Heavy.com is live from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California for “UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez”. Follow along beginning at 7 p.m. ET for all the preliminary card action.
Preliminary Card
Jon Madsen vs. Gilbert Yvel
Yvel and Madsen kicked off the evening without much action early. However, Madsen quickly changed that when he earned the takedown and began pounding away on his opponent. Yvel, who is known more for his controversial past more than his excellent striking, did not defend from the bottom, and Madsen continued to throw down on him, leaving referee John McCarthy with no choice but to stop the fight. Looks like the end for Yvel, who now has lost three straight. Madsen def. Yvel via technical knockout at 1:48 of Round 1.
Chris Camozzi vs. Dongi Yang
Yang opened up the second contest of the evening, which was his debut with the promotion, with a nice leg kick, and Camozzi immediately looked a bit timid. Yang identified that and began pressing the action, earning a takedown after a short clinch. However, after avoiding Yang’s transition to the back, Camozzi reversed and worked the fight back to the feet. Camozzi began to loosen up, landing combinations and pushing Yang against the cage. However, Yang quickly came back with a solid combination that landed flush, followed by a leg kick. Camozzi was taking a great deal of shots throughout the round, but sending several back at Yang for his troubles.
At the start of the second, Yang pressed the action again, nearly securing a guillotine choke. However, Camozzi battled through it and survived the attempt. Yang really started the get his timing down, and Camozzi constantly was getting his leg kicks caught. However, he did managed to shoot off several nice knees to the body, reminding Yang to keep his distance. Camozzi opted for the takedown, but was unable to earn it, and Yang finished the round with a nice right hand.
In the third, Camozzi was the one off to a quick start, landing a nice jab right out of the gate. He then clinched with Yang and landed a solid knee to the body, followed by a shot that almost dropped his opponent. Camozzi really began turning it up, and Yang began to bleed. However, Yang began fighting back, though he was clearly affected by Camozzi’s offense. After Camozzi rushed in, Yang effectively moved to his back with just 90 seconds to go. Camozzi escaped and his urgency was apparent. He ended the round with a nice flurry, which could have been the ultimate difference in the judges’ decisions. Camozzi def. Yang via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Sam Stout vs. Paul Taylor
Taylor entered this fight looking to throw kicks and he did, landing two right off the bat. Stout came back with a solid jab, and the two began trading back and forth. Taylor continued to look for kicks, while Stout attempted to work combinations. However, the Canadian just could not seem to get the timing down, missing with the vast majority of his shots. The fighters, content to go blow-for-blow, battled to the final 10 seconds, when Stout earned a takedown, looking to steal the round.
The fighters exchanged kicks to start the second round and then looked to land the one punch to finish the fight. However, neither could, and the back-and-forth battle continued. Taylor began landing the better shots, but Stout caught a leg kick and dropped the Brit with a big right. Taylor shot back up and the two clinched against the cage. Taylor worked for the takedown as the round wound down, but could not get it, and the two headed to the third and final frame.
In the last round, Taylor landed the first shot with a nice right hook. Stout came back with a head kick, but missed by a few inches. Taylor came back with a few kicks of his own, landing the majority of them. He then looked for a combination with his hands, landing a nice one, followed by an uppercut. The fighters once again went back and forth until the round closed out. Very close fight and early Fight of the Night candidate. Stout def. Taylor via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27).
Mike Guymon vs. Daniel Roberts
The fourth bout of the evening began with a short feeling-out process, followed by a solid leg kick from Roberts. He then came back with a nice left hook that dropped Guymon to the floor. Roberts rushed in and locked on a choke, forcing “The Joker” to tap out. Disappointing and short night for Mike Guymon, while Roberts earns a big victory. Roberts def. Guymon via submission (anaconda choke) at 1:13 of Round 1.
Patrick Cote vs. Tom Lawlor
Lawlor came out like he always does, with an incredible pace. He landed a nice right hand off the bat and immediately clinched with Cote against the cage. “The Filthy Mauler” began working knees and toe stomps before securing a takedown. Cote worked the closed guard and tied up Lawlor’s arms from the bottom in search of a potential submission. Lawlor postured up and landed one shot before begin tied up once again. He then pushed Cote up against the cage, looking to break free and land a few shots. He opted to instead move to side control and looked for the mount. However, Cote switched to half guard, and Lawlor once again got tied up from on top. The fans began to boo, and Lawlor postured up and threw down some shots. Lawlor then looked for an arm triangle, forcing Cote to roll away and give up his back. Lawlor began working his ground and pound again and then looked for the rear naked choke. He nearly earned it, but the Canadian rolled out and ended the round on top.
