By Michael David Smith
- Lead Blogger
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Carlos Condit won a stunning comeback victory over
Rory MacDonald Saturday at
UFC 115, getting beaten through the first and second rounds only to brutalize MacDonald in the third and win by technical knockout with just seven seconds left in the fight.
It was clear from the get-go that MacDonald wanted to get to the ground: He caught a Condit kick and put him on his back just seconds into the first round, and after Condit got back up MacDonald immediately started working for another takedown. Condit got up again, but just after the midway point of the first round MacDonald put Condit on his back for the third time. MacDonald ended the first round with one more takedown, and the fans in Vancouver were cheering for the local favorite.
In the second round Condit tried to regroup and get more creative, throwing spinning back fists and spinning crescent kicks, but MacDonald looked more composed and was connecting with the cleaner, more effective strikes. At the end of the second round MacDonald landed a front kick that knocked Condit flat on his butt.
But in the third round Condit exploded, knocking MacDonald down, landing a series of strikes on the ground and badly bloodying MacDonald's face. Condit, the former World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight champion, simply pulverized MacDonald throughout the round, and the referee finally decided to step in and stop it just before the end of the round.
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The referee's stoppage will be considered somewhat controversial, as MacDonald could have held on for seven more seconds -- and might have won a decision if he had. But Condit was simply dominating the fight, and he earned the hard-fought victory he had.
MacDonald is only 20 years old and came into this fight with a 10-0 record. He left with a 10-1 record and a badly bruised, bloodied, swollen mess of a face. Let's hope this fight didn't discourage him, because he's a promising prospect -- but just not as good a fighter as Condit. At least not in the third round on Saturday night.
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UFC 115 Fight Night Photos
Chuck Liddell knocked out at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Esther Lin for FanHouse
Esther Lin for FanHouse
UFC 115 Photos
Chuck Liddell walks out for his fight against Rich Franklin at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Chuck Liddell walks out for his fight against Rich Franklin at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Rich Franklin is ready to go at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Rich Franklin punches Chuck Liddell at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Chuck Liddell charges at Rich Franklin at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Chuck Liddell knocked out at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Chuck Liddell knocked out at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Rich Franklin kicks Chuck Liddell at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Mirko Cro Cop punches Pat Barry at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Mirko Cro Cop blocks a kick from Pat Barry at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
UFC 115 Photos
Read More: ufc 115, news, Carlos Condit (MMA), Rory MacDonald (MMA)
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