Welterweight contendership is on the line today when Tarec Saffiedine takes on late replacement Hyun Gyu Lim. Bloody Elbow will have live results for the entire UFC Fight Night 34 event today, which will air on the new UFC Fight Pass digital network. The prelims kick off at 6:30am ET/3:30pm PT, with the main card starting at 9am ET/6am PT.
This post will focus on the main card, which features the debuts of some top Japanese talent and a former Strikeforce champ to boot. There will be four fights in total.
Make sure to come back and share your thoughts in the comments as the action goes down. If you’re awake in the middle of the night, that is. Well, I guess the main card might be at a normal time for you east coasters.
Kyung Ho Kang vs. Shunichi Shimizu
Round 1 – Spinning wheel kick missed for Kang. He scored with an outside leg kick though. Kang landed a knee when it looked like Shimizu was on the ground. Kang landed a ton of punches and stepped over into mount. He looked for a triangle, then an armbar. He worked really hard for it, but transitioned back to the triangle instead. Big elbows from Kang. The referee stopped the action due to a 12-to-6 elbow. Wow, he took 2 points. Upon the restart, Kang ended up back on top. Two big rights and he let Shimizu up. Kang landed a straight kick right to the cup of Shimizu now. The ref looked at the replay and said it wasn’t low though. Weird. 9-8 Shimizu.
Round 2 – Shimizu almost got a takedown but ate some elbows to the side of the head. Kang scored with a big knee and opened up with punches on the ground. He advanced to mount and landed some short punches. Kang was landing a few elbows, but was mostly looking to maintain position. Shimizu reversed and worked in Kang’s guard, but he got reversed right back. Kang with some big punches late. 10-9 Kang.
Round 3 – A little bit of judo from Kang, and he went back to pounding on Shimizu in guard. Big elbows against the cage. Shimizu was holding on but wasn’t doing anything from the bottom. Nice scramble, but Kang retains control and moved to mount. He locked up an arm triangle choke and got the late finish. Nicely done.
Kyung Ho Kang defeats Shunichi Shimizu by submission (arm triangle choke), 3:53, round 3
Luiz Dutra vs. Kiichi Kunimoto
Round 1 – Kunimoto clinched up and looked for a takedown. Dutra fought it off and landed a knee. Neither man wanted to strike much. Kunimoto scored with a leg kick. Dutra tagged him with a left, and another. Winging right from Kunimoto and he shot in for a takedown, but Dutra dropped some illegal elbows that made the ref jump in right away. There were a lot to the back of the head. Kunimoto can’t continue due to the shots and Dutra has been disqualified.
Kiichi Kunimoto defeats Luis Dutra by disqualification (illegal elbows), 2:57, round 1
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Sean Soriano
Round 1 – Soriano scored with a kick and knee, and stuffed a takedown. Crusher was relentless with the takedown attempts but Soriano fought valiantly to stay up. Kawajiri with a spinning elbow. Leg kick from Soriano, and yet another stuffed takedown. Finally he got it down, but it was quickly reversed. But it’s back down. Soriano popped up again, but Crusher was all over him. Kawajiri got back control and looked for a choke. He switched to a body triangle. Crusher landed a few punches, looking to soften him up. Big rights. 10-9 Kawajiri
Round 2 – Kawajiri went right back for the takedown, and got it. He immediately got back control and went for a choke. Soriano looked like he might have tapped, but he went out right afterwards. What a finish.
Tatsuya Kawajiri defeats Sean Soriano via submission (rear naked choke), :50, round 2
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Hyun Gyu Lim
Round 1 – Tepid start with a lot of feints. Nice jab from Saffiedine, but Lim responded with a knee. Saffiedine landed a big leg kick. Lim dropped Saffiedine with a right after he caught a kick. Tarec was up right away, I don’t think the punch caught him flush. Inside leg kick from Saffiedine. Good exchange on the inside. Big right and huge knee up the middle. Lim caught another kick and dumped Saffiedine. Saffiedine with the double jab, and a short counter right. 10-9 Lim.
Round 2 – Saffiedine with a front kick. Both miss with winging punches. They exchange in the middle and Saffiedine scored with a few, wobbling Lim. Couple of straight rights land for Tarec. Left jab and a big leg kick for the Belgian. Another straight right. Lim misses with a flying knee. Two more nice combos from Saffiedine. Lim came back with a quick right, but he ate a counter right. Left hook for Tarec, Lim missed with a spinning back fist. 10-9 Saffiedine.
Round 3 – Lim with a leg kick. Big right from Saffiedine dropped Lim, but it might have been a slip. Tarec with a nice kick and a takedown. Lim went for a leglock. Saffiedine escaped and took his back. Lim just dumped him right over the top and got up. That was…interesting. Saffiedine hurt Lim’s leg with a kick and he attacked it mercilessly. Lim went down but was still in the fight. Tarec worked in half guard. The ref stood them up with 30 seconds to go. Saffiedine kicked the leg again, and Lim was hurting. Lim went downafter another one and Tarec thought the fight was over, but it wasn’t. 10-9 Saffiedine.
Round 4 – Lim came out with everything he had, trying to do anything he could. Saffiedine kicked the leg and landed big right hooks though. Saffiedine attacked both legs, and landed a huge flying knee that sent Lim down. Saffiedine settled into his guard, then took his back. He went for a choke with no hooks. He didn’t have it but moved to mount. He looked for an arm triangle but couldn’t get it. Saffiedine could probably have let him up and finished him on the feet, but he chose to ride him out on the ground instead. 10-9 Saffiedine.
Round 5 – Lim with a jab, but Saffiedine went right back to the leg kicks. Lim attacked with punches and knees. He’s showing a lot of heart. Lim’s throwing wild strikes, and Saffiedine is taking them. But another two kicks hurt Lim again. Saffiedine is walking away from him. Tarec is obviously gassed. Knee up the middle from Lim. Nice straight right from Tarec, and a leg kick drops Lim. Finally, Saffiedine made him stand up. Head kick from Tarec, and Lim screams. Body kick from Saffiedine. Lim scores with a right and a knee though. Throwing down at the bell! Lim had Saffiedine hurt! Wow what an ending! He just ran out of time! 10-9 Lim, 48-47 Saffiedine overall.
Tarec Saffiedine defeats Hyun Gyu Lim by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
About the author
