MINNEAPOLIS, October 5 – Many expected unbeaten Travis Browne to “make a statement” by knocking out Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in the UFC on FX main event Friday at Target Center. But the massive Brazilian rejected the role of stepping stone, instead flooring the Hawaiian heavyweight with a booming right hand and finishing him off with some heavy ground and pound shots.
Referee Herb Dean intervened at 3:27 of the opening stanza, and Travis Browne appeared to lose more than his first pro fight – the 246-pounder also limped badly and needed the assistance of his trainers as he exited the cage.
Earlier in the fight, Browne (13-1-1) uncorked his laser right hand but failed to connect with devastating effect. The bout exclusively played out in the standup realm. It was unclear exactly what caused or exacerbated the injury to Browne’s leg.
Silva, an American Top Team product who lost his UFC debut in May to former champ Cain Velasquez, claimed his first UFC victory and improved to 17-4.
Watch Silva’s post-fight interview
JAKE ELLENBERGER VS. JAY HIERON
In the evening’s co-main event, Jake Ellenberger avenged an earlier defeat to Jay Hieron, winning via unanimous decision, but the judges’ scoring is sure to invite controversy.
The triumph marked Ellenberger’s seventh win in his past eight fights, with his lone defeat coming to Martin Kampmann (Hieron’s teammate and close friend). The Ellenberger-Hieron bout was far from a barnburner, with Hieron dancing and mixing up his attack throughout, scoring frequently with leg kicks and also sprinkling in some high kicks and spinning backfists that didn’t land but made clear that Hieron was the busier fighter.
Seldom able to nail down his perpetually moving adversary, Ellenberger relied mostly on punches while stalking the Xtreme Couture representative.
Ellenberger (28-6) managed takedowns in the first and second rounds, respectively, and on occasion landed a crisp combination. A decent amount of blood marked Hieron’s face as he walked back to his corner at the close of the second round, but the poised veteran never really seemed threatened and avoided the monster right hand that has felled many Ellenberger opponents.
In the third round, Hieron (23-6) got away from his jab but landed often with low kicks, seemingly content to pursue a safe route to victory. The judges, perhaps thinking that Ellenberger was pressing the fight, saw it differently and spoiled Hieron’s return to the UFC after a seven-year hiatus.
Judges scored it 29-28 across the board for Ellenberger.
JOHN DODSON VS. JUSSIER FORMIGA
In a battle for the No. 1 contender slot at flyweight, John Dodson TKO’d Jussier Formiga to earn a crack at Demetrious Johnson’s title down the road.
After a conservative first round by both fighters, Dodson put the well-rounded Brazilian on the deck twice with his explosive left hand. On the second occasion, the Greg Jackson protégé unleashed a hail of unanswered punches on a face-down Formiga, forcing a ref stoppage at 4:35 of the round.
A triumphant Dodson (15-5) may have set the UFC record for gloating. The New Mexican celebrated with at least two backflips, by sitting atop the cage, dancing hysterically, yelling at the top of his lungs … and more dancing and yelling.
“He was number one in the flyweight division for the longest time, give it up for him, that guy is awesome,” Dodson said, turning his attention to the looming showdown with Demetrious Johnson. “It’s going to be the superfastest fight you’ve ever seen. Mighty Mouse, He’s going to be just as fast. (For fans) it’s going to be kind of like watching lightning.”
Formiga, an Andre Pederneiras student who had been making his long-awaited UFC debut, fell to 14-2. The only other fighter to defeat Formiga is UFC flyweight Ian McCall.
Watch Dodson’s animated post-fight interview
JUSTIN EDWARDS VS. JOSH NEER
“Fast Eddy” made some fast money Friday night.
45 seconds was all it took for The Ultimate Fighter season 13 cast member to earn the biggest win of his career. The University of Ohio grad slapped a one-arm guillotine on veteran Josh Neer (33-12-1), who passed out rather than tap.
“I know he baits people for guillotines and defends it well, but he’s never been in mine,” said Edwards, a welterweight who improved to 9-2, 2-2 in the UFC. “I thought it was going to be a very exciting fight, I thought it would be fast paced; I didn’t think it would be so fast.”
Hear what “Fast Eddy” had to say in his post-fight interview