Sanchez wins lightweight debut
Diego Sanchez showed no wear from his drastic weight cut and immediately established himself as a threat in the lightweight division. Sanchez outworked Joe Stevenson through three rounds for the unanimous nod. Sanchez was so happy with his performance that he said he will remain as lightweight until later in his career.
Hardy knocks out Markham in 69 seconds
Dan Hardy gave Rory Markham a taste of his own medicine with a highlight reel knockout in their welterweight bout at 69 seconds of the first round. Hardy crumbled Markham with a left hook counter to a Markham right hand. Coming into the fight Markham commented that Hardy lacks punching power and Hardy was intent on proving Markham wrong.
Marquardt lights up Gouveia
Boring no more. In the third round, Nate Marquardt stumbled Wilson Gouveia with a flying knee and then set off headkicks, a spinning backfist, a punch and a knee to put Gouveia away at 3:10.
Maia submits Sonnen
Who is the best submission artist in the UFC if not all of MMA? Simply put: Demian Maia. The Brazilian improved to 5-0 in the Octagon by tossing wrestler Chael Sonnen into a triangle choke for the win at 2:37 of the first round. More impressively, all five of Maia's UFC wins have come via submission.
Thiago upsets Koscheck
Signed to only a one-fight contract, little-known Paulo Thiago was brought in to keep Josh Koscheck busy. Thiago overcame the odds and dropped Koscheck with an uppercut and left hook. The referee stepped in between the fighters to award Thiago the win at 3:29.
Etim snaps Cobb's nine-fight win streak
UK's Cage Gladiators champion Terry Etim (12-2) connected on a left high kick to head of Brian Cobb (15-5), crumbling the Palace Fighting Championship lightweight champion and setting himself up with punches on the ground for the referee stoppage win. Etim improves to 3-2 in the UFC with his 10-second victory in the second round. Cobb, who took the fight on one week's notice, entered his UFC debut undefeated in his previous nine bouts.
Dos Santos goes 2-0 in the UFC
Junior "Cigaro" Dos Santos (8-1) needed even less time to win via TKO in his second Octagon appearance. Dos Santos dropped the six-foot-eleven Stefan Struve with a flurry of punches for the victory 54 seconds into the opening frame. In Dos Santos' previous bout, he rocketed up the heavyweight rankings with an upset 81-second win over Fabricio Werdum.
Dunham remains undefeated in UFC debut
Evan Dunham (8-0) of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas dropped Per Eklund (14-4-1) of Stockton, Sweden in a lightweight contest between grappling-based fighters. The BJJ brown belt Dunham dropped purple belt Eklund with a left hook and finished with punches for the referee stoppage at 2 minutes and 13 seconds of the first round.
Ciesnolevicz wins UFC debut
Former IFL Quad Cities Silverback member Mike Ciesnolevicz (17-3) won his UFC debut in 63 seconds with a heel hook over former Cage Rage champion Neil Grove (7-2). Ciesnolevicz, who accepted this heavyweight fight as a replacement for Justin McCully, would prefer to return to light-heavyweight for his next UFC fight but said he would fight as a heavyweight if that's what the UFC wants.
Kelly outpoints Mandaloniz
In the opening fight of the night, British welterweight Paul Kelly (8-1) defeated "The Ultimate Fighter 6" cast member Troy Mandaloniz (3-2) via unanimous decision. Kelly, who trains out of the Wolfslair Academy, was awarded scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-28.
RESULTS:
1. Paul Kelly (169) def. Troy Mandaloniz (168) via unanimous decision
2. Mike Ciesnolevicz (235) def. Neil Grove (263) via sub (heel hook) - R1 (1:03)
3. Evan Dunham (154) def. Per Eklund (155) via TKO (punches) - R1 (2:13)
4. Junior Dos Santos (237) def. Stefan Struve (240) via TKO (punches) - R1 (0:54)
5. Terry Etim (156) def. Brian Cobb (155) via TKO (punches) - R2 (0:10)
6. Paulo Thiago (169) def. Josh Koscheck (170) via TKO (punches) - R1 (3:29(
7. Demian Maia (184) def. Chael Sonnen (185) via sub (triangle choke) - R1 (2:37)
8. Nate Marquardt (185) def. Wilson Gouveia (185) via TKO (strikes) - R3 (3:10)
9. Dan Hardy (170) def. Rory Markham (170) via KO (left hook) - R1 (1:09)
10. Diego Sanchez (156) def. Joe Stevenson (155) via unanimous decision
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