What a night it was in Montreal Saturday night. The crowd was off the hook and ready for something big to happen. Here is a special look at what happened at the sold out Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec....
Thiago Alves vs. John Howard
Round 1
Round 1
Yves Lavigne officiates the first match of the pay-per-view card. Alves lands a low kick and a sharp right hand over the top, then stuffs a takedown attempt from Howard. Another low kick-right hand combo from Alves, and another takedown attempt from Howard finds Alves on top in half-guard. Howard sits back for a leglock, but Alves slips out. Low kick from Howard is countered by a left hand from Alves. One-two lands from Alves lands flush, and then a few hard jabs for good measure. A chopping leg kick from Alves buckles the left leg of Howard and Alves pounces to deliver a few knees and punches. Howard with a low kick of his own, but Alves wins that contest. Howard catches a kick from Alves and pushes the Brazilian into the fence with a minute left. High kick from Alves slaps the face of Howard. Both men trading big leg kicks and winging punches in the last 30 seconds.
Round 2
Alves immediately goes back to work on the left leg of Howard with a low kick inside. Another thigh kick glances Howard’s cup, but Howard shakes it off, and the fighters slap gloves and get back to work with no break. Howard counters another leg kick with a flurry of punches, a few of which get through. Alves continuing to work the leg of Howard, who’s now attempting to check the kicks. Alves rushes in and grabs a waistlock, pushing Howard into the fence before lifting him into the air and dumping “Doomsday” onto the canvas. Alves works from half-guard, both men keeping busy with short punches to the body. Stuffed back to full guard, Alves postures up and momentarily pounds away with hammerfists, landing a few elbows before the end of the round.
Round 3
Alves is pacing in his corner before the final round. Overhand right from Alves sends Howard stumbling backward, but he stays up. Howard tries for a single-leg and holds Alves against the fence momentarily. They split and stand toe-to-toe again, where Howard lands a hard but singular leg kick. Alves connects with a combo, and then floors Howard with a big punch, but Howard pops right back up. More leg kicks and tight combinations from Alves. Howard just can’t find his range, whiffing on kicks and punches. Both men swinging away to the final horn, with Alves scoring on the last exchange.
Official scores: Three scorecards of 30-27 for the winner by unanimous decision, Thiago Alves.
Joe Stevenson vs. Mac Danzig
Round 1
Round 1
Dan Miragliotta is in the cage to ref this clash of “Ultimate Fighter” winners. Danzig lands a left on Stevenson as “Joe Daddy” rushes in. Teep kick to the face of Stevenson, and another left hook from Danzig. Stevenson pumps a few nice jabs, then digs a right hand to the body. Overhand right from Stevenson stumbles Danzig. Stevenson pushes forward on Danzig, who steps back and simultaneously lands a perfectly-placed left hand. Stevenson falls to the canvas face-first, and Danzig makes sure he stays down with a few follow-up punches on the ground. Miragliotta steps in at 1:54 to rescue the helpless Stevenson.
Winner via TKO punches Mac Danzig
Jim Miller vs. Charles Oliveira
Round 1
Round 1
Referee Dan Miragliotta returns for this lightweight bout. Oliveira instantly throws a head kick, then shoots for a single-leg which Miller easily stuffs. Another head kick from Oliveira, then a clinch, and they wind up on the ground with Oliveira on his back. Oliveira throwing his legs up, hunting for a triangle with Miller in his full guard. Oliveira latches on to the right arm of Miller, tries for an armbar, but Miller busts free. Miller stands and stacks Oliveira up, and then drops back for a leglock. The New Jersey native stretches out Oliveira’s leg with a kneebar, and it’s a good one. Oliveira resists for a moment before tapping at the 1:59 mark, the first loss of his career.
Winner via submission Jim Miller
Stefan Struve vs. Sean McCorkle
Round 1
Round 1
Yves Lavigne referees this evening’s lone heavyweight affair. The big men tentatively touch gloves to begin. Struve lobs a right hand over the top and McCorkle immediately doubles over, then plows Struve to the mat. McCorkle grabs hold of Struve’s left arm and wrenches it behind his back. Struve gets his back to the cage and defends the lock ably, but with the limb freed, McCorkle winds up in side position. Struve rolls and puts McCorkle back in his guard. McCorkle pins Struve’s head to the fence with his left hand and whacks away with his right. McCorkle postures up and Struve snares his left arm, looking for an armbar, but McCorkle defends. Some hard shots by Struve from his back before the Dutchman decides to control McCorkle’s wrists. Struve postures up, framing a kimura on McCorkle’s left arm, then sweeps beautifully right into mount. Struve unleashes a torrent of punches on McCorkle, who rolls onto his side. The punches keep coming, bloodying McCorkle’s nose, and Lavigne waves it off at 3:55 of the opening round.
