WEC 47 live coverage from Columbus, OH

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Welcome to our live coverage of UFC 47 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.  We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bendy Casimir vs. Ricardo Lamas

I thought Lamas was coming out to the theme from "Sex and the City" but it was actually a Mexican song that sounds almost identical. They are expecting 7,000 to 8,000 tonight which is a pretty good crowd for WEC. A lot of people are here already. I think close to that number already.

Casimir is from France, now training in Las Vegas. Lamas has a contingent with him from Chicago.

Traded high kicks, Lamas had better sound but it was mostly blocked. Casimir ducked low for a takedown but didn’t get it. Body kick by Lamas. Casimir with a kick very close to the groin. Another looked right on the groin but Lamas didn’t sell. Maybe he has no groin. Lamas back with a good body kick. Hard body kick by Lamas. Casimir definitely felt that one. Casimir shot for a takedown and didn’t get it. Now Lamas going for a single leg. Lamas throwing a punch and knee from the clinch. They are locked in a clinch and Lamas threw a knee to the body. Lamas connected with punches and knocked him cold with a flying knee to the chin. Lamas made a go to sleep motion. That was a killer left knee, mouthpiece went flying. This will probably make television.

Standing ovation from the crowd.

Casimir was walking fine as he went to the back which was a good sign.

Courtney Buck vs. Fredson Paixao

Paixao is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion. This is a striker vs. grappler match-up. Buck with body kick. Buck much taller. Listed at a 4 inch difference but looks more like 6. Buck threw a leg kick that put Paixao down, but he was happy to be down because he maneuvered to the top and then behind Buck. Paixao trying to soften him up for choke. Buck is all tied up. Paixao has kept back position for about two minutes now. He’s got in there and choked him out. Buck didn’t tap and we’ve got another guy old cold.

Leonard Garcia vs. George Roop

Roop came out to "Iron Man." Garcia got a very big reaction. It was that "this is the first guy we know" pop.

Garcia with low kick. Roop ducked under a punch with a double leg and got Garcia on the ground. Garcia going for a guillotine and has it but not tight enough. He better be careful not to burn himself out. Roop escaped and on top. Roop now got behind Garcia and threw knee to the head. Garcia up. People popped just for Garcia getting up. Garcia threw a kick that missed bad, slow and telegraphed. Trading low kicks. Takedown attempt by Roop that didn’t work. Garcia threw big punches late. Roop back with a jab and front kick. Good ending to the round. Close round. Garcia 10-9

Garcia with a body kick. Roop back and then Garcia with two more body kicks. Garcia with a flying kick. Roop missed a big punch. Garcia looked like he tried a running clothesline. That didn’t work. Big punch by Garcia. Roop tried a takedown and didn’t come close. Roop tried another takedown and shaken off easily. Trade of punches, Roop got a good punch in and Garcia back with one but Roop has the best punch of the round. Now Roop did an running takedown. Garcia again trying a guillotine but didn’t have it. Garcia trying a guillotine again. Didn’t have it. Roop not doing any damage from the top. He threw a knee to the head, it wasn’t hard, but it was a foul. Garcia was thrilled becaues he wasn’t hurt but got a stndup out of it. It may not have even hit the head. Roop threw two good shots and a jab. Now Roop getting confidenc in his stand-up. Garcia losing control and throwing haymakers. Garcia threw a kick, Roop caught it and threw him on his ass. Garcia with a high kick and Roop back with a high kick. Roop with a punch and Garcia swing wildly and missed. Jab by Garcia. Knee by Roop. Roop’s round so I’ve got it 19-19.

A lot more competitive than most expected. Looks like Garcia took Roop too lightly. Garcia landing kicks to the lead leg. Roop’s left leg looks like shit around the knee and thigh. Garcia threw a big right but mostly blocked. Roop with another running takedown and now has Garcia’s back. Garcia back to his feet. Garcia looks tired. Punch by Roop. Roop tried a superman punch, missed and Garcia threw a big punch and a knee. Garcia badly missed a spinning kick. Roop in with a forearm and a front kick. Ref warning Roop about a low blow and took a point away. Crowd booing that. Garcia didn’t look hurt from it but that point makes a big difference here. Garcia with two more low kicks on the left leg. Trade and Garcia landed two good ones. Garcia throwing big punches but Roop took him down again. Garcia throwing elbows from the bottom. Garcia up. Roop with a jab. Garcia loading up and throwing but not landing clean. Roop with a front kick. Garcia with big punches late and Roop with a high kick. I think Roop won the round but with the penalty point it’s a 9-9 round so 28-28.

