UFC 81: Live Results and Round-by-Round Updates

[Will]

UFC 81: Breaking Point
Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas
February 02, 2008

Rob Emerson VS. Keita Nakamura

Round 1 –We’re underway with a fairly empty arena. Emerson leads the stand-up early on and shows an effective jab. Nakamura finally comes to life and connects on a combination. Emerson returns to the jab and continues to poke it through his opponent’s defense and follows up with a series of keg kicks. Nakamura shakes it off and then drops Emerson with a knee that catches him flush on the chin. Nakamura goes in for the kill, but Emerson starts to regain his composure and looks for an opening to break free. Nakamura tags him with a shot in the process. Nakamura scores another takedown late in the round before the bell sounds. Nakamura storms back to steal it, 10-9.

Round 2 — Emerson takes the lead in the second round and goes back to leg kicks. One of them cracks loudly and has Nakamura stumbling. Nakamura fires back with quick pace of strikes, but Emerson tags his opponent with a left hook. After a brief exchange, Emerson then forces the action to the ground for a brief moment. Back to the stand-up, and Emerson connects on some combinations and some effective jabs and continues the assault with leg kicks. Nakamura’s face is starting to show some damage as he looks to his corner for instruction. Emerson again works the leg kicks. Nakamura finally lands a takedown to stop the assault, but it’s a brief reprieve as Emerson scrambles back to his feet. Emerson lands a series of jabs and an overhand left before the round ends. Emerson ties it up with a 10-9 round.

Round 3 — Both fighters are looking a little spent, and Nakamura lands a takedown but doesn’t have the energy to keep the fight there. Emerson works some leg kicks, and Nakamura finally starts to land some strikes. Emerson takes control and uses his jab to set up some more leg kicks. Nakamura nearly tumbles from the leg kicks before connecting on a knee to Emerson’s body. Nakamura bounces back and throws his own leg kicks and uses some punches. Emerson’s face is now a mess, too. Nakamura scores a sloppy takedown and scrambles for position. With about 30 seconds left, the fight turns into a ground war to close it out. It’s a close round, but Nakamura probably took the last round — and the decision.

Rob Emerson def. Keita Nakamura via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27).

Marvin Eastman vs. Terry Martin

Round 1 - In what some observes said would be an action packed fight, the opening round of Eatman-Martin was a true stinker. Eastman went for an early takedown, but Martin switched underhooks and dragged Eastman to the canvas. Both fighters returned to their feet where the clinched repeatedly for the rest of the crown as the crowd showered the Octagon with boos. 10-9 for Martin.

Round 2 - The boo-fest continued to play out in the second round, as the busiest man in the cage was referee Yves Lavigne, who had to separate the fighters due to lack of action. Midway through the frame, Eastman caught a thumb to the right eye that opened up a small cut. With 30 seconds left in the period, Eastman tripped Martin to the canvas, which locked up the round on the Sherdog.com scorecard. 10-9 for Eastman.

Round 3 - More clinching as the final period began. Martin tried to throw Eastman, but the Las Vegan was able to gain balance and drag Martin to the floor. From side-control, Eastman landed a few elbows before Martin powered back to his feet. More clinching ensued, until Eastman landed the best shots of the fight, a right knee, left straight combo that buckled Martin's frame briefly. 10-9 for Eastman.

Marvin Eastman Defeats Terry Martin Via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

David Heath vs. Tim Boetsch

Round 1 - Boetsch and Heath traded jabs and clinch work through the first half of the first period, until Boetsch landed a right hand that dropped Heath to one knee. Boetsch pounced and tried to finish the fight with strikes, but the game Heath stood and blasted Boetsch with a hard shot of his own. With about 25 seconds left in the round, Boetsch threw Heath into cage and unloaded a barrage of punches, which prompted referee Herb Dean to step in and stop the fight.

