UFC 101 Play-by-Play

Sherdog.com reports from the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia with live play-by-play of UFC 101 “Declaration.” In the main event, B.J. Penn will take on Kenny Florian.

Additionally, Jake Rossen will provide a live UFC 101 blog. Also, don't forget to check out the MMA Forums to discuss tonight's event.

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Jesse Lennox vs. Danillo Villefort
Round 1
We are 10 seconds in and as the fighter’s circle, feeling each other out, the Philadelphia crowd is already booing. Villefort scores first with a high kick that is partially blocked. Villefort throws Lennox to the mat and swings wildly from his feet. Lennox escapes back to his feet only to narrowly evade a Villefort elbow. The crowd boos again as the fighter’s take a brief respite. Lennox throws a tiring Villefort to the mat but quickly motions for him to stand back up. Villefort, taking advantage of the situation, lands a spinning back kick to the face of Lennox but it doesn’t seem to hurt the Iowan. Villefort lands another spinning back kick, this time to the body. Lennox, again, doesn’t seem fazed as he secures a takedown as the round came to a close. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 for Danillo Villefort.

Round 2
Lennox finds his range to start the second, scoring with a stinging right uppercut that staggered Villefort. The ATT product answers with an elbow that glances off Lennox. Villefort is tiring and looks like his legs are leaving him. Lennox lands a right cross that takes the Brazilian off his feet but it looks like more of a fatigue issue than anything. Villefort is trying to answer but Lennox just walks through his weak jab to throw punches of his own. Lennox lands a good one-two combination, his best punches of the night. Villefort looks tired but he takes the shots well. The round comes to a close as the fighter’s clinch. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 for Jesse Lennox.

Round 3
Lennox connects with a big right cross, and Villefort backs into the cage and taunts him. Lennox throws a body kick and Villefort grabs his leg to take the fight to the ground briefly before it goes back to the feet. Villefort finally gets to work from his back and he shows why he was so eager to get there. He locks up an armbar and uses a nifty move, pulling Lennox leg to flip him over. As he pulls the endangered arm free, Lennox rotates it out of danger and ends up on top of Villefort. Immediately, referee Keith Peterson steps in because of a cut over Villefort’s eye. Replays show the cut was caused by an accidental headbutt that occurred when Villefort went for the original armbar. The fight is ruled a TKO stoppage victory for Jesse Lennox at 3:37 of the third frame.

Lennox on Villefort's cut: "It's disappointing. I've been cut a lot worse than that and kept going. I would have been upset if I were him."

Lennox on the armbar he was caught in: "The armbar was close. But I feel I've been doing a better job of being technical instead of being a meathead when it comes to my escapes."

George Sotiropoulos vs. George Roop
Round 1
Marc Goddard is the ref for this one. Roop paws a jab. He throws a one-two that doesn’t land. Roop comes in for a kick and Sotiropoulos dumps him and takes side control. Sotiropoulos mounts Roop quickly. 1:30 into the round. Roop rolls Sotiropoulos and escapes. On the feet, Roop defends a double-leg. Sotiropoulos misses a spinning back kick but hurts Rooper with a right straight. The fighters tie up against the cage. 3:00 in. Sotiropoulos uses a body lock to ground his opponent. On the mat, Sotiropoulos quickly passes half guard to side and then north-south. Sotiropoulos goes to side again and then takes Roop’s back with both hooks. He’s too high and tries to switch to an armbar, but Roop escapes. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 Sotiropoulos.

Round 2
Sotiropoulos takes the center of the cage. Roop jumps forward with a knee that doesn’t connect. Sotiropoulos catches his leg and throws him down and mounts immediately. 1:00 into the round. Sotiropoulos sits up and starts punching. He scores some but loses mount. Roop leaves his guard open and Sotiropoulos slides through it again easily. This time Sotiropoulos grabs a kimura from side control, steps over the head and cranks it for the tap at 1:59.

Sotiropoulos: "There's no such thing as ring rust if you're sharpening your tools every day. I know I was better than him on the ground. He was strong in the first round, but he started to show signs of wear and tear."

Sotiropoulos on the finish: "He was good at defending his arms, but he spent a lot of energy defending it."

Matt Riddle vs. Dan Cramer
Round 1
Cramer and Riddle exchange a few punches as the fight gets underway, nothing really landing flush for either fighter. Riddle locks up with Cramer along the cage and tries to drag him to the mat to no avail. Riddle grabs a body lock and tries to trip Cramer to the mat but is reversed. Cramer tries to jump to back mount but Riddle escapes. Cramer gets a body lock of his own and drags Riddle to the mat but Riddle hits a switch to get back to his feet. Cramer jumps into an arm-in guillotine that looks tight. Riddle patiently works his way free after what seems like an eternity. Riddle goes back on the offensive, working from the top position. He briefly takes Cramer’s back but the fighters work back to their feet. The round comes to a close with the fighter’s engaged along the cage. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 for Dan Cramer.

