In one of the craziest UFC rounds in recent memory, Ivan Menjivar and John Albert traded big shots, submission attempts and some entertaining positions on the ground. Menjivar scored an early takedown, but after an active guard from Albert almost stole…
In one of the craziest UFC rounds in recent memory, Ivan Menjivar and John Albert traded big shots, submission attempts and some entertaining positions on the ground.
Menjivar scored an early takedown, but after an active guard from Albert almost stole the fight, they went back to the feet.
Shortly after, Albert rocked Menjivar with some punches and knees and attacked with a standing guillotine, but Menjivar pulled out, took his back and finished the fight with a rear-naked choke at 3:45 of the first round.
What We Learned about Ivan Menjivar
Experience can sometimes mean everything.
Albert had Menjivar in trouble numerous times during the bout, but Ivan was able to keep his head and survive, and once he got the opportunity, he put his opponent away.
What We Learned about John Albert
John Albert is definitely for real, and he was obviously able to hang with one of the better veterans in the division.
His guard was solid, he almost landed a few submissions and he did some damage on the feet, and looks to be someone to watch at 135 lbs.
What’s Next For Menjivar
He’s going to keep on moving up that bantamweight ladder, and a fight with Mike Easton would be extremely entertaining and would propel the winner into the upper echelon of the division.
What’s Next for Albert
After looking impressive in his UFC debut, knocking out Dustin Pague in the first round, Albert somehow ended up looking just as impressive in defeat tonight.
A fight with Johnny Bedford, a former castmate on TUF 14, might be next, but a Fight of the Night bonus could be coming his way a lot sooner.
(Remember, the winner of this fight becomes the #2 contender for the UFC Intercontinental Temporary Welterweight Championship of the Midwest. So you’d better believe that Thiago Alves will be watching this one with great interest. / Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle.com. For more photos from this set, click here.)
Tonight, the UFC will air their first-ever live fight card on FUEL TV — or so they say. Like most Americans, I don’t have the channel in my cable package, so I’m pretty much taking them for their word here. Luckily, our new liveblogger/boxing-analyst friend Steve Silvermandoes get the channel, and he’ll be handling play-by-play for the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET.
“UFC on FUEL 1: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger” results await you after the jump. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest. Thanks for being here, guys.
(Remember, the winner of this fight becomes the #2 contender for the UFC Intercontinental Temporary Welterweight Championship of the Midwest. So you’d better believe that Thiago Alves will be watching this one with great interest. / Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle.com. For more photos from this set, click here.)
Tonight, the UFC will air their first-ever live fight card on FUEL TV — or so they say. Like most Americans, I don’t have the channel in my cable package, so I’m pretty much taking them for their word here. Luckily, our new liveblogger/boxing-analyst friend Steve Silvermandoes get the channel, and he’ll be handling play-by-play for the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET.
“UFC on FUEL 1: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger” results await you after the jump. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest. Thanks for being here, guys.
We should have a great night here with Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez headlining the night. We’ll have plenty of action prior to that fight… Ivan Menjivar vs. John Albert gets us started…
Menjivar is more experienced and he appears to have an edge. Menjivar is a solid striker and an excellent grappler…
You have to like Jon Anik and Kenny Florian announcing the fight. Any time you don’t have to listen to that boob Mauro Ranallo it’s a good listen
Round 1
Menjivar with a big overhand right to start but Albert blocks i. Albert with some good counters and quick knees…
Albert with an arm bar and Menivar is throwing hammers to the head…Menjivar with a footlock, while Albert has a heel lock…
Big kick by Albert has Menjivar in trouble. Menjivar trying to cover and he survives… Menjivar pounding Albert. He has his back. Rear naked choke and Menjivar wins.
This was a great one-round fight. Menjivar was in trouble but he just started pounding away and got on top of Albert’s back. He got the choke in and Albert had to tap out. Experience and toughness won this one for Menjivar….
Fight No. 2…. T.J. Dillashaw (4-1) vs Walel Watson (9-3) coming up next…
Both Dillashaw and Watson are strong wrestlers, but Dillashaw should be more comfortable throwing punches. That should give him an advantage at the start …
Dillashaw’s greatest asset may be his mean streak…he’ll try to get off to a quick start. Watson with a big reach advantage… 7 inches…
Dillashaw with a jumping righ hand and then goes for the single leg takedown…throws Watson down…
Watson is on his back but he looks comfortable. Dillashaw trying throw bombs but Watson uses his long arms to block them. Dillashaw has Watson’s back…
He tried to get in a rear naked choke. Dillashaw has been pounding away and he has Watson’s back. Trying to choke him out but Watson escapes.
