It’s UFC on FX 4 and this card is stacked with Fight of the Night candidates!
MAIN EVENT
Gray “The Bully” Maynard vs. Clay “The Carpenter” Guida
Official: Split Decision – 48-47, 47-48, 48-47, Gray Maynard (11-1-1-1)
No time wasted, these guys are ready to go! Guida is characteristically bouncing around all over the place as Maynard remains patient and stationary. Maynard surprisingly hasn’t indicated any interest in initiating a takedown. It would appear that Maynard is trying to save himself early to be prepared for the later rounds against the Cardio Machine that is Clay Guida. Round Two and things have picked up as Maynard is no longer coasting, feeling out process seems to be done. Maynard is backing Guida away now and cutting him off. Guida lands a combo! On to Round Three. It’s worth mentioning that Guida is a bit more patient too, either an indication that he too is in this for the long haul or it could be a classic sign of Jackson’s MMA; fight for points/win rounds. Round Three begins and things pick up even more! Maynard looks like he wants to make a statement. Guida is actually backpedalling now. GUIDA. BACKPEDALLING. Jacksons’ MMA? Oh yes. Yes indeed. The crowd shares my disappointment and Maynard’s frustration. Man, this is heartbreaking. This is total BS. Maynard knows it, the crowd knows it. This is garbage. Jackson and Winklejohn have ruined one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC. Way to go. He’s not even dropping in for takedowns. Just backing up. Maynard drops his hands and cusses Guida out! Forces Guida to initiate! THANK YOU GRAY MAYNARD! Maynard locks up a Guillotine but Guida pops out before the end of the round. FINAL ROUND! Guida lands a kick but Maynard lands a big shot of his own but it continues to go as it has been. REF GIVES GUIDA A WARNING FOR RUNNING! Good job Ref! Who would have thought that CLAY GUIDA would get a warning like that!? “Gameplan” my ass! Fight ends and Guida runs around like he won the title. Maynard is livid. JUDGES GET IT RIGHT! Maynard rips into Guida and his gameplan after the fight! Guida and Maynard get into a bit of an argument on the way out of the cage and are separated!
Sam “Hands of Stone” Stout vs. Spencer “The King” Fisher
Official: Unanimous Decision – 30-27, Sam Stout (18-7-1)
Quick hands early! Both guys landing great, fast combos. Fisher begins to land with a bit more power. Stout drives him down! But isn’t able to do much. Back on the feet and Fisher is holding his ground. Stout begins to really fix some mistakes on his footwork and fires back some shots. Another big takedown by Stout! Again not much happens here and on the feet Fisher seems to be dealing the most damage, continues to constantly move forward. Another takedown from Stout. Fisher pops back up but gets takendown again but the Ref stands them up very quickly. Slugfest to end the fight! Both guys are bloody! This one’s a toss up, too close to call. -Unless you think takedowns are all that matter!-
Fight of the Night
Brian Ebersole vs. TJ Waldburger
Official: Unanimous Decision – 29-28, (50-14-1-1)
Waldburger drops Ebersole (and his Hairrow) early! He’s surprisingly out-grappling Ebersole here! D’Arce! It’s super super tight! Ebersole’s head looks like it’s going to explode! Ebersole escapes and they’re back up! Big body shot by Ebersole. Some more shots from Ebersole. Waldburger may have expelled a lot of energy in the choke. Big combo from Ebersole! Big shot from Waldburger! And Ebersole fired one back! Waldburger gets him down and beings chaining some great submissions but Ebersole remains tough. Very deep and dangerous Armbar attempt! Ebersole escapes! Waldburger continues to throw up submission attempt after submission attempt, absolutely gorgeous to watch. Ebersole lands some power shots from the top! Triangle! Ebersole escapes! More transitions but Ebersole is really punishing him now. Back on the feet and Waldburger looks tired, maybe a bit discouraged. Ebersole gets him down, Waldburger tries for another Triangle. He escapes and continues his assault from the top. What a battle.
Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson vs. Cub Swanson
Official: Round 2 – KO 4:14, Cub Swanson (17-5)
Pearson is very patient, trying to read Swanson. Swanson is very light on his feet, very good footwork. Slamming takedown from Pearson, just what he was waiting for! Swanson fights his way up! Big shot by Swanson! Swanson lands a powerful Capoeira kick! Pearson just looks slower and less aggressive than usual but begins to land some hard punches. Swanson is just so fluid, throwing everything, chaining his punches and kicks beautifully. Pearson gets him down but Swanson springs back up and Pearson is bloody. Swanson goes for a Flying Knee but Pearson easily catches him, throwing him to the ground, wears him down from the top. Back up, and Swanson KO’s Pearson while walking backwards! Kuh-Rayzee!
