Will
02-17-2008, 03:05 PM
In addition to Slice vs. Abbott, tonight’s event includes a heavyweight bout between Ricco Rodriguez (27-7) and Antonio Silva (9-1), middleweights Scott Smith (12-5) vs. Kyle Noke (14-3-1), lightweights Edson Berto (13-4-1) vs. Yves Edwards (32-13-1), and heavyweights Brett Rogers (5-0) vs. James Thompson (14-7).
JIRKA HLAVATY VS. MOYSES GABIN
Round 1 — The fighters trade some knees and punches while in the clinch before Gabin scores the trip takedown. Gabin works for position but ends up in Hlavaty’s full guard. With his opponent pushed against the fence, Gabin begins to connect on some punches to the body and head and opens a deep gash on Hlavaty’s face. Gabin rises up to throw some haymakers, but it allows Hlavaty to return his feet. Once there, the bout is stopped so the doctor can check the cut. It’s a deep gash near Hlavaty’s right eye, and the doctor refuses to let it continue. Moyses Gabin def. Jirka Hlavaty via TKO (cut) — Round 1, 2:32.
MIKE BERNHARD VS. LORENZO BORGAMEO
Round 1 — The two fighters trade leg kicks early on as the “snaps” echo through the arena. Borgameo gets the better of it, and Bernhard stops the punishment by scoring a trip takedown and lands in his opponent’s guard. Bernhard’s looking to improve his position, but Borgameo fends him off. Borgameo tries to get to his feet, but Bernhard locks in a guillotine as he stands. It looks deep, but Borgameo escapes and eats a big right hook. Borgameo is again tripped to the mat, and Bernhard works into sidemount. The ref stands them when Bernhard can’t improve his position, and Borgameo works a series of knees from the clinch before his tripped again to the mat. It’s a clear 10-9 round for Bernhard.
Round 2 — Bernhard wastes little time again tripping Borgameo to the mat and starts to work again from inside his opponent’s guard. The ref is a little less patient this time and quickly stands the fighters. Borgameo tries the leg kicks, and Bernhard works the front kicks. Borgameo tries for the single-leg takedown and eats a series of hammerfists before getting it. Bernhard again works to top position but gets caught in a triangle choke. Bernhard tries to punch his way out of it but is finally forced to tap. Lorenzo Borgameo def. Mike Bernhard via submission (triangle choke) — Round 2, 4:11.
ERIC BRADLEY VS. MIKEY GOMEZ
Round 1 — After exchanging leg kicks, Gomez finally connects with a body kick that goes off with the sound of an M-80. Bradley, though, uses it to force the takedown and starts to connect on some ground and pound from the top. Bradley follows with some hammerfists and elbows before the ref jumps in and stands them. Gomez has blood trickling from his nose. Bradley is stunned with a left but clinches up and trades knees to the body with his opponent. Bradley again scores the single-leg takedown and then batters his opponent with a series punches from above. Gomez tries to transition into a triangle choke, but Bradley shakes him free and and pops him with some hammerfists before the round ends. Despite eating an early kick to the ribs, it’s all Bradley, 10-9.
Round 2 — Gomez again connects on a body kick to start the round, and as Bradley charges in for the takedown, he gets tagged with a knee to the midsection. Once on the mat, though, Bradley takes his opponent’s back and tags him a series of short hooks to the head. The ref warns him about shots to the back of the head, and Gomez rolls free and has Bradley in his guard. Bradley begins to throw some punches to the midsection, but the ref again stands them. Both fighters are bloodied now. Back to the center of the cage, Bradley shoots for a takedown and finally gets it with a double-leg takedown. Working from inside Gomez’s guard, Bradley can do little damage, and the fighters are again reset in the center of the cage right before the round ends. It’s another 10-9 frame for Bradley.