Round 2
Riddle opens the second frame with a body-lock trip takedown. Working from Cramer’s guard, Riddle throws punches and moves to side-control. Cramer attempts to use the cage to get back to his feet cut Riddle uses the opening to take his back. Cramer rolls to his back and gets a half-guard. Riddle, now in full-guard, presses Cramer against the cage to try to limit his movement. Cramer again tries to use the cage to get back to his feet and again Riddle takes his back. Riddle has both hooks in and attempts to secure a rear-naked choke but Cramer defends well until the horn sounds ending the second frame. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 for Matt Riddle.

Round 3
Cramer drops Riddle to start round three. He pummels away at the downed fighter but Riddle rallies and reverses Cramer. Riddle works away from half-guard, striking to the body and head. Riddle opens up a cut over Cramer’s left eye, blood is streaming down the side of his face. Riddle moves to Cramer’s back and elbows to the head. Cramer rolls to his back again and eats more leather. Riddle, back in the mount, slows his pace a bit with a minute left in the fight. Cramer gets back to half-guard and tries to stand once again. Riddle tries to take his back but Cramer pulls free just as the final horn sounds ending the three round affair. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 for Matt Riddle.

The official scores are: 29-27, 30-26 and 30-27. Matt Riddle takes the unanimous decision.

Riddle: "Cramer's a tough guy. It didn't matter how many elbows I hit him with, I knew he'd never give up."

Riddle on guillotine escape: "I learned the escape from Rampage. I knew his arms would get tired, he would gas and I would pass then ground-and-pound."

Thales Leites vs. Alessio Sakara
Round 1
The entrance is messed up, and Leites comes out to Sakara’s music and name. Sakara, in turn, enters to Leites’ music, which Leites sings while Sakara makes his way to the Octagon. Leites slips throwing a haymaker but stands back up. He shoots from too far out for a takedown, and Sakara stuffs it. 1:30 in. Sakara is mostly waiting back. Leites gets a single leg, but as Leites is taking top control Sakara lands a short forearm that hurts him and keeps him off. Back on the feet, Sakara fires a one-two that’s blocked. Leites misses another shot from afar. The audience boos. 10-9 Sakara.

Round 2
Leites is more aggressive with his striking to start the second, and this helps him take down Sakara against the cage. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt then tries to take Sakara’s back on the ground. He gets in one hook, but Sakara rolls out and the fight goes back to the feet. Sakara lands with a left hook. Leites drops under another strike for a takedown. He tries to take Sakara’s back again as he goes to stand, but Sakara quickly escapes again to his feet. 3:00 into the round. Sakara looks fresher. Leites is getting wild. Sakara throws a knee, and Leites finishes a double-leg takedown. He mounts Sakara with 45 seconds remaining. Sakara gets half-guard back, then Leites mounts again and punches from the top. 10-9 Leites.

Round 3
The boos resume after a lackluster opening minute to the third. Sakara throws a one-two that’s blocked. He sprawls on a double-leg and hustles out. Not much action. Leites shoots from afar again and isn’t close to the takedown. More boos. Sakara switches to a southpaw stance, which doesn’t lead to any offense. He misses a one-two-three combo. Referee Marc Goddard warns the fighters for inactivity. Leites moves forward and finally gets a takedown. He takes Sakara’s back with both hooks, but loses control quickly. Sakara gets up. More boos. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 Leites.

Official decision: 29-28 Sakara, 30-27 Leites, 29-28 Sakara. Split decision for Sakara.

Tamdan McCrory vs. John Howard
Round 1
McCrory slips to the canvas on a missed high kick just seconds into the fight. Howard wades in after McCrory gets back to his feet and eats a couple punches. “The Barn Cat” jumps to a guillotine choke and rolls Howard over. Howard, working from top position, evades an omaplata attempt only to have McCrory kick him off and escape back to his feet. McCrory lands a nice knee before jumping to another guillotine. Howard pushes him to the mat and lands in McCrory’s guard. After a brief lull in the action, referee Mario Yamasaki stands the fighters back up. McCrory tries another aerial maneuver, a flying triangle, but Howard defends it by pushing him to the mat as the round ends. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 for Tamdan McCrory.

Round 2
Howard launches into a takedown ending up in McCrory’s guard. Before he can do much McCrory gets back to his feet. He shoots back in and takes his lanky opponent back to the canvas. McCrory works his way back to his feet but is briefly caught in a modified guillotine. He pops his head out and punches down at Howard. Howard gets back to his feet only to eat a knee. McCrory jumps into another guillotine but Howard slips out easily, ending up in the guard again. Howard stands up and McCrory follows. Howard then attempts a wild scissor takedown to leg lock combination as the horn sounded. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-9 for McCrory.

