Renan Barão put on a virtuous display in his first-round win over Brad Pickett. Photo: UFC publicity
The UFC took its 138th event to a full house this evening in Nottingham, England; and provided an action-packed event where the majority of the fights didn’t make it till the final bell. Although no title fights came with the package, the maiden five-round non-title main event was abbreviated to two, with Mark Munoz rendering Chris Leben unable to continue after the second-round break. Also making a serious impression, Renan Barão showed he’s a true virtuoso in putting away hometown favorite Brad Pickett, ending the contest in the first and perhaps lining himself up to take on bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz in the near future.
Check out the complete results:
UFC 138
Birmingham, England
November 5, 2011
Mark Muñoz defeats Chris Leben via doctor’s stoppage in R1.
The first round was evenly matched, with takedowns from both sides but Munoz seeming to have the edge. The second round saw Munoz go into full gear, taking Leben to the ground and punishing him with shots from the top, one of them opening a cut above Leben’s eye. After one of several guillotine attempts from Leben, a stop is called to the match to check the gruesome bleeding coming from a gash over Leben’s left eye. At first reporting that he couldn’t see from the damaged eye, Leben changed his tune when told the doctor would stop the fight; and the second round continued. Munoz continued to dominate and an end would be called to the fight during the second-round break, after Leben confessed he could not see through his left eye.
Renan Barão submits Brad Pickett via rear-naked choke in R1.
Getting the better of the standup action, Renan Barão used a full striker playbook against Brad Pickett, throwing crisp punching combinations and even launching flying knees, before knocking Pickett to the ground, where he deftly took back mount and cranked out a rear-naked choke — all in the first round.
Thiago Alves submits Papy Abedi via rear-naked choke in R1.
With crushing fist work, Thiago Alves dropped Papy Abedi to the ground, where he took full mount and landed more stunning fists, causing Abedi to give up his back and the rear-naked choke. Alves wins by submission in round one.
Anthony Perosh submits Cyrille Diabate via rear-naked choke in R2.
Weathering a storm of strikes from Diabate in the first round, Anthony Perosh turns the tables in the second, putting on a virtuoso top-position display on the ground that culminated in a rear-naked choke.
Terry Etim defeats Edward Faaloloto via guillotine choke in R1.
Terry Etim made quick work of Edward Faaloloto. Starting off strong with punches and kicks early on, Etim cynched a tight guillotine choke and pulled guard as a response to a Faaloloto takedown, ending the action early in the first round.
Preliminary card results:
John Maguire defeats Justin Edwards via unanimous decision;
Phil De Fries defeats Rob Broughton via unanimos decision;
Michihiro Omigawa defeats Jason Young via unanimous decision;
Che Mills defeats Chris Cope via TKO in R1;
Chris Cariaso defeats Vaughan Lee via split decision.