Round 3 — Bradley wrestles his way to an early takedown and tags Gomez with some hammerfists. The fight is briefly stopped as Bradley is warned about a headbutt. Gomez is struggling to see through the blood in his eyes. The fighters are again restarted, and Bradley quickly shoots in for the takedown but misses and eats a punch while on his knees. On the mat, Gomez looks for the kimura, but Bradley powers through it and lands in his opponent’s full guard once again. Gomez goes back to the kimura attempt but has neither the energy nor the angle, and Bradley peppers him with punches to the ribs for a full minute before the fighters are restarted with 20 seconds to go. Bradley simply dances around to avoid punishment to take the last round of what should be a 30-27 clean sweep. Eric Bradley def. Mikey Gomez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
DAVE HERMAN VS. MARIO RINALDI
Round 1 — Herman throws an early leg kick that’s caught, but Rinaldi eats a series of punches as Herman fends off the takedown for a full 50 seconds. Rinaldi charges in and again eats punches and knees, unable to force his much-taller opponent to the mat. Herman waits for his opponent to stand before delivering three absolutely brutal knees flush to the face. Rinaldi finally gets a sloppy single-leg takedown and simply holds on for dear life. The referee restarts them, and Rinaldi again grabs a leg looking for the takedown. Again, he’s simply holding on to avoid punishment, and the fighters are restarted again. Rinaldi again tries the shoot, hold and pray technique to keep Herman from attacking him. Eventually, though, he gives up his back, and Herman locks in the rear-naked choke. The ever-resilient Rinaldi breaks free, though, and lands a couple punches before the round ends. Herman gets a huge ovation as the round ends, and a bloodied Rinaldi looks spent. It’s all Herman, 10-9.
Round 2 — Herman works leg kicks on his wobbly opponent, but Rinaldi again grabs a leg. Herman breaks free and a stalemate ensues while the fights clinch up. The once lively crowd now showers the fighters with boos. Rinaldi again grabs a leg but gives up his back, and Herman tags him some punches from behind. Rinaldi gets back to his feet, but Herman tees off with a series of punches. Rinaldi’s face now looks like hamburger meet. Rinaldi again shoots for a sloppy takedown, and Herman takes his back and begins throwing punches and elbows. Rinaldi is simply turtling up to avoid punishment as the round ends. It’s all Herman again, 10-9, and it’s a miracle this fight has lasted as long as it has.
Round 3 — Herman opens the round with a brutal assault of knees and punches that have Rinaldi stunned and dazed. The referee mercifully halts it quickly. Dave Herman def. Mario Rinaldi via TKO (strikes) — Round 3, 0:33.
YOSMANY CABEZAS VS. JON KIRK
Round 1 — Lots of action early on before Cabezas trips his opponent for the takedown. He nearly locks in a knee bar before Cabezas rolls free. Kirk claims top position and lands in sidemount, but Cabezas quickly reverses the position but gets caught in an armbar. Cabezas slams out of it and into his opponent’s full guard. Cabezas grabs a leg looking for a submission, but he eats a punch as Kirk hops into full mount. Cabezas alertly wiggles free and take the sidemount position. Great action in this back-and-forth battle. Kirk transitions into top position but gets caught in a triangle choke. Cabezas torques the angle, but Kirk continues to hang on. Cabezas delivers a knee to Kirk’s head that immediately opens a gusher. The illegal blow — an elbow strike to the top of the head — earns Cabezas a one-point deduction. With the point loss, it’ll likely be a 9-9 round.
Round 2 — Cabezas cracks his opponent with an early head kick and then scoops up his opponent and slams him to the mat. A violent assault of haymakers follows, and Kirk finally gives up his back. Cabezas alertly sinks in the rear-naked choke to force the tap-out. Yosmany Cabezas def. John Kirk via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2, 0:58.
