Jones chokes Machida unconscious at UFC 140

Full report by Anthony Springer Jr.
Photo by Ed Mulholland

If this is a dream, Jon Jones probably doesn’t want to wake up.
“Bones” added another accolade to his growing list of accomplishments, choking out Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida in the main event of UFC 140.

With the victory, Jones becomes the first light heavyweight title holder to make two successful defenses since Chuck Liddell lorded over the division several years ago.
Machida came out strong in the opener. After a few minutes of cat and mouse, the challenger found his range and landed a big punch that staggered the champion. It was the first significant shot Jones took in his UFC career. Also the first time the champ lost a round and had to overcome adversity.

And overcome he did. The tide turned for the midway through the second. Following a takedown, Jones landed razor like elbow that sliced Machida’s head open. The blow temporarily halted the bout as referee John McCarthy to instruct the doctor to check the cut. When the bout resumed, it was all Jones.

Against the side of the cage, both fighters leaned in for punches. Jones’ landed first, dropping Machida with a short left hand. The champion pounced and locked up a standing guillotine as Machida got back to his feet. After what seemed like an eternity, Machida went limp. The challenger collapsed to the ground as McCarthy waved the fight off at the 4:26 mark capping a whirlwind year for “Bones.”

Mir makes history, finishes “Big Nog” again

This time there were no excuses. Following a UFC 92 TKO win over Antonio Noguiera, Frank Mir was the subject of criticism because Noguiera had a staph infection going into the bout.

Last night, the Las Vegan proved—definitively—that it was no fluke.
Mir snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to finish “Big Nog” with an arm snapping kimura in the opening round.

Both men spent the opening minutes jockeying for position. Nogueira turned the tide after catching Mir with a pair of elbows, a knee, and floored him with a right hand. On the ground, Noguiera pounded away and seemed on his way to redeeming the loss. Until he attempted to take Mir’s back.

Mir used the time to recover, before snagging Noguiera’s arm and locking up the kimura. The pair rolled around before Mir settled into side control. “Big Nog” didn’t tap until his arm snapped. By that time, Herb Dean was already rushing in to stop the fight.

After a career spanning more than 40 fights and countless wars, this may be the last time we’ll seen Minotauro in the Octagon.

“Lil Nog” flattens “The People’s Champ”

A new moniker couldn’t revive Tito Ortiz’ career. Antonio Rogerio Noguiera used some blistering body shots to pummel Ortiz into oblivion and likely retirement. The former “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” came out with a vengance. He attempted to trade with “Lil Nog” before setting up a takedown. Standing in close quarters proved to be the undoing. Noguiera caught Ortiz with a left hand and sent him to the canvas with a knee to the body. Ortiz seemed to temporarily recover, but Noguiera went to the body and blasted him with a series of punches and elbows. With a hapless Ortiz sustaining punishment, the referee had no choice but to halt the bout at the 3:15 mark.

Ebersole tops Patrick in split decision; Jung matches UFC KO record

Brian Ebersole eked out a split decision victory over hometown fighter Claude Patrick. Ebersole controlled the relatively slow first round, while Patrick regained the upper hand in the second frame. The final stanza was seemingly split between the two as Ebersole controlled the first half with takedowns. Patrick battled back in the latter half, threatening with three submission attempts. The judges scored it 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28 for Ebersole who was showered with boos from the partisan crowd.

Chan Sung Jung ruined Mark Hominick’s homecoming, finishing “The Machine” in seven seconds with strikes. Hominick came out and threw a wild punch and was immediately blasted with a right on the counter. The blow sent Hominick to the floor and “The Korean Zombie” followed that up with a series of blows on the ground. The win ties Todd Duffee’s record for fasted knockout in UFC history.

The Undercard

Igor Pokrajak needed just 35 seconds to knockout Krzysztof Soszynski

Constantinos Philippou floored Jared Hamman twice in the opening round before finishing “The Messenger” by knockout at 3:11 in the first round.

Dennis Hallman dominated John Makdessi before using a rear naked choke to end the fight at 2:58 in the first round.

Yves Jabouin defeated Walel Watson by split decision. The judges scored the bout 28-29, 29-28 and 30-27.

Mark Bocek topped Nik Lentz in a one sided decision win. All three judges scored it 30-27.

Jake Hecht finished Ultimate Fighter alum Rich Attonito at 1:10 in the opening round with strikes.

John Cholish opened the evening with a second round TKO victory over Mitch Clarke. Time of stoppage was 4:36.

December 11th, 2011

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