This is the UFC 152 live blog for Matt Hamill vs. Roger Hollett, a light heavyweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Hamill, who retired in Aug. 2011 shortly after his loss at UFC 133, will face Hollett, who will be making his UFC debut, on the main card.
Check out the live blog below.
Round 1: Tentative opening minute, with both guys flicking jabs. Hollett connects on an overhand right. A similar second minute, with Hamill missing with an attempt at a big uppercut. Midway through, still no attempts to take the fight to the ground. Hamill finally goes for a takedown, grabs a leg, and takes him down. Hamill raining down left hands to the side of Hollett's head as Hollett covers up. One minute left. Hamill continuing to pepper Hollett with left hands. Hollett not doing much besides covering up. Hollett finally gets up in the closing seconds and tage Hamill, opening a cut under his left eye. MMAFighting scores the round for Matt Hamill, 10-9.
Round 2: Hollett tags Hamill with a left and goes for a spinning back kick which doesn't connect. Hollett sprawls a Hamill takedown attempt. Hamill shoots the double and gets the takedown about 90 seconds into the round. Joe Rogan's talking about bringing headbutts back into MMA, which should give you an indication how little Hamill is accomplishing on the ground. They're back to their feet. Midway through the round. Hollett throwing occasional kicks. Hamill's left arm looks spent after the first-round barrage. Hamill scores a late takedown. MMAFighting scores the round for Matt Hamill, 10-9 (20-18 overall).
Round 3: Hamill shoots for a takedown in the opening minute and gets it. Hollett's ground defense basically consists of getting on his hands and knees and covering up. Hamill grinds away, mostly throwing right hands. Hollett tries to get out, but Hamill ends up in his half-guard. Hollett gets back to his feet with 2:15 left and lands a right to the body. But Hamill immediately takes him down again. Dan Miragliota stands them up with about a minute left. Hamill scores his sixth takedown of the fight, where the bout ends. MMAFighting scores the round for Matt Hamill, 10-9 (30-27 overall).
Matt Hamill def. Roger Hollett via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).