YOSHIHIRO AKIYAMA (12-1) VS. ALAN BELCHER (13-4): Round 3: An energetic pace opens the round as the fighters trade punches and leg kicks. Akiyama gets through a combination before Belcher throws him with a punch and kick to the body. Akiyama answers with a shot to the head. This Muay Thai fight is proving more evenly matched as the round goes on, and Belcher is starting to figure out Akiyama. Belcher just misses a well-timed right forearm to the face, sidesteps a spinning back kick and lands kicks to the body and legs before whiffing on a roundhouse to the head. Akiyama's left eye is nearly swollen shut, and Belcher attacks that side of his body. Belcher slips after a kick and then does a backward roll to avoid Akiyama rushing in and gets back back to his feet, much to the crowd's delight. Akiyama then pops him with a left, but Belcher backs him up with jabs before whiffing on a telegraphed spinning back fist. Akiyama uses the opportunity to score a takedown, but Belcher quickly gets back to his feet to trade a few blows before the fight ends.
CHAMP GEORGE ST-PIERRE (19-2) VS. THIAGO ALVES (22-5) - welterweight title fight: Round 2: The fighters trade low kicks again early. Alves lunges forward with a left that St-Pierre avoids. St-Pierre lands a swift Superman punch and then shoots to take Alves to the mat. Working from half guard, St-Pierre is pushed to the side, and Alves nearly escapes before his opponent reclaims the position. St-Pierre, now in full guard, postures up to drop a few punches and opens a cut on Alves. St-Pierre works through his opponent's tight guard and then passes to sidemount. Alves pulls back in one leg and then both before St-Pierre postures up to land a right hand. St-Pierre keeps Alves chest to chest as he tries to pass guard. Alves senses an opening and quickly escapes back to his feet. St-Pierre presses him against the cage, and it now appears the blood may be coming from inside Alves' nose.
CHAMP GEORGE ST-PIERRE (19-2) VS. THIAGO ALVES (22-5) - welterweight title fight: Round 5: St-Pierre lands a low kick and then avoids an overhand right from Alves. St-Pierre misses wide right on a Superman punch and then blocks Alves' head kick. After ducking under a punch, St-Pierre again shoots and easily secures the takedown. Alves muscles his way back to his feet, and the fighters restart in the center of the cage. After exchanging a few punches, St-Pierre again shoots and delights the soldout crowd with yet another takedown. Moments later, Alves again powers his way back to his feet, but he's got a look of dejection. Moments later, he's taken down again, knowing he can do nothing to stop it. St-Pierre looks to pass guard, but Alves secures a leg. With a minute to go, the crowd begins to cheer sensing the inevitable. Alves desperately tries to escape, unwilling to give up, but St-Pierre envelops him. Winning a small battle in the war, Alves briefly gets to his feet before the blowout concludes.
JON FITCH (22-3) VS. PAULO THIAGO (11-0): Round 2: Thiago blocks a head kick, but Fitch clinches and eventually trips him to the mat. Fitch lands in sidemount but has little room to maneuver against the cage. Thiago again slaps on a guillotine from his back, but he doesn't have the grip or position he needs. Thiago tries to work his way free, but Fitch takes his back and tries to sink in his hooks from the standing position. Thiago breaks free and now puts Fitch against the cage. Fitch, though, scores another takedown and takes top position. As Thiago rolls for better position, Fitch takes his back and again tries to lock in his hooks. Fitch secures them and works for the rear-naked choke, though he's a little too high initially. Thiago tries to back out of the hold as Fitch works short punches to the body. Fitch then tries to readjust as Thiago tries to escape from the position. Thiago gets to a kneeling position, but Fitch remains on his back as the round closes.
