#papy abedi

when Andrews finally decided to open up and let go with his hands. 3rd round TKO win for Dylan Andrews. 

The UFC returned to the United Kingdom for the first time in 2011, and to Birmingham for the first time since UFC 89 in 2008. In the lead up to this card not much was spoken positively about it. The main event was the first five round non title fight between middleweights Mark Munoz and Chris Leben and while the co-main event had a fairly significant bantamweight fight there wasn't much else to get really excited about. The lack of name attractions continued the normal complaints from UK fans about how the UFC doesn't give them the highest quality cards, since US TV partner Spike airs these cards via same day tape delay. These complaints didn't stop the UFC from setting a new revenue record for the LG Arena. Starting today all main events will be five rounds even if there isn't a champion defending his title. Mark Munoz and Chris Leben participated in the first 5 round non title fight but they didn't need to go into the extra rounds to decided a victor. Mark Munoz stopped Chris Leben in two rounds after Lebns corner stopped the fight due to vision problems from their fighter. During the first two rounds Lebens winging, brawling style wasn't as effective against the quicker Munoz who used his wrestling to get the fight to the ground and work his donkey kong ground and pound. Leben was able to connect a couple times but the sheer volume Munoz was throwing in with negated much of its effect. Munoz opened up a cut over Lebens left eye in the second turning him into a bloody mess. The referee Marc Goddard soon called in the doctor who cleaned the cut and restarted the fight after Leben claimed to be able to see out of the eye. By the end of the round Leben looked like a tired mess and his corner stopped the fight. During his post fight interview Leben said “It’s hard to fight when you’re choking on blood, he caught me good. I couldn’t stick to anything. There was blood everywhere. He was the national champion in wrestling. It doesn’t get any better than that. I’m going to need to reevaluate my ground game after that. I wanted to keep it standing, but he outwrestled me. My hat’s off to Munoz.” The victorious Munoz politely called out middleweight champion Anderson Silva claiming he had earned a shot after beating Leben and Damian Maia. With Anderson Silva currently rehabbing his injured shoulder a more likely fight is with Chael Sonnen to determine a number one contender.

Bantamweights got some love with the Brad Pickett vs. Renan Barão as the nights co-main event. Pickett had the best walkout of the night with suspenders a wife beater and trilby hat with "Wallop" by Chas & Dave, playing over the LG Arena speakers. One Punch started off ferociously charging Barao wildly looking more like a brawler than a slick boxer. The pair traded blows across the octagon with Barao getting the better with counters. A knee from Barao though dropped the hometown fighter allowing for Barao to quickly take the back and lock in a Rear Naked Choke for the victory at 4:09 of the first round. With this win Barao improves to 27-1-1 with a 26 fight unbeaten streak. This win over Pickett certainly puts him in talks for a fight in the upper end of the bantamweight division. Papy Abedi didn't make it easy on himself. Normally fighting at middleweight the Swedish Judoka cut down to the welterweight division and took on the Pitbull Thiago Alves. Papy had success early confidently closing the distance with Alves getting the top welterweight against the cage. He also looked good in clinching with Alves but was unable to get the fight to the ground with a throw.Alves was patient throwing out a jab and kicks when he could. He struck with several right hooks and finished with a left that severely staggered Abedi, dropping him to the ground. On the ground Alves used quick short ground and pound to set up a rear naked chocked securing the submission at 3:32 of round 1. Even though it was a losing effort Abedi made himself look well and I look forward to his next fight inside the octagon.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to England with a historic card. UFC 138 is by no means the greatest card in the world but it will be the final “live” UFC event shown on Spike TV as well as mark the beginning of all main events being five rounds even if there isn’t a title on the line. Who gets the honor of ushering in the era of five round non-title fights? Chris Leben and Mark Munoz because that's who comes to mind when you think five rounds. Sarcasm aside Leben Munoz, is a fairly significant fight which should put the winner most likely within a fight or two from challenging Anderson Silva. In the co-main event Brad Pickett will finally make his UFC debut and hopefully start towards a showdown with Dominick Cruz. Other than that the rest of the fights don’t have that much meaning but should offer some decent fisticuffs.