JOHN DOYLE VS. RAFAEL FEIJO
Round 1 — Doyle shoots in and eats a punch as Feijao fends him off. The fighters trade punches before Feijao lands a stiff right, Doyle counters with a haymaker, and a near-riot-inducing exchange of blows soon follows. Feijao then clinches up and delivers some knees to his opponent’s face and then a few to the body. One last strikes causes Doyle to crumble to the mat, and the bout is stopped. Cornermen Anderson Silva (UFC middleweight champion) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (UFC interim heavyweight chamo) are the first in the ring to congratulate Feijao. Rafael Feijao def. John Doyle via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 2:17.
BRETT ROGERS VS. JAMES THOMPSON
Round 1 — Thompson bumrushes his opponent at the opening bell, grabs a leg and looks for the takedown. Rogers fends it off briefly but eats some knees while tied up. The fighters clinch up, and upon the break, Rogers lands a couple knees to the body. Thompson has finally creates some distance, but Rogers counters with a front kick than a right-left-right-left combination that sends his opponent to the canvas. The ref jumps in to halt the bout, awarding Rogers the TKO victory. Brett Rogers def. James Thompson via knockout (strikes) — Round 1, 2:24.
EDSON BERTO VS. YVES EDWARDS
Round 1 — Berto cracks Edwards with an early body kick and follows with a roundhouse leg kick. Edwards, though, locks in a guillotine from a sitting position, but he can do little with it. Berto escapes into his opponent’s half guard and then locks in his own guillotine. Edwards reverses the position, pops out of the choke and works for a kimura. Berto, though, breaks free and secures Edwards in his full guard. Working from the top, Edwards starts the ground-and-pound barrage and stuns Berto with a forearm strike to the mouth. Once the pace slows, the ref restarts the action in the center of the cage. Berto glances his opponent with a head kick, but in the round’s final seconds, Berto grabs a leg. Edwards uses his one free knee to catch his opponent in the face with a knee to force the stoppage. Yves Edwards def. Edson Berto via KO (knee) — Round 1, 4:56.
KYLE NOKE VS. SCOTT SMITH
Round 1 — A slow start prompts the sold-out crowd to boo through the round’s first three minutes. Both fighters are looking to counter-strike, and neither wants to throw first. With two minutes to go, the booing continues as neither fighter has connected on anything. Smith lands a combination but does little damage. A lunging left hook finally clips Noke, causing a trickle of blood near his right eye. Still, the booing continues. Smith comes alive in the final 20 seconds and lands a combination and leg kick to steal a rather lackluster round, 10-9.
Round 2 — After an insanely slow start to the first round, the second one is over in a blink. Smith connects on a stiff right, dropping Noke into a heap just seconds into the bout. Smith follows up and hits his downed opponent one more time before the referee can jump in to stop it. Scott Smith def. Kyle Noke via KO (punch) — Round 1, 0:07.
RICCO RODRIGUEZ VS. ANTONIO SILVA
Round 1 — Silva looks the better-conditioned athlete in this heavyweight battle, though he looks light on his feet in avoiding Silva’s early strikes. Rodriguez then connects with a leg kick and dances out of Silva’s counter punches. Halfway through the round, the fight starts to slow, and the boo birds return. Silva throws a leg kick and follows righ a right-left combination. Rodriguez counters with a leaping knee but has little on it. Instead, Rodriguez shoots in for a double-leg takedown and lands in Silva’s guard. Silva keeps his opponent tied up, though Rodriguez manages to sneak in some body punches. A warning that the referee may stand them caused Rodriguez to work some elbows, and he sticks Silva with a few more head and body punches to close it out. Rodriguez takes the round, 10-9.
Round 2 — Silva partially conencts on an early combination, though Rodriguez counters with a leg kick. Rdoriguez now goes into counter-striking mode and looks for the single-leg takedown, but Silva shakes it off. Rodriguez drops to the mat for a takedown, but Silva breaks free and swarms in. Pressed against the fence, Rodriguez works hard not to give up his back and instead lets Silva take sidemount. Rodriguez improves the position to half-guard, but Silva rises up and hits him with a couple hammerfists and punches to the body. Rodriguez now ties up his opponent with full guard, and the ref restarts the action. With a cut about Rodriguez’s eye, the ref calls for a doctor’s stoppage. Rodriguez is clearly tired but opts to continue on. Rodriguez then whiffs on a spinning back kick as the round ends. Silva takes it 10-9 to tie it up.
