A rematch of a controversial UFC 115 lightweight fight kicked off the Versus main card in Washington, D.C. Matt Wiman was awarded victory in the original meeting after locking in a guillotine choke. Referee Yves Lavinge stopped the fight, thinking Mac Danzig was unconscious.
Wiman dropped a razor-thin decision to Dennis Siver in July and is looking to put that and the prior Danzig fight to bed.
Danzig bounced back from the loss to Wiman to knockout Joe Stevenson at UFC 124 last December.
Wiman started with a combo that missed. Danzig connected with uppercuts from inside the clinch. Danzig pushed the fight against the fence. Wiman caught a headkick and dumped Danzig to the ground. Danzig regained his footing, but Wiman continued to work for a single leg. Danzig briefly locked in a guillotine, but Wiman easily defended. A flurry from Wiman backed Danzig against the fence. The pair traded elbows from the clinch. A knee from Wiman sent Danzig reeling. The fighters continued to trade big shots and Wiman looked for a takedown as the round came to a close.
The middle frame started with Wiman again pressing forward. Danzig initiated the clinch against the cage, but Wiman pushed away. Danzig scored with a trip takedown and landed in the half guard. Wiman regained full guard. Wiman looked for a triangle and then transitioned for an armbar from his back. Danzig escaped and delivered shots from the top. Wiman looked for a kimura on Danzig’s left arm, but Danzig again defended. The fighters returned to their feet and continued to trade strikes. The round finished with more clinch work against the cage.
Much like the first two rounds, Wiman pressed forward. Wiman landed a big right hand when Danzig had his back to the fence. The pair traded elbows and Wiman opened a cut under Danzig’s left eye. The fighters exchanged more in the clinch. Wiman looked a takedown, but Danzig landed on top. Danzig moved to Wiman’s back against the fence. Danzig slide off and Wiman landed on top in the half guard. Wiman unloaded elbows from the top. Danzig regained his full guard along the fence, but Wiman remained in control. Danzig stood with 30 seconds remaining. Wiman dropped for a final takedown, but Danzig looked for a guillotine as the fight ended.
All three judges gave the fight to Matt Wiman. Wiman expressed his happiness in winning the decision.
Official result: Matt Wiman def. Mac Danzig by unanimous decision (29-28 x3).
Rob Tatum is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. You can also find Rob’s work at TheMMACorner.com. For anything related to MMA, you can follow Rob on Twitter @RobTatumMMA.