Middleweight bout:  Chris Leben vs. Mark Muñoz This middleweight doesn't scream 5 rounds, but the extra 10 minutes could given one fighter a significant advantage if it goes long.

The UFC really wants to make Munoz into a title challenger, only having two losses on his record and 6-1 since dropping to middleweight with the lone loss to Yushin Okami makes him one of the more stable fighters in the division.He may being winning but he hasn’t looked spectacular losing the first round to Kendall Grove at UFC 112,being dropped by Damian Maia and being easily outwrestled by Okami. He dose have though a solid wrestling base and extremely heavy hands that can make up for his lack of technique on the feet.

Chris Leben would love to just slug it out with Munoz. Leben has shown a rock hard chin and has equal if not greater power in his hands when compared to Munoz. If he is able to catch Munoz with a hook a TKO or KO would be close behind it.Leben has however not really shown any growth in his game other than trading blows with his opponents.Munoz can exploit the holes in his game with his wrestling, taking him down wearing on him, tiring him out as the fight goes into the fourth and fifth rounds.

Turning this into a grinding five round affair may not be the most popular decision but it would be the most effective game plan Munoz could use. Leben will have to hope he could catch a lucky submission or crack Munoz before he is taken down. Winner: Mark Munoz  

Bantamweight bout:  Brad Pickett vs.  Renan Barão Brad Pickett is one of the best British fighters in the UFC but is probably one of the least known fighters in his country due to fighting in the WEC and in North America for the past two years. After suffering a injury that forced him out of his UFC 130 bout with Miguel Torres, Pickett returns home debuting in the co-main event taking on Renan Barao.

Training with American Top Team has made Pickett a competent wrestler and can now take advantage of that whole in other fighters games. It is by no means D-1 level but good enough to get fights to the ground and keep fights standing.Pickett has quick boxing inside the pocket willfully exchange with his opponents. These things could prove troublesome for the 26-1 Barao who is currently on 25 undefeated streak (1 no contests). Barao has decent striking but makes his bread on the ground he needs to get the fight to the ground quick before both fighters are sweating losing a takedown early will embolden Pickett to pressure Barao with strikes. Winner: Brad Pckett

Welterweight bout:  Thiago Alves vs.  Papy Abedi Thiago Alves hasn’t looked like the ferocious pitbull his nickname and UFC video packages make him out to be. Since his loss to George St. Pierre Alves has gone 1-3. So here he is fighting on a English card welcoming judoka Papy Abedi to the UFC.

Papy Abedi was named the #1 middleweight prospect by Leland Roling at bloodyelbow.com. Abedi has improved since beginning his MMA carear in 2006 but there is a stark difference between fighting in Sweden and fighting in the UFC. Abedis judo background makes him strong in the clinch and could work well if he is able to get Alves against the cage. His striking has improved but isn’t spectacular but his left has a good amount of power.If Alves comes into this and keeps off the cage his striking advantage should get him the decision on the judges scorecards Winner: Thiago Alves

Lightweight bout:  Terry Etim vs.  Eddie Faaloloto If Terry Etim was out any longer he would be the lightweight Mike Swick who still hasn’t since losing to Paulo Thiago at UFC 109.

Welcoming him back to the the octagon is 2-2 Edward Faaloloto who is currently win less in under the Zuffa banner. Etim has a long frame allows him to be rangy but also work well within the clinch. On the ground Etim has shown off a prowess for choking his opponents out. . Faaloloto has only had 4 fights in his career and is largely unknown and just might not be ready for lower end UFC level competition.Even with a year plus off Etim should be able to handel a 2-2 fighter. Winner: Terry Etim

Light Heavyweight bout:  Cyrille Diabaté vs.  Anthony Perosh After Paul Taylor was injured in a car accident and forced to pull out of his fight with Anthony Njokuani Cyrille Diabate and Anthony Perosh were given the call up to the televised card.

Diabate hasn’t looked that great in his UFC tenure after knocking out Luiz Cane. The main reason is he gasses and just looks old without much power at light heavyweight. Diabate has the kickboxing background that would allow him to maneuver and out point Perosh. The Australian Perosh picked up his first win in the UFC at UFC 127 pushing him 1-3 in the promotion. Perosh has the size and grappling to take away Diabates striking who hasn’t shown the greatest submission defense.