Join us tonight on Bloody Elbow to partake in live results, discussion and play-by-play of the UFC 155 main card pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Featuring the salivating rematch between champion Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez for the UFC heavyweight championship, the spotlighted lineup begins at 10:00 p.m. ET after the preliminary cards run through on the FX channel (8:00 p.m. ET) and Facebook stream (6:30 p.m. ET).
Also sharing space on the featured card are lightweights Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller and a trio of middleweight bouts that pit Costa Philippou vs. Tim Boetsch, Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami and Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson.
UFC 155 main PPV card (10:00 p.m. ET)
Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez (UFC Heavyweight Championship)
Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller
Costa Philippou vs. Tim Boetsch
Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami
Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson
Hi fight fans. We’re now live on pay-per-view for the UFC 155 main card. Find the results below in reverse chronological order.
Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez
R1: Cain comes out pressuring with a 1-2 and then ducks under for a body lock takedown. JDS reverses it, like a boss, and almost takes Cain down. Cain is a little predictable on his next two attempts: he’s just unsuccessful on the first but almost walks into a jackhammer on the second. JDS plunges a deep jab and sits down on a few hooks to back Cain off. Cain slings out a series of jabs that find the mark but he fails badly on the single.
JDS cracks him with the same right hand that put him away the first time, but Cain takes it in stride. Cain crowds him up on the fence but JDS sneaks out when he releases his grip to dirty box. Cain blisters a right hand through JDS’ guard that drops him on his can. History is made. Cain is in top form and swarming JDS in classic fashion with positional advances and rapid-fire punches. 10-8 Velasquez for striking and grappling dominance.
R2: Cain is in full on beast-mode and wastes no time in picking JDS up and dumping him on the canvas. The frenetically paced onslaught continues and JDS almost looks like his will is broken; either that or he’s still in La La Land from getting lamped in the 1st. JDS manages to get back up but Cain just takes him for another ride, climbing onto his back and pelting him with leather.
JDS takes a stiff knee when getting back to his feet but goes back down courtesy of a slick inside trip. JDS tries to roll him off and Cain transitions to an armbar that he can’t secure. They’re back standing and Cain is fully attached, slamming knees and right hands to the body of an almost lifeless dos Santos. 10-8 Velasquez, again.
R3: Cain comes in a little sloppy with his level drop and takes an uppercut. JDS backpedals and fires some retreating hooks, showing a big heart. Cain lunges in and snatches another double but can’t hold position for long. He tries another, then switches to a single, but JDS stays upright. After showing his resilience, JDS finally breaks out into open space. His punches, unfortunately, have no mustard and his defense is entirely absent.
Cain tags him twice before clinching up. They both trade decent shots from close range. Dos Santos — literally — has his hands down at his waist and eats 3-4 clean punches square on the button. He manages to circle Cain on the fence and try a takedown of his own that Cain counters with the whizzer. 10-9 Velasquez.
R4: JDS is fairly mangled at this point. Cain is moving at a full level faster and JDS is throwing haymakers from his wallet, ala Gomi vs. Diaz. Cain keeps the pressure on and JDS lands a crushing left to the body out of nowhere, then unexpectedly tries to take Cain down again. Now Cain rips a body shot with his left and tacks on an uppercut. JDS actually walks away with his hands down and throws a short back elbow when Cain catches up. What an indelible UFC event.
Cain smashes JDS on the cage and leans on him while pestering with punches. JDS surprises again by cracking an elbow when they break the clinch. Cain keeps him in the phone booth for the rest of the round. 10-9 Velasquez.
R5: Cain’s takedown attempt is countered by a JDS guillotine — Herb Dean warns that he’ll take a point for another fence grab, and I saw nothing but assume it was directed at JDS. Still showing signs of life, JDS heaves left hooks to the body, but he’s too exhausted and battered to do any damage. Cain nails another takedown and resumes his swarming routine, though the pace has taken its toll on him as well. JDS tries to sneak in a knee and uppercuts but Cain is all over him with control. JDS hurls an ugly overhand that whiffs; Cain finds his jaw with a nice right high kick. 10-9 Velasquez for a lopsided 50-43 overall.
- The judges have it 50-45, 50-44 and 50-43 for Cain Velasquez, who resumes the UFC heavyweight throne by defeating Junior dos Santos by unanimous decision.
Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller
R1: Miller pings a stiff right jab immediately. Lauzon pivots left and cracks a 1-2. Rugged inside low kick lands for Miller, who presses on with a 3 punch combination. We have ourselves a high paced one here. Another inside low kick lands for Miller, and he clinch up and throws a sizzling medley of horizontal elbows to Lauzon’s head. Miller’s low inside kick almost sweeps Lauzon off his feet. Miller’s just on fire at this point.