Winner via TKO punches Stefan Struve
Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck
Round 1
Round 1
Referee Herb Dean has officiating duties for this welterweight title bout. St. Pierre pumps a left jab before taking Koscheck down against the base of the fence. Koscheck cage-walks to his feet. Double-jab and a right hand follow-up from St. Pierre. Another takedown attempt from St. Pierre is stuffed by Koscheck, who lands a grazing left hand on the exit. St. Pierre keeps the jabs coming, ducking under a big right from Koscheck, whose face is already showing damage. Left jab and a head kick by St. Pierre, who’s moving around the perimeter of the cage. Koscheck steps right into another stiff left jab before moving in for a takedown. St. Pierre stuffs the attempt and finds his back against the fence. Koscheck on his knees, working for a high double, and he’s finally able to bring St. Pierre down with 20 seconds left in the round.
Round 2
Koscheck’s right eye is already in rough shape, cut and swollen at the start of the second frame. St. Pierre gets back to work with left jabs and inside leg kicks. Koscheck’s overhand rights are missing for the most part, with GSP often ducking under them. St. Pierre lands another Superman left hand, then a hard kick to the body. GSP keeps going back to his double-left jab followed by a right hand, snapping Koscheck’s head back. Koscheck puts together a solid combo that finishes with an uppercut, but St. Pierre appears unfazed. GSP switch-kicks to Koscheck’s body and comes forward with a few punches to end the round.
Round 3
No surprise: more left jabs from GSP to begin the third. The champ tries for a single-leg after about a minute, but Koscheck puts his back to the cage and they clinch instead. Underhooks for Koscheck, who reverses GSP into the fence, only to be quickly reversed back. St. Pierre kneeing inside while Koscheck comes over the top with a few punches, neither terribly effectively. Referee Dean tells them to get busy and the fighters disengage. GSP continues snapping Koscheck’s head back with the left jab. They tie up and St. Pierre seems to say something to referee Dean about his glove. A moment later, Dean cautions Koscheck, “don’t hold the gloves,” as they clinch against the fence. Leg kicks and left hands by St. Pierre for the final minute of the round.
Round 4
The ringside doctor can be overheard telling Herb Dean that Koscheck can’t see out of his right eye in between rounds, but he allows the fight to continue after protest from Koscheck. St. Pierre scores a takedown early and takes Koscheck’s back, but Koscheck stands and shakes him. Koscheck drops for a leglock which GSP slips, and now St. Pierre has a waistlock, holding Koscheck against the fence. St. Pierre lands a knee to the damaged eye of the doubled-over Koscheck. Back in the center of the cage, Koscheck is throwing one-twos, only to have GSP sidestep every attempt. Koscheck now checking St. Pierre’s inside leg kicks. GSP with a cracking left hook, followed by a few more stiff jabs. According to CompuStrike, St. Pierre landed 24 strikes to Koscheck’s three in the fourth frame.
Round 5
St. Pierre starts the final round with more kicks to the inside of Koscheck’s left leg. Another jab snaps Koscheck’s head back before he completely misses a single-leg attempt. Left hook by St. Pierre, and then he’s back to pumping the jab. Three minutes left for Koscheck to pull something off, or GSP is keeping his title. St. Pierre ducks an overhand right and ties Koscheck up against the fence with two minutes left. It takes a moment and a few punches from Koscheck, but GSP brings his man to the mat. Koscheck stands up, only to be dragged back down. Koscheck stands again. Knees to the legs of Koscheck by GSP. Short punches to the body by Koscheck. Thirty seconds left. St. Pierre lands a body kick, another jab, and a one-two for good measure at the close of the bout.
All three judges have it 50-45 for GSP.
What a night it was Saturday night in Montreal. The hometown hero dominates the fight and has the crowd leaving happy. There was no shortage of TKO's & submissions at UFC 124. The next time they are on pay per view is Saturday night Janurary 1st new year's night. We will see you then. Thanks so much for joining us!!
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