The ninth season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ reality series featured lightweight and welterweight fighters and pitted ‘Team US’, lead by Dan Henderson, against Michael Bisping-coached ‘Team UK’. The talent on this season of the show was seemingly of a much lower level than many of the previous seasons; as a result, only four of the contestants who did not make it to the finals were invited back for the live finale. The featured bouts were the welterweight final between Damarques Johnson (US) and James Wilks (UK), and the lightweight final between Ross Pearson and Andre Winner (both UK). The card was headlined by a lightweight bout with title shot implications, as Diego Sanchez took on Clay Guida. Here’s how it all went down:

Joe Stevenson vs. Nate Diaz (155 lbs)

Round 1: Diaz looks to strike but Stevenson immediately gets a takedown and gets caught in a guillotine.  Stevenson escapes and stays on top.  Diaz tries to roll out and ends up with Stevenson taking his back and securing a crucifix position from the back mount.  Stevenson maintains dominant position as Diaz attempts to escape, and eventually locks on a very tight guillotine on Diaz.  Just as it looks like Diaz is about to go to sleep, he rolls over, slips his head out and stands up.  Stevenson instantly goes for another takedown;  Diaz escapes and the round ends in a clinch.   Round 10-9 Stevenson

Round 2: Stevenson again starts with a quick takedown and gets caught in a guillotine.  Diaz briefly gains dominant position but Stevenson sweeps and ends up on top again.  Diaz scrambles up and gets taken down again; Diaz attempts submissions off his back but nothing comes close.  Stevenson dominates the round with wrestling and control though not doing much damage.  Round 10-9 Stevenson

Round 3: Stevenson once again works for a takedown but Diaz is doing a better job of sprawling and staying on his feet.  Diaz throws Stevenson from clinch and briefly gains a dominant position.  Diaz attempts a guillotine as Stevenson scrambles up to his feet.  Diaz fends off more takedowns and peppers Stevenson with ineffective punches;  both men appear winded as the round draws to a close. Round 10-9 Diaz

Joe Stevenson wins an unanimous decision, 29-28 on all three scorecards

Fight Grade: 3/5

Aftermath: A much needed victory assures that Joe Stevenson’s spot in the UFC’s lightweight division is safe for the time being.   Nate Diaz loses his second close decision in a row; it looks like Nate is falling into the same conundrum that his brother Nick suffered from during his UFC tenure:  his style of fighting almost guarantees that he will lose a decision whenever he is not able to finish his opponent.

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UFC 99 was broadcast live from Cologne, Germany – marking the organization’s first foray into continental Europe.  UFC was not exactly welcomed with open arms, as the local legislators attempted to block the event, citing the brutality of the sport.  In the end their efforts were futile, and the event went on (as usual, there were several late substitutions due to injuries).  As it has been the case with most of UFC’s overseas cards, there were no title bouts in this event.  Instead, the headlining bout was a ‘super fight’ between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva at a catch weight of 195 lbs.  The fight card also featured a bout between top heavyweight contenders in Cheik Kongo and Cain Velasquez, as well as the UFC return on Caol Uno and Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic.

Marcus Davis vs. Dan Hardy (170 lbs)

Round 1: The fighters circle and exchange leg kicks, then Davis rushes in and clinches Hardy against the fence.   Not much action until Davis gets a takedown and quickly mounts Hardy.  Davis throws strikes, Hardy regains guard but ends up giving up his back as he tries to get back to the feet.   Hardy rocks Davis with an elbow and follows up with knees from clinch; Davis goes for another takedown as the round ends.  Round 10-9 Davis

Round 2: The round starts with a heated exchange, seemingly even until Hardy drops Davis with a knee.  Hardy jumps into Davis’ guard; Marcus regains his composure and nearly catches an armbar.  Hardy throws elbows from the top; Davis defends and the fighters are stood up by the ref.  The fighters exchange again, with both men connecting solid strikes.  Davis takes down Hardy and finishes the round with strikes from the top.  Round 10-9 Hardy

Round 3: The initial exchange ends with Davis landing a punch on an off-balance Hardy and knocking him down, though Hardy does not look hurt.  Davis attempts to work from Hardy’s guard then quickly transitions to a leg lock.  Hardy spins out and stands up, then gets a takedown of  his own and mauls Davis with elbows.  Davis is bleeding profusely and the referee stands them up to check the cut.  The fight is allowed to continue, and the action slows down until the ref calls for another stand up.  Davis’ has blood in his eyes and a huge mouse over the left one.  Davis finishes the round aggressive but loses based on damage taken.  Round 10-9 Hardy

Dan Hardy wins by split decision.

Fight Grade: 4/5

Aftermath: Hardy solidifies his position as a Top 10 welterweight.  Davis remains in a gatekeeper role – surely he will soon find another “grudge” to keep himself relevant in the division.  I would like to see Hardy and Davis face the winner and the loser of the Swick-Saunders bout, respectively.

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Over the weekend, MMA fans were treated to a double-header of exciting action, with the Strikeforce ‘Lawler vs. Shields’ broadcast on Showtime on Saturday, followed by WEC 41 shown on VS. channel on Sunday. With one event full of UFC veterans, and the other featuring some of the top featherweights in the world, I had high expectations going into the weekend. Needless to say, I was not disappointed!

Strikeforce ‘Lawler vs. Shields’

While there were no title belts on the line, or any bouts of major significance on this card, it was packed full of very familiar names and most fights had a promise of non-stop action – at least on paper.   In the main event and namesake of the card, the welterweight standout Jake Shields took a step up in weight to face Robbie Lawler at a catch weight of 182 lbs.  The commentary for this event was provided by a trio of Gus Johnson, Frank Shamrock, and Mauro Ranallo.  The televised broadcast began with a former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman taking on a one-time ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ participant Mike Whitehead.

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