Round 3 — A touch of gloves to start the third round, and Silva strikes first with a double-leg takedown. The crowd couldn’t care less about the fight as a fight breaks out in the stands. Working from in Rodriguez’s guard, Silva works for better position and works his way into half-guard. Rodriguez ties him up long enough to get a restart. Once standing, Rodriguez lunges with a right, and Silva counters and glances him with a right. Rodriguez then just misses on a left-right-left combination but follows with a single-leg takedown. With 90 seconds to go, this is his chance to steal the round and the fight. Rodriguez manages a few short elbows before warnings of a restart. Rodriguez manages a few more short punches, though there’s little behind them. With 10 seconds to go, Silva keeps Rodriguez tied up from doing much. It’s an extremely close round. I have it 10-10 for a 29-29 draw. Antonio Silva def. Ricco Rodriguez via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28).
TANK ABBOTT VS. KIMBO SLICE
Round 1 — Pure pandemonium cageside as security doesn’t seem to mind a couple thousand fans filing into the lower bowl. This has the potential to get really ugly, and the fight hasn’t even started. I have absolutely no view of the cage, so I apologize in advance for an abbreviated play-by-play. No touch of gloves to start this one, and we’re underway. Both fighters look especially nervous. Abbott with a stiff left before trying to tie up Slice. Slice swings wildly and connects, and Abbott drops to that mat to grab a leg. The bout it stopped, and for some reason restarted. Before it’s restarted, the referee again stops it. He’s lost all control. The fight is again restarted, and Slice starts to tee off. Simple combinations continue to sneak through and tag Abbott as he hits the canvas multiple times. The final blow comes and Abbott hits the mat face first. The fight — a circus in every sense of the word — is finally over. Kimbo Slice def. Tank Abbott via knockout (strikes) — Round 1, 0:43.
Video of Tank vs. Slice (http://www.dailymotion.com/search/tank%2Bkimbo/video/x4ekja_kimbo-slice-vs-tank-abbott_sport)
JIRKA HLAVATY VS. MOYSES GABIN
Round 1 — The fighters trade some knees and punches while in the clinch before Gabin scores the trip takedown. Gabin works for position but ends up in Hlavaty’s full guard. With his opponent pushed against the fence, Gabin begins to connect on some punches to the body and head and opens a deep gash on Hlavaty’s face. Gabin rises up to throw some haymakers, but it allows Hlavaty to return his feet. Once there, the bout is stopped so the doctor can check the cut. It’s a deep gash near Hlavaty’s right eye, and the doctor refuses to let it continue. Moyses Gabin def. Jirka Hlavaty via TKO (cut) — Round 1, 2:32.
MIKE BERNHARD VS. LORENZO BORGAMEO
Round 1 — The two fighters trade leg kicks early on as the “snaps” echo through the arena. Borgameo gets the better of it, and Bernhard stops the punishment by scoring a trip takedown and lands in his opponent’s guard. Bernhard’s looking to improve his position, but Borgameo fends him off. Borgameo tries to get to his feet, but Bernhard locks in a guillotine as he stands. It looks deep, but Borgameo escapes and eats a big right hook. Borgameo is again tripped to the mat, and Bernhard works into sidemount. The ref stands them when Bernhard can’t improve his position, and Borgameo works a series of knees from the clinch before his tripped again to the mat. It’s a clear 10-9 round for Bernhard.
Round 2 — Bernhard wastes little time again tripping Borgameo to the mat and starts to work again from inside his opponent’s guard. The ref is a little less patient this time and quickly stands the fighters. Borgameo tries the leg kicks, and Bernhard works the front kicks. Borgameo tries for the single-leg takedown and eats a series of hammerfists before getting it. Bernhard again works to top position but gets caught in a triangle choke. Bernhard tries to punch his way out of it but is finally forced to tap. Lorenzo Borgameo def. Mike Bernhard via submission (triangle choke) — Round 2, 4:11.
