From WorldWrestlingInsanity.com
4/5 UFC Fight Night: Mallory's Recap of the Show
By Mallory Mahling
Apr 5, 2007, 21:56
UFC Fight Night aired live from The Pearl Concert Theatre at The Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan doing the announcing.
Rogan stated that the lightweights would take center stage for tonight's fights, which will lead into "The Ultimate Fighter 5" with the Lightweight Division in the spotlight.
(1) Kenny Florian submitted Dokonjonosuke Mishima. Florian was a finalist in the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" and was described by Dana White as "the nerd who could actually kick your butt." Mishima's debut in UFC last year didn't go so well. He's going to have his hands full tonight, since Florian is on a mission to win the Lightweight Belt and looked to be in the best shape ever. Big John McCarthy was the referee for this match. The first round seemed to be Florian's, as did round two. Mishima appeared to be tiring. In round three Florian suddenly found himself in a heel hook and very nearly tapped. Florian managed to escape and got Mishima's back. Florian won with a rear naked choke. Exciting end to this fight.
Bruce Buffer announced Kenny Florian as the winner.
(2) Justin McCully by unanimous decision over Antoni Hardonk. McCully, of Team Punishment, had a vocal Tito Ortiz in his corner and had replaced Frank Mir on short notice. Hardonk is from Holland and had the reach advantage in this heavyweight match. Herb Dean was the referee. McCully's left arm "was a gift," according to Rogan, but Hardonk didn't know what to do with it. This wasn't the most exciting match. McCully was exhausted but Ortiz kept coaching him from the corner. It went three rounds, with Goldberg and Rogan being more exciting to listen to than the action was to watch.
Bruce Buffer announced that McCully had won his UFC debut match by unanimous decision. (McCully managed to drop the "F" bomb during his post-match interview with Rogan.)
Rogan was sitting (strategically) between TUF 5 coaches, B.J. Penn and Jens Pulver, both of whom looked like they'd rather be getting a root canal. They made the rivalry between Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock look like kissing cousins. Penn and Pulver will be fighting live on the TUF 5 finale, and you won't want to miss it. Rogan hinted that this will be the craziest season of TUF thus far.
(3) Kurt Pellegrino submitted Nate Mohr. Pellegrino's nickname is "Batman" and he had his hair dyed scarlet for the occasion. This was Mohr's UFC debut. Herb Dean was the referee for this lightweight match. Pelligrino sunk in a kneebar/ankle lock and Mohr tapped. Pelligrino did a little break dancing to celebrate.
Bruce Buffer announced Pellegrino had won via submission. True to his experience with "Fear Factor" gross-outs, Rogan advised the winner that he had a booger that needed attention during his post-match interview.
Breaking news: Dana White vs. Tito Ortiz will happen next Thursday night at 11:00 (ET) on Spike TV. Guess Tito changed his mind. Again.
(4) Joe Stevenson submitted Melvin Guillard. The main event was a lightweight bout that featured two TUF 2 participants. Stevenson won his season, but Guillard lost in the preliminaries. Both talked some serious trash prior to the match, as there was obviously no love lost between them. As Guillard made his entrance, it was noted that mother was in attendance; he had a dove on his trunks in memory of his father who had passed away a few months ago. Stevenson's entrance was intense; he was either deep in thought or angry. Steve Masagatti was the referee for this match. Initially, Guillard did not tap Stevenson's glove, but the referee gave them a second chance to do the gentlemanly thing, and they touched gloves to start the match. The bell rang and Stevenson got Guillard in a guillotine almost immediately and won by submission. Guillard was disappointed, to say the least.
Bruce Buffer announced Joe Stevenson as the winner. Rogan asked him about the match and Stevenson said (gallantly) that it could have gone either way.
With plenty of time to fill before the end of the show, Goldberg and Rogan talked up Saturday night's pay-per-view.
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