UFC 131 – Dos Santos vs. Carwin
June 11, 2011
Rogers Arena,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Junior Dos Santos (13 – 1 – 0) defeated Shane Carwin (12 – 2 – 0) by unanimous decision. Dos Santos battered his opponent for the better part of 3 rounds, but Carwin showed tremendous heart by battling on and never quitting. By the end of the fight, Carwin’s face was covered with a crimson sheen of blood and his nose was broken. Dos Santos, who is on an 8 fight win streak (6 by stoppage), holds his rank at [#4]. He will face champion [#1] Cain Velasquez for the heavyweight title. Carwin, who has lost 2 in a row, drops 1 spot down the ranks from [#6] to [#7]. Carwin needs to win his next bout to stay relevant at the top of the heavyweight division, and should look to face either a hard nosed up and comer like the iron jawed [#15] Mike Russow or the winner of the [#16] Cheick Kongo vs. [#43] Pat Barry fight at UFC live 4 on June 26th.
Featherweight (145 lbs)
Kenny Florian (14 – 5 – 0) made a successful transition to 145 lbs and defeated Diego Nunes (16 – 2 – 0) by unanimous decision. Nunes came out strong in the 1st, dropping Florian in the closing seconds of the 1st round. Florian controlled much of the next two rounds, using his range and size to punish Nunes on the feet and on the floor. Nunes, who looked very fatigued by the end of the 2nd round, stunned Florian again at the close of the 3rd round. It was too little, too late in the eyes of the judges. Florian, who is 3-2 in his last 5 (all at 155 lbs), moves from [#8LW] into the featherweight “Top 250” at [#2]. Dana White has said that Florian will most likely be the next opponent for featherweight champion [#1] Jose Aldo. Nunes, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this loss, drops 2 spots down the ranks from [#12] to [#14]. Despite the loss, Nunes is still a promising prospect who should look to face another game opponent in [#13] Mark Hominick which would surely produce fireworks on the feet.
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Mark Munoz (11 – 2 – 0) defeated Demian Maia (14 – 3 – 0) by unanimous decision. This closely contested match showed much improved stand up from Maia and vicious ground and pound from Munoz. Maia wobbled Munoz in the 1st with a left behind the ear, but Munoz gained control in the 2nd with combinations on the feet and ground and pound. The 3rd was very close, but the judges had it for Munoz in the end. Munoz, who is 6-2 in the UFC (and on a 3 fight win streak), jumps 10 spots up the ranks from [#18] and into the Top Ten at [#8]. He should look to face [#6] Brian Stann (also on a 3 fight win streak), who laid waste to [#11] Jorge Santiago two weeks ago at UFC 130. Maia, who is 3-3 in his last 6 (never losing 2 in a row), drops 4 spots down the ranks from [#8] to [#12]. Maia will be looking to get back on the winning track, and he could face [#11] Jorge Santiago to try and accomplish this feat.
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Dave Herman (21 – 2 – 0) defeated Jon Olav Einemo (6 – 2 – 0) by TKO due to punches at 3:19 of round 2. Herman and Einemo threw caution to the wind in this wild affair that earned both fighters “Fight of the Night” honors as well as a cool 70K each. Herman incurred damage on the feet in the 1st round while using knees to the head from the clinch to answer his Norwegian foe. The 2nd round was action packed, with Herman taking a stunning knee to the face from Einemo only to answer with a knee and a left hook of his own that sent Einemo to the mat. Shortly after action returned to the feet, Herman TKOed his man. Herman, who is on a 3 fight win streak (6-1 in his last 7), holds his rank at [#23]. Herman should face [#22] Travis Browne next to see which man will come closer to the top tier of the division. Einemo, who had not fought since late 2006, remains unranked. Einemo looked like he had many weapons in his arsenal despite losing tonight. Battles with [#49] Stefan Struve or [#55] Rob Brougton would be perfect for a European UFC card.
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Donald Cerrone (15 – 3 – 0) defeated Vagner Rocha (6 – 2 – 0) by unanimous decision. Cerrone used low kicks to nearly cripple Rocha (who was a late replacement for [#30] Mac Danzig), who could offer nothing more than errant right hands and failed takedown attempts. By the end of the fight, Rocha could barely put weight on his left leg without wincing. Cerrone, who is on a 4 fight win streak, moves up 1 spot from [#22] to [#21]. A bout next with [#18] Jeremy Stephens would most likely be a barn-burner. Rocha, who is 1-2 in his last 3, drops 1 spot down the ranks from [#417] to [#418]. If Rocha stays around (which he may based on the fact that UFC praises late replacements) he could face fellow jiu jitsu ace [#398] Kyle Watson on a “Fight Night” undercard.
SPIKE TV Preliminary Bouts
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Sam Stout (17 – 6 – 1) defeated Yves Edwards (40 – 17 – 1) by KO due to a punch at 3:52 of round 1. Stout waded through Edwards’ punches and landed a counter left hook that left his opponent out cold on the mat. Edwards did not regain consciousness for a couple of minutes following the brutal KO. Stout, who is 4-1 in his last 5, jets 30 spots up the ranks from [#44] to [#14]. [#16] Gleison Tibau would pose a poor style match up for Stout in his next bout, while a fight with [#21] Donald Cerrone would produce a stand up war. Edwards, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this loss, drops 19 spots down the ranks from [#16] to [#35]. Edwards could face [#30] Mac Danzig in his next fight, which would test the fighters on the ground and the feet.
