Its dark, miserable and rainy in Sydney but a different story inside Allphones Arena but inside the partisan crowd is ready for action with a packed house, UFC had to fight them off with a stick to fit everyone in the building.
Strikeforce heavyweights continue to soar, Jordan smashes Thompson
The nights proceedings opened with two heavyweight behemoths in a striking-based fight that electrified the Sydney crowd with Shawn Jordan facing Oli Thompson. Jordan entered the cage coming off a victory over Lavar Johnson and since pairing with Greg Jackson has looked on top of his game. Thompson comes into the UFC on a five-bout win streak after tearing through Britains heavyweight ranks winning the UCMMA heavyweight strap before joining the elite heavyweight division. Thompson was seeking the takedown early but it took little time for the Strikeforce Challengers product to turn things around showing off his striking repertoire hurting the Brit in the first round before putting the nails in the coffin in the second frame.
Jordan was thrilled with his UFC debut and impressing the Australian hopeful.
“Oli was incredibly tough, he hit hard. He’s a strong guy. We traded for a while and I loved banging with him. Was happy I came out on top.”
“I’m totally exited to win my fight here in Sydney. The fact it was in the UFC Octagon makes it so much better.”
“I want to keep on winning now. I don’t care who it is, but I’m going straight back to training and I’ll be ready for whoever is next.”
Pineda taps Semerzier, likely ousts him from the organization
Almost a full-house in attendance to witness the following featherweight scrap between Mackens Semerezier and Daniel Pineda – Pineda comes into the UFC after finally putting his entire game together his skills earning his first octagon victory less than 60 days ago submitting Pat Schilling. Semerzier has seemingly fallen from grace, after spoiling the coming-out party of top-ranked featherweight Wagnney Fabiano in 2009 he has only scored one victory over Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceras. Pineda and Semerzier felt each other out in the beginning before Pineda tagged him with a powerful right hand that had him on wobbly legs before Pineda took control on the floor submitting him in a little over two minutes of action. With his win-loss record don’t be surprised if Semerzier will be fighting on the regional circuit for a while.
Pineda was thrilled after the fight with his victory and doing so in dramatic fashion.
“Mackens was really tough. Even though I rocked him, I knew he was going to keep on going.”
“I rocked him, then mounted him – was going for the submissions. “I couldn’t quite get the triangle, so switched quickly for the arm bar.”
“I said early I was going to finish the fight early, and I did. I’ve been caught by decisions before – I hate decisions. A submission in the first round is a great way to start the night”
Waldburger continues submission trend, cements place as prospect
Two of the most promising prospects at 170-pounds squared off to determine who will break through from the middle pack, Waldburger showed he was ready to tangle with the big boys. TJ entered the cage having won four of his last five bouts with that blemish only coming to top-ranked combatant Johny Hendricks. Hecht was on a four-bout win streak winning in his last bout against Rich Antonitto which served as his UFC debut. This one didn’t last long, Waldburger showed he has some of the best jiu-jitsu at 170-pounds getting the fight to the floor and submitting him in a matter of seconds to keep the submission trend alive.
Heres what TJ had to say after the fight:
“It was quite a scramble, but we train for that every day. My timing was on today and did what I had to do.”
“I’m not a game planner in the Octagon. I react, and I reacted well today.”
Craig overcomes early surge, edges Noke on points
The first Aussie to step into the cage is Kyle Noke as he tests his abilities against Greg Jackson trained debutant Andrew Craig. Noke wanted to put on a show for his fans since he was coming off a loss to long-time UFC mainstay Ed Herman but Craig walked into the cage with little experience but that didn’t stop him edging the Australian — Noke came out early looking to put the rookie away landing a number of significant strikes and seeking submissions on the floor but it seemed he blew his load in the first five minutes, later it was confirmed that he blew out his knee. Rumors have been circling of a possible sickness to Noke and that could be the case also as he faded when the first round concluded allowing Craig to take over landing a number of good shots and securing a takedown to take the final frame. The fight was hanging in the balance early on with both men fatigued Craig did enough to eek past Noke on points.
Craig was in need of some rest and relaxation post-fight, heres what he had to say:
“I feel exhausted and sore after this win. Noke throws hard and he came at it early one. I knew I had to just keep coming at him.”
“I was ready to defend the takedown, but stumbled in the first allowing Kyle to take control. He went for the submissions and but I felt I could defend them. I calmed down in the second and third round and took the fight back to my game plan. I knew I had to win the second and third rounds.”
“I understand the whole crowd was behind one man and it really didn’t bother me. I’m just happy with the win.”
Noke wasn’t as joyful after his fight:
“I’m very upset at the loss, especially in front of a home crowd. Andrew was a really tough opponent and it didn’t go my way tonight”
Siler earns the moniker ‘the Miller hunter’ with decision victory
Fans and media alike have had high hopes for Cole Miller for years but it seems a new weight-class isn’t all he needs to change about his game. Miller dropped down to to featherweight after failing to break out of the middle pack at 155-pounds and requested this fight with Siler after he eliminated his brother Micah from the Ultimate Fighter house last year. Siler failed to set the world on fire with his run on the show being blitzed by Diego Brandao but since leaving the show he has now collected two-straight victories. Siler busted numerous parlays coming out and landing significant number of strikes early and often collecting the first two rounds on all three judges score cards before Miller took over in the last frame. Miller was able to find his range and land with a number of nice shots in the third especially when he got it to the floor and attacked with a barrage of punches and elbows but it was too little too late.
Siler was happy to return home with a win under his belt:
“I figured I won the first two rounds, so I wasn’t desperate in the third. I wanted to get the win before it went to the judges. Having said that, I should’ve pushed it a little harder in the last, but I knew I had to stay out of his grip so I could keep punching him.”
Miller was disappointed yet hopeful of his future at featherweight after the fight:
“Despite the loss, I felt really strong as a featherweight and this is where I want to stay.”
“I was a little slower in the second round – but felt good in rounds one and two”.
“I expected Siler to push the fight more than he did. It ended up that we were both countering and I’m upset it didn’t go my way”.
Perosh leaves Penner bloodied and beaten in his backyard
Anthony Perosh continues to impress at light-heavyweight and tonight he kicked it up yet another gear as the hippo climbs the 205-pound ranks pushing his win streak to three straight.
The 39-year-old Australian faced promotional newcomer Nick Penner who had looked impressive fighting on the Canadian fight scene with his lone defeat to Jimmy Ambriz who out-weighed him by by fifty-pounds.
Perosh was relentless lunging forward landing over and over on Penner before getting to the mat on two occasions where was where he did his most damage with elbows and punches opening him up and looking for the finish which he got with seconds remaining in a dominate first round.
Heres what the Aussie had to say after he returned to the locker room:
“I felt great today, it all went to plan. I’m so happy to win in my hometown again and make it three in a row. The crowd gave me that extra buzz to get in there and get the job done.”
“Nick worked very well to defend the submissions I was going for and wanted. So as soon as I heard the ten second warning, I knew time was running out, so I got up on top and threw as many punches as I could instead”
“It’s taken me 10 years to get to the top of my game, but I’m here and I’m ready for my next challenge. The light heavyweight division is stacked, but I feel I’m climbing up that ladder.”
Te Huna violently puts away Rosa in first frame
Te Huna enters the cage with a wealth of experience and fan support, the New Zeland based ground-and-pounder faces power-punching ex-heavyweight Aaron Rosa who is fresh off a win over Matt Lucas in his return to the division.
We knew walking into this one it had a potential to have Rosa flying back to Texas with a severe headache and Te Huna didn’t disappoint showing of superb boxing technique landing a string of power-shots on Rosa.
Within seconds he had Rosa against the ropes as he continued to tee off, the defenceless Rosa waited in the wings begging for the fight to be stopped while Te Huna had his way with him.
“After Rosa’s first two combos, I knew I had the speed advantage and that’s what won me the fight.”
“He had a lot of power behind those punches and had me worried at one point. I returned fire with an uppercut that troubled him and from there I turned on the pressure and tempo.”
“Today showed that even though I’m one of the smaller light heavyweights, I have my own strengths and can finish fights.”
