Happy Memorial Day!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will celebrate the holiday weekend in style, with a stacked UFC 187: "Johnson vs. Cormier" pay-per-view (PPV) extravaganza, featuring a championship doubleheader in the main and co-main events, locked and loaded for Sat. night (May 23, 2015) inside MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Headlining the UFC 187 fight card will be light heavyweight contenders Anthony Johnson and Daniel Cormier, who battle for the 205-pound strap stripped from Jon Jones. Prior to their championship showdown, Chris Weidman puts his gold up for grabs opposite Brazilian nemesis Vitor Belfort.
All that and so much more.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 187 fight card below, starting with the Fight Pass "Prelims" matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, and then the remaining under card balance on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET before the PPV main card start time at 10 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 187) 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 "Johnson vs. Cormier."
Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 187 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 187 QUICK RESULTS:
Daniel Cormier def. Anthony Johnson by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:35 of Round Three
Chris Weidman def. Vitor Belfort by TKO (punches and elbows) at 2:53 of Round One
Donald Cerrone def. John Makdessi by TKO (broken jaw) at 4:44 of Round Two
Andrei Arlovski def. Travis Browne by TKO (punches) at 4:41 of Round One
Joseph Benavidez def. John Moraga by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
John Dodson def. Zach Makovsky by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Dong Hyun Kim def. Josh Burkman by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:13 of Round Three
Rafael Natal def. Uriah Hall by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Rose Namajunas vs. Nina Ansaroff Fight cancelled due to Ansaroff contracting the flu
Colby Covington def. Mike Pyle by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Islam Makhachev def. Leo Kuntz by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:38 of Round Two
Justin Scoggins def. Josh Sampo by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
UFC 187 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
205 lbs.: Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier for vacant light heavyweight title
Round 1: Rumble opens with a hard low kick, catching a poke in the process as he is wont to do. BIG overhand right drops DC! Rumble on the attack! DC takes advantage of his aggressiveness to grab the rear waistlock. DC lifts and slams him down. Rumble working his way back up. One minute in. DC changes levels for a single-leg. He spins him down and grabs the front headlock. Two minutes in. DC staying heavy on Johnson. Rumble stands, still in the front headlock. Rumble pops his head out and DC tries to work an underhook. Two minutes to go.
Rumble blasts him with a head kick, a right hand, and another head kick. DC takedown stuffed. Johnson head kick blocked. One minute to go. DC grabs double underhooks and takes him to the fence. DC grinding on him. They swing on the break before the bell. 10-9 Cormier.
Round 2: Low kick from Rumble, overhand right connects. Head kick connects for Johneon, then to the body. Overhand right lands. DC catches a body kick and takes him to the fence. DC picks him up and dumps him, landing in half guard. One minute in. Short elbo from Cormier. DC looking for a keylock on the far arm. Two minutes in. DC alternating between the Kimura and short left hands and elbows. DC drops the wrist grip. Two minutes in.
DC looking to posture up from half guard. Johnson tries to turn into him, can't do so as DC ships away at his body. Rumble swats at him from his back. One minute to go. Hard forearm and elbows from DC. Rumble appeals to the ref as he's getting hit. Cormier passes to side control before the bell and Johnson is a swollen mess, slow to stand. 10-9 Cormier.
