Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back on FOX Sports 1 TONIGHT (Nov. 6, 2013) with UFC Fight Night 31: "Fight for the Troops 3," going down inside the Ft. Campbell military base, which hugs the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville and Clarksville.
Headlining the network's charity mixed martial arts (MMA) event will be a middleweight throwdown between Army Ranger Tim Kennedy and venerable Brazilian interloper Rafael Natal. Elsewhere on the card, top female bantamweights Liz Carmouche and Alexis Davis will collide in a 135-pound throwdown, while lightweight up-and-comers Jorge Masvidal and Rustam Khabilov hook 'em up in a meaningful 155-pound scrap.
All that and more will raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 31 fight card TONIGHT (Nov. 6, 2013) right here, starting with the Facebook "Prelims" at 3:15 p.m. ET, right on through the FOX Sports 1-televised under card bouts at 5 p.m. ET and then main card action also on FOX Sports 1, which is slated to begin at 7 p.m. ET.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the televised fisticuffs to share their thoughts on all the exciting action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 31) 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 "Fight for the Troops 3."
Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC Fight Night 31 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 31 QUICK RESULTS:
185 lbs.: Tim Kennedy def. Rafael Natal by KO (punches) at 4:40 R1
135 lbs.: Alexis Davis def. Liz Carmouche by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
185 lbs.: Yoel Romero def. Ronny Markes by KO (punches) at 1:39 R3
155 lbs.: Rustam Khabilov def. Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
155 lbs.: Michael Chiesa def. Colton Smith by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:40 R2
155 lbs.: Bobby Green def. James Krause by TKO (body kick) at 3:50 R3
135 lbs.: Francisco Rivera Def. George Roop by TKO (strikes) at 2:20 R2
145 lbs.: Dennis Bermudez Def. Steven Siler by unanimous decision (30-27x3)
135 lbs.: Amanda Nunes Def. Germaine de Randamie by TKO (elbows) at 3:56 R1
185 lbs.: Lorenz Larkin Def. Chris Camozzi by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27x2)
155 lbs.: Yancy Medeiros Def. Yves Edwards by knockout at 2:41 R1
170 lbs.: Seth Baczynski Def. Neil Magny via unanimous decision (29-28x3)
185 lbs.: Derek Brunson Def. Brian Houston by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:48 R1
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 31 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
185 lbs.: Tim Kennedy vs. Rafael Natal
Round 1: Kennedy catches a leg kick but can't keep hold of it. Nice swiping right hand from Sapo and a counter left. Leg kick from Natal. Nice jab. Kennedy head kicks are blocked. Left hand sneaks through to Kennedy's jaw. Kennedy whiffs on a big right. Overhand right connects again for Sapo and another leg kick. Natal ducks under punches to get a brief takedown but can't maintain. Leg kick takes Kennedy's legs out from under him. Tim pops back up and returns to center cage. Leg kick exchange. Body kick connects for Kennedy. Natal misses on a spinning heel kick. Kennedy head kick blocked once again. Leg kicks land for both men. Spinning back fist falls short from Sapo, as does a Kennedy front kick and heel kick. Kennedy lands a leg kick. Counter left hook lands on Kennedy's chin. Out of nowhere, Kennedy lands a gargantuan leaping left hook and Natal goes down like he was shot. He's asleep before he hits the ground but Herb Dean lets Tim land a few more before waving him off. Impressive.
Final result: Tim Kennedy Def. Rafael Natal by KO (punches)
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135 lbs.: Liz Carmouche vs. Alexis Davis
Round 1: Carmouche lands a body kick and is then backed off by punches. Leg kicks from both. Davis catches a kick but takes a punch and lets go. Carmouche whiffs on a pair of big punches. Again. Limited action for a while, then a hard leg kick from Liz. Davis tries to counter a leg kick with punches to no avail. Another leg kick. Davis lands a leg kick of her own. Liz responds in kind. And Davis again counters with a leg kick. Really nothing of note happening so far besides the occasional leg kick. Alexis backs Carmouche into the cage but eats a counter right. Leg kick from Carmouche. Good shots against the cage by Davis. Solid counter right from Carmouche. Leg kick exchange. Davis presses forward with punches but takes another counter right. Close, uneventful round. 10-9 Carmouche.
