Urijah Faber / Publicity photo

One of the most beloved bantamweight fighters in MMA, “The California Kid” Urijah Faber’s (26-6) next challenge is experienced jiu-jitsu black belt Ivan Menjivar (25-9). The pair will square off at UFC 157 on Feb. 23 in Anaheim, Calif., according to various reports.

Previously, rumors surfaced linking Urijah, who hasn’t fought since he lost his bid for the interim bantamweight belt to Renan “Barão” at UFC 149 last July, to a fight England’s Vaughan Lee. But speculation has been dashed, as Faber will be taking on Menjivar, an El Salvador-born Canadian coming off an armbar win over Azamat Gachimov at UFC 154.

Both fighters share the common characteristic of achieving most of their wins via submission.

Other fights confirmed for the UFC

As previously reported by GRACIEMAG.com, Ryan Bader, whose last octagon outing was a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC on Fox 4, will fight 41-year-old Vladimir Matyushenko, who was outdone by Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 141 in his last appearance.

Additionally, David Mitchell, who is coming off a loss to Brazil’s Paulo Thiago at UFC 134, will take on Norway’s Simeon Thoreson, who will have his third fight under the UFC banner.

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Urijah Faber. Foto: Divulgação.

Um dos atletas mais queridos nos EUA na divisão dos pesos galos, o californiano Urijah Faber tem como próximo desafio o experiente faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu Ivan Menjivar. A dupla se enfrenta no UFC 157, no dia 23 de fevereiro, em Anaheim, Califórnia.

Urijah, que não luta desde julho, quando perdeu a disputa do cinturão interino dos galos para Renan Barão, no UFC 149, viu seu nome especulado para lutar contra o britânico Vaughan Lee. Fora dos rumores, Faber enfrenta o duro Ivan Menjivar, canadense nascido em El Salvador que vem de finalização em cima de seu último adversário, Azamat Gashimov, com um armlock, no UFC 154.

Ambos os lutadores tem como característica a maioria de suas vitórias por finalização. Faber tem um cartel de 26 vitórias e 6 derrotas, e Menjivar 25 vitórias e 9 derrotas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji89TGwqtD8

Outras lutas confirmadas no UFC

Além da confirmação do embate entre Faber e Menjivar, outras duas lutas foram cravadas nesta semana, ambas para o UFC on Fox 6.

David Mitchell, que vem de derrota para o brasileiro Paulo Thiago, no UFC 134, enfrenta o norueguês Simeon Thoresen, que faz sua terceira luta no Ultimate.

Outro embate confirmado traz Ryan Bader, que foi nocauteado por Lyoto Machida em sua última passagem pelo octógono, no UFC on Fox 4. Bader pega o veterano Vladimir Matyushenko, atleta de 41 anos e que não luta desde dezembro do ano passado, quando foi superado por Alexander Gustafsson, no UFC 141.

Johny Hendricks lands the knockout of the night at UFC 154, in Montreal. Photo by Josh Hedges/UFC.

“Carlos Condit is the only guy besides Jake Shields who’s guard didn’t get passed by Saint-Pierre. GSP passed the guard of phenoms like BJ Penn with ease, even passed Dan Hardy’s guard 26 times!”

Caio Terra, challenger Carlos Condit’s Jiu-Jitsu coach

“Shogun’s level on the ground is really great. I even asked him if he didn’t want to double up with me at the South American Championship so we could close out at weight and absolute. I learned one lesson from him: if you’re well trained and tire out, don’t stop, because your opponent will be exhausted too.”

Léo Nogueira, Jiu-Jitsu world champion and sparring partner to former UFC champion

“I’m not big on Anderson. He’s a phenomenal fighter but an extremely arrogant guy. (…) I feel a fight between him and Jon Jones would be a much bigger challenge than against GSP. Anderson knows he has an advantage over GSP because of his height and all.”

Roberto Drysdale, letting slip that the “Spider’s” 2010 spat with Demian Maia at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi hasn’t yet been forgotten

“GSP hasn’t fought anyone like me yet. I’ve got strong wrestling and a power punch, and no one’s even seen my Jiu-Jitsu yet.”

Johny Hendricks, after knocking out Martin Kampmann in mere seconds and emerging as a solid contender for GSP

Johny Hendricks aplica o nocaute da noite, no UFC 154 em Montreal. Foto Josh Hedges/UFC

“Carlos Condit foi o único cara que não teve a guarda passada pelo St-Pierre, com exceção do Jake Shields. GSP passou a guarda de fenômenos como BJ Penn tranquilamente, e passou a guarda do Dan Hardy 26 vezes!”

Caio Terra, treinador de Jiu-Jitsu do desafiante Condit

“O nível de chão do Shogun está muito bom. Até perguntei se ele não queria fazer dupla comigo no Sul-Americano para a gente fechar o peso e o absoluto! Aprendi com ele uma lição: se você está bem treinado e cansar, não pare, porque seu adversário vai estar exausto também”

Léo Nogueira, campeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu e dublê de sparring do ex-campeão do UFC

“Não ligo muito para o Anderson, ele é um lutador fenomenal mas um cara extremamente arrogante. (…) Acho que a luta dele contra Jon Jones seria um desafio bem maior e mais divertida de assistir do que contra GSP. O Anderson sabe que ele tem vantagem contra GSP, por causa da altura e tudo mais”

Robert Drysdale, deixando transparecer que a querela de seu amigo Demian Maia com o Aranha, no UFC 112 de Abu Dhabi, em 2010, ainda não foi esquecida

“GSP não enfrentou ninguém como eu até agora. Sou um cara com um wrestling forte e um soco potente, e ninguém viu o meu Jiu-Jitsu ainda!”

Johny Hendricks, após nocautear Martin Kampmann em segundos e emergir como nome fortíssimo para desafiar GSP

Rafael dos Anjos dominou Mark Bocek, no UFC 154. Foto: UFC/Josh Hedges

Após uma luta divertida e convincente contra Mark Bocek no UFC 154, a parte empolgada da mídia especializada brasileira já começou a ver Rafael dos Anjos como um rival em potencial do campeão Ben Henderson, o atual dono do cinto dos leves.

Rafael não liga para esses confetes. O faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu de Roberto Gordo sabe que tem carências e alguns degraus a subir. E o melhor: não está com pressa.

Confira o que nós do GRACIEMAG.com aprendemos com ele neste rápido bate-papo:

Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu ou a porrada em pé? Onde você curtiu mais a luta com Bocek, no último sábado, em Montreal?

Achei a luta muito boa em todos os sentidos. Consegui impor minha estratégia e anular o jogo sempre perigoso do Mark, um lutador completo também. Sobre minha parte em pé, eu sempre quero melhorar nas áreas em que sou mais fraco, por isso treinei com Rafael Cordeiro na Kings MMA, e também na Black House e na Evolve MMA, em Cingapura. Todos os treinos têm sido benéficos para mim. Antes do UFC 154 fiquei duas semanas em Cingapura trocando com aquelas feras do muay thai de lá, e isso me ajudou bastante.

Qual a diferença dos treinos de muay thai na Cingapura e os treinos do Rafa na Kings MMA, na Califa?

Com o Rafael o treino sempre é de um muay thai voltado para o MMA, com os golpes combinados. Fazemos a trocação e a parte de queda e chão também. Já em Cingapura é o muay thai puro.

A quantos degraus você se vê do campeão Ben Henderson?

Não sei a quantos degraus estou dele hoje, mas estou seguindo firme na minha caminhada.
 Sei apenas que nossos estilos são um pouco diferentes, as origins também. Ele vem do taekwondo e do wrestling e eu do Jiu-Jitsu.

Dana White disse que pretende fazer 12 eventos no Brasil ano que vem. Você esperar lutar no Brasil em 2013?

Seria uma boa, faz tempo que nao luto com a torcida a favor! (Risos)

E quem você enfrenta agora? O Gleison Tibau é um nome forte, que te venceu. Gostaria de uma revanche?

Tenho vontade sim, mas essa categoria é muito cheia, então acho que não é muito provável.

Rafael dos Anjos dominated Mark Bocek at UFC 154. Photo by Josh Hedges/UFC.

Following his convincing performance against Mark Bocek at UFC 154, an enthusiastic portion of Brazil’s specialized media has started murmuring about Rafael dos Anjos being a potential challenger to Ben Henderson’s lightweight belt.

Rafael isn’t getting caught up in the hype, though. The Roberto Gordo Jiu-Jitsu black belt knows he’s got some holes in his game to patch up and some rungs on the ladder of challengers to climb. And the best part: he’s in no hurry.

Check out what we at GRACIEMAG.com learned from him in a recent conversation:

Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu or standing and banging—which part of your performance against Josh Bocek last Saturday were you most pleased with?

I feel it was a good fight all around. I managed to impose my game plan on him and neutralize Mark’s always dangerous game. He’s a well-rounded fighter too. Where my standup is concerned, I always try to improve on where I’m weakest, which is why I trained with Rafael Cordeiro at Kings MMA and at Black House, as well as at Evolve MMA in Singapore. Training at all these places has been beneficial to me. In the lead-up to UFC 154 I spent two weeks in Singapore working on my striking with the Thai boxing aces they have over there, and that helped me a lot.

What’s the difference between the Thai boxing training in Singapore and that with Rafa at Kings MMA in California?

With Rafael it’s MMA-geared Thai boxing, combining standup striking with takedowns and even grappling. Now, in Singapore it’s pure Thai boxing.

How many steps do you feel you are from Ben Henderson?

I don’t know how many steps away from him I am right now, but I am forging ahead on my path. All I know is that our styles are kind of different, our origins too. He comes from taekwondo and wrestling, while I come from Jiu-Jitsu.

Dana White said he intends to hold 12 events in Brazil next year. Do you expect to fight in Brazil in 2013?

It would be great. It’s been a while since I’ve had the crowd on my side (laughs).

And who will you face next? Gleison Tibau is a solid name, and one who beat you. Would you like a rematch?

I would like one. This is a really stacked division, though, so I don’t think it’s too likely.

Caio Terra (far right) with Condit and team in Montreal, Canada, prior to UFC 154 / Publicity photo

GRACIEMAG.com: Now the dust has settled, what are your thoughts about Carlos Condit’s performance against Georges Saint-Pierre at UFC 154?

CAIO TERRA: Carlos put on a big-time display of true, smooth and free-flowing Jiu-Jitsu. He’s really smart and a fast learner. I trained him for about 40 days, which isn’t very long when it comes to Jiu-Jitsu. But he did great. Carlos is the only guy who Saint-Pierre hasn’t passed the guard of; except for Jake Shields, who’s a ground-fighting specialist, so GSP didn’t want to him take down—he beat him standing. GSP easily passed the guard of a phenomenon like BJ Penn, passed Dan Hardy’s 26 times! He only made it to Carlos’s half-guard, a position where he attacked but also got attacked. GSP never made it to side-control, the only position where he could have attacked and hit, because Condit didn’t let him.

Do you feel Condit could have attacked more on the ground?

I feel all the blood that came out at the start of the fight made things more slippery, which hindered Condit in using his Jiu-Jitsu. Even on bottom I feel Carlos hit harder, though. All you have to do is take a look at GSP’s face after the fight; he was beat up worse than Carlos. And Condit didn’t get hit all that much in half-guard.

After the fight, Cesar Gracie said that you’re no longer part of Gracie Fighter Team because you trained Condit. How did you deal with that?

I’m chill. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, and don’t regret it. When I moved to the USA I’d already been a black belt for a year, had already won the Worlds and other titles at every other belt. After three years teaching at Cesar’s academy, in 2010 I took off and started my own academy—with Cesar’s permission. It’s been a while now that I haven’t met up with anyone from Cesar’s MMA team, if just because on weekends I always travel to teach seminars.

You’d already notified Cesar and Nick Diaz, another welterweight contender, that you were going to coach Condit, right?

When Condit got in touch with me I immediately asked Cesar if it was cool. But he was aggressive with me, which made me sad because I saw that he didn’t have the same respect for me as I had for him. A few weeks later I bumped into him at an event, and he told me it had all been just a joke, that there was no problem, and that I should speak with Nick, who’d already faced Condit. Since Nick’s impossible to get a hold of, I asked Nick to call me, which never happened.

Do you feel you did anything wrong?

No. First of all, Nick isn’t just suspended; he said he was retiring (laughs). Secondly, I was training Condit to face GSP. Nick and Nathan have trained with a bunch of opponents in the past, like BJ Penn, Ben Henderson, Frankie Edgar. It’s normal. Jake [Shields] has trained with the Blackzilians. I have nothing but respect for them all, so the lack of respect for me saddens me.

Condit playing open guard against GSP / Photo by Josh Hedges/UFC

He said that you went to train Condit so you could make money and get some press…

If Cesar was unhappy, all he had to do was call me to tell me I was off the team, but he wanted to let it all out in the press. I didn’t want that press, nor did I want to appear in the UFC Countdown special. To paint a picture for you, it was Dana White who called Carlos and demanded that I be on the special. He’s the one who wanted to see shots of Jiu-Jitsu training to publicize the fight with. Anyways, I just want to make it clear that I didn’t coach Condit for press or for money. I need money just like the next guy, but that wasn’t my main motivator.

What was your main motivation, then?

I’ve done plenty of competing in Jiu-Jitsu. I’ve won all the big tournaments, and sometimes you need a new challenge to give you that extra motivation. Carlos is an excellent person, a talented fighter and true warrior, and I wanted to help him because I’d already seen him helping a lot of other people. I wanted to help him by teaching him modern Jiu-Jitsu, and I feel it was a phenomenal experience. And what a fight!

GSP pressures past Carlos Condit’s guard at UFC 154, in Montreal, Canada. Photo by Josh Hedges/UFC.

The brothers Ryron, Rener and Ralek Gracie regularly offer their insight into what went wrong and right in the biggest fights of world MMA—focusing on the Jiu-Jitsu aspect, of course. And thus the gentle-art professors’ Youtube channel, The Gracie Breakdown Channel, got bombarded this weekend, following the top-billing bout of UFC 154, between welterweight monsters Georges Saint-Pierre and Carlos Condit, which the former won via unanimous judges’ decision.

How did the John Danaher-trained Gracie Barra black belt pass guard with such balance and efficiency? What makes his takedowns so effective? According to Rener and Ralek, it all comes down to his proficiency in wielding the basics.

Check out what two of the Gracie brothers had to say about the welterweight champion’s Jiu-Jitsu mastery. What’s more, at minute 20 Rener and Ralek demonstrate how the challenger, Carlos Condit, set his sights on a leglock from guard and ended up attacking the Canadian star with a triangle.

GSP coloca pressão para passar a guarda de Carlos Condit no UFC 154 em Montreal. Foto: Josh Hedges/UFC

Os irmãos Ryron, Rener e Ralek Gracie costumam analisar de forma descontraída os erros e acertos dos principais combates do MMA mundial, lógico, observações focadas no Jiu-Jitsu. O canal dos professores no Youtube, o The Gracie Breakdown Channel, se debruçou no fim de semana sobre a luta mais badalada do UFC 154, entre os monstros Georges St-Pierre e Carlos Condit, vencida pelo canadense por decisão unânime dos jurados.

Como o faixa-preta da Gracie Barra treinado por John Danaher  passa a guarda com tamanho equilíbrio e eficácia? Como ele derruba tão bem? O segredo está no básico eficiente, conforme Rener e Ralek procuram reforçar.

