UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch Results
“UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch” is set for the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia this evening, and HeavyMMA.com will be bringing you all the coverage from the event with round-by-round updates.
The promotion’s second trip to Australia features a welterweight contest between former champion B.J. Penn and former top contender Jon Fitch in a fight with extreme title implications. In the co-main event slot, middleweights Michael Bisping and Jorge Rivera look to settle their differences inside the cage, while submission ace and hometown favorite George Sotiropoulos looks to continue building his way towards a title shot with a victory over striker Dennis Siver.
Rounding out the card, the ever-exciting Chris Lytle faces off against Brian Ebersole, and middleweights Chris Camozzi and Kyle Noke each look to build upon solid winning streaks.
Follow along with HeavyMMA.com starting at 10 p.m. ET for all the action from this evening’s “UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch.”
Kyle Noke vs. Chris Camozzi
Round 1: Noke leads with an inside leg kick, and Camozzi comes back with one of his own. Each misses with a head kick. Camozzi lands a solid combination, including a kick to the body, but Noke lands a vicious knee. They clinch, and Noke moves the fight to the ground, immediately moving to mount. He moves to the back after a brief scramble and sinks in the choke to earn a dominant first round victory.
Official Decision: Noke d. Camozzi by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:35 of Round 1
Chris Lytle vs. Brian Ebersole
Round 1: Cartwheel kick by Ebersole to open the fight, but Lytle blocks it. Lytle comes forward with his boxing, while Ebersole continues with his unorthodox style. Neither has landed anything significant as of yet, but Lytle is working body shots. Lytle catches a kick and throws a punch. It is blocked, but he comes forward again with a straight right. Lytle looks for a guillotine as Ebersole shoots in to move the fight to the ground. Ebersole escapes, but Lytle looks for the choke again. They scramble, and Lytle once again works for a guillotine and he is in full guard. Ebersole escapes and Lytle stands back up. They are in the clinch now and Lytle is throwing knees. He drops down again, looking for the choke, then switched to a triangle. Ebersole transitions, but Lytle rolls for another submission; this time a kneebar. Ebersole ends up on top and lands several bid shots, including a series of elbows that cut Lytle. Heavy.com scores Round 1 10-9 for Lytle.
Round 2: Kick to the body lands for Ebersole, and Lytle comes back with a kick of his own. Ebersole with another kick, followed by body shots from his opponent. Spinning back kick skims off the side of Lytle. Uppercut to the body lands for Lytle. Lytle is throwing hard now, sending another two shots at his opponents body and head. Another uppercut lands for Lytle, but Ebersole counters with a strike of his own. Body kick lands for Ebersole. He shoots in, but the takedown is stuffed. Lytle lunges forward with hooks, but Ebersole moves away. Another body shot by Ebersole lands. Lytle comes forward with a combination, followed by a body shot. Ebersole shoots for a takedown, nearly gets it, but Lytle stands back up. He eats a huge knee, and Ebersole follows his fallen opponent to the ground. He is looking for the choke now, but Lytle avoids the submission. Ebersole moves to the back, but Lytle is on the feet. Ebersole has the clinch and throws a nice right hand. He picks Lytle up and slams him down with 30 seconds to go. Elbows by Ebersole, followed by punches. He ends the round throwing shoulders. Heavy.com scores Round 2 10-9 for Ebersole.
Round 3: Another cartwheel kick is thrown by Ebersole, but Lytle turns it on with a flurry. He stuffs a takedown, but his opponent clinches. Lytle is looking for the kimura, as they drop to the floor. He lets it go, but moves to the guillotine with Ebersole in his guard. Lytle is back to his feet and drops down for yet another guillotine choke. He rolls on top of Ebersole and is looking to mount. Ebersole rolls, and Lytle looks to lock the choke in deeper. Ebersole gets back on top and is forced to escape yet another guillotine. Lytle works back to his feet, throwing knees before looking for the takedown. They separate, but Ebersole does not hesitate to clinch again. He lands strikes to the thigh of Lytle, followed by an elbow. Ebersole is pressing Lytle up against the cage, but the referee separates and gives Ebersole his missing mouthpiece back. Lytle lands with a right when action resumes, followed by a body shot and a kick. Lytle looks for a standing kimura, but he ends up on his back yet again. Knee bar attempt fails, and Ebersole lands a big elbow. Ebersole lands several more shots to Lytle before the round ends, likely securing the victory. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Ebersole.
Official Decision: Ebersole d. Lytle by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver
Round 1: No touch of gloves, and Siver misses with a leg kick immediately. The crowd immediately supports Sotiropoulos. Inside leg kick lands for Siver, and Sotiropoulos shoots in for a takedown. He fails, and Siver continues throwing kicks. Right cross lands flush for Sotiropoulos. Brief stalemate between the two. Sotiropoulos looks for a single, and Siver manages to avoid after hopping around for a solid five to ten seconds. Sotiropoulos shoots in again, but Siver throws him off. Leg kick lands for Siver. Two minutes left in the round. Fighters still trying to feel each other out, but Siver throws a big kick that misses to break the pause in action. Sotiropoulos gets tagged on the chin, but seems to be fine. Left hook lands flush for Siver and Sotiropoulos gets dropped. Siver lets his opponent back up after a bit of ground and pound, and Sotiropoulos is still a bit out of it. Siver lands a right, but nearly gets tagged with a head kick. Spinning back fist misses for Siver, but he still took the round. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Siver.