Tim Boetsch Defeated David Heath via Referee Stoppage at 4:52 of Round 1.[B]

Chris Lytle vs. Kyle Bradley[/B

Round 1 - Chris Lytle came out and absolutely smoked Kyle Bradley in just 33 seconds of the first round. Bradley tried to get off first with a hard punch, which Lytle countered with a right hook. A right hook followed. And another. Bradley tried to retreat and cover but Lytle was right on top of him, unloading with shots until referee Yves Lavigne stepped in to save Bradley. After Lavigne separated the fighters, the still-dazed Bradley pulled guard on Lavigne and tried to punch, but the referee defended himself and subdued the groggy fighter.

Chris Lytle Defeated Kyle Bradley via Referee Stoppage at 0:33 of Round 1.

Gleison Tibau vs. Tyson Griffin
Round 1 - Griffin fired a straight right that found its target. Both fighters showed good footwork early in the round, as they circled and connected with straight punches. Griffin pawed out a lazy left jab and fired a straight right to the body. Tibau charged in and dropped down for a double-leg, but Griffin used the cage well and avoided the takedown. Griffin found his range with a low kick and two right hands. Griffin continued the assault with punches right down the pipe, and just when it looked as if he had Tibau hurt, the Brazilian scored a powerful takedown. Tibau worked briefly from the crucifix position, but Griffin avoided danger and got back to his feet. Tibau dragged him back to the canvas, but could not hold him down.

Round 2 - Griffin threw his hands early but couldn't connect. Tibau went back to the clinch and was unsuccessful in a takedown attempt. Tibau cracked Griffin with a straight left. Tibau, with blood dripping from his nose, nearly had a takedown but Griffin defended and landed a hard right hand. A crisp kick to the left side of Tibau's body landed for Griffin. Another right hand cracked Tibau just before the Brazilian scored a single-leg. Griffin got back to his feet immediately before the horn sounded.

Round 3 - A left hand landed for Tibau in the center of the Octagon. Tibau shot in and scored a beautiful takedown. For the first time in the bout, the contest displayed some extended ground work. Tibau passed to half-guard as Griffin tried an arm-drag. Griffin gets back to his feet but eats three punches in the process. Two hard body shots crushed Tibau's frame. A lunging right elbow landed for Griffin just before Tibau clinched and stomped Griffin's left foot. Griffin returned the favor with a stomp of his own. Griffin used good wrist control to get off the cage as time expired.

Tyson Griffin Defeated Gleison Tibau via Unanimous Decision 30-27 x 3.

Rob Yundt vs. Ricardo Almeida
Round 1 - An uppercut landed for Yundt to get the action started. Almeida shot in and scored a double-leg takedown. Almeida locked on a guillotine with an arm inside as Yundt tried to get to his feet. Yundt tried to slam his way out of the hold but was forced to tapout.

Ricardo Almeida defeated Rob Yundt via Submission at 1:08 of Round 1.

Jeremy Horn vs. Nathan Marquardt

Round 1 - Marquardt threw Horn to the ground and blasted away with powerful right and left hands. Horn, underneath Marquardt and with his back to the cage, tried to go high with his hips in search of an armbar or a triangle but Marquardt had none of it. Marquardt stood and invited Horn to follow. Horn attempted a takedown but pulled guard after the shot was unsuccessful. Now back to their feet, Marquardt landed a right uppercut and an elbow. Horn, hurt from the blow, shot in and was briefly caught in a D'arce choke. Marquardt let go of the hold and elbowed the head three times. Horn locked on an omaplata and transitioned to a gogo-plata twice, but Marquardt escaped. Horn scored a sweep before the round closed .

Round 2 - Horn found himself in the top position on the ground after Marquardt slipped while throwing a low kick. Horn landed an elbow that opened up a small cut above the right eye. Marquardt got to his feet and locked on a fight-ending guillotine choke shortly after standing. Marquardt applied the hold with his back to the fence while standing. Horn tried to drop down and out of the hold, but tapped as soon as Marquardt followed him to the canvas and gave his neck a good crank.

