Knees from the clinch well disguised takedowns and crisp accurate combinations spurred the former Legacy Fighting Championship titleholder to a split decision over Leben at UFC 162 Silva vs. Weidman on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Two of the three cageside judges ruled in Craig s favor by 29 28 and 30 27 scores a third cast a dissenting 29 28 nod for Leben (22 10 12 9 UFC).
Craig (9 1 3 1 UFC) utilized a multi pronged standup attack oftentimes using Leben s relentless aggression against him. The Crippler kept moving forward and the well rounded Houston based middleweight kept feeding him punches knees and standing elbows. Craig punctuated the most significant victory of his career with a strong third round where he nearly finished Leben with a shower of surgical strikes to the head.
I wouldn t say I avoided all of his punches Craig said. He hits as hard as a rock. He makes other people feel like they hit soft so I m just happy with the win. My hands hurt like crazy. I can t believe I didn t finish him.
Parke Outpoints Tokudome Wins Eighth Straight A steady stream of overhand lefts timely takedowns and strong defensive grappling carried The Ultimate Fighter The Smashes winner Norman Parke to a unanimous decision over Pancrase veteran Kazuki Tokudome in an undercard bout at 155 pounds. All three cageside judges scored it for Parke (18 2 2 0 UFC) 30 27 30 27 and 29 28.
Tokudome (12 4 1 1 1 UFC) never adjusted to his opponent s approach. Parke blasted him repeatedly with left hands over the top mixed in the occasional takedown and briefly transitioned to full mount in the second round. Tokudome did his best work in round three where he stayed in the Irishman s face with punches and countered a takedown with one of his own. Still it was not enough to woo the judges.
Parke has won eight consecutive fights.
Gonzaga Fells Herman in 17 Seconds Team Link s Gabriel Gonzaga dispatched the enigmatic Dave Herman with a short counter right hand and follow up blows in the first round of their brief preliminary heavyweight matchup. Gonzaga (15 7 10 6 UFC) sealed the deal just 17 seconds into round one.
Herman (21 6 1 4 UFC) pecked away with a few front kicks and made the mistake of lowering his guard against the brick fisted Brazilian. Gonzaga answered an inside low kick from the 28 year old Fort Wayne Ind. native with an exquisite counter right hand. A dazed Herman collapsed and Napao swarmed him with punches for the finish.
Barboza Leg Kicks Overwhelm Oliveira Former Ring of Combat champion Edson Barboza wrecked Rafaello Oliveira with a volley of savage leg kicks as he halted the South Carolina based Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt in the second round of their undercard tilt at 155 pounds. Oliveira (16 6 2 5 UFC) succumbed to the blows 1 44 into round two.
Barboza (12 1 6 1 UFC) zeroed in on the leg from the start and his countryman was powerless against his attacks. Oliveira did what he could to withstand the barrage and landed the occasional punch but his inability to get the fight to the ground made him a sitting duck on the feet.
Two final leg kicks forced a crippled Oliveira to his back and led referee Herb Dean to intervene on his behalf.
Melancon Beats Buzzer KOs Baczynski Strikeforce veteran Brian Melancon wowed the crowd in his promotional debut as he wiped out The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 alum Seth Baczynski with first round punches in a preliminary welterweight affair. Melancon (7 2 1 0 UFC) left The Polish Pistola bloodied and unconscious 4 59 into round one.
The Houston based Melancon had Baczynski (18 10 4 3 UFC) reeling throughout their encounter as he put his powerful left hand to use and also countered to great effect. Late in the first round he delivered a takedown moved to half guard and blasted away with punches until his work was done.
Pierce Stops Mitchell Pushes Streak to Four Sports Lab representative Mike Pierce put away David Mitchell with a second round left hook and follow up punches in an undercard battle at 170 pounds. Pierce (17 5 9 3 UFC) drew it to a close 2 55 into round two as he won for the fourth time in as many appearances.
Mitchell (12 3 1 3 UFC) more than held his own through the first five minutes as he frustrated the rugged Oregonian with his defensive wrestling and did some solid work in the clinch. Pierce made his move in the second as he floored the Nor Cal Fighting Alliance export with a left hook and then finished it with a series of right hands.
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