Round 2: Siver misses with a left to begin the second frame. He whirls forward with a combination, but misses blindly. Sotiropoulos utilizing head movement in this round, attempting to avoid further punishment on the feet. He looks for the clinch, but fails to secure it. Fighters being very patient on the feet, but Sotiropoulos looks to bring the fight down again. Siver brushes him off effortlessly. Siver misses with another left and then avoids another takedown attempt. Sotiropoulos just cannot get his hands on his opponent. He is throwing kicks now. Siver misses with two kicks, but lands a right hand. Sotiropoulos lands several decent shots, followed by another takedown that is stuffed by his opponent. Siver misses with a combination. 45 seconds left in a fairly uneventful round. Sotiropoulos lands two shots, followed by a body kick. Siver lands a body shot as the round comes to a close. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Sotiropoulos.
Round 3: Sotiropoulos looks for the takedown early in the round, but he once again fails to earn it. Siver misses with a leg kick, and Sotiropoulos comes back with a few shots that do not land. Fighters exchange strikes, but neither seems to be able to close the distance enough to land. Sotiropoulos catches a kick, but can’t get the takedown. He follows up with a nice jab, catches another kick, and lands again. Siver has been unable to land anything as damaging as he did in the first. Sotiropoulos looks for another takedown, but once again fails. Combination lands for Siver to the body of his opponent. Sotiropoulos looks for a head kick, but misses. Leg kick by Siver, followed by a jab shortly after. Crowd begins to cheer. Spinning back kick lands for Siver, but Sotiropoulos seems fine. Siver misses with a left, and Sotiropoulos is still looking for a takedown. He grabs another kick, but cannot complete it. Leg kick lands for Siver with 30 seconds to go. Siver lands with nice shot. He lands a spinning back kick just before the round comes to a close. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Siver.
Official Decision: Siver d. Sotiropoulos by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-28, 30-27)
Michael Bisping vs. Jorge Rivera
Round 1: No touch of gloves in the staredown. Bisping moves forward to the center of the cage, and River throws a few shots that miss. Overhand right misses for Rivera. And another. Bisping seems calm, as he misses with a combination. He shoots in for the takedown and he has it. Rivera stands back up, and the two fail to land flush after trading combinations. Rivera lands a shot that dazes Bisping, but only for a moment. Takedown by Bisping. He is looking for elbows, then stands up, looking to throw down. They separate, and Rivera eats an illegal knee. Big error in judgement by Bisping. Rivera is still down after about a minute, as the doctors take a look at him. He looks dazed, and this fight is in jeopardy. Rivera says he can continue, and Bisping has a point deducted. Action resumes, and Rivera lunges forward with a one-two. Head kick misses for Bisping, and Rivera lands a right hand. Bisping looks for another takedown, but Rivera shakes him off this time. Jab lands for Bisping and he scores a takedown with 45 seconds to go. Rivera is back to his feet, but he is up against the cage. Rivera misses with several punches before the round comes to an end. Heavy.com scores the round 9-9.
Round 2: Fighters exchange leg kicks to start, but Rivera lands a shot that sends Bisping staggering backwards. Rivera closes in, but fails to land anything. Bisping lands a right, then a left. Big right catches Rivera, and Bisping moves in for the kill. He is landing several nice shots here, followed by knees. Bisping continues with punches, and Rivera crumbles to the ground. A few more short punches and this fight is over. Bisping gets in Rivera’s face after the fight, but end up hugging in the end.
Official Decision: Bisping d. Rivera by technical knockout at 1:54 of Round 2
B.J. Penn vs. Jon Fitch
Round 1: Penn comes out quickly and looks for the takedown. He has Fitch up against the cage, landing knees. Fitch refuses to budge, avoiding the takedown for over one minute. He turns Penn around and looks for a takedown of his own. Penn lands elbows, while also defending the takedown. Fitch separates, throws a few punches, then looks for the takedown again. Penn separates from Fitch and then reengages to earn the takedown. He moves to his opponent’s back and locks on the body triangle. Penn loses the body triangle, but nearly earns the choke. Fitch defends, as Penn moves back to the body triangle. Fitch rolls over and goes to work with elbows with one minute left in the round. Penn stands back up, but Fitch continues to put on the pressure, pushing his opponent up against the cage. 30 seconds remain in the opening round. Fitch is struggling for the takedown and decides to work knees instead. He looks for a last second takedown, but Penn defends. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Penn.
Round 2: Fitch throws a kick that lands to begin the round, followed by a takedown. Penn’s back is up against the cage, looking to stand up. Fitch throws knees down on Penn’s leg. The former champion pushes down on Fitch’s head and stands back up. Fitch working short punches in the clinch. He separates and throws, but immediately shoots again. Penn lands an elbow, and Fitch answers with a knee. Fitch is cut. Penn switches positions and has Fitch against the cage. They separate, and Fitch throws a knee. Penn wraps him up and takes him to the floor for a second time. He is back on Fitch’s back and is looking to work a choke. Fitch spins out and ends up in his opponent’s guard. He is working shots to the body and elbows to the head. Penn is getting smothered here. 30 seconds remaining in the second frame. Fitch continues to work his ground and pound, but Penn stands up as the round comes to a close. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Fitch.
Round 3: Fitch lands a nice right hand early and follows it up with a takedown. Elbows by Fitch, along with shots to the body. Penn pushes him off, but Fitch earns another takedown. Penn stands up, but gives up his back. Fitch has Penn on the ground again, looking to score. He continues to work punches to the body and elbows to the head. Back to the body. Three minutes remaining in the round. Penn is getting beat up by Fitch, who continues to land solid strikes to the body and head of his opponent. Penn needs to do something here, as Fitch continues to smother him. Penn looks for a triangle, but Fitch defends. He is staying very busy from top position. Fitch thinks about an arm triangle, but elects to continue with his ground and pound with 30 seconds to go. Fitch finishes the round with constant punches, possibly earning him the victory. Heavy.com scores the round 10-9 for Fitch.
Official Decision: Fitch and Penn fight to a majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)*
*Fitch earned the 29-28 score