UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson is finally here!
Tonight, the welterweight division gets a pivotal match up between former champion Johny Hendricks and the rising contender Stephen Thompson. This is a fight you do not want to miss! The rest of Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson is also full of action-packed match ups. Stay right here for live Hendricks vs. Thompson results.
Pyle slices and dices, TKOs Spencer in round three
In a back-and-forth, action-packed affair, Mike Pyle and Sean Spencer took eachother’s best shots. Spencer found a spot for his patented overhand right early in the first round which dropped Pyle. The game veteran was able to recover quickly though, and the two put together a competitive, evenly tested second round. In the third round though, Pyle threatened with a guillotine and was finally able to get his grappling game going. Spencer expended lots of energy getting Pyle off him only to be rocked later in the round by a spinning elbow strike to the top of the head. Spencer was put on wobbly legs, and Pyle went in for the kill via his muay thai attack. Elbows and a few knees to the head was all it took for the ref save Spencer late in the fight. The 40 year old still looks as sharp as ever as he bagged an impressive win over a game opponent.
Cirkunov scores neck crank over Nicholson
Coming into this bout, we knew exactly how powerful of a grappler Cirkunov was. What we didn’t know is how Nicholson would do against such a powerful, strong grappler. Unfortunately, Nicholson couldn’t offer much in offense or defense against Misha Cirkunov’s game. Misha blitzed Nicholson on several occassion with left body kicks and swarms of punches. Nicholson kept trying for counters via spinning elbows and backfists, but Cirkunov followed every swarm with a takedown attempt and had no problem putting Nicholson on the ground. In the second round, after wearing on Nicholson the whole first round, Cirkunov found his way onto the back. Rather than sinking in the rear-naked choke, Cirkunov opted for the neck crank and put Nicholson into a scary quick tapout. Brutal submission by the powerful Misha Cirkunov.
Benavidez out-classes Makovsky, captures UD
Top flyweight contender Joseph Benavidez cemented himself even further amount the flyweight elite as he shutdown #8 ranked Zach “Fun Size” Makovsky. Through forward pressure, aggressive right hands to the body, and solid grappling defense, Benavidez handedly took two out of three rounds. Makovsky, while noticeably more accurate, failed to dish out enough offense to stop Benavidez’s momentum. Makovsky did well countering Benavidez’s blitzes with level changes and timing double legs. Makovsky took Benavidez down several times, but “Joe B” always managed to scramble up to his feet and back into striking game. With the announcement of Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo at UFC 197, it’s unclear who is left for Joe Benavidez at this point.
St. Preux grinds out ‘Feijao’
Things didn’t start out so well for Ovince St. Preux. An awkward-landing leg kick left OSP limping badly on his right leg early in round one. Luckily for him, Rafael Cavalcante failed to capitalize and allowed St. Preux to recover in the second round. Feijao offered little offense throughout the 15-minute battle while St. Preux landed left snap kicks to the body at will and pressed the action. St. Preux landed an easy takedown in round three and dominated the action from the top position. Both men seemed to fatigue rather quickly, but it was OSP who remained in control of the bout despite an early injury. The judges gave St. Preux the unanimous decision.
Nelson shuts down Rosholt with UD win
It wasn’t the overhand right KO win that we’re used to seeing from Roy Nelson, and maybe he just doesn’t have it in him anymore, but Roy Nelson made good on a much-needed UFC appearance. Rosholt and Nelson had eachother cancelled out throughout much of the round. Nelson had troubles pulling the trigger on his right hand as he anticipated the Rosholt takedown meanwhile Rosholt anticipated the Nelson overhand right. Rosholt threw some small jabs as he circled out, but other than that the offense was pretty much limited to a few flurries and leg kicks from Roy Nelson. Nevertheless, Nelson did enough to get the win.
‘Wonderboy’ Thompson lights up Hendricks
In what was supposed to be Thompson’s biggest test to date, the karate-styled striker rose to the occassion to put the former welterweight champion away in the first round. Hendricks got one chance in the first round where he was able to tie Thompson up, but skillful takedown defense of Thompson got him out of trouble. From then on, Thompson maintained distance with sniper-like punches and side kicks to the body and head. You could feel Thompson’s confidence raise with every shot to Hendricks’s beard. Near the end of the first round, Thompson walked Hendricks down against the cage and dropped him with a piercing left hook to the jaw. Referee “Big” John McCarthy rescued Hendricks at 3:31 into the first round.
