Posts from — March 2008

UFC veteran Pete “Secret Weapon” Spratt has made an interesting blog post regarding his experience at MFC 15: Rags to Riches. Spratt took on Ryan Ford in a bout that was laced with controversy. During the span of the first round, Ford was warned numerous times for grabbing the shorts of Spratt and as the round came to a close, the bell sounded but Herb Dean didn’t step in to separate the fighters so Ford proceeded to nail Spratt with two hard elbows that left him dazed on the canvas.

Spratt ended up taking quite a bit of time to recover but luckily he was able to answer the bell for the second. Ford eventually was able to score a submission partway through the second stanza.

Here is the entry from TheRealPeteSpratt.com:

My experience with MFC was horrendous and of utter disbelief. Upon arrival Mark Pavelich seemed to be a gentleman of respect and honor but that was far from the truth! Let me start from the beginning with my journey to the MFC….When I received my itinerary I couldn’t believe the path that they had their main event fighter traveling. I spent all day in and out of airports and on and off planes. I was appalled that they were so cheap that they could not get me and my cornerman a direct flight to Edmonton or put me and my cornerman on the same flight. I flew from San Antonio to Phoenix with a 2 hour layover. Then I was off to Denver for another 4 hour layover and then to Edmonton landing at 8:45pm. All in all, 7.5 hours of flight time but a 14 hour travel day. My corner man’s route was even worse. He went from San Antonio to Phoenix to Minnesota to Edmonton arriving at 11:30pm only to get held up at immigration for another 3 hours.

As soon as I arrive, I don’t get a break. I have to go to a local radio station to do an interview and hype up the fight which was cool but I really didn’t want to do it. Being the professional that I am, I did the interview anyway. On the way over, Mark was tooting his horn on what a great promoter he is etc, which may be true but I didn’t care. Finally my night is over and I can go try to get some rest.

Thursday afternoon, I get a call from my cornerman Rodrigo saying that he has to go back to the airport and deal with immigration some more. He said he would call me when he got back. Well the official weigh in was at 4pm and around 3:30 I hadn’t heard from Rodrigo yet so I called his room. Front desk says he checked out and I knew shit was going wrong then! I told the event guy that I think my cornerman may be having some issues and may be sent back to the U.S. and could he find out what was going on. All he did was call the front desk and tells me that he’ll be back but he wont be able to get his same room and that he would have to bunk with me. To myself I was thinking…. “What does the front desk have to do with immigration? Mark was quick to tell me about this company that he has working for him that can get anyone in the country etc but made no effort to keep Rodrigo in to corner me. His quote, “If they can get 50 cent in the country, they can get anyone in here!” Yeah right! Well, the next time I hear from Rodrigo is around 11pm saying that he just landed in San Antonio and that they sent him back! Great, déjà vu all over again, Pete Spratt vs. GSP in 2003! Now, I am scrambling to find me a team to corner me. Fortunately, Tom Vaughn (WEC Welterweight Champ Carlos Condit’s trainer) from Albuquerque steps up to help me out. He had I think 4 other fighters on the card as well and I appreciate the help that he and his team gave me. Now for the 1st time I had to wrap my own hands, apply my gloves and tape my own gloves. I had about 10 minutes of warm up time with Tom and gave it my best considering the circumstances! I did not realize that I would be in the ring with a guy that likes to break the rules. Had I known that, I would have been dirty myself. Was it just me or has anyone else noticed the gynecomastia tits on Ford? I really don’t know much about it but upon research I found that that is a direct side effect of Anabolic Steroid use! I am 37 years old and one thing I have never done is cheat at any level of my athletic career. Some people will do anything to win no matter what the cost but I hold myself and my values at a different level. Now I cant say that using HGH hasn’t crossed my mind since I’m getting older but I would never use performance enhancing drugs. You could randomly drug test me at any point and I guarantee that I would be clean every time!

Back to the point at hand, Sven Bean, my manager sent Mark an email stating that we would like an immediate rematch on neutral territory and that I would not fight him on his show. Well for some reason Mark sends a rematch contract anyway after we already said I wont fight for his show again! Not only that, but a contract he knew we would not agree too! Now the rematch contract stated I would rematch Ford in May at MFC 16! If I win, I was to have a rubber match with Ford before the end on 2008 at the MFC again for the same pay as 2 previous fights. Now, why in the world would I agree to go to this guy’s backyard for 3 fights in a row after being treated so eloquently in my first fight there? Makes a whole lot of sense for me doesn’t it? I am not one to complain, I just simply state the facts.

Pavelich is classless and has no character and I would never associate myself with him or his promotion ever again. I will be vindicated maybe once Ford gets off of parole but a rematch will happen one day hopefully before I retire!

MFC vice president, Dave Pavelich, responded in a post on MMA.tv saying:

Let me start off by saying that direct flights from Texas to Edmonton are very rare, we appologize that the airline companies make a couple of stops before landing in Edmonton, because you had a 14 hour travel time this makes us cheap? Now your corner man was sent back by immigration because it is illegal to travel from the U.S to Canada on a work Visa? If he ahd a criminal record the lady which is employed by our company would have been able to keep your cornerman in the country - like we did for you Spratt.

Let’s get one thing straight please, you never had to do anything! you we’re not forced to do radio but we’re asked if you would like to join, you could of easily declined the offer but thank you for being professional and accepting doing the interview and then “Complaining about it after?”

It seems to me that most of your post or “blog” would be a bash on Ford - again “Rule’s” “Regulation’s” “Gloves” “Tapping Hand’s” is all the “Boxing Commission” and really as no reflection on the MFC.

Now negociation of a rematch were in place, well if he’s giving you an Automatic rematch (really its Ford’s choice he really doesn’t have to) you should have the respect to give him one back now this is only my opinion. It is also common practice that if a fighter losses a fight he fights the next fight for the same “money/purse” as he did in his previous fight.

To me your bashing comments do not make any sense, we treated you with the utmost respect and just because you had a long flight, did a twenty minute radio interview that you call “us” classless and without Character - highly rude and unacceptable.

Sorry about your continued bad luck travelling to Canada.

Sincerely,

Dave Pavelich MFC/VP

It’s nice to finally get Spratt’s viewpoint on the whole situation.

The Fight Network is currently holding a contest which is giving readers the opportunity to win a set of tickets to UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre II which are located cage side with “Big” John McCarthy.

Here are the details:

“St. Pierre vs. Serra II
April 19, 2008
Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec

You and two friends will sit cage side with legendary MMA referee and the new face of The Fight Network, “Big” John McCarthy. You’ll be rubbing elbows with some of MMA’s biggest and brightest. Listen to “Big” John’s insight on all the MMA action inside the Bell Centre.”

To enter the contest go to http://www.thefightnetwork.com/contest.php.

TKO 33: Battle in Paradise
Friday, April 18, 2008
Centro Deportivo Betico Croes
Santa-Cruz, Aruba

Danny Martinez (6-1 PRO) vs. Johan Croes (1-0 PRO)
Evan Nedd (0-0 PRO, 9-1 AM) vs. TBA
Derek Gauthier (3-0 PRO) vs. Richard Williams (0-0 PRO, 3-0 AM)
Ben Gallant (2-0 PRO) vs. Guido Carlo (0-0 PRO, 2-0-1 AM)
Samuel Guillet (6-4 PRO) vs. Ingar Bareno (0-0 PRO, 4-1 AM)
Martin Grandmont (5-4 PRO) vs. Hyram Rogridguez (0-0 PRO, 2-1 AM)
Stephane Dube (6-3 PRO) vs. Jonrick Flanigan (0-0 PRO, 1-0 AM)
Jeff Harrison (2-0 PRO) vs. Giovanni Heyliger (0-0 PRO, 2-1 AM)
Scott Wright (1-1 PRO) vs. Milliard Gregory (0-0 PRO, 5-1 AM)
Christopher Hulme (1-0) vs. Jamiel Werleman (0-0 PRO, 1-0 AM)

Check out our rumors section for the latest TKO 33: Battle in Paradise card.

St. Pierre firing a high kick at Matt Hughes. Photo property of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Canada.com has posted an article spotlighting Georges St. Pierre’s training camp for his bout at UFC 83 with Matt Serra. Here is some interesting information stemming from the article:

“I’m surrounded by a very good and solid team,” St-Pierre said. “When I go to the boxers or wrestlers, I go to play their game because they’re the best at what they do. I don’t play my game, so it forces me to develop, for example, my wrestling skills.

“When I wrestle a guy like David Zilberman, of course, I don’t get the best of him. Sometimes I do well, but most of the time I don’t,” St-Pierre said.

“But when I get to my sport and I have to score a takedown or get into a clinch position, the guy I’m fighting in MMA is not a guy who is as good as David Zilberman.

“It’s the same thing in boxing, jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai. That’s why I try to train with the best guys in each discipline,” he said.

St-Pierre trains six days a week, two sessions every day, even when he doesn’t have a fight coming up. With one on the horizon, a month before, he’ll do less specific discipline training and focus more on MMA, bringing together all aspects of everything.

“I mix everything together, like takedowns, kicks, punching, submissions on the ground,” said St-Pierre, who also works with a running coach and strength-conditioning trainer.

“It all helps to work the reflexes and gives me momentum for my fight.”

St-Pierre said he tries to eat as well as he can, but he’ll go on an actual diet to lose about 15 pounds to make the 170-pound requirement at the weigh-in a few days before he meets Serra.

UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre II is scheduled for April 19, 2008 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. Check out our rumors section for the latest UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre II card.

Photo property of DenisKang.com.

Fight Opinion is reporting that Denis Kang will take on Gegard Mousasi in the first round of the DREAM middleweight GP on April 29 at the Saitama Super Arena.

Kang (29-9-1), a member of American Top Team, holds victories over Murilo Rua, Amar Suloev, Akihiro Gono and Andrei Semenov. After a stint with lengthy PRIDE, Kang joined K-1 last October and lost to Yoshihiro Akiyama in his debut.

Mousasi (20-2-1) is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak with stoppage victories over the likes of Evanglista Santos, Kyacey Uscola, Damir Mirenic and Steve Mensing. Since the fall of PRIDE, Mousasi has split his time fighting with Hardcore Championship Fighting, M-1 and BodogFight.

Also announced was Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Andrews Nakahara and Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Masakatsu Funaki.

MMA Junkie is reporting that PRIDE and UFC veteran, Nick Diaz, has pulled out of his upcoming bout with Jae Suk Lim on Saturday’s Strikeforce/EliteXC event. Drew Fickett will now face Kim.

Fickett was originally scheduled for face Diaz’s teammate, Jake Shields, for the EliteXC welterweight title but the fight was scrapped when Shields suffered a back injury.

Strikeforece/EliteXC: Shamrock vs. Cung Le

Main Card:

Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le
Drew Fickett vs. Jae Suk Lim
Gilbert Melendez vs. Gabe Lemley
Mike Kyle vs. Wayne Cole
Joey Villasenor vs. Ryan Jensen

Preliminary Card:

Tiki Ghosn vs. Luke Stewart
Jesse Jones vs. Jesse Gillespie
Darren Uyenoyama vs. Anthony Figueroa

Strikeforce/EliteXC: Shamrock vs. Cung Le is scheduled for March 29, 2008 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

Stann and Marshall exchanging punches at WEC 33. Photo property of World Extreme Cagefighting.

Tonight, Brian “All American” Stann captured the WEC light heavyweight title finishing previous champ Doug “Rhino” Marshall early in the first round with strikes.

Both fighters set a frantic pace early as Stann and Marshall exchanged some hard low kicks before they met along the cage in a fight ending exchange. After separating from the clinch, Marshall began to fire hard bombs but Stann had the answer as he returned fire with a hard left hook which sent Marshall to the canvas. Stann quickly pounced and put a stop the bout at 1:35 of the opening stanza.

Following the bout, Stann spoke with WEC.tv and said, “I went to the center of the ring like I wanted to. I wanted to come off first and make him back up, I think I succeeded in doing that. He threw some good hard leg kicks and I worked really hard on checking them because “The Rhino” can strike, he strikes hard.”

“We clinched up there and I really wanted the right hand because I know he likes the left hook, likes to wail with it, and as I pummelled inside he circled away from the cage and got my back to it. It was a mistake on my part so he started unloading and I know he swings wild when he gets into a brawl so I wanted to stay disciplined and cover up, you know take a few shots, I’ll take anything on the head it’s not going to put me in danger,” Stann continued, “I just wanted to catch him. He had those wild strikes and I knew if he stayed in the middle with me like that that’s what was going to happen.”

One of the most impressive fighters on the card was UFC veteran Chael Sonnen. Sonnen took a bout with Bryan Baker on short notice after Paulo Filho pulled out of their scheduled title bout.

Sonnen dominated from the opening bell scoring some beautiful slams and controlling from top position. Baker had no answer for Sonnen’s wrestling and ground and pound as he dropped a unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25) to the Team Quest fighter.

After the bout Sonnen said, “He had good height to wrestle, he was a little bit taller so that can sometimes work against you in the wrestling part of MMA so I knew that option was going to be available. I wanted to go out and work some stuff on the feet with him. I almost always have that goal but somewhere when they close that door your goals change real fast. That didn’t happen tonight but I was pleased with the performance and I was prepared had I not been able to get him down.”

In other action, Canadian, John Alessio, was disqualified in his bout with Brock Larson after he kneed Larson in the face while he was on the canvas. Larson was given time to recover but he was unable to continue.

Afterwards, Larson said, “I never, ever, dreamed of winning like that of course and it sucks because I wanted him bad and I wanted to finish him. I got the win but he got the better end of the deal I think so it’s frustrating right now because I know I’m a better fighter than him, twice the athlete than him and a better competitor. I’ve never cheated in any way or form in my lifetime and he’s a cheater, that’s what he does.”

WEC 33: Marshall vs. Stann Results

Logan Clark def. Scott Harper - TKO (Strikes)
Kenji Osawa def. Chris Manuel - Split Draw
Alex Serdyukov def. Ryan Stonitsch - Submission (Triangle Choke)
Rich Crunkilton def. Sergio Gomez - Unanimous Decision
Brock Larson def. John Alession - DQ (Knee to Downed Opponent)
Hiromitsu Miura def. Blas Avena - KO (Punches)
Steve Cantwell def. Tim McKenzie - Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Marcus Hicks def. Ed Ratcliff - Submission (Guillotine)
Chael Sonnen def. Bryan Baker - Unanimous Decision
Brian Stann def. Doug Marshall - KO (Punches)

Logan Clark def. Scott Harper - TKO (Strikes)
Kenji Osawa def. Chris Manuel - Split Draw
Alex Serdyukov def. Ryan Stonitsch - Submission (Triangle Choke)
Rich Crunkilton def. Sergio Gomez - Unanimous Decision
Brock Larson def. John Alession - DQ (Knee to Downed Opponent)
Hiromitsu Miura def. Blas Avena - KO (Punches)
Steve Cantwell def. Tim McKenzie - Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Marcus Hicks def. Ed Ratcliff - Submission (Guillotine)
Chael Sonnen def. Bryan Baker - Unanimous Decision
Brian Stann def. Doug Marshall - KO (Punches)

Tonight I will be going live at 9 PM ET with a play by play of tonight’s WEC 33: Marshall vs. Stann.

WEC 33: Marshall vs. Stann

Main Card:

Doug Marshall vs. Brian Stann
Chael Sonnen vs. Bryan Baker
Ed Ratcliff vs. Marcus Hicks
Steve Cantwell vs. Tim McKenzie
Hiromitsu Miura vs. Blas Avena

Preliminary Fights:

John Alessio vs. Brock Larson
Sergio Gomez vs. Rich Crunkilton
Ryan Stonitsch vs. Alex Serdyukov
Chris Manuel vs. Kenji Osawa
Logan Clark vs. Scott Harper

Media Links:

MMA Junkie: Frank Trigg’s Fight Breakdown: A Quick WEC Preview
Sherdog: Marshall, Stann Ready to Fill Main Event Void
The Fight Network: Tunnel Vision

Since we’re on the topic of the WEC, today it was officially announced that the WEC would be heading to the ARCO Arena on Sunday, June 1st. Headlining the card will be a featherweight bout between Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver. Also on the card will be Miguel Torres defending his title against Manny Tapia.

We’re live folks! First up is a light heavyweight bout featuring Tim McKenzie and Steve Cantwell. The winner is hoping to score a title shot against the winner of Marshall-Stann.

Tim McKenzie vs. Steve Cantwell

Round 1: The bout begins with a glove touch as McKenzie comes out with a big inside leg kick early. Another good inside leg kick as Cantwell sits back. Cantwell then charges forward and lands a glancing head kick which causes McKenzie to shoot in looking for the takedown. Cantwell ends up putting McKenzie on his back. McKenzie is able to land some hard knees from the bottom before they stand back up. Once on the feet Cantwell lands another hard head kick follow by some hard knees that put McKenzie on the canvas. Cantwell pounces and lands some bombs from the top before mounting McKenzie. While in the mount, Cantwell lands some shots before taking McKenzie’s back and forcing him to tap out.

Winner: Steve Cantwell - Submission (Rear Naked Choke)

Up next is a lightweight bout featuring Ed “9mm” Ratcliff (6-0) and (7-0).

WEC is now promotion their upcoming show on Sunday, June 1 featuring Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver with Bug Light as the sponsor. Craig Hummer, former UFC commentator, has a sit down with Jens Pulver who stated he’s excited and fully expects to win his upcoming bout with Faber.

Ed Ratcliff vs. Marcus Hicks

Round 1: Hicks comes out quick and throws a two shot combo that misses. Both fighters feeling each other out with jabs. Hicks gets in an overhand left that rocks Ratcliff. Ratcliff stumbles back and Hicks latches on a guillotine. Ratcliff is able to escape before another guillotine is latched on. Ratcliff escapes again and eats some hard overhand shots. Hicks takes Ratcliff down and goes for the guillotine again eventually securing the tap.

Winner: Marcus Hicks - Submission (Guillotine Choke)

If you were listening to Frank Mir’s commentary you would have thought the fight was finished after the initial guillotine attempts as Mir yelled “He’s done” both times only to have Ratcliff escape moments later.

Hummer is covering the post-fight interviews and doing an excellent job. Mir previously did both post-fight interviews and color commentary but clearly he is better suited sitting ringside doing the color commentating.

Up next is a lightweight bout between Rich “Cleat” Crunkilton (16-2) and Sergio Gomez (7-1).

Rich Crunkilton vs. Sergio Gomez

Round 1: The bout begins with a glove touch. Gomez quickly moves in looking to toss his jab but Crunkilton changes levels and puts Gomez on his back. Crunkilton quickly moves to half guard. Crunkilton gets in an excellent elbow before Gomez makes his way back up to his feet. While working the wizard, Crunkilton eats a hard knee from Gomez. Crunkilton pins Gomez against the cage and lands two hard knees that open a cut on the head of Gomez. Crunkilton gets Gomez back on the canvas and moves to side control. Crunkilton locks in a D’Arce choke that looks to have Gomez in trouble but luckily he escapes and stands back up. Gomez fires off a head kick followed by a hard combo. Gomez landing some good shots as Crunkilton tries to cover up. Crunkilton gets in close and secures a single. They scramble on the canvas and Gomez is able to get back up. Both fighters exchange shots while clinching along the cage. Both fighters separate and as they do Crunkilton fires off a leg kick that Gomez catches. Gomez fires off 3-4 shots while holding Crunkilton’s leg. Crunkilton is able to wrestle Gomez to the canvas as the round comes to a close.

TKO Xtreme: Rich Crunkilton 10-9

Tough round to score, I gave it to Crunkilton due to the fact that he scores 3-4 takedowns along with a nice submission attempt. Crunkilton was also able to open a cut on his opponent. With that said, Gomez did an beautiful job late in the round making it a close round.

Round 2: Crunkilton throws a body kick early but Gomez quickly answers with some shots. Crunkilton goes for a single but as he holds the leg, Gomez is able to land some hard punches before Crunkilton takes him to the canvas. Crunkilton quickly takes Gomez’s back while against the cage. Gomez escapes the attempt and latches on a guillotine. Crunkilton escapes by picking Gomez up and slamming him to the canvas. Crunkilton lands two hard elbows but as he does he is warned by Herb Dean to avoid the back of the head. More hard shots from Crunkilton as he works from the top. Crunkilton attempts to roll for an armbar followed by a kneebar. Gomez escapes and gets top position. He lands some good shots and traps Crunkilton’s arm. Crunkilton escapes and then rolls for a D’Arce. It’s not in tight enough and Gomez escapes. Crunkilton regains top position. Gomez regains full guard while avoiding punches from Crunkilton. Gomez attemps to swing his hips for an armbar but it’s loose and Crunkilton escapes. Crunkilton looks to take Gomez’s back but instead gets side control followed by the mount as the round comes to a close.

TKO Xtreme: Rich Crunkilton 10-9

Much better round for Crunkilton, he kept it on the canvas where he was able to out wrestle Gomez. Kudos to Gomez for having an answer to Crunkilton’s submission attempts. Very well matched bout so far!

Round 3: Gomez comes out looking to score some points. Gomez fires a low kick followed by a few jabs. Crunkilton is able to land a solid low kick but Gomez shrugs it off as he continues to move forward. Crunkilton executes a sloppy shot and is able to Gomez to the canvas. Crunkilton moves to half guard and then moments later to side control. Crunkilton is looking for Gomez’s back but as he does Gomez goes for a kimura and Crunkilton quickly scrambles regaining top control. Crunkilton works from half guard as Herb Dean steps in and stands the fight up. Good low kick from Crunkilton. Gomez looking to land some hard shots but Crunkilton is relentless with the takedowns and puts Gomez back on the canvas. Crunkilton keeping a solid pace as he works from the top. Gomez doing well to avoid any damage on the bottom. Both fighters scrambling as Gomez is attempting to get to his feet. Gomez attempts a guillotine but against Crunkilton trips him to the canvas.They clinch as the bell sounds to end the bout.

TKO Xtreme: Rich Crunkilton 10-9

Crunkilton easily wins the third round scoring numerous takedowns and controlling from the top for the majority of the round.

Winner: Richard Crunkilton - Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)

Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, Stephan Bonnar and Phil Baroni in the house!

Up next is a middleweight bout between Chael Sonnen (19-9-1) and Bryan Baker (6-0). Sonnen was originally slated to face Paulo Filho but the fight was scrapped when Filho voluntarily checked in to rehab.

Hummer is now ringside with WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. Faber states that it’s an honor to be fighting Pulver, someone who he said he’s been watching for years.

Thomas Denny can been seen in the back working with Baker while Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou stands in the dressing room belonging to Sonnen

Chael Sonnen vs. Bryan Baker

Round 1: The bout begins with a glove touch and then Baker throws a sloppy punch that misses. Sonnen then switches levels and secures a beautiful double slamming Baker to the canvas. Sonnen begins to soften Baker up with some knees to the shoulders before moving to mount. Baker attempts to hold on tight but Sonnen breaks the grip. Baker attempts to stand and as he does Sonnen goes for a D’Arce. Baker escapes and they then stand and exchange a few shots before Sonnen shoots in again. Sonnen pins Baker against the cage and secures a beautiful suplex. Sonnen gets north-south and Baker attempts to go for a reverse triangle while Sonnen lands from the top. Baker abandons the move giving Sonnen top position. Sonnen landing some solid shots from the top. Baker continuously firing up his legs looking for a submission but Sonnen shrugs it off and lands some extremely solid shots from the top. More good shots from Sonnen. The round comes to a close with Sonnen controlling on the top.

TKO Xtreme: Chael Sonnen 10-9

Very solid round by Sonnen who secured two beautiful hard slams. Sonnen landed many heavy shots working from Baker’s full guard.

Round 2: The round begins with an immediate shot by Sonnen and he puts Baker down and against the cage. Sonnen posturing up and landing hard shots as Baker attempts to avoid. Sonnen firing off short elbows followed by hard punches. Baker attempting to utilize an active guard but Sonnen is having none of it. Baker attempts to latch on a triangle but Sonnen powers out of it with more heavy punches. Sonnen continuing to work from the top with elbows and punches. Hammerfists from Sonnen followed by a guard pass as he opens up a cut on the head of Baker. Sonnen looking for a kimura from side control. Sonnen landing some more elbows and punches as the round ends.

TKO Xtreme: Chael Sonnen 10-9

Another dominant round by Sonnen as he controlled from start to finish and opened a cut on the head of his opponent.

Round 3: Baker begins the round with a body kick but as he does Sonnen shoots off it and puts Baker on his back and quickly moves to side control. Sonnen pins the right arm of Baker and begins to fire lefts to the head of Baker. Finally Baker is able to escape. Sonnen positioning himself for a kimura. Baker defends as Sonnen moves to north-south and back to side control. Baker attempting to hold on as Sonnen looks for a D’Arce. Baker scrambes and tries for a kneebar but unfortunately fails and gives up his back. Baker is able to roll out and Sonnen regains top position. Baker going for an armbar but Sonnen stands up and escapes. More hard shots from the top by Sonnen. Baker again firing his hips looking for an armbar/triangle. Hard punch from Sonnen as he postures up. Sonnen fakes an axe kick and lands some extremely hard punches as the round nears its end. Steve Mazzagatti watches closely as the round comes to an end.

TKO Xtreme: Chael Sonnen 10-9

Dominating showing by Sonnen as he proves he is clearly the number one contender for Paulo Filho’s middleweight title.

Winner: Chael Sonnen - Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)

Next up is the main event featuring Doug “Rhino” Marshall (7-2) and Brian “All American” Stann (5-0).

Stann is backstage hitting the pads with Sokoudjou as Frank Mir and Todd Harris break down the bout.

Stann with a huge height advantage as they meet in the center for a staredown.

Doug Marshall vs. Brian Stann

Round 1: The bout begins with a glove touch as Stann moves forward and throws a jab followed by a low kick. Marshall returns fire with a low kick. Both fighters miss with a few punches. Marshall throws a hook that misses and is nailed with a jab in the process. Marshall is able to land two hard leg kicks as they clinch along the cage. Overhand right from stand. They begin to trade along the cage with both fighters throwing huge bombs. Marshall cranks Stann with some hard shots and then eats a few of his own. Stann then a huge left hook that sends Marshall to the canvas. Marshall is out of it and Stann pounces putting a stamp on the bout.

Winner: Brian Stann - KO (Punches)