UFC 143 Main Event Reviews and Results

UFC 143 Main Event Reviews and Results

Published on February 5, 2012 by The Editor in UFC

Here are the details of the UFC 143 Main Event Fights, with Reviews and Results

Main Event – Fight 1.

Ed ‘Short Fuse’ Herman (19-7) Vs Clifford Starks (8-0)  Ref: Jose Rosenthal

Round 1.

Herman comes out swinging uppercuts, Starks however soon has him up against the cage. They break, Starks fires a great right hand, very solid. These guys came to fight.

Again they are against the cage with Starks pushing on Herman, Herman turns him  and plants a nice knee. Starks again swings a powerful right that connects. Herman takes Starks down and is in Hermans guard. The round ends.

Round 2.

Hermans eye seems to be troubling him, those big rights did a bit of damage. Starks soon has Herman up against the cage and is just pushing on him until Herman suddenly sweeps him and Starks goes down with Herman on top, herman takes mount and then soon transitions onto his back and slips in a rear naked choke forcing Starks to tap out at 1:43 of round 2.

Fight 2.

Scott Jorgensen (13-4) Vs Ronan Barao  (29-1-1 nc) Ref: Kim Winslow

Round 1.

The begin the round exchanging punches and kicks, Barao’s leg kicks seem more solid. Barao does a great spinning back kick which send Jorgensen into the cage, Barao follows up and in doing so Jorgensen tries to wrestle him to the floor but fails. They return to stand-up and Barao’s kicks are seriously solid, packed with power. Barao get’s Jorgensen against the cage and holds him there, they break away and Barao catches Jorgensen with a couple of solid kicks.

Round 2.

Jorgensen again tries to take Barao down but fails, they continue with stand-up. Baroa is more powerful with solid kicks that are getting through at will.

Jorgensen again tries to take Barao down but this time bravely pulls him into guard an interesting move against BJJ black belt such as Barao, he never looks less than comfortable though and eventually they return to their feet after no damage to either fighter on the floor. So, back to stand up and Barao’s stronger kicks are bos, Barao also again catches Jorgensen with a great Spinning Back kick. They finish the round standing up.

Round 3.

Jorgensen is the one going forward but Barao is fending him of and laying more damage on with great powerful and numerous counters. Barao is winning this fight on his feet, no matter what Jorgensen tries this is Barao’s fight.

Barao wins Unanimous Decision: 30 – 27 on all three cards.

Fight 3.

Josh Koscheck (18-5) Vs Mike Pierce (13-4)   Ref: Herb Dean

Round 1.

The round starts slowly, Pierce shoots for a single leg but fails, however, he has Koscheck against the cage and is leaning hard on him, this goes on for almost two minutes before Koscheck spins out of it.After further stand-up Koscheck has Pierce against the cage, then it’s back to stand-up the round ends fairlu evenly.

Round 2.

Another Pierce single leg take down attempt that fails, but, Pierce has Koscheck against the fence. They breakaway and it’s back to the punches which continue. At the four minute mark, Koscheck takes Pierce down without much problem however nothing really comes of it.

Round 3.

Begins with some uneventful stand-up after one minute Pierce takes Koscheck down with ease but he seems unable to keep him down and Koscheck is up pushing Pierce against the cage. More stand-up then Pierce gets a muay thai hold and knees Koscheck before they return to stand -up.

Koscheck win a Split Decison: 29-28 Pierce, 29-28 and 29-28 Koscheck

They all hate on Koschek but he wins!

Fight 4. 

Roy “Big Country’ Nelson (17-6) Vs Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1)   Ref: Jose Rosenthal

Round 1.

Roy Nelson looks like some wildman of the woods but as we have seen time and again he is a tough and skillful competitor. Nelson goes down and Werdum takes his back and it’s looking like this could be it as Werdum slips on a rear naked choke but Nelson escapes and stands up. Werdum holds Nelson in a muay thai clinch and catches nelson with some devastating knees.

Nelson get Werdum up against the cage but does not get very far as Werdum exits catching Nelson with powerful knees to the head as he goes. These knees are super powerful and Nelson is bloodied up. The ref steps in and takes Nelson to be checked by the Doctor who with one glance said he’s good to go and they recommence. Werdum attacks with punches and kicks and Nelson swings wildly catching Werdum and putting him down, he does not really capitalise on it and does not really trouble Werdum on the ground. Eventually Werdum gets up and finishes the round with some heavy kicks and knees to Nelson.

Round 2.

Werdums knees again connect with Nelson, these have been the difference so far, such powerful knees, they spend the whole round trading punches and kicks but Werdum is always on top.

Round 3.

Much of the same Nelson is a tough and able competitor but Werdum is a class above, his kicks and knees are just so good.

Werdum Wins a unanimous Decision 30-27

Fight 5. The Main Event 

Nick Diaz (27-1-1 nc) Vs Carlos ‘The Natural Born Killer’  Condit (27-5-0)   Ref: Steve Mazzagati

It’s easy to dislike Nick Diaz, he does not care, he just likes to keep it realistic. He does not want to be buddy, buddy with somebody he will have to fight, he dislikes the press calls and the stupid questions they ask time and time again.

On the other hand it’s easy to like Condit a good family man who let’s his fighting do the talking and like Diaz he can fight!

Round 1.

Diaz comes out and takes the centre of the cage and Condit circles. It’s going to be a stand-up battle for the most part by the look of it.

Diaz is the aggressor and Condit just goes about his business, Condit uses his kicks while Diaz throws what evers is handy, a punch, a kick or some smack talk as he tries to unsettle Condit.

The first round was all about sussing each other point, no major damage or points scored.

Round 2.

The fight continues still all stand-up but with even more Diaz mouthing at Condit encouraging him to fight.

They are not landing big punches, it’s going to be much more about blows landed in these early stages. Diaz is the aggressor but Condit has done his homework and they are still close, although at this point I would have Diaz slightly ahead.

Round 3.

Diaz still holds the centre of the cage and is closing Condit down, cutting off the angles and pushing Condit. But, still Condit is avoiding getting caught in any major exchanges with Diaz and is certainly putting in his fair share of strikes in return.

These guys are very well matched and Carlos Condit has obviously formed a good plan on how to tackle Diaz, and most importantly he is not getting dragged into back talking with Diaz, he is just going about his work.

Diaz of course is known for his Stamina but so far Conidt who trains at high altitude is matching him so far.

In the last minute of the round Diaz starts to up the pace and lands some very good shots which should ensure he wins the round.

Round 4.

Condit won’t stand still for Diaz and is happy to literally slip out when Diaz attacks and then run around the cage to reset. Diaz is the first to try a takedown going for a single, but, he fails to complete it and Condit is still working hard, it’s hard fight to judge, but Condit is landing more shots and Diaz is always coming forward. It’s the sort of fight you don’t normally want to go to the dodgy old fools that seem to occasionally get put in the judges seats, then anything can happen/

Round 5.

It’s close going into this round and both fighters must be concerned and will have to put on a match winning round.

Diaz tries and misses with a series of kicks and Condit replies with a one-two combo and finishes it with a powerful headkick, that got Diaz’s attention.

The fight continues fairly even until with a minute to go Diaz climbs of Condits back and takes him down, he has a body triangle and is trying for a rear naked choke and an armbar, the round finishes with Condit out of Diaz’s hold and on top as the bell goes.

The Fight is Unanimous Decision to Condit 48-47, 49-46, 49-46. Probably a wider margain than expected but a fair result

Afterwards Diaz did not think so and claimed he is out of this UFC lark, did he really retire?

Overall taking the preliminaries into account it was an enjoyable event.