“GSP parece prever tão bem os movimentos do oponente, que quando Condit disparava o chute, ele já havia encurtado a distância e agarrado para derrubar”, reparou Rener.

Para passar para a meia-guarda, Rener aponta que GSP gosta de usar o cotovelo e esticar a perna, para impedir que o oponente use o pé no quadril (6min50s).

Aos 20min, de quebra, Rener e Ralek mostram como Carlos Condit mirou um leglock da guarda e terminou atacando um triângulo no astro canadense.

Cyrille Diabaté contra Chad Griggs. Foto: UFC/Divulgação.

Confira abaixo as melhores fotos do emocionante UFC 154, pela lente marcante de Josh Hedges, presente nesse sábado, em Montreal, no Canadá.

Dos atletas escalados a Anderson Silva na plateia, você não perde nada.

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UFC 154
Bell Centre, Montreal, Canadá
17 de novembro de 2012

Georges St-Pierre venceu Carlos Condit por decisão unânime dos jurados
Johny Hendricks nocauteou Martin Kampmann aos 46s do R1
Francis Carmont venceu Tom Lawlor por decisão dividida
Rafael dos Anjos venceu Mark Bocek por decisão unânime
Pablo Garza venceu Mark Hominick por decisão unânime dos jurados

Card Preliminar
Patrick Côté venceu Alessio Sakara por desclassificação (socos na nuca) a 1min26s do R1
Cyrille Diabaté finalizou Chad Griggs no mata-leão aos 2min24s do R1
John Makdessi venceu Sam Stout na decisão unânime
Antonio Carvalho venceu Rodrigo Damm na decisão dividida
Matthew Riddle venceu John Maguire na decisão unânime
Ivan Menjivar finalizou Azamat Gashimov no armlock aos 2min44s do R1
Darren Elkins venceu Steven Siler na decisão unânime

GSP e Carlos Condit travaram um grande duelo pela disputa do cinturão, no UFC 154. Foto: Josh Hedges/UFC

O UFC 154 de Montreal foi sempre divertido, mas deixou o melhor para o final.

Na penúltima luta do card, o meio-médio Johny Hendricks destruiu o queixo do dinamarquês Martin Kampmann em 46 segundos, e implorou uma chance contra o vencedor de Georges St-Pierre vs Carlos Condit. Nocautaço do barbudo americano, que pode de fato ter adiado a ideia de Dana White de realizar uma superluta entre St-Pierre e o campeão de cima, Anderson Silva.

Veio então a luta da noite, do mês. Georges entrou desde o início ganhando o octagon, contra um Carlos Condit que não encontrava o espaço para acertar seus chutes. O canadense desde o primeiro assalto foi capaz de ir nas pernas do campeão interino e cair por cima, acertando muitos socos da guarda e inundando a lona com o sangue de Carlos.

Foi quando o round terminou e Condit se encheu de confiança, apostando nos seus chutes altos. Um deles não foi visto por GSP, que tomou a canelada na testa e caiu, procurando ficar com o americano em sua guarda. Superatleta, GSP tratou de respirar, erguer-se e vir para cima, derrubando Condit de novo no fim do segundo assalto.

No terceiro e quarto assalto, o público vibrou com uma série de inversões, mas GSP foi sempre mais perigoso, sem deixar de desequilibrar o oponente pelo menos uma vez por assalto. O canadense, que também sangrava, quase pegou as costas duas vezes na luta.

Vencedor por decisão unânime ao fim da batalha, GSP falou ao comentarista Joe Rogan: “Agora entendo o que é a falta de ritmo de luta. Nem vi aquele chute dele até que pegou no meu rosto. O Condit é um grande atleta e sai daqui como um lutador ainda melhor”, disse o canadense, diante de uma torcida que urrava em delírio em Montreal – e que chegou inclusive a vaiar Anderson Silva, eventual rival do faixa-preta da Gracie Barra.