ERIC BRADLEY VS. MIKEY GOMEZ
Round 1 — After exchanging leg kicks, Gomez finally connects with a body kick that goes off with the sound of an M-80. Bradley, though, uses it to force the takedown and starts to connect on some ground and pound from the top. Bradley follows with some hammerfists and elbows before the ref jumps in and stands them. Gomez has blood trickling from his nose. Bradley is stunned with a left but clinches up and trades knees to the body with his opponent. Bradley again scores the single-leg takedown and then batters his opponent with a series punches from above. Gomez tries to transition into a triangle choke, but Bradley shakes him free and and pops him with some hammerfists before the round ends. Despite eating an early kick to the ribs, it’s all Bradley, 10-9.
Round 2 — Gomez again connects on a body kick to start the round, and as Bradley charges in for the takedown, he gets tagged with a knee to the midsection. Once on the mat, though, Bradley takes his opponent’s back and tags him a series of short hooks to the head. The ref warns him about shots to the back of the head, and Gomez rolls free and has Bradley in his guard. Bradley begins to throw some punches to the midsection, but the ref again stands them. Both fighters are bloodied now. Back to the center of the cage, Bradley shoots for a takedown and finally gets it with a double-leg takedown. Working from inside Gomez’s guard, Bradley can do little damage, and the fighters are again reset in the center of the cage right before the round ends. It’s another 10-9 frame for Bradley.
Round 3 — Bradley wrestles his way to an early takedown and tags Gomez with some hammerfists. The fight is briefly stopped as Bradley is warned about a headbutt. Gomez is struggling to see through the blood in his eyes. The fighters are again restarted, and Bradley quickly shoots in for the takedown but misses and eats a punch while on his knees. On the mat, Gomez looks for the kimura, but Bradley powers through it and lands in his opponent’s full guard once again. Gomez goes back to the kimura attempt but has neither the energy nor the angle, and Bradley peppers him with punches to the ribs for a full minute before the fighters are restarted with 20 seconds to go. Bradley simply dances around to avoid punishment to take the last round of what should be a 30-27 clean sweep. Eric Bradley def. Mikey Gomez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
DAVE HERMAN VS. MARIO RINALDI
Round 1 — Herman throws an early leg kick that’s caught, but Rinaldi eats a series of punches as Herman fends off the takedown for a full 50 seconds. Rinaldi charges in and again eats punches and knees, unable to force his much-taller opponent to the mat. Herman waits for his opponent to stand before delivering three absolutely brutal knees flush to the face. Rinaldi finally gets a sloppy single-leg takedown and simply holds on for dear life. The referee restarts them, and Rinaldi again grabs a leg looking for the takedown. Again, he’s simply holding on to avoid punishment, and the fighters are restarted again. Rinaldi again tries the shoot, hold and pray technique to keep Herman from attacking him. Eventually, though, he gives up his back, and Herman locks in the rear-naked choke. The ever-resilient Rinaldi breaks free, though, and lands a couple punches before the round ends. Herman gets a huge ovation as the round ends, and a bloodied Rinaldi looks spent. It’s all Herman, 10-9.
Round 2 — Herman works leg kicks on his wobbly opponent, but Rinaldi again grabs a leg. Herman breaks free and a stalemate ensues while the fights clinch up. The once lively crowd now showers the fighters with boos. Rinaldi again grabs a leg but gives up his back, and Herman tags him some punches from behind. Rinaldi gets back to his feet, but Herman tees off with a series of punches. Rinaldi’s face now looks like hamburger meet. Rinaldi again shoots for a sloppy takedown, and Herman takes his back and begins throwing punches and elbows. Rinaldi is simply turtling up to avoid punishment as the round ends. It’s all Herman again, 10-9, and it’s a miracle this fight has lasted as long as it has.
