(Mouth like Chael, ass like Arianny. / Props: Getty)
Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver isn’t so much a “fight” as it is a blatant showcase for an exciting young talent, against an opponent who’s about as hand-picked as they come. If all goes according to plan tonight in Boston, McGregor will score a dominant win and earn a title shot against Jose Aldo in a soccer stadium. If Siver wins…who knows? I mean, I’ll laugh my ass off, but beyond that? Hard to say.
Luckily, tonight’s co-main event should be far more competitive. Will Donald Cerrone finally “go get some!” against Benson Henderson, the former WEC/UFC champion who has beaten him twice before? Or will they just hug and stuff?
Our man Alex Giardini will be providing round-by-round UFC Fight Night 59 results from the FOX Sports 1 main card, after the jump beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and hit us up on twitter to share your own thoughts.
UFC Fight Night 59 Preliminary Card Results
Cathal Pendred def. Sean Spencer via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)
Lorenz Larkin def. John Howard via TKO (strikes) at 2:17 of R1
Chris Wade def. Zhang Lipeng via unanimous decision (30-26 x3)
Patrick Holohan def. Shane Howell via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Johnny Case def. Frankie Perez via TKO (strikes) at 1:54 of R3
Charles Rosa def. Sean Soriano via submission (D’arce choke) at 4:43 of R3
Sean O’Connell def. Matt Van Buren via TKO (strikes) at 2:11 of R3
Joby Sanchez def. Tateki Matsuda via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Alright, Potato Nation … just had to go puke because of that Carl Pendred-Sean Spencer decision, but we’re pretty psyched about the “Irish Muhammad Ali” vs. the “German Barry Horowitz.” Stay for a while, and let’s do the damn thing.
Holy Christ, we’re getting a McGregor hype video before the first fight. The fight was also proclaimed as the “biggest featherweight fight in history.”
Norman Parke vs. Gleison Tibau
Round 1: Both lightweights out in southpaw stance. Parke throwing a lot of flashy kicks, and goes for the lockup. Gleison shakes him off, and tries to find his range. Tibau misses with a left, and takes a kick to the body. Parke not really aiming for the head, and goes to the body instead. Low kicks from Parke, while Tibau lands a stiff jab. Tibau goes for some spinning shit, but doesn’t follow through in the end. Left hand lands for Tibau, backing up Parke. Not much action from both guys, with Parke still focusing on his kicking game. Takedown attempt from Parke is stuffed. Tibau lands a solid right hand. Parke working some combinations now, as both men lock up in the center of the Octagon. Parke stuffs a takedown from Tibau, and the horn sounds.
Round 2: Spinning back kick attempt from Parke, and then tries some sort of dropkick, but Tibau storms him and forces Parke across the cage. Parke maintains composure, and they’re back trading in the center. Parke moving forward, pressuring Tibau closer to the fence. Left hand lands for Tibau, while taking a couple of leg kicks. Another left punch from Tibau, and he’s locked up, looking for the takedown. Parke’s takedown defense is impressive, but gets taken down a few seconds after exchanging blows. Parke gets back to his feet immediately, looking for a takedown of his own. Tibau reverses positioning, and we’re deep into the dirty boxing game. Mike Goldberg reiterating that fans don’t understand how grueling the clinch game could be, as if we don’t hear it every single time it happens.
Round 3: Boston fans chanting, because they’re obviously bored. A quicker pace from both guys to open the third, as Parke shoots low for a takedown with Gleison’s back to the fence. Tibau breaks free, but Parke is still driving forward. Tibau’s striking is extremely technical, and gets a double stuffed. Good straight rights from Tibau, while Parke nails him with a left hook. Parke is definitely the wilder striker, yet Tibau seems to be packing more power behind his punches. Parke keeping busy with jabs, while Tibau trying to find an opening. Tibau missing most of his shots, steering away from his foe’s punches. Guillotine attempt from Tibau, but he lets it go. Good movement from Parke, who lands a number of jabs after a hard kick to the body. Tibau looking to lock up again, and Parke shakes him off. Good combinations from Parke, and as he starts to find his range, Tibau takes him down and looks to take his back. Parke shakes him off, and moves Tibau to the cage while the horn sounds seconds later. Awkward fight, and kind of boring to say the least.