Round 2: Davis counters a leg kick with a right straight. Good counter right from Carmouche. Davis meets a leg kick with punches. Leg kick from Davis and she takes another counter right. Another good inside leg kick from Davis and she follows it with a right. Big right hook from Carmouche and another met by a flurry. They trade against the fence, Davis getting the better of it. Davis cut badly over her left eye from the right hook. Davis's inside leg kicks have Carmouche buckling now. Liz on the back foot. Front kick to the body by Carmouche and a pair of big rights. Hard outside leg kick by Davis. Carmouche lands a leg kick of her own but she's still on the retreat. Carmouche avoids a flurry. Leg kicks by Davis again. Davis tags Liz with some punches afterwards; Carmouche switches to orthodox to avoid more punishment. Davis catches a body kick and is on top in side control with a minute left. Liz trying to use the cage to improve position unsuccessfully. Knees to the body from both. Carmouche explodes out with ten seconds left and ends the round on top. 10-9 Davis.
Round 3: Cut's in a bad spot but seems under control.
Another hard leg kick trips Liz up; Davis pressures and gets her against the fence. Knee to the body from Liz but Davis has double underhooks. Davis landing knees of her own to the legs and body. Liz reverses and is now pressing Davis against the fence, but Davis reverses the reversal. Fighters separate after insufficient action. Davis still pressing forward, takes a counter right. Inside leg kick connects. Another and one to the opposite leg. Carmouche connects with a right hand. Davis ties her up and gets double unders once again. Now over-under after an elbow. Carmouche tries to take her down but cannot and they reset in the center. Davis takes another right hand. Davis leg kick lands again. Carmouche lands one of her own with much less impact. Davis follows up her next kick with a hard right hand up top. Lead right this time; Carmouche in full retreat along the cage. Another leg kick lands. Another leads into the clinch; Davis lands a knee up top before Carmouche reverses. Fight ends, 10-9 Davis.
Final result: Alexis Davis Def. Liz Carmouche by unanimous decision
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185 lbs.: Ronny Markes vs. Yoel Romero
Round 1: Good kick to the body from Markes. Inside leg kick from Romero. Kick to the body from Romero and another leg kick. Markes goes to the body with a kick, has it blocked. Another leg kick from Yoel. Markes catches a kick and briefly takes Romero down. Yoel is back up in a hurry. Romero jacks Markes' head back with a big left straight. Romero slips on a kick, Markes tries to get on top but can't. Romero easily stuffs a double leg but gets taken down from a body lock. Markes on top in half guard. Markes landing short punches. Now he's fishing for the Kimura, but Romero uses the opportunity to stand. Left to the body from Yoel. Markes standing elbow falls short. Romero lands a kick to the shin and follows with a big left hand upstairs. Body kick by Ronny, Romero falls short with a spinning back fist. Brief clinch. Markes hips out of a takedown attempt but takes a left hand. Bell; 10-9 Romero.
Round 2: Markes head kick is blocked. Short left hand by Romero connects. Body kick does as well. Vicious elbow and knee from Romero inside. Lead left hand and he dodges a wild right from Markes. Another lead left connects. Markes whiffs on a right and takes another left. Another. Romero ragdolls Markes to the mat from the Thai Plum but elects to let him up. Markes misses with a one-two but lands a right to the body. Another big left hand lands for Romero and he shrugs off another takedown. Big body kick from Romero might have hurt Markes; he flops to his back but it may have been a guard pull. Romero lets him back up after messing around with his legs. Markes body kick fails to connect. Romero sneaks in another left hand and nearly takes a flying knee. Romero lands another left but Ronny is now in desperation more and coming forward with punches. Markes winging punches, the majority getting slipped. Romero takes a body kick and tags him again with the left. Nice right hand from Markes in the waning seconds. 10-9 Romero.