Dillashaw remains in control. He looks like he is stronter than Watson and more accomplished. Watson is defending but he can’t mount his own attack. Big punches from Dillashaw and Watson has now answer. The first round is all Dillashaw but Watson survives and will fight a second round.
Round 2…
Big right hnd by Dillashaw to start and that hurt Watson. Dillashaw once again on top. Good wrestling and jiu jitsu allows him to mount a confident attack…
Dillashaw is not letting Watson get in anything. It seems all Watson can do is defend. He has not been able to get in a submission hold.
Dillashaw is getting in hammer fists and is hurting Watson. He is not really defending, just covering up…He has a deep choke on Watson, but Watson gets out. He is pounding Watson’s head once he stops choking him…
Watson is getting pounded in this fight and has had virtually no offense.Big right hand at the end of the round. This is a schoolyard whipping for Dillashaw but the fight moves on to round three.
Round 3…
Watson has some energy and comes out with a big kick, but it misses… Big right hand form Dillashaw and both sitll standing… Watson is much bigger, but much slower. Dillashaw with control on the ground again.
This time Watson escapes but still can’t attack. Finally Watson gets in a jumping knee, but it does not do much damage. Watson gets his legs around Dillashaw but he escapes.
Watson gets a heel hook and Dillashaw gets out… Watson doing much better in third round…
Dillashaw trying to get in choke, but Watson won’t let him secure it.
Final seconds of fight and Dillashaw is pounding away. This fight is over and Dillashaw has to be clear winner. Waiting for official decision.
And the winner is … Dillashaw by unanimous decision.
The next bout is Stipe Miocic (7-0) vs Philip De Fries (8-0 1 NC)
Miocic is a big-time striker while De Fries is more of a grappler. Miocic is a big-time hitter and may have an advantage. Good to see heavyweights go at it.
De Fries is going to have to defend against some heavy punches. If he can’t, he will have a hard time getting control and putting in a submission hold. …
Round 1…
Miocic looks stronger and in better shape as fight begins. De Fries lands a couple of rights to start….
Miocic gets in there and starts pounding with right hand and the fight is stopped. DeFries gets pounded…
Miocic has great power and the straight right hand hurts De Fries. He can’t defend himself and this fight is over in seconds.
The official time is 43 seconds and Miocic wins by a knockout.
Get ready for the next fight:
Aaron Simpson (11-2) vs Ronny Markes (12-1)
A couple of tough middleweights… Simpson has the edge in experience and should have an advantage if this one goes the distance…
Simpson is 14 years older, but you don’t get the feeling that he will wear down. He looks meaner and tougher…. off they go.
Markes attacks right off the jump.. They are clinching along the cage…and ref is pushing them for more action…
Simpson looks for opening but Markes responsds with combinations…Simpson hits him with an uppercut and starts pounding….
Simpson throwing elbows and Markes tries to get his wits about him…ref stands up Markes… and he’s a bit wobbly….both punching and Markes has survived. Wrestling along cag in final second of round 1. Give round 1 to Simpson….
Round 2….
Does Markes have the ability to take a solid punch? It’s questionable. But Markes has strong leg and is creating a problem for Simpson…
They are standing up int he middle, each man looking for and opening. Markes misses a left hook but lands an elbow…Simpson with a power left leg and tries for an overhand right, but Marks avoids the full force…
Markes has right underhook and delivers a right elbow. Markes with a takedown…Simpson gets back up after he was in a bad position… pretty even second round….
Round 3
Simposn looking to throw that big right hand. Wants to find an opening. Markes is strong but he’s not as quik when throwing punches. Markes trying to stomp Simpson …. and they break.
Markes is being much more aggressive and moving forward. Markes trying to work inside trip…another break and they go back to center. Simpson lands punch, Markes with kick.
Simpson slips and Markes gains control. Markes with double leg takedown…this one is close as we go to a decision.
The official results… Markes wins by split decision. It is not popular among Nebraska fans….
Solid comeback for Markes who was much better defensively after first round.
In the next fight we will see Stefan Struve (22-5) vs Dave Herman (21-2)
These two heavyweights should put on quite a show. The 6-11 Struve has a huge reach but a suspect chin; Herman has a strong chin and tremendous power. Struve is going to have to find a way to survive the first round.
