UFC 159 takes place Saturday night from Newark, New Jersey. The event is headlined by a UFC light heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and challenger Chael Sonnen.
Steven Siler vs. Kurt Holobaugh
Siler, an Ultimate Fighter veteran, was building momentum in the featherweight division with wins over Cole and Micah Miller. However, he suffered a setback in his last contest with a unanimous decision loss to Darren Elkins. Holobaugh is a Strikeforce veteran who was undefeated heading into a loss in his last fight against Pat Healy. Both fighters will look to turn around their recent fortunes in this bout.
Round 1. The fighters exchange low kicks early and immediately initiate a very fast pace. They clinch and Holobaugh lands some nice punches to the body. Siler looks to take the fight to the ground but is prevented from doing so. Siler does land some nice knees to the body and slams Holobaugh down with a hard takedown. He immediately sinks in his hooks and looks to apply a rear naked choke submission. Holobaugh defends well so Siler lands a constant barrage of punches from the inside. Holobaugh stands up but Siler maintains his dominant position and controls Holobaugh’s back from the standing position. They eventually roll to the ground and Siler locks in a really tight rear naked choke/neck crank. With blood gushing from his mouth, Holobaugh refuses to submit. He spits out his mouthpiece and Siler gives up the hold. Siler continues landing punches for the remainder of the round. 10-8 Siler.
Round 2. Siler ducks down and looks for a takedown at the start of the round. Holobaugh grabs a guillotine choke but Siler patiently waits to pull his head out of danger. Holobaugh nicely reverses and takes top position. Holobaugh drops down a solid punch but as he postures up, Siler stands up himself. Holobaugh lands a heavy hook to the chin of Siler. Siler appears a little dazed and shoots for a takedown. Holobaugh defends and takes top position. Holobaugh lands some nice punches from the top while Siler looks to utilize rubber guard. Holobaugh drops down some elbows. Siler finally stands up with a minute left in the round and lands some solid punches from the standing position. Holobaugh answers with a nice hook of his own and Siler shoots for a takedown. Holobaugh defends and looks to isolate Siler's arm for a potential kimura submission. But there just isn't enough time in the round. 10-9 Holobaugh.
Round 3. They go right back to work from the inside, with Siler landing punches from close range and Holobaugh firing back with knees. They then switch, with Siler landing the knees and Holobaugh throwing punches. Siler throws a head kick but Holobaugh ducks under and goes for a takedown. In the scramble, Siler takes top position. He quickly mounts and Holobaugh gives Siler his back. That allows Siler to sink in his hooks and look for a rear naked choke like he did in the first. Siler throws punches looking to open up the opportunity for a submission and Holobaugh throws back punches behind his head in defiance. Siler keeps landing punches as the round comes to a close. 10-9 Siler
Winner: Steven Siler, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Cody McKenzie vs. Leonard Garcia
McKenzie has become something of a cult figure, owing to his heavy reliance on one particular submission: his guillotine choke. Garcia is a fan friendly brawler who has really struggled to score wins in recent years.
Round 1. McKenzie immediately gets a takedown. Garcia stands back up but McKenzie takes him back down and looks to take Garcia’s back. He takes the back and throws some punches from there. McKenzie attempts to lock in a rear naked choke but Garcia is able to block it. McKenzie keeps working. Garcia tries to roll out of back mount. In the process, McKenzie looks for a head and arm choke. Garcia avoids that and ends on bottom with guard position secured on McKenzie. McKenzie passes into side control and Garcia stands back up. McKenzie looks for the guillotine choke but Garcia avoids it. McKenzie lands a nice punch and then goes for the guillotine again. Garcia avoids that so McKenzie attempts a mounted triangle choke. He rolls over and has it sunk in extremely deep but luckily for Garcia time runs out in the round. McKenzie completely dominated Garcia on the ground. 10-8 McKenzie.
Round 2. Garcia throws some jabs and brushes off a takedown attempt. McKenzie attempts it again and presses Garcia against the cage. Garcia drops down looking for a guillotine choke of his own but has McKenzie in no danger. McKenzie has top position but Garcia stands up and gets out of there. They exchange punches from the standup position. McKenzie walks Garcia down so he can go for another takedown attempt. McKenzie eventually pulls down Garcia from behind and locks in a body triangle. McKenzie once again looks for a rear naked choke. McKenzie lands punches and controls Garcia’s body. Garcia tries to stand up and when the fighters drop down, McKenzie lands on his head. 10-9 McKenzie.
Round 3. Each man lands a head kick that doesn’t do damage early. McKenzie looks for a takedown but doesn’t come close. Garcia is throwing wild haymakers knowing he needs to finish the fight to win. Garcia is landing more but hasn’t been able to hurt McKenzie. McKenzie sticks out his tongue two minutes in. McKenzie goes for another takedown but it is blocked. Garcia lands a heavy straight punches and then throws wild hooks that don’t come anywhere close to McKenzie’s head. McKenzie counters with a nice jab. Garcia keeps throwing heavy punches but is so inaccurate. McKenzie finally gets a takedown in the final minute. McKenzie again gets Garcia’s back. 10-9 McKenzie, 30-26 McKenzie.
Winner: Cody McKenzie, unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).
Johnny Bedford vs. Bryan Caraway
Bedford and Caraway are both veterans of the sport with wrestling backgrounds. Bedford has won his last two fights in the UFC while Caraway lost a controversial decision in his last fight that would have been his third UFC win in a row. Caraway is also known for being the boyfriend of female fighter Miesha Tate, who is in his corner.
Round 1. Bedford looks to establish his jab early while Caraway throws a series of looping punches that miss. Bedford lands a nice overhand right. Caraway goes for a takedown and ends up pulling Bedford down from behind like McKenzie did to Garcia earlier in the evening. Caraway sinks in his hooks, using both of his legs to control Bedford’s torso. However, he isn’t able to do damage or get a submission and Bedford stands back up. On the feet, Bedford lands a nice kick to the body and punch to the head. Bedford looks for a takedown but is blocked. Caraway then secures a takedown at the end. Close round. Caraway did get the two takedowns but didn’t do much with them and Bedford landed the better strikes. Still, Caraway gets it based on ground control. 10-9 Caraway.
Round 2. Caraway goes for a takedown but it is blocked and Caraway feeds him a knee for his efforts. Bedford is bleeding near his right eye. Caraway lands a few nice hooks and looks for a takedown. It is defended easily. Caraway finally gets a takedown with two minutes left in the round. Caraway lands a few punches from top position. Caraway works his way into half guard but Bedford still retains control of one of his legs, preventing Caraway from passing into the more advantageous side mount position. Caraway finally secures side mount with 20 seconds left in the round and drops down a few punches to close the round. 10-9 Caraway.
Round 3. Caraway holds up his hands briefly like a Diaz brother and then lands a nice hook. Bedford moments later connects with a good left hook that was his best blow in a while. Caraway brushes off a Bedford takedown attempt and then goes for a takedown of his own. Bedford initially puts up great resistance but Caraway follows through and gets the takedown at the halfway point of the round. Caraway is content to maintain position in the half guard of Bedford for a while but he eventually works into side mount and locks up a guillotine choke. He rolls to his back and then rolls back to top position and secures the submission from Bedford. That was a nice late close by Caraway.
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