UFC On Versus – Jon Jones Vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
There hasn’t been a UFC show since Brock Lesnar defeated Shane Carwin in the main event of one of the greatest UFC cards of all time. But you should call this the calm before the storm. After this show is UFC 117 next weekend and UFC 118 set for the end of August. There’s also a WEC card in the middle of the month.
Clearly, the UFC is showcasing Jon Jones as this is his second time headlining on Versus. And it’s not a bad guy to showcase. I think everyone who enjoys this sport loves to watch this guy fight.
The show is starting with Gomi vs. Griffin.
1. Takanori Gomi vs. Tyson Griffin
I expected this to be a a show stealer, but Gomi was the show stopper. Griffin stood right in front of him and Gomi threw a wild right hand that hit Griffin right on the chin. Griffin took a Ric Flair bump on his face and stayed there while Gomi threw punches and the referee stopped it.
Winner: Takanori Gomi by way of 1st round TKO
I was worried about Gomi’s employment if he lost this fight. Good flash knockout the start the show.
2. Jake Ellenberger vs. John Howard
Just based on the first round, it seems that Ellenberger’s MMA game is just more well-rounded. He closed the gap quickly on Howard and just stifled his stand-up. He put him up a clinch up against the cage and threw knees until Herb Dean separated them. Then Ellenberger threw a quick knee and just exploded into a takedown. On the ground, he didn’t do much and they were separated again and stood up. Howard’s entire offense has been to lunge at him with wide hooks to no avail. We’ll see if Howard’s corner gives him some advice because his game plan is not working at all.
Howard opened up with a left leg kick that stopped Ellenberger in his tracks. Ellenberger tried to tie him up again, but Howard pushed him off and looked to have landed a right hand. Ellenberger quickly went for a takedown and ended up in a guillotine, but Howard couldn’t keep it. Ellenberger hasn’t done a ton of damage on the ground, but he did give Howard a knot around his eye. Howard landed some wild punches, but it just opened him up into being taken down again.
The knot on Howard’s left eye is ugly. Rogan thinks his orbital bone is broken. He didn’t seem comfortable with judging distance. Soon after, he was taken down again. Herb stood them back up and had the doctor come in to check out his grotesque eye. It wasn’t bleeding. It was just swollen beyond recognition. Looked like it was from elbows while Ellenberger was on top. The doctor stopped the fight.
Winner: Jake Ellenberger by way of 3rd round TKO
Is it just me, or does Mike Goldberg look a little bit like Jerry “The King” Lawler?
3. Darren Elkins vs. Charles Oliveira
This is a fight from earlier in the show since they have some time. In fact, it might’ve been the first fight of the night.
This was a sick finish. Elkins immediately took Oliveira down and Oliveira started to work from the bottom. He quickly got his legs in place to lock in a triangle, but then switched to an arm bar. The quickness of his legs in transitioning the move was amazing.
Winner: Charles Oliveira by way of 1st round submission
Joe Rogan talked to Chael Sonnen and he cut a regional WWF promo by saying that Anderson Silva has ducked him for four years, and he should duck him for one more week. If he does not, he’s going to beat him, take his title, and make Dana White fire him.
4. Yushin Okami vs. Mark Munoz
Not much happened in the round. Okami looked like a labyrinth as usual and Munoz spent most of the round trying to figure him out. Munoz did get a quick takedown, but based on controlling the round, Okami was in control. It’s just that not much happened with him in control.
Munoz knocked Okami down with a short punch that was between an hook and a straight left. Okami somehow ended up on top after the fact. But Munoz started to open up with his punches, solidly striking Okami. He went for the takedown late in the round, but Okami fought him off.
Okami decided to come out aggressively with his hands. He hit Munoz with a right hand as Munoz was off-balanced and Munoz went down and looked wobbly. Okami has Munoz’s shots timed very well. But Munoz is also telegraphing his shots. He’s dropping to his knees before shooting and Okami sprawls immediately.
If Munoz won round two and Okami round three, then however the first round was scored will determine the winner.
Winner: Yushin Okami by way of split decision
29-28 Okami, 29-28 Mark Munoz, and 29-28 Okami
Okami gets yet another win, but is probably not much closer to a title shot than he was before. If he does get a shot, it’s not as a main event fight. His style is just not entertaining at all. But he did fight well.
5. Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jon Jones
Well, it was quick and pretty much painless. Jones got an early takedown and got Matyushenko into a little brother/crucifix position and with his left arm, started rifling elbow after elbow at his head. Herb stopped it before Matyushenko looked like John Howard.
Winner: Jon Jones by way of 1st round TKO