He counters Lauzon’s overhand with straight left, loosens another 4-5 punch combo and once again clinches up and bounces huge elbows off Lauzon’s melon. Lauzon’s opened up just like Boetsch was, gushing blood into his face and eyes. Miller switches to a standing arm-triangle in the clinch that looks deep, but is probably unsuccessful because of Lauzon’s significant bleeding. The ref stops it to check Lauzon’s cut with the doctor — all is well and we’re back on. Miller is a bearded cyborg programmed for pure violence and looks phenomenal. Other than a stiff knee from Lauzon, Miller absolutely annihilated him. Lauzon has gaping and gushing wounds on his forehead and the top of the head from those elbows. 10-7 Miller. I said it.
R2: Miller goes right back to work in the 2nd. He empties the chamber with rights and lefts, then lands a power double while Lauzon is countering. The amount of blood leaking out of Lauzon’s head is quite severe. Miller knifes into a high half guard and is poised to mount. He postures up and cleaves down a heavy elbow. Miller looks to be seeking out a modified guillotine from the top, an interesting choice, and Lauzon ignites the crowd by sweeping him.
Yves Lavigne does an excellent job of pausing the fight to remove a loose strip of tape on Lauzon’s glove but still keeping the fighters in place. Lauzon spins into a heel hook when they restart and then attacks Miller’s neck when he sneaks out of the leg lock. What an amazing turnaround in an amazing fight. 10-10 for the comeback.
R3: Miller lands another nasty inside low kick, then goes to work with uppercuts and hooks. Lauzon sweeps in with a solid left to the body but he’s taken off his feet by the next Miller low kick. Miller goes back to out-finessing Lauzon with crisp, straight left hands and more low kicks. Now Lauzon steps in with a big knee to the body and plugs Miller with some short punches, securing this as the Fight of the Night and a potential candidate for Fight of the Year.
Miller is relentless with his straight left and lands another horizontal elbow to the face. Dear Lord! Lauzon attempts a flying scissors heel hook attempt, ala Chonan vs. Silva, and almost gets it. He rolls into a guillotine transition that looks dangerously tight but the bell sounds. That was one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen in my life. 10-9 Miller for a 30-26 overall.
- All 3 judges have it 29-28 for Jim Miller, who defeats Joe Lauzon by unanimous decision.
Costa Philippou vs. Tim Boetsch
R1: Boetsch charges like a crazed goat and can’t secure the double leg but does sandwich Costa against the cage. As soon as Costa opens up with an elbow, Boetsch drops for a double leg and gets it. Just for a second though, as Costa pops right back up and tries to pummel under in the clinch. Costa gets his balance and fires off a crisp knee to the body, which backs Boetsch off enough to free himself.
In open space with 2 minutes gone, Boetsch is being wisely cautious of stepping into Costa’s wheelhouse. He stays on the fringe and plunges a front kick. Boetsch gets cracked with an uppercut while in hot pursuit but lands a power double and settles into Costa’s guard. To close the round, Boetsch lances a smooth front push kick to the jaw. 10-9 Boetsch.
R2: Rogan explains a suspicion that Boetsch has an injury based on a conversation with his coach, Matt Hume, in between rounds. Early in the round, from what may have been a head butt, Boetsch suffers a large gash on his forehead that trickles blood. A bit later and we pause for an accidental groin shot to Boetsch just as Costa seems to be finding his groove. On the restart, Costa is growing in confidence while working his hands. Boetsch shoots a telegraphed takedown and oddly decides to pull guard when he can’t secure it. Costa capitalizes with ground and pound. Perhaps the head clash and subsequent blood flow has disrupted Boetsch? 10-9 Costa.
R3: Boetsch tries to shoot a deep takedown that Costa sprawls on, and again Boetsch curls into a half guard upon failure. Costa plugs him with a few punches but Boetsch does well in controlling his wrists, but the blood is leaking like a faucet now, obscuring his vision and covering his face. After a clear warning from referee Kim Winslow to fight back, she steps in to halt the punishment.
- Costa Philippou defeats Tim Boetsch by TKO (punches), Round 3.
Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami
R1: Belcher, looking hefty after rehydrating, prods with a busy jab and uncorks a snapping right high kick that Okami blocks. Okami lays out a right hand and tries to clinch to no avail. Okami flashes out a jab as Belcher is amidst a kick and it drops him to the canvas for a moment. Okami clinches up and throws a knee to the body, then to the head; Belcher almost catches the leg and turns it into a takedown. 50-50 clinch with Belcher’s back on the fence, and he hits a slick outside trip, then goes back for a guillotine.