Struve outweighs Herman by 22 pounds and has a 6-inch height advantage…
Herman rocking a beard…. Struve with a right roundhouse kick…Herman with combination… No advantage in first 1:30….
Herman finding the range. Struve is not aggressive. Not throwing that long left. Big right from Struve followed by left kick from Herman…Big right hand from Herman but he can’t throw a combination. Struve is cautious. Struve misses right hand and Herman with body shot. Right overhand punch by Herman. Feeling out first round, slight edge ot Herman.
Round 2…
Combination by Herman. Struve on ground and then an escape and back on his feet. Herman getting a bit closer. Struve with a big kick and that had to hurt. Left uppercut by Herman and Struve with a left hook. Struve is starting to get a bit more aggressive. Stuve appears to have hurt Herman.
Herman has a mouse under his eye. Uppercut sends Herman down. He is getting hammered by Struve. Struve wins by TKO….
The official time is 3:52 of the second round as Skyscraper Struve asserts himself and pounds Herman in the end. He appeared much more confident in second round…
Coming up… the main event… Diego Sanchez (23-4) vs Jake Ellenberger (26-5)
Ellenberger is a top wrestler with knockout punching power; Sanchez is relentless and wants to take it to the ground….
With fight in Ellenberger’s hometown of Omaha, he could have an edge if it goes to a decision…
Round 1
Ellenberger throwing punches and Sanchez looking for an opening. Feeling each other out at the start. Good right by Ellenberger.
Ellenberger moving forward, throwing wide punches but not landing solidly. Knee by Ellenberger on chin of Sanchez. Sanchez charges in and lands; counter knee by Ellenberger.
Both fighters with flurries. Crowd chanting “Jake, Jake…”. Ellenberger with the knockdown and Sanchez gets up. Big punch seems to hurt Sanchez but does not slow him down…First round goes to Ellenberger.
Round 2
Sanchez’s corner working on his nose and it may be broken. Ellenberger ready to go at start of round. Spinning back kick by Sanchez is ineffective.
Right roundhouse kick by Ellenberger blocked by Sanchez. Sanchez kick is ineffective. Ellenberger is quicker and lands a left hook. Another left hook as well.
Sanchez with solid right hook and then bull rushes Ellenberger. Hometown hero has not landed much in the final round but then he gets a takedown. He is trying to punch from the top and Sanchez could be in trouble.
Ellenberger thowing power punches and elbows and Sanchez is a bloody mess. He got hit in the nose and eye. Big finish of round for Ellenberger. Should be a great round 3.
Round 3
Sanchez cleaned up by corner to start round. Sanchez has not landed any seriosu power punches. Ellenberger knocks Sanchez off balance and he goes backwards.
Sanchez bleeding again and that nose looks broken. Right hand by Ellenberger followed by right hand from Sanchez tht appeared to hurt Ellenberger. However, Sanchez can’t follow up.
Ellenbrgr is cut and he is being hit with punches before Ellenberger scores takedown. Sanchez reverses and throws punchs and he is taking control. Tremendous rally by Sanchez.
Two-fisted attack by Sanchez and then escape by Ellenberger at the horn… What a finish…
It will go to a decision and Ellenberger had control for most of the fight, but Sanchez had control in the final few minutes. Is it enough?
We await the decision….
Ellenberger wins unanimous decision. All judges score it 29-28… Fans are roaring approval…
Ellenberger hung on and he wants a title fight next…We’ll see you on the next fight night….
Here we are in the second full week of February with yet another stacked free card on a Fox network. Fuel TV hosts its first-ever UFC fight and it promises to provide another night of great mixed martial arts bouts.The card features some interesting ma…
Here we are in the second full week of February with yet another stacked free card on a Fox network. Fuel TV hosts its first-ever UFC fight and it promises to provide another night of great mixed martial arts bouts.
The card features some interesting matchups and many of the weight classes featured in the UFC. The main event between Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger promises to be one heck of a barnburner, as does the co-event, the heavyweight clash between Dave “Pee-Wee” Herman and Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve.
On top of those two terrific matchups, there are also four more bouts on the main card tonight for a total of six. That is a pretty awesome number considering this is the inaugural card on Fuel TV. In addition, the UFC is airing a pre-fight and post-fight show on Fuel as well.
Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger
Jake Ellenberger is a native of Omaha, Nebraska and will be making this his homecoming fight. In certain situations that can be a good thing, and in others it can be not so good depending on how a person chooses to deal with the emotional high of that situation.