Round 3: Markes storming forward with haymakers. Romero stuffs a double-leg and Markes flops. Again, Yoel lets him up. Ronny gets poked in the eye, but it's not deep and they reset. Markes wobbles by a hard left from Romero. Yoel lands a few more but can't get him down. Another good left. Markes on the defensive again and takes a left hand to the body. Two more to the body. MASSIVE left hand from Romero turns out the lights; Markes has maybe 10% consciousness when he hits the mat but two more hits snuff it out. Wow.
Final result: Yoel Romero def. Ronny Markes by KO (punches)
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155 lbs.: Rustam Khabilov vs. Jorge Masvidal
Round 1: Khabilov steps in with a huge overhand right than Masvidal somehow eats with no ill effects. Leg kick from Masvidal. Khabilov nails him again with a right. Rustam charges after him with wild shots, landing a good left up top. Masvidal with an angling right hand and jab. Masvidal jabs and is countered by the overhand right. Body kick from Khabilov. They collide with hard shots from both. Khabilov attempts an upward elbow, then lands another overhand right. Body shot from the Dagestani followed by blocked shots upstairs. Masvidal lands another angling right. Khabilov tries to clinch but cannot. Now he's in on a single and briefly gets Masvidal down. Big body shot from Jorge. Body kick this time. Khabilov catches a flying knee, gets a brief takedown, and holds Masvidal against the cage. Solid knees to the body from Jorge in the clinch before they split. Khabilov front kick is caught. Again, Khabilov catches a flying knee and again Masvidal works his torso with knees. Masvidal leg kick is caught, Khabilov walks him to the fance. Knee to the body before the bell. First half of the round belonged to Khabilov, the rest to Masvidal. 10-9 Khabilov.
Round 2: Khabilov overhand falls short. Masvidal leg kick connects. Big counter right hand from Khabilov is answered by a leg kick. Masvidal tries to go high with it. Another solid leg kick. Khabilov punches the thigh as part of a combo. Jorge blocks an overhand but takes a check left hook. Leg kick and then a body kick by Jorge. Jorge steps in with a right, gets clinched, and gets out quickly. Masvidal lands a digging left hook to the body and has Rustam on the back foot now. Stiff leg kick as he takes a counter left hook. Once again, Masvidal steps in and gets clinched, but reverses and has Rustam against the fence. A couple knees before they disengage. Rustam narrowly misses with a huge right. Another clinch and Masvidal takes Khabilov down. Elbows from guard by the Strikeforce vet. Khabilov wall walks up and they split. Blast double from Khabilov leads to a single leg leads to the rear waistlock. He briefly takes Masvidal down but Jorge's back up. Jorge turns into him to get a leg, tries the takedown, and can't get it. Nice right hand from Jorge before the bell. 10-9 Masvidal.
Round 3: Rustam steps in with punches but falls short. Masvidal leg kick. Jorge narrowly misses with the lead right. Spinning heel kick from Rustam out of nowhere drops Masvidal. Jorge is lucid and they scramble. Rustam briefly takes his back against the cage. Jorge manages to get out, gets briefly hip tossed, but gets up and they re-engage. Masvidal tries a takedown and Rustam gets control against the cage. He takes the back again briefly, almost locks up the choke, but gets reversed into side control. He works his way up and they engage in center cage. Good strikes from both men. Masvidal stuffs a double. Jorge snatches a single-leg and forces Rustam against the cage. Knee to the body from Jorge, who shoves Rustam down but can't control. Flying knee from Jorge hits the body. Masvidal tries a spinning back kick and Rustam takes his back in the scramble. Turtle position. Masvidal rolls through but Rustam stays on him. Masvidal hits the switch and they scramble to their feet. Rustam trips Jorge down against the fence and sprawls on a takedown attempt. Short shots to the body by Rustam and some brief jockeying for position before the end of the round. Fantastic round. 10-9 Khabilov.
