(Upon encountering the crazed polar bear, Alistair stretches his arms out, hoping to make himself appear larger. / Photos courtesy of CombatLifestyle.com. For more from this set, click here.)
529 pounds of mean son-of-a-bitch will be colliding tonight in Las Vegas as former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar takes on Strikeforce/DREAM/K-1 champion Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 141. Plus, Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone settle their beef in the lightweight division, and Jon Fitch goes for his tenth-straight decision against Johny Hendricks. But first, the final Spike TV prelims broadcast ever, featuring a TUF winner and a pair of WEC standouts. Not a bad way to kick off New Year’s weekend.
Round-by-round results from UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem will be piling up after the jump beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT; refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest. And while you’re waiting, feel free to share your New Year’s resolutions in the comments section.
Facebook prelim results:
– Diego Nunes def. Manny Gamburyan via unanimous decision (29–28 x 3)
– Matt Riddle vs. Luis Ramos was cancelled hours before the event due to Riddle being too ill to fight.
– Jacob Volkmann def. Efrain Escudero via unanimous decision (29–28 x 3)
– Dong Hyun Kim def. Sean Pierson via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
Anthony Njokuani vs. Danny Castillo
This fight is brought to you by Gina Carano’s breasts. Uh, I mean Haywire, directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Round 1: Njokuani throwing to the head and body. Castillo looks for a takedown but is rebuffed. Njokuani doing a good job early of keeping him at bay. But inevitably, Castillo grabs Njokuani’s waist and drags him down. Njokuani gets to his feet and is slammed back down. He gets up again but Castillo is on his back throwing knees to his legs. Njokuani tries to spin out and escape, but Castillo takes him down again. Njokuani’s back is against the fence. Njokuani gets up, and gets slammed. He gets up again, Castillo returns to back control. He tries slamming Njokuani and nearly finds a choke in a scramble. But Njokuani reverses and tries a guillotine choke of his own. Castillo slams out of it and they’re up and clinched again. They separate and Njokuani misses some punches before the bell. 10-9 Castillo.
Round 2: Njokuani opens with a front kick to the face that misses. He sticks a jab. A body kick misses. He fires a punch combo. Castillo just biding his time until the takedown, it seems. He shoots, Njokuani sprawls. Njokuani rushes forward and fires a flying knee. Castillo grabs him but can’t hold him. Njokuani lands a hook to the ribs. Castillo misses a leg kick. Castillo shoots and Njokuani grabs a thai clinch and punishes Castillo with knees and an elbow before separating. Njokuani staggers Castillo with a right hand. Castillo clinches up and takes Njokuani down, giving himself some time to clear the cobwebs. Short punches to the body from Castillo. Castillo trying to get some distance but Njokuani is holding him down. But then he explodes out and they’re against the fence again. Castillo gets the fight to the mat once more before the bell. You might give that round to Njokuani 10-9 for the significant strikes he landed before Castillo took the fight back into his world.
Round 3: Castillo ducks under Njokuani’s punches to shoot, but Njokuani defends. Njokuani lands a straight right. Castillo shoots from a mile away and eats a knee to the ribs on the way up. But he stays on Njokuani and slams him down against the cage. Njokuani sitting against the fence, Castillo hugging his waist tightly, but not doing much else. Boooo. Njokuani stands. Castillo with some wall-and-stall. Castillo moves to the back and Njokuani rolls for a leglock to free himself. He gets up and they separate. Njokuani looking for the thai clinch. Njokuani throws a front kick and Castillo snatches him up, returning him to his familiar position against the fence. Njokuani stands. Castillo hanging off his back. Njokuani shakes out and throws steady punches in the last 30 seconds. He lands a leg kick and some punches, and fires a flying knee at the bell. “Very good fight,” Joe Rogan says. “Meh,” I say. They’ll probably give it to Castillo for the ground control, but he really didn’t do any damage.
Castillo def. Njokuani via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29). The crowd boos it pretty hard. “Was that close to you?” Castillo asks, genuinely surprised. Castillo explains that he took three of his four fights this year on less than four weeks’ notice and tries to get some respect from the fans, which they give, begrudgingly. He walks off in a bad mood.
Ross Pearson vs. Junior Assuncao
Round 1: Pearson stalking, Assuncao staying elusive. Assuncao grabs Pearson as he’s throwing a big right hand and takes him to the mat. Assuncao works to Pearson’s back. Pearson breaks out, lands a knee and throws a pair of left hooks to brush Assuncao back. Swing and a miss from Assuncao. He throws a head kick. Assuncao goes for a telegraphed TD attempt and Pearson defends it and lands another knee. Assuncao clinches up and lands a left elbow on the exit. Pearson rushes forward with a left hook. Body kick Pearson, Assuncao returns some punches. Pearson lands a knee on a takedown attempt from Assuncao. Assuncao touches Pearson up with a crisp punching combo. Leg kick Pearson. Body kick Assuncao. Pearson tries a superman punch. The round ends. Close, though Pearson was certainly the aggressor.
Round 2: Body kick Assuncao. Pearson punching, Assuncao dodging. Assuncao scores a takedown. Pearson gets to his feet and escapes. Leg kick Pearson. Assuncao goes for a single leg. Pearson defends. Assuncao tries it again, Pearson defends again. Assuncao clinches as Pearson comes forward. Pearson sets up the thai clinch and Assuncao gets the eff out of dodge. Pearson lands a nice body shot then stumbles Assuncao with a jab. He pours on the abuse, landing a knee, more body shots. Assuncao clinches to make it stop. Knee to the body from Pearson. Assuncao escapes and Pearson chases. Assuncao goes for the single-leg. Pearson defends and tosses Assuncao to the mat with a judo trip. Assuncao gets up and returns the favor. Assuncao in Pearson’s guard. Pearson escapes and Assuncao fires heavy punches in the closing seconds.
Round 3: Pearson steps forward with a leg kick. Pearson eats a jab and Assuncao takes him down. Assuncao looks for a rear-naked choke on the mat. Pearson escapes and gets to his feet. They clinch against the fence, then separate. Assuncao scores a takedown, but Pearson is up within a second. Knee to the dome from Assuncao. Pearson separates but eats a punch. Assuncao stays on him, tenaciously. Pearson gets some space, throws a knee, lands a leg kick. Asssuncao grabs on, Pearson turns him around against the fence. Dirty boxing from both sides. Pearson fires a head kick and follows it up with a solid knee to Assuncao’s head. Pearson lands in close. He smells blood and presses forward with punches. Assuncao grabs his leg and the horn sounds. Pearson might have this one wrapped up.
Pearson def. Assuncao via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 30-27). No time for an interview. And so, the prelims end with five straight decisions and a withdrawal due to illness. Let’s hope things pick up during the main card. Speaking of which, hit that “next page” link to continue to our UFC 141 pay-per-view coverage…