Round 3 — Herman opens the round with a brutal assault of knees and punches that have Rinaldi stunned and dazed. The referee mercifully halts it quickly. Dave Herman def. Mario Rinaldi via TKO (strikes) — Round 3, 0:33.
YOSMANY CABEZAS VS. JON KIRK
Round 1 — Lots of action early on before Cabezas trips his opponent for the takedown. He nearly locks in a knee bar before Cabezas rolls free. Kirk claims top position and lands in sidemount, but Cabezas quickly reverses the position but gets caught in an armbar. Cabezas slams out of it and into his opponent’s full guard. Cabezas grabs a leg looking for a submission, but he eats a punch as Kirk hops into full mount. Cabezas alertly wiggles free and take the sidemount position. Great action in this back-and-forth battle. Kirk transitions into top position but gets caught in a triangle choke. Cabezas torques the angle, but Kirk continues to hang on. Cabezas delivers a knee to Kirk’s head that immediately opens a gusher. The illegal blow — an elbow strike to the top of the head — earns Cabezas a one-point deduction. With the point loss, it’ll likely be a 9-9 round.
Round 2 — Cabezas cracks his opponent with an early head kick and then scoops up his opponent and slams him to the mat. A violent assault of haymakers follows, and Kirk finally gives up his back. Cabezas alertly sinks in the rear-naked choke to force the tap-out. Yosmany Cabezas def. John Kirk via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2, 0:58.
JOHN DOYLE VS. RAFAEL FEIJO
Round 1 — Doyle shoots in and eats a punch as Feijao fends him off. The fighters trade punches before Feijao lands a stiff right, Doyle counters with a haymaker, and a near-riot-inducing exchange of blows soon follows. Feijao then clinches up and delivers some knees to his opponent’s face and then a few to the body. One last strikes causes Doyle to crumble to the mat, and the bout is stopped. Cornermen Anderson Silva (UFC middleweight champion) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (UFC interim heavyweight chamo) are the first in the ring to congratulate Feijao. Rafael Feijao def. John Doyle via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 2:17.
BRETT ROGERS VS. JAMES THOMPSON
Round 1 — Thompson bumrushes his opponent at the opening bell, grabs a leg and looks for the takedown. Rogers fends it off briefly but eats some knees while tied up. The fighters clinch up, and upon the break, Rogers lands a couple knees to the body. Thompson has finally creates some distance, but Rogers counters with a front kick than a right-left-right-left combination that sends his opponent to the canvas. The ref jumps in to halt the bout, awarding Rogers the TKO victory. Brett Rogers def. James Thompson via knockout (strikes) — Round 1, 2:24.
EDSON BERTO VS. YVES EDWARDS
Round 1 — Berto cracks Edwards with an early body kick and follows with a roundhouse leg kick. Edwards, though, locks in a guillotine from a sitting position, but he can do little with it. Berto escapes into his opponent’s half guard and then locks in his own guillotine. Edwards reverses the position, pops out of the choke and works for a kimura. Berto, though, breaks free and secures Edwards in his full guard. Working from the top, Edwards starts the ground-and-pound barrage and stuns Berto with a forearm strike to the mouth. Once the pace slows, the ref restarts the action in the center of the cage. Berto glances his opponent with a head kick, but in the round’s final seconds, Berto grabs a leg. Edwards uses his one free knee to catch his opponent in the face with a knee to force the stoppage. Yves Edwards def. Edson Berto via KO (knee) — Round 1, 4:56.
KYLE NOKE VS. SCOTT SMITH
Round 1 — A slow start prompts the sold-out crowd to boo through the round’s first three minutes. Both fighters are looking to counter-strike, and neither wants to throw first. With two minutes to go, the booing continues as neither fighter has connected on anything. Smith lands a combination but does little damage. A lunging left hook finally clips Noke, causing a trickle of blood near his right eye. Still, the booing continues. Smith comes alive in the final 20 seconds and lands a combination and leg kick to steal a rather lackluster round, 10-9.