Ellenberger is a young warrior who is one of the up-and-coming guys in the UFC welterweight division. He exploded onto the UFC scene in 2009 losing a close split decision to now-interim champion Carlos Condit. In that fight Jake repeatedly tagged Condit, wobbled him and really pushed the champion to his limits.
Since that setback Jake Ellenberger has been on an absolute tear in which he has won his last five bouts in a row. The win streak culminated with a vicious first-round knockout of Jake Shields last September in New Orleans.
The Nebraska native has shown time and again that he possess a well-rounded game that can hang with the best, and possibly beat them en route to becoming a UFC champion.
Diego Sanchez has been in the UFC a long time now. He is the winner of The Ultimate Fighter season one at middleweight and since his victory in 2005 he has been a contender in the UFC. After a failed attempt to wrest the lightweight belt from B.J. Penn in 2009, Diego has moved back to the welterweight division where he looks far more comfortable.
Diego has amassed back-to-back victories over Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. A win over Jake Ellenberger could set “The Dream” up for a number one contender bout against possibly the winner of the Johnny Hendricks-Josh Koscheck fight.
Diego’s main weapon is his will. He just keeps coming and trying to beat you up over and over until one of you is beaten.
Diego’s game is to take people down, ground and pound or bull rush people on the feet. Most of his MMA game centers around his ability to work his wrestling. Kampmann isn’t known for his wrestling, yet Sanchez couldn’t get him down.
Jake Ellenberger is an excellent wrestler, so if Diego cannot get him to the ground then he must constantly pressure Jake with strikes and work for advantageous positions.
The problem for Diego Sanchez is that Ellenberger also has very good cardio and boxing. Not only does Jake have good boxing, but he has power in his strikes, something that is lacking for Sanchez.
Ellenberger will use his cardio and durability to survive the early flurries and rushes of Sanchez and he will look to counter.
Seeing that both of these men are tough and hard to finish, I see Ellenberger winning a tough decision by surviving the early onslaught and rocking Sanchez with heavy punches and kicks late. I just don’t see Sanchez being knocked out.
Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman
Stefan Struve is never in a boring fight. Let’s just start with that. In his nine bouts inside the Octagon, he has gone to the judge’s scorecards only once.
The real question with Struve is if he will ever learn to properly utilize his 83-inch reach. This advantage could be used to fight in a style similar to Jon Jones. Seeing that Stefan has a Dutch kickboxing background, this is possible.
Dave Herman, a native of Indiana, enters UFC on Fuel TV looking for his second victory in the Octagon. In his UFC debut, a thriller TKO win over Jon Olav Einemo, Herman countered the grappling veteran on the ground and then outstruck him on the feet.
Herman has a wild and wide-open style that leaves him very susceptible to counters. This is a lesson that Struve knows all too well after getting knocked out by a Superman punch (courtesy of Travis Browne at UFC 130) while trying to throw a flying knee from long range.
Struve has another strength though. He has very long limbs and uses them to set up some very slick submissions. If Herman takes this fight to the ground he needs to watch out for the triangle choke and other submission holds.
Herman is a madman and can never resist to go for broke. That is a very exciting style, however it will be his undoing here.
Struve will use his reach to keep Dave Herman honest and will secure a submission late for the victory.
Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes
Aaron Simpson and Ronny Markes have straightforward styles. Aaron Simpson wants to land solid shots and then take you down. Ronny Markes wants to take you down and deliver some ground and pound.
Two factors weight the heaviest on my mind about this bout. The first is that Aaron Simpson has shown better striking lately. The second is that Ronny Markes is moving down in weight.
Both of these factors make me lean towards Aaron Simpson. I see Simpson winning another decision to bring it to four in a row for former Arizona State Wrestlers. Aaron Simpson is suddenly in the proverbial mix at middleweight.
Stipe Miocic vs. Philip De Fries
The first heavyweight bout of the main card features two undefeated heavyweight prospects in Miocic and De Fries. The fact that two undefeated heavyweights are fighting each other in the UFC automatically makes this fight relevant. When you add this to the fact that they are each fighting in the UFC for the second time you can understand how this is a rare affair.
Miocic and De Fries were both unimpressive in their debuts winning lackluster decisions. Each man will be looking to improve tonight in Nebraska.
Miocic is the eventual winner here. De Fries’ striking is nonexistent and Stipe will use this advantage to keep the fight standing. Miocic will finish with a TKO in round two.
TJ Dillashaw vs. Walei Watson
Dillashaw is probably better than we saw on TUF and his cardio is very good, like all other fighters from Team Alpha Male. He uses his wrestling to win his bouts.
Watson is a striking ace who is coming off of a close split-decision loss. Watson enters this fight on little rest, this being his third bout in five months.
Watson will use his reach to keep himself standing for most of round one, but Dillashaw will score takedowns and ground and pound late and get the nod.
With UFC on Fuel TV now underway from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb., Bleacher Report will provide live results below and in-depth fight recaps on the following pages of this slideshow. Diego Sanchez vs. Jake EllenbergerTBD&nb…
With UFC on Fuel TV now underway from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb., Bleacher Report will provide live results below and in-depth fight recaps on the following pages of this slideshow.
Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger
TBD
Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman
Struve defeated Herman by technical knockout (punches) at of the second round.
Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes
Markes defeated Simpson by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Stipe Miocic vs. Philip De Fries
Miocic defeated De Fries by knockout (punches) at 0:43 of the first round.
T.J. Dillashaw vs. Walel Watson
Dillashaw defeated Watson by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26).
Ivan Menjivar vs. John Albert
Menjivar defeated Albert by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:45 of the first round.
Jonathan Brookins vs. Vagner Rocha
Brookins defeated Rocha by knockout (punches) at 1:32 of the first round.
Buddy Roberts vs. Sean Loeffler
Fight canceled due to Loeffler ankle injury during pre-fight warm-ups.
Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas
Salas defeated Kuivanen by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
Tim Means vs. Bernardo Magalhaes
Means defeated Magalhaes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26).
UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger faces a tough test in his quest for a six-fight win streak tonight, when he will square off against Diego Sanchez in the first ever UFC on Fuel. Sanchez, “The Ultimate Fighter” season one victor, will try to build…
UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger faces a tough test in his quest for a six-fight win streak tonight, when he will square off against Diego Sanchez in the first ever UFC on Fuel.
Sanchez, “The Ultimate Fighter” season one victor, will try to build momentum from his most recent wins against Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann.
UFC on Fuel, the first event in a seven-year contract between the Fuel television network and the UFC, will mark another UFC event that fans do not have to pay for.
According to fightmatrix.com, Ellenberger ranks third on their list of top 10 fighters in the welterweight division. He’s ahead of former contenders Jake Shields and Josh Koscheck, both of whom are trying to climb back up the ladder towards a title shot, after their losses to Georges St. Pierre.
For Ellenberger, the news of Nick Diaz and his failed drug test has to be bittersweet. On one hand, he now finds himself in the top three contenders in the welterweight division, but Ellenberger did not fight his way into the top three.
Diaz’s drug test has also affected the order of the title fights. Carlos Condit, the man who beat Diaz at UFC 143 and the last fighter Ellenberger lost to, holds the interim welterweight title. George St. Pierre is still injured, waiting to unify his title and Condit’s interim title.
Condit was poised to challenge Diaz in a rematch, but with Diaz’s hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Comission in April and a suspension likely to follow, it seems Condit is going to wait to challenge St. Pierre sometime in the late summer or early fall.
During the main event tonight, if Ellenberger continues his strong performances and is able to handle Diaz, it would seem he would have an inside track on the winner of the GSP/Condit bout.
My guess is that White pits Ellenberger in one final test against either Shields or Koscheck before the Condit/GSP clash. If he takes care of business tonight and in that fight, his shot at the champion should come sometime before 2012 ends.
(Remind me to ask Diego for a small loan during fight week.)
Love him or hate him, Diego Sanchez is an exciting fighter who brings it each and every time he’s in the cage. What is most polarizing about him is that most fans think that he’s a really strange dude. From his stevia experimentation,”Yes!” mantra, cartwheels and his denial that he may have lost a fight to his recent call-out of his teammate Carlos Condit, it’s an understatement to say that the TUF winner marches to the beat of a different drummer, but that’s part of his appeal.
(Remind me to ask Diego for a small loan during fight week.)
Love him or hate him, Diego Sanchez is an exciting fighter who brings it each and every time he’s in the cage. What is most polarizing about him is that most fans think that he’s a really strange dude. From his stevia experimentation,”Yes!” mantra, cartwheels and his denial that he may have lost a fight to his recent call-out of his teammate Carlos Condit, it’s an understatement to say that the TUF winner marches to the beat of a different drummer, but that’s part of his appeal.
Here we are in the second full week of February with yet another stacked free card on a Fox network. Fuel TV hosts its first-ever UFC fight and it promises to provide another night of great mixed martial arts bouts.