Both fighters started the second with a bit of a feeling out process, but Lawlor landed the first nice shot with a jab, followed by a clinch against the cage. He looked for the takedown from there, while Cote battled to stay on his feet. Lawlor grabbed for a double and put Cote on the ground once again. Cote kept Lawlor tied up, but couldn’t stop him from blasting off a few. However, the Canadian managed to sweep his opponent and get back to the feet. Lawlor, none to happy about it, pushed Cote up against the cage again, landing a nice knee before earning the takedown. Lawlor began smothering the former top contender like he had the entire fight, but Cote looked for a kimura. He could not lock it down, and the referee elected to stand them up. Cote began pressing forward, but it was Lawlor who landed the nice combination to finish up another successful round.
Lawlor came out hot in the final round, working his combination to earn a takedown. He looked for the arm triangle choke, nearly earned it, but opted to move to side control. Cote worked his way back into half guard, scrambled, and Lawlor looked for a crucifix. Cote barely scrambled out of it, but he continued to get smothered by his opponent. Lawlor continued to work his ground and pound, but then looked for a kimura. Cote survived and worked back to the closed guard. Punches landed for Lawlor to the body and the head of Cote before once again being stood up by John McCarthy. Joe Rogan voiced his disapproval, while Lawlor went right back to the clinch and earned another takedown. Cote looked to wall walk, but Lawlor kept him down. Cote attempted to scramble as the seconds ticked away, but Lawlor proved way too advanced a grappler for the Canadian. Lawlor finished the fight with a nice bit of ground and pound before the bell, earning an incredibly lopsided decision. Lawlor def. Cote via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Court McGee vs. Ryan Jensen
McGee came out in the center of the cage, but ate a right hand early. Jensen looked to work angles, landing several nice shots. He threw a left that floored McGee, but “The Ultimate Fighter” winner came back and closed in on the distance. The fighters clinched and Jensen scored a takedown, smothering McGee. He threw down on McGee, before they both ended up back on their feet. Jab landed for Jensen, and McGee was starting to look confused. The pace slowed leading up to the midpoint of the round, but a quick exchange saw McGee once again get tagged. Jensen began really picking the stiff McGee apart, beating him to every punch. McGee ducked out of the way of a big head kick, but got tagged by another one-two shortly after. He finally landed a nice right hand, and the two traded leg kicks. McGee really started to push the pace at the end of the round, but, with 10 seconds left, ate a few shots, while landing a few of his own. Good round for Jensen.
The second round began with an exchange of leg kicks, followed by a feeling-out period. McGee began to loosen up, while Jensen appeared to slow down a bit. Jensen missed with a big combination, while McGee methodically began outstriking his opponent. McGee landed a nice left hand that staggered Jensen, who then looked for a takedown, which was stuffed. Nice shots to the body land for McGee, who really started to find his rhythm. McGee closed the distance, and the two tied up in the clinch. Jensen scored a nice throw, but McGee quickly stood up and continued to press forward. However, Jensen landed a punch flush to slow McGee down for a moment. McGee worked the body again, followed by shots to the head. The fans in California began to boo because Josh Koscheck walked into the arena, not because of the fight. Jensen’s pace was officially the slowest it had been throughout the entire fight, while McGee continued to fire off shots in the pocket. The fighters exchanged leg kicks and McGee worked for the body once again. Nice left hook landed for McGee and earned a takedown to finish off an impressive round.
The third round began with an exchange of shots, and Jensen looked completely exhausted. McGee landed a solid shot that hurt Jensen and immediately threw him to the ground. Ground and pound ensued, and Jensen was in deep trouble as McGee moved to the mount. Elbows landed from the top for McGee, who looked for the arm triangle, forcing the tap from Jensen. Incredible gameplan and comeback for McGee. Can’t help but be impressed by that performance. McGee def. Jensen via submission (arm triangle) at 1:21 of Round 3.