UFC 145 Play By Play – Rashad Evans Vs. Jon Jones

All the talking is done. It’s fight time.

1. John Alessio vs. Mark Bocek

Bocek got a trip near the cage and Alessio grabbed to cage, but still went down. Bocek was in side control, but then half guard. In Alessio’s full guard, he hit him with some nice elbows. Alessio hasn’t done anything yet. Bocek got Alessio’s back and had him in a body triangle but the round ended.

Alessio landed a nice combination. And then nice jabs. But he was taken down again. Nothing much is happening this round. Not a fantastic way to open up this show.

Bocek got him down and then his back. Alessio doesn’t have much of a chance here unless he gets a knockout. Bocek was workman-like the entire fight, though it wasn’t all that entertaining. He’ll get the unanimous decision.

Winner: Mark Bocek by way of unanimous decision

The scores were 30-27, 29-28, and 30-27.

2. Eddie Yagin vs. Mark Hominick

Strong striking by both guys early on. Hominick looked to be setting up a hook and got lazy. Yagin knocked him down with a straight right and nearly finished him on the ground. Hominick is controlling the standup, but he gets lazy and the smaller Yagin catches him. Fun first round, especially after the boring first fight.

After a nice back and forth, Yagin knocked him down again. He’s got a mouse on the left side of his left eye. His face is all messed up, but he’s doing a lot of damage too. And he’s in great shape to take all the punishment. These guys are pounding the crap out of each other. Yagin is throwing hard, hard punches.

Hominck is loading up on the lead right hand and Yagin is just eating it. He’s going body to head. Yagin can’t hit any kicks yet he’s still throwing them. Same with the spinning back fist. Hominick is the better fighter for sure, but the knockdowns will count in the scoring. He may have to get a 10-8 here to get the draw. Needs a knockdown. Hominick closed strong, but might get hurt by the 10/9 must.

Winner: Eddie Yagin by way of split decision

Both guys aren’t going to look very handsome tomorrow.

3. Michael McDonald vs. Miguel Torres

Lights out Miguel Torres. McDonald threw an uppercut and put his lights out. Wow.

Winner: Michael McDonald by 1st round TKO

4. Ben Rothwell vs. Brendan Schaub

Schaub caught Rothwell with a spinning elbow and Rothwell went backward. Schaub followed up and got caught with a left hook, went down, and was finished. Crazy finish.

Winner: Ben Rothwell by way of 1st round TKO

5. Che Mills vs. Rory MacDonald

What an utter domination in the first round. MacDonald got him down and just beat him and beat him and beat him. He nearly got a rear naked choke at the end of the round. Could be 10-8.

MacDonald just destroyed Mills. He easily went down on a takedown. And Rory just hammered him until the referee stopped it.

Winner: Rory MacDonald by way of 2nd round TKO

6. Rashad Evans vs. Jon Jones

Feeling out process. Jones is so long. He’s also a bit awkward, which looks to be keeping Rashad off balanced. Rashad had a nice little flurry, countering a long miss by Jones. Jones is also fairly methodical though in his approach, staying outside, being patient, and throwing lots of kicks and using his hands to keep Rashad from getting inside. Rashad landed a head kick that allowed him to get inside and Jones was on the defensive for the first time. Good first round.

The round was close and maybe slightly toward Evans until Jones started throwing the elbow from in close. He landed two and then the third one knocked Rashad backward. Rashad tied him up and then ate another one. Evans was able to land a nice right hand, but took more elbows, a flying knee and a left hook. Rashad looks absolutely heartbroken. The will looks to be leaving him.

Rashad faired better in the third, but Jones is just stalking him now. Evans needs to land the Hair Mary right-hand, which he landed once. But he needs to throw bigger strikes, be on the offensive, or else he’s just fighting to survive. Jones is fighting nearly a perfect fight.

Evans fought a much better defensive round, but did nearly nothing offensively. Jones didn’t do much either, but he’s landing, where as Evans isn’t even landing. I have Jones with the shutout so far. Evans needs a miracle.

Rashad had a little energy to start the round, but quickly became so tired that Jones just pushed him down. He caught a straight right that snapped his head back. He hit Jones with a right hand but it didn’t do much damage. For whatever reason, Jones pulled guard with about 10 seconds left and had to watch out for Evans’ right hands. I think Jones pitched a shutout.

Winner: Jon Jones by way of unanimous decision

The scores were 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45.