Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to pull the trigger on its latest Spike TV fight card TONIGHT (Sept. 17, 2011) from the New Orleans Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
UFC Fight Night 25: "Battle on the Bayou" will feature a pair of welterweight wrestlers hitting the mat in the main event, as Jake Shields will return to action to take on hard-hitting grappler extraordinaire Jake Ellenberger.
Also booked for "The Big Easy" is a middleweight showdown that will showcase the triumphant return of Alan Belcher, who was nearly blinded in an unfortunate training accident, when he takes on veteran "Athlete" Jason MacDonald.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC Fight Night 25 below, beginning with the preliminary card bouts on Facebook at around 5:30 p.m. ET and running right on through the Spike TV broadcast at 9 p.m. ET.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the televised action to share their thoughts on all the exciting action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 25) before you leave 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 "Shields vs. Ellenberger."
Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC Fight Night 25 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action:
155 lbs.: Vagner Rocha def. Cody McKenzie via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:49 Round 2
155 lbs.: Evan Dunham def. Shamar Bailey via unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Ken Stone def. Donny Walker via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:40 Round 1
170 lbs.: Seth Baczynski def. Clay Harvison via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:12 Round 2
170 lbs.: T.J. Waldburger def. Mike Stumpf via submission (triangle choke) at 3:52 Round 1
145 lbs.: Robert Peralta def. Mike Lullo via unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Justin Edwards def. Jorge Lopez via unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Lance Benoist def. Matt Riddle via unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Jake Ellenberger defeats Jake Shields via TKO (Strikes) Round 1
185 lbs.: Alan Belcher defeats Jason MacDonald via TKO (Strikes) Round 1
185 lbs.: Court McGee defeats Dongi Yang via Unanimous Decision
145 lbs.: Erik Koch defeats Johnathan Brookins via Unanimous Decision
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 25 PLAY-BY-PLAY MAIN CARD COMMENTARY (SPIKE TV)
Druby here!
Jake Ellenberger vs. Jake Shields (170-pound limit)
Round one: Ellenberger in a tie up throws Shields to the mat but doesnt follow. Shields with a big shot but cannto secure the take down. Hard left right and knees from Ellenberger. Shields is dropped by a knee!!! Ellenberger pounces and is raining down BOMBS and that is it its over!!!! Ellenberger with a HUGE KO WIN.
Round two:
Round three:
Final result: Jake Ellenberger defeats Jake Shields via TKO (Strikes) Round 1
-end-
Court McGee vs. Dongi Yang (185-pound limit)
Round one: Leg kick from McGee. Jab from both men. Left from Yang and leg kick from McGee. Hard left from Yang and then a leg kick. Inside leg kick from Yang. Hard right from McGee wobbles Yang. Leg kick from McGee. Leg kick from Yang and then a right then left from Yang. Leg kick from McGee and then a left hook. Leg kick from Yang. Left from McGee. Leg kick from Yang. Flurry of punches from McGee at the bell. Very odd round not a lot of scoring. Ill lean towards McGee for being more active. 10-9 McGee.
Round two: Leg kick from McGee. Good right from McGee and counter left from Yang. Good left from McGee. Leg kick from McGee. McGee charges and ties things up against the cage. They break. Right from Yang. Flurry from McGee. Good one two combo from Yang. Right from Yang. Head kick from McGee. Jab from McGee. Left from McGee and now McGee is going for a take down and Yang defends and now they break. Good short uppercut from McGee. Hard left from Yang and then another. Good left from Yang. Left from Yang lands hard. Right from McGee. Head kick from McGee. Leg kick from McGee. Good double left hook from McGee finds its mark. Leg kick and then McGee shoots but the bell rings. Another close round ill lean towards Yang. 10-9 Yang.