T.J. GRANT (14-3) VS. DONG HYUN KIM (12-0-1): Round 2: Kim connects a left hed kick. Grant quickly defends and regains hos composure before landing a right and charging in. With Kim pinned against the cage, Grant works for the single leg. Kim defends, reverses the position and puts Grant in the guillotine submission from top position. Three in a row? Nope. Grant escapes but is now on his back as Kim works from full guard. Grant goes high with his guard but eats a right and a few elbow strikes. Grant is looking frustrated on his back as Kim continues a dominant top games that includes some pretty nasty shots. Grant, though, ties up Kim and has him stretched out in an odd position, but Kim backs out and stands over his opponent. He missed when raining down a shot but quickly returns to full guard. Grant works for an arm, but Kim gives up an effort to free a leg and puts Grant back into guard before posturing up and just missing with a huge right hand from the standing position. A timeout is called when Grant connects on a kick to the face while Kim still has a knee on the mat. A point may have been deducted for the illegal blow. The fighters restart from the standing position as the round expires. - 30300
CHAMP GEORGE ST-PIERRE (19-2) VS. THIAGO ALVES (22-5) - welterweight title fight: Round 2: The fighters trade low kicks again early. Alves lunges forward with a left that St-Pierre avoids. St-Pierre lands a swift Superman punch and then shoots to take Alves to the mat. Working from half guard, St-Pierre is pushed to the side, and Alves nearly escapes before his opponent reclaims the position. St-Pierre, now in full guard, postures up to drop a few punches and opens a cut on Alves. St-Pierre works through his opponent's tight guard and then passes to sidemount. Alves pulls back in one leg and then both before St-Pierre postures up to land a right hand. St-Pierre keeps Alves chest to chest as he tries to pass guard. Alves senses an opening and quickly escapes back to his feet. St-Pierre presses him against the cage, and it now appears the blood may be coming from inside Alves' nose.
CHAMP GEORGE ST-PIERRE (19-2) VS. THIAGO ALVES (22-5) - welterweight title fight: Round 5: St-Pierre lands a low kick and then avoids an overhand right from Alves. St-Pierre misses wide right on a Superman punch and then blocks Alves' head kick. After ducking under a punch, St-Pierre again shoots and easily secures the takedown. Alves muscles his way back to his feet, and the fighters restart in the center of the cage. After exchanging a few punches, St-Pierre again shoots and delights the soldout crowd with yet another takedown. Moments later, Alves again powers his way back to his feet, but he's got a look of dejection. Moments later, he's taken down again, knowing he can do nothing to stop it. St-Pierre looks to pass guard, but Alves secures a leg. With a minute to go, the crowd begins to cheer sensing the inevitable. Alves desperately tries to escape, unwilling to give up, but St-Pierre envelops him. Winning a small battle in the war, Alves briefly gets to his feet before the blowout concludes.
JON FITCH (22-3) VS. PAULO THIAGO (11-0): Round 2: Thiago blocks a head kick, but Fitch clinches and eventually trips him to the mat. Fitch lands in sidemount but has little room to maneuver against the cage. Thiago again slaps on a guillotine from his back, but he doesn't have the grip or position he needs. Thiago tries to work his way free, but Fitch takes his back and tries to sink in his hooks from the standing position. Thiago breaks free and now puts Fitch against the cage. Fitch, though, scores another takedown and takes top position. As Thiago rolls for better position, Fitch takes his back and again tries to lock in his hooks. Fitch secures them and works for the rear-naked choke, though he's a little too high initially. Thiago tries to back out of the hold as Fitch works short punches to the body. Fitch then tries to readjust as Thiago tries to escape from the position. Thiago gets to a kneeling position, but Fitch remains on his back as the round closes.
T.J. GRANT (14-3) VS. DONG HYUN KIM (12-0-1): Round 2: Kim connects a left hed kick. Grant quickly defends and regains hos composure before landing a right and charging in. With Kim pinned against the cage, Grant works for the single leg. Kim defends, reverses the position and puts Grant in the guillotine submission from top position. Three in a row? Nope. Grant escapes but is now on his back as Kim works from full guard. Grant goes high with his guard but eats a right and a few elbow strikes. Grant is looking frustrated on his back as Kim continues a dominant top games that includes some pretty nasty shots. Grant, though, ties up Kim and has him stretched out in an odd position, but Kim backs out and stands over his opponent. He missed when raining down a shot but quickly returns to full guard. Grant works for an arm, but Kim gives up an effort to free a leg and puts Grant back into guard before posturing up and just missing with a huge right hand from the standing position. A timeout is called when Grant connects on a kick to the face while Kim still has a knee on the mat. A point may have been deducted for the illegal blow. The fighters restart from the standing position as the round expires. - 30300
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Diego Penn invites you to watch UFC 107 BJ Penn VS Diego Sanchez. For laughs, you can Watch Royal Pains Online.
