UFC starts off 2011 with a deep card from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard for the UFC lightweight title headlines the event. The Fabulous Forum will have results from Las Vegas for all of the evening's bouts.
Antonio McKee vs. Jacob Volkmann
McKee, a longtime veteran of the sport with an excellent record and wrestling pedigree, is finally making his UFC debut. Volkmann has looked impressive thus far in his UFC career against a generally high level of opposition.
Round 1. Volkmann presses forward as they feel each other out standing. McKee has success with a few hooks to the jaw. McKee clinches and looks for a takedown but Volkmann defends with ease. McKee ducks down and goes for another takedown. Volkmann moves back against the cage and circles out. Volkmann shoots for a takedown of his own and gets it with two minutes remaining in the round. McKee powers out and stands back up without taking any damage. McKee lands a nice knee to the body as they clinch against the cage. Volkmann looks for a takedown but McKee defends well. McKee lands a nice leg kick and Volkmann answers with one of his own. Very close round. McKee gets the round very narrowly on the basis of more effective striking. 10-9 McKee.
Round 2. Volkmann uses a leg kick to start the round. McKee answers with a nice punch combination. He's mixing in jabs and uppercuts with the hooks. McKee shoots for a takedown and grabs a single leg. They scramble for position and Volkmann looks to take McKee's back. Volkmann gets the back and tries to sink in a rear naked choke. He gets an arm around McKee's jaw but can't get it under the chin. Volkmann continues to fight for the choke. Volkmann continues to look for the choke but can't get it under the chin. McKee fires punches back at Volkmann while Volkmann tries for the choke. With ten seconds left in the round, McKee rolls out of danger into top position and throws a few punches down to close the round. 10-9 Volkmann.
Round 3. Volkmann lands a leg kick to start the round. He follows with a few more leg kicks while McKee throws single punches. Volkmann moves in for a takedown and gets caught with a hard hook in response. McKee lands another hook and a body kick. McKee lands a nice straight right and takes Volkmann down. Volkmann tries to get back up and McKee has to focus on just holding him down without doing any damage. 10-9 McKee. The fight will come down to the close first round. 29-28 McKee on this scorecard.
Winner: Jacob Volkmann, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Daniel Roberts vs. Greg Soto
Roberts is a grappling specialist with a 2-1 UFC record. Soto sports a 1-1 UFC record with his only loss coming via disqualification.
Round 1. Both men come out at a much quicker pace than the previous fight. Soto lands a really big straight punch that knocks Roberts backwards. He looks for a choke but can't get it on Roberts. Soto throws a right head kick but it doesn't land fully. Roberts takes Soto down halfway through the round. Roberts uses some ground and pound and looks to pass guard. Roberts grabs a kimura. He extends it from the bottom position then back to top and cranks it from the top next to the cage for the submission. Very nice finish by Roberts.
Winner: Daniel Roberts, submission, round 1.
Mike Brown vs. Diego Nunes
This is an early battle of former WEC featherweights. Mike Brown is the former WEC featherweight champion. He holds two wins over Urijah Faber and is a UFC veteran as well. Diego Nunes has an impressive 15-1 record with four wins in the WEC.
Round 1. Brown receives a very nice reaction from the crowd. Nunes opens with a leg kick, spinning back kick and head kick. Brown closes the distance and shoots for a takedown. Brown throws a series of knees to the leg. You've never heard a crowd react so loudly to knees to the leg. Brown finally gets the takedown and throws some punches to the face of Nunes. He grabs Nunes' back and sinks in one hook. Nunes tries to stand up but Brown sends him back down with a big slam. Nunes looks for a kimura but can't get it. Nunes stands up but gets caught with a huge hook that knocks Nunes loopy. Brown looks to finish but Nunes is able to recover his senses. Nunes' left eye is swollen shut. Nunes utilizes a series of quality leg kicks late in the round and lands a spinning back fist. Nunes throws some hard knees to the body while Brown answers with hooks at the close of the round. Great round. 10-9 Brown.
Round 2. Nunes continues his success from the late first round with a series of hard kicks. He mixes in leg kicks, body kicks and head kicks from different angles. Brown tries to get a takedown but doesn't come close. Nunes' striking has actually become more crisp since his eye shut closed. They clinch. Nunes avoids a takedown and throws some knees to the body. Brown throws a pair of hard hooks but Nunes answers with knees. Nunes throws a big straight left punch and follows with more leg kicks. As Nunes throws a punch, Brown catches him off balance and takes him down. Nunes gets back up. He throws a beautiful spinning back kick to the body and continues with strong knees to the body. Excellent round for Nunes. 10-9 Nunes.
Round 3. Nunes goes to hug Brown at the start of the third round. He then opens back up with a variety of kicks. He is having particular success with leg kicks and spinning back kicks. Brown goes for a takedown and grabs Nunes' back in the standing position. Brown throws a series of knees. They clinch and Nunes catches Brown with some nice hooks. Brown again looks for a takedown but Nunes blocks it. Nunes throws knees as Brown tries to get a takedown. With 30 seconds left Brown takes Nunes down cleanly. That could have decided the round, but Nunes stands right back up seven seconds later. He throws some punches and a head kick to close the round. 10-9 Nunes, 29-28 Nunes. Great fight.
Winner: Diego Nunes, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
The crowd boos an emotional Nunes after the fight, not liking the decision.
--Todd Martin
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