Scoring: Doug Crosby 29-27 Roop, 29-27 Garcia, fans booing that one, 28-28 draw. Fans really unhappy. The 29-27 for Garcia is a tough one but round three wasn’t a blow out. Garcia said let’s go one more round. Fans liked that. Roop said he wanted to go 2 more rounds. But this isn’t pro wrestling so we’re getting no more rounds and we have a draw.

Doug Crosby had all three rounds for Roop (losing one point for the low blow). Cardo Urso had first and third for Garcia. I’d disagree on round three but it’s not a bad call as the round was close. Harry Hiles had the same score as I did. Since first and third rounds were close, can’t fault judges. The low blow point was a bad call, though, but that was out of the judges’ hands. As far as who really won the fight, Roop won the fight.

Anthony Pettis vs. Danny Castillo

Trading, nobody landed. Low kick by Castillo. Takedown by Castillo. He got right back up as he didn’t want to be on the ground with Pettis, who is really good there. Pettis thought flying knee and changed his mind halfway into the move. Castillo with a knee to the groin and the ref stopped it until Pettis recovered. Great left high kick knocked Castillo down hard. He may have been pretty much done from the kick but followed with four punches on the ground. I think he was out cold after punch No. 3 on the ground. This KO and the Lamas KO would win KO of the night on most shows. This will almost surely make the TV.

Duke Roufas told him to pump the jab and do the high kick, so he did. Said he was injured in the Bart Palaszewski loss.

Just saw the Urijah Faber TV commercial that debuts on the TV show tonight.

Also just played the Faber-Aldo PPV TV commercial. Just like most UFC commercials with Dana White and Joe Rogan putting it over.

Chad Mendes (who people are touting as the new big thing at 145, he was an awesome wrestler at Cal Poly, ranked No. the entire 2008 season until losing a controversial match in the finals) vs. Erik Koch.

Two unbeaten fighters. Mendes moved in bulling Koch into the cage. Koch doing a good job avoiding a throw. Koch with jabs . Mendes rushed in, but couldn’t get the takedown and again bulled him into the cage. Crowd already booing. Mendes threw a knee and got the takedown. Mendes with a left. Koch back up. Body punch by Mendes and knee by Koch. Koch separated and taunting Mendes. Koch with punches and Mendes basically stampeded him with a takedown. Mendes isn’t doing anything from the top. Koch using a rubber guard from the bottom. Mendes did nothing with his takedowns. Crowd booed the round. I’d have it 10-10 but nobody will. I suspect Mendes will get the round.

Mendes with a right. Koch started punching and Mendes took him right down. Koch trying to work from a rubber guard. Mendes with body punches and Koch with elbows from the bottom. Koch with some short punches. Mendes hit a good punch on the ground, mostly body punches. Koch staying busy. Crowd losing patience with the ground fighting. Crowd booing. Koch can’t get up. He’s been flattened the entire round. Mendes with a short elbow. Crowd started to catcall and want a stand-up. Mendes broke free with a few punches fro the top. Mendes kept him down the entire round. Mendes’ round easily so 20-19 (I’d go 10-8.5 if it’s half-points), I’d expect the judges have 20-18.

