MMA Fighting - UFC Fight Night 59: McGregor vs. Siver Resultshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52789/mma_minimal_navy..jpg2015-01-19T00:34:15-05:00http://www.mmafighting.com/rss/stream/75752242015-01-19T00:34:15-05:002015-01-19T00:34:15-05:00Conor McGregor finishes Siver, confronts Aldo
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<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Conor McGregor's prediction that he'd finish <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/212/dennis-siver">Dennis Siver</a> within two minutes didn't come true.</p>
<p>But everything else came up roses for the brash Irish featherweight Sunday night at Boston's TD Garden. The Dublin native dominated his UFC Fight Night 59 main event bout with the veteran Dennis Siver before finishing him in the second round.</p>
<p>Then he jumped out of the cage and got in the face of longtime UFC featherweight champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/7/jose-aldo">Jose Aldo</a> Jr., who was seated cageside, building the drama for their upcoming title fight.</p>
<p>"I'm going to hand him my spit bucket and have him spit shine the belt," said McGregor (17-2), who improved to 5-0 in the UFC and won his 12th consecutive fight.</p>
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<p>McGregor put in the sort of fight that we've seen enough by now to call a trademark McGregor fight. He relentlessly pressured Siver, throwing kicks high, low, and to the body, then following through with uppercuts. Siver (22-10, 1 NC) could never quite get untracked as McGregor pursued him from all angles.</p>
<p>Siver appeared to be saved by the horn at the end of round one. But there was no saving him in round two. A straight left was the telling blow, as Siver hit the mat. McGregor got into full mount and reigned down punches an elbows until referee Herb Dean waved off the bout at 1:54. This sent the near-sellout, heavily Irish, pro-McGregor crowd into a frenzy.</p>
<p>"I said two minutes, I meant two rounds," McGregor said. "Everyone says ‘my talk,'" but they never say anything about my skill or technique."</p>
<p>Once the fight ended. McGregor scaled the top of the cage and sprinted at Aldo, in the front row, who smiled throughout the proceedings. McGregor will be Aldo's next opponent, though the date and venue have yet to be decided.</p>
<p>Aldo, in a cageside interview on FOX Sports 1, said he was not impressed by McGregor's performance.</p>
<p>"No, not impressive," Aldo said through an interpreter. "Siver is a seasoned fighter, but not the caliber I've fought before."</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/1/19/7829607/ufc-fight-night-59-results-conor-mcgregor-finishes-dennis-siverDave Doyle2015-01-18T23:56:53-05:002015-01-18T23:56:53-05:00Cerrone ekes out decision over Henderson
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<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>They said <a href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/58/donald-cerrone" class="sbn-auto-link">Donald Cerrone</a> was nuts for taking a fight with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/327/ben-henderson">Benson Henderson</a> on a 15-day turnaround.</p>
<p>And they very well might be right.</p>
<p>But either way, "Cowboy" emerged victorious against the former UFC and WEC lightweight champion on Sunday night. In a tightly contested fight, Cerrone took a unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 59 at Boston's TD Garden, winning all three cards by a score of 29-28.</p>
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<p>The victory is the seventh in a row, over a span of 14 months, for the Jackson's MMA fighter, who recently scored a unanimous decision win over <a href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/548/myles-jury" class="sbn-auto-link">Myles Jury</a> at <a href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/619/ufc-182-jones-cormier" class="sbn-auto-link">UFC 182</a> on Dec. 30.</p>
<p>Asked how he managed to turn around and fight a caliber of Henderson's caliber on such a short notice, a sly Cerrone (23-6, 1 NC) said "That's my secret only."</p>
<p>The opening round was the fight's toughest to judge, as Cerrone landed with punches all over, while Henderson peppered Cerrone with body kicks.</p>
<p>Round two was Cerrone's strongest, as he pushed the pace, landed a takedown, later landed a flush head kick, and generally left Henderson on the defensive.</p>
