UFC 121 Results and Aftermath

Added on Oct 24, 2010 by John Petit in

UFC & MMA

UFC 121 took place this past Saturday in Anaheim, California, and featured which might end up being the biggest/most viewed Heavyweight fight in history. The entire card was exciting, and the fans at home and in the theater, were treated to a fantastic night of Mixed Martial Arts. Here is how the main card played out, and the quick results for the Preliminary bouts.

Fight of the Night: Diego Sanchez vs. Paulo Thiago

Knockout of the Night: Cain Velasquez

Submission of the Night: Daniel Roberts

Heavyweight Championship bout: Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez

Brock tried to pressure Cain very early in the fight, and at one point in the short bout, he got Cain down and it looked like he was going to start controlling the fight. Cain had different plans, as he popped right back up, exhibiting better wrestling then Brock. Brock tried to press Cain against the cage, but Cain was able to free himself up and create distance. After that, it was all Cain Velasquez. Cain started connecting and put Brock on queer street. He stumbled across the ring, and Cain went in for the kill. Cain started landing heavy shots, and Lesnar went down. Referee Herb Dean was forced to stop the bout at 1:48 seconds. Making Cain Velasquez the new heavyweight Champion of the UFC, and the first Mexican Heavyweight Champion in Mixed Martial Arts history.

Official Result: Velasquez defeated Lesnar via TKO (Punches) at 4:12 of Round 1

Welterweight bout: Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampmann

In a close contested match Jake Shields was able to come up with the win. However, Kampmann did not make it easy for him. Jake came out and put on a wrestling clinic, and although Martin was able to keep up using his BJJ, you just can’t choke a guy like Shields out. He is a different level of grappler. Martin took it to him in the second frame, and even dropped Jake with a solid knee, but the instinct switch in Jake’s head flipped and he went back to wrestling. The third round Jake came out, and he was gassed out. His hands at his hips, mouth wide open, and he looked twice as slow. Martin took it to him again, and Jake got it to the ground. Martin had a chance to stand up, and back out of Jake’s guard, but he didn’t. Thats all Jake needed to happen. He reversed Kampmann, and got to top position, and for the last two plus minutes of the round, he was on top landing almost meaningless shots. This was enough for the win.

Official Result: Shields defeated Kampmann via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

Welterweight bout: Diego Sanchez vs. Paulo Thiago

This is going into my list for consideration for fights of the year, and thankfully both fighters were awarded $70k for fight of the night. Diego Sanchez came out looking like he did against Hathaway, and he didn’t look like he belonged at welterweight. Thiago took it to him, and Diego was either trying to survive submission attempts, or eating/ducking shots the whole round. I’m not sure what Greg Jackson told Diego on the stool, but it worked. Diego came out and pushed the pace. He looked like the nightmare of old, and it was inspiring to see. He put pressure on Paulo, and used his wrestling to avoid submissions. Hats off to Paulo Thiago, because this was a fantastic scrap. Paulo was controlled again in the third, but he was constantly trying to finish from his back. Once or twice he came close to kimuras, but he was unable to finish.
Official Result: Sanchez defeated Thiago via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)

Light Heavyweight bout: Tito Ortiz vs. Matt Hamill

Tito Ortiz had nothing for Matt Hamill. Tito picked Matt when he was a coach on the ultimate fighter, he brought him up to Big Bear to train, and helped Hamill adjust his wrestling for MMA. However, Tito is not the fighter he was in 2004, and Hamill showed that to the world. Tito put up a good fight, but it was Hamill’s stand up, and his switching to his wrestling in the second and the third that won him this fight. Ortiz couldn’t take Hamill down and in the last round Matt did what Tito did for 6 straight title defenses, and took him down and elbowed him from side mount.

Official Result: Hamill defeated Ortiz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Heavyweight bout: Brendan Schaub vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

Brendan Schaub put on the fight of his life. He used his long limbs and his reach to pick apart Gabe Gonzaga. They pretty much went toe to toe with each other for 15 minutes, and Brendan got the win. The most frustrating part was that Gabriel didn’t try to take down Schaub and use his BJJ. Gonzaga is an elite ground fighter, and he looked for the KO the entire fight, which cost him the decision. Brendan is a good wrestler, and he has improved ten fold on with his feet, but he isn’t as good as Nepal is on the floor. Brendan easily controlled all three rounds, and won the decision.

Official Result : Schaub defeated Gonzaga via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Quick Results: