Inside Fights blogged all the main card action from UFC 114. Follow along here.
Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans
Round 1
The commission representatives step in to hold Rashad and Rampage apart. They do not touch gloves. Jab from Rampage misses. Big right from Rashad catches Rampage and he's on the cage defending a takedown. The gasp through the crowd in attendance was huge. Rampage recovers, but is eating knees on the cage. Body shots in the clinch, he tries to drop down for a takedown, but Rampage defends. Muay Thai clinch and quick knee to the head of Rashad. They are separated by Dean and back in the center of the Octagon. Jab from Rashad. Two punches miss from Rashad and Evans gets the takedown into Rampage's side control. Rampage scrambles to half guard. Rampage is walking his way back up, but is pinned against the cage by Rashad. Knees to the body from Evans. Body shot in the clinch for Evans. Herb Dean separates them again. Big sprawl by Rampage and he misses two big punches as the round ends.
Round 2
Evans is flicking jabs out that don't come close. Rampage defends a takedown and misses two hooks. Evans presses Rampage against the cage. Dean warns them to keep working and both men try to connect on the exit. Evans shoots in and presses Rampage to the cage. Evans hammerfists Rampage's legs against the cage wall. He's working the right knee with fists. Jab from Rampage misses. Evans isn't connecting with jabs and Rampage is missing with counters. Speed is playing a huge advantage here. Evans shoots in for a takedown and presses him against the cage. Clinched against the cage, but a takedown is defended by Rampage. Evans hangs onto Rampage's back; Rampage spins out and hasn't had an answer for Evans yet.
Round 3
Rampage looks for a right hand. He misses but Rampage stuffs a counter takedown. Evans eats a big punch and Rampage unleashes big punches as Evans tumbles to the canvas. Rampage is pounding away for the finish. He is hurt bad and is able to continue in this fight. Rampage ends in half guard, but Evans recovers and gets back to his feet. Evans is still dazed on his feet but he's circling away from him again. Evans shoots in and takes Rampage to his back. Evans moves into half guard and begins pounding Rampage against the cage. Rampage is scrambling to get free, but Evans is effectively keeping him down. Rampage gives up his back to spin free and gets back to his feet. Evans takes both legs and take Rampage down again. Rampage is fighting to get back to his feet. With 10 seconds to go, Rampage misses a big right hand to end the fight.
Winner: Rashad Evans by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Michael Bisping vs. Dan Miller
Round 1
Bisping and Miller go nose to nose in the stare down. Miller shoves him off. The fight hasn't even started yet. "USA" chants break out in Vegas. Combo from Miller. Accidental kick to groin from Miller, but Bisping walks it off. Bisping is backing off and waiting for an opening. Mike misses a right. Left-right connect for Bisping. Body shot from Miller misses. Bisping steps into an uppercut. Uppercut and left hook from Miller connect. Bisping working for his angles. Miller stays in with Bisping, connecting with a jab and outside leg kick. Bisping with a two punch combo. Right hook clips Bisping, but Bisping gets a 1-2. Two jabs from Bisping countered by a leg kick from Mike. Both fighters connect with punches. Jab from Bisping, countered by Miller's inside leg kick. Miller counter Bisping's misses well with combinations. Right hand by Bisping glances off. Right hand from Bisping. Both fighters working solid boxing for combos, but the longer they are on their feet, the more confident Bisping looks.
Round 2
Punches from Miller and Bisping. Bisping's corner is anticipating takedowns here in Round 2. Body shot and leg kick from Miller that is almost caught by Bisping. Bisping swings big, connects with one, but misses two looping hooks. Big straight from Mike followed by a jab out of his movement. He looks more confident this round. Looping hook from Miller. Head kick from Bisping blocked, followed by two punches and an outside leg kick by Miller. Takedown stuffed by Bisping. Big right from Bisping. Inside leg kick from Miller. Jab from Bisping, countered by a leg kick. Body shot from Miller is countered by a straight right from Bisping. Bisping finds a home for another straight right on Millers chin. Left hook from "The Count" is blocked. Jab-right hook combo lands for Bisping. Leg kick partially caught by Bisping. At the horn, Bisping eats a right hand.
Round 3
Miller is pressing forward. He needs to make something happen. Big right staggers Bisping a bit and he's backing up. Miller walks into a right hand. Inside leg kick from Miller. Head kick from Bisping is blocked. Inside leg kick from Miller connects. Body shot from Miller. Inside leg kick from Miller connects, but Bisping counters with a right. Right to the body from Miller. Bisping flashes two punches out there that miss. Miller shoots for the takedown and gets it. Miller in full guard and he postures up. Miller walks Bisping to the cage, but Bisping wall walks and is back to his feet. Right from Bisping connects. Jabs connect for each fighter. Body kick from Miller connects. "USA" chants break out again and Miller shoots in for a takedown pressing Mike against the cage. Bisping escapes and they're back in the center of the Octagon. Big left from Bisping connects. Miller goes for broke and both men land good punches to end the bout.
Winner: Michael Bisping by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow
Round 1
Duffee comes out quickly and misses two big shots. Right hook from Duffee is ducked by Russow. Solid 1-2 staggers Russow, big uppercut puts him on his knee. Subsequent jabs from Duffee connect. Duffee bounces off a Russow takedown attempt. Duffee is pacing himself and lands several combos. Russow needs to stop blocking these with his face. Russow spins away from a big uppercut. He's proving that he can take a big punch. Jab from Russow. Right hook, uppercut combo from Duffee misses. Duffee starts to slow, but a big uppercut from Duffee connects. Russow is bleeding from the nose, it appears.
Round 2
Duffee misses two punches but Russow takes them. Russow has weathered the best of Duffee's punches so far. Duffee begins to tee off on Russow. Russow lands a grazing right. Jab from Duffee. Left hook from Russow, Duffee starts switching stances but moves back quickly. Duffee seems to be far less active now. Right to the body from Duffee and once he connects, he backs away with his elbow bent to 90 degrees. Much slower pace to the round, more deliberate pace. Jabs from each fighter glance off to end the round.
Round 3
Russow fakes a shot for a takedown. Duffee doesn't connect with an uppercut. Russow tries for the double, but Duffee shakes it off and circles away. In the center of the Octagon, Duffee stuffs a takedown. Duffee connects with a big jab. He fakes a right uppercut and lands a short elbow instead of the big right. Jab from Duffee. Russow counters with a straight that causes Duffee to collapse. Russow hits him with another on the way down, follows him with a soft left hammerfist in for a ridiculous comeback.
Winner: Mike Russow by KO (R3, 2:35)
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz
Round 1
Jabs and leg kicks to test one another out. Little Nog launches a kick that is caught, Brilz takes Nog down. In the half guard after much posturing, Nog back to his feet. Brilz grabs a guillotine, begins to take Nog's back and Nog rolls and pulls Nog into guard. Brilz passes is in a modified side control, landing some body shots. Nog transitions around Brilz and starts to take his back, Brilz spins out and we're back toe to toe. Inside leg kick from Brilz, followed by a takedown that is stuff by Little Nog. Brilz controls Nog against the cage before they both circle off into the center of the octagon. Nog taps the lead hand on Brilz. Nog gets a solid punch in before the round ends.
Round 2
Leg kick from Brilz leads to a takedown from Brilz. Guillotine from Little Nog is tight. Brilz is in deep but Brilz pops his head out. Brilz catches Nogueira by the neck with a guillotine of his own, leading to Nog rolling to his back, which is deep. Nog doesn't tap, but is in deep. Rolling through again, Brilz gets him with a guillotine on his back, but Nog gets into side control. Nog tries for anaconda choke, but Brilz gets away and gets back to his feet. Brilz shoots for a takedown but is unsuccessful. Nogueira and Brilz exchange punches. Both fighters have their hands up, Nog tries for a big knee, Brilz grabs the knee but let's go of the takedown attempt. Three big hooks from Jason Brilz lead to a very wobbly Little Nog. Both men are on their feet to end the second round.
Round 3
Glove tapping from each fighter. Nog looks to have recovered from end of Round 2. Brilz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Big sweep from Nogueira who lands big shots on the way through. Brilz wall walks to his feet and drops down for a takedown, pushing Nog to the cage. Brilz has an ankle and Nog is tagging him. Little Nog is closing the distance, but he has to sprawl the takedown. Nog tries for a submission, but he is exhausted and can't finish. They both stand back up. Two body shots from Brilz, followed by a takedown. Nog recovers quickly and gets Brilz into a crucifix. Brilz takes one hammerfist and rolls through to mount. He tries to pin Nog's arm, but Brilz is swept again. Nogueira in half guard with some small shots to end the round on top.
Winner: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway
Round 1
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown and gets control against the cage. Hathaway controls the wrist and keeps Sanchez from finishing the takedown. Hathaway turns him around and lands a nice elbow, Sanchez gets Hathaway down to the ground for a second before they both pop back up. Outside leg kick from Hathaway. Straight by Hathaway, followed by a leg kick. Left outside leg kick. Sanchez shoots for a takedown and eats a huge knee from Hathaway. Hathaway tries to dive in to finish, but Sanchez rides it out. Sanchez looks recovered, but Hathaway is executing some ground and pound. Big elbows and punches from Hathaway cause Sanchez to clinch in guard to cover up. Two left body elbows from Hathaway.
Round 2
Leg kick from Hathaway. Head kick blocked by Sanchez. Jab from Hathaway lands. High kick from Sanchez is blocked by Hathaway. Right hook from Sanchez catches him in the ear. Right body shot from Sanchez. Jab from Hathaway. Hathaway misses a flying knee. 1-2 from Sanchez. Leg kick from Hathaway is caught and Sanchez pulls him down for the takedown. Hathaway stand back up, but Sanchez is still working for the takedown against the fence. Both fighters release and we're toe to toe. Right hand from Hathaway. Inside leg kick from Sanchez , followed by an outside leg kick. Blocked right from Hathaway is countered by a straight by Sanchez. Hathaway attacks and catches a glancing left in the process. Big straight from Hathaway. Big right hand from Sanchez countered by a right from Hathaway.
Round 3
Right hand from Hathaway lands. A bunch of exchanges from each fighter lead to little more than some small points. No urgency from Sanchez's corner and the crowd is very silent. Three-punch combo from Hathaway lands, Sanchez with a counter jab and another jab from Hathaway.Sanchez's takedown attempt is stuffed. Jab from Hathaway connects. Inside leg kick from Hathaway. Sanchez with a good left and both fighters land left hands shortly after. Hathaway stuffs another takedown and ends against the fence, but circles off before Sanchez can get a chance to take him down. Jab from Hathaway. Sanchez is starting to loosen up and go for broke and misses a right, allowing Hathaway to take his back. The clap for 10-second mark goes off and Sanchez charges in, getting tossed aside in the process. The round ends with little fanfare but a sign of respect from each fighter.
Winner: John Hathaway by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
