UFC 114 Results and Overview
Main Card
- Rashad Evans def. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
- Michael Bisping def. Dan Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
+ While Bisping controlled most of the fight, neither he nor Miller preformed their best. Bisping showed he needed to improve his striking game but, he did get a much needed win.
- Mike Russow def. Todd Duffee via KO – R3, 2:35
+ Duffee dominated both the first and second rounds with strikes but, somehow, Russow kept standing and moving forward. At the start of the third, Duffee appeared to be more gassed than the battered Russow. With Duffee’s hands dropped ever so slightly, Russow through an overhand right that shut Duffee’s lights out and his chiseled 24 year-old body slamming to the canvas.
- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Jason Brilz via unanimous decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
+ Very close fight but, most felt that Brilz put “Little Nog” in more fight ending positions and controled the majority of the 15 minuet fight. Sill, “Little Nog” gets the nod.
- John Hathaway def. Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
+Hello John Hathaway! The welterweight division has a new contender and Sanchez may need to reconsider moving back to lightweight.
Preliminary Card (Spike TV)
- Dong Hyun Kim def. Amir Sadollah via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
+Cage Coverage loves our Richmond, VA fighter Amir Sadollah. Unfortunately for this fight, Kim’s takedowns out classed Sadollah’s takedown defense.
- Efrain Escudero def. Dan Lauzon via unanimou decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
+Great fight with plenty of action but, with Escudero controlling much of the pace and delivering more damage. Before the fight, Dan Lauzon was chastised by his team and his brother Joe, who is also a UFC fighter, for not preparing for this fight professionally. His brother Joe refused to be Dan’s cornerman for this event.
Preliminary Card (Not televised)
- Melvin Guillard def. Waylon Lowe via TKO (strikes) – R1, 3:28
- Cyrille Diabate def. Luiz Cane via TKO (punches) – R1, 2:13
- Aaron Riley def. Joe Brammer via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ryan Jensen def. Jesse Forbes via submission (guillotine choke) – R1, 1:06
Main Event Overview
The first minute of the fight between Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson changed everything, in my opinion. Evans landed a big overhand right that staggered Rampage. Actually, it sent him stumbling several steps backward. And from that point forward, Evans fought with a sense of confidence that had been sorely lacking since his knockout loss to Lyoto Machida one year ago. Rampage, by contrast, seemed surprised by the punch and, as a result, was a bit hesitant for the next two rounds, which enabled Evans to build a comfortable lead on the judges’ cards and ultimately win a workmanlike unanimous decision.
Rampage is probably pretty annoyed with himself right now. Saturday’s effort dropped his UFC record to a still impressive 5-2, though it was the first time he must look himself in the mirror and accept the fact that he was cleanly defeated.
It was obvious from the start of the fight that Rampage’s timing was a bit off. He saw openings and didn’t appear to be able to naturally pull the trigger. I think that his mind was getting in the way of what he does naturally—letting his hands go with surgical accuracy and extremely bad intentions. And, of course, he had no answers to Evans takedowns and was completely spent well before the fight had reached its conclusion.
Rampage admitted that the long layoff so, he could star in the role of B.A. Baracus in the new A-Team movie left him over 250 pounds (he fights at 205 pounds) and with a lot a ring rust. As we know, problems are compounded when an athlete lets his weight balloon because large portions of his training camp ends up focusing, whether intentionally or naturally, on getting rid of the extra pounds, rather than effectively training to sharpen his skills and timing. Everything happens at a slower pace. The intensity is not the same. Nothing is the same, either mentally or physically, compared to a camp where a guy shows up in good shape with the proper bodyweight. Rampaged vowed at the conclusion of UFC 114 to stay in shape and fight again as soon as possible.
“This fight’s going to haunt me for a long time. I’m just one of those guys – it’s really going to haunt me.”
Tags: Amir Sadollah, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Dan Miller, Dong Hyun Kim, Jason Brilz, Melvin Guillard, Michael Bisping, Mike Russow, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Rashad "Suga" Evans, Todd Duffee, UFC, UFC 114