UFC on FUEL 3 Live Blog: Igor Pokrajac vs. Fabio Maldonado

This is the UFC on FUEL 3 live blog for Igor Pokrajac vs. Fabio Maldonado, a light heavyweight bout on Tuesday night's UFC event from the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va.

Pokrajac, who has won three of his last four fights, will fight Maldonado, who is 1-1 in his UFC career, on the main card.

Check out the live blog below.

Round 1: Maldonado leads off with a wild, looping hook and Pokrajac ducks under and gets the easy takedown right off the bat. Pokrajac goes from side control to mount, transitioning to the back and then to mount again, keeping Maldonado planted on his back. Maldonado stays patient and eventually slips up, getting to his feet and shortly thereafter allowing Pokrajac to do the same. Once on the feet, Maldonado turns the tables with a left in close that forces Pokrajac to cover up. Maldonado opens up with strikes, but Pokrajac hangs tough and weathers the storm. Pokrajac comes back with knees from the clinch, and Maldonado answers with body shots and uppercuts in close. Tough round to score. MMA Fighting gives it to Pokrajac, 10-9.

Round 2: Pokrajac starts the second with a decent punch combo of his own, then tries to capitalize by diving in for a takedown against the fence while Maldonado is covering up. Maldonado defends well, however, and they wind up in a clinch against the fence. Pokrajac looks for knees, while Maldonado digs away at the body in the clinch. They eventually separate and get back to the center, where they trade combos in the open. Pokrajac fakes up high and then sinks for a slow takedown attempt, but Maldonado drops down and put Pokrajac on his back before the horn. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Maldonado.

Round 3: They find themselves right back into the clinch to start the third, with the action proceeding exactly like you’d expect. Body shots from Maldonado, knees to the head by Pokrajac. Both guys can take it and give it right back. When the action stalls, referee Dan Miragliotta steps in and restarts them in the center. Pokrajac throws some heavy leather that backs Maldonado up, then lands a follow-up left once Maldonado’s back is on the fence. Pokrajac loses his mouthpiece, and that’s all the excuse we need to get out of the clinch for another restart with less than two minutes left. Just when you think they’ve expended everything they’ve got, they both open up with bombs in the final minute. Neither is willing to back down, nor are they willing to go down. At the horn, the crowd shows its appreciation for that fact as two exhausted light heavyweights find their ways to their respective corners. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Pokrajac.

Igor Pokrajac def. Fabio Maldonado via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)