Round three: Left from Yang. McGee charges for a take down and lands a right counter left from Yang. Good jab from Yang and then a right. Body kick from McGee. Good left from Yang. Leg kick from McGee and a right from McGee. BIG left from Yang drops McGee!!! Yang lands a big knee on the way in too and now their tied up against the cage. Yang now gets a brief take down and has the back and Yang slips off. McGee lands a right. Yang with a right and then a head kick and now a big left from Yang. Another left from Yang. Left gook from McGee. Yang looks gassed and is bleeding badly from his nose. Good right from McGee. Another good right from McGee. McGee shoots and is stuffed on the take down. Now their tied up against the cage. McGee now gets a big take down!!! Now their is a scramble and Yang is back up to his feet. Right from McGee. McGee with another single leg shot and got the take down! Now big elbows from McGee and he slips in a guillotine!!! Its in tight!! But the bell rings. Wow great last round, 10-9 McGee.
Final result: Court McGee defeats Dongi Yang via Unanimous Decision
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Alan Belcher vs. Jason MacDonald (185-pound limit)
Round one: Jab from Belcher. MacDonald shoots for a take down and doesnt get it and now Belcher pushes him against the cage. Both men trading knees to the thighs against the cage. MacDonald briefly goes for a single and again nothing there so he pulls guard. Belcher now on top in full guard. Elbow from Belcher. Good punches from posture by Belcher. Belcher is teeing off with BOMBS and MacDonald is in serious trouble. Belcher with hard elbows and punches and now MacDonald grabs a kimura hold just to save himself from being KO'd. Belcher is out and now in side control. Belcher now posturing up and is landing some more elbows and punches with force. Belcher with a big flurry and the ref steps in and stops it! Great comeback win for Belcher.
Round two:
Round three:
Final result: Alan Belcher defeats Jason Macdonald via TKO (Strikes) Round 1
-end-
Jonathan Brookins vs. Erik Koch (145-pound limit)
Round one: Leg kick from Koch. Brookins shoots for a single now and he is working on it against the cage. Punches from Brookins against the cage as Koch defends. Knee from Koch. Knee's to the stomach from Brookins and a good solid elbow from Brookins too. Knee to the body from Brookins. Short elbow from Koch. Knee from Koch as Brookins drops down again for a double but nothing there. Two HUGE elbows from Brookins land flush. Now they break. Big left from Koch. Leg kick from Koch. Leg kick again from Koch. Right from Brookins. Brookins drops down again for a single now. Koch with some hammer fists trying to keep Brookins away from his legs. BIG elbow from Brookins now. That is the bell as Brookins gets a toss take down but it might have been after the bell. That round was Brookins. 10-9 Brookins.
Round two: Inside leg kick from Brookins. Leg kick from Koch. Another good leg kick and left from Koch. Brookins shoots for a single eats a right but gets Koch pushed against the cage. Elbow and then they break. Head kick and left from Koch. Jab from Koch. HARD left then right from Koch. Brookins scrambles and gets a brief take down and Koch pops back up and now their tied up against the cage. Brookins drags Koch down, but Koch lands on top. Brookins right back to his feet now and their again tied against the cage. Brookins goes for a high crotch take down but nothing there and now Koch reverses spots and lands a good left on Brookins on the break. Leg kick from Koch. Koch charges in looking for a flurry but Brookins ties him up and puts him against the cage again. Brookins now drags Koch to the ground and he is on top. Koch with full guard. Koch kicks off Brookins and jumps up to his feet and now Brookins ties him up again against the cage. That is the bell and that round was razor close. Ill lean Brookins for the take down. 10-9 Brookins.
Round three: Jab from Koch. Good one two combo from Koch. Left from Brookins and then a knee. Leg kick from Koch. Brookins goes for a single but Koch dodges. Good left right left combo from Koch. Jab from Koch. Good left from Koch. Leg kick from Koch. Brookins sucks up a single leg and drives Koch into the cage and now their tied up again against the cage. Brookins looking for a high single take down. Elbow from Brookins. Knee from Brookins and then a elbow as the ref restarts them. Good combo from Koch. Leg kick from Koch. Good superman punches from Brookins. Brookins lands a left. Brookins with a brief take down but Koch pops back up. Now their against the cage again from Brookins. Koch reverses positions. Both men trade good punches and now Brookins has Koch against the cage again. That is the bell and another razor close round. This one ill lean towards Koch, 10-9 Koch.
Final result: Erik Koch defeats Johnathan Brookins via Unanimous Decision
-end-
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 25 PLAY-BY-PLAY PRELIMINARY CARD COMMENTARY (FACEBOOK)
Hemmi here.