Round 3: Low kick from Cormier, right uppercut and head kick from Rumble. Rumble slips on an uppercut and DC sprawls on him. Rumble in on his hips against the fence and briefly gets DC down. Cormier back to his feet and reverses position on the cage. Cormier working for a single-leg. One minute in. Johnson cracks him with a pair of powerful rights as DC tries to elevate his leg. DC takes his back with little resistance. Johnson turns and shoots in. DC sprawls on it and lands punches on the turtling Rumble. Two minutes in. DC just sapping him with his weight. DC gets the forearm under the chin and puts in both hooks. After a quick adjustment, an exhausted Rumble submits. Daniel Cormier is your new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Final result: Cormier def. Johnson by submission (rear-naked choke)
-end-
185 lbs.: UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort
Round 1: Weidman fires off a head kick, which is blocked. Oncce again. Lead right misses. He fakes a level change, then gets stuffed when he does for real. Vitor stumbles after getting a kick caught but stays up. Now Vitor is blitzing, unloading with left hand and elbows. Right hook rattles Chris, Chris responds with a left hook. Ninety seconds in. Weidman shoots and completes a takedown into half guard. Good elbow from Chris. Weidman posturing up with hard hammerfists. Weidman blasts him with an elbow and punches while posutred up and takes his back. Weidman unloading from the back and now from the mount. Weidman postured up and bashing relentlessly. Vitor is offering nothing in response and Herb Dean mercifully stops the fight.
Final result: Weidman def. Belfort by TKO (punches and elbows)
-end-
155 lbs.: Donald Cerrone vs. John Makdessi
Round 1: Cerrone looks to go high early. Low kick lands for him. Again. Makdessi blocks a body kick. Double jab from The Bull. Low kick from Cerrone. Counter from Makdessi. One minute in. Cerrone goes high and rattles Makdessi with a switch kick. Low kick lands for him, Makdessi answers with a left hand. Another low kick from Cerrone. Makdessi tries a side kick. Inside low kick from Cerrone. Outside this time, met by a left hook from Makdessi. Two minutes in. Knee to the body from Cowboy. Low kick lands for him. Body kick this time after a Makdessi low kick. Good combination from Cerrone. Two minutes to go.
Lead right lands for him. Makdessi jabs the body. Good double left hook from the Canadian. Cerrone tries to go up top again, eats a low kick and lands one himself. One minute to go. Body kick from The Bull. Long left by Cerrone after eating another body jab. Leg kick exchange. Spinning back kick by Makdessi. Leg kick by Cerrone. Nice pair of straights to end the round from Cerrone. 10-9 Cerrone.
Round 2:Makdessi firing off the lead leg, eats a punching combination. Leg kick exchange. Another low kick from Cerrone. High kick connects, as does a left hook. Another switch kick from Cerrone. Another low kick from Cerrone, then a teep. Lead right connects. Makdessi falling short with his own punches. Nice knee and combination by Cerrone. One minute in. Another leg kick by Cerrone and another. Makdessi answers with punches. Leg kick from Makdessi. Cerrone just misses with a head kick. Side kick from Makdessi, left hook up top. Cerrone whacks him with yet another leg kick. Again. Two minutes in. Uppercut from Cowboy, lead hook from Makdessi. Inside low kick this time. Another heavy kick by Cerrone, Makdessi pops him with a stiff jab, only to eat a knee up top. Double left hook from Makdessi, who blocks a head kick. Wheel kick attempt. Two minutes to go.
Left hooks from both men. Makdessi attacking the leg. Stiff jab again by Makdessi, then one on the counter. Cerrone head kick misses, lead right does not. Makdessi body kick after taking a left hook. Up elbow, standard elbow, knee up top from Cerrone in sequence. One minute to go. Another lead elbow from Cowboy. Low kick lands. Makdessi falls short on a wheel kick. Cerrone lands a low kick, then goes upstairs with the same leg, breaking Makdessi's jaw and prompting The Bull to accept defeat.
Final result: Cerrone def. Makdessi by TKO (broken jaw)
-end-
265 lbs.: Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne
Round 1: Arlovski opens with an inside low kick. Three-punch combo from Andrei falls short. Browne to the body with the right. BIG counter right from Arlovksi and Browne is hurt! Andrei pursues him to the fence with punches and looks to unload on the fence. Browne survives, only to get smacked again and taken to the fence. Imrpessively, he surives once again. One minute in. Back to the center. Overhand right by Browne. Browne slips a right, lands a lead left hook. Backfist rattles Browne. Arlovski unloading on the cage. Browne's legs are not quite there. Anotehr big right by Arlovski. Two minutes in. Arlovski being patient against the durable Hawaiian. Browne looking for low kicks. Two minutes to go.
