RECAP: UFC 147

UFC 147 came to us from Estádio Jornalista Felipe Drumond in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on Saturday night. Here is a recap of the main card:

Hacran Dias vs. Yuri Alcantara (145 pounds)
Dias works hard for an early takedown, and gets it. Dias tries to take Alcantara’s back, then works for an arm choke. Dias is now in mount position, still working for a choke, and softening Alcantara up with good elbows. Both fighters are up, and Dias gets a big slam takedown. Alcantara pulls guard, but is getting beat up on the ground. Dias takes Alcantara’s back from a kneeling position, landing knees to his opponent’s thigh. Alcantara spins to take Dias’ back, now from a standing position. Brief standing exchange as round one ends.

Both men attempt standing knees to start round two. Alcantara misses a left hook, but lands a left body kick. Dias scores another takedown. Alcantara locks in a deep armbar from the bottom, but Dias escapes. Dias is controlling from the top position, but not doing too much damage. Both fighters are up, but Dias scores another takedown. Dias drops several elbows to the head. Both men are up again, with Alcantara landing lefts to the body as the round ends.

Dias stalks Alcantara to begin the final round. Alcantara lands a right/left combination, and Dias fires back with a right to the body. Alcantara throws two wild lefts that miss. Dias shoots for another takedown, and gets it. Alcantara slips out, and briefly gets to his feet, before Dias takes him down again. Dias is active on top, but not doing much damage. The referee stands them up. Alcantara reverses a takedown attempt, and gets top position. Alcantara lands several punches and elbows as the fight ends.
Hacran Dias wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)


Mike Russow vs. Fabricio Werdum (265 pounds)
Russow lands a quick jab, but Werdum charges forward with strikes. Werdum grabs a clinch, and lands several power punches. Werdum smiles as the crowd chants their support for the Brazilian. Werdum lands a solid uppercut that drops Russow. Werdum pounces, dropping hammerfists as the referee stops the fight.
Fabricio Werdum wins by TKO at 2:28 of round one.


Godofredo Pepey vs. Rony Jason (145 pounds)
This bout will determine the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil’s featherweight tournament. Pepey throws crazy punches early that don’t land. Pepey gets a clinch, and both fighters land punches on the separation. Pepey pulls guard from a standing position, dropping to the mat. Pepey lands a few blows, then tries a kimura. The referee stands them up after a lack of action. Jason scores a flying knee, but Pepey drags the fight back to the ground. Pepey lands elbows from the bottom as the round ends.

Round two begins with Jason swinging wildly, missing several times. Pepey leaps up and pulls guard again, dragging the fight back to the mat. Jason is up, and allows Pepey to stand as well. Pepey charges in, but Jason catches him with a big right. Pepey eats it, and taunts Jason, begging for more. Jason obliges with a big lead left and an overhand right. Jason attempts a wheel kick as round two ends.

The final round begins with Pepey charging forward, landing a body kick. Pepey rushes ahead again, but Jason clocks him with a right hand. Pepey grabs a clinch, trying to recover from the blow. Pepey swings wildly with a left, but misses. Jason tries the same thing, but is also unsuccessful. Jason tries a flying knee, but misses. After a brief stoppage for a low blow, Pepey tries to drop to the canvas and pull guard again. When he fails, he lies on the mat until the referee stands him up. Another low blow by Pepey drops Jason. Jason is flopping on the mat like a fish out of water. On the restart, little action takes place for the final minute as time runs out.
Rony Jason wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) to win The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil featherweight tournament.


Cezar Ferreira vs. Sergio Moraes (185 pounds)
This fight will determine the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil’s middleweight tournament, with Moraes replacing Daniel Sarafian due to an injury. After a brief early stoppage for an eye poke, Ferreira lands a nice capoeira kick. Moraes lands a legkick, trying to keep Ferreira at bay. The fighters engage in a couple of exchanges, with neither landing solidly. After a brief stoppage for a low blow, Ferreira lands a strong left high kick that hurts Moraes. Ferreira scores with another head kick as the round ends.

Moraes begins round two by immediately trying to drop to the mat and pull guard. Ferreira blocks it, and lets Moraes get to his feet. Ferreira drops Moraes with a flurry of punches, but lets him get to his feet once again. Ferreira lands another solid blow, opening a huge welt on Moraes’ eye and dropping him, but lets his opponent up again. Moraes keeps backing up, worried about engaging after being dropped consistently. Out of nowhere, Moraes catches Ferreira with a big standing elbow. Ferreira is wobbly and staggering around the cage. However, Moraes cannot land anything significant in the resulting flurry, and the round ends.

Ferreira lands an uppercut to start round three, dropping Moraes. Ferreira allows him to get back to his feet again. Moraes lands a solid right, and catches Ferreira again in the next exchange. Moraes is gaining confidence in his striking, but Ferreira drops him with a straight left. Moraes gets to his feet as time expires.
Cezar Ferreira wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) to win The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil middleweight tournament.


Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin (190 pounds)
Silva lands a straight right as Franklin attempts a body kick. Franklin scores with a straight left, causing Silva to back up. Wanderlei tries a head kick, but Franklin catches it and lands several punches to the head. Franklin catches Silva with a right hook, and finishes off a combination with another. Franklin is causing Wanderlei to back up and circle out of trouble. Franklin lands another right hook, but Silva fires back with a head kick. Another good punch combination by Franklin. Franklin lands a glancing head kick, but Wanderlei fires back with a combination, as round one ends.

Silva counters Franklin’s attack by landing a solid left hook to start round two. Wanderlei lands a legkick, but falls. Silva, bleeding from his left eye, tries a front kick. Franklin fires back with a right hand. Franklin is starting to land punches-in-bunches, and Silva can only try to counter. Wanderlei lands a good right hand as Franklin tries a body kick. Silva charges forward with a flurry, landing solidly and giving him a boost of confidence. Wanderlei lands a huge right that drops Franklin! Silva pounces and does big damage. Franklin is turtling up as Silva drops hammerfists and punches. Franklin is saved by the bell, and barely survives the second round!

Franklin begins round three with a left to the body. Left body kick by Franklin, and another. Franklin misses with a left head kick, and Silva responds with a good jab. Another body kick by Franklin. Franklin scores the first takedown of the fight, and has side control. Franklin lands several solid elbows and punches as the round ends.

Franklin lands a short right, as Wanderlei moves forward, to start round four. Silva lands a glancing head kick. Franklin fires back with a left to the body. Silva’s movement has decreased, and Franklin is capitalizing with several jabs. After a brief stoppage for a low blow, Franklin dances around Silva, peppering him with jabs. Wanderlei lands a short left, and follows it up with a small barrage as the round ends.

The final round begins with a straight left by Franklin. This is followed by a few exchanges with neither fighter landing solidly. Wanderlei tries to pump up the crowd, then charges forward, landing a couple of right hooks. Franklin tries a wild left, but misses. Both fighters are now standing in the pocket, exchanging blows as the final seconds tick down. Franklin briefly drops Silva with a left hand as the fight ends.
Rich Franklin wins by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46).