Shoji Maruyama (Pictures) vs. Takeshi Yamazaki (Pictures)
Round 1
Maruyama lands a flying knee and grazes another at the sound of the bell. Yamazaki shakes off the knee and scores a takedown into half-guard. From the top, Yamazaki moves to mount and searches for an armbar but he can't pull the trigger. Maruyama uses good legwork to get back to guard and to his feet, but Yamazaki easily trips him to the canvas. With his opponent on top, Maruyama blasts away with surprisingly strong punches with his back on the floor. Maruyama sweeps and ends up on top, where he tees off with left hands. He stands and invites Yamazaki to follow. A crisp knee connects with Yamazaki's face just before he goes to a trip from the clinch. Maruyama scrambles to his feet and hurts his opponent with a knee to the body. The gutsy Yamazaki takes the fight back to the canvas and quickly takes mount. Yamazaki secures a limb for an armbar, and it's deep. Maruyama sees his arm bend backwards but he fights out of the hold. He stands over his opponent and lands two hard lefts before the round ends. Good action in the opening period.
Round 2
Maruyama and Yamazaki scramble for position on the ground to start the second stage. Maruyama is swept from half-guard. He uses an omaplata to get back to his feet, but is taken down quickly. From side-control, Yamazaki looks for a Kimura but runs out of time. Close fight. Yamazaki scored a ton of takedowns and a near submission, but all of the hard shots were landed by Maruyama. Sherdog.com scores it for Yamazaki. All three judges agree and award a unanimous decision to Takeshi Yamazaki.
Jason Miller vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures)
Round 1
Miller comes out in a traditional karate stance before landing a hard low kick. Shibata eats a few knees and lands a right handed counter. Shibata pulls guard with a guillotine, but Miller has none of it. He slips out and moves to mount, where he poses to the crowd and lands some punches. A Mongolian chop complete with sound effects scores for Miller. "Mayhem" slowly locks on an armbar attempt, which is defended. Hard left hands rain down for Miller. Now in side-control, Miller traps the left arm and punches the head. Knees follow from Miller. Complete domination from "Mayhem." A knee to the body forces a grunt from Shibata. Miller advances to mount and finishes with punches. The referee steps in to save the Shibata at 6:57 of the first.
Melvin Manhoef (Pictures) vs. Dae Won Kim (Pictures)
Round 1
Kim charges forward and looks for a takedown from the clinch. A stalemate is broken up by the referee. Manhoef opens up with his hands and is cracked by a Kim right hand. Kim lands another punch and takes the fight to the ground. From side-control, Kim strikes the head before advancing to the mount. Manhoef escapes and ends up on top in side-control. A brutal knee to the head and right-handed hammerfists force the referee to intervene at 4:08 of the first. Impressive stoppage by Melvin Manhoef.
Daisuke Nakamura (Pictures) vs. Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures)
Round 1
Nakamura jabs and fire a low kick. Jung trips Nakamura to the canvas and goes straight for an amazing armbar attempt. Nakamura escapes and tastes two hard upkicks for his effort. Nakamura, wearing Pancrase-style shin guards, drops back for a foot lock but Jung escapes and stands. Jung lands a hard left hand and gets hit with a right counter that drops him to the floor. The fighters trade armbar attempts before standing and trading some wild unrefined punches. Nakamura pulls guard but ends up on top after a scramble. He hits the body with his right hand while trying to pass guard. With heels on hips, Jung shows a good defensive guard. Nakamura stands and lands a jab and a left hook. Jung slams Nakamura to the canvas but shows a lack of control as he gives up position. Nakamura looks for a toe-hold and eats a kick to the face in the process.
Round 2
Nakamura transitions from a standing Kimura to a straight armbar that nearly finished the fight. Jung narrowly escaped and stood. A straight right and some follow up strikes seal the deal for Nakamura, as the referee jumped in at 1:19 of the second.
Nick Diaz (Pictures) vs. Katsuya Inoue (Pictures)
Round 1
Diaz moves forward with his hands down, swinging leather. A right hand connects with the body and two rights hit the face. Inoue answers back and lands two hard right hands of his own. The bout resembles a boxing contest as both fighters stick to punches and body shot from the clinch. Diaz turns it up with digging shots to the midsection and a straight left to the chin. With blood trickling from his nose, Inoue gives up a takedown. Time is called as a doctor is asked to check on Inoue's nose. The fight is resumed on the feet. Diaz trips Inoue to the canvas and is warned for an illegal kick to his downed opponent's face. Inoue lands two hard counter shots that shake Diaz. Just when it looks as if Diaz is gassed out, he turns it on with punches. Hard lefts and rights land at will. At the 6:45 mark, Inoue's corner had seen enough as a white towel was lobbed over the ropes from the blue corner. Nick Diaz claims a much-needed victory.
