Live Blog for UFC on Fuel TV 7: Barao vs McDonald
And we are live with UFC on Fuel TV 7: Barao vs. McDonald. Feel free to comment on the fights below.
I’m going to start this off on a high note…Mills in the 1st. I’m all prognosticary and whatnot, this gonna be fo reals.
Che Mills vs. Matt Riddle
Round 1
Both start testing the range, and Riddle goes in for the single. He holds it all the way over to the cage, where he holds Mills to the fence. Riddle holding underhooks, using a few short knees.
Riddle drops for the double, then single, and he manages to push it to the ground off the fence.
Mills goes back-to-wall, posts the elbow, and wallwalks up in short fashion.
Back to Riddle holding against the fence, and they separate.
Mills hits him a couple of times, and Riddle pushes through another single, which Mills again rises up from in short order.
Back to Riddle holding Mills to the cage, and they separate again, with a leg kick from Mills landing on the way out.
Mills hitting lefts and rights on the feet, and Riddle clinches it up to the cage again.
Riddle tries to sweep him down, too much space, and they’re back to the cage.
Most of this first round had been Riddle working to takedowns off the cage, and he gets his third with a minute to go.
Riddle controlling from top, does nothing with it but rabbit punches.
Round ends with Riddle dropping short elbows from the top of Mills’ half-guard.
I have it 10-9 Riddle after 1
Yeah, I definitely won’t be typing that much on any more rounds. You get what you pay for, deadbeats.
Round 2
Riddle right back to the single, and then he kicks Mills’ legs out from under him. Mills throws a kick from the ground, but Riddle lands on top north-south. -ish.
Riddle locks down the neck, and then moves to side. He throws some short punches from there. Not much damage, but there hasn’t been so much in the scoring department so far.
Mills trying to block Riddle from stepping over into mount, and Riddle is completely controlling the position with his wide frame and posture.
Riddle throwing knees from side. Also short punches. Doing enough to own the card. Mills grapevining the leg in position to step over.
Riddle finally attempts the step-over, and Mills stuffs it. Mills gets to half-guard. And Riddle finally steps to mount. Uh-oh. Riddle gets back, and has Mills’s shoulder and head trapped. Under a minute, and he’s going to rear naked.
Mills defending the choke correctly, and is slowly turning into Riddle, which Riddle turns into a mount. Riddle has half a arm and shoulder choke. Round ends right there.
I have it 10-9 20-18 Riddle after 2
Round 3
It’s K-Flo and Johnboy Anik rockin the 1′s and 2′s on the mic…that’s right, it’s UFC night on tiered cable.
After some tomfoolery in the middle, Riddle is back to the cage. I feel like that sounded like a Jay-Z line.
Riddle doing what he’s done all fight, taking underhooks against the cage and dropping for takedowns from there. Mills with a nice sprawl, and now has Riddle locked up a bit. He tries a whizzer to throw Riddle, but Riddle is strong like angry ox. Riddle now in Mills’ guard. Does more light work from there. Big elbow lands from top.
Riddle out to half-guard, and he has owned the ground work. In toto.
Riddle actually feinting a kimura, and that allows Mills to sweep to Riddle’s guard, with bouts a minute left.
Mills stands up, and seems confused. They stand them up with 30 seconds to go. Riddle is smiling, as per usual, goes for the takedown, Mills sprawls, round ends with Mills wallwalking out and Riddle holding him to the cage. Circle of life, Simba.
I have it 10-9 30-27 Riddle after 3
The judges score it 29-28 28-29 30-27 for the winner, Matthew Riddle defeats Che Mills by Split Decision
Nice fight to start off with. Not a brawl, but 15 minutes of work. I can accept a grind-out fight when it grinds out.
I have absolutely no idea how anyone scored that fight for Mills. None. Maybe I’ll get it on a rewatch, or maybe if I drink. I’ll try both, just to be safe.
Hulk smash. SMASH! Quick, before my 3:00 meds!
So, Uriah already has a NOS commercial? I don’t read spoiler sites, but spoiler alert! He’s in the finale.
James Te Huma vs. Ryan Jimmo
Round 1
They run into each others’ arms like Barack Obama and drone missile manufacturers. Topical!
Jimmo is pushed to the cage, and at 0:08, this is the longest fight of his career. Te Huna has underhooks, and they’re broken up. Jimmo with a giant kick that floors Te Huna, and Jimmo is mauling him. Mauling.
