Hollywood, Florida – The Seminole Hard Rock Café in the political hotbed of Florida played host for UFC’s Fight Night 10. The main event featured a rematch between highly regarded lightweight hurricane Spencer Fisher, out to avenge his earlier loss to Canadian Sam Stout in UFC 58 in March of 2006. Amazingly it was Sam Stout’s UFC debut and was nominated for Fight of the Year.

SAM STOUT vs. SPENCER FISHER
This lightweight rematch is redemption of sorts for Spencer Fisher. Fisher took the first fight on short notice and suffered effects of dehydration trying to lose twenty pounds to make weight. This time Fisher is has had a full training camp and is losing the weight properly. Sam Stout, whose weakness has been his ground game, has been in training camp with Randy Couture. Sam is the Canadian Muay Thai champ and is out to prove his split-decision victory over Fisher was no fluke. He promises the fight won’t be close or left up to the judges.

This fight did not disappoint. Two lightweight brawlers stayed on their feet for three rounds and slugged it out. Fisher’s face would be battered bloody and puffy. Stout would take shot after shot right on the button yet appear unfazed. Neither man could knock the other out. In the end, it was up to the judges to decide.

In the first round, Fisher landed some bombs early. Four or five landed flush on Stout’s jaw but didn’t appear to faze him. Fisher continued to pepper him throughout the round but Sam appeared true to his surname. With just over a minute left, Stout began landing some shots of his own. He bloodied Fisher’s right eye pretty badly opening cuts both above and under the socket. Stout began to land shots with impunity. With his last minute surge, Stout may have stolen the round.

In the second, Fisher came out swinging and setting up the knees and leg kicks. Fisher is mixing up his attack. Stout is calmly and effectively landing some counter-punches. Spencer continues pressing the attack and dictating the pace. This time there was no last-minute beat-down from Stout. Round goes to Spencer.

In the third and final round, Fisher’s face was puffy and bloody. Stout came out aggressive but Fisher soon landed a big left that knocked Stout off balance, the only visible sign that Fisher hurt him. Fisher continued to land the power shots but they seemed to have no effect on Stout. With two and a half minutes left, a right hook from Fisher dropped Stout to one knee but quickly recovered. The boy can take a punch. They traded shots until the buzzer sounded. We’re going to the scorecards. What a brawl!

Unlike boxing, it seems the UFC judges always get it right, giving a unanimous decision to Spencer Fisher. Fisher improves his record to 21-3 and avenges one of his losses. Stout drops to 12-3-1 but is in no way a loser in the fan’s eyes.

In his postfight comments with Joe Rogan, Spencer paid tribute to God and called Stout the toughest fighter he’s faced. He said he would have been happy with a draw but is happy to get the winning purse.

JASON BLACK vs. THIAGO TAVARES

Dangerous twenty-two year old Muay Thai fighter, Thiago Tavares, puts his undefeated MMA record on the line against Spencer Fisher’s teammate, thirty-four year old Jason Black, making his UFC debut after 25 professional fights. The Brazilian Tavares was victorious in his UFC debut and looks to continue his winning ways promising to put Black “in the old man division of the UFC.” The American Jason Black is out to prove that experience cancels out youthful enthusiasm.

The first round featured dazzling jiu-jitsu by Tavares and dazzling escapes by Black. Tavares took the round though by staying extremely busy from the half-guard and the full-guard positions, reigning down some wicked elbows. In the second, Tavares stayed with his jiu-jitsu and continued his domination of Black. Jason had an armbar at one point but Thiago eventually caught Black in a triangle choke and Jason tapped out.

For Thiago, an amazing display of jiu-jitsu that keeps his MMA record perfect at 16-0. Jason Black fails in his long-awaited UFC debut. His record drops to 22-3-1. A happy Thiago, in his postfight comments, had just one question for Joe Rogan, “Who is next?”

JON FITCH vs. ROAN CARNEIRO

Welterweight Jon Fitch might not be a household name but he has some pretty impressive victories on his resume. He is undefeated in the UFC including a submission victory over Josh Burkman and a TKO of Thiago Alves. Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, Roan Carneiro, is facing his second UFC bout. Each fighter can point to a victory in this fight as a definitive triumph over a credible opponent.

The first round was controlled entirely by Carneiro and spent with Fitch trying to avoid takedowns or on the ground with Fitch trying to escape Carneiro’s anaconda holds. In the second Fitch managed to stay on his feet and rocked Carneiro with some heavy shots. Standing over a wobbly Carneiro, Fitch reigned down blows but Roan managed to grapple. Fitch worked a sweep on the still woozy Carneiro and fixed a tight rear-naked choke. Helpless and bleeding from the nose, Carneiro tapped out.

An amazing turnaround as Fitch made some adjustments and looked liked a different fighter after getting dominated in the first round. A brilliant performance, Fitch has comeback ability to go along with his other skills. This welterweight contender cannot stay under the radar very long. He ups his MMA record to 19-2 and remains an undefeated 5-0 in the UFC. Carneiro drops to 11-6.

CHAD REINER vs. ANTHONY JOHNSON

This welterweight matchup features former Marine, Chad Reiner, searching for his first UFC win. He squares up against explosive Muay Thai fighter, Anthony Johnson, who took the fight on short notice. But Johnson refuses to be a stepping stone in his UFC debut, or put in his own words, “I’m nobody’s bitch.” Johnson promises to “spank him on his ass and send him back home to momma.” Hmmm, no respect for our Marines. But Reiner is no momma’s boy and wants badly to prove himself since losing his own UFC debut to Josh Burkman.

When the bell rang, Anthony Johnson showed he can talk the talk and walk the walk. His quick combinations made an early evening for Chad Reiner. Eleven seconds into the fight, Johnson drops Reiner with some combo madness. A left hook stunned Reiner and seconds later a follow-up left and right combo put his lights out. Beautiful striking demonstration!

Anthony Johnson wins his UFC debut on short notice and keeps his MMA record perfect at 4-0. Keep your eye on this slugger. Reiner has now lost both of his UFC fights and drops his MMA record to 13-3.

DREW McFEDRIES vs. JORDAN RADEV

American middleweight Drew McFedries, 1-1 in the UFC, takes on decorated wrestler and UFC newcomer, Bulgarian Jordan Radev. Miletich camp fighter, McFedries has trouble finding sparring partners that want to tangle with him. Radev is out to prove he’s no sparring partner and hopes his world class wrestling skills on the Bulgarian Olympic team will make him a real force in the UFC.

McFedries is looking for a highlight reel knockout and came out throwing bombs in the first round. And whaddya know? Thirty-three seconds into the fight, McFedries lands one of those bombs and put Radev to sleep. He only got in two finishing blows on the motionless Radev before the ref stopped the fight.

McFedries laid him out with a stiff left jab right on the money but missed with the follow-through uppercut. McFedries, with his second first-round knockout, improves his MMA record to 6-2 while the unheralded Radev falls to 16-2. In his postfight comments with Joe Rogan, a humble McFedries said he was blessed to be here and was worried that Radev was going to shoot (in for the takedown).