Arlovski pursues, falls short. Both whiff on right hands, only for Andrei to drop him with a backfist and sweeping right. Browne with his back to the fence still wobbly. Out of nowhere, a massive right hook from Bowne drops Arlovski! A scramble ensues and Browne eats a big knee. Andrei opening up on the fence. Good short elbow. One minute to go. Overhand right by Andrei. MASSIVE uppercut and right cross from Arlovski short-circuit Browne and the big man begins to teeter. Thankfully, the referee steps in to save Browne from further punishment and call an end to a terrific round of fighting.
Final result: Arlovski def. Browne by TKO (punches)
-end-
125 lbs.: Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga
Round 1: Quick exchange inside, nice left hook from Benavidez. Nice head kick from Moraga, which Benavidez responds to by sending him to the ground with a series of right hands. Benavidez follows him down into half guard. Moraga fishing for a front headlock. One minute in. Benavidez in a guillotine position of his own, passes to side control. Two minutes in. Joe goes for the guillotine, which allows Moraga to stand. Benavidez shoots and dumps him on his seat. Elbow by Benavidez as Moraga uses butterfly hooks to get to his feet. Moraga tries a trip, can't get it. Two minutes to go.
They exchange knees in the clinch. Benavidez pressing him against the cage. Short elbow by Moraga. Double underhooks for Benavidez. Moraga reverses, tries to change levels. Nice lateral drop by Moraga. Benavidez pops up and tries one himself, only to nearly give up his back. Jockeying for position on the cage. One minute to go. Knees from Moraga. Joe slams him down into half guard. Moraga with his back on the fence. Benavidez using the guillotine grip to control, takes top guard before the bell. 10-9 Benavidez.
Round 2: Joe B blocks a body kick and counters with a 1-2. Low kick from Moraga after eating a body kick. Leg kick from Joe B, body shot by Moraga. Head kick blocked. Benavidez to the body, eats an uppercut from Moraga. One minute to go. Nice low kick by Moraga. Joe B answers, eats another one as he tries to advance. Moraga timing the leg kick as Joe advances. Hard body kick from Moraga, then another. Right hand after Benavidez blocks one of his kicks. Two minutes in. Moraga clinches up, bleeding from the top of his head. Benavidez moves him to the fence. Knee to the body by Moraga. Joe B changes levels and puts Moraga on his seat against the fence. Two minutes to go.
Benavidez works his head out of Moraga's guillotine grip. Half guard, now side control for Joe. One minute to go. Short elbows from Joe B. Moraga trying to knee the body from his back. Good elbows from Joe. Bell. 10-9 Benavidez.
Round 3: Joe flurries, nothing lands. Low kick by Benavidez. Counter right connects for Moraga. They exchange at close range, brawling away and both landing hard blows. Moraga on the advance, cracks him with a right hand. One minute in. Moraga to the body. Low kick by Joe B. Good right hand from Benavidez inside. Two minutes in. Head kick blocked. Joe B puts him on his back with a knee tap, taking side control. Moraga regains guard. Joe B landing some decent shots, nothing fight-ending. Two minutes to go.
Moraga just looking to control posture. Elbows from Joe B. Moraga really not doing much to try to stand or submit. One minute to go. More punches and elbows from Joe B as Moraga just holds him close. There's the bell. Good fight. 10-9 Benavidez.
Final result: Benavidez def. Moraga by unanimous decision
-end-
125 lbs.: John Dodson vs. Zach Makovsky
Round 1: Makovsky retreats from a left hand. Hard low kick from Dodson as Makovsky tries to change levels. Makovsky stuffed. Body shot, hard cross by Dodson. One minute in. Makovsky with a knee to the body after being denied. Nice straight left from Zach. Dodson stuffs another takedown. Two minutes in. Quick exchange inside, Dodson digs to the body. Dodson digs in a right uppercut to the body and stops yet another takedown. Another stuffed takedown. Two minutes to go.
