Friday night fights!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to its exclusive online home, Fight Pass, TONIGHT (Saturday local time) with another international event that features a five-round middleweight headliner between 185-pound enemies Luke Rockhold and Michael "The Count" Bisping.
The UFC Fight Night 55 action, which will take place inside AllPhones Arena in Sydney, Australia, will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET with a seven-fight "Prelims" broadcast that will air live on Fight Pass, before moving on to the remainder of main card match ups (four more), also on Fight Pass.
In addition to the headliner, the lightweight division will send Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson into a 155-pound bang-a-thon against Al Iaquinta. Elsewhere on the card, Clint "Headbussa" Hester looks to make it eight straight against Robert "The Reaper" Whittaker while Walt "The Big Ticket" Harris tries to smash Soa "The Hulk" Palelei.
All that and much, much more.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 55 fight card BELOW, starting with the Fight Pass "Prelims" matches, which are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, right on through the Fight Pass main card at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the online warfare to share their thoughts on all the exciting action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 55) before you split and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show -- it always turns out to be a great discussion.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after "Rockhold vs. Bisping." See below for the upcoming UFC Fight Night 55 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 55 QUICK RESULTS:
Luke Rockhold def. Michael Bisping by submission (guillotine) at 0:57 of Round Two
Al Iaquinta def. Ross Pearson by TKO (punches) at 1:39 of Round Two
Robert Whittaker def. Clint Hester by TKO (knee and punches) at 2:43 of Round Two
Soa Palelei def. Walt Harris by TKO (punches) at 4:49 of Round Two
Jake Matthews def. Vagner Rocha by technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:52 of Round Two
Anthony Perosh def. Guto Inocente by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:46 of Round One
Sam Alvey def. Dylan Andrews by KO (punches) at 2:16 of Round One
Louis Smolka def. Richie Vaculik By TKO (side kick and punches) at 0:18 of Round Three
Chris Clements def. Vik Grujic by TKO (strikes) at 3:06 of Round One
Daniel Kelly def. Luke Zachrich by submission (Kimura) at 4:20 of Round One
Marcus Brimage def. Jumabieke Tuerxun by KO (head kick) at 2:58 of Round One
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 55 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping
Round 1: Rockhold staying out of range of Bisping's jabs. Low kick from the Brit. Right straight falls short for him. One minute in. Head kick blocked. Bisping whiffs on a right hook. Lead left from Rockhold and he moves Bisping to the cage. Bisping takes a headbutt on the way in that opens a cut under his left eye. They restart in the clinch, with Bisping complaining all the while. Rockhold with a knee to the body. A bit of jockeying before they separate. Rockhold head kick blocked. Two minutes in. Body kick from the American. Bisping coming up short with punches, nearly takes a right hook. Bisping catches a leg kick, lets it go. Counter right hook from Luke. Two minutes to go.
Bisping head kick blocked. Rockhold lands his, which Bisping catches and drops. Low kick from Bisping. Overhand left whiffs for Rockhold. Two-punch combo from Bisping, Rockhold high kick blocked. Body kick connects. Left straight on the retreating Bisping. One minute to go. Rockhold leg kick after a body kick is blocked. Left straight connects. Bisping catches another leg kick, then drops it. Bisping leg kick this time. Bisping blocked a head kick. Missed Superman punch and leg kick at the bell. 10-9 Rockhold.
Round 2: Check hook from Rockhold. Counter left straight connects as well. Brazilian kick lands for Rockhold. Left high kick lands and sends Bisping to his red. Rockhold trying to put him away with punches. The AKA product latches onto a guillotine and rolls Bisping into mount. It's a one-handed choke but it's enough to earn the tap.
Final result: Rockhold def. Bisping by submission (guillotine)
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Ross Pearson vs. Al Iaquinta
Round 1: Counter right hand by Pearson early on. Iaquinta lands a front kick. Pearson slips some punches and lands a body shot. One minute in. Iaquinta fakes a takedown. Iaquinta right straight as he takes a body shot. Pearson leg kick. Al blocks a head kick. Iaquinta right hook as Pearson is leaning. Pearson catches a kick, can't capitalize. Two minutes in. Pearson slips a combo. Lead right by Al. Ross answers with a body kick. Al avoids a left hook. Pearson leg kick. Two minutes to go.