Cody McKenzie vs. Vagner Rocha (155-pound limit)
Round one: McKenzie closes the distance quickly and is really working his strikes, McKenzie taunts Rocha and throws 1-2 combinations and head kicks. Some of the punches get through and Rocha ties him up. Rocha lands a low blow and McKenzie doesn't take long in his break, refusing to touch gloves. Rocha throws a pair of body kicks and McKenzie lands some nice straight punches. McKenzie is finding a home for his left jab, very quick. Rocha shoots in for a takedown and McKenzie puts him in a guillotine but Rocha slips out, staying on top in McKenzie's butterfly guard. Rocha looks for a choke with his arm wrapped around McKenzie's neck and McKenzie retains full guard. Rocha dives for an arm and McKenzie escapes, getting to his feet. Rocha takes McKenzie's back and he's got him all wrapped up on the ground but McKenzie turns into him and he's on top! They get to their feet and McKenzie presses forward with punches and kicks. McKenzie lands a nice right hand and a body kick. Rocha runs away from the strikes and McKenzie lands a big right hand at the end of the round. That was a tough round to score. McKenzie clearly the better striker and Rocha the better on the ground. I'll be a chicken and go 10-10
Round two: McKenzie opens aggressively with kicks but Rocha shoots in and takes him down. McKenzie tries the guillotine but Rocha slips out. Rocha latches on a D'Aarce choke on McKenzie but McKenzie slips out. Rocha takes McKenzie's back but McKenzie rolls out of it. Rocha is in top position here and he passes to McKenzie's half guard. McKenzie works the guillotine but Rocha passes and wraps McKenzie up, passing to mount. Rocha postures up and drops punches and McKenzie gives up his back. Rocha looks for the rear naked choke and McKenzie taps out right before passing out.
Final result: Vagner Rocha defeats Cody McKenzie via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:42 of round two.
-end-
Evan Dunham vs. Shamar Bailey (155-pound limit)
Round one: They circle and Dunham lands a nice 1-2 combination. nice short right hook from Dunham. Bailey charges forward and Dunham dodges like a matador. Dunham is really finding a home for that right hand and that's going to be a serious problem for Bailey if it continues. Bailey connects with a big left hand which makes Dunham back off temporarily. Another left from Bailey lands. Dunham presses forward with short combinations and keeps throwing a head kick but he can't find a home for it. Bailey lands a nice counter left hand but he's absorbing too much damage. Bailey's right eye is sweeling up. Bailey charges forward with lunging hooks and connects with another left hand and Dunham responds with a nice push kick. Bailey attempts a takedown and Dunham throws him down at the end of the round. 10-9 Dunham
Round two: Dunham peppers Bailey with punches and Bailey responds with a big left hand. Bailey shoots for a takedown but Dunham pops right back to his feet. Dunham pushes Bailey into the fence and lands a nice body kick. Both men exchange and Dunham is building momentum with his strikes. Dunham is finding a home for his full combinations now and Bailey is blocking them less and less often. Bailey shoots for a takedown and is easily stuffed. Dunham turns up the heat building confidence and he's landing the 1-2 combination at will as the round ends. 10-9 Dunham
Round three: Dunham presses forward and Bailey responds. Bailey knows he's down and he's being more aggressive. After a minute, Bailey's pace slows as he's very tired. Dunham starts connecting with his right jab nearly every time he throws it. Dunham starts getting a little wild with his kicks, throwing head kicks and a push kick. Nice looping right connects for Dunham and he blasts Bailey on the way in for a takedown and makes him reconsider. Straight left connects for Dunham. Dunham really opening up with his 1-2 combinations and he's landing them repeatedly. Dunham turns it on looking for the finish and he eats a big left hand from Bailey. Dunham will probably play it save for the last 30 seconds now and Bailey survives to the final horn. 10-9 Dunham
Final result: Evan Dunham defeats Shamar Bailey via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
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Matt Riddle vs. Lance Benoist (170-pound limit)
