UFC on FUEL Play-By-Play

This is the UFC on FUEL live blog for Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez, the main event of tonight's UFC card from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha.

Ellenberger (26-5) has won five in a row in the UFC and won the biggest fight of his career last September, stopping Jake Shields in 53 seconds. In his last two fights, Sanchez (23-4) recorded wins by decision against Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann in "Fight of the Nights."

The live blog begins below.

Round 1: Ellenberger throwing fire early, nothing but power strikes. Sanchez respects it, as his usual breakneck pace is nowhere to be seen. Sanchez comes forward with a 1-2 combo. Ellenberger with a body kick as Sanchez looks for an opening. A pawing right by Sanchez grazes its target. Ellenberger lands a knee. Sanchez checks for blood but he's OK. Ellenberger with a left hook. Ellenberger initiates the clinch, lands a knee to the body. He looks for a takedown but is denied. The two exchange punches and back away. Ellenberger drops Sanchez with a counter right hand. Sanchez closes the distance. Ellenberger breaks free. He buckles Sanchez with a right on the jaw in the final seconds. It's 10-9 for Ellenberger.

Round 2: Sanchez misses with a spinning kick. Ellenberger with a head kick. Sanchez partially deflects it. Ellenberger briefly switches stance and lands a straight left. Sanchez starting to show some frustration as each time he moves forward, he misses and Ellenberger is in perfect position to fire back something with evil intentions. Sanchez clips Ellenberger with a right hook with 2 minutes left, maybe his best punch of the fight. Ellenberger ducks under a Sanchez hook and takes him down. Huge elbows from Ellenberger late in the round as he looks for the finish. Sanchez's face is bloodied and bruised but he makes it to the horn. Ellenberger 10-9.

Round 3: Ellenberger snaps Sanchez's head back with a left jab. He staggers Sanchez again. Sanchez comes forward and lands a hook. Ellenberger goes low threatening with a takedown but lets it go and instead fires a knee to the body. Sanchez lands a left hand and Ellenberger's bloodied now. Sanchez suddenly starting to find his range, but Ellenberger takes him down. Sanchez reverses and ends up on Ellenberger's back. Sanchez bursts with energy trying for the finish. He's throwing everything he can. Ellenberger escapes in the final moments and the two trade shots to close the round. A great comeback try for Sanchez but he'd need a 10-8 to win and it's probably only deserving of a 10-9.

Winner: Jake Ellenberger via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

This is the UFC on FUEL live blog for Dave Herman vs. Stefan Struve, a heavyweight bout on tonight's UFC card from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha.

Herman (21-2) won his UFC debut at UFC 131 in June, stopping John-Olav Einemo in the second round. Struve (22-5) is coming off a win over Pat Barry at UFC on Versus 6 in October.
The live blog begins below.

Round 1: Slow start early as both measure distance. Struve fires a head kick that misses its target. Herman jumps into a knee that backs Struve against the cage. Struve grabs his leg and thinks about a takedown but lets it go. Herman is the aggressor early coming forward although the pace hasn't picked up much. Struve scores with a right hand. Herman switching stances occasionally, keeping Struve guessing. Herman thuds a right hand off Struve's chin in the closing seconds. A close round, but Herman takes it 10-9.

Round 2: Struve with an early leg kick. Struve with a bodylock and takes Herman down, straight into mount. Herman gives up his back but then snakes free. They're back to their feet. Struve with a body kick that reverberated through the arena. Herman fires back an uppercut/hook combo. He's been the more creative striker of the two. Struve hurt Herman with a pair of rights near the cage. Herman's cut under the left eye now. The momentum has shifted. Struve drops Herman with a leg kick/right uppercut combo. Struve quickly moves to mount and pours it on with strikes. Herman is warned to fight back but can't escape and simply covers up until ref Josh Rosenthal stops it.

Winner: Stefan Struve via TKO, Rd. 2 (3:52)

This is the UFC on FUEL live blog for Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes, the main event of tonight's UFC card from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha.

Simpson (11-2) won all three of his fights in 2011, defeating Mario Miranda, Brad Tavares and Eric Schafer. Markes (12-1) won his UFC debut last August by outpointing Karlos Vemola.

The live blog begins below.

Round 1: Markes staggers Simpson quickly with a left hook, and goes low for his legs. Simpson stops the takedown try as they clinch against the fence. They stalemate and get reset. Markes lands a pair of leg kicks as the two measure each other offensively. Markes lands a long right hand out of a combination. Simpson lands a harder punch, an uppercut and Markes goes down. Simpson swarms with strikes from the top. Markes takes a beating but hangs in. Simpson stands over him and throws strikes, but Markes creates enough space to stop the worst strikes from landing. Simpson lets Markes up, and Markes fires off and they exchange. Simpson gets the better of that as well, and takes the round 10-9.