Knockout of the Night
PRELIMINARY FIGHTS
Hatsu Hioki vs. Ricardo Lamas
Official: Unanimous Decision – 29-28, Ricardo Lamas (12-2) -WTF?-
No time being wasted, these guys wanna make a statement. Hioki is much bigger and gets Lamas against the cage early. Hioki gets the takedown but reversed on the way down which Hioki happily takes the bottom position, locking up the Omoplata! Lamas stands and slams Hioki but Hioki keeps it only to have Lamas slip out anyway! Lamas puts some power behind his punches. Hioki lands his signature trip to Side Control, tries to lock up an arm but the round ends. Hioki goes for a takedown but gets stuffed. Tries again and Lamas locks up a Guillotine but Hioki won’t let him get it. Hioki crushes him on top. Lamas tries for the Guillotine again but, it’s Hioki, it ain’t happenin’. Back on the feet, big slam by Hioki but once again Lamas locks up a Guillotine and it’s very tight this time! Hioki denies it yet again! -BS Decision!-
Ramsey Nijem vs. CJ Keith
Official: Round 1 – TKO 2:29, Ramsey Nijem (6-2)
Aggressive start. Nijem gets in deep on a takedown but Keith defends well, Nijem tries to sweep off the sprawl but gets mounted. Nijem escapes and tries to finish another takedown, but Keith pops up like toast but Nijem sticks with it and gets him on his back, mounted! Down come the strikes! Ref probably could have let it go a bit longer.
Rick “The Horror” Story vs. Brock “The Machine” Jardine
Official: Unanimous Decision – 30-27, Rick Story (14-5)
Some faily awkward striking from both guys. Very timid and light. Jardine lands a few. Story seems very odd on his feet. Story gets him down and takes his back, but nothing opens up and Jardine escapes back up. Story gets him down again, but can’t get anything going. Another takedown, still nothing. Story gets more and more aggressive, landing more takedowns, but can’t finish any submissions.
“Super” Steven Siler vs. Joey Gambino
Official: Round 1 – Submission 2:47 Guillotine Choke, Steven Siler (21-9)
Fast paced action early with some wrestling scrambles from Gambino who can’t get Siler down. Gambino gets cut early! Gambino goes in for a takedown but gets wrapped in a Guillotine! He escapes and drops Siler on the way out! Siler springs back up and takes Gambino down, takes his back! Rear Naked Choke but the blood helps Gambino slip out but slips into a Guillotine! Great performance!
Nick Catone vs. Chris Camozzi
Official: Round 3 – Doctor Stoppage 1:51, Chris Camozzi (17-5)
Camozzi is quite a bit taller than Catone who is trying to get in with the power shot early. Camozzi holds him him though.Catone finally drags him to the ground but Camozzi stays active. Back on the feet, Camozzi remains on the outside and Catone unable to get what he’s looking for. Catone drives hard and gets another Single-Leg, but once again, Camozzi prevents him from Passing with the Butterfly Guard to end the round. Round Three and Camozzi comes out hard, landing some great punches and a hard Knee against the cage and Catone’s face is a mess! Huge momentum shift to Camozzi! Catone lands a hard shot! But Camozzi lands another huge Knee that prompts the Doctors to come in and it is all over!
Matt “The Immortal” Brown vs. Luis Ramos
Official: Round 2 TKO 4:20- Matt Brown (15-11)
Both feel things out to start. Ramos gets Brown down, but Brown works his way back up. Brown begins to pile on the power but Ramos clinches up before it becomes a typical Matt Brown fight. Brown’s pace and power continues to slowly elevate and it begins to take it’s toll on Ramos. Brown turns it up against the cage and Ramos is hurt! Hit after hit! Ramos grabs on tight but Brown keeps it up! Knees! Punches! Over and over! Standing TKO!!! Nice!
Dan Miller vs. Ricardo Funch
Official: Round 3 – Submission 3:12 Guillotine Choke, Dan Miller (14-6-1)
Submission of the Night
Ken Stone vs. Dustin “The Disciple” Pague
Official: Split Decision – Ken Stone (11-3)