Final result: Rustam Khabilov def. Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision
-end-
155 lbs.: Michael Chiesa vs. Colton Smith
Round 1: Chiesa looks like the bigger of the two. They're hanging out at range in center cage. Inside leg kick from Smith, then one to the dome that's blocked. Chiesa looking for the counter right as Colton steps in. Chiesa advances with a left hand and knee, Smith takes the oppeotunity to tie him up against the cage. After a brief struggle, Smith lifts and slams Chiesa down. Colton tries to establish in guard but Chiesa hits a hip bump sweep into mount. Now he takes the back and locks up the body triangle. Chiesa still working for the choke at the halfway point of the round. Colton manages to roll out and take Chiesa's back as they stand up. Smith slips off but gets a rear waistlock, takes Chiesa down, and gets the hooks in. Smith on him like a backpack as Chiesa stands and he may have the choke. Chiesa slams his way out but Colton's still on his back. Colton using the half nelson to try to open up the choke, can't get it, Chiesa stands back up. Smith disengages with fifteen seconds left. Very silly tornado kick from Colton doesn't even come close in the waning seconds of the round. 10-9 Smith.
Round 2: They tie up early and Colton presses Michael into the cage. Chiesa almost hits a trip but can't get it and they split. One-two connects for Chiesa. Left lands again and Smith wraps him up against the cage. Beautiful toss from the whizzer by Chiesa and he's got the back again. He immediately locks in the RNC and gets the tap five seconds later. Most impressive.
Final result: Michael Chiesa Def. Colton Smith by submission (rear-naked choke)
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155 lbs.: Bobby Green vs. James Krause
Round 1: Krause with a jab and leg kick early. Once again. Front kick from Green. They kick at the same time and Bobby's front kick catches James flush in the 'nads. Joe Rogan once again plugs Thai cups.
Green more aggressive on the restart and pushing forward. Quick exchange near the fence; Krause tries to tie him up but disengages with a kick. Green jabs the body; Krause catches a kick but can't capitalize. Straight punches land for both men. Hard leg kick by Green, then a body kick. Krause flying knee misses its mark. Krause catches another body kick but cannot capitalize. James tries to tie up with no success. Slips a big right from Green. Krause pawing with the jab and gets his own kick caught. Green to the body. They trade leg kicks and Krause steps right into a jab from Green. Green pops him with another good lead left. Body kick; Green avoiding Krause's punches well. Krause ducks in and takes another kick to the groin and Big John docks a point from Green.
Green pushing forward on the restart again, lands a hard left before Krause circles out. Green lands a MASSIVE kick to the body/groin area; Krause collapses and Big John calls Green the winner.
Replays are inconclusive. Green's final point of impact was above the beltline but it looks like he might have caught the cup on the way in. Let's see what happens.
They're calling it a knockout.
Final result: Bobby Green Def. James Krause by TKO (body kick)
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135 lbs.: Francisco Rivera vs. George Roop
Round 1: Highkick from Roop, and Rivera cracks Roop with a devastating right and left combination. Roop ties Rivera up and tries to recover. Uppercut by Rivera and Roop takes him down. Rivera has his back against the fence and Roop is looking to take his back. Rivera found an opportunity to stand back up and Roop further controlled his body against the cage. Mario Yamasaki breaks them up and Roop lands a big knee in the clinch. River lands a counter-left hand as Roop storms in. Rivera lands an uppercut up the middle. Highkick from Roop that grazes Rivera. Roop stays away from Rivera's big push as the round ends.
Round 2: Roop goes for a flying knee and misses. Rivera lands a powerful combination and Roop takes it. Rivera countering well, as Roop tries to land his right hand. Roop hits Rivera low and halts the action for a moment. Rivera goes in forward with a combination. Rivera tags Roop with a right hand and starts to pour it on. Rivera clocking Roop and drops him twice. Yamasaki steps in and saved Roop from the onslaught.