Round one: Riddle and Benoist push an aggressive pace early. Both trading wild strikes. Benoist lands a nasty low blow and Riddle takes his time to recover. After the reset, Riddle shoots in and takes Benoist down and Benoist uses the rubber guard. Riddle continues to push forward and Benoist is looking for a Kimura. Very nice transition and Benoist takes top position. Benoist remains on top in Riddle's half guard and he drops some ground and pound. Big elbows from Benoist and he closes the round strong with short strikes from above. 10-9 Benoist
Round two: Head kick misses for Benoist early and he looks very comfortable on his feet against Riddle. Riddle drops down and shoots for a takedown, taking top position. Benoist pops back to his feet and Riddle is still working hard for the takedown but Benoist turns the tides and takes Riddle down. Benoist drops some short elbows and Riddle uses the rubber guard, throwing elbows up at Benoist. Benoist stands up and Riddle clocks him with a nice upkick. Benoist's nose starts absolutely gushing and Riddle attempts an armbar but he can't secure the leverage to finish it and Benoist finishes strong from on top with ground and pound. 10-9 Benoist
Round three: Riddle lands a nice straight left and they clinch as both men exchange knees and punches. Riddle turns up the aggression, throwing bombs and he drops for a takedown just as Benoist throws a kick and puts him on his back in side control. Riddle throws knees to the body. Benoist retains full guard but Riddle drops some short elbows. Riddle passes to side control but can't do enough damage and Benoist again retains full guard. Riddle drops some nice punches and elbows. Riddle finishes the fight dropping ground and pound and Benoist's nose is hamburger. 10-9 Riddle
Final result: Lance Benoist defeats Matt Riddle via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
-end-
Ken Stone vs. Donny Walker (135-pound limit)
Round one: Stone opens with a pair of inside leg kicks and they trade punches. Stones grabs double underhooks and presses Walker into the fence. Stone scores an easy takedown and Walker turns into him. Walker gets to his feet but surrenders his back standing and Stone takes him down with both hooks in. This is a bad spot for Donny Walker. Stone latches on a rear naked choke and that's gotta be it. Walker is fighting it off but the choke is very, very tight! Walker doesn't tap and Stone puts him to sleep with the choke! Very dominant performance by Ken Stone here.
Final result: Ken Stone defeats Donny Walker via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:40 of round one
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Seth Baczynski vs. Clay Harvison (170-pound limit)
Round one: Nice leg kick early from Harvison and Baczynski counters with a straight punch. Harvison is really trying to work his left leg kick but Baczynski turns up the heat and pressures him with strikes, pushing Harvison into the fence. Baczynski throws a pair of flying knees aggressively and an elbow in the clinch. They separate and Baczynski continues with his aggression. Nice short elbow from Baczynski and he jacks Harvison with a pair of right hands. They clinch again and Baczynski clips Harvison with a nice right hand and grazes him with a left hook. Baczynski pushes Harvison into the fence and Harvison closes the round strong. 10-9 Baczynski
Round two: Harvison opens with some inside leg kicks but Baczynski blasts him with an uppercut and Harvison goes down! Baczynski turns up the heat with ground and pound and Harvison gives up his back in a scramble. Baczynski latches on a very tight rear naked choke and forces the tap right away. Very nice showing by Seth Baczynski!
Final result: Seth Baczynski defeats Clay Harvison via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:12 of round two
-end-
Mike Stumpf vs. T.J. Waldburger (170-pound limit)
Round one: Waldburger throws a nasty kick that staggers Stumpf and immediately takes his back with both hooks in. Waldburger is in a dominant position at the moment. Stumpf shakes off the hooks but Waldburger puts them right back in and flattens him out. Stumpf turtles up and Waldburger is all over Stumpf's back. Waldburger transitions to an armbar but Stumpf defends and gets back to his feet as they tie up against the fence. Waldburger scores a nice takedown. Waldburger gets a little overaggressive with his guard passing and Stumpf gets to his feet. They trade big kicks and Waldburger scores another takedown while Stumpf tries to defend with a guillotine choke. Waldburger escapes and latches on an armbar and immediately switches to a triangle choke. He locks it in and forces the tap! Beautiful transition by Waldburger.