Al catches him ducking with an uppercut, then takes a cross in the same sequence. Short right hand from Pearson, Al answers with a head kick. One minute to go. Iaquinta lead right hand. Ross with a head kick and right straight. Pearson stops a takedown in the waning seconds and cracks him with a left hook. 10-9 Iaquinta.
Round 2: Pearson opens with an inside leg kick. Ross ducks an elbow. Iaquinta leg kick, 1-2 comes up just short. One minute in. Quick exchange, Pearson with a left hook. Iaquinta drops Pearson with a hard right hand. Ross back to his feet quickly but on the retreat. Iaquinta battering away with right hands and Pearson finally falls.
Final result: Iaquinta def. Pearson by TKO (punches)
-end-
Clint Hester vs. Robert Whittaker
Round 1: Stiff jab from Hester in response to a leg kick. Both land low kicks. Big left hook from Hester, but Whittaker cracks him in response and chases him across the cage. Hester wings a wild overhand and shoots in. Whittaker sprawls on it and they return to their feet. Whittaker leg kick and jab. One minute in. Another low kick from Whittaker. Another; Hester isn't checking any of them. Spinning back elbow from Hester after a failed takedown, Whittaker eats it like a boss. Two minutes in. Hester whiffs on a left hook. Whittaker low kick. 1-2 lands. Lead left hook. Whitteker body kick and a right straight drops Hester. Hester shoots in in desperation and Whittaker continues to drop punches. Hester falls to his back to pull guard and Whittaker jumps on him. Hester trying to get back to his feet, Whittaker in on his legs. Two minutes to go.
Hester is back to his feet and fighting off the takedown. He can't do so and Whittaker takes half guard. One minute to go. Whittaker with a couple of short elbows and punches. Hester scoots to the fence, gives up mount in the process. Hester flips over using the cage and winds up on top in guard. Hester drops some punches and elbows, then lets him up before the bell. 10-9 Whittaker.
Round 2: Teep from Whittaker. Hester eats a jab. Lead left elbow lands for him. Whittaker leg kick, jab, and overhand right in sequence. Hester ducks an overhand right, then Whittaker does the same. Hester winging punches and eating crisper shots from Whittaker. One minute in. Hester stalking forward. Whittaker teases a single-leg. Hester winging punches around the guard, lands a knee to the body. Whittaker elbow just misses. Whittaker using his jab well, takes a body kick. Hester moves him to the fence. Two minutes in. Knee to the body from Hester. Hester flubs a single-leg. More wild haymakers from Hester. Whittaker cracks him with a knee and right hand. Big knee drops Hester and he covers up on one knee. Whittaker drops punches until the referee steps in.
Final result: Whittaker def. Hester by TKO (knee and punches)
-end-
Soa Palelei vs. Walt Harris
Round 1: Palelei shoots in from long-distance, moving Harris to the fence. Palelei in on a leg and very nearly finishes the single-leg, only to be foiled by some impressive flexibility from Harris. Back to center cage. One minute in. Leg kicks by Harris. Palelei shoots in again, Harris turns him away. Two minutes in. Lead right by Soa connects. Both men tentative. Harris high kick blocked. Two minutes to go.
Straight left from Harris. Palalei high kick is blocked as well. One minute to go. Low kick from Walt. Big body kick makes an unpleasant noise on Soa's gut. Left straight by Harris. Another body kick from Walt. Left hook by Soa. Soa tries another head kick before the bell. 10-9 Harris.
Round 2: Palelei tries a front kick. Low kick from Harris. Soa answers in kind. Lead left by Harris. 1-2 by Soa soon after. One minute in. Palelei lands a pair of straight rights and shoots in. Harris denies it and they're back in center cage. Another straight by Soa. Body kick from Harris. Two minutes in. 1-2 from Soa. Harris hooks fail to connect. Harris stops another double-leg attempt. Straight left connects for him. High kick blocked. Two minutes to go.
Limited action this round. Soa high kick blocked. Soa ducks a left hand and shoots in. He completes a single-leg after a brief struggle. Soa on top in half guard. One minute to go. Soa looking to posture up and punch. Soa moves to mount. Harris gives up his back as Soa pounds away. Harris is just covering up and the referee steps in.