Stiff punch from Makovsky connects. Another good left hand and a knee to the body. Low kick by Makovsky, Dodson answers. One minute to go. Makovsky denied again. And again. Again, this time Dodson cracks him with an overhand left. Dodson shoots, stuffed. Lead left by Makovsky. Quick clinch before the bell. 10-9 Makovsky.
Round 2: Makovsky jabs the body. Counter left by Makovsky. Nice counter knee from Dodson after the next stuffed takedown. Makovsky tries to go high. Dodson just misses with a lef uppercut. Dodson catches a poke, elects to just keep going. One minute in. Makovsky catches a low kick and they exchange inside. Dodson exits with a knee to the body. Clean left from Makovsky. Low kick lands for him. Two minutes to go. Dodson lands a glancing left, then a good one to the body. Dodson stops another takedown attempt. Makovsky flicking out kicks. Takedown stuffed. Two minutes to go.
Leg kick from Makovsky. Counter uppercut by Dodson, counter left by Makovsky soon after. Dodson whiffs badly on an overhand left. Head kick lands for Makovsky. One minute to go. They trade low kicks and Makovsky takes him down with a single-leg, running the pipe on the caught kick. Dodson scrambles up and slams Makovsky down himself. Makovsky looking for a leglock. Dodson avoids is and offers a hand to help Makovsky stand. Knee by Makovsky before the bell. 10-9 Makovsky.
Round 3: Quick brohug to start the round. Makovsky retreats away from a haymaker. Nice counter left from Makovsky. Makovsky low kick. Another counter left by Makovsky. One minute in. Body kick lands for Makovsky. Dodson doing jack right now. Makovsky takedown stuffed. Makovsky ducks a rush, attempts to change levels. Two minutes in. Dodson whiffs on an uppercut. They clinch up on the fence, trading knees. Dodson lands one up top and a good one to the body before they separate. Dodson runs into another left hand. Two minutes to go.
Dodson can't connect on a failed Mkovsky level changed. Good uppercut connects for him inside. Knee to the body as Makovsky changes levels. Same thing, this time to the head. One minute to go. Dodson catches a body kick. Makovsky scrambles up on the fence. Dodson stuffs another takedown and lands a knee to the body. Knee to the body from Makovsky. Makovsky lands an uppercut and fights for a single-leg, landing a left before the bell. 10-9 Makovsky.
Final result: Dodson def. Makovsky by unanimous decision
-end-
170 lbs.: Josh Burkman vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Round 1: Kim moving forward, tries to shoot from way too far out. Low kick from Burkman. Head kick attempt. Body kick by Kim, front kick attempt. Burkman wades forward with wide swings into the clinch. One minute in. Kim briefly threatens a guillotine, then reverses position on the cage. Burkman doing a good job to avoid the takedown. Two minutes in. Burkman reverses position and tries a takedown. He can't get it, but continues pressing Kim against the fence. Kim reverses and hops onto his back standing. Two minutes to go.
Short punches from Kim. Kim waves to pump on the crowd as Burkman looks to control his wrist. Kim squeezes on the RNC, denied by Burkman's fingers. One minute to go. Kim loses a hook. Both hooks off, still has control on the cage. A few knees by Kim before the bell. 10-9 Kim.
Round 2: Kim fires some front kicks to start the round. Low kick by Burkman. Kim slips on a high kick and Burkman wades after him with power punches. Kim stays up and makes space. Good counter right by Burkman as Kim swings. Burkman changes levels and gets Kim to one knee on the cage. One minute in. Kim with a bodylock from the sprawl position. Kim controlling him, making him turtle. Back crucifix by Kim, landing short punches. Two minutes in. Kim racking up the short blows, Nice elbow. Burkman still turtling with one arm trapped. Two minutes to go.