Te Huna is cut up, but seems to have survived for now. Incredible. Te Huna’s face is massing blood. He gets his back to the wall, and gets back up, but Jimmo pulls him right back down. Te Huna trying to make his guard work, but Jimmo seems crafty. What a career start for Ryan Jimmo. Damnation.
Jimmo punching Te Huna against the cage as he tries unsuccessfully to get up. Dropping elbows and punches. Te Huna also throwing from the bottom, punches and elbows.
Gotta wonder about Jimmo’s tank after the maulery early. He largely sat in Te Huna’s guard for the last 45 seconds or so. Te Huna has Ca Hunas.
I have it 10-9 Jimmo after 1
Come on, you knew something like that was coming.
Round 2
Jimmo tries the left head kick again. Why not? Te Huna grabs Jimmo and pushes him to the cage, where he goes for kind of a trip-throw that Jimmo stuffs and turns to his advantage against the cage.
Jimmo with the over-under, trying to get Te Huna off balance for the trip, no dice. Te Huna gets behind Jimmo, and slams him from behind. Te Huna holding top on Jimoo, and I again wonder about his tank. He had to think he had the fight won earlier.
Te Huna staying tight on top in side control. Big weight on top of Jimmo, and he’s working some tight ground and pound. Te Huna steps over Jimmo’s arm, and gets to mount from the threat of the crucifix. Back to a half-guard quickly.
Te Huna doing work, evening the card out. The work he did late in the 1st saved him from a 10-8 on my card, but these jduges haven’t been on the same wavelength as me all night.
Te Huna with punishing ground and pound from the guard, from standing, and from half-guard. He’s beating Jimmo up. Last 10 seconds is all Te Huna attacking Jimmo.
I have it 10-9 Te Huna 19-19 after 2
Round 3
Te Huna the aggressor on the feet, and I do think Jimmo is tired. His mouth is open like an Alabama fan watching Apocalypto.
Jimmo holding Te Huna to the cage. Holding a single, but with no threat of doing anything with it. Back to over-under, and some quick lefts by Te Huna lead to a slight separation and big right to Jimmo’s chin. He then wisely backs out and resets. Smart. Te Huna grabs Jimmo and pushes him to the cage, and Jimmo immediately reverses.
Te Huna drags Jimmo down with the body lock, and is in half-guard immediately. Kind of a side-control-half-guard. Jimmo getting beat up some mo. Te Huna’s cut is open again, and they appear to be having a conversation from the audio. Te Huna finishing the fight on top, punching and elbowing. 20 seconds to go, he’s just about wrapped this up, unless 10-8′s in the 1st cause a draw.
I have it 10-9 29-28 Te Huna after 3
The judges score it 29-27 29-28 29-28 for the winner, James Te Huna defeats Ryan Jimmo by Unanimous Decision
Now, except in social situations, I’m no Rain Man…but wouldn’t 29-27 mean that someone said that Jimmo didn’t have a 10-8 round, but Te Huna did, right? Right? Why do I have a feeling one of these judges is French?
Arkansas is playing Mizzou 4 miles from my house right now. We really need to come up with some kind of solution to these MMA-Arkansas scheduling conflicts. It’s tearing our nation apart at the seams.
Gunnar Nelson vs. Jorge Santiago
I got Nelson here all day, by the way.
Round 1
They clinch early. and both guys are bouncy.
Santiago lands a punch, and then a knee. Nelson grabs a clinch, and it breaks quickly.
Nelson lands a side kick. Then one to the leg. High kick semi-lands for Santiago. Nelson dives in for a double after some exchanges from range, and Nelson lands in Santiago’s half-guard. Nelson trying to find his way through Santiago’s leg spacing, and Santiago lands some punches up from his back. And they’re back to their feet.
Santiago landing, and Nelson just leaves his hands down. Weird.
Body kick lands for Nelson. Santiago pawing with the jab, lands the right, and pushes it to the cage. Nelson gets outside position, and they separate, with Santiago missing a punch as the round ends.
I have it 10-9 Nelson after 1
I guess? I mean, the takedown, right? Maybe?
Round 2
Left lands for Nelson. He has Santiago to the cage again, and they’re off again. Nelson tries a knee from clinch, Santiago responds with a right. Nelson then lands 2 or 3 hooks in row against the fence. Nelson drops and finishes the double.
Nelson has side control from Santiago’s half-guard, and he’s working tight ground and pound.
Nelson with some nice rights as he stands over Santiago, and then a big left coming down, followed by an elbow. Sitting in Santiago’s guard heavy, and clinching his head.
Nelson keeps his elbows heavy on Santiago when they’re tight. Annoy-ing.