Final result: Palelei def. Harris by TKO (punches)
-end-
Jake Matthews vs. Vagner Rocha
Round 1: Jab exchange. Matthews combination comes up short. Rocha low kick. Matthews lands one of his own. One minute in. Checked leg kicks from both. Matthews coming up short with strikes so far. Another flurry fails to connect. Rocha leg kick. Matthews answers. Two minutes in. Matthews rushing after Rocha, unable to connect but ties up against the fence. Rocha lands a couple knees before Matthews tosses him away. Leg kick lands for him. Two minutes to go.
Lead uppercut from Matthews. He can't finish a knee-tap attempt but avoids a bodylock takedown from Rocha. Rocha pressing him against the cage with double-underhooks. Right hand connects for Matthews on the exit. Rocha leg kick. One minute to go. Matthews leg kick hits groin, Rocha elects not to take time. Counter combination from Matthews, then a blast double attempt. Matthews gets him to a knee. Rocha uses the fence to stand, then latches onto a Kimura. He runs out of time before he can capitalize. 10-9 Matthews.
Round 2: Matthews low kick met by a Rocha counter-punch. Good overhand right from the young Aussie. Rocha low kick checked. Stiff jab from Matthews. Rocha leg kick. One minute in. Jab exchange. Matthews leg kick. Rocha answers. Body blows by Matthews in combintion. Nice Superman punch by Matthews and he shoves Rocha to the mat. Matthews locks up a no-hooks RNC. Rocha rolls, but can't dislodge him before going to sleep.
Final result: Matthews def. Rocha by technical submission (rear-naked choke)
-end-
Guto Inocente vs. Anthony Perosh
Round 1: Both whiff with right hands, Inocente also with a head kick. Perosh lands a lead right hand and gets the bodylock. He drags Inocente around the cage, unable to bring him down for a while but eventually gets the takedown. One minute in. Inocente regains guard quickly, then eats a heavy right hand from Perosh. Perosh posturing up and landing right hands. Perosh to half guard. Straight to mount. Two minutes in. Inocente regains half guard after nearly putting himself in position to get arm-triangled. Perosh heavy on top. Perosh takes mount and starts dropping right hands. Inocente flattened out and taking punches. Two minutes to go.
Back to mount, Inocente avoiding an arm-triangle in the process. Inocente regains half guard. Perosh sneaks in a hook and takes his back again. Perosh locks up the RNC quickly and the tap comes soon after.
Final result: Perosh def. Inocente by submission (rear-naked choke)
-end-
Sam Alvey vs. Dylan Andrews
Round 1: Andrews opens with leg kicks. Lots of them. Alvey moves in with punches and Andrews changes levels to complete a double-leg. Andrews on top in side control. One minute in. Andrews may be looking for a Von Flue choke. Now he hops to mount. Alvey bridges and works his way to the fence, getting to his feet. Andrews still latched onto him and trips him down. Two minutes in. Alvey back up and back down, but this time he reverses into mount and knocks Andrews cold with ground-and-pound.
On second viewing, I think Andrews actually knocked himself out on the takedown.
Final result: Alvey def. Andrews by KO (punches)
-end-
Louis Smolka vs. Richie Vaculik
Round 1: Right hand by Richie in an exchange. Good knee and a 2-3 hurt Smolka. Smolka shoots in and is rebuffed, eating another knee on the way up. Axe kick misses for Smolka. More power punches from Vaculik connect. On eminute in. Smolka low kick met by a right hand. Smolka body shot. Vaculik answers. Smolka lead uppercut connects. Overhand right from Richie, 1-2 from Smolka. Vaculik low kick and body shot. Smolka tries to clinch, can't. Two minutes in. Uppercut by Vas, 1-2-3 by Smolka in response. Smolka left hook met by a right hand and knees. Vaculik body shot, Smolka left hooks. Overhand right by Smolka, lead uppercut soon after. Another overhand met by a low kick from Vas. Two minutes to go.
Right hands by Vaculik. Flying knee hits Richie's chest. 1-2 exchange. Vas body shot. Straight from Smolka. Axe kick from Smolka and a knee inside. Lead right hand, lead uppercut. One minute to go. Vas ducks a head kick and shoots in, landing on top in guard. Smolka trying to use butterfly hooks, but gives up side control. He turns to get up and Vas latches onto a guillotine. Richie squeezing, but loses it and Smolka ends up on top in the scramble. Round ends there. 10-9 Vaculik.
