UFC 131 openers: Beltran wins brawl over Rosa, Elkins takes shaky decision from Omigawa

Joey Beltran and Aaron Rosa won't be modeling for a calendar anytime soon, but those big dudes can dish out some damage. They can also take a beating. The heavyweights, who clocked in at a combined 598 pounds, slugged it out until Rosa got drilled by a knee early in the third. Beltran turned up the heat and pounded out Rosa on the ground for a win at the 1:26 mark of the third at UFC 131 in Vancouver.

Beltran, a 237 pounder fighting out of San Diego, wins for the third time in the UFC. His killer instinct was impressive.

"To be blunt, I knew he was going to be tough as hell. I was able to land some big shots and I am really happy with this performance," Beltran said. "Putting away a tough guy like him is just a testament to how hard of a camp I went through to get ready for tonight."

Just 40 seconds into the third, Beltran (13-5, 3-2 UFC) worked head control and pushed Rosa down into a nasty knee. That seemed to change everything as Beltran scored an easy takedown.

With Rosa (16-4, 0-1 UFC) on his knees and covering up, Beltran landed some body punches and got off 11 shots to the head. Rosa rose to his feet, but was stunned. Beltran dumped him a few seconds later, and as he settled into half guard he came down with the full force of a right elbow to Rosa's face. Rosa was shot. The bigger man ate a flurry of punches. Two left hands through his arms ended things.

"I got tired, but I think I got hit in the back of the head after he took me down and that dazed me. When I got up, he hit me with more hard shots and I never recovered. He's tough and proved that tonight," said Rosa.

Beltran came to Alliance Training Center in San Diego weighing 300-plus pounds. He's slimmed down and looks better each time out.

"I think I'm barely starting to show the type of fighter I am. To succeed in the UFC, it takes a full team effort and my team did a great job preparing me for this fight," said Beltran.

After seeing both fighters sporting some extra beef around the middle, it looked like stamina might be an issue, but it wasn't. Rosa, who's fought in the past at light heavyweight, entered the fight at 261 pounds. He absorbed some huge right hands, body shots and a few good standing elbows through the first round and a half. Rosa came back towards the end of the second, but that big knee from Beltran in the third took away his chances to get a win in his UFC debut.

During the prefight, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva added the note that this was the first time two fighters of Mexican descent went head-to-head in the Octagon.

Japanese star Omigawa loses again in the UFC

This was another big night for Japanese MMA. Michihiro Omigawa, one of the top featherweights from Japan, needed a win after getting dominated by Chad Mendes at UFC 126. It looked like he did enough to take a 29-28 decision from Darren Elkins, but the judges disagreed. Even with multiple cuts on his face and a lackluster third round, Elkins took a unanimous decision from Omigawa, 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27.

Elkins (12-2, 2-1 UFC) did some nice work in the opening round. Omigawa bounced around the cage and switched stances every few seconds, but it didn't allow him to land anything very solid.

In the second round, Omigawa landed some good shots around Elkins' right eye and opened two cuts. He also scored a takedown and blasted away at Elkins. In what appeared to be a one-sided final round for Omigawa, more cuts were opened on Elkins' face and he finished all bloodied up. It didn't impress the judges.

A former lightweight, Omigawa (12-10-1, 0-4 UFC) dropped to featherweight and went 8-2-1 before re-signing with the UFC. He's now dropped two straight.

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Josh Barnett Licensed by Texas for Strikeforce Grand Prix Bout

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Heavyweight Josh Barnett has been granted a combative sports license by the state of Texas, clearing the way for his Strikeforce Grand Prix bout against Brett Rogers this Saturday night.

Susan Stanford, public relations officer of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, confirmed Barnett's licensing to MMA FIghting.

While it was always likely that Barnett would be granted a license in Texas, there was some speculation he could have trouble given his recent issues in California, where miscommunication nixed his December 2010 attempt to regain a license in that state.

In the summer of 2009, Barnett tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone while in the midst of applying for a license in the state. That positive test effectively sunk the Affliction promotion. It was not his first issue with PEDs. In March 2002, he was suspended by the Nevada state athletic commission for testing positive for steroids.

Stanford though, told MMA Fighting that Barnett had "met all licensing requirement and is approved." Contrary to some rumors, Barnett is not under administrative suspension in any state as a result of past issues.

According to Stanford, 14 of the 18 fighters on the roster have been approved for licenses, though she could not name the four who are still completing the requirements. Stanford said those four have until 5 pm on Wednesday to do so. It is not uncommon for fighters to complete their final licensing requirements during fight week, when they arrive in the state.

The 33-year-old Barnett (29-5) is a hefty favorite in his fight with Rogers. The winner will go on to face Sergei Kharitonov sometime in the fall.

Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum emanates from American Airlines Center in Dallas.

 

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Vancouver Athletic Commission speaks on Elkins/Omigawa decision

At UFC 131, judges' decisions caused consternation in the MMA world, from the UFC president on down. The 30-27 cards in Kenny Florian and Mark Munoz's wins were confusing enough, but the decision that was truly confounding was Darren Elkins' win over Michihiro Omigawa.

Dana White responded by paying Omigawa his win bonus and treating the fight like a win for the Japanese fighter.

"We're going to pay [Omigawa] his win money," White said. "I don't care what the judge says, he won the fight. … I say he won. Overruled."

But now the Vancouver Athletic Commission is speaking out about judging in the Elkins-Omigawa bout to point out that Elkins could have reasonably taken the fight. In a statement to SB Nation, the commission's executive director explains:

"In the first round, Elkins backed Omigawa up with punches the entire round. He controlled the center of the cage. He was throwing a lot more shots, and landing more -- and in combination. If there is any controversy as to the outcome of the fight it must be because of the second round. That was a very challenging round to score. An argument can be made in favour of either fighter. Elkins landed more punches. At one point, when Omigawa came forward, he was stopped dead in his tracks by Elkins' combination punches, and at another point he was slightly buckled.  Due to Omigawa's unusual stance and balance, it was difficult to tell exactly whether he was rocked by some of these shots. However, you could see Omigawa's leg bend, and the control shift to Elkins as he landed the combo, stopping Omigawa in his tracks, taking the center of the cage, and going on the attack again. These sequences, as well as the total effective strikes landed, could reasonably warrant awarding the round to Elkins. Elkins didn't land many more than Omigawa, but he did land more. As to the blood - it represents something, but a cut can be caused by a glancing blow and some fighters just cut more readily than others.

By this description of the fight, it appears that forward movement is the most important thing in scoring a round. Punches landed are a side note. How would they score a fighter like Dominick Cruz, who constantly baits his opponents into coming forward with his non-stop movement? Chan Sung Jung, A.K.A. the Korean Zombie, should try to schedule every fight in Vancouver, as he's known to continually come forward during his bouts.

At UFC 131, the judges had monitors, a new procedure that is expected to become the norm for UFC events. In the past, judges had to rely on watching the live action in the cage -- which could be difficult when the fight hits the ground -- or look at the video boards hanging in the arena. The fact that monitors didn't quell judging controversies frustrated White.

"Something has to be done about the judging," White said. "It has to. It's so bad, and not only does it affect people's lives, it ruins everything for people that are watching. You watch it, and you're like, 'What? What ? 30-27? What are you watching?'

But monitors are a short term solution, when what is needed is more education, training and experience, but that takes time. Meanwhile, high-stakes fights still will come down to the very human judges, and the mistakes and subjectivity that comes part and parcel with their humanity.

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First bouldering at Stanage Plantation, Derbyshire, UK

Location: Stanage Plantation Date: Sunday 27 July Sunday shone this weekend. A planned trip to the gym was quickly canned and instead we made a trip out to a new bouldering spot. After a recommendation that Stanage plantation had some good climbing (thanks Jonny!) we checked my bouldering guide book and set out. If you’re reading this wondering [...]

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Ring, Poirier early winners at UFC 131

Dustin Poirier and Nick Ring were big winners in the preliminary fights at UFC 131 in Vancouver on Saturday.

Ring puts on clinic

After getting knocked out of the 11th season of "The Ultimate Fighter" with an injury, Nick Ring has impressed in the Octagon. He followed up his UFC 127 win over Riki Fukuda with a submission win over James Head at UFC 131.

Ring had to come back from early problems to win. Head caught Ring with a right that clearly shook up the Canadian fighter. Ring fell to the ground, but was able to grapple his way out of trouble. They returned to their feet, but Head did not let up. He threw a mix of punches, kicks and knees, but wasn't able to put Ring in danger. Ring finished the round in good shape, taking Head down with a minute left.

Ring started the second round with a takedown and then moved into side control, and tried for a triangle choke. He couldn't get the submission, but maintained control of Head. The two returned to their feet, but Ring took it right back to the mat. Ring didn't pass guard, but he did open a cut on Head's face that bled profusely. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight for a cut check by the doctor, but the fight was allowed to continue. Ring kept up control of the bout on the ground for the rest of the round.

In the third round, Ring stuck with the strategy that worked: a quick takedown. Ring coupled owning the top position with an unending barrage of short hammerfists and elbows. Ring finally stopped the bout by sinking in an airtight rear-naked choke.  Dean stopped the bout at 3:33 in the third.

Poirier wins action-packed decision

In a battle of two young featherweights, Dustin Poirier took an action-packed unanimous decision, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 over UFC newcomer, Jason Young.

Young's debut started with a flurry of leg kicks that were answered by a flurry of punches from Poirier. To stop the onslaught, Young tried for a standing kimura but lost the arm as they went to the ground then referred to their feet. Poirier took an upper hand on striking, throwing combinations, but Young was able to get a few licks in.

Young peppered Poirier's legs with kicks, and showed off some fancier kicks early in the second round. Poirier had no answer for Young's more technical attacks until late in the round, when Poirier opened up and threw more strikes. The two started throwing huge strikes as the round neared its end. Poirier finished strong with a takedown, seconds before the horn sounded.

Poirier spent much of the third round trying for a takedown. After he worked and worked for it, Poirier got Young to the ground, but he didn't do much on the ground. Young sprung back to his feet, but the two remained in a clinch. As Poirier worked for another takedown, Young threw a bevy of elbows into Poirier's body. Poirier finally was able to get a takedown as the fight neared its end.

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