Final result: T.J. Waldburger defeats Mike Stumpf via submission (triangle choke) at 3:52 of round one
-end-
Robert Peralta vs. Mike Lullo (145-pound limit)
Round one: Peralta opens with a plethora of leg kicks. Lullo doesn't like it and drops down for a takedown but he can't get it. They clinch and Peralta batters him with knees to the body. Peralta lands on top on the ground but thinks better of it and backs off. Lullo's thigh is already bright red. Lullo throws a pair of his own kicks but Peralta snaps back with some powerful leg kicks of his own. Lullo gets to work with leg and body kicks and Peralta responds with a punching combinations. A leg kick is countered by another punching combination. Peralta jacks Lullo with a leg kick and then a combination, closing it off with a body kick. Peralta lands a nice right hand and then doubles up with leg kicks. Side kick from Peralta staggers Lullo and he pressures Lullo against the fence. They separate and exchange as the round ends. 10-9 Peralta
Round two: Inside leg kick from Peralta early and he eats a big outside leg kick. Lullo tries to clinch but is shrugged off. Nice kick from Lullo and Peralta answers. Lullo eats more kicks and he's got to be hurting. Lullo drops down for a takedown and presses Peralta into the fence but can't put him on his back. Peralta lands a nice knee with his back against the fence. Lullo tries for the trip and can't get it and Peralta shrugs him off, throwing a nice right hand on the exit. Another takedown from Lullo is shrugged off. Very nice punch on the break by Peralta. 10-9 Peralta
Round three: Lullo opens with a takedown attempt and ties Peralta up against the cage, throwing a few knees. Peralta defends. They separate and exchange until Lullo shoots in but Peralta stuffs it easily. They are really working against the fence and Lullo drops down, scoring a takedown. Peralta sits up against the fence and pops back to his feet. Lullo gets a hook into Peralta's back but it's defended and Lullo lands a nice punch on the break. Lullo shoots in and scores a nice trip takedown as the round concludes. Nice comeback effort by Lullo but it probably won't win him the fight. 10-9 Lullo
Final result: Robert Peralta defeats Mike Lullo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
-end-
Jorge Lopez vs. Ben Edwards (170-pound limit)
Round one: Edwards opens strong pushing forward but Lopez pushes him into the fence. Edwards latches on a tight guillotine and it appears to be making Lopez uncomfortable. Lopez gives up position as they scramble and he's trying to get out of that guillotine choke and he does. Edwards continues to aggressively push forward with takedowns. Lopez blasts him with a knee but Edwards is relentless with his takedowns. Lopez stuffs a takedown and starts to lay into Edwards with punches as the round ends. Very close round, could go either way with the takedowns versus Lopez's defense and striking. 10-9 Edwards I guess.
Round two: Edwards opens aggressively with a spinning back kick and pushes Lopez into the fence, securing a takedown directly into side control. Edwards wraps up Lopez's neck looking for a choke but he doesn't have great positioning. Edwards transitions to a guillotine choke but Lopez shakes him out of it and they both get back to their feet. Edwards is slowing down and both men clinch against the fence. Edwards scores a takedown and takes Lopez's back the second he tries to bounce back up. Edwards puts the hooks in while Lopez is really stuck right now. Edwards postures up and is really dropping some big right hands and Lopez turns into him with a quick explosion. The ref separates them with 30 seconds left and Edwards throws a few head kicks and a body kick that connects. Lopez finishes the round throwing knees to the body as the round ends. 10-9 Edwards
Round three: Lopez throws a nice knee to the body and both men clinch. Lopez wraps him up and secures a takedown. Edwards is attempting a Kimura and he's got the arm straightened out but Lopez frees his arm and then quickly transitions to mount. Edwards gives up his back and he flattens Edwards out. He starts dropping some bombs. Edwards turns away and hip escapes, escaping to side control but Lopez is still on top dropping elbows. The referee warns him to work and Lopez is running out of time. Edwards turns into Lopez and escapes back to his feet. Lopez drops down for a takedown and gets it, landing in Edwards' full guard. Edwards is defending well and rolls over. He's attacking Lopez's arm with an omaplata. Edwards wraps up a triangle right as the fight ends. 10-9 Lopez
Final result: Justin Edwards defeats Jorge Lopez via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
-end-
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