Luiz Firmino (Pictures) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures)
Round 1
Kawajiri starts the action with a flurry of straight punches that graze the head of Kawajiri. Firmino works for a takedown but Kawajiri sprawls. Firmino slips while throwing a head kick. Kawajiri briefly engages on the ground, then fights to get back to his feet. Firmino looks for an inverted heelhook that is defended well by his opponent. From his opponent's guard, Kawajiri lands stiffs punches with both hands while "Buscape" tries to control the wrists. The referee restarts the bout in the center of the ring. Kawajiri blasts Firmino with a one-two. "Buscape" falls backward to the canvas while Kawajiri takes advantage with rights to the head. Firmino struggles to put Kawajiri on the ground in the red corner. The pace slows to a crawl in the final minute of the round as the fighters clinch in the corner.
Round 2
Kawajiri finds himself on top to start the second round, where he controls is opponent's butterfly guard and connects with hammer fists to the head. Kawajiri stands and then surprises Kawajiri with an inside-leg trip. On the advice of his corner, Kawajiri moves to his feet. Firmino shoots a double and takes Kawajiri's back. The Japanese fighter rolls out of the bad position and lands a punch from Firmino's guard just as the bell sounds. Kawajiri takes the fight on the Sherdog.com scorecard. All three judges agree and name Tatsuya Kawajiri the victor.
Eddie Alvarez (Pictures) vs. Joachim Hansen (Pictures)
Round 1
Alvarez breaks a short feeling out period with a hard low kick and a right hand that collapses Hansen to the canvas. Hansen was hurt but he recovers quickly. Hansen goes to the rubber guard in search of a gogo or omaplata, but Alvarez escapes to his feet. Hansen wants none of Alavarez standing, as the Norwegian retreats from punches with bad intentions. After failing on a takedown attempt, Hansen got comfortable on his feet and pieced together a few punches before pulling guard. Back on their feet, Hansen is again dropped with a right hand. From the clinch, the fighters trade digging body shots. Alvarez, bleeding from his nose, takes Hansen down but stands. Stiff right hand lands to the body for Alvarez. Both fighters trade punches in the center of the ring with no advantage seized by either athlete. Another takedown for Alvarez. He lands a right hand and eats an upkick. With two minutes remaining in the round, Hansen stands and connects with a left straight to the jaw. Despite taking a beating early in the round, Hansen appears to be the fresher fighter. Punches are traded in the corner before the round expires.
Round 2
Hansen trips Alverez to the floor on the heels of a knee to the midsection. Alverez works to his feet and is caught in a guillotine. He escapes but Hansen turns up the heat on the groud with an armbar attempt and a Frank Mir-Pete Williams like armlock from guard. Alvarez looks to be in danger as his left arm bends at the elbow but he frees himself. Hansen switches to a Kimura from half-guard that he tries to transition to an armbar. One minute remains in a great back and forth fight. Alvarez stands and pushes Hansen against the ropes in search of a double leg. Alvarez lands a huge right hand just as the bell sounds. It was a close fight with Alvarez dominating the first round, and Hansen pulling away in the second. Sherdog.com gives the fight to Alvarez on the strength of two clean first-round knockdowns. Surprisingly, all three judges see it the same way and award Eddie Alvarez the unanimous decision. With both fighters taking clear-cut rounds, it's a shame there wasn't a third frame.
Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) vs. Caol Uno (Pictures)
Round 1
Ishida and Uno circle throughout the opening minute with neither looking to engage. Uno went to work on the right leg wth low kicks as Ishida tried to time two left handed haymakers. An unintentional kick to Uno's groin halts the bout. Uno is given time to recover. Acton resumes with a hard right hand from Uno. Ishida is dropped to a knee and his takedown attempt stuffed. Blood is pouring from Ishida's nose. The referee stops the bout so a ringside doctor can get a look. The fight is restarted and Uno opens up with his hands. Ishida has little to offer except a failed single-leg. From the clinch, the always durable Uno knees and kicks the inside of Ishida's right leg. Uno's footwork looks as good as it has in seven years, but he is getting sloppy with his hands. Ishida lands a right and a flurry with both hands against the ropes. Uno gives up a double-leg and begins to work from his back for the first time tonight. Uno's footwork looks as good as it has in seven years, but he is getting sloppy with his hands. Ishida lands a right and a flurry with both hands against the ropes. Uno gives up a double-leg and begins to work from his back for the first time tonight. Ishida passes to side-control and transitions to Uno's back as he went for the mount. Uno spins and takes the top to close the round.
Round 2
The final period starts slow until a scramble for position ends the fight. Uno took Ishida's back and quickly sunk in a rear-naked choke at 1:38 of the second. The hold was applied so fast that Uno didn't even need to sink in hooks to force a tapout. Ishida shot and the fighters briefly scrambled before Uno secured the neck from behind.
Round 1
Maruyama lands a flying knee and grazes another at the sound of the bell. Yamazaki shakes off the knee and scores a takedown into half-guard. From the top, Yamazaki moves to mount and searches for an armbar but he can't pull the trigger. Maruyama uses good legwork to get back to guard and to his feet, but Yamazaki easily trips him to the canvas. With his opponent on top, Maruyama blasts away with surprisingly strong punches with his back on the floor. Maruyama sweeps and ends up on top, where he tees off with left hands. He stands and invites Yamazaki to follow. A crisp knee connects with Yamazaki's face just before he goes to a trip from the clinch. Maruyama scrambles to his feet and hurts his opponent with a knee to the body. The gutsy Yamazaki takes the fight back to the canvas and quickly takes mount. Yamazaki secures a limb for an armbar, and it's deep. Maruyama sees his arm bend backwards but he fights out of the hold. He stands over his opponent and lands two hard lefts before the round ends. Good action in the opening period.
Round 2
Maruyama and Yamazaki scramble for position on the ground to start the second stage. Maruyama is swept from half-guard. He uses an omaplata to get back to his feet, but is taken down quickly. From side-control, Yamazaki looks for a Kimura but runs out of time. Close fight. Yamazaki scored a ton of takedowns and a near submission, but all of the hard shots were landed by Maruyama. Sherdog.com scores it for Yamazaki. All three judges agree and award a unanimous decision to Takeshi Yamazaki.
Jason Miller vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures)
Round 1
Miller comes out in a traditional karate stance before landing a hard low kick. Shibata eats a few knees and lands a right handed counter. Shibata pulls guard with a guillotine, but Miller has none of it. He slips out and moves to mount, where he poses to the crowd and lands some punches. A Mongolian chop complete with sound effects scores for Miller. "Mayhem" slowly locks on an armbar attempt, which is defended. Hard left hands rain down for Miller. Now in side-control, Miller traps the left arm and punches the head. Knees follow from Miller. Complete domination from "Mayhem." A knee to the body forces a grunt from Shibata. Miller advances to mount and finishes with punches. The referee steps in to save the Shibata at 6:57 of the first.
Melvin Manhoef (Pictures) vs. Dae Won Kim (Pictures)
Round 1
Kim charges forward and looks for a takedown from the clinch. A stalemate is broken up by the referee. Manhoef opens up with his hands and is cracked by a Kim right hand. Kim lands another punch and takes the fight to the ground. From side-control, Kim strikes the head before advancing to the mount. Manhoef escapes and ends up on top in side-control. A brutal knee to the head and right-handed hammerfists force the referee to intervene at 4:08 of the first. Impressive stoppage by Melvin Manhoef.
Daisuke Nakamura (Pictures) vs. Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures)
Round 1
Nakamura jabs and fire a low kick. Jung trips Nakamura to the canvas and goes straight for an amazing armbar attempt. Nakamura escapes and tastes two hard upkicks for his effort. Nakamura, wearing Pancrase-style shin guards, drops back for a foot lock but Jung escapes and stands. Jung lands a hard left hand and gets hit with a right counter that drops him to the floor. The fighters trade armbar attempts before standing and trading some wild unrefined punches. Nakamura pulls guard but ends up on top after a scramble. He hits the body with his right hand while trying to pass guard. With heels on hips, Jung shows a good defensive guard. Nakamura stands and lands a jab and a left hook. Jung slams Nakamura to the canvas but shows a lack of control as he gives up position. Nakamura looks for a toe-hold and eats a kick to the face in the process.
Round 2
Nakamura transitions from a standing Kimura to a straight armbar that nearly finished the fight. Jung narrowly escaped and stood. A straight right and some follow up strikes seal the deal for Nakamura, as the referee jumped in at 1:19 of the second.
Nick Diaz (Pictures) vs. Katsuya Inoue (Pictures)
Round 1
Diaz moves forward with his hands down, swinging leather. A right hand connects with the body and two rights hit the face. Inoue answers back and lands two hard right hands of his own. The bout resembles a boxing contest as both fighters stick to punches and body shot from the clinch. Diaz turns it up with digging shots to the midsection and a straight left to the chin. With blood trickling from his nose, Inoue gives up a takedown. Time is called as a doctor is asked to check on Inoue's nose. The fight is resumed on the feet. Diaz trips Inoue to the canvas and is warned for an illegal kick to his downed opponent's face. Inoue lands two hard counter shots that shake Diaz. Just when it looks as if Diaz is gassed out, he turns it on with punches. Hard lefts and rights land at will. At the 6:45 mark, Inoue's corner had seen enough as a white towel was lobbed over the ropes from the blue corner. Nick Diaz claims a much-needed victory.
Luiz Firmino (Pictures) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures)
Round 1
Kawajiri starts the action with a flurry of straight punches that graze the head of Kawajiri. Firmino works for a takedown but Kawajiri sprawls. Firmino slips while throwing a head kick. Kawajiri briefly engages on the ground, then fights to get back to his feet. Firmino looks for an inverted heelhook that is defended well by his opponent. From his opponent's guard, Kawajiri lands stiffs punches with both hands while "Buscape" tries to control the wrists. The referee restarts the bout in the center of the ring. Kawajiri blasts Firmino with a one-two. "Buscape" falls backward to the canvas while Kawajiri takes advantage with rights to the head. Firmino struggles to put Kawajiri on the ground in the red corner. The pace slows to a crawl in the final minute of the round as the fighters clinch in the corner.
Round 2
Kawajiri finds himself on top to start the second round, where he controls is opponent's butterfly guard and connects with hammer fists to the head. Kawajiri stands and then surprises Kawajiri with an inside-leg trip. On the advice of his corner, Kawajiri moves to his feet. Firmino shoots a double and takes Kawajiri's back. The Japanese fighter rolls out of the bad position and lands a punch from Firmino's guard just as the bell sounds. Kawajiri takes the fight on the Sherdog.com scorecard. All three judges agree and name Tatsuya Kawajiri the victor.
Eddie Alvarez (Pictures) vs. Joachim Hansen (Pictures)
Round 1
Alvarez breaks a short feeling out period with a hard low kick and a right hand that collapses Hansen to the canvas. Hansen was hurt but he recovers quickly. Hansen goes to the rubber guard in search of a gogo or omaplata, but Alvarez escapes to his feet. Hansen wants none of Alavarez standing, as the Norwegian retreats from punches with bad intentions. After failing on a takedown attempt, Hansen got comfortable on his feet and pieced together a few punches before pulling guard. Back on their feet, Hansen is again dropped with a right hand. From the clinch, the fighters trade digging body shots. Alvarez, bleeding from his nose, takes Hansen down but stands. Stiff right hand lands to the body for Alvarez. Both fighters trade punches in the center of the ring with no advantage seized by either athlete. Another takedown for Alvarez. He lands a right hand and eats an upkick. With two minutes remaining in the round, Hansen stands and connects with a left straight to the jaw. Despite taking a beating early in the round, Hansen appears to be the fresher fighter. Punches are traded in the corner before the round expires.
Round 2
Hansen trips Alverez to the floor on the heels of a knee to the midsection. Alverez works to his feet and is caught in a guillotine. He escapes but Hansen turns up the heat on the groud with an armbar attempt and a Frank Mir-Pete Williams like armlock from guard. Alvarez looks to be in danger as his left arm bends at the elbow but he frees himself. Hansen switches to a Kimura from half-guard that he tries to transition to an armbar. One minute remains in a great back and forth fight. Alvarez stands and pushes Hansen against the ropes in search of a double leg. Alvarez lands a huge right hand just as the bell sounds. It was a close fight with Alvarez dominating the first round, and Hansen pulling away in the second. Sherdog.com gives the fight to Alvarez on the strength of two clean first-round knockdowns. Surprisingly, all three judges see it the same way and award Eddie Alvarez the unanimous decision. With both fighters taking clear-cut rounds, it's a shame there wasn't a third frame.
Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) vs. Caol Uno (Pictures)
Round 1
Ishida and Uno circle throughout the opening minute with neither looking to engage. Uno went to work on the right leg wth low kicks as Ishida tried to time two left handed haymakers. An unintentional kick to Uno's groin halts the bout. Uno is given time to recover. Acton resumes with a hard right hand from Uno. Ishida is dropped to a knee and his takedown attempt stuffed. Blood is pouring from Ishida's nose. The referee stops the bout so a ringside doctor can get a look. The fight is restarted and Uno opens up with his hands. Ishida has little to offer except a failed single-leg. From the clinch, the always durable Uno knees and kicks the inside of Ishida's right leg. Uno's footwork looks as good as it has in seven years, but he is getting sloppy with his hands. Ishida lands a right and a flurry with both hands against the ropes. Uno gives up a double-leg and begins to work from his back for the first time tonight. Uno's footwork looks as good as it has in seven years, but he is getting sloppy with his hands. Ishida lands a right and a flurry with both hands against the ropes. Uno gives up a double-leg and begins to work from his back for the first time tonight. Ishida passes to side-control and transitions to Uno's back as he went for the mount. Uno spins and takes the top to close the round.
Round 2
The final period starts slow until a scramble for position ends the fight. Uno took Ishida's back and quickly sunk in a rear-naked choke at 1:38 of the second. The hold was applied so fast that Uno didn't even need to sink in hooks to force a tapout. Ishida shot and the fighters briefly scrambled before Uno secured the neck from behind.