For the second time in the promotion’s history the UFC returns to Abu Dhabi for Friday’s UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson. In the main event, former Heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will take on Roy Nelson. The main card action begins at 2 p.m. ET (11 p.m. PT). Bloody Elbow will provide you with live updates and results of all the main card action right here.
Nogueira is coming off a second round submission loss to Fabricio Werdum in his last outing almost a year ago. He’s currently 2-3 in his last five fights. In Nelson’s last fight he lost a one-sided unanimous decision to now Light Heavyweight Daniel Cormier. He’s riding a a two-fight losing streak, but won his previous three by first round knockout.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Roy Nelson
Round 1 – Nogueira takes the center and cautiously shrinks the distance as Nelson keeps his right hand cocked. A few probing combinations from Nog to get a read on Nelson’s reaction. Nelson double jabs, hammers a right to the body and cans Nogueira with an overhand right. Nogueira looks dazed but recovers off his back and stands up on shaky legs. Nelson stays calm and doesn’t attack relentlessly, resetting with a lead right hand downstairs.
Nogueira looking to sight in his left hook but Nelson’s big right keeps whizzing by. Jab and monster overhand from Nelson again, then he plants his feet and drills Nog with a straight right. Nog goes down and gets back up on roller-skates again. Oh boy. Nelson, realizing that Nog’s hands are down and he’s not all there, paces his steps and lands a jogging Bisping/Henderson-esque meatball, then walks away with his hand raised before Nog’s lifeless body hits the canvas.
- Roy Nelson defeats Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by KO (overhand right), Round 1
Clay Guida vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Round 1 – Guida glances with an overhand right and Kawajiri tries to duck under it for a single to no avail. Wild spinning back fist from Kawajiri. Guida thumps Kawajiri with a monster right and “Crusher” nosedives into the mat. Guida pounces and Kawajiri tries to scramble free but Guida ends up behind him with the rear waist cinch and Kawajiri counters with the Sakuraba style kimura. Kawajiri gets the angle and hits the rolling the kimura; Guida rolls with it, tries to pull his arms free and ends up lifting Kawajiri off the ground and slamming him into the canvas head first.
Kawajiri gets to his feet but he’s back Guida’s rear waist lock. Guida hits a strong belly to back slam as Kawajiri still won’t relent on his counter kimura, now crouching down to prevent another slam. Kawajiri finally lets it go and spins to face Guida, then slips behind him for his own belly to back slam from the rear waist lock. Ironically, Guida counters with the kimura. 10-9 Guida.
Round 2 – Guida pelts Kawajiri with glancing punches and Kawajiri looks to answer with a left high kick. Guida shoots and Kawajiri stalls him for a moment, then gets taken down but gets right back up. Short elbows to the head from Kawajiri whilst stopping the takedown and fishing for another kimura. Guida finishes the takedown but Kawajiri leverages him over with the kimura immediately and they’re back on the feet. Guida gets in on another double leg and Kawajiri lands a few more short elbows before being taken down and again getting right back to his feet.
Rear waist cinch for Guida against the fence and Kawajiri rolls him with the kimura again. He doesn’t have the right angle to wrench it and Guida is back up and glued to Kawajiri with a body lock on the fence. Kawajiri again opts for the kimura counter, then lets it go for underhooks and more short elbows to the head. Kawajiri leans over Guida’s back and lifts his waist to disrupt his balance but Guida recovers and resumes the rear waist lock on the fence. Look-away elbows from Kawajiri as he fights off Guida’s waist cinch. 10-9 Kawajiri — the grappling was back and forth but Kawajiri was more offensive with strikes and submission attempts.
Round 3 – Right high kick from Guida backs Kawajiri up. Guida faking level changes to keep Kawajiri guessing and defensive. Kawajiri shoots for a single but Guida stops it with a sprawl and strong front head lock. Kawajiri gets both feet under him and penetrates deeper, pushing Guida against the fence and switching to an ankle pick. Guida defends and lands short punches and elbows in a reversal of roles.
Guida pushes down on Kawajiri’s head and lands a hard pressure-release elbow to the top of the shoulders. Kawajiri has one of Guida’s legs triangled to keep him in place and Guida gets free as soon as he lets it go. Kawajiri huffing and puffing something fierce with two minutes left. Sloppy overhand right from Kawajiri, Guida ducks under it and we’re back to the waist cinch on the fence. Guida scoops Kawajiri off his feet and slams him down with a takedown — Kawajiri has a guillotine locked tight but Guida slips out. Kawajiri drops back for a leg lock but Guida steps over and spins out of it. 10-9 Guida for a 29-28 his way by my tally.