Rafael dos Anjos suspende Mark Bocek no UFC 154. Foto: Josh Hedges/UFC

Dos Anjos ganha elogios do campeão Ben Henderson

Pouco antes, contra o respeitado canadense Mark Bocek, Rafael Dos Anjos fez bela apresentação pelo card principal, após a luta Nick Ring vs Costa Philippou cair por culpa de uma virose de Nick. Rafael foi capaz de frustrar as quedas tentadas pelo oponente e mostrou velocidade nos golpes em pé, como chutes e joelhadas. No chão, Rafael caiu por cima duas vezes e quase arrochou a kimura. Bocek terminou a luta sangrando bastante e “Dos Anhos”, conforme Bruce Buffer fala, venceu por decisão unânime dos jurados.

Via Twitter, o campeão dos leves elogiou a evolução do faixa-preta de Roberto Gordo. “Dos Anjos está firme, ele é bem atlético. Bocek pareceu não conseguir fazer seu jogo. Grande luta”, escreveu Ben Henderson. “O wrestling foi o que decidiu o duelo, as defesas de quedas e tudo mais”.

No card preliminar, Rodrigo Damm chegou ao octagon em Montreal escoltado por uma tropa de respeito. Mesmo com Anderson Silva no córner, no entanto, o capixaba não conseguiu sua segunda vitória no UFC: perdeu para Antonio “Pato” Carvalho por decisão dividida, após ficar com as coxas bastante machucadas. Silva pedia: “Muito jab! Muito jab! Já melou”, dizia o córner campeão dos médios, enquanto o nariz de Antonio escorria. Mas os chutes baixos de Pato prevaleceram, na visão dos jurados.

No Jiu-Jitsu, destaque para o local Ivan Menjivar, que arrochou o braço do samboca russo Azamat Gashimov com um armlock da guarda invertido, no primeiro assalto. O francês campeão de muay thai Cyrille Diabaté também mostrou que está afiando o seu jogo de chão, e finalizou Chad Griggs nas costas, num primeiro round sangrento.

UFC 154
Bell Centre, Montreal, Canadá
17 de novembro de 2012

Georges St-Pierre venceu Carlos Condit por decisão unânime dos jurados
Johny Hendricks nocauteou Martin Kampmann aos 46s do R1
Francis Carmont venceu Tom Lawlor por decisão dividida
Rafael dos Anjos venceu Mark Bocek por decisão unânime
Pablo Garza venceu Mark Hominick por decisão unânime dos jurados

Card Preliminar (FX)
Patrick Côté venceu Alessio Sakara por desclassificação (socos na nuca) a 1min26s do R1
Cyrille Diabaté finalizou Chad Griggs no mata-leão aos 2min24s do R1
John Makdessi venceu Sam Stout na decisão unânime
Antonio Carvalho venceu Rodrigo Damm na decisão dividida

Card Preliminar (Facebook and Youtube)
Matthew Riddle venceu John Maguire na decisão unânime
Ivan Menjivar finalizou Azamat Gashimov no armlock aos 2min44s do R1
Darren Elkins venceu Steven Siler na decisão unânime

Steven Siler vs. Darren Elkins

In the featherweight division, Darren Elkins controlled the action in the first fight of the night and won by unanimous decision. Elkins played from the top and was able to attack with a vicious guillotine in round 1 and nearly pulled off a rear-naked choked in round 2, but in round three he had to even survive a choke attempt himself before getting things back under control before handing the fight to the judges and winning via decision.

Elkins goes for a guillotine attempt in round 1 during his bout at UFC 154, in Montreal, Canada

Ivan Menjivar vs. Azamat Gashimov

This fight lasted barely more than two minutes. Starting out from his guard, El Salvadorean fighter Menjivar caught Azamat Gashimov with a tight armbar to end the action.

Ivan Menjivar extends Azamat Gashimov’s arm to win at UFC 154

Matt Riddle vs. John Maguire

Keeping the action on the feet for most of the fight, Riddle takes the unanimous decision and despite all the cheering, he apologizes for (a supposed) lack of action.