Final result: Francisco Rivera Def. George Roop by TKO (strikes) at 2:20 R2
-end-
145 lbs.: Dennis Bermudez vs. Steven Siler
Round 1: Bermudez lands a jab to start off the action. Siler goes in with a flurry of punches and Bermudez takes him down. Bermudez trying to secure side control, with Siler making his way back up by using the fence. Bermudez is keeping Siler against the fence and accidentally low blows him. The action resumes, and Bermudez goes for another takedown and Siler locks in a guillotine. Bermudez rolls out of it and gets back to his feet -- taking down Siler. Bermudez gets caught in a triangle but stand up and slams Siler back on the mat. Siler works his way back up and goes for another guillotine. Bermudez scrambles out and locks in an arm-in guillotine of his own. Siler storms out of it, and they are back to trading on their feet. A wild fight so far.
Round 2: Bermudez slips after going for a big right hand and escapes a submission attempt. Bermudez shakes off another guillotine attempt to find himself on top of Siler. Siler uses his butterfly guard to get back to his feet. Bermudez lands another big takedown that pushes them more towards the center of the Octagon. Bermudez working from Siler's guard. Bermudez starts to work a neck crank. The round ends with both fighters back on their feet in the clinch.
Round 3: Big right hand by Bermudez, who goes for another takedown and shakes off a guillotine attempt. Back on their feet, Siler keeps landing the jab. Bermudez goes for another takedown, and Siler stuffs it. Siler is more hesitant than Bermudez, who is the aggressor. Bermudez goes to the body and takes a left hook. Siler stuffs another takedown but takes a few punches from Bermudez. Left hook lands for Bermudez and he scores a takedown. Siler works his way back up and Bermudez works a standing guillotine. Siler powers out of it and they start to savagely slug it out with Bermudez landing a huge right hand as the last shot.
Final result: Dennis Bermudez Def. Steven Siler by unanimous decision (30-27x3)
-end-
135 lbs.: Amanda Nunes vs. Germaine de Randamie
Round 1: Both start by feeling each other out, looking for openings. A wild, spinning kick misses by Nunes. Legkick lands by Nunez. De Randamie comes in with a left hook, followed by a kick to the body and Nunes goes for the clich. Nunes is working for the takedown, with De Randamie against the fence and secures it. Nunes gets full mount and stretches out her opponent away from the cage. Nunes working the ground and pound, throwing elbows and following up with punches. Nunes throwing bombs and De Randamie is not fighting back. Herb Dean steps in, with Nunes earning the stoppage victory.
Final result: Amanda Nunes Def. Germaine de Randamie by TKO (elbows) at 3:56 R1
-end-
185 lbs.: Chris Camozzi vs. Lorenz Larkin
Round 1: Larkin with an early legkick. Larkin with a kick to the body, countered by an inside legkick from Camozzi. Camozzi backs him up with a kick to the body. Camozzi nails Larkin with a few shots, and Larkin answers back and drops Camozzi. He lets him up. Shot to the body from Larkin. Two hard inside legkicks from Camozzi. Jab and a straight left from Camozzi. Larkin hits Camozzi with a solid punch that backs him up. Good combination by Camozzi, and Larkin lands a kick to the body. Larkin throws a kick and slips. Back on his feet, Larkin continues to go to the body with kicks.
Round 2: Camozzi lands multiple legkicks to commence the round. A hard jab lands from Larkin. Both fighters a little more composed with their shots. Camozzi misses high with a headkick. Camozzi goes for the clinch and tries his luck at a few knees. Larkin doing a good job of pushing Camozzi towards the cage as they break free. Right hand to the body from Larkin. A headkick misses from Larkin. Beautiful combination lands by Camozzi. Larkin hammers through and cuts Camozzi with a straight left, followed by a right. Two short elbows in the clinch land for Larkin, and Camozzi is busted up. They trade aerial attacks and slug it out to close the round.
