UFC 117: In-Depth Summary

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Junior Dos Santos vs. Roy Nelson

In the most active war of Junior's career, he took Roy Nelson all three rounds in the first fight of the evening. The sheer amount of punishment that Nelson took will undoubtedly earn him the respect of thousands, but Junior's patience in the ring, and barbaric power is to be marveled at. Repeated takedown attempts were stuffed by Dos Santos, and Roy started to slow halfway through the second, but he was never out of the fight, catching Dos Santos with hard right hands through every round of the fight.Roy kept his hands high and tight, but Dos Santos' signature lead uppercut found it's home early and often, and his body work was top notch.

As much as Nelson tried, he was having no luck landing his over hand right, and his short left hook wasn't landing for the life of him, constantly being halted by jabs.  Junior showed a few kicks, and a handful of knees, as if to say there was much more he could do if he saw fit, but he was more than comfortable pounding away with his fists.

When speaking with Joe Rogan post-fight, Junior gave much respect to Nelson, saying that "he's trained to be here", and that he was an incredibly tough fighter. From here Junior is poised to take on the winner of Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez, in what will surely be an amazing fight. 

Rest of the PPV after the jump.

Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida

Following Dos Santos and Nelson, UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes choked out Ricardo Almeida in the first round, easily one of the most impressive showings he's had in years. After catching Almeida with a vicious (especially for Matt Hughes) left hook, Hughes pounced, and locked in a choke he later claimed he learned from wrestling, then told Joe Rogan that it felt good to beat a good Brazilian with a wrestling choke.  

Where does this put Matt Hughes?  Good question.  It's time for him to rematch Dennis Hallman.  No question in my mind, that's the match that needs to be made.  With Hallman beating Ben Saunders tonight, the timing is perfect, and the match up is great.  Make it happen Joe Silva.

Clay Guida vs. Rafael Dos Anjos

The next bout was a wild mess of MMA fun,  no surprise, Clay Guida took part in the fight.

After early flurries, Guida landed a very solid head kick, letting the fans know that this was definitely going to be a war.  Guida stuffed a takedown by Dos Anjos, and pressed the Brazilian against the cage, a position we've grown accustomed to seeing Guida in against good BJJ fighters.  Dos Anjos had no intention to let Guida continue the grappling battle, and once they were apart he unleashed with some very good Muay Thai, displaying a variety of flying knees, kicks, and a very stiff left hand.  Dos Anjos scored a takedown, but they weren't on the mat long as the first round came to an end.  

In the second round Guida seemed content to kickbox, until he scored a takedown with just over two minutes left in the round.  Unlike past fights of Guida's, he wasn't just looking to stall on the ground, combating Dos Anjos active ground game with elbows and hammerfists, passing as best he could.  It was an even fight going into the third, and if Guida could make the next five minutes look like the last two, he could realistically win a decision.

Just over a minute into the third round, Guida landed a big slam from a single leg, and found himself in half guard.  From there, things got crazy.  Guida applied pressure to Dos Anjos' jaw from half guard, and forced a tap from the Brazilian.  It was quickly determined that Dos Anjos had been injured earlier in the fight, with a broken jaw, causing sever pain when Guida applied that pressure.  Crazy victory for the wild man Clay Guida.

Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves

Regardless of weight issues, Thiago Alves vs. Jon Fitch looked to be one of the best fights of the night.  In under a minute into the first round, Fitch got a hold of Alves from behind, slammed him, and took his back.  Thiago wasn't rolling over for the dominating Fitch, struggling to his feet, only to be brought back down on multiple occasions.  Suddenly, Alves reversed the position, eventually finding himself on top of Fitch, in half guard.  With little action, they were stood up by Herb Dean (who is getting trigger happy with stand ups lately).  After some hard shots by Alves, and crisp combos by Fitch, Alves stuffed a takedown with thirty seconds left, then scored another at the end of the round.  Alves looked rough in comparison to the very game Jon Fitch.

