Filed under: UFC
LAS VEGAS — This is the UFC 137 live blog for Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop, a featherweight bout on tonight’s UFC pay-per-view card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Hioki (24-4-2) makes his UFC debut after an impressive career in Japan where he captured the Shooto and Sengoku titles. In his last fight, Roop (12-7-1) stopped Josh Grispi with a punch to the body.
The live blog is below.
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Round 1: Roop lands an early right hand as Hioki pulls back a kick. Hioki looks quite confident in the standup, matching Roop, though he does seem to leave his chin high often. Hioki initiates a clinch with 3:00 left. Hioki is working hard for the takedown but Roop is defending well. They keep exchanging positions against the fence. Hard, grinding work with little payoff. Hioki nearly got his back but Roop shucked him off. Hioki finally got the takedown with a minute left and moved to side control. Roop scrambled to regain guard, then made it back to his feet. Hioki shot in for another takedown but Roop held him off as the horn sounded. A close round goes to Hioki 10-9.
Round 2: Hioki with a right cross, causing Roop to fire back a head kick. Roop with a body punch, mixing up his offense well. Head kick by Roop grazes its target.
Round 3:
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