Bonnar was flagged for Drostanolone, a cutting agent used to lose fat/water for a more ripped look. It was his second time being flagged for illegal steroids in his system; after his second fight with Forrest Griffin he was flagged for Boldenone.

Herman was flagged for Marijuana in his system. Earlier in his UFC career he was flagged for Marijuana before his fight in Texas with Mike Russow, which ending up with Herman removed from that card.

Per MMA Fighting, Frankie Edgar will not be meeting another combatant on the card. The co-main event is now “Big Nog” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Dave “Pee Wee” Herman per Tatame. [source]

With rumors swirling of a Chael Sonnen-Wanderlei Silva main event, it is only a matter of days before we’ll know for sure what is happening with yet another cursed UFC event.

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Welcome to our live coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir. In the main event of tonight’s all heavyweight card, UFC Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos takes on former champion Frank Mir. It should a be night of spectacular finishes and fights, so follow here live beginning with the FX prelims at 8 PM ET. The PPV starts at 10 PM ET and we’ll see you here live from Inside Fights HQ!

UFC Heavyweight Title Bout
Junior dos Santos (c) vs. Frank Mir

Round 1 - Mir shoots in and gets a leg, working for the takedown. Stiff jab lands for dos Santos as the two men are back into the center of the cage. Body shot connects for Dos Santos. Three leg kicks from Mir as the former champ is working to slow the champion down. Big right from dos Santos. Two hooks from dos Santos are blocked. Mir continues to attack the front leg of Junior. Big body punch by the champ. Dos Santos staggers Mir with 20 seconds to go and he barely survives to the buzzer. 10-9 dos Santos

Round 2 - Right hand connets for dos Santos. He’s picking Mir apart. Another punch connects and Mir is on his back. dos Santos waves him back to his feet and Mir obliges, connecting with a lead jab. Frank claims a poke and is forced to continue. A body kick connects for Mir as dos Santos connects upstairs. Inside leg kick lands for Frank Mir. Frank Mir is dropped in slow motion by a shot to the eye. dos Santos swarms Mir who tries to grab an arm. dos Santos steps away as Frank Mir remains turtled but moves forward to gain the finish as the referee stops the bout.

Winner: Junior dos Santos by TKO (R2, punches, 3:04)

Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva

Round 1 - Big takedown immediately by Cain Velasquez as he catches a kick from Big Foot. There’s a lot of blood coming out of Silva early. Big ground and pound and the blood is spraying. Silva is able to wriggle free due to the slippery conditions of his body and the doctor comes in to check it out. He’s going to be allowed to continue it. They are restarted on the mat and Cain is attacking the cut once again. Ground and pound in the half guard for Cain Velasquez and the bout is stopped.

Winner: Cain Velasquez by TKO (R1, punches, 3:36)

Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman

Round 1 - Knee to the body from Herman to start. Front kicks from Herman are the order for Dave Herman. Holy cow, one big right hand drops Dave Herman who folds like a card table. Nelson steps in for one punch to finish and the ref pulls him off for the victory.

Winner: Roy Nelson by knockout (R1, punches, 0:51)

Stipe Miočić vs. Shane del Rosario

Round 1 - Body kick from Del Rosario. Good combination coming forward for Miocic. Left liver kick from Del Rosario is partially caught. Del Rosario is coming forward with a bunch of bodykicks. Miocic lands a right hand that pushes Del Rosario against the fence. Slip on a punch from Stipe sends him running across the cage chased by Del Rosario. Lunging right from Stipe is answered by a combination from Shane. Big takedown by Miocic but he lets Del Rosario up as the round ends. 10-9 Del Rosario

Round 2 - Leg kick to start the round for Del Ro. Big left hook lands for Miocic but Del Rosario walks through it. Miocic gets a takedown and is working some ground and pound on Del Rosario. Beefy hook on the bottom Del Rosario. Shane Del Rosario is cut open and Miocic is just handling him on the mat. Stipe Miocic lands several huge short elbows that Del Rosario grimaces through and the referee steps in to stop the bout.

Winner: Stipe Miocic by TKO (R2, elbows, 3:14)

Stefan Struve vs. Lavar Johnson

Round 1 - Lavar Johnson comes out with body punches early. Struve gets himself pressed against the cage. Struve pulls guard and has an arm trapped. Struve takes the armbar and brings Johnson’s arm home with him and earns the submission. Johnson says that he’s broken his arm as the fight ends.

