UFC 115: The Iceman Goeth

Chuck Liddell (Photo: facebook.com)

UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin – Vancouver, B.C, Canada – General Motors Place – June 12, 2010

Chuck Liddell made his final UFC appearance at UFC 115, getting knocked out by Rich Franklin in the main event.

“The Iceman” left the Octagon with a pro record of 21-8, and he also enjoyed a two-year reign as light heavyweight champion.

Franklin suffered a broken arm from a Liddell kick in the first round, but he managed to knock Liddell out with a right hand with five seconds left in the first round. 

  

Mirko Cro Cop deviated from his “head-kick” strategy, beating Pat “HD” Barry by submission to a rear naked choke in Round 3.

UFC 114: The Long Road to Redemption

Rashad Evans (Photo: reviewjournal.com)

UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans – Las Vegas, Nev. – MGM Grand Garden Arena - May 29, 2010                      

  

Rashad Evans beat Rampage Jackson by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 114.

Evans’ win pushed him into contention for the UFC light heavyweight title, which he lost to Lyoto Machida one year earlier.

Michael Bisping triumphed in the co-main event with a unanimous decision over Dan Miller. Bisping improved his record to 19-3.

In a heavyweight bout, Mike Russow knocked out Todd Duffee at the 2:35 mark.  Antonio Rogerio Nogueira won a split decision over Jason Brilz.

UFC 113: Revenge of the Shogun

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (Photo: mmafighting.com)

UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun 2 – Montreal, Quebec – Bell Centre – May 8, 2010

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua knocked out Lyoto Machida to win the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 113.

Rua rained down punches from the mount to earn a knockout win, avenging his loss to Machida at UFC 104.

Josh Koscheck beat Paul Daley by unanimous decision to earn a welterweight title shot against Georges St. Pierre. Koscheck also earned the right to coach the 12^th season of The Ultimate Fighter against GSP.

Daley sucker punched Koscheck after the bout and was subsequently fired.

UFC 112: Frankie Edgar Wins Gold in Abu Dhabi

Frankie Edgar (Photo: bleacherreport.com)

UFC 112: Invincible – April 10, 2010 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Yas Island Concert Arena

Frankie Edgar captured the UFC lightweight title from B.J. Penn at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi.

Edgar, a New Jersey native, kept cool despite his underdog status and methodically outpointed the Hawaiian champion.

In the main event, Anderson Silva continued his dominant run as UFC middleweight champion. “The Spider” beat Demian Maia by unanimous decision to retain the title.

Fans in the U.S. could watch the pay-per-view live at 1 p.m. Eastern or check out the replay in the usual 10 p.m. time lot.

UFC Fight Night 21: Return to the Queen City of the South

Kenny Florian (Photo: foxsports.com)

UFC Fight Night 21: Florian vs. Gomi – Charlotte, NC – Bojangles Coliseum – March 31, 2010

Kenny Florian moved closer to a lightweight title shot at UFC Fight Night 21.

Florian beat former PRIDE fighter Takanori Gomi with a rear-naked choke in UFC’s return to Charlotte after a 15-year absence.

UFC Fight Night 21 was a lead-in to the 11^th season of The Ultimate Fighter, featuring Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell as coaches.

After a power outage in the arena, Roy “Big Country” Nelson followed up his TUF 10 victory with a 39-second knockout over the 7-foot Stefon Struve.

UFC 111: Georges St.-Pierre Does What He Does Best

UFC 111: St. Pierre vs. Hardy – Newark, N.J. – Prudential Center – March 27, 2010

Georges St. Pierre routed Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy in the main event of UFC 111 to retain the welterweight title.

GSP established his dominance before a sellout crowd of 17,000 with an unstoppable ground attack. The judges ruled in the champ's favor by scores of 50-45, 50-44 and 50-43.

Shane Carwin knocked out Frank Mir at 3:48 to win the interim heavyweight title. Carwin also earned a shot at heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

UFC on Versus 1: Jon Jones Returns to the Win Column

Jon "Bones" Jones (Photo: lowkickmma.com)

UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones – Broomfield, Colo. – 1stBank Center – March 21, 2010

Jon “Bones” Jones returned to the win column, beating Brandon “The Truth” Vera in the main event of UFC’s first show on the Versus network.

Jones blasted Vera with an elbow to the face and followed up with punches to win by TKO at the 3:19 mark. Jones bounced back from a disqualification loss to Matt Hamill three months earlier.

Future UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos knocked out Gabriel Gonzaga at the 3:53 mark.

UFC drew 1.24 million viewers in its debut on Versus, which used to be the Outdoor Life Network and is now NBC Sports Network.

