As with every major show we’ll be here to bring you live results and commentary for UFC 98: Lyoto Machida vs. Rashad Evans. The card will also feature Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra. The live blog will start with the beginning of the PPV broadcast so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
As always we have our one rule: NO SPOILERS! In the interest of not ruining anything from the undercard that may make the broadcast we ask that you do not discuss the results of the undercard in the comments until either the broadcast ends or the fight makes the air.
So again, join me for the show and share your thoughts as the event unfolds.
The paperview broadcast is now live.
Sean Sherk vs. Frankie Edgar – Round 1 – Edgar with a high kick which gets blocked. They’re playing the striking game early but not really landing anything through a minute. Four punch combo and a few get through for Frankie. Another combo connects for Edgar and he looks like he could win this fight if they stay on the feet for three rounds as he’s a bit more dynamic. Single leg attempt is stuffed by Sherk. Two punch combo from Sherk and he’s getting his timing a little bit. Edgar catches a kick by Sherk and puts him on his back. Now Sherk is on all fours with Frankie trying to control him but Sean gets back to his feet. Edgar is working on trying to pick his spots and get in and out. The round ends and it was close but I think Edgar won 10-9. Round 2 – As they exchange Sherk lands his best punch of the fight (left hook). Right straight by Edgar and a nice body kick. High kick by Edgar is partially blocked. This is going to win fight of the night just by virtue of them standing up all fight. They’re just sticking to the same thing with each guy having their moments but I think Edgar is looking a little crisper still. Right hand lands for Edgar and Sherk is looking a little frustrated. Uppercut, right hand from Frankie now. He’s pulling away with the round now using movement and combinations. Clean right hand from Edgar now. Low blow on a low kick by Edgar on accident. Right straight by Edgar and he’s clearly won this round. 10-9 Edgar. Round 3 – Sherk not taking Edgar down is just not smart. His strategy is to box, his backup strategy is to box too I guess. Oh, shut my mouth. Sherk went ahead and got a very solid double leg. Edgar got right back up through without taking any damage. Sherk is leading with the left hook pretty much every time they exchange. More of the same but Sherk is slightly ahead on my card this round. Edgar avoids a shot and lands a few punches. Low kick by Edgar. Good combo by Edgar and he’s starting to pull this round out in the later half. Edgar with a deep guillotine to end the round and that should win it for him. My card is 30-27 for Edgar. Official Scorecards: 30-27 across the board. Frankie Edgar wins by unanimous decision. Sherk’s strategy was stupid as hell, but Frankie did a great job of boxing and using combinations and in-out movement.
Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen – Round 1 – Right hand lands for Miller. Sonnen with a takedown attempt by Sonnen and Miller grabs an arm in guillotine and it was deep but Sonnen survives and gets out. Sonnen with some solid GnP from inside the guard. Miller was working a high guard but nothing came out of it. Now Sonnen with more really solid strikes from the top. Miller spins to grab a kneebar but can’t finish. Chael moves to side control and is dropping elbows. Miller regains full guard and goes to mission control, really trying to work a high guard but Chael is doing a solid job of posturing up and now lands a really big right hand. If it weren’t for that deep choke to start the round this is close to a 10-8 round. Instead as the round ends it’s 10-9 for Chael. Round 2 – Miller with another guillotine attempt but can’t secure it so he lands a solid shot. Slam by Sonnen but he falls into a guillotine with no arm in. Unfortunately for Miller he looks gassed and can’t finish it. Now it’s back to Chael on top landing right hands. Three solid punches from Sonnen now. Miller is done here, his mouth is open and he doesn’t look like he is really trying to do much of anything. His arms are gassed and he can’t manage to control Sonnen’s posture which is really bad news in this fight. More shots from Chael and that’s the story of the round. 10-9 Chael to move to 20-18. Round 3 – Miller with a nice combo and now Sonnedn with another easy takedown. Rubber guard by Miller but he gives it up. Miller was looking like he wanted a triangle but couldn’t get it. Now it’s just Dan on ground eating punches and breathing really heavy. Elbows from Chael now. Not much to say about the fight at this point as it’s jus the same thing over and over. 10-9 Chael again to take the fight 30-27 on the official BloodyElbow scorecard. Official Scorecards: 30-27 all for Chael Sonnen. Chael Sonnen wins by unanimous decision.
Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam – Round 1 – RIGHT HAND AND NOW A FLURRY BY MCFEDRIES! IT’S OVER! Drew McFedries has just unbelievable power. Drew McFedries wins by knockout
Andre Gusmao vs. Krzysztof Soszynski – Round 1 – Prelim action here. Gusmao lands some nice shots so they touch gloves. Low blow from KS. This is a lot of circling without a ton of action. Finally KS with some nice shots and now Gusmao is down. Krzysztof Soszynski wins by TKO (punches).
Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra – Round 1 -Hughes is southpaw out of the gate and is throwing a weird left hand trying to set up a shot. Serra clips Huges and hurts him, Hughes is down! Hughes is on VERY shaky legs and is dropped again. Now he grabs Serra’s leg. Rogan said the replay will show it was a headbut that hurt Hughes. They’re standing against the cage and Hughes is getting his legs back. They separate and Hughes looks a little glassy still. Hughes grabs Serra and gets a nice takedown into side control. Now Hughes takes Serra’s back but Serra defends. Right hand by Serra and Hughes’ strategy is to walk away every time he gets hit. 10-9 Serra, Hughes managed to avoid the 10-8 barely on my card. Round 2 – Hughes asked in between rounds if he got knocked down. Yikes. Serra landed a shot early. NOw Hughes pushes forward and gets the takedown into Serra’s half guard. Hughes is sitting in half guard with his head on Serra’s chest throwins small shots to the body. Serra to his hip and eats a couple punches in an effort to regain full guard. Still half guard and Hughes throwing short punches to the body. Now Hughes lands some nice punches to the chin of Serra. The round ends and it was 10-9 Hughes. Round 3 – Serra with a low kick. Right hand by Hughes and he follows it in for a takedown. Serra fell into an omoplata position but has to give it up. Now working the same move on the other shoulder but has to give up again. Hughes almost gets triangled now and Hughes isn’t able to work his game if nothing else. Rogan says you have to give Hughes the round for being on top but Serra is the one working offense. They’re stood back up with 1:40 left. Right hand lands for Serra. Hughes has one of the worst jabs in the sport. Hughes goes for a takedown but Serra reverses and is on top. Serra is landing shots from the top and just won the round and fight on my card. 10-9 Serra and I’ve got it 29-28 Serra. Official Scorecards: 29-28 all for Matt Hughes. Matt Hughes wins by unanimous decision. …wow. I didn’t see that at all.
Steve Cofield is reporting that Sean Sherk left the building without taking his post-fight urine test. Not a smart move from a guy who tested positive in the past and is so outspoken in trying to clear his name.
Lyoto Machida vs. Rashad Evans (c) for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship – Round 1 – Rashad is bouncing on the outside. Machida is walking forward. Machida with a step forward like he wanted a trip but nothing happened. One minute in and the boos start. Absolutely nothing to talk about two minutes in. High kick by Machida and Evans pushes back off the fence. Rashad runs forward with a right hand that misses. Body kick by Machida. Evans with a low kick now. Machida hurts Rashad with a right hand and Evans is down. Flurry of punches by Lyoto but Rashad stands back up. Sensing he isn’t hurt Machida relaxes and stands back getting into his rhythm again. 10-9 round for Machida. Round 2 – Machida’s mouth is opening just a little bit about a minute in. Low kick by Machida now. Machida with a flurry and lands a few punches and Evans fires back with a few of his own. This is a really tense fight as it’s slow and then bursts of big action. High kick by Evans is blocked. Machida lands a few punches and Rashad’s legs give out! Machida is pouring it on! EVANS IS OUT COLD! Rashad Evans is slumped against the cage completely out. What a completely impressive performance by Lyoto Machida. Lyoto Machida wins by KO (punch), Round 2.
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