Round 3
Howard scores a double-leg takedown before picking McCrory up and slamming him back to the floor. Howard then steps back and allows McCrory back to his feet. McCrory throws Howard but ends up in the worse position, on his back. McCrory elbows Howard from the bottom but Yamasaki wants more action and stands them back up. Howard picks a leg and lifts McCrory into the air before depositing him back to the mat and landing in side-control. Howard inches towards another guillotine attempt but finds himself on the bottom as McCrory reverses him. The fighters work back their feet and exchange single punches before McCrory is stopped on a takedown attempt at the final horn. Sherdog.com scores the third stanza for Howard 10-9.

The official scores are 29-28 Howard, 29-28 McCrory and 29-28 Howard. John Howard takes the split decision.

Josh Neer vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Round 1
Neer tags Pellegrino with a right-hand counter. He follows with a headkick that Pellegrino blocks. Pellegrino reaches down and swoops Neer into the air before depositing him to the canvas. Neer works to guard and looks for an armbar. Pellegrino backs out and frees his right arm. Again Neer looks for an armbar on the same limb. This attempt is deeper, yet Pellegrino escapes no worse for the wear. Neer continues to show an offensive guard -- he goes high with his hips in search of a triangle that is defended well. Neer is working a half-butterfly guard and controlling the wrists. Pellegrino passes to half guard, where he lands a few elbows with 30 seconds remaining in the round. The horn sounds.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Neer
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Neer
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Neer

Round 2
Neer pieces together a punching combination and Pellegrino’s corner screams, “Stop lowering your head!” Pellegrino again ducks his head and is clipped with a right hook. Pellegrino gets a single and begins to work from his opponent’s guard. Neer looks for a triangle and Pellegrino has none of it. From the top in a butterfly guard, Pellegrino lands two right hands to the jaw and an elbow on the mouth. Pellegrino goes to the body with his right hand as Neer works for another triangle. Pellegrino attempts to hang on and pass, but Neer goes back to guard. Pellegrino is franticly trying to pass and he gains his first dominant position of the fight as he hops to mount. Neer gives up his back and defends the over-under control and both hooks. Time expires.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-10
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Pellegrino

Round 3
Pellegrino catches a low kick attempt and drags Neer to the floor. Neer looks for a leg lock and then an omaplata. Pellegrino easily defends. From his back in a closed guard, Neer elbows the head with his right arm. Pellegrino postures and stands, but can’t pass. After several minutes of a chess match, Pellegrino gets to half guard. Pellegrino bides his time and gets the mount. Neer briefly gives up his back before getting to his feet. With 15 seconds remaining, Pellegrino drops levels for a single. Neer defends and drops elbow after elbow to the temple as Pellegrino struggles to pull him to the ground.

* Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Pellegrino
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Pellegrino

* Sherjudge Breen scored the third round 10-9 for Kurt Pellegrino, not 10-9 Josh Neer as previously reported.

Kurt Pellegrino wins a unanimous decision with scores of 30-27 on all three cards.

Kendall Grove vs. Ricardo Almeida
Round 1
Almeida looks for a single early and Grove easily stuffs it. Almeida gives up the takedown and lands a right hand. Almeida again shoots a single that is defended as Grove hops around balances himself on his free leg. Almeida finally trips him to the canvas. Grove lands an elbow from his back and Grove answers with one of his own. Almeida passes to half guard. Grove gives up his back and Almeida knees the ribs. Grove stands and misses a knee from the Thai plum. Almeida lifts Grove high into the air and deposits him to the canvas.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Almeida
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Almeida
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Almeida

Round 2
Almeida gets a quick takedown after a nice feint. Grove looks for an armbar and it’s incredibly deep. He turns it over and Almeida’s arm is bent horribly at the elbow. Almeida weathers the storm and pulls free. Right away Almeida is forced to defend a leg lock. He does, no problem. Almeida moves to half guard, where he elbows the head. Almeida unloads with elbows and Grove turns over before standing. Grove lands a knee to the head and body from the clinch. Almeida gets another takedown before the horn sounds.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Grove
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Almeida
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Grove

Round 3
Grove avoids a takedown and lands a right hook. Almeida attemps a flying armbar and Grove sees it coming. Grove punches the head before standing. Now back on the feet, Grove jabs and stuffs a single-leg takedown. A fatigued Almedia sucks it up and delivers with a much-needed tackle. Almeida controls from the top position and does little else. Grove kicks away and stands. Almeida cracks his foe with a right hook. Grove stops a single as time expires.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Grove
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Grove
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Almeida

All three official judges score the bout for Almeida, 30-27.

