Maximum Fighting Championships 30 – Unplugged 4: Up Close and Personal
June 10, 2011
Mayfield Inn Trade and Conference Centre,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Lightweight (155 lbs)

UFC veteran Brian Cobb (19 – 6 – 0) defeated fellow UFC vet Drew Fickett (41 – 14 – 0) by TKO due to punches at 4:44 of round 1.  Cobb, who is on a 4 fight win streak (3 by stoppage), bounds 9 spots up the ranks from [#18] to [#9].  Fickett, who was on a 5 fight win streak prior to this loss, drops 13 spots down the ranks from [#34] to [#47].

Welterweight (170 lbs)

In a rematch from UFC 69, Marcus Davis (19 – 9 – 0) defeated Pete Spratt (22 – 20 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Davis, who has won 2 decisions in a row since being released from the UFC, moves from [#54LW] into the welterweight “Top 500” at [#67].  Spratt, who is 1-3 in his last 4, drops 2 spots down the ranks from [#157] to [#159].

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Sheldon Wescott (5 – 1 – 1) defeated Thomas Denny (27 – 19 – 1) by unanimous decision.  Wescott, whose last fight was a draw with Thomas Denny, rockets 100 spots up the ranks from [#290] to [#190].  Denny, who is 1-3-1 in his last 5, plunges 105 spots down the ranks from [#295] to [#400].

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Dhiego Lima (6 – 0 – 0) defeated Jamie Toney (14 – 7 – 0) by KO due to punches at 2:47 of round 1.  Lima, who has finished all 6 of his opponents (4 by submission), surges 221 spots up the ranks from [#351] to [#130].  Toney, who had won 6 in a row (excluding 1 No Contest) prior to this bout, plummets 105 spots down the ranks from [#159] to [#307].
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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.
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Cage Fighting Championship 17
June 3, 2011
Southport Sharks Function Centre,
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

CFC Lightweight Title

Lightweight (155 lbs)

Bernardo Magalhaes (11 – 1 – 0) defeated Robert Lisita (5 – 3 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Magalhaes, who is on a 5 fight win streak, bounds 42 spots up the ranks from [#208] to [#166].  Previously ranked [#448WW] Lisita, who was on a 4 fight win streak prior to this loss, drops off the ranks.

Lightweight (155 lbs)

Adrian Pang (18 – 7 – 3) fought to a draw against Muhsin Corbbrey (9 – 6 – 1).  Pang, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this draw, drops 13 spots down the ranks from [#170] to [#183].  Corbbrey, who is 1-3-1 in his last 5, enters the lightweight “Top 500” at [#400].
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UFC – The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale
June 4, 2011
Palms Casino Resort,
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Final

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Tony Ferguson (11 – 2 – 0) defeated Ramsey Nijem (4 – 2 – 0) by KO due punches at 3:54 of round 1.  Ferguson, who is on a 4 fight win streak (all by (T)KO), jumps 17 spots up the ranks from [#114] to [#97].  Ferguson should face someone next who can test his ground acumen, and [#73] Carlos Eduardo Rocha would do that in spades.  Nijem, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this loss, moves from [#273LW] into the welterweight “Top 500” at [#397].  A bout with [#339] Ryan McGillivray or [#243] Justin Edwards would gauge who deserves another shot and who should probably be cut.

Lightweight (155 lbs)

Clay Guida (29 – 11 – 0) defeated  former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (13 – 2 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Guida, who is on a strong 4 fight win streak, moves 1 spot up the ranks from [#7] to [#6].  Guida stands on the precipice of a title shot, and should face the winner of [#7] Jim Miller vs. [#21] Ben Henderson to see who will earn the privilege.  Pettis, who was on a 4 fight win streak prior to this loss, moves 4 spots down from [#16] to [#20].  Should [#23] Donald Cerrone defeat [#571] Vagner Rocha, Pettis and Cerrone should face each other in what would be a guaranteed action bout.

Middleweight (185 lbs)

“Ultimate Fighter season 3” finalist Ed Herman (22 – 9 – 0) defeated “Ultimate Fighter season 7” alum Tim Credeur (12 – 4 – 0) by TKO due to punches at 0:48 of round 1.  Herman, who had not fought in nearly 2 years, enters the middleweight “Top 350” at [#55].  A bout between Herman and [#33] Tim Boetsch would send the winner upward towards the top tier of the middleweight division.  Another route that could be taken would pit Herman against [#52] Kendall Grove in a rematch from the “Ultimate Fighter 3” Finale back in June of 2006.  Both fighters are in a different spot than they were at that time, and it would be interesting to see if the bout played out the same way.  Credeur, who had not fought in nearly 2 years as well (0-2 in his last 2), enters the middleweight “Top 350” at [#186].  He could face the loser of the upcoming match between [#40] Aaron Simpson and [#190] Brad Tavares.

Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)

“Ultimate Fighter season 8” alumnus Kyle Kingsbury (11 – 2 – 0) defeated Fabio Maldonado (18 – 4 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Kingsbury, who is on a 4 fight win streak, moves 8 spots up the ranks from [#44] to [#36].  He should look to face the winner of [#48] Krzysztof Soszynski vs. [#125MW] Mike Massenzio, which will take place this saturday at UFC 131.  If Soszynski wins, it would create an “Ultimate Fighter season 8” rematch.  Kingsbury is greatly improved from when he was on the show, and could prove the foil to Soszynski this time around.  Maldonado, who was on an 11 fight win streak prior to this loss, moves 8 spots down from [#51] to [#59].  He should face [#29] Brandon Vera, who was brought back into the UFC after his loss to [#13] Thiago Silva was ruled a “No Contest.”  One more loss for Vera would surely send him packing this time.

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Chris Cope (5 – 1 – 0) defeated Chuck O’Neil (8 – 4 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Cope, who has won 2 in a row, rockets 179 spots up the ranks from [#440] to [#261].  Cope could face fellow victor and “Ultimate Fighter 13” participant [#240] Clay Harvison next.   Previously ranked [#298] O’Neil, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this loss, drops off the rankings.  O’Neil could face either [#339] Ryan McGillivray or [#243] Justin Edwards, if any of these 3 stick around.

Preliminary Bouts

Lightweight (155 lbs)

Jeremy Stephens  (20 – 6 – 0) defeated Daniel Downes (8 – 2 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Stephens, who is 4-1 in his last 5, moves 6 spots up the ranks from [#25] to [#19].  He should face [#16] Yves Edwards, should he get past [#44] Sam Stout this Saturday at UFC 131.  Stephens vs. [#17] Sean Sherk would also be a worthwhile match to make.   Downes, who is 2-2 in his last 4, moves 4 spots up from [#150] to [#146].  He should face the loser of [#61] Joe Lauzon vs. [#132] Curt Warburton next.

Featherweight (145 lbs)

George Roop  (12 – 7 – 1) defeated Josh Grispi (14 – 3 – 0) by KO due to a punch to the body at 3:14 of round 3.  Roop, who is 2-2-1 in his last 5, bounds 32 spots up the ranks from [#57] to [#25].  It would be interesting to see a battle of 2 of the tallest bantamweights in the UFC between Roop and [#41] Pablo Garza next.  Grispi, whose considerable hype has been derailed by back to back losses, drops 18 spots from [#26] to [#44].  His next fight is an absolute must win if he is to salvage any of the momentum he had built up.  He should look to face someone like [#38] Raphael Assuncao in his next bout.

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Shamar Bailey  (12 – 3 – 0) defeated Ryan McGillivray (11 – 5 – 1) by unanimous decision.  Bailey, who broke a 2 fight losing streak with this bout, flies 173 spots up the ranks from [#377] to [#204].  McGilivray, who was 3-0-1 in his last 4 prior to this loss (all by submission), plummets 123 spots from [#216] to [#339].

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Clay Harvison  (7 – 1 – 0) defeated Justin Edwards (6 – 1 – 0) by split decision.  Harvison, who is on a 3 fight win streak, jets 110 spots up the ranks from [#350] to [#240].  Edwards, who has won 4 of his 6 victories via guillotine choke, plunges 60 spots from [#183] to [#243].

Bantamweight (135 lbs)

Scott Jorgensen (12 – 4 – 0) defeated Ken Stone (9 – 3 – 0) by KO due to punches at 4:01 of round 1.  Jorgensen, who is 6-1 in his last 7, moves 1 spot up the ranks from [#11] to [#10].  Stone, who is 1-3 in his last 4, moves up 2 spots from [#140] to [#138].

Bantamweight (135 lbs)

Reuben Duran (8 – 3 – 1) defeated Francisco Rivera (5 – 2 – 0) by submission due to rear naked choke at 1:57 of round 3.  Duran, who is 5-1 in his last 6, moves 11 spot up the ranks from [#53] to [#42].  Rivera, who is on a 2 fight losing streak, remains unranked.