SEATTLE, Wash. -- This is the UFC Fight Night 24 live blog for Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson, a welterweight bout on tonight's UFC on Spike TV event at the Key Arena.
Hardy (23-8) lost both his fights last year against Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit. Johnson (8-3) missed the entire 2010 due to a knee injury.
The live blog is below.
Round 1: They can't decide whether to touch gloves for a moment, but they're friends, so sure. They trade leg kicks early, but nothing too hard. Johnson backs Hardy up against the fence and then blasts him with a head kick that drops Hardy. Hardy recovers quickly and gets to his feet, but Johnson takes him right back down, ending up in his guard. Johnson postures up and drops a couple punches, and that's about when the 'USA!' chants start. Naturally. Hardy thinks about a triangle, but Johnson postures out of it and drops a hard right to give him something to think about. Johnson in half-guard, and Hardy tries for a kimura, to no avail. Less than a minute to go, and Hardy is still stuck on his back. Hardy ends the round content to lock Johnson down in the rubber guard. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Johnson.
Round 2: Hardy feels his way out with a couple of hooks, but it isn't long before he's backed up against the fence again. Johnson shoots for a double-leg and Hardy can't stop him. Johnson has him on his back against the fence, working short left hands to his face. Hardy reaches for a kimura and he has it locked up, but can't quite get Johnson's arm free to really torque it. Johnson moves to half-guard and opens up with some elbows. Hardy recovers guard, but he can't get off his back against Johnson. So much for there being no chance of this one going to the ground. With thirty seconds in the round, referee Josh Rosenthal stands them up. Johnson wastes no time shooting for another double-leg, but eventually settles for a single-leg takedown just before the horn. The crowd is not amused. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Johnson.
Round 3: Johnson tries for a head kick to start the round and now it's Hardy thinking takedown. Johnson puts a stop to that and then plants Hardy on his back. The fans let them know what they think about this supposed slugfest turning into a grappling match. Hardy gets back to his feet and they exchange some rare punches. For a moment, all is forgiven as far as the crowd is concerned, but another takedown by Johnson dispels that bit of goodwill. Johnson takes Hardy's back and sinks his hooks in, but he can't quite get the choke. Johnson rolls for an arm triangle and it's tight, but Hardy defends. Johnson tries a neck crank, and still no tap from Hardy. Johnson ends the round hammering Hardy with short rights. As he gets to his feet after the horn, he blows a kiss to the angry crowd. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Johnson.
Anthony Johnson def. Dan Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
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Hardy (23-8) lost both his fights last year against Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit. Johnson (8-3) missed the entire 2010 due to a knee injury.
The live blog is below.
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Round 1: They can't decide whether to touch gloves for a moment, but they're friends, so sure. They trade leg kicks early, but nothing too hard. Johnson backs Hardy up against the fence and then blasts him with a head kick that drops Hardy. Hardy recovers quickly and gets to his feet, but Johnson takes him right back down, ending up in his guard. Johnson postures up and drops a couple punches, and that's about when the 'USA!' chants start. Naturally. Hardy thinks about a triangle, but Johnson postures out of it and drops a hard right to give him something to think about. Johnson in half-guard, and Hardy tries for a kimura, to no avail. Less than a minute to go, and Hardy is still stuck on his back. Hardy ends the round content to lock Johnson down in the rubber guard. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Johnson.
Round 2: Hardy feels his way out with a couple of hooks, but it isn't long before he's backed up against the fence again. Johnson shoots for a double-leg and Hardy can't stop him. Johnson has him on his back against the fence, working short left hands to his face. Hardy reaches for a kimura and he has it locked up, but can't quite get Johnson's arm free to really torque it. Johnson moves to half-guard and opens up with some elbows. Hardy recovers guard, but he can't get off his back against Johnson. So much for there being no chance of this one going to the ground. With thirty seconds in the round, referee Josh Rosenthal stands them up. Johnson wastes no time shooting for another double-leg, but eventually settles for a single-leg takedown just before the horn. The crowd is not amused. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Johnson.
Round 3: Johnson tries for a head kick to start the round and now it's Hardy thinking takedown. Johnson puts a stop to that and then plants Hardy on his back. The fans let them know what they think about this supposed slugfest turning into a grappling match. Hardy gets back to his feet and they exchange some rare punches. For a moment, all is forgiven as far as the crowd is concerned, but another takedown by Johnson dispels that bit of goodwill. Johnson takes Hardy's back and sinks his hooks in, but he can't quite get the choke. Johnson rolls for an arm triangle and it's tight, but Hardy defends. Johnson tries a neck crank, and still no tap from Hardy. Johnson ends the round hammering Hardy with short rights. As he gets to his feet after the horn, he blows a kiss to the angry crowd. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Johnson.
Anthony Johnson def. Dan Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
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