Amir Sadollah vs. Johny Hendricks
Round 1
Sadollah rushes forward with punches and is cracked with a left hook. He staggers and is hit with four uppercuts to the chin. Amir slips and Hendricks attacks. Referee Dan Miragliotta steps in for an awful premature stoppage at 0:29 of the first frame.

Shane Nelson vs. Aaron Riley
Round 1
Riley kicks off the bout with a straight-right hand. Nelson drops to a knee and quickly stands. Nelson goes to the Thai plum and connects with a knee to the body. Riley pushes him to the fencing and misses a wild elbow strike. Nelson backs off the fence and avoids a head kick in the process. Nelson, a southpaw, connects with a left-hand lead. Riley misses a left hook and ducks his head down in search of a single. Nelson easily avoids the attempt. And then stuffs another takedown. Riley clinches and bounces a knee off the ribs of his opponent. Riley scores with a standing elbow to the eyebrow. Nelson attempts a takedown of his own and Riley shrugs it off. Nelson circles away from his opponent.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Riley
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Riley
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Riley

Round 2
Riley bullies Nelson around the Octagon as he stalks his prey with punches from the outside and knees from the clinch on the inside. Nelson connects with a knee to the body Riley answers with a kick to the ribs and a knee. Riley gets a trip takedown and begins to work from half-guard. Riley elbows from the top and pins Nelson against the cage. Nelson gets to guard and referee Kevin Mulhall stands the fighters. Nelson connects with a jab and is hit with a headkick. Riley pushes him down before the round ends.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Riley
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Riley
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Riley

Round 3
Riley sprawls on a Nelson single leg. Riley continues to throw a left-hand lead and a head kick. Riley gets a takedown. The crowd goes nuts as a fight breaks out in the seats. Perhaps unaware of what is going on, Riley is strictly business as he controls from the top in his opponent’s closed guard. Riley throws short punches to the face and holds the neck tight. Riley puts the stamp on his sure victory with punches in the final 30 seconds.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Riley
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Riley
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Riley

Official scores: 30-27 for Riley on all three cards.

Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin
Round 1
Forrest misses short on a head kick attempt. Silva catches a Griffin lowkick and pushes him to the floor. Silva allows him to stand. Silva blasts Griffin with a left hook that drops him to the canvas. Again he allows Griffin to stand. Silva’s head movement is incredible. He evades a Griffin flurry and drops him flat with a left-hook counter. Silva punches the downed fighter and then stands. Silva is playing with Griffin; hands down, throws a short-right punch that knocks Griffin out. Amazing performance by the world’s greatest mixed martial artist. The official time is 3:23 of round one.

B.J. Penn vs. Kenny Florian
Round 1
Florian bounces a head kick off the right forearm of Penn. Penn attacks and roughs Florian up with a right hand. Penn pushes his for to the fence. Florian escapes and lands a standing elbow to the temple. Florian fires another head kick that misses. Penn rushes in and takes Florian back to the cage. Penn throws short punches as Florian attempts to tie up his arms. Florian knees the body and Penn sneaks in a right hand to the forehead. Florian drops levels for a single that is easily stuffed. Penn appears to be the stronger fighter after four minutes in the Octagon. Again Florian drops for a single that Penn shrugs off. Florian shows good footwork as he circles away from Penn. Penn closes the distance and cracks Florian with a right hand and a knee.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Penn
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Penn
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Penn

Round 2
Florian snaps a tight low kick into Penn’s lead leg. Florian follows with a weak single-leg shot that the champion stops in its tracks. Penn connects with a right hook as the pair break from a clinch. Florian again has his single stuffed. From the inside, Penn clips Penn with a right and a left. Florian tires to sneak in a hard-standing elbow that ends up just short of its target. Penn lands a right hand that staggers the challenger. Florian is getting sloppier as the fight moves into the middle stages.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Penn
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Penn
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Penn

Round 3
Florian misses yet another head-kick lead. He ties up with Penn against the cage. Florian gets busy with a knee to the body and an elbow upstairs. Penn slips in an uppercut as he fights off a Florian takedown. Florian attacks with a right hand and Penn grazes a right hand off his opponent’s forehead. Florian again fails miserably on a takedown and Penn makes him pay with a hard knee to the midsection. Florian fails on another and Penn hits a switch. He stands up swinging and Florian retreats. Florian missed a head kick at the bell.

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Penn
Lotfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Penn
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Penn

Round 4
Florian ducks under a right hand and clinches with Penn at the fence. Penn smacks Florian with a right hand and slams him to the canvas. Penn starts to work his game from the top in half guard. Florian is landing effective elbows from the bottom. Penn is looking to pass to mount, and Florian is barely blocking the champion as he tries to free his isolated foot. Penn mounts and Florian gives up his back. Penn moves back to the mount. Penn turns him over and drives his right heel into the liver. Penn sinks his arm under Florian’s chin and forces a tapout with a rear-naked choke at 3:54 of the fourth round.

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