Round 2: Simpson drills Markes out of the break. Despite a size advantage, Markes seems to be at a disadvantage when it comes to pure power. They clinch but neither can take control of the position. Back to the center, and another clinch ensues. Markes with elbows from there. Markes surprisingly takes Simpson down. Markes with punches from the top. Simpson gets back to his feet but Markes works a few knees from the clinch as the round ends. Markes may have stolen the round with his groundwork, 10-9.

Round 3: Fight could be up for grabs here in the final round. Markes still working the legs with kicks, and Simpson has a nice red welt on his left leg as proof. A grueling clinch against the fence as we near the midway point. Markes moving forward now and initiates another clinch against the fence. Foot stomps and knees to the thigh from Markes for a few seconds until the ref breaks them up. Simpson comes out firing and Markes counters with a knee. Simpson tries a takedown, but it's stuffed. Simpson slipped on a right hand and ended up on the ground. He got up but Markes was on his back and took him down with :25 left. Markes didn't do much with the position but might have snuck out the round again. 10-9 Markes.

Winner: Ronny Markes via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

This is the UFC on FUEL live blog for Stipe Miocic vs. Philip De Fries, a heavyweight bout on tonight's UFC card from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha.

Miocic (7-0) won his UFC debut last October, outpointing Joey Beltran after three rounds. De Fries (8-0) is also coming off a successful UFC debut, having defeated Rob Broughton at UFC 138 last November.

The live blog begins below.

Round 1: De Fries fakes an early takedown, lands a right hand behind it. Miocic was believed to be the better striker. Miocic seems as though that angered him, and he drills De Fries with a right hand. De Fries crashes down near the fence and Miocic adds some ground strikes for the quick finish.

Winner: Stipe Miocic via TKO, Rd. 1 (0:43)

This is the UFC on FUEL live blog for T.J. Dillashaw vs. Walel Watson, a bantamweight bout on tonight's UFC card from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha.

Dillashaw lost to John Dodson by TKO last December in the finals of the TUF 14 135-pound finals. In his two UFC appearances, Watson (9-3) defeated Joseph Sandoval by TKO and then lost a split decision to Yves Jabouin.

The live blog begins below.

Round 1: Dillashaw opens with a Superman punch. He misses but transitions right into a takedown try. It's a struggle but Dillashaw eventually takes him down, ending in Watson's guard. Watson tried to work free but Dillashaw ended up taking his back. Dillashaw tried a rear naked choke. Watson defended and Dillashaw ended up in half-guard. Dillashaw tried it again to no avail. Dillashaw ended in full mount with 1:30 left. Dillashaw peppered in some punches from the top but was basically hunting for the choke. Watson did some good work avoiding the finish but started taking some heavy strikes from the top as the round ended. A dominant 10-8 for Dillashaw.

Round 2: Big right hand for Dillashaw to open the round. Watson ate it and urged him on. Dillashaw accepted the invitation and tripped Watson down. From half-guard, Dillashaw threw a steady diet of elbows. Dillashaw is stifling Watson from the top while staying aggressive with power punches. Dillashaw earned mount again midway through the round. Dillashaw just teed off from the top. Watson showing extreme toughness, snaking out of another submission attempt and taking the punishment, but he can't get to his feet. A flurry of strikes from Dillashaw as he tries to finish but Watson escapes the round again, although it's another dominant 10-8.

Round 3: Watson comes out with a jumping kick that misses. He looks relatively fresh after a pair of one-sided rounds. Dillashaw lands a straight right hand. Dillashaw shoots in, Watson looks for a guillotine and in the process, Dillashaw takes him down once again. This time, Watson gets back up quickly. Dillashaw goes for a takedown, Watson jumps into a triangle. Dillashaw's in some danger but Watson can't secure Dillashaw's head. Watson now to a heel hook. Dillashaw's out of it. Game performance from Watson. Dillashaw to his back one more time. Watson defends. Dillashaw throws blows to the end. 10-9 Dillashaw.

Winner: T.J. Dillashaw via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)

This is the UFC on FUEL live blog for John Albert vs. Ivan Menjivar, a bantamweight bout on tonight's UFC card from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha.

Albert (7-1) won his UFC debut in December against Dustin Pague by TKO. Menjivar (23-8) is 2-0 in the UFC, beating Charlie Valencia and Nick Pace last year.

The live blog begins below.

Round 1: Menjivar opens with a wild overhand that's blocked. Albert walks forward with a tight right hand. The bantamweights throwing power strikes early. Menjivar tries a spinning backfist. He misses but Menjivar takes him down. Albert goes for an oma plata from the bottom. Menjivar works free and throws elbows and hammerfists from the top. Albert stays active from the bottom and throws up a triangle. No problem for Menjivar, who tries a leg lock. Albert works free and they return to their feet. Albert stuns Menjivar with a knee. He wails away with a series of strikes. He looks as if he's about to finish, dropping Menjivar to a knee twice, but Menjivar survives. Moments later, Menjivar takes Albert's back and sinks in a rear naked choke. It's deep, and Albert taps. A wild momentum shift as Menjivar snatches victory from the jaws of defeat.

Winner: Ivan Menjivar via rear naked choke, Rd. 1 (3:45)