By Jaime C. Feal
Kicking off the main card, Pat Healy made his UFC debut and got an impressive upset victory over veteran Jim Miller. Healy survived an early scare and dominated rounds 2 and 3, ultimately finishing Miller by rear naked choke. Next, Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis did as expected and cruised to victory over Vinny Magalhaes. Davis used his wrestling in reverse to keep the fight standing, and working being a beautiful jab and one-two combos en route to a unanimous decision victory. Roy “Big Country” Nelson was up to his usualy ways, clobbering Cheick Kongo with an overhand right, and a follow up right haymaker to stop Kongo in the 1st round. In the co-main, Bisping won a technical decision in a rather boring affair. Finally, Jon Jones once again defended his Light Heavyweight strap
Jon Jones (black shorts) celebrates defeating Chael Sonnen during UFC 159 at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Heavyweight Division (265 lbs.):
Roy “Big Country” Nelson (18-7, 5-3 UFC) vs. Cheick Kongo (18-7-2, 11-5-1 UFC)
Round 1:
Kongo lands an outside leg kick, Nelson rushes in and initiates the clinch. Nelson presses Kongo against the cage. The fighters grapple for position, ref warns them for inaction. Nelson has double underhooks, looking for a trip takedown. Ref breaks them. Nelson stalking, pawing with the jab, looking for the right. Nelson lands a huge overhand right that drops Kongo against the cage. “Big Country” finishes the job with another punch that puts Kongo out for good, flat on his face, to end the fight.
Roy “Big Country” Nelson wins by KO at 2:03 of Round 1.
Middleweight Division (185 lbs.):
Michael “The Count” Bisping (23-5, 13-5 UFC) vs. Alan “The Talent” Belcher (18-7, 9-5 UFC)
Round 1:
Outside leg kick lands for Bisping. Belcher has his hands very low, trying to land a power counter shot. Good outside leg kick from Belcher. Inside leg kick from Bisping lands. Solid jab from Belcher, then Bisping responds with a body kick. Outside leg kick lands for “The Talent.” A pure stand up fight thus far as expected. Nice right hand lands for “The Count.” Belcher lands a nice right hand that backs Bisping up. Belcher stumbles after an exchange, Bisping capitalizes by landing a combo. 10-9 round for Bisping
Round 2:
Jab from Belcher. Inside leg kick from Belcher, Bisping lands a counter jab. Outside land kick scores for Bisping twice in succession. Bisping partially lands a high kick. Bisping scoring lots of points with kicks, then lands a right hand. More kicks landing for Bisping, and Belcher not doing much in response. More kicks from Bisping, Belcher lands a right hand. Left hook lands hard for Bisping. Belcher lands the same punch, then a right hand. Bisping pops him with a nice combo to end the frame. 10-9 round for Bisping.
Round 3:
Bisping lands a right hand, laughs at Belcher’s missed punches. Good overhand right from Bisping, dominating the fight now. Inside leg kick from Belcher. Michael Bisping scoring more points with stiff jabs, rights, leg kicks and movement. Belcher has no answer. Crowd beginning to boo. Jab lands for the Brit. And again Bisping lands a jab. More jabs from Bisping, and a hard right connects behind them. Belcher looks totally gassed. Bisping doing what he does best, scoring points, lands another big right hand. Belcher looks out of it. Bisping easily stuffs a double leg takedown attempt from Belcher. Right hand from Belcher lands, Bisping keeps coming forward. Bad eye poke on Belcher, scary sight considering he’s had two retina surgeries on his right eye. Replays show it is the right eye. Nasty sight, blood inside the eye. This fight is going to be stopped on a technicality. The fight goes to a technical decision. 10-9 round for Bisping.
The judges score the fight 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 for the winner by unanimous decision, Michael “The Count” Bisping.
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (205 lbs.):
Jon “Bones” Jones (17-1, 11-1 UFC) vs. Chael Sonnen (27-12-1, 6-5 UFC)
Round 1:
Sonnen quickly takes the center of the Octagon, ducks his head and throws an overhand right that misses. Jon Jones looks for the takedown and gets it. Sonnen on his back. Sonnen works his way back up to the feet, eats a knee, but lands some punches in the clinch before they break. Jones ties him up again, lands a knee against the cage. They start trading knees back and forth. Jones gets another takedown. Sonnen in guard, eats a vicious elbow. Sonnen gets up, gives his back standing. Sonnen trying to spin, does so. Jones still has him pressed against the cage, Sonnen going for a guillotine. Jones quickly escapes. Jones looking for a single leg, bails on it. Big uppercut from Jones, then a spinning elbow. Nice uppercuts to the body from Jones. Sonnen has the Thai clinch, landing some knees. Jones dumps him on his back again. Elbow from the champ connects. Jones controlling Sonnen well, consistent landing the left elbow. Jones looking for an armlock, bails on it for more elbows. Big elbow from Jones hurts Sonnen, has him scrambling. Jones has him pinned up against the cage and lands a nasty barrage, highlighted by a huge knee to the body, and follow up strikes. The ref rushes in to save Sonnen, who is bloodied and battered, but immediately hops up to protest the stoppage. Replays show Sonnen was hurt very bad and defenseless, good stoppage.
Jon “Bones” Jones wins by TKO at 4:33 of Round 1.
