UFC is back in Australia with a bang, with a full card that is headed by the welterweight contest between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann. The action begins at 10.00am AEDT and we’ll have every minute of every fight covered with a live blog from the outset.
After UFC’s first two ultra-successful visits to Australia sold out venues in a matter of minutes, UFC CEO Dana White has received considerable criticism for what UFC fans perceive to be an inferior card, with tickets selling at a relative crawl this time around.
Not that White seems to mind.
“If you don’t like it, don’t watch it,” White barked to reporters at a press conference earlier in the week.
It is a question that is well worth asking, yet White does have a point. The sport’s burgeoning popularity ensures that today’s card will be watched across millions of television sets throughout the globe, regardless of the strength – or otherwise – of the match ups.
Today’s main event sees Thiago ‘Pitbull’ Alves take on Martin ‘The Hitman’ Kampmann in the highly-competitive welterweight division, with the winner looking at a potential title fight with the impregnable George St. Pierre down the track.
Alves (19-8, 11-5 in UFC) comes into this off a stoppage victory over Papy Abedi after an indifferent couple of years following his loss to St. Pierre at UFC 100, and the Brazilian will be desperate to prove to Dana White he deserves another crack at the title with a win this afternoon.
His Danish opponent Kampmann roars into this fight with a devastating win over Rick Story by unanimous decision in UFC 139 after two excruciating losses to Jake Shields and Diego Sanchez, and also boasts a memorable victory over Carlos Condit during his early days in the welterweight decision.
This shapes as a tantalising fight between two of the strikers of the UFC’s welterweight division, and there isn’t a lot between them. Kampmann’s crisp technique could definitely worry Alves but the Brazilian’s ability to land that killer shot might be enough to get him over the line. It should be an entertaining contest.
The other intriguing aspect of today’s card features the introduction of the UFC’s flyweight division to determine who fights for the vacant 125-pound championship later in the year.
Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez are both expected to make short work of their respective opponents, Ian McCall and Yashurio Urshitani respectively.
Australia is represented with James Te Huna, Anthony Perosa and Kyle Noke all fighting on the preliminary card.
A vintage card it may not be but there will be no shortage of action. It all begins with the preliminary card from 10.00am AEDT before the main event card goes off at around 1.00pm AEDT. We’ll have every fight comprehensively covered from the start, and if you’re watching, or even following along, don’t hesitate to give us your thoughts in the space underneath.
Enjoy the show!
Cookie
Roar Rookie
Good night of fights, you heard that the commission screwed up the score cards with the Johnson v McCall fight. It should of been a draw and gone to a sudden death fourth round. MASSIVE mistake. BTW It was a grubby audience out there, was quite embarassing to be Australian....
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Here are the judges scorecards: Alves had the fight in the bag with 2/3 judges scoring him two rounds to zero, while the third judge split the second round 10-10.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Martin Kampmann WINS after 4:12s in round 3!
ErinT
Roar Guru
Martin Kampmann defeats Thiago Alves via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in round 3. It really looked like Kampmann was in danger however he saw the opportunity to take Alves' neck and pulled off the win!!
Sam Cupitt
Roar Guru
Kampmann and that damn guillotine of his. Alves looks bitterly disappointed which he should be considering I thought he had the first two rounds in the bag.
KarenTouma
Roar Rookie
An unfortunate mistake by Alves, but that's all it takes in this game. Unlucky for Alves but Kampmann took advantage. Credit to him.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 3 Kampmann landing some nice body shots, Alves taking the opportunity to low kick when his has the chance. Kampmann on the end of an aggressive Alves, who goes for the takedown only to be caught in a guillotine choke.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 3 - 2:43 to go Alves's left eye is busted up and he is now focusing on getting in those low kicks to Kampmann. Kampmann walking into a flurry from Alves.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 3 - 4 mins to go Both fighters looking good going into the third round. We open with a high kick by Kampann reciprocated by a low kick from Alves. Alves attempts a takedown. Fighters are separated from the cage.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 2 - end Alves is constantly just getting under Kampmann's hits. Nice knee driving forward by Kampmann to Alves and the round is finished against the cage.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 2 - 1:25 mins to go Fight broken up against cage a returned to middle. Kampmann cut on his right side of the face. Both fighters trading blows right now.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 2 - 3 mins to go A couple of combinations exchanged by Alves and Kampmann. They really are just waiting for the other to make a mistake and exploit it.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 2 - 4 mins to go Alves looks to be in the zone now, landing his hits and getting out of Kampmann's range. Crowd behind Alves here.
ErinT
Roar Guru
End of round 1 Hard to say in this one, Kampmann attacked early but Alves controlled the ground late in the round.
Sam Cupitt
Roar Guru
Kampmann looked like he might wilt under Thiago's power but then throws an Anderson Silva style front kick that puts Alves on jelly legs. Then Thiago comes back with his ground game to steal the round. Craziness.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 1 - 1:05 remaining Alves working on the ground although Kampmann not in any trouble yet.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 1 - 2:06 remaining Kampmann is controlling Alves in this round, sinking in knees. Alves scores takedown of Kampmann.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ: “Fighting at flyweight feels great, finally I’m hitting guys my size.” “Coming into the fight, I knew Urushitani would be vulnerable to the counter. I chose my moment well and showed my power.” “It’s wild to think that the next time I walk into the Octagon that it’ll be to fight for the belt. I’m a huge fan of Demetrious Johnson and it’ll be an honour to fight him to be the first flyweight champion. It’s a fight that has been speculated about for a long time and I can’t wait for it – It’ll be amazing.”
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 1 - 3 min Kampmann gets Alves to the ground and he stands back up. Kampmann driving forward with knees and finally gets him back down.
ErinT
Roar Guru
Round 1 Kampmann has a slight advantage on the reach in this bout. Weighing each other up. Alves catches Kampmann early but he remains standing.