More than one UFC career may have ended tonight.
Chris Lytle had already announced that his bout with Dan Hardy would be his last, and he went out with a bang, with a third round submission victory over Dan Hardy. The loss was the fourth consecutive for Dan Hardy who may be on very thin ice with the UFC.
Both fighters delivered on what they promised, standing and engaging in a war of attrition on the feet in the first round and throughout the bout.
Lytle mixed up right hands to the body, and connected throughout the first with big left hands, as Hardy obliged Lytle with a stand up war, staying in the pocket looking to land his big left hook. He staggered Lytle with a left hook, but Lytle who has never been knocked out, quickly regained his senses to close out a strong but close first round.
The second round gave fans much of the same action, with both fighters looking to land the big punch that could end the fight for either guy. Hardy abandoned his jab in the second, standing in front of Lytle and exchanging, as both guys teed off in the pocket.
It was a back-and-forth affair throughout the bout, and the third proved to be very similar until the moment that Hardy inexplicably went for a take down on Lytle. Lytle quickly locked up a guillotine, moved to a mounted position and got the tap in a dramatic finish to his last ever UFC appearance.
Lytle who has won an astounding ten “fight night” bonuses, had a few words for MMA fans regarding his retirement.
“I just want to tell you guys, you know, I honestly love being a fighter,” Lytle said.
“I Love being a part of the UFC. I love it probably more than anything in my life, except for one thing, and that’s my family. I know that it’s time to dedicate more time to them, quit putting myself first, and put them ahead of everything.”
It was a storybook ending to a tremendous career for Chris Lytle (31-18-5 MMA, 10-10 UFC), who made his UFC debut way back in 2000 at UFC 28.
Ben Henderson batters Jim Miller
Ben Henderson made a statement tonight.
The former WEC lightweight champion showed that he belongs in discussions as one of the best lightweights in the world, with a dominating, one-sided beat down of top contender Jim Miller.
Henderson displayed his submission defense repeatedly as Miller constantly threatened him with submissions in the first round,and throughout the bout. Henderson punished Miller during those submission attempts, with heavy shots to the body and short elbows from the top.
The second round saw Henderson pushing the pace, busting up the face of Miller with elbows as he took his opponent to the mat early in the round. From there Henderson continued to land brutal elbows as Miller looked to counter with submission attempts from his back.
Miller locked up a tight heel hook that looked like it may derail the momentum of Henderson, but after a wave to the crowd, Henderson freed his leg and continued to punish Miller from the top. Once the fight hit the feet, Henderson landed big shots to the head of Miller, before dumping him on his back once again.
Henderson kept the intense pace in the third, but got clipped with a left hand early that dropped him to the canvas. Henderson recovered quickly, made his way to his feet, and then drove through the body of Miller for yet another take down.
Miller quickly found himself with Henderson on his back, defending a tight rear naked choke. Miller survived but absorbed huge shots from the top as he rolled to escape the submission attempt.
After three rounds of nonstop action, Ben Henderson (14-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was awarded a lopsided unanimous decision with scores of (30-27, 29-28, 30-26).
Donald Cerrone takes out Charles Oliveira in first
Donald Cerrone continued his unbeaten streak in the UFC, moving to 3-0 in the Octagon with an impressive first round TKO victory over the fast rising Charles Oliveira.
Cerrone made short work of Oliveira in the opening round after putting together a three-punch combination that finished with a flush body shot that dropped the young brazilian.
Cerrone landed a clipping knee to the jaw as Oliveira went to the mat, and then finished with a flurry of unanswered strikes from the top, forcing the referee to intervene and stop the fight.
Duane Ludwig punishes Amir Sadollah
Duane Ludwig taught Amir Sadollah a lesson in Muay Thai with a dominating performance to open up the main televised card of UFC on Versus 5, with a unanimous decision victory over the TUF 7 winner.
Sadollah decided to test the waters standing against the renowned striker Duane “Bang” Ludwig, and he paid for it in the first round. Ludwig landed huge knees in the clinch, and showed impressive take down defense to keep the fight standing where he landed a big left hook that staggered Sadollah late in the opening round.
Ludwig continued to beat Sadollah to the punch in the second, with straight counter punches off the kicks of Sadollah, and punishing knees when the fight went to the clinch. Sadollah was unable to secure a take down in the second round, where his vaunted ground game could have swung the momentum in the bout.
The final round saw Sadollah pushing the pace, but Ludwig again denied any take downs as a desperate Sadollah looked to turn the tables after losing the first two rounds. Sadollah looked much better in the third, but in the end it would be too little too late form the TUF veteran.
When the scores came in from the judges, it was Duane Ludwig (21-11 MMA, 3-3 UFC) who would be awarded the unanimous decision victory.