Newcastle MMA fans were treated to a stellar night of fights, as UFC 80 was chalk full of knockouts, submissions and a variety of upsets that left yours truly with his eyes wide open.
MAIN CARD
BJ Penn def. Joe Stevenson - Submission (Rear Naked Choke) @ 4:02 of Rd. 2
BJ was extremely focused and from the onset, landing an uppercut that dropped Stevenson to the mat. From there, he worked his ground and pound until he cut Stevenson with a perfectly placed elbow from within his guard. Stevenson survived round 1, but in the second round, he was unable to stop the continued onslaught as Penn was able to get his back, sink in the rear naked choke and become the new lightweight champ. Penn called out Sean Sherk, the former champ, and immediately the drama began with the hype to their next fight starting instantaneously.
Fabricio Werdum def. Gabriel Gonzaga - TKO (Strikes) @ 4:34 of Rd. 2
For everyone that had the slight inclination that Werdum was going to pull out the victory over the favoured Gonzaga, it happened late in the second round. Gonzaga appeared to be in control but refused to work Werdum’s legs. After consecutively landing thunderous leg kicks and dropping Werdum to the mat, Gonzaga, strangely enough refused to work any sort of ground and pound, or at least, chop away at Werdum’s legs from
Marcus Davis def. Jess Liaudin - KO (Punch) @ 1:04 of Rd. 1
I can ramble on about how incredible Marcus Davis is, but you’ve heard and read me do it on multiple occasions. This bout with Liaudin proved once again that Davis is in dire need of elite competition and should fight opponents of higher calibre. He continues to call out World #1 Takanori Gomi, but we will have to wait and see who the UFC puts him against. His devastating KO of Jess Liaudin has all welterweights paying close attention to this young phenom.
Wilson Gouveia def. Jason Lambert - KO (Punch) @ 0:37 of Rd. 2
Lambert was dominating this fight until a very long, very wide, very extended left hook from Gouveia turned the lights out for the up and coming light heavyweight. Gouveia looked great, poised and very calm under pressure and his precise punch was akin to some old school knockouts by Chuck Liddell.
Jorge Rivera def. Kendall Grove - TKO (Strikes) @ 1:20 of Rd. 1
Rivera must have secretly found the fountain of youth as his performance last night was better than any that anything I have seen from him over the past five years. He took Grove by complete surprise and overwhelmed the young Hawaiian, knocking him out quickly, in the first round.
PRELIMINARY CARD
Sam Stout def. Per Eklund - Unanimous Decision
Alessio Sakara def. James Lee - TKO (Strikes) @ 1:30 of Rd. 1
Paul Kelly def. Paul Taylor - Unanimous Decision
Antoni Hardonk def. Colin Robinson - TKO (Strikes (JAB)) @ 0:17 of Rd. 1