Winner: Stefan Struve by submission (R1, armbar, 1:05)

Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins

Round 1 – Big uppercut misses from Brandao. Good combination lands from Brandao. Brandao ends up in mount, but Elkins has hip escaped and tries for a kimura. Brandao lets him up and sprawls a takedown. Flying knee to the body by Brandao drops Elkins. Side control for Brandao but Elkins tries for triangles. Brandao rocks Elkins twice and ends up in side control. Elkins is on his back and eats a big right hand from Brandao. Back into full guard, Brandao is working big punches on his opponent. 10-9 Brandao

Round 2 - Diego is more deliberate at the start. Good knee to the face from Diego. Elkins is connecting now. Elbow by Diego Brandao connects. Elkins is coming forward and lands. Diego slips on a big kick and Elkins has begun to control Brandao on the mat. Good strikes from Elkins as he tries to pass guard. High mount acquired by Darren Elkins. Brandao is getting hammered with big strikes and is able to squirm away into half guard. The round ends with Elkins in control. 10-9 Elkins

Round 3 - Lead uppercut by Brandao. Left hand again from Elkins. He’s able to get that punch at will. Elkins takes a knee from Brandao and gets him down onto his back. Good takedown for Elkins. Ground and pound is the order of the day for Elkins. Darren Elkins is into full mount once again. Brandao is able to eat a few shots and roll back into half guard. Elkins goes for an arm in guillotine but Brandao gets free. Back to their feet and Brandao takes top control with just under a minute to go. Diego is working for a finish from the top and stands up for a big punch that connects but it shouldn’t be enough. 10-9 Elkins

Winner: Darren Elkins by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Edson Barboza vs. Jamie Varner

Round 1 – Leg kick from Edson Barboza followed by another. That’s going to limit Varner’s takedowns later. Head kick from Barboza is caught and he turns it into a takedown. Barboza is able to kick free and get back to his feet. Two punches from Varner to counter the multitude of kicks from Barboza. Good striking from both men. Varner pushes forward and puts Edson Barboza down with a big, big punch. Barboza tries to recover, but he’s down again. Is he going to be the first man to defeat the young Brazilian? Several unanswered hammerfists on the mat later and the answer is “yes.”

Winner: Jamie Varner by TKO (R1, punches, 3:23)

Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway

Round 1 – Big Right hand by Mayhem takes Dollaway down to the mat. Miller tries for the guillotine, but CB pops free and now has Miller on the cage. He eats a nougie from Miller. Seriously. Mayhem drops on a strike and it looks like Miller appears to have blown out his knee based on that brace on his left leg. Down on the mat, Dollaway controls Miller and it seems that Miller cannot get up. Dollaway ends up in full mount with 30 seconds in the first round. 10-9 Dollaway

Round 2 - Miller is swinging for the fences early and rocks the staggering Dollaway once again. Dollaway recovers and takes Miller to the mat. Miller gets back to his feet and stuffs a takedown. Miller goes for the neck once again, but CB takes him down and begins with short elbows. Hammerfists from Dollaway. Mayhem is really stuck on the mat, it must be the lack of a second leg. 10-9 Dollaway

Round 3 - Miller begins swinging wildly. He is suckered into an overhand right and Dollaway dives under and gets a takedown. The two men roll around on the mat with Dollaway in control. Mayhem has had no answers on the mat. Mayhem gets back to his feet before Dollaway drags him to the mat and flattens him out. Tons of hammerfists and elbows to end the round for Dollaway. Boring fight. 10-8 Dollaway

Winner: CB Dollaway by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 29-28)

Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig

Round 1 - Early combination misses for Ludwig. Head kick from Ludwig misses. Hardy is caught and Hardy wraps him up and gets him against the cage. Knees to the body from both fighters. Two punches from Hardy as the exit. Hardy goes for a takedown and eats two knees in the process before he can get him back against the cage. Lots of clinch work from the two fighters before Both fighters connect as they exit. Big left hook from Dan Hardy drops “Bang” Ludwig. He celebrates before he realizes that Ludwig isn’t out and drops in and levels elbows before the referee stops the fight.

Winner: Dan Hardy by KO (R1, elbows, 3:51)

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Gabriel Gonzaga, who was slated to fight Roy Nelson, withdrew due to injury. In his place against Nelson will be Dave “Pee Wee” Herman, last seen getting knocked out by Stefan Struve. Struve is also on this card, taking on Mark Hunt.

Jamie Varner makes his return to Zuffa as well; the former WEC lightweight champion is stepping in for Evan Dunham against Edson Barboza on the undercard.
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Hey Inside Fights readers and fans alike, tonight, from Nebraska’s own Omaha Civic Auditorium, UFC presents UFC on Fuel 1. The card is full of great bouts including a sweet main event between welterweights Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger. Also on the card, heavyweights Stefan Struve and Dave “Pee Wee” Herman go to battle.

