standing and looked for a choke. Parisyan rolled forward, but could not shake Kim off. Kim had the crowd cheer as he punched the face of Parisyan. After Parisyan briefly got back to his feet, Kim scored another takedown and looked for an armbar. Parisyan escaped danger, but fell into a triangle choke. Once more, Parisyan escaped, and Kim got back to his feet. Parisyan attempted a takedown, but Kim reversed and took Parisyan's back again. The fighters stood and clinched until the bell, with neither able to score a takedown. 10-9 Kim.
Kim threw a head kick early in round two, and Parisyan fired back with a looping hook. The fighters clinched against the cage and Parisyan rolled for a takedown. Kim took Parisyan's back, but Parisyan locked on a Kimura that allowed him to reverse position. Parisyan spit out his mouthpiece for the second time as the two got back to their feet. Kim landed an elbow in the clinch, but was finally taken down by a Parisyan Judo throw. Kim got back up and clinched once more. Following a stoppage to have Parisyan's mouthpiece cleaned off, the fight resumed and both fighters landed punches. Parisyan scored with jabs and lunging punches, while Kim looked for uppercuts. Another clinch against the cage saw Parisyan land a quick combination. 10-9 Parisyan.
Round three was slow, as both fighters were very tired. Parisyan clinched, but Kim scored a trip takedown. Parisyan was warned for an illegal kick to the head on the ground, and the fight resumed on the feet. Parisyan landed a quick one-two, but failed in a takedown attempt. Kim used an anaconda choke to push Parisyan to the mat, but Parisyan got back to his feet. Kim landed knees to the body against the cage, but Parisyan scored a partial takedown. Kim got right back up and tried for a takedown, but Parisyan illegally grabbed the cage. The crowd grew restless as neither fighter could score a takedown. Parisyan very briefly got Kim down, but Kim rose again. Little happened in the final minute of the close and uneventful round, and the round should have been 10-9 for Kim or 10-10 for a Draw.
Instead, Parisyan was given an undeserved gift of a decision, as two judges awarded the final round to him. To make matters worse, as if Parisyan's performance wasn't bad enough for his career, he failed a post-fight test for banned substances. Amazing.
Winner: Karo Parisyan by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 19-5-0.
Clay "The Carpenter" Guida vs Nate Diaz
Using his traditional relentless offensive attacks, Guida managed to do enough to emerge from this fight with a very hard-fought Split Decision win that did not appear as close as the judges believed.The fighters traded punches and kicks for well over a minute to begin round one, with both landing repeatedly. Diaz's reach advantage allowed him to keep Guida at bay, but Guida fired off a number of quick combinations. After about 90 seconds, Diaz began to win the striking exchanges by putting together lengthy flurries of punches that Guida had no answer for. Guida continued to try to push forward with kick-punch combos, and eventually went for a takedown. Diaz defended one takedown, but Guida was successful on the second. Diaz stood and Guida took his back. Guida locked on a full nelson and actually seemed to have Diaz in danger, but used the hold to move to side-control. Guida punished Diaz with elbows before Diaz stood up. Guida picked Diaz up and slammed him to the mat. Guida landed knees, then took Diaz's back again. The fighters traded strikes at the bell. 10-9 Guida.
Diaz attempted a hip toss early in the second round, but Guida defended. The fighters traded punches and clinched against the cage. Guida looked for a takedown, but Diaz defended for quite some time. Diaz looked for a Kimura on Guida's right arm, then switched to the left arm, but Guida scored a takedown. Diaz rose to his feet, then reversed a takedown. Guida scrambled, and the fight returned to the feet. Guida took Diaz's back once more, as Diaz looked for another Kimura. Diaz scored a modified hip toss takedown, but Guida immediately took Diaz's back on the ground. Diaz tried for a Kimura, but Guida escaped and landed a knee. The fighters stood once again, and Guida took Diaz's back once more. Diaz used another hip toss and Guida reversed. A last-second triangle choke attempt from Diaz was unsuccessful. 10-9 Guida.
Diaz pushed the pace in round three with punches that kept Guida on the defensive. A hard right hook landed for Diaz, as Guida could not find his range. After a clinch, Diaz scored with more hard punches, and a wild exchange ensued. Diaz began to pick Guida apart with punches, as he landed to the head and the body. Guida clinched to avoid further punishment and looked for a takedown. Diaz attempted another Kimura on Guida's right arm, then rolled forward to the mat, but Guida reversed and quickly took Diaz's back. Diaz trash talked as Guida maintained his grip, and Guida scored a takedown seconds later. Diaz got up, but was promptly taken down again. Guida maintained back control until just before the bell, when he scored a takedown that Diaz reversed as the round ended. Very, very close round. 10-9 Diaz, due only to damage done in strikes.
Winner: Clay Guida by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 25-9-0.
Undercard Fights:
Jon Fitch defeated "The Japanese Sensation" Akihiro Gono by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) after three rounds. Fitch dominated the fight from start to finish, and took advantage of a fatigued Gono in the latter half of the fight by dictating the pace with his wrestling. Fitch improves to 18-3-0, 1 NC with the win.Thiago Tavares defeated Manny "The Anvil" Gamburyan by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. Tavares survived being dropped in round one and came back strong, rocking Gamburyan in the third round and taking the must-win fight in the process. Tavares improves to 14-3-0 with the win.
John "Doomsday" Howard defeated Chris "The Professor" Wilson by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. All three rounds were very close, with both fighters attempting submissions and Howard nearly scoring a knockout early in round two, but the judges felt that Howard had done enough to earn the decision. Howard improves to 11-4-0 with the win.
"Irish" Jake O'Brien defeated "The Hungarian Nightmare" Christian Wellisch by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. Both fighters dropped the other with punches in an engaging first round, but the pace slowed dramatically in rounds two and three and the crowd grew restless. The judges, likely seeing Wellisch's face a bloody mess, gave the fight to O'Brien, though neither looked overly impressive. O'Brien improves to 11-2-0 with the win.
Dan Cramer defeated Matt "No Regard" Arroyo by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. The fight was a battle of clinches and ground fighting, with neither appearing to hold a significant edge over the other. Two judges saw the fight in Cramer's favour, and he wins his professional debut with the victory. Cramer improves to 1-0-0 with the win.
A card consumed by fights going the distance, with more Split Decisions (by far) than any other UFC card to date, UFC 94 was salvaged by two excellent fights to conclude the evening, and it looks as if both the welterweight and light heavyweight divisions will have high-profile title battles in the coming months.
