Volkov Crushes The Reem's Dreams

Image: Bloody Elbow

When the UFC's matchmaking brass finally handed Alexander Volkov an opponent who he could strike with and not necessarily worry about takedown defence, he was in his element.

Granted, Alistair Overeem made a few attempts to close the distance, but that was only because in boxing range the Russian was teeing off on him, as "Drago" picked up a signature career win by stopping the heavyweight legend inside two rounds.

After a handful of successful exchanges from The Reem, it would all go downhill as he was bloodied, dropped, and stopped at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

That followed a stunning co-main event which ended in less than half-a-minute as Cory Sandhagen devastated Frankie Edgar with a flying knee.

Marques picks up a marquee victory 

Danilo Marques def. Mike Rodriguez via submission (rear-naked choke), round 2 (4:56)

Brazil's Danilo Marques stayed perfect in his second UFC outing, grinding out Mike Rodriguez before choking him unconscious late in the second round.

Marques was eager to close the distance early, forcing his opponent against the fence and grabbing a single leg. Despite some great resistance efforts, Rodriguez would find himself pinned to the mat for a majority of the first stanza, working his way up eventually in the final seconds.

Rodriguez's attempts to deter further grappling from Marques showed promise in the second round, but when Marques was able to get high on the leg against the fence and dump his opponent down, it would be the beginning of the end. He soon found a body triangle and worked the hands to synch in the choke as the round neared its end. Rodriguez would go limp and that would be all she wrote.

Image: ESPN

Dariush surges into top ten 

Beneil Dariush def. Diego Ferreira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Over six years removed from their first meeting at UFC 179, Beneil Dariush once again got the better of Diego Ferreira, outworking him over three rounds to perhaps finally crack into the top ten at 155 lbs.

A ferocious pace was set from the start and rarely did it wither. Dariush put on the pressure and both men were landing clean, but the Iranian's wrestling allowed him to control a majority of the the round, despite some clever scramble attempts of jiu-jitsu fakes from his Brazilian counterpart. Dariush also landed some great ground-and-pound before Ferreira popped back up and landed a good one-two followed by a front-kick to buzz Dariush, who would come back to stumble his opponent with a good right hand.

 

The hard-hitting exchange to open the second round was much more short-lived as Dariush used is advantage in the wrestling realm. At one point he took Ferreira's back but the South American was able to work his way back up, only to be taken down seconds later again.

A change of game plan was needed if Ferreira was going to swing the fight in his favour and he did find more success in the third round. As Dariush tired and Ferreira stayed out of the pocket preventing takedown opportunities, there were moments from Ferreira who would get a takedown himself - but he couldn't do enough to steal the fight as two of three judges scored it in favour of Dariush. Beating Ferreira who was ranked at number ten going to the fight with a sixth-straight win, we may have a new contender on our hands.

Image: MMA Fighting

Risk pays off for Pantoja

Alexandre Pantoja def. Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Alexandre Pantoja fended off UFC newcomer Manel Kape over thee rounds to move one step closer towards a title shot at former foe Deiveson Figueiredo.

Pantoja applied some early pressure looking to cut off the cage, but lateral movement from Kape helped him evade any serious damage.

As the fight ensued, Pantoja's activity would make the difference as he began to land body kicks at will. Kape's movement was good but he did not provide enough output to win the fight.

In the final round, Pantoja cracked his opponent with a head-kick, but Kape did come forward aggressively in the final minute, landing a good hook to the body and some shots upstairs followed by a takedown. While Kape was evidently disgruntled at the decision, few would have argued against anything other than a clear unanimous decision for the Brazilian.

Image: MMA Junkie / USA TODAY Sports

"The Carpenter" does a job on Johnson

Clay Guida def. Michael Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Clay Guide turned back the clock with a vintage performance, outworking Michael Johnson with several servings of takedowns and overhand rights for three rounds.

The overhand of "The Carpenter" was troubling Johnson's eye early, but Guida was also sporting a cut moments later. A takedown attempt forced "The Menace" to work against the fence.

Guida continued to work the single legs but Johnson did a better job in the second round of denying them, improving on his timing trying to catch his fellow veteran at the end of his punches.

Johnson momentarily wobbled his opponent in the final round but he had no answer for the wrestling, with another takedown as he ended the round witht he body-triangle in pursuing a rear-naked choke. At 39 years of age, Guida is far from done it seems.

Sandhagen comes up with devastating "Answer" for Edgar

Cory Sandhagen def. Frankie Edgar via KO (knee), round 1 (0:

Cory Sandhagen needed under half-a-minute to pull off one of the best knockouts in UFC history, connecting on the legendary Frankie Edgar with a flying knee.

The former lightweight champion Edgar applied the pressure early on, with Sandhagen trying to find his range. When Edgar leaned forward, Sandhagen timed a perfect flying knee that sent "The Answer" face first on the canvas and unconscious.

In his post-fight interview, Sandhagen set his sights on the bantamweight champion, who will be determined in March when Petr Yan defends the title against Aljamain Sterling. Whoever prevails has their hands full because Sandhagen is operating at a different level right now.

"Drago" crushes The Reem's dream

Alexander Volkov def. Alistair Overeem via TKO, round 2

Alexander Volkov delivered a stand-up destruction of Alistair Overeem, dismissing the legendary heavyweight inside two rounds.

The Russian enjoyed a bright start, landing a couple of leg kicks and forcing Overeem to retreat and shell up. "The Reem" did however find much success in the first round, landing several left hands down the pipe that kept his opponent on edge. But Overeem would be busted up in the first round at the hands of the long range strikes of "Drago", who finished the first five minutes in good form, backing up Overeem and unloading well after knocking his opponent off balance.

In the second-round, Volkov's range made all the difference. He kept Overeem at the edge of his punches, jabbing at will and following up with right hands that had the kickboxer stumbling. A 1-2 would make Overeem retreat, and seconds later, he threw a left hook behind that combination forcing Overeem to go to his knees as the referee waved it all off.