FABRICIO WERDUM VS. BRANDON VERA

Now that Vera has ditched his management and made sure he was paid less than his market value, it’s back to the business of fighting. Werdum is a tough opponent for anyone. I think Joe Silva is taking the measure of Vera. If he comes up short, it may be time for the long discussed move to 205.

Werdum dominates Vera with a couple of nice takedowns. Vera, as per usual, looks like a blown up 205 pounder. With about 30 seconds left Werdum got the mount and referee Dan Mirgliata stops the fight after some undefended taps to the noggin. Mirgliata is now officially the anti-Mazagatti.

Joe Rogan conducts one of the worst interviews ever in the history of the Octagon, going back and forth with Werdum’s translator. Vera curses and gets cheered. For what, I have no idea. Second terrible Vera performance. Don’t worry folks, Brandon Vera will still be promoted as heavily as before!

THALES LEITES VS NATHAN MARQUARDT

MARQUARDT SMASH!

Close first round. Both guys got knocked silly and recovered. I think Leites takes the round for his ground control after the knockdown. But this is a closely contested round.

In the beginning of the second round Marquardt hits Leites with an illegal knee. The doctor that comes to “check” on Leites doesn’t even really look at him even though he’s kind of wobbly. “Let the lads fight!” Due to technical difficulties we missed much of the second round. Goldberg calls it one of the best fights ever in the Octagon. Must have been a hell of a second round. Marquardt is penalized another point for striking the back of the head and finishes with an illegal piledriver. Judges have a tough decision in front of them. One will probably will vote for Bisping. Split decision for Leites due to the deducted points. This back of the head rule is doing more than all the steroids in the world to ruin the sport.

Jason Lambert v. Luis Cane

Lambert has a disgusting case of what is known as bitch tits in the parlance of our times. How did this make PPV? Lambert ran into a left hand and gets the shit kicked out of him. Then it’s all KANE KANE KANE through hellfire and brimstone. Cane is popping him right on the nose. A loopy Lambert tries to take Herb Dean down. Dean defends nicely.

MARCUS DAVIS VS MIKE SWICK

This may be the fight of the night. Swick will pit his fast hands against Davis’s overall striking game. Davis has been on quite a roll and told me he loves fighting in Britain. I think he’ll pack too much power for Swick, but two bad performances shouldn’t leave fans so quick to turn on the TUF Season 1 veteran. Swick is still a legitimate prospect who could join two teammates at the top of this division with a win.

The fight that was set to steal the show has stolen the crowd’s enthusiasm instead. Tito Ortiz-ish action from Swick in Davis’s guard. 10-9 for Swick. Second round also features some tepid groundwork. Goldberg calls it a great round. Goldberg is on drugs. Swick is taking this Koscheck style.

It’s another boring round. The announcers are going crazy for Swick as he executes some tepid ground and pound. Alive and Semi Contented says Dana White is on the headset telling him to say good things about Swick. “Talk about his supple legs” 29-27 Mike Swick.

MICHAEL BISPING VS. JASON DAY

It could be a huge mistake for Bisping to take this fight on short notice. He will need the combined power of his countrymen to overcome general fatigue and a tough groundfighter. Short term it was absolutely necessary to shore up this horrible card. London will be happy to see Bisping. But it could have a devastating impact on a future blockbuster Bisping-Silva fight.

Bisping just destroys Day in every way there is to destroy a man. They should book him immediately for UFC 86.

MATT HUGHES VS. THIAGO ALVES

Can Hughes return to form? And what is it about a Hughes fight that makes guys bound and determined not to make weight? The pressure of his legendary power? I expect this to be similar to Hughes-Lytle. Matt will ground him and make him miserable for three rounds.

Alves looks absolutely huge going in to this. This is kind of complete horsecrap. Close round that saw Hughes control on the ground but not really do much. Hughes gets knocked out badly in the second round. He looks finished as a fighter, but it’s hard to say since Alves was so ridiculously heavy for this. Alves asks for a title shot. How about making weight first? Hughes is gracious in defeat and asks for one more fight: Matt Serra.

Thiago Tavares vs MATT WIMAN

Tulsa Top Team shows how real world class athletes get down. Fuck that noise coming from Tulsa’s other teams. This is a great display of technical grappling. Welcome change of pace.
Absolutely balls out second round. Wiman gets clobbered by Tavares and shakes it off. After a ground exchange, Wiman knocks Tavares out with a right hook right on the money. TTT represent. MY BOYS!

Martin Kampmann v. Jorge Rivera

Kampmann just outclassed Rivera on the ground.