Burkman doing very little to improve position as Kim chisels away. One minute to go. More solid shots from Kim. Kim stands before the bell and lands a kick to the body. 10-9 Kim.
Round 3: Body kick by Burkman, who rattles Kim with some wide punches and a knee. Burkman unloading on Kim with punches and knees. Kim manages to weather the storm and make space. Lead left by Kim, right into the rear waistlock. Burkman tries to grab a guillotine as he's taken down, so Kim hops into side control on the opposite side. One minute in. Kim looking for an arm-triangle. Knee-on-belly for Kim. Burkman tries to buck him, puts him back in side control. Kim still with the arm-triangle grip, passes to mount with it and forces Burkman to tap.
Final result: Kim def. Burkman by submission (arm-triangle choke)
-end-
185 lbs.: Uriah Hall vs. Rafael Natal
Round 1: The first blow of the fight is a kick to the dick from Natal. Replay shows that there wasn't much rotation on that kick. Natal circling on the restart, firing low kicks. Hall catches a low kick and counters with a right hand. Hall tries a spinning back kick. Low kick by Hall. Sapo answers. One minute in. Hall taunting, eats a hard right hand for doing so. High kick attempt by Hall. Lead left hook from Uriah, then an inside leg kick. Front kick to the breadbasket. Low kick-body kick combo by Hall. Two minutes in. Natal staying active with low kicks, walks into a right hand. Good leg kick by Sapo. Hall sprawls on a double-leg. Wheel kick attempt just misses. Two minutes to go.
Hall just not active enough, does counter a low kick with a head kick. Uriah drills him with a spinning back kick to the gut. Low kick by Sapo, spinning backfist falls short. One minute to go. Sapo tries to go high, lands a quick flurry. Hard body kick by Hall, overhand right from Sapo. Natal shoots in and works to take Hall down on the fence. Hall fights it off until the bell. 10-9 Natal.
Round 2: Hall looking for head kicks early. Inside low kick from Hall. Hall smiling as he advances, pops him with a stiff jab. Low kick from Sapo. Low kick lands for him again. One minute in. Sapo ducks a right hand and takes Hall to the ground, landing in side control. Natal working towards an arm-triangle. Hall regains full guard. Two minutes to go. Natal "swimming" with punches as Hall scoots towards the fence. Hall makes it to his feet, Natal still has the rear waistlock. Knees to the butt from the Brazilian. Two minutes to go.
Hall gets his back to the fence and fights off a single-leg. Good knee by Hall. High kick blocked. Natal ducks a right hand, can't get the takedown. Hall plodding forward, eats a leg kick. One minute to go. Hall looks for a takedown. Sapo defending on the fence. They trade knees to the body. Uriah lifts and slams him down. Sapo pops right back up, only to get taken down from the rear waistlock. Bell rings just before Hall starts to punch. 10-9 Natal.
Round 3: Low kick from Hall, staying busy with the jab. Another good one to the inside. Wheel kick blocked. One minute in. Flying knee attempt hits Natal in the body. Flurry by Natal connects. Hall cracks him with a head kick as Sapo shoots and stuffs the takedown. Lead right by Natal. Two minutes in. Low kick from Hall after an extended lull. Head kick blocked. Low kick from Hall. Jabs from Hall as Natal looks for low kicks. Two minutes to go.
Good flurry by Natal, then a takedown attempt. Hall isn't throwing, eats a body kick. Natal grabs a single-leg and takes Hall to the fence. One minute to go. Nice right on the break by Natal before he shoots in. Ref splits them up. Natal advancing, eats a knee to the body. Half-hearted spinning backfist from Hall, then another stuffed takedown. He tries one more head kick before the bell. 10-9 Hall.