Nelson stands up, kicks the leg, and gets right back on it. He pushes Santiago’s legs aside, and blasts him with a left falling down. Pretty. Now has side control, and he’s controlling Jorge Santiago on the ground.
Nelson moves to mount. Goodness. Right hand glances through for Nelson. Nelson lands an elbow, probably less than a second after the round ended. 1-second rule.
I have it 10-9 20-18 Nelson after 2
Round 3
Santiago lands a nice punch rushing in. Nelson has him to the cage, goes to thai clinch, disengages.
Nelson with a right. A lot of standing at range right now.
Santiago gets Nelson to the cage, landing some knees, and an elbow on the way out.
Santiago with a high kick and a right. He looks very tired, but he’s getting more aggressive.
Leg kick for Santiago. Then a right. Then a couple more punches in a clinch.
Uppercut lands for Nelson, and Santiago is wobbly. He clinches Santiago and pushes him to the cage. The separate with 90 seconds to go, and Santiago’s legs are jelly.
Another uppercut lands for Nelson, and he pushes to the cage again. Nelson drops to double, but Santiago defends well, and they break apart yet again.
They clinch up, and they may have fallen asleep on each other’s shoulders. They’re tired.
Last 10 seconds is ALL Santiago punching Nelson against the cage, with Nelson just standing in front of him with his hands down, taking it.
I have it 10-9 Santiago 29-28 Nelson after 3
The judges score it 29-28 29-28 30-27 for the winner, Gunnar Nelson defeats Jorge Santiago by Unanimous Decision
Yeah, Nelson is pretty good. I still don’t advocate standing against the fence getting punched in the face.
Manuwa. Write – it – down.
Jimi Manuwa vs. Cyrille Diabate
Round 1
They clinch up early, and Diabate gets him to the fence. Manuwa fights through and drops Diabate off the one leg.
Manuwa on top in side half-guard. Position of the Night award.
Diabate stays safe on the ground, and just slowly improves his position until he stands up. Nice.
Manuwa holds Diabate to the cage, and then they break. Manuwa lands a head kick, Diabate lands a knee, and Diabate goes down, with Manuwa backing off.
Diabate grabs a clinch, and lands a knee. Diabate lands an elbow and a knee. Diabate lands another knee, but Manuwa is walking him down.
Right lands for Manuwa. Diabate with a massive knee to Manuwa’s breadbasket, and Manuwa takes him straight down. That hurt, methinks.
I have it 10-9 Manuwa after 1
And Diabate may have torn his calf muscle. This fight ends between rounds.
Jimi Manuwa defeats Cyrille Diabate by TKO (Injury) after 1 Round
Such is life.
Yes, please.
Cub Swanson vs. Dustin Poirier
This is a great fight for a co-main with John Anik.
Round 1
Both throwing leg kicks early. Swanson getting the business from Poirier with the leg kicks, and he’s landing a punch here and there.
Swanson lands an undercut to small effect. Swanson charges in with a right, and Poirier counters it perfectly.
Head kick from Swanson checked, and Poirier pushes him across the ring to the fence.
Poirier holding underhooks, and throws a right as they break. Swanson lands a body shot.
Uppercut from Swanson hurts Poirier, then a knee makes it worse. Swanson is swarming, and then Poirier catches the leg and puts Swanson on his back.
Swanson on his back with Poirier in his guard, 30 seconds to go.
Poirier landing rights, trying to step over. Swanson somehow stands up, jumps into a knee, throws a left, and backs out – all with Poirier holding his leg.
I have it 10-9 Swanson after 1
Round 2
Swanson with the leg kick to start the round. And one for Poirier. Swanson goes to the body, and Poirier responds to the dome.
Poirier lands all of a 3-punch combo, then went to the body.
Both landing combos. Swanson with a body kick. Poirier grabs a leg, didn’t set it up, Swanson just backs to the cage and turns it out.
Poirier pulling on the leg, but this isn’t going anywhere. Swanson defends with the kimura, and they break apart.
Right lands for Swanson, and a leg kick.
Swanson landing a couple of rights, and Poirier dumps Swanson on his back again.
Swanson moves to omoplata, and Swanson gets to his feet with the sub attempt, and punches Poirier as he steps away.
Poirier going for the single again against the cage, Cub defends with the kimura again. Poirier trying to get to the double, but Cub is so wide, it’s not happening. They separate with 20 to go, and Poirier lands a right.
Nothing much happens in the last 10, a punch by Swanson as the round expired.
I have it 10-9 Poirier 19-19 after 2
Round 3
Poirier has a couple of punches checked to start the round.