Low Kicks by Mendes and body kick by Koch. Several punches by Koch standing. Mendes tied him up and bulled him to the fence. Koch actually got Mendes down but Mendes right up. Koch threw a kick that busted Mendes up bad. Mendes came back with another takedown against the fence. Mendes burying his face in Koch’s body so the ref couldn’t see it. The ref finally stopped it and called for the doctor. It’s a nasty cut right above the right eye. They are going to let it go with2:40 left. Koch throwing punches and targeting the cut. They are around the fence. Koch tried a knee and Mendes took him down with the old Maeda captured suplex. Koch back up but ended up with a finger in his eye. They gave him time to recover. 1:25 left. Koch tried to kick the eye but was taken down again. Mendes is trying to hold him down while Koch trying to target the eye. Mendes is bleeding like crazy and just holding him down. Mendes has him flattened as time is running out. Crowd didn’t like the fight. I’d give Koch the round but I don’t think the judges will, so I’ve got a 29-29 draw. Koch did more damage but Mendes mostly just held him down. I’m guessing it goes 30-27 for Mendes though. If I was judging with half points I’d have Mendes 29.5 to 28.5.

All three judges had it 30-27 for Mendes as I expected.

For what it’s worth, Lamas has a slight edge in knockout of the night bonus because of the flying spinning mouthpiece even though I’d vote for Pettis.

Scott Jorgensen vs. Chad George

George shot in and Jorgensen sprawled and has a guillotine and won in 31 seconds. When George tapped, Jorgensen let go and George dropped.

Karen Daradebyan vs. Bart Palaszewski

Karen coming out to Frank Mir "hand-me-down" music. Should have come out to "A Boy Named Sue."

Good left by Bart. Bart threw a low kick. Karen in fast with punches and a takedown. Now Karen throwing hammer punches while Bart tried an armbar. Karen powered out. Karen with more punches from the top. Karen with more hard punches from the top. Now throwing body punches while in a full guard. Karen is beating him up with punches. But Bart got an armbar from the bottom and won the fight.

Deividas Taurosevicius vs. L.C. Davis

Taurosevicius is coming up to the latest rocking Lithuanian hip hop music. Davis bulled him into the cage. The ref separated them. They are against the cage. Davis with a few body punches . Hard knee by Davis. Taurosevicius trying a takedown but not getting it trying to use a judo throw. Crowd mildly booed the round. Davis 10-9

Both throwing, neither connecting. Taurosevicius in for a takedown, but Davis hung tough. Taurosevicius trying for all he’s worth . He got it to the ground. Taurosevicius with a few punches. Davis back up. Looked like a low blow missed by the ref by Taurosevicius. There may have been as many as three as two more were close. Taurosevicius with a lot of body punches standing. Now Davis in a clinch threw a few body punches and did a foot stop. They are both throwing from a clinch and the crowd is booing wanting the ref to separate them. Ref listened to the crowd. Taurosevicius in for another takdown attempet. Didn’t get it. Both against the cage, Davis with more foot stomps. Crowd booing some more. Close round, maybe Taurosevicius close so it’s 19-19.

Taurosevicus with a knee. They are back against the cage. A few knees by Taurosevicius and punches. Davis with a body punch. Now they are at a distance. Crowd booing some more. Ref separated them. Kick by Taurosevicus stunned Davis but Davis came back with a takedown. 1:44 left and it’s anyone’s round. Taurosevicius doing more from the bottom but both are throwing ineffective shots. Fans now want a stand-up. Ref ordered a stand-up. I don’t know about that one. Taurosevicus in for takedown but shot from too far out and didn’t get it. Crowd booing a lot as they were in a clinch throwing knees. Honestly, this round can go either way. Maybe Davis slightly 29-28. Second and third rounds could go either way.

Scores Blatnick 29-29 draw, Other two have is 29-28 for Davis. Crowd booed.

Cardo Urso had Davis with rounds one and three. Blatnik had the second round even and third round for Taurosevicius. John Beltz had rounds and three for Davis. Can’t fault the judges here. The right guy won.

Javier Vazquez vs. Jens Pulver

Vazquez booed a lot. Pulver got the best reaction of the night. Not a standing ovation. People trying to get a Pulver chant going but not picking up.