Round 3: Both middleweights trade kicks to open the round. Nice spinning-kick to the thigh from Larkin. Camozzi goes high with a few kicks, and misses. A stiff jab lands from Larkin. A big right hand up the middle from Larkin. More work to the body from Larkin. Camozzi still pushing forward, but Larkin is accurately picking his shots. Left hook from Larkin lands. Camozzi ties him up, and Larkin pushes Camozzi against the cage. Larkin lands a big elbow, followed by a knee. In the clinch, Larkin and Camozzi both asking for more from the crowd and simultaneously throw more shots at each other. Larkin gets the last shot in.
Final result: Lorenz Larkin Def. Chris Camozzi by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27x2)
-end-
155 lbs.: Yves Edwards vs. Yancy Medeiros
Round 1: Both fighters exchange hard legkicks, with Medeiros coming on strong. Nice left hand by Medeiros, and Edwards returns the favor. Medeiros pushing the pace, going to the body and keeping busy with the jab. Counter-left hook from Edwards lands. Solid right hand by Edwards, followed by a kick to the body. Superman punch lands from Medeiros, who also lands a hook over the top. Big knee from Edwards as Medeiros comes in. Slip by Edwards. Right hook tags Medeiros, but Medeiros fires back with a huge left uppercut hand that drops Edwards. Medeiros follows up with punches and Edwards is out.
Final result: Yancy Medeiros Def. Yves Edwards by knockout at 2:41 R1
-end-
170 lbs.: Seth Baczynski vs. Neil Magny
Round 1: Magny pushing forward, while Baczynski lands a few legkicks. Baczynski goes high with a headkick and misses. Baczynski clocks him up the middle with a stiff jab. Baczynski goes for the clinch, and they are up against the cage. Big John breaks them apart. Good combination lands by Baczynski. Magny goes for the takedown, and they both end up in the clinch again. Knees and punches on the inside by Magny. They get separated again. Big overhead takedown by Baczynski, right into the guard. Magny staying busy from the bottom with punches. Baczynski ends the round in full mount, and lands some shots by posturing up.
Round 2: Both fighters exchange legkicks, and Magny gets a takedown stuffed. Clinched up against the fence again, they begin to reverse positions before they are broken up. Baczynski lands a big right hand and gets the immediate takedown stuffed, but Magny stays up and goes for a takedown of his own. More grappling against the cage, with Magny staying active with knees to the body. Broken up again, Baczynski starts to swing for the fences. Magny reverses a takedown and they are back on their feet. Headkick misses by Baczynski. Baczynski with a right hand and a takedown. Baczynski works from side control as the round ends.
Round 3: Jab by Magny before Baczynski goes for the clinch again. Baczynski working for the takedown. Baczynski showing that he is the stronger grappler here with dominant positioning. They break free, and Baczynski goes to the body. Baczynski goes for the takedown, and Magny reverses the positioning, landing knees to the body. With a lead-in right, Baczynski lands the takedown and ends up in Magny's guard. Butterfly guard by Magny, and controls Baczynski's wrists. Baczynski postures up, and Magny is able to get back to his feet. Magny lands a takedown, and immediately lands another with Baczynski on his feet. Magny pouring it on while Baczynski gets back to his feet, landing the most significant blows we have seen yet. Magny opens him up as the buzzer sounds with another flurry.
Final result: Seth Baczynski Def. Neil Magny via unanimous decision (29-28x3)
-end-
185 lbs.: Derek Brunson vs. Brian Houston
Round 1: They touch gloves and get us going. Brunson with an early legkick and immediately nails him with a massive headkick. Brunson storms Houston from behind, and locks in a rear-naked choke. Houston is trying to break free, but ultimately taps. Insane stuff from Brunson.
Final result: Derek Brunson Def. Brian Houston by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:48 R1
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