Guida calls out Conor McGregor in his post-fight speech, threatening him with a chest-hair sandwich from a caveman with a mullet. Standard challenge, really.
- Clay Guida defeats Tatsuya Kawajiri by unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
John Howard vs. Ryan LaFlare
Round 1 – LaFlare draws first blood with a heavy left roundhouse kick to the midsection, and follows it with his signature duck-under takedown. LaFlare in half guard looking to pass, and does. LaFlare looks to isolate the far-side arm and Howard nearly bucks him off, but LaFlare maintains position and cinches up a D’arce choke. Howard kinks his neck to breathe and rides it out, then scrambles free and back to his feet.
Howard attacks with punches and anticipates LaFlare’s counter takedown. They trade punches on the fence with LaFlare playing the bully, pushing Howard into the cage and breaking the clinch with a knee downstairs and a horizontal elbow. Howard rolls out of a lateral drop attempt from LaFlare and they square off in the center. They trade beefy shots and LaFlare wins the exchange with another huge left kick to the body that may have landed early with the knee. LaFlare throws another but Howard catches it at the bell. 10-9 LaFlare.
Round 2 – Howard clips LaFlare early with a short left hook and uppercut, then takes him down when LaFlare clinches up. High, heavy base in half guard for Howard. LaFlare bumps his hips and hits a clever sweep, reversing into side control. Howard powers his way into a sweep that’s close enough to force LaFlare to back off and they restart standing. LaFlare lands hard knees to the body in the immediate clinch that ensues, and Howard circles off the fence. LaFlare circles back and smashes Howard’s junk with a vicious knee to the cup.
We pause. The doctor comes in to examine Howard and the way his face contorts in agony does not bode well — he makes the saddest sad face ever. Nearing the end of his five-minute respite, Howard decides to continue.
Rear front kick from LaFlare, then a smooth outside trip when they clinch. Howard rolls onto his knees and gets back up, nearly answering with an outside trip from body lock. LaFlare fights it off, lands a knee to the body and gets busy with straight punches from distance. Howard fends off another takedown but ends up smashed on the fence, digesting a series of knees downstairs. Howard circles off, LaFlare circles back and greets him with another knee. Howard breaks the clinch and throws alternating left and right hooks with some mustard on them. 10-9 LaFlare.
Round 3 – Howard nearly chops LaFlare’s leg in half with a hard inside low kick. LaFlare changes levels and gets a takedown, Howard elevates his hips and sweeps him but LaFlare sweeps him right back. Full guard for Howard, then butterfly guard, which he uses to create space and boot LaFlare off. LaFlare dives back down into Howard’s guard to prevent the escape. Howard again uses butterfly guard to elevate LaFlare’s hips but LaFlare reverses on the sweep.
Howard, showing huge balls, rolls into a leg lock and catches LaFlare off guard with it, extending the leg in kneebar/heel-hook position but seemingly unsure what to do with it. LaFlare slips his leg out and tackles Howard to finish the round on top. 10-9 LaFlare for a 30-27 on my card.
- Ryan LaFlare defeats John Howard by unanimous decision (no scores announced)
Ramsey Nijem vs. Beneil Dariush
Round 1 – Nijem comes out firing with a right hand and right outside low kick. He throws another low kick that’s interrupted by a stiff shot from Dariush. Roundhouse kick to the body from Dariush connects but is half-caught by Nijem, who hurls a few punches. Nijem stuffs a Dariush takedown with an underhook but eats some close-range shots on the fence. Nice side-stepping right counter from Nijem, who’s circling away from the power-side of Dariush’s kicks and punches.
Nijem pastes Dariush with a short jackhammer and puts him on roller-skates, attacking with punches as Dariush stumbles around. Dariush manages to snatch a leg during the chaos and falls back for a leg lock but Nijem isn’t having it; he slips out and pounds the crap out of the bloodied Dariush from the top until the ref, who gives Dariush plenty of time (arguably too much), steps in to wave it off.
- Ramsey Nijem defeats Beneil Dariush by TKO (punches), Round 1
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