The main card will be broadcast on FUEL TV beginning at 8 PM EST with the preliminary fights starting at 6:30 PM EST on Facebook.

Tonight, we’re being treated to the dulcet tones of Kenny Florian and Jon Anik. Should be another great show full of solid debuts and great fighting as well.

Preliminary card (Live on Facebook)

Tim Means vs. Bernardo Magalhaes

Round 1 - Means is the taller of the two fighters and is using his jab early to keep Magalhaes at arm’s length. Big leg kick from Magalhaes. Magalhaes shoots for a takedown, which Means stuffs and eats a knee on the way up. Magalhaes comes in and Means catches him with two knees. Jab and knee combo from Means. Big right hand from Magalhaes lands and Means smiles. Magalhaes charges in and eats another knee and punch that stagger him to the mat. Means dives in for a D’arce choke, but Magalhaes wiggles free and gets to his feet. Thai clinch sees Means leveling knees to the body and head of Magalhaes. Leg kick from Means lands cleanly and the round ends with Means coming forward with a flying knee and jab. 10-9 Means

Round 2 – Leg kick lands for Tim Means. Left hook misses for Magalhaes who is trying for the knockout blow over Means’ tactic of utilizing his length and reach to keep Magalhaes moving. Left hand connects for Magalhaes, but Means throws two punches back at him. Good exchange from the fighters. Magalhaes lands a big left hook and charges in. Means presses him to the fence quickly and lands big elbows. Means continues to stalk Magalhaes around the cage. Means finds his way into clinch via his jabs, but his knees find air and he steps away. Big left from Magalhaes misses. Front kick from Means pushes Magalhaes to the fence. Good liver shot hurts Magalhaes who tries for the takedown. Means ends up on top and eats hammerfists to the body and maintains intelligently defending. The ref stands them up and the round ends. 10-9 Means

Round 3 – Magalhaes is having issues with his ankle, which is pretty swollen around the joint. Right hook from the Brazilian. Means begins working punches to the body. Magalhaes shoots for a takedown, but Means stuffs it and we’re back to our feet. Magalhaes tries to pull guard after another failed takedown, but Means steps back. Magalhaes catches a kick and Means lands hammerfists to force his way free. Big liver shot from Means and Magalhaes drops to the mat. He refuses to get in the guard of Magalhaes and the fight is restarted standing up. Magalhaes tries another takedown, but Means levels huge elbows to his head. Magalhaes drags him to the mat with him, but Means gets him onto his side and hammers away. Means, however, stands up and won’t engage Magalhaes on the mat. Magalhaes eats several more knees to end the round. 10-9 Means and 30-27 Tim Means on the Inside Fights scorecard.

Winner: Tim Means by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas

Round 1 - Another southpaw vs. orthodox fight to start the night. Salas comes in early with a takedown attempt that he bails on after he cannot drive through. Head kick from Kuivanen is checked. Salas comes forward, but Kuivanen keeps him at bay. Salas is pressing for a single leg takedown, but Kuivanen is defending well. Two punches land from Kuivanen. Leg kick from Salas. Jab finds a home on Kuivanen’s chin as he comes forward. Salas sets up his takedown with a jab and gets his takedown. Kuivanen is stacked, but Salas only lands leg kicks and can’t get into his guard, so Kuivanen sweeps back to his feet. Leg kick from Kuivanen. Body kick from Kuivanen is caught by Salas and he drives him across the ring for a big takedown as round 1 ends. 10-9 Salas

Round 2 - Right hand from Salas finds the chin on Kuivanen. Leg kick from Salas is countered with a jab. Salas gets Kuivanen into the cage, but he’s able to circle free. Head kick from Salas is blocked and Kuivanen comes forward. Big left from Salas. Short right hook lands for Salas as well. Salas grabs a single leg and walks Kuivanen to the fence, but after a foot sweep, Kuivanen is back up right away. Big body kick from Kuivanen. Salas slips on a big knee, but it comes to nothing. Body kick again finds a home above Salas’ liver. Salas charges in with a right hook that glances off his opponent. Salas sees another of his takedowns blocked, but Salas throws a good right as he backs out. 10-9 Salas

Round 3 - Body kick from Salas connects. Two right hands from Salas connects. Salas grabs a solid double leg takedown and drives Kuivanen across the cage and drops his opponent. Strikes from the top by Salas. Kuivanen rolls for a heel hook, however, Salas spins free and re-takes the top. Good shoots to the body from Salas who is standing. Big left from Salas is dropped on the chin of Kuivanen. Kuivanