By Roberto Reid
As far as midweek slices of UFC action go, UFC Fight Night 35 was about as tasty as it gets. Some surprisingly lively prelims were followed with a good mix of main card fights that offered up high-octane 15 minute scraps, a super submission, and some crushing KOs. None were better than Luke Rockhold’s return to the win column, and that’s where we’ll start.
Luke Rockhold (pictured) def. Constantinos Philippou by TKO (body kick) – Round 1, 2:31.
It was a quick night of work for the former Strikeforce champion as he ruined Costas Philippou’s day with a couple of liver kicks. That’s it.
An efficient and deadly comeback win has put Rockhold back on track to do great things at 185-pounds in the middleweight division this year, however a rematch with Vitor Belfort is probably a little way off. The AKA standout also called out Michael Bisping (who doesn’t?) and given his ranking he may now be the frontrunner to face off against ‘The Count’ because of their proximity in the rankings. Whoever he faces, expect fireworks and some more excellence from this brilliant fighter.
Brad Tavares def. Lorenz Larkin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – Round 3, 5:00.
Larkin started firing first with leg kicks that must have hurt Tavares, but he fired back with some tight, straight combinations. Both fighters were more tentative in the first minute or two of the second round, but the Hawaiian started to get busy and even controlled his opponent’s back for more than a minute to close the frame. His attempts to work his arms under Larkin’s chin were ineffective though.
It was Larkin who had the better of the third round and he finished strong by raining down elbows with a minute to go. Tavarez looked like he was just hanging on as the clock ran down, and he’d done enough with a high volume of strikes in the first two frames.
This was probably the weakest of all the fights on the main card, and it’s still a mystery why it was given co-main event status, but it was still a decent fight between two good fighters who should stick around in the middle of the middleweight pack for years to come.
T.J. Dillashaw def. Mike Easton by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – Round 3, 5:00.
Both fighters started strongly, but Team Alpha Male’s Dillashaw was on point in possibly the best performance of his career as he kept getting in to land the better combinations. He threw in a few kicks and opened a cut on Easton to really put a stamp on the first couple of rounds.
Dillashaw remained a step ahead throughout the contest, mixing punches with takedowns facilitated by some fantastic level changes. Easton was going for it but unfortunately for him, he was up against a superior fighter on the night who was practically hitting him at will.
Dillashaw picked up a thoroughly deserved 30-27 score from all three judges and will be in line to face the cream of the bantamweight crop in 2014.
Yoel Romero def. Derek Brunson by TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 3:23.
A fun first round started this middleweight bout off as the two fighters exchanged heavy shots, the pick of which was a kick that landed flush on Romero. You’d have hardly known though as he and barely even blinked.
Romero took control, picking his shots until another left hand dropped Brunson to the mat. The Cuban Olympic silver medalist continued to keep his composure and pick his shots well to severely bloody up his opponent. He finished the fight with a string of unanswered elbows to the body that looked absolutely excruciating.
Yoel Romero is getting on in years and he’s a little out there to be really considered as a top contender, but he’s going to cause some serious problems for the vast majority of the 185 pound division with his high-calibre wrestling and brain melting power from his hands and knees.
John Moraga def. Dustin Ortiz by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) – Round 3, 5:00.
The first round was nothing to write home about, and Ortiz got the takedown after he softened Moraga up with knees and short punches against the cage, before riding out the round on top.
Moraga got into a nice rhythm in the second and Ortiz looked like he wanted no part of the striking game. He was dropped with a lovely right set up by an inside kick to the calf, and his attempts to get top position were stifled by Moraga’s vicious elbows to the temple. Moraga then threatened with a rear naked choke but couldn’t stay on the back.
It looked like the former title challenger would coast to a 29-28 as he controlled half of round three on the feet. However, Ortiz ducked for a nice double, took top control and proceeded to control position and land good strikes for most of the round. I thought Ortiz deserved the win, but two of the three judges disagreed.
Cole Miller def. Sam Sicilia by submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:54.
Silicia’s only shot was to catch Miller with something big, but every time he tried to get inside he got clipped on his way in. He had trouble navigating the reach advantage of Miller, looping punches that were easily defended apart from one hook that seemed to wobble ‘Magrinho’ through his guard. Miller continued to back his opponent up with straight punches and used his front roundhouse kick which kept him thinking.
Sicilia was marked up shortly in the second round and was put down with a big right hand over the top. Out of instinct or possibly desperation, he shot in. That was a bad idea because the mat is Cole Miller’s world. The ATT veteran threatened with a guillotine before transitioning to side control and taking the back to lock in an easy rear naked choke.
After the fight Miller called out Donald Cerrone, and given the heat there seems to be between the two along with the prospect of a damn good fight, I’d be happy for Sean Shelby to sanction that fight.
Meanwhile, on the prelims…
Ramsey Nijem def. Justin Edwards by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28 – Round 3, 5:00.
Elias Silverio def. Isaac Vallie-Flagg by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) – Round 3, 5:00.
Trevor Smith def. Brian Houston by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – Round 3, 5:00.
Louis Smolka def. Alptekin Ozkilic by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – Round 3, 5:00.
Vinc Pichel def. Garett Whiteley by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – Round 3, 5:00.
Beneil Dariush def. Charlie Brenneman by submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:45.