Nathan Marquardt defeated Jeremy Horn via Submission at 1:37 of Round 2.

Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar

Round 1 - Lesnar caught a kick and immediately took Mir down. From half-guard, Lesnar blasted away with elbows and punches. Steve Mazzagatti took a point away from Lesnar for hitting the back of the head. Lesnar dropped Mir with a right hand. Lesnar pounced with punches and had Mir hurt. Mir went for an armbar but Lesnar escaped and continued to tee off. As Lesnar went to posture up, Mir locked on a kneebar that forced Lesnar to tapout.

Frank Mir defeats Brock Lesnar via Submission at 1:30 of round 1.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira VS. Tim Sylvia

Round 1 — The towering Sylvia looks light on his feet as Nogueira works leg kicks and Sylvia throws stiff rights. Nogueira pulls guard, but Sylvia allows his opponent to stand back up. Sylvia wants this thing to be a stand-up battle. Nogueira lands an overhand right and a stiff left, but Sylvia counters with an uppercut and then a left hook that drops Nogueira. Sylvia pounces on his opponent and rains down a series of punches as Nogueira tries to tie him up. Sylvia jumps to his feet and tells a bloodied Nogueira to stand up. Sylvia throws some more punches, and Nogueira goes back to the canvas. Nogueira tries to regain his composure, but Sylvia hops to his feet and tells Nogueira to stand. Nogueira tried to shoot for a takedown, but Sylvia sprawls out of it. Nogueira lands a combination body punch/left hook and shoots and scores a takedown as the round ends. The first round is all Sylvia, though, 10-9.

Round 2 –Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but eats some punches in the process. More jabs from Nogueira, but Sylvia’s jabs and straight rights continue to snap Nogueira’s head back. A nice uppercut from Sylvia is followed by more precise jabs. Nogueira shoots again, but the telegraphed attempt is brushed aside. He then tries a leg kick, but Sylvia counters with body punches. Nogueira lands some jabs, and Sylvia’s forehead is now bruised. Nogueira gets the single leg and looks for the takedown, but Sylvia shows remarkable balance and breaks free. He then follows with a string of jabs that further bruise up Nogueira’s face. A right hook has Nogeuira stumbling, but he quickly regains his composure and tags Sylvia with a couple punches. The second round should go to Sylvia for aggression and damage, making it back-to-back 10-9 rounds for the Miletich fighter.

Round 3 — An inside leg kick from Nogueira is countered with a right hook. Nogueira then shoots and trips Sylvia to pull guard, and Nogueira then sweeps his opponent and works from side control. Nogueira then locks in a guillotine choke to force the tap-out.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Tim Sylvia via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:28 of Round 3. Nogueira becomes UFC’s interim heavyweight champion.

And that concludes tonights festivities. Thank you all for joining me for UFC 81.

[Big Evil]

Is this still being updated?

[Will]

Indeed it is, one more match before Mir- Lesnar.

[LionDen]

I am interested to see how he does, thanx for the results.

[Will]

I am interested to see how he does, thanx for the results.

I'm interested to see Mir break his arm off and beat him with it, doubt it will happen though. Lesnar is a freak and Mir just doesnt have "it" anymore.

edit: hmm not a very good showing for "the next big thing".

[LionDen]

Well, there ya go lol he tapped out.

[Kellie]

Wow all that hype for Lesnar and he taps out ... thanks for the pbp Will

[Will]

Wow all that hype for Lesnar and he taps out ... thanks for the pbp Will

Not only did he tap out, but he tapped out a minute and a half into the very first round. On the bright side though he gets a guaranteed $250k paycheck, not even counting sponsors or things of that nature, so not bad for less than 2 minutes work.

[Big Evil]

Hey I think he has his game figured out, he really took it to Mir at first. He didn't watch for the submission, couldn't counter when Mir got it locked in, and didn't have a choice but to tap. He'll be better.

[That Rob]

I knew Lesnar would lose and now to go collect on all the bets I made. Looked like a decent card.