Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Ryder Hesjedal Wins Giro d'Italia

UFC 137 Live Blog: Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop Updates

Hatsu Hioki faces George Roop at UFC 137.LAS VEGAS -- This is the UFC 137 live blog for Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop, a featherweight bout on tonight's UFC pay-per-view card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Hioki (24-4-2) makes his UFC debut after an impressive career in Japan where he captured the Shooto and Sengoku titles. In his last fight, Roop (12-7-1) stopped Josh Grispi with a punch to the body.

The live blog is below.
More Coverage: UFC 137 Results | Latest UFC 137 News


Round 1: Roop lands an early right hand as Hioki pulls back a kick. Hioki looks quite confident in the standup, matching Roop, though he does seem to leave his chin high often. Hioki initiates a clinch with 3:00 left. Hioki is working hard for the takedown but Roop is defending well. They keep exchanging positions against the fence. Hard, grinding work with little payoff. Hioki nearly got his back but Roop shucked him off. Hioki finally got the takedown with a minute left and moved to side control. Roop scrambled to regain guard, then made it back to his feet. Hioki shot in for another takedown but Roop held him off as the horn sounded. A close round goes to Hioki 10-9.

Round 2: Hioki with a right cross, causing Roop to fire back a head kick. Roop with a body punch, mixing up his offense well. Head kick by Roop grazes its target. Hioki stepped under a punch, got the body lock and tripped Roop down, moving straight into side control with over three minutes left. Hioki stepped over into full mount moments later. Hioki occasionally threw punches but spent more time looking for submissions, including the top-side triangle. Roop exploded free near the final horn and threw his hands in the air, imploring Hioki to fight. Roop threw a series of head kicks, none of which landed, as Hioki smiled at him. Hioki 10-9.

Round 3: Roop with an early takedown but Hioki got back to his feet in a flash. Hioki lands a right hand. Hioki tries a takedown but Roop sprawls. Roop then looks for a takedown and Hioki puts him against the fence. They work that position, with Roop throwing the occasional knee. Ref Josh Rosenthal separates them with 2:00 left. Roop shoots a takedown and puts Hioki against the cage. Hioki looked for the triangle but Roop pulled free. Hioki tied him up so he couldn't do much, but Roop took the round 10-9.

Winner: Hatsu Hioki via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)


.fanhouseButton {margin:2em 0;} .fanhouseButton a:link, .fanhouseButton a:visited, .fanhouseButton a:hover, .fanhouseButton a:active {background-color:#dd2829;color:#FFFFFF;font-size:18px;padding:0.3em 0.6em;text-decoration:none;} .fanhouseButton a:hover {background-color:#000000;}

Do you like this post?

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Does UFC 146's Success Signal a New Era for MMA's Heavyweights?

UFC

Drug Testing, Alistair Overeem And UFC 146's Potential Legacy

MMA Fighting

Cain Velasquez Won't Be Happy Until The Belt Is Around His Waist