Final result: Natal def. Hall by split decision
-end-
115 lbs.: Rose Namajunas vs. Nina Ansaroff
Fight cancelled due to Ansaroff contracting the flu
-end-
170 lbs.: Mike Pyle vs. Colby Covington
Round 1: Both men tentative early. Covington shoots in, taking Pyle to the cage where he defends with underhooks. Covington still driving forward. One minute in. Pule makes an effort for a takedown, then gets pressed against the fence again. Low knee by Covington pauses the action. Pyle takes his time to recover, after which they take the center. Colby looks to go high. Overhand left just mises for him. Counter right by Pyle as Colby shoots in. Pyle fighting him off on the fence. Pyle looks for the plum, Colby breaks out and shoots back in. Two minutes in. KNee to the body from Pyle. Pyle rolls for a Kimura, can't get it but stands with the grip. Covington gets his arm out and continues working for the takedown. Covington gets him down with two minutes to go.
Nice elbow by Covington. Another. Covington staying tight to him, landing short punches as Pyle tries to work his legs higher. One minute to go. Covington postures up, avoids a triangle on the way down. Pyle working an overhook, loses it. Round ends in his guard. 10-9 Covington.
Round 2: Colby shoots and downs Pyle right away. Pyle makes it back up via the fence, fights off an attempt to lift him. Pyle threatens a guillotine and lands a knee to the body before Covington separates. One minute in. Right hook from Covington and he clips Pyle with a handful of punches. Pyle fires a knee off his back foot and slips. One minute to go. Pyle scrambles back up and grabs a Kimura grip. Pyle blatantly grabs the fence, gets taken down anyway. Covington in side control. Pyle tosses up an armbar, can't get it, then threatens with a triangle. Covington escapes and sets up shop in his guard. Two minutes in. Elbow by Covington. Another good elbow by the ATT product. Two minutes to go.
Pyle controlling his posture with an overhook. Covington landing short blows. Pyle slaps on the body triangle from his back. Herb Dean stands them up with a minute to go. Colby fires a high kick, eats a knee to the body. Again, this time Colby counters. Pyle walking him down at the bell. 10-9 Covington.
Round 3: Covington seems a bit fatigued. Let's see what happens.
Low kick from Pyle, straight left by Colby. Flying knee lands for Pyle, after which he fights off a takedown. Pyle slaps on a guillotine, Covington escapes and Pyle tries a Granby roll, eventually winding up on his back in guard. Good elbow from Covington. One minute in. Pyle controlling his posture, eats an unintentional butt. Two minutes in. Short punches by Covington. Elbow lands Colby tries to pass, can't do so. Two minutes to go.
Pyle fighting for a Kimura. He uses it to sweep into mount. Covington just latching onto him. Pyle slamming his head into the mat. Colby gives up his back. One minute to go. Pyle latches onto the choke, gives a hell of a squeeze, but can't finish him off. Covington rolls into top position. Good effort from Pyle, not enough. 10-9 Covington.
Final result: Covington def. Pyle by unanimous decision
-end-
155 lbs.: Leo Kuntz vs. Islam Makhachev
Round 1: Makhachev counters a low kick with a hard overhand left, after which Kuntz counters a body kick with a right cross. Right hook lands for Islam. He shoots in behind a left hand and clinches up. Dirty boxing from Islam. One minute in. Kuntz circles off the cage. Check hook by Islam. Islam moves into the clinch and hits a huge hip toss, taking the back instantly. Both hooks in for Makhachev. Two minutes in. Makhachev working for the choke. Kuntz manages to stand and escape out the back door. Good exchange inside. Two minutes to go. Islam to the body. High kick attempt by the Dagestani. Ninety seconds to go.
Check hook by Islam, then a hard elbow in the clinch. Kuntz slams home a leg kick. One minute to go. Kuntz lands a side kick. Islam lands some hard uppercuts inside and tries another hip toss. Kuntz stays up, then gets tossed down into bottom side control soon after. Kuntz gives up his back before the bell. 10-9 Makhachev.