Poirier holding Swanson to the cage. Swanson gets out, but Poirier crushes him with punches, pushing him left and right on the fence. They break, and Swanson lands a couple of times before a big jab from Poirier.
Now Swanson takes Poirier down, and it seems like his motor is better right now.
Swanson dropping hammers from Poirier’s guard, and moves to back with hooks.
Swanson going for the sub position, Poirier just trying to get out of the back hook. Poirier starts to stand up with Swanson still on his back, and then goes back down.
Poirier again trying to stand, Swanson is just all over him, great position from back. Poirier turns into Swanson and drops him, but Swanson just sweeps to mount. Now he’s punishing Poirier. He steps out, and they clinch, before Swanson lands a massive hip-to-hip throw.
Swanson back to Poirier’s back, and this is ALL his round. He’s attacking Poirier’s left arm with the armbar, and Poirier gets out with under 10, throws a few punches, and the fight ends with Swanson trying to get to triangle.
I have it 10-9 29-28 Swanson after 3
The judges score it 29-28 30-27 30-27 for the winner, Cub Swanson defeats Dustin Poirier by Unanimous Decision
Ok, no crazy cards this time. As far as I know.
Big fan of both of these guys. Michael’s got a big task in front of him, but I’m going with the underdog.
Renan Barao vs. Michael McDonald
And not just because my first article, in the March 2012 TapouT magazine, was about Michael McDonald.
Round 1
Barao with a spin kick that doesn’t really land. Barao rushes in, gets the takedown, had McDonald’s side.
McDonald creates space, gets to guard. Barao has his hand on the ground, and McDonald is trapping the arm.
McDonald creates space and gets up.
Left and right from McDonald. Another right from McDonald on the counter. McDonald lands coming in, but Barao hits harder with the counter.
Barao goes for another takedown, McDonald easily sprawls out. McDonald with a series of rights, holds Barao’s head to cage for some more rights, and Barao drops to grab the legs. Barao lands a knee and punch standing up, and has McDonald to the fence.
Barao takes him down, and is back in McDonald’s guard. Barao hitting the body from top. McDonald trapping Barao’s left arm now. Baraoo to the body, and we’re done with this round.
I have it 10-9 Barao after 1
What with the takedowns and all.
Round 2
Left for McDonald. Feeling each other out here.
Uppercut to left for McDonald. Barao misses with the spin kick. Left lands coming in for Mike, and a little head butting.
Right over the top lands for Mike, Barao shoots in for the single, and McDonald stuffs it again. Barao follows up, but McDonald upkicks and gets up.
Right and Left for Mike. Counter right for Mike leaves Barao stumbling.
Mike gets poked in the eye, and after some discussion between he and Barao, decides to take a sec.
They’re back at it quickly. Uppercut lands for Mike again. Left and then a leg kick for Barao. Not many of those so far. Front kick to the FACE from Barao. Kind of. Mike hits the counter right, and Barao stumbles backward.
Barao lands the counter on the exchange, and spins into McDonald’s shoulder as the round ends.
I have it 10-9 20-18 Barao after 2
Round 3
Left and right for Mike. Right for Mike, but Barao clinches him up and lands a couple of times, and they brawl for a few seconds against the fence.
Barao with a big combo coming forward, has Mike to the fence, trying with no success for a takedown.
Barao grabs Mike’s back and eventually drags him down, landing in side control. Barao tries to mount, and Mike escapes.
Left and right for Mike. Front kick misses for Barao. Mike with an uppercut that glances. Right for both, and a right for Barao.
Head kick misses for Barao. Both with a left. Right for Mike, Barao counters twice. Mike is getting stale.
Spin kick lands to Mike’s gut. Barao starting to look VERY comfortable.
I have it 10-9 30-27 Barao after 3
Round 4
Mike is smiling through bloody lips. Barao with a left coming forward. Big left for Mike. Barao shoots for a single, Mike just throws him off. Flying knee lands for Barao coming in, McDonald just misses on a flailing counter hook.
Mike lands three straight rights, Barao goes for another takedown, Mike shrugs it off again.
Spinning back kick to Mike’s face. Right then left for Mike. Mike steps under a punch with a body shot. Barao grabs the body, knees the face and then the knee against the cage. Barao drags him down, and take shis back quickly. Barao goes to head and arm choke, and Mike gives a thumbs up, but it looks deep.
75 seconds left in the round, and it looks bad. McDonald taps to the choke.
Renan Barao defeats Michael McDonald by Head and Arm choke with 1:04 remaining in the 4th Round
Great fight, Mike will be back.