Round 2: 1-2 by Smolka. Outside low kick. Left hook lands as well, Vas answers with a right. Body shot from Richie connects. Smolka head kick blocked, body jab lands. Right straight downstairs. Body kick connects. One minute in. Smolka lands a counter right. Vas with a cross. Smolka tries another flying knee, settles for a leg kick. Another, then Vas blasts him in the clinch with a combination. Vas low kick. Smolka right hand. Axe kick gets caught and Richie is on top in side control. Two minutes in. Richie locks up the RNC as Smolka tries to stand. Smolka worms his way out and turns to take top position. Vas scoots to the fence to stand, but gets tossed back down. Smolka on top in half guard. Short right hands from Smolka. Vas kicks him off and gets to his feet. Two minutes to go.
Smolka steps in with a knee, eating jabs as he does so. Vas working his jab, lands an overhand after taking a leg kick. More low kicks from Smolka met by body shots. One minute to go. Vas low kick. Left hook lands, Smolka with a right hand. Nice cross from Vas. Smolka counter right. Vas jabbing the body. Smolka flies in with a knee and gets taken down at the bell. 10-9 Smolka.
Round 3: Smolka steps in with a side kick to the head that sends Vaculik to the mat. Smolka jumps on him and the follow-up punches move the referee to action. Incredible knockout.
Final result: Smolka def. Vaculik by TKO (side kick and punches)
-end-
Chris Clements vs. Vik Grujic
Round 1: Grujic catches a low kick and they move into the clinch. Clements lands a knee to the body, then gets tossed to the mat. Grujic on top in half guard. Clements spins his way to the feet but gets moved to the fence. One minute in. Short punches from Grujic in the clinch. Knees to the body by Clements in response. Grujic contiuing to chisel away with left hands. Two minutes in. Clements defending the takedown so far. Knee to the body and he separates. Good right hand by Clements and he wades in with power shots. Back into the clinch, Clements pressing Grujic this time. Knee to the body and short elbows. Grujic reverses position, then gets blasted by a knee on the way out. Grujic's legs aren't there as he wobbles across the cage and Clements is all over him. Clements unloads on him against the fence before a pair of massive right hands put Grujic down.
Final result: Clements def. Grujic by TKO (strikes)
-end-
Daniel Kelly vs. Luke Zachrich
Round 1: Zachrich opens with a low kick. Left straight connects, met by a Kelly leg kick. Kelly on the advance. One minute in. Two-punch combo lands for Luke. Kelly leg kick and left straight as he tries to keep Zachrich near the fence. Zachrich circles out. Two-punch combo from Kelly this time. Right hook and leg kick. Zachrich leg kick adnd double jab. Kelly lands a clean straight left, then eats an uppercut. Two minutes in. Counter right hook from Kelly. Zachrich right straight. Zachrich shoots in, gets sprawled on. Kelly sneaks in a knee before they exit the clinch. Kelly counters a body shot with hooks. Kelly right hook lands before Zachrich stumbles him with a jab. Two minutes to go.
Kelly right back on the advance and shoots in after avoiding a front kick. Browne elbow from Zachrich before he circles out. Striking exchange near the fence. Kelly gets a single collar tie and slams home uppercuts, only for Zachrich to back him off with elbows. They exchange in the clinch and Kelly tosses him down. One minute to go. Kelly latches onto a Kimura while in half guard. The Aussie Judoka hops into side control and cranks the lock, earning the tap quickly.
Final result: Kelly def. Zachrich by submission (Kimura)
-end-
Jumabieke Tuerxun vs. Marcus Brimage
Round 1: Brimage falls short with an opening low kick out of the southpaw stance. Left straight connects. High kick just misses for Brimage. One minute in. Tuerxun low kick. Once again, outside this time. Simultaneous kicks make a nice sound. Brimage counters a body shot with a good body kick. Two minutes in. Brimage body shot. Tuerxun attempts to change levels, abandons it. Head kick blocked from Jumabieke. Tuerxun leans in for a body shot and Brimage counters beautifully with a left high kick. Tuerxun falls to the canvas completely stiff and Marcus Brimage has his first UFC knockout.
Final result: Brimage def. Tuerxun by knockout (head kick)
-end-