Round 2: Kuntz looking for low kicks, eats a pair of good counters. Lead left by Makhachev, followed by uppercuts in the clinch. Islam to the body, catches a poke. Brazilian kick attempt. One minute in. Check hook by Islam once again; it's working extremely well. Kuntz stumbles in the clinch, seemingly hurt, and Islam quickly takes his back. Elbows by Makhachev. Two minutes to go. Full body triangle for Makhachev. Islam softening him up with punches and manages to worm his forearm under Kuntz's chin. A quick squeeze and Kuntz submits.
Final result: Makhachev def. Kuntz by submission (rear-naked choke)
-end-
125 lbs.: Josh Sampo vs. Justin Scoggins
Round 1: Scoggins snaps out a high kick, then a spinning back kick. Sampo leg kick. Again. Scoggins answers, then lands a teep. Sampo body kick, Scoggins hook kick. Quick clinch, digging punches from Sampo. One minute in. Stif jab from Scoggins. 1-2 connects for him. Good combination by Sampo, who avoids a single attempt. Spinning back kick by Scoggins. Inside low kick connects. Two minutes in. Right hand, Sampo looks to counter. Scoggins looks like he has the speed advantage. Sampo bulls his way in behind punches, eats a side kick. 1-2 from Scoggins. Low kick by Sampo, who blocks a front kick. Scoggins drills him to the body and sprawls on a takedown. Two minutes to go. Lead right by "Tank." He's doing a good job of angling off afterwards. Lead left by Sampo. Scoggins answers, then lands a clean body kick. Hook kick attempt, spinning back kick attempt. One minute to go. Scoggins slams home another inside low kick, lands a right as Sampo presses forward. Body kick, then a side kick from Scoggins. Sampo to the body, eats a southpaw 1-2 and another body kick. Scoggins cracks him with a knee before the bell. 10-9 Scoggins.
Round 2: Scoggins opens with a side kick. Sampo to the body, eats a body kick and gets dropped with a hook kick. Sampo pops back up, grimaces as he eats a spinning back kick. Clinch, good punches inside from Sampo. Body kick lands for him. One minute in. Another hook kick lands for Scoggins. Brief clinch. Oblique kick by Scoggins, right hand by Sampo. Overhand left lands for him, then a knee to the body. Two minutes in. Nice front kick by Scoggins snaps Sampo's head back. Body kick lands for him, after which they trade right hands. 3-2 by Scoggins. Sampo catches a body kick and works from the rear weaistlock. Scoggins fights it off and a nice scramble ensues. Two minutes to go.
Scoggins shoots in as they scramble up, then disengages. Sampo makes some noise with a body kick, walks into a jab. Body kick by Scoggins. Body kick from Josh. One minute to go. 1-2 by Sampo. Low kick stumbles Scoggins. Sampo ducks under, can't get the takedown. Sampo attempts a high kick and lands a superman punch before the bell. 10-9 Scoggins.
Round 3: Sampo rushes into the clinch right away, is denied. Both men fired up. Sampo catches a body kick, eats a left hand. Knee to the body by Sampo. One minute in. Hook kick lands for Scoggins, as does a body kick. Sampo tries to work his way inside, can't do so. Brief clinch. Short right hook lands for Scoggins. High kick attempt from Sampo, Superman punch by Sampo. Two minutes in. Side kicks from Scoggins. Sampo connects on a lead right hook. Sampo catches a body kick and puts Scoggins on his back. Scoggins controlling his posture. Two minutes to go.
Short punches from Sampo. Good elbow. Scoggins looking to stall, it seems. Sampo presses him against the cage. Scoggins scrambles up and separates . Sampo stuffed on a takedown. One minute to go. 1-2 by Scoggins. Body kick from "Tank." Standing elbow by Sampo and Scoggins is bleeding. Scoggins takes Sampo down against the fence and Sampo works a front headlock. Sampo returns to his feet before the bell. 10-9 Scoggins.
Final result: Scoggins def. Sampo by unanimous decision
-end-