It wasn't long into the second round that Thiago once again found himself on his back, eating a few punches and then trying to wall walk against the cage once again.  "Jon Fitch 101" indeed, Mike Goldberg.  Joe Rogan was kind enough to plug Jon Fitch's documentary "Such Great Heights", as Alves struggled to his feet.  Yet again, Fitch took Alves' back, and dragged him to the mat. Thirty five seconds in the round, Alves finally got up and threw blows like he was finally in the fight.  The round came to a close with Thiago holding Fitch against the cage, looking for a takedown.

Thiago finally started to fight his fight in the third round...that is...until Fitch finally got his arms around him and dragged him to the mat yet again, just minutes into the round.  From there, Fitch took Alves' back, and slowly started to work an arm triangle (never seen that from someone's back), ending with Thiago reversing, and the two fighters reaching their feet at the end of the round.  No fireworks to be found here.  Jon Fitch took the fight on all cards, doing what the man does best.  From here, Thiago Alves needs to either get his ass to middleweight, or lose some muscle, run through a few test cuts to 170, and do the damn thing right.  Jon Fitch will be looking towards either fighting GSP for the title, or coming up with a way to get out of fighting Josh Koscheck in case he defeats GSP for the title.  Personally, I'd like to see Jake Shields get the shot if he looks good against Martin Kampmann, but Fitch is obviously one of the best in the division, and another title shot is inevitable.

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen

You knew it was on as soon as you saw Steven Seagal coming out with Anderson Silva.  It's put up or shut up for Chael Sonnen, and a chance at redemption for Anderson Silva.  Surely, this was going to be a memorable fight.

With Silva peppering Sonnen, and defending the takedown, and the crowd chanting for Silva, Sonnen ROCKS Silva, and the fight is on!  Silva takes shots and shakes them off, Sonnen shoots a double and lands it against the cage.  Chael works his game with ease, eventually taking Silva's back.  The crowd sounds baffled, as do Rogan and Goldberg.  A minute and thirty seconds left, Sonnen is postured and landing HARD.  Sonnen is a man on FIRE, dodging Silva's long legs with ease, and diving with all of his weight into these blows.  The round ends, and I'm scoring it 10-8 for the challenger!I

In the second round Silva threw a leg kick early, and Chael pushes into a double leg with ease, then moves to half guard.  The crowd now chants "USA" (so fickle are these fans).  Chael finds himself in guard, Silva hanging on tight, Chael boxes Silva's ears.  Sonnen is owning Silva here.  Silva seems far more calm this round, but Sonnen still pounding away.  Sonnen is disrespecting the hell out of Silva's BJJ here, and he's pounding away with hard elbows, Silva's got nothing but a kimura attempt for the challenger with twenty seconds in the round, then the champion goes for a leg.  10-9 Sonnen, and I can feel the internet rumbling as I write this.

Silva looks disheartened in his corner before the third round begins, but you couldn't tell by how Silva bounces around as minute passes.  Sonnen lands yet another double leg, and I'm wondering where the doubters are at.  Try as he might, Silva cannot hold Chael to his chest, and Sonnen is constantly working.  The crowd now chants "Sonnen", easing into this awkward situation.  The third round ends, and I'm questioning life as we know it. 10-9 Sonnen

Silva comes out and lights Chael up, landing body kicks, and stiff hands to the jaw, rocking the challenger.  Chael shoots desperately and Silva winds up on top.  After looking like a shadow of the man we saw earlier, Chael reverses and is once again on top.  After Chael repeats much of what we've already seen, he's cut by an elbow from Anderson, but again, 10-9 Chael.  

Five minutes till shit goes crazy.  Chael hits Silva again, he slips and Chael pounces, he's in guard...it's going to be fucking nuts in three minutes. AMAZING!  AMAZING!  Silva catches Chael in a triangle and controversy follows,  Chael says he didn't tap.  Bullshit, he tapped once, get that CB Dollaway shit out of here.

Anderson Silva defeats Chael Sonnen by triangle choke in the 5th round, with minutes to go until he lost his belt.  I don't know what to think about this, but I'm blown away.