<p>Henderson rebounded over the final round, became more aggressive, and landed more often.</p>
<p>Henderson, who has made a career out of dancing on the razor's edge with close decisions, appeared stunned as the decision was read.</p>
<p>"Its on the record, it is what it is," said Henderson (21-5), who has dropped two bouts in a row for the first time in his career. "I've got to move on. I've got to go forward and get better."</p>
<p>Cerrone, who stepped in as an injury replacement for Eddie Alvarez, finally won in his third crack at Henderson; Henderson won a pair of WEC bouts between the two.</p>
<p>"Ben is one hell of a guy," Cerrone said. "Fighting him on short notice, he's a stud man. My hat's off to him."</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/1/18/7823859/ufc-fight-night-59-results-donald-cerrone-ekes-out-decision-over-benDave Doyle2015-01-18T23:09:05-05:002015-01-18T23:09:05-05:00Hall calls out Philippou after win over Stallings
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<p>The lesson from a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/340/uriah-hall">Uriah Hall</a> fight, as always: When the New York City resident connects, bad things can happen.</p>
<p>The Jamaica-born middleweight connected with a right hand during the first round of his fight with Ron Stallings at UFC Fight Night 59 at TD Garden in Boston and opened a horrendous cut over his left eye.</p>
<p>Soon thereafter, referee Herb Dean asked the cageside doctor to check the cut, who waved off the bout, giving Hall the injury TKO win at 3:37 of the opening round Sunday.</p>
<p>"You know what I just decided to come out here and fight," said Hall (11-4), who has won three straight fights.</p>
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<p>Stallings (12-7), a veteran of the D.C. fight scene, took the fight on a week's notice and looked like he belonged in the big show before the bout's unfortunate ending.</p>
<p>Hall, meanwhile, had words for Costas Philippou, his originally scheduled opponent, after the fight.</p>
<p>"I know Costas punked out," Hall said. "He dodged a bullet there, that was for you. Let's make the fight."</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/1/18/7815923/ufc-fight-night-59-results-hall-stops-stallings-claims-philippouDave Doyle2015-01-18T22:43:04-05:002015-01-18T22:43:04-05:00Tibau ends Parke's unbeaten streak
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<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Former TUF: Smashes fighter Norman Parke took an 11-fight unbeaten streak into his UFC Fight Night 59 bout against veteran Gleison Tibau.</p>
<p>But like many up-and-coming fighters before Parke have found out, Tibau is one tough stepping stone on your way to the top.</p>
<p>Fighting for the 23d time in the UFC, the American Top Team veteran got the best of Parke, eking out a split decision at TD Garden. Tibau got two of three 29-28 scores for the win.</p>
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<p>In a fight short on excitement, Tibau essentially kept Parke from finding his range, landed counters when he had to, and got the best of things when the fight got in close, as well. Tibau landed two of six takedown attempts on the fight, while Parke whiffed on all 12 of his attempts.</p>
<p>With the win, the 31-year-old Tibau improved to 31-10 and has won both three straight and five of his past six. Northern Ireland's Parke dropped to 20-3-1, losing for the first time in the UFC.</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/1/18/7812199/ufc-fight-night-59-results-gleison-tibau-outlasts-norman-parkeDave Doyle2015-01-18T22:07:33-05:002015-01-18T22:07:33-05:00Pendred wins controversial decision
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<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Irish eyes are clearly smiling on a Sunday night in Boston.</p>
<p>Boston-born Dubliner <a href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2854/cathal-pendred" class="sbn-auto-link">Cathal Pendred</a> was the beneficiary of a controversial decision in a welterweight fight at UFC Fight Night 59. The scores at TD Garden for his fight against Sean Spencer were 29-28 and an incomprehensible pair of 30-27s in favor of Pendred.</p>
<p>In the opening round, Spencer (13-4) blasted Pendred and rocked him. It was the sort of shot that would finish most men, but Pendred, who has exhibited a high degree of toughness in his UFC stint, shook it off and made it through the round. Most sane observers, though would have scored the round for Spencer.</p>
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<p>In the second, Spencer once again got the better of the striking game. But late in the round, Pendred scored a takedown, and cinched a Kimura and leg scissors choke, which appeared to be enough for him to seal the round on the judges' card.</p>
<p>There wasn't much of anything going on in round three, as both fighters noticeably slowed. Pendred scored a late takedown, which may have made the difference on the judges' cards.</p>
<p>Over the course of the fight, Pendred was 66/153 on strikes, for 43 percent; Spencer 63/159, 39 percent. Pendred hit four of 16 takedown attempts; Spencer did not attempt a takedown.</p>
<p>Pendred (16-2-1) is 3-0 in the UFC and is unbeaten in his past 11 fights (10-0-1). Spencer has dropped two of his past three.</p>
<p>After the bout, Pendred said he saw the fight clearly in his favor. "I think I controlled the fight and controlled the standup and the feet and the clinch," he said.</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/1/18/7807271/ufc-fight-night-59-results-cathal-pendred-wins-controversial-decisionDave Doyle2015-01-18T21:30:59-05:002015-01-18T21:30:59-05:00Larkin impresses in welterweight debut
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/751/lorenz-larkin">Lorenz Larkin</a> didn't find much success as a middleweight. Sure, he beat <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/91/robbie-lawler">Robbie Lawler</a> in his 185-pound debut three years ago, but since then, he dropped four out of five, including all three of his UFC bouts.</p>
<p>At welterweight, however? Different story. The Riverside, Calif. native made a strong impression Sunday night at UFC Fight Night 59.</p>
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<p>Larkin (15-4, 1 NC), blitzed to victory at the TD Garden, ruining the homecoming for Boston's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/316/john-howard">John Howard</a>. Larkin needed just 2:17 to win via TKO.</p>
<p>The end came fast when Larkin wobbled Howard with a big right hand. The flailing Howard lunged for a single leg, but left him open for a series of uncontested rights to the jaw, prompting referee Herb Dean to wave things off.</p>
<p>The fans weren't too appreciative of Larkin's effort, but he didn't let it get to him.</p>
<p>"I like Boston," Larkin said. "If you don't like me, that's okay."</p>
<p>Howard (22-12) has now dropped three in a row.</p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/1/18/7801447/ufc-fight-night-59-results-lorenz-larkin-stop-john-howard-in-strongDave Doyle2015-01-18T12:00:02-05:002015-01-18T12:00:02-05:00UFC Fight Night 59 predictions
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<figcaption>Esther Lin, MMA Fighting</figcaption>
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<p>The Conor McGregor Show enters its final stage before a title shot is granted as the 'Notorious' faces off against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/212/dennis-siver">Dennis Siver</a> in Boston on a Sunday night UFC Fight Night event. If McGregor prevails, he'll receive a featherweight title shot opposite <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/7/jose-aldo">Jose Aldo</a>. If not, well, he'll have a fair amount of crow to eat. The card also features a trilogy fight between two top former WEC and current UFC lightweights.</p>
<p>Will McGregor make good on his predictions of success or is Siver ready to play spoiler? I answer these questions and more with my predictions for Sunday night's fights.</p>
<p id="paragraph2"><b>What: </b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/666/ufc-fight-night-mcgregor-vs-siver">UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver</a> (UFC Fight Night 59)</p>
<p id="paragraph3"><b>Where: </b>TD Garden, Boston, Mass.</p>
<p id="paragraph4"><b>When: </b>Sunday, the two-fight Fight Pass card starts at 6 p.m. ET, the six-fight Fox Sports 1 main card starts at 7 p.m. and the four-fight Fox Sports 1 card kicks off 10 p.m.</p>
<p><b>Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver</b></p>
<p>There are lots of really positive things to say about Siver. He's highly experienced. He comes in physically prepared. There is a measure of his game, particularly in the outside kicking department, that is unorthodox while being effective. He's well-rounded and can score offensively from most positions. His wrestling isn't great, but it's hardly bad.</p>
