Tonight the UFC returned to Georgia with UFC Fight Night 35 out of Duluth. The main event featured a tilt between two top middleweights in former Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold and Constantinos Philippou.
The actions starts out online with two fights available through UFC TV at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. From there the show heads to Fox Sports 1 with four more preliminary bouts at 5 p.m.. The main card kicks off at 7 p.m. with six more fights.
This post will cover the round-by-round action of the entire main card. Let us know what you think about the fights in the comment section.
Luke Rockhold vs. Constantinos Philippou – Round 1 – Costas moving a lot while Rockhold tries to track him down. Rockhold with a body kick. Hook from Rockhold drops Costas but Costas back up and he lands his own little hook. Head kick from Rockhold. Costas trying hard to come forward. Huge body kick from Rockhold hurts Costas, another one drops him and one more as he’s on his knees and this one is over. Luke Rockhold wins by TKO (body kicks), round 1.
Lorenz Larkin vs. Brad Tavares – Round 1 – Leg kicks fro Larkin and a punch combination that doesn’t get anywhere. Combo from Tavares does a little bit of damage. Leg kick from Tavares. Larkin not really getting anything off yet as Tavares lands leg kicks and body kicks. Larkin with a kick of his own now. Good right hand by Larkin gets in cleanly. Head kick from Larkin and a punch that misses but a good straight right. Now one in return from Tavares. Tavares takes the back standing after a Larkin kick. Tavares kind of gets the takedown before the round ends. 10-9 Tavares.
Round 2 – Left hook from Tavares. Larkin with a left and Tavares misses with a counter combo. More of Tavares using leg and body kicks while Larkin isn’t doing enough. Tavares shooting in and Larkin defending the takedown. Tavares does manage to get it and he’s on the back. Larkin escapes to get on top and Tavares is trying to take an arm. 10-9 Tavares.
Round 3 – Tavares with a head kick and then more leg and body kicks. Larkin is just simply not being offensive enough. He does land an elbow now though. Larkin sprawls after a takedown attempt and tries to lock in a guillotine but can’t. Tavares tries for the takedown again.Elbows to the side of the head by Larkin. Larkin throwing more of those elbows now. Now a big uppercut from Larkin. 10-9 Larkin but no way he won that fight.
Official scorecards: 29-28 across the board. Brad Tavares wins by unanimous decision.
T.J. Dillashaw vs. Mike Easton – Round 1 – Easton throwing some kicks that don’t land. Easton with a left hand that gets blocked by Dillashaw. Dillashaw lands a nice counter right hand. And now a head kick. Easton with a nice counter. Dillashaw with a takedown into side control. Dillashaw on top with Easton getting his feet on the hips and kicking off to get to his feet. Dillashaw with a flurry of strikes and he pushes Easton into the cage. Another combo by Dillashaw. Dillashaw pouring it on while Easton paws at his eye, possibly after an eye poke. 10-9 Dillashaw.
Round 2 – Dillashaw landing really hard combinations, Easton firing back but Dillashaw clearly winning these exchanges. Head kick by Dillashaw opens up Easton’s face and now Dillashaw is on top. Easton gets up but eats a big knee and more punches. Dillashaw beating on him som more and getting a takedown. Dillashaw takes the back standing. Dillashaw tries for a takedown and Easton manages to stay upright. Knees to the back of the legs by Dillashaw. 10-9 Dillashaw.
Round 3 – Dillashaw doing more of the same to start the round. Good combo by Dillashaw again. Easton just has nothing for TJ here. Dillashaw doing whatever he wants and Easton can’t do anything to stop it. 10-9 Dillashaw.
Official scorecards: 30-27 across the board. TJ Dillashaw wins by unanimous decision.
Yoel Romero vs. Derek Brunson – Round 1 – Brunson throwing jabs and Romero circling. Romero with a flying knee and a flurry. Leg kicks from Brunson. Huge headkick by Brunson and somehow Romero is still up. Romero still coming forward. Romero with a takedown attempt, back up, Brunson staggers him with a right hand. Brunson with a takedown now. 10-9 Brunson.
Round 2 – Romero with a low blow that leads to a break in the action. Uppercut by Romero misses. Hard punch by Brunson and another. Head kick by Brunson is just barely blocked. Romero having a lot of trouble landing anything. Flying knee by Romero. Right ahnd by Brunson and another takedown. Brunson to full mount now. Romero manages to stand up and Brunson avoids any damage before getting to his feet. Romero tries for a takedown and misses with an uppercut. Romero clinches up again. 10-9 Brunson.
Round 3 – Romero stalking early. Romero does land a very big shot that has Brunson a bit hurt and Brunson is slowing a bit. Brunson with a hard flurry but Romero is stalking and looking to finish. Big shot by Romero and more big shots and now Brunson drops. Romero is pouring it no now while Brunson is turtled up. Elbows to the body from the top by Romero and it’s over. Brunson was on his way to a decision win before he gassed and got caught. Yoel Romero wins by TKO (punches and elbows to the body), round 3.
John Moraga vs. Dustin Ortiz – Round 1 – Good right hand by Ortiz. Ortiz has the back standing and is trying to get the takedown but Moraga i able to spin. Orti keeping him pressed against the cage. Ortiz gets him down now right against the cage. Moraga tries to cage walk and Ortiz keeps him down. Good punches and elbows by Ortiz at the end of the round and it’s 10-9 Ortiz.
Round 2 – Moraga really landing well this round and starting to take over. Ortiz tries for a desperation type takedown, Morago defending well and he takes the back and almost locks up the rear naked choke to finish it but Ortiz survives well. Now Ortiz shoots and does take the back but the round ends. 10-9 Moraga evens it.
Round 3 – Right hand by Moraga and Ortiz trying to adjust and find space to get in for a takedown. Moraga just misses with a head kick. Ortiz just circling while Moraga initiates, which isn’t going to win him this fight. Ortiz does land a combination now. Ortiz with a takedown now with about two minutes left in the round. Ortiz to half guard and working some good elbows now. Moraga gets up and Ortiz is looking for the takedown again. 10-9 Ortiz as he came back well in that round.
Official scorecards: 29-28 Ortiz, 29-28 Moraga, 29-28 Moraga. John Moraga wins by split decision.
Cole Miller vs. Sam Sicilia – Round 1 – Miller moving around outside and landing some straight punches. Sicilia lands a right hand. Sicilia missing with a left hook while Miller circles. Miller working the jab a lot this round while Sicilia chases and whips big right hands. Leg kick by Miller now and another jab. 10-9 Miller.
Round 2 – Miller keeps throwing the jab and straight right and now a right hand really hurts Sicilia so he tries for a takedown. Sicilia is really just looking for the big right. Miller with another huge punch and Sicilia drops. Back up and Miller pounds on him and tries to take a guillotine, Miller now takes the back and locks up the rear naked choke and it’s over. Cole Miller wins by submission (rear naked choke), round 2.
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