UFC Fight Night 42 live blog: Diego Sanchez vs. Ross Pearson

This is the UFC Fight Night 42 live blog for Diego Sanchez vs. Ross Pearson, a lightweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M.

Sanchez, who has won two of his past five UFC fights, will face Pearson, who is 3-1 (with one no-contest) in his past UFC fights, on the main card.

Check out the UFC Fight Night 42 live blog below.

Round 1: Kevin Mulhall is the referee. No surprise, Sanchez out and stalking early. Right hands score for both fighters. Decent short right hook for Pearson finds the mark, then a left hook. And another, which causes Sanchez to stumble a bit. Sanchez not pressuring much, allowing Pearson to fight at a more measured pace. Head kick scores for Pearson, but Sanchez eats it and fires back a right hook of his own. Sanchez ends the round with a flurry, but doesn't really land much.

MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Pearson

Round 2: Sanchez reaches for a leg, but Pearson easily stuffs it. Pearson is stalking now and scores a head kick again, but it doesn't land very clean. Pearson goes to the body, but Sanchez lands a left hand. Another body shot for the Brit and a decent body kick. Good body kick now from Sanchez. Right hand for Pearson absolutely crumples Sanchez to the mat. Pearson follows a bit, but Sanchez stands. Pearson catches a kick from Sanchez and kicks out the post leg, but Sanchez is able to stand.

MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Pearson

Round 3: Sanchez applying more pressure early, but Pearson firing back, too. Sanchez storming in and scores a couple of body shots, but missing a lot, too. Body shot ripped from Pearson. Pearson catches another kick, but lets it go and lands a body kick of his own. Pearson opens up a cut over Sanchez's right eye and the American eats another body kick. Sanchez lands a nice right hook, but a two-punch combo from Pearson lands clean. Pearson catches one of Sanchez's flying knee attempts  and uses it to land one of his own before the final bell.

MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Pearson and the fight 30-27 Pearson

Diego Sanchez def. Ross Pearson via split decision (30-27 Pearson, 30-27 Sanchez, 29-28 Sanchez)