UFC 154: Matt Riddle excites the crown in between rounds.

Antonio Carvalho vs. Rodrigo Damm

Without any exciting exchanging over the three rounds, Antonio Carvalho takes the fight by split decision. The edge was surely the leg kicks Antonio was able to connect.

Sam Stout vs. John Makdessi

And the “Bull” John Makdessi makes the most of a string of vicious jabs to edge out Stout via unanimous decision.

Cyrille Diabate vs. Chad Griggs

And the Frenchman Cyrille Diabate brought some 2 minutes and 24 seconds of excitement to the Bell Centre, as landed an accurate straight fist and, a few moments later, ended the bout with a tight choke from the back.

Patrick Cote vs. Alessio Sakara

The last fight on the undercard ended in controversy, as Sakara dropped Cote with some powerful elbows but finished the fight with strikes to the back the head and was disqualified, throwing away what seemed to be a quick win.

Mark Hominick vs. Pablo Garza

After imposing damaging ground and pound for the last two rounds, an emotional Pablo Garza took the unanimous decision over Mark Hominick. The even first round was one of the best of the night by that point.

Pablo Garza leans towards Mark Hominick on the way to winning at UFC 154.

Rafael dos Anjos vs. Mark Bocek

In what could be considered his best performance ever, Rafael Dos Anjos dominated Bocek to earn the unanimous decision. The Brazilian stopped all takedown attempts from the skilled opponent and got the best of him in all aspects of the bout: endurance, grappling, takedowns and striking.

Rafael dos Anjos displayed off-the-curve athleticism in his victory over Bocek on UFC 154.

Francis Carmont vs. Tom Lawlor

Although nothing really determinant happened during the match, Tom Lawlor did get most of the takedowns and submission attempts, which wasn’t enough to convince the judges he was the best man in the octagon at that point in the night, and thus Francis Carmont was handed the split decision.

Martin Kampmann vs. Johny Hendricks

Kampmann’s back landed on the canvas heavy like a cement bag a fraction of second after Hendricks’s left fist slammed into the Danish bruiser’s face. Certainly not the fight of the night, as the UFC president had predicted, but it was definitely the KO of the night.

Johny Hendricks’s left hand rears its head again, against Kampmann at UFC 154

Georges St.-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit

“The things we don’t see are the most dangerous things, and I never saw that kick”, said the champion, complimenting Carlos Condit’s on his efforts from the third round. But, atthe end of the day, the Canadian Georges St-Pierre was the one wearing the belt once again after a fifth round was over. He earned the unanimous decision displaying accurate takedowns, great ground and pound, and lots of pressure. To Condit’s credit, he displayed true gameness, a skilled guard, and bright moments, specially the third-round kick and a good punch in the fourth but that all fell short against a champion with a lion’s heart.

GSP is interviewed by Joe Rogan after arguably his toughest fight ever.

UFC 154
Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada
November 17, 2012

Georges Saint-Pierre defeated Carlos Condit via unanimous judges’ decision;
Johny Hendricks knocked out Martin Kampmann at 45 seconds of R1;
Francis Carmont defeated Tom Lawlor via split decision;
Rafael dos Anjos defeated Mark Bocek via unanimous decision;
Pablo Garza defeated Mark Hominick via unanimous decision.

Under card

Patrick Cote defeated Alessio Sakara via disqualification (strikes to back of head) at 1:26 min of R1;
Cyrille Diabate subbed Chad Griggs via rear-naked choke at 2:24 min of R1;
John Makdessi defeated Sam Stout via unanimous decision;
Antonio Carvalho defeated Rodrigo Damm via split decision;
Matthew Riddle defeated John Maguire via unanimous decision;
Ivan Menjivar subbed Azamat Gashimov via armbar at 2:44 min of R1;
Darren Elkins defeated Steven Stiler via unanimous decision.