<p>I'm still not sure how much of this will matter in the end. The major issue for me is Siver's hittable, too, in long-range exchanges. Add to that his chin not being bad necessarily, but not made of iron either. I suspect he's going to get clipped and from there, the show will soon be over. Siver will likely try to keep things in close, attempt takedowns and more. And whether that would matter against someone who specializes in wrestling is a question we'll have to answer another day. For this event, though, my guess is Siver's wrestling and close-quarters fighting won't be enough.</p>
<p><b> Pick</b>: McGregor<br><br><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/58/donald-cerrone">Donald Cerrone</a> vs. Benson Henderson</b></p>
<p>My best guess is their third fight will be a mix of their first and second. In the first fight, it was a back and forth with both fighters scoring with huge strikes and both having moments in grappling exchanges. The second was much more straightforward. Cerrone tapped to a guillotine pretty quickly. Cerrone is closer to Henderson in ability than some may give him credit. He can easily strike on the outside with him and his defensive wrestling, while not as proactive as it needs to be, is much better. The problem is Cerrone's game is just a better version of what it already was. There's not much new about it. He didn't add in things that were clearly missing. He's still willing to play guard, for example. Against someone like Henderson, that doesn't inspire confidence about his overall chances.</p>
<p><b> Pick</b>: Henderson<br><br><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/340/uriah-hall">Uriah Hall</a> vs. Ron Stallings</b></p>
<p>Stallings is a DC guy, so I've had the chance to watch his game for years. He is respectably complete as a fighter, but cannot match Hall's athleticism or speed. He also doesn't have the same type of striking versatility. That isn't to say his weapons should be ignored, but that they are more conventional in nature. Stallings has an offensive clinch, loves to throw knees from that position, has a very respectable guard and decent short-range boxing. He isn't necessarily a powerhouse, though, and while his wrestling has steadily improved, it doesn't have the snap and pop it needs to marry disparate portions of his offense. In the end, I'm not sure when Hall gets it done, but he's too defensively sound against Stallings' strengths while possessive of his own serious firepower.</p>
<p><b> Pick</b>: Hall<br><br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1408/norman-parke">Norman Parke</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/176/gleison-tibau">Gleison Tibau</a></p>
<p>I just get the sense here Tibau is going to do what he normally does, at least of late. He'll strike on the outside until that doesn't go his way where he will then proceed to wrestle. Whatever else one wants to say about him, the guy's wrestling is very good on both offense and defense. Add to that his physical advantages and it's hard to see a way Parke stays out from under him.</p>
<p><b>Pick</b>: Tibau</p>
<p><b>From the preliminary card</b>:<br><br>Sean Spencer def. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2854/cathal-pendred">Cathal Pendred</a><br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/751/lorenz-larkin">Lorenz Larkin</a> def. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/316/john-howard">John Howard</a> <br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2194/chris-wade">Chris Wade</a> def. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2745/zhang-lipeng">Zhang Lipeng</a><br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2431/patrick-holohan">Patrick Holohan</a> def. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/886/shane-howell">Shane Howell</a> <br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2926/johnny-case">Johnny Case</a> def. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3005/frankie-perez">Frankie Perez</a> <br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3027/charles-rosa">Charles Rosa</a> def. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2650/sean-soriano">Sean Soriano</a> <br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1366/matt-van-buren">Matt Van Buren</a> def. Sean O'Connell <br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2969/joby-sanchez">Joby Sanchez</a> def. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1114/tateki-matsuda">Tateki Matsuda</a></p>
https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/1/18/7674717/ufc-fight-night-59-predictionsLuke Thomas