Now the chant is getting loud. Vazquez throwing punches. Vazquez with a takedown and Pulver grabbed a guillotine. Doesn’t have it but is on top. Pulver let him back up. Vazquez with a takedown and has Pulver’s back. Pulver reversed. Place went nuts for that. Pulver with a punch, and got up. Vazquez tackled him back down. Vazquez throwing a lot of punchesfrom the top. Pulver can’t reverse and seems in trouble. Now Vazquez has his back working for a choke. Pulver out of the choke. Pulver’s has a huge knot on his forehead. Now an armbar by Vazquez and the ref stopped it. Pulver looks like he’s hurt.

The place went dead silent. Some people are trying to start a Pulver chant but it didn’t get going. Pulver is crying and blowing kisses. His arm seems okay now.

What a fucking promo by Pulver. Holy shit. A lot of people were crying including his opponent when that thing was over. Basically thanked everyone and said he loves the fans too much to put them through this again.

Miguel Angel Torres vs. Joseph Benavidez

Torres got a big reaction. Close to as big as Pulver. Torres has a big height advantage, but everyone does against Benavidez. Some Torres chants. Body kick on a counter by Torres. Left over the top by Benadidez. Low kick by Torres. Kick by Torres and big punch by Benavidez. Low kick by Benvadiez. Big exchange. Low kick by Benavidez . Tores threw a kick and Benavidez countered with a punch that knocked Torres down. He’s back up. Benavidez bulled Torres into the cage. Benavidez got the takedown. Torres doing a bunch of kidney kicks. Benavidez with a punch and Torres immediately went for an armbar and Benavidez got out. Benavidez keeping him down. Ref told them to work. Benavidez threw a few punches. More kidney kicks by Torres and again tried an armbar from the bottom. Benavidez got up. Benavidez 10-9 .

Benavidez in with a flurry of punches. Low kick by Benavidez who came in with punches by Torres backed out. Torres with a body kick as Benavidez came in. Body kick by Benavidez. Now Torres tying to use his jab but mostly dancing backwards. Another jab by Torres. Another jab by Torres. He keeps throwing it to keep Benavidez from getting in. Benavidez shot under his jab and took him down and started pounding on him. More kidney kicks by Torres. Torres is busted up and bleeding badly. Benavidez caught him with a guillotine. Torres tapped. What a huge win.

That is one nasty cut right in the middle of Torres’ forehead.

Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight title ends the show

Good leg kick by Cruz. Another one by Cruz. Bowles just missed on a punch and Cruz out of the way of another. Cruz out of the way of everything Bowles threw and nailed Bowles. Cruz showing a quickness edge. Now Cruz missed bad with a punch. Cruz in with a kick and Bowles tried to counter. Bowles missed again. Trading and Bowles didn’t miss. That man can hit. Cruz hurt Bowles with a punch. Cruz connected with another punch. Bowles with a body punch. A trade and Cruz hit after Bowles missed. Both missing now. Good body punch by Cruz. Bowles went for a takedown but is on his back. Crowd quiet. Really after Jens, crowd has been emotionally spent. Cruz let him up and nailed a low kick. Bowles bleeding from the nose. Cruz with a series of punches and Bowles landed a counter. Cruz with a high kick. Great round for Cruz 10-9

Cruz landing nand Bowles coming up short in exchanges. Low Kick by Cruz. Bowles is getting tired. He cracked Cruz with a punch though. Bowles can’t keep up this pace for five rounds. Swung and missed again. Off balance, Cruz landed a punch. Cruz in with punches and low kicks and put Bowles down. They were trading and Cruz with a nice right. Another punch by Cruz and danced away. Low kick and Bowles tried to respond didn’t land flush. Bowles shaking out his hand, he hurt it, probably broke it. Cruz with a series of punches and low kick combo. Another series by Cruz. Bowles went for a takedown and didn’t get it. Cruz kneed him low. Cruz is breathing heavy as well because of the pace but Bowles has no answer because he can’t connect solid. Bowles landed one but Cruz right back. Cruz with a takedown. Bowles tried an armbar but Cruz out easily. 20-18 Cruz.

Bowles broke his hand during the round and his corner told him to stop. Cruz won the title. Crowd booing thinking he quit. A lot of guys would have gone on, but it was probably the smart move. Anti-climactic finish to the match.

Bowles said he broke the hand on the first punch of the fight and it threw him off. 

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