UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz - Live Blog & Results

Date: March 16, 2013
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Venue: Bell Centre

It's 6:33 and we are live for the bouts on Facebook!  Waiting on a food order as we start things off on the prelim card.

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 6:35 p.m. ET)

Reuben Duran (8-4-1) vs. George Roop (12-9-1) - Round 1: Roop starts off aggressive taking the center of the octogon, plenty of kicks early.  A few stun Duran a bit, but he maintains distanace, might be having a hard time getting in on Roop's reach.  1-2 combo by Duran hurts Roop a bit.  Duran establishing the inside leg kick before getting the first takedown of the match.  Duran has some trouble passing the guard as Roop works to establish wrist control.  Mostly hanging out in the guard, little action from Duran, some good elbows from the bottom by Roop.  Half guard pass by Duran right before the end of round.  Duran 10-9.

Round 2: More kicks to start by both men, flying knee attempt by Roop which Duran catches and drives him into the fence for a battle of position.  Roop spins around and takes back control on Duran, drags him to the ground.  Roop trying to get his arms across Duran's chin from the back, Duran eventually get spun around and moves the fight to the feet and back into a battle of the fence.  Both men trade blows in the center before Duran gets another takedown on a failed high kick by Roop.  Looking like the end of the previous round again, Duran not doing much to move past the guard of Roop while he does some work with elbows and submission attempts from the bottom.  Roop moves them towards the fence so he can get the fight back on the feet.  They end the round jocking for position on the fence.  Hard round to score, I'll give it Roop 10-9 for getting a takedown first and being more active on the ground.

Round 3:  Roop front kick to start, tied up by Duran and driven into the fence for a brief takedown, they eventually move back on their feet.  Roop pressing Duran into the cage establishing to elbows and punches.  They continue to jock position while Roop continues to get a number of blows in slowly and methodically.  Roop eventually get a takedown on Duran moving into his guard, pushing him into the fence.  Duran moves it back onto the feet, another takedown by Roop following by a quick explosion back to the feet by Duran.  More fighting on the fence as Duran pushes Roop into the cage looking to work another takedown while Roop tries to get his back off the cage.  Few good knees by Roop, both men look pretty tired.  Mostly Duran holding Roop on the cage as the buzzer rings to signal the end of the fight.  Not pretty but I think I have to give it to Roop for working more and landing more blows.  Roop 10-9, Unanimous Decision 29-28.

Result: 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 Unanimous Decision for George Roop

TJ Dillashaw (6-1) vs. Issei Tamura (7-3) - Round 1: Dillashaw takes the center to start, they stalk around the octogon a bit with some posturing.  Tamura goes for an overhand right and is taken down by Dillashaw.  They grapple a bit on the mat near the cage, Dillashaw works to try and the back, drives Tamura into the cage.  Brief takedown once more by Dillashaw and then back to the feet.  They work on the cage for several minutes, Tamura trying in vein to get off his back before the referee separates them with a minute left.  High kick attempt by Dillashaw, misses, another try and misses again.  He chases Tamura around the cage a bit with some punches and kicks to end the round, not much landing.  Dillashaw 10-9.

Round 2:  Dillashaw takes the center again.  Throws a solid knee at Tamura that lands pretty flush, flows up with some ground and pound into the cage to end it.  Replays show the knee might have been a failed kick.  Regardless, another nice win at Bantamweight by Dillashaw  

Result: Dillashaw via TKO, Round 2 (0:26)

Quinn Mulhern (18-2) vs. Rick Story (14-6) - Round 1: Story starts off stalking Mulhern, some stand up early sends him briefly to the mat.  Story continues to pressure the action, landing occasional shots, pushing forward.  Good combos from Story, not respecting the stand up much of Mulhern, eating a few shots here and there.  A few powerful leg kicks from Story, a lot of lunging over hand shots as well.  Hurts Mulhern with a body shot, punch in the eye in the middle of a few combos before Story swarms him with shots on the ground.  

Result:  Rick Story via TKO, Round 1 (3:05)

PRELIMINARY CARD (on FX @ 8 p.m. ET)

Daron Cruickshank (12-2) vs. John Makdessi (10-2) - Round 1: Alright we got the Detroit Superstar clashing with The Bull to start off the FX card, hopefully should provide some fireworks.  Lots of posturing to start from both men.  A few low kicks.  Some boos from the crowd.  Makdessi maintain control of the center.  More boos, louder this time.  A few strikes landed by Cruickshank.  A few blows traded.  Exchanging control of the center.  Low blow by Makdessi, unintentional.  Short break and they resume.  A few more kicks traded.  Spinning backfist missed by Cruickshank, takedown stuffed by Makdessi.  High kick to the head missed by Cruickshank as they exchange a few shot to end the round.  Hard to call but I would say Makdessi controlled the fight more, 10-9.

Round 2: They gauge distance, head kick by Cruickshank.  A leg kick by Makdessi to the body, as they posture around the center.  Makdessi controlling again, keeping Cruickshank at a distance with jab and kick.  Some boos.  Spinning back kick to body partially lands on Cruickshank, a few more shot to the mid section follow up.  Makdessi continues to maintain center control with good range established by his shots.  Flying kick by Cruickshank misses as the two men trade shots to end the round.  Makdessi 10-9.

Round 3:  Both men trade shots in the center to start the round, a few shots countered by Makdessi.  Cruickshank tipped up on a kick, Makdessi lets him up.  Spinning wheel kick missed by Cruickshank.  Makdessi controls the center with his jab, lands several blows to the body on Cruickshank as he briefly takes to the ground before being forced up due to inactivity.  More jab work by Makdessi as the men trade more shots around the cage.  Spinning backfist attempt by Makdessi who ends up getting poked in the eye.  A short rest, warning to Cruickshank by the referee.  They resume and some punches and a kick from Makdessi land.   Several spinning kick from Cruickshank miss their target, Makdessi follows up heavy and agressive to end the round.  Makdessi 10-9, should take the unanimous decision 30-27.

Result: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 Unanimous Decision for John Makdessi

Jordan Mein (26-8) vs. Dan Miller (14-6) - Round 1: More American on Canadian action continues on the prelim card.  A few punches and a low kick by Miller start off the action.  Mein establishing some range.  Missed hook from Mein into a takedown by Miller who begins to work to pass guard and sweeps Mein over into a deep armbar attempt which Mein fights out of and gets the action back on their feet.  Both men trade some shots, Mein misses a wild step in punch.  Miller misses on a combo.  They both trade punches around the center.  Mein levers Miller with an overhand left.  Lets Miller get back up after a brief pause.  Mein stalks Milelr around looking to pick his shots.   Miller getting pushed back towards the cage, Mein pursues and drops Miller again with shots, follows up and finishes with brutal ground and pound.  Impressive finish by Mein

Result:  Jordan Mein via TKO, Round 1 (4:42)

Antonio Carvalho (15-5) vs. Darren Elkins (15-2) - Round 1:  Brief clinch in the center and the men exchange a few punches and knees.  Shot by Elkins driving Carvalho into the cage, he fights out and the two exchange a few more shots.  Elkin pursues the action.  Combo by Elkins lands, low kick by Carvalho lands.  Takedown attempt by Elkins again, into the cage Carvalho fights out, high kick missed by Carvalho.  Elkins lands a solid right and hurts Carvalho, follow up by Elkins briefly dropping Carvalho who jumps up into a potential early referee stoppage.  Hmmm, Carvalho was on wobbly legs but won could argue the follow up would have been a lot of unnecessary action.

Result:  Darren Elkins via TKO, Round 1 (3:06)

Patrick Cote (18-8) vs. Bobby Voelker (24-8) - Round 1: Lots of cheers for Cote.  The two men begin to trade in the center a bit while moving around the perimeter.  A few strong overhand shots by Cote lands.  They clinch up, Voelker into the fence, Cote holding him while landing a few shots.  Voelker puts Cote on the fence, lands a few strikes, Cote reverses and they break.  Cote loose with a few shot, Voelker lands an  overhand on him.  Takedown after some work by Voelker, Cote works his way to guard and a brief armbar attempt.  Cote spins off the cage working the armbar again staying active off his back.  Voelker continues to work from the top, brief sweep by Cote but he loses position again.  Voelker ends the round on top working a few shots.  Voelker 10-9 based on top control.

Round 2: A wild exchange to start, Cote hit Voelker with a solid overhand shot.  They jockey for position around the center, Cote lands a few overhands and uses kicks to create range.  Voelker pursues Cote into the cage, Cote reverse position and get's Voelker back against the fence, opens up wit some shots.  They move away from the cage towards the center, Voelker lands hard on Cote and moves him back.  Superman jab by Cote.  Several knees by Voelker land, Cote works a takedown on the fence.  Flurry of body shots by Cote, they break and engage in the center, a few shots by Voelker cut Cote on the nose.  Cote works Voelker into the fence, hip throw by Voelker, they work to their feet.  Solid shots by both men to end the round as Cote shoots for a takedown as the horn sounds.  Voelker 10-9.

Round 3: They begin off with some heavy strikes, Cote works Voelker back into the cage.  Cote backs out into a flying kick, partially landing.  More work against the fence as both men starting to look tired out there.  Cote holds Voelker, breaks on a punch, wild exchange, Cote drive Voelker again into cage for takedown, can't get it and Voelker reverse into a takedown of his own.  Top control by Voelker, hammerfists as Cote looks for the armbar again.  Voelker continues to ride the top as Cote tries to work to his feet.  Cote stuck in armlock, taken down again by Voelker.  Cote works another armbar attempt, Voelker on the back still as Cote works the action back to his feet but not too soon before he is taken down again by Voelker.  Cote working for a desperation armbar that isn't there.  Voelker works hammerfists from the top as the horn signals the end of the round.  Voelker 10-9, takes it 30-27 by my count.

Result: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 Unanimous Decision for Patrick Cote!!!

MAIN CARD (on PPV @ 10 p.m. ET)

Since I was having difficulties live blogging via my iPad, I effective gave up on it by the time the main card came around as the TV with the DVR I ordered the PPV on is not in the same room as my computer...hopefully I get a solution for this resolved for next time.

Colin Fletcher (8-2) vs. Mike Ricci (7-3) - Boring as expected...

Result: 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 Unanimous Decision for Mike Ricci

Chris Camozzi (18-5) vs. Nick Ring (13-1) - Not as boring, but still uneventful...

Result: 29-28, 28-29, 29-28  Split Decision for Chris Camozzi

Jake Ellenberger (28-6) vs. Nate Marquardt (32-11-2) - Finally, violence...

Result: Jake Ellenberger via KO, Round 1 (3:00)

Carlos Condit (28-6) vs. Johny Hendricks (14-1) - Fight of the year candidate...

Result: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 Unanimous Decision for Johny Hendricks

(c) Georges St-Pierre (23-2) vs. Nick Diaz (26-8) for UFC Welterweight title - Five more rounds of takedown dominance and safe ground and pound for the champ...

Result: 50-45, 50-45, 50-45 Unanimous Decision for Georges St. Pierre to retain UFC Welterweight title