Round 2 — After an insanely slow start to the first round, the second one is over in a blink. Smith connects on a stiff right, dropping Noke into a heap just seconds into the bout. Smith follows up and hits his downed opponent one more time before the referee can jump in to stop it. Scott Smith def. Kyle Noke via KO (punch) — Round 1, 0:07.
RICCO RODRIGUEZ VS. ANTONIO SILVA
Round 1 — Silva looks the better-conditioned athlete in this heavyweight battle, though he looks light on his feet in avoiding Silva’s early strikes. Rodriguez then connects with a leg kick and dances out of Silva’s counter punches. Halfway through the round, the fight starts to slow, and the boo birds return. Silva throws a leg kick and follows righ a right-left combination. Rodriguez counters with a leaping knee but has little on it. Instead, Rodriguez shoots in for a double-leg takedown and lands in Silva’s guard. Silva keeps his opponent tied up, though Rodriguez manages to sneak in some body punches. A warning that the referee may stand them caused Rodriguez to work some elbows, and he sticks Silva with a few more head and body punches to close it out. Rodriguez takes the round, 10-9.
Round 2 — Silva partially conencts on an early combination, though Rodriguez counters with a leg kick. Rdoriguez now goes into counter-striking mode and looks for the single-leg takedown, but Silva shakes it off. Rodriguez drops to the mat for a takedown, but Silva breaks free and swarms in. Pressed against the fence, Rodriguez works hard not to give up his back and instead lets Silva take sidemount. Rodriguez improves the position to half-guard, but Silva rises up and hits him with a couple hammerfists and punches to the body. Rodriguez now ties up his opponent with full guard, and the ref restarts the action. With a cut about Rodriguez’s eye, the ref calls for a doctor’s stoppage. Rodriguez is clearly tired but opts to continue on. Rodriguez then whiffs on a spinning back kick as the round ends. Silva takes it 10-9 to tie it up.
Round 3 — A touch of gloves to start the third round, and Silva strikes first with a double-leg takedown. The crowd couldn’t care less about the fight as a fight breaks out in the stands. Working from in Rodriguez’s guard, Silva works for better position and works his way into half-guard. Rodriguez ties him up long enough to get a restart. Once standing, Rodriguez lunges with a right, and Silva counters and glances him with a right. Rodriguez then just misses on a left-right-left combination but follows with a single-leg takedown. With 90 seconds to go, this is his chance to steal the round and the fight. Rodriguez manages a few short elbows before warnings of a restart. Rodriguez manages a few more short punches, though there’s little behind them. With 10 seconds to go, Silva keeps Rodriguez tied up from doing much. It’s an extremely close round. I have it 10-10 for a 29-29 draw. Antonio Silva def. Ricco Rodriguez via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28).
TANK ABBOTT VS. KIMBO SLICE
Round 1 — Pure pandemonium cageside as security doesn’t seem to mind a couple thousand fans filing into the lower bowl. This has the potential to get really ugly, and the fight hasn’t even started. I have absolutely no view of the cage, so I apologize in advance for an abbreviated play-by-play. No touch of gloves to start this one, and we’re underway. Both fighters look especially nervous. Abbott with a stiff left before trying to tie up Slice. Slice swings wildly and connects, and Abbott drops to that mat to grab a leg. The bout it stopped, and for some reason restarted. Before it’s restarted, the referee again stops it. He’s lost all control. The fight is again restarted, and Slice starts to tee off. Simple combinations continue to sneak through and tag Abbott as he hits the canvas multiple times. The final blow comes and Abbott hits the mat face first. The fight — a circus in every sense of the word — is finally over. Kimbo Slice def. Tank Abbott via knockout (strikes) — Round 1, 0:43.
Video of Tank vs. Slice (http://www.dailymotion.com/search/tank%2Bkimbo/video/x4ekja_kimbo-slice-vs-tank-abbott_sport)