UFC 110: Australia Welcomes the Octagon

Cain Velasquez (Photo: foxsports.com)

UFC 110: Noguiera vs. Velasquez – Sydney, Australia – Acer Arena - Feb. 21, 2010

Cain Velasquez earned a shot at Brock Lesnar’s UFC heavyweight title at UFC 110.

Velasquez knocked out Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera at 2:20 to improve his record to 8-0. Cain landed a three-punch combo before walloping Big Nog on the mat for the victory.

After losing five of his previous six fights, Wanderlei Silva won a unanimous decision over Michael Bisping. “The Axe Murderer” scored with a pair of big punches in the closing moments.

UFC 109: The 12-Year Itch

Mark Coleman (Photo: mymmanews.com)

UFC 109: Relentless – Las Vegas, Nev. – Mandalay Bay Events Center – Feb. 6, 2010

Randy Couture waited 12 years to fight Mark Coleman in the Octagon, and Couture came out on top at UFC 109.

The two Hall of Famers were originally set to fight at UFC 17 in 1998, but the fight was scrapped due to an injury. A dozen years later, Couture won by technical submission in Round 2 with a rear-naked choke.

Paulo Thiago scored a technical submission over Mike Swick with a D’Arce choke in Round 2.

UFC Fight Night 20: The Bullying Will Continue Until Morale Improves

Gray Maynard (Photo: mmasucka.com)

UFC Fight Night 20: Maynard vs. Diaz - Fairfax, VA – Patriot Center – Jan. 11, 2010

Gray “The Bully” Maynard kept his undefeated streak alive with a split decision over Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night 20.

Maynard (9-0 with a no-contest) won 29-28 and 30-27, with the third judge scoring the fight 29-28 for Diaz. Maynard gained revenge for Diaz eliminating him from The Ultimate Fighter Season 5.

In another lightweight contest, Evan Dunham beat TUF 8 winner Efrain Escudero by submission to an armbar with one minute left in the fight.

UFC 108: No Time For Showboating

Rashad Evans (Photo: mmajunkie.com)

UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva – Las Vegas, Nev. – MGM Grand Garden Arena – Jan. 2, 2010

Rashad “Suga” Evans took advantage of his opponent’s showboating to finish the first UFC pay-per-view of a new decade.

Evans battled Thiago Silva in the main event of UFC 108 and controlled most of the action. Silva made a comeback in the third round, but then he started playing to the crowd.

This allowed Evans to regain control and win a unanimous decision.

In the co-main event, Paul Daley picked up his second knockout win in the Octagon, stopping Dustin Hazelett in 2:24.

UFC 107: BJ Penn Runs the Lightweight Division

Diego Sanchez (Photo: mmanews.com)

UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez – Memphis, Tenn. – FedEx Forum – Dec. 12, 2009

BJ Penn outlasted Diego Sanchez to make history as UFC lightweight champion at UFC 107.

Penn became the first lightweight champion to defend the title three times. He busted open Sanchez’s forehead with a kick, and the doctor stopped the fight in the middle of Round 5.

In the co-main event, Frank Mir won a heavyweight clash with Cheick Kongo. Mir used a guillotine choke to score a technical submission in 72 seconds.

John Fitch won his 19^th of his last 20 fights, scoring a unanimous decision over Mike Pierce.

The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Finale: Heavy in the Middle

Roy Nelson (Photo: mmajunkie.com)

Roy Nelson proudly called himself fat before laying a “Big Country” beating on Brendan Schaub to win the 10^th season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Nelson dropped Schaub with a right hand before finishing him off with another punch. Nelson had entered the ring to “Fat” by Weird Al Yankovic.

Rampage Jackson and Rashad “Suga” Evans were the coaches for TUF 10, which featured all heavyweights.

Jon Jones took the first loss of his career when he was disqualified against Matt Hamill at 4:14 mark. Jones lost a point after landing an illegal downward elbow. When Hamill couldn’t continue, Jones got DQ'd.

Kimbo Slice won his Octagon debut by unanimous decision over Houston Alexander. Slice had competed in the TUF 10 tournament, but he lost to Nelson in the first round.

Frankie Edgar forced Matt Veach to submit to a rear-naked choke.

In a battle of NFL veterans, Matt Mitrione knocked out Marcus Jones with 10 seconds left in Round 2.

On the pre-show, James McSweeney defeated Darrill Schoonover by TKO in Round 3. Jon Madsen won a split decision over Justin Wren.

John “Doomsday” Howard knocked out Dennis Hallman with five seconds left in the fight. Brian Stann scored a unanimous decision over Rodney Wallace.

Marc Bocek forced Joe Brammer to submit to a rear-naked choke at the 3:36 mark.