Prelims

Stephen Thompson defeated Dan Stittgen via switch kick KO at 4:13 of Round 1

Rafael Natal defeated Michael Kuiper via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Matt Riddle over Henry Martinez via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Matt Brown beat Chris Cope via knockout at 1:19 of the 2nd Round

Edwin Figueroa defeated Alex Caceres via split decision (28-27, 27-28, 28-27) Caceres lost 2 points due to two low blows he landed.

Dustin Poirier defeated Max Holloway via submission in the 1st Round

Main Card

Ed Herman defeated Clifford Starks by submission via  rear-naked choke at 1:43 of Round 2

Renan Barao defeated Scott Jorgensen via unanimous decision 30-27 across the board

Josh Koscheck defeated Mike Pierce via split decision 28-29, 29-28, 29-28

Fabricio Werdum def. Roy Nelson via unanimous decision 30-27 across the board. (Werdum displayed improved striking that kept Nelson at bay)

Carlos Condit defeated Nick Diaz via unanimous decision 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 to become the UFC Interim welterweight title.

After the bout Nick Diaz said about the loss

“I’ve not going to accept the fact that this is a loss,” Diaz said. “I pushed him back the whole fight, I walked him down, and I was the guy on top.

“You guys pay me a ton, but I don’t think I’m getting enough to keep going on. … I don’t need this shit. I pushed this guy back the whole fight. … I don’t want to play this game anymore.”

Fight Bonuses $65,000 each.

Fight of the Night: Nelson vs. Werdum

Submission of the Night: Dustin Poirier

KO of the Night: Stephen Thompson

 

My thoughts:

I was a close decision that will be disputed by some. I scored the fight 48-47 for Nick Diaz with him winning rounds 1,2 and 5 and Carlos Condit winning rounds 3 and 4. Condit usually fights for the finish but after the the second round he realized the only chance to win is to become a point fighter. He also looked shocked when his name was announced which tells the story. Judge Junichiro Kamijo gave Carlos Rounds 1,3 & 4 while judges Patricia Morse-Jarman & Cecil Peoples gave Condit Rounds 1,2,4 & 5. Another Greg Jackson play it safe fencing match gets the win but fans lose as it wasn’t the war we hoped for. It will be interesting to see who Gregg Jackson chooses to corner when Condit fights GSP in November.

Fight-Metric stats:

Condit out-struck Diaz in the fight by a 159-117 count overall, and a 151-105 number in “significant strikes.

In strikes to the head and body, Diaz landed 111 to Condit’s 91.

In strikes to the legs, it was Condit 68, Diaz 6.