This is the UFC 172 live blog for Phil Davis vs. Anthony Johnson, a light heavyweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Md.
Davis, who is 3-1 with one no-contest over his past five fights, will face Johnson, who is making his UFC return, on the main card.
Check out the UFC 172 live blog below.
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Round 1: Herb Dean is the referee for this co-main. They touch gloves, and Johnson watches Davis circles along the perimeter of fence. Davis already threatening to shoot in. On Johnson’s very first punch, he does, but he lets go. Davis moves in again and eats a good punch, and is ultimately thwarted. Crowd lets up a roar. Now Davis is circling, and he starts lobbing the jab — now a kick. Skirmish near fence, and Davis took the brunt. Johnson landing good isolated shots. As Davis comes in for a ick, Johnson blasts him with a right. Now he’s got Davis in trouble. Big shot on fence, and Davis curls up. Momentarily, now he’s back up. Wow! Johnson is in hot pursuit. Davis has big bloody gash on his eye. Johnson poised and stalking. High kick from Davis grazes, and then Johnson comes in low to body with a right. Leg kick into a power bomb right from Johnson, and that sends Davis reeling towards fence. Big power from Johnson; Davis has tasted that power several times in the round. They circle, and the round ends. Great round for Johnson; Davis could not get anything going, and got hit frequently. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Johnson, 10-9.
Round 2: Rumble right back into stalk mode. He comes in and throws whipping leg kick, which hits the lead leg. Davis changing levels, and narrowly gets out o the way of a right hand. Davis just can’t get things rolling. Johnson is moving side to side. Again, nice throw of hands from Johnson in the middle, and he lands the left. Davis comes in with low kick, and Johnson catches it and lands a nice right hand counter. Davis ducks inside and right into an uppercut from Johnson. Johnson moves forward with a sally, and tracks Davis down on fence, gives him a stout right. Johnson with quick one-two, and he’s landing. Right hand by Johnson, missed high kick from Davis. Wow, Davis tries high kick and ate a procession of punches and a kick, all fired off in a good sequence from Johnson. Another exchange, and Davis slips. Johnson goes in for a split second, but then spins out and lets Davis stand. Davis trying to pressure, but Johnson is picking him apart on feet. Complete opposite of what Rashad did to Davis. Round ends, they slap fives. Another round in which Johnson looked great. MMA Fighting scores R2 for Johnson, 10-9 (20-18 overall)
Round 3: Both guys raise their arms and incite the crowd to get loud. Johnson swoops in quick and throws from crouch, but nothing doing — still, he pursues. Davis now throwing low punches, to the legs. Big overhand right from Johnson narrowly misses again, and Davis shoots in for a double-leg, but he hits a brick wall, bounces off. High kick from Davis. Davis finally comes in with a right hand that crashes into Johnson’s chin, and uses that to shoot in, pushes Johnson to fence. Can’t get him down though. They come off the fence, and Johnson stings him with a right. Standing center, Johnson in southpaw. Pushkick from Johnson. Crazy scramble there after bad takedown attempt, and Davis is reeling…as he rolls along fence in retreat, Johnson misses high kick. Davis finally snatches up a single-leg on fence, but Johnson bounces on one leg and slips loose. Frustration for Davis. Michael Johnson, Rumble’s teammate, barking instructions. Johnson is tired, but he’s still getting off the crisper shots in the exchange. Davis goes for takedown of his own in last ten seconds, and that’s going to do it. All Johnson, opening to closing bell. MMA Fighting scores R3 for Johnson, 10-9 (30-27 overall)
UFC 172 official results: Anthony Johnson def. Phil Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)