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Chris Weidman (6 – 0 – 0) defeated Jesse Bongfeldt (40 – 17 – 1) by submission due to guillotine choke at 4:54 of round 1. Weidman scored the early takedown and tried to secure a kimura from side control. Bongfeldt returned to his feet following scramble and went for a takedown of his own off a knee to the body from Weidman. Weidman applied a textbook guilltone choke and forced the submission seconds before the end of the round. Weidman, who has finished in 4 of his 6 fights, moves 1 spot up the ranks from [#22] to [#21]. Weidman could face fellow winner on the card [#26] Nick Ring for his next test. Bongfeldt, who was on a 7 fight win streak prior to going 0-1-1 in his last 2 (both inside the UFC), drops 10 spots down the ranks from [#104] to [#114]. Bongfeldt needs to procure his first win in the UFC if he wishes to stick around, so a match with fellow loser on the night [#87] James Head could be appropriate.
Facebook Preliminary Bouts
Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
Krzysztof Soszynski (26 – 11 – 1) defeated Mike Massenzio (12 – 5 – 0) by unanimous decision. Massenzio took the fight on 6 days notice when [#72] Igor Pokrajac dropped out due to injury. Pokrajac was a replacement himself for [#118] Anthony Perosh when he withdrew due to injury. Massenzio, a natural middleweight, was just too small to use his wrestling to his advantage. Soszynski used his size to flatten Massenzio and attack with ground and pound. Soszynski, who has back to back decision wins (3-2 in his last 5), moves 5 spots up the ranks from [#48] to [#43]. An “Ultimate Fighter Season 8” rematch between Soszynski and [#36] Kyle Kingsbury would be an interesting test for both men to see how far they’ve come since their first encounter on the show. Massenzio, who is 1-3 in his last 4, moves from [#127MW] into the light heavyweight “Top 250” at [#106]. Massenzio took the fight on short notice to get in the good graces of Dana White and Zuffa management, but he does not belong at light heavyweight. Matches with [#114MW] Jesse Bongfeldt or [#87MW] James Head would help show who belongs in the UFC among them.
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Nick Ring (12 – 0 – 0) defeated James Head (7 – 2 – 0) by submission due to a rear-naked choke at 3:33 of round 3. The 1st round belonged to Head who staggered Ring with a right and landed a head kick, but the fight turned in Ring’s favor in the 2nd frame who dominated with ground and pound. By the 3rd, Head was fatigued and covered in blood from a gash on his nose. Ring took the opportunity to take his opponent down, gain back control and sink in the choke. Ring, who is now 2-0 in the UFC, moves 5 spots up the ranks from [#31] to [#26]. Ring should look to take a step up and face another hot prospect in [#21] Chris Weidman for his next bout. Head, who had back to back wind prior to this loss (2-2 in his last 4), falls 17 spots down the ranks from [#70] to [#87]. Head will need to win his next bout in the UFC if he wants to stick around, and he could look to accomplish that in a bout against [#114] Jesse Bongfeldt.
Featherweight (145 lbs)
Dustin Poirier (10 – 1 – 0) defeated Jason Young (8 – 4 – 0) by unanimous decision. Young got the better of some exchanges, but also got caught with some big shots from Poirier. Poirier survived a formidable leg kick attack from Young and used his wrestling to take down his stand up based foe. Poirier, who is on a 3 fight win streak, moves 3 spots up the ranks from [#20] to [#17]. A battle with [#26] George Roop would surely be a thrilling affair. Young, who had back to back wind prior to this loss (2-2 in his last 4), moves from [#123LW] into the featherweight “Top 250” at [#51]. Young does not want to be 0-2 in the UFC, so he will need a win in his next bout. Put him against guys who are also in desperate need of wins in either [#27] Michihiro Omigawa or [#45] Josh Grispi (both whom have lost their last 2 bouts) to help thin out the division a little.
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Joey Beltran (13 – 5 – 0) defeated Aaron Rosa (17 – 4 – 0) by TKO due to punches at 1:26 of round 3. This bout exhibited wild punching exchanges and heavyweight brawling at it’s finest. Beltran was able to wade through the shots of Rosa and land often on his larger foe. The fight came to an end after Beltran took Rosa down following a well delivered knee to the head and punches. The ref was forced to step in and stop the brutal ground and pound of Beltran. Beltran, who stopped a 2 fight skid following this win, bounds 36 spots up the ranks from [#65] to [#29]. Beltran should next take on [#25] Roy Nelson in what could be a stand up war. Rosa, who was on a 4 fight win streak prior to this loss, drops 16 spots from [#28] to [#44]. Rosa vs. [#49] Stefan Struve would be an interesting battle that would indicate whether Rosa belongs in the UFC.
Featherweight (145 lbs)
Darren Elkins (12 – 2 – 0) defeated Michihiro Omigawa (12 – 10 – 1) by unanimous decision. This bout was back and forth, with Elkins stunning Omigawa and Omigawa bloodying Elkins with cleaner strikes in the 1st. Despite a takedown at the end of the 3rd, the decision went the way of Elkins. Elkins, who is 4-1 in his last 5, moves from [#213LW] into the featherweight “Top 250” at [#22]. Elkins should face [#17] Dustin Poirier as both men climb the divisional ladder. Omigawa, who was on a 5 fight win streak prior to suffering 2 consecutive losses in the UFC, drops 9 spots from [#18] to [#27]. Omigawa should look to face [#45] Josh Grispi in a bout which most likely would be a pink slip for the loser.