He doesn’t get it, but Belcher’s furiously paced from his guard, going rubber guard into an omoplata attempt that’s not there. Okami finally bases down on Belcher to control him and passes to side mount with head and arm control. Nary a punch yet from Okami. Belcher tries to dig underneath Okami with an underhook but it’s only a bait for his hip escape. He gets halfway up before the bell sounds, with Okami threatening to take his back. Had Okami attempted any type of offense and not just strictly controlled from the top, I’d go his way. Without it, it was even. 10-10.
R2: Flicking left high kick for Belcher at close range. Okami dives into a clinch and snakes in two underhooks. He tries a hip throw that Belcher brilliantly counters with his own throw. He riskily opts for another guillotine that Okami fends off to resume his top control. Again, Okami has yet to fire a single strike. He finally postures up with almost friendly punches while Belcher pursues a sweep from deep half guard, then scoots to side control when he defends the strikes. In a contentious decision, the referee intervenes with Okami in side mount.
Belcher capitalizes with a scorching right hand on the restart. Okami adheres to him again and drives him over with an off-balancing outside trip. Now Okami unlatches a few punching medleys that are busier than they are fierce. The referee jumps in even quicker this time to reset them standing. 10-9 Okami, but it’s not convincing.
R3: Belcher charges out with a step-in right but pulls it short to defend Okami’s clinch attempt. Belcher plants a sharp right hand on the kisser. I missed the technique, but Belcher somehow nails a takedown and falls directly into full mount on Okami. Showing phenomenal composure and Fight I.Q., Okami patiently creates space, gives up his back, peels loose the grip and stands back up. He reverses the position and puts Belcher on his back; a moment later he’s in full mount. A subtle but high-level and momentous series of counters from Okami in that sequence.
Okami holds a rock-solid base across Belcher’s sternum to hold him in place and lets loose with a stream of effective ground and pound. Belcher gives up his back to avoid more punishment. It’s not the relief he’s looking for, as Okami continues the barrage until the bell sounds. Convincing 10-9 from Okami, who saved his ass with that brilliant defensive counter sequence. I have it 30-28 Okami.
- The judges see it 30-27 twice and 29-28 for Yushin Okami, who defeats Alan Belcher by unanimous decision.
Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson
R1: Brunson goes high with a left high kick, then follows with a streaking 1-2. Leben catches Brunson’s next kick and tries for a takedown but Brunson reverses with a takedown of his own from body lock. Leben is active from his back, angling his hips for an arm and then striking upward when Brunson defends. Leben almost secures a triangle but Brunson breaks out of it and falls into half guard.
Head-palm elbow from Leben on the bottom. Leben in full control from his guard as he’s landing the better strikes and forcing Brunson to defend constantly. Brunson hops into mount and tries to snare in an arm-triangle. Leben fends it off and tries to roll out; Brunson smothers him, threatens to take his back and ends up back in full mount. Not that it matters, but I’ve lost all audio on my PPV. Brunson turning it on with ground and pound with a minute left, negating the slight lead Leben had earlier. Leben gets back to his feet with 20 seconds left but there’s no time for anything Leben-ish. 10-9 Brunson.
R2: Brunson shoots 30 seconds in and Leben is able to retract his hips and stave it off. Brunson holds the body lock but can’t do anything with it; they separate and Leben plugs him with a left shovel punch. Brunson does get the double leg this time. Leben scoots his back onto the fence, plants a few downward elbows and stands back up. Brunson might be a trifle winded here.
Wary of the shot, Leben measures his steps inward instead of lunging forward and chips away with short range blows. Brunson responds with a quick 1-2, but most of his punches are coming in slow now. He clinches up but Leben double palms underneath his chin to break it, then stalks with more short jackhammers. Brunson shoots a half-ass takedown that Leben shrugs off. Brunson slices in a straight left while Leben whiffs with a caveman looper. 10-9 Leben, mostly for a lack of offense on Brunson’s end.
R3: Leben looking for his left hand. Brunson takes him down a little more than a minute in but has no energy to even hold him there; he does land a knee on Leben’s way back up. Outside low kick from Leben, then a 1-2 and a jab. Brunson heaves a sloppy overhand followed by a sloppier shot that Leben easily defends. Leben continues to stalk but can’t land the money shot and might be just as tired as Brunson.
Another outside low kick from Leben, then a solid left hand. Leben lands another wide left hook, then another. Brunson scores a takedown to stem the flow. He manages no offense and Leben boots him off and stands back up, heaving more punches until the bell sounds. Rogan and Anik are high on Brunson but I don’t think he did enough. 10-9 Leben for a 29-28 his way overall.
- The judges see it the opposite, awarding 30-27’s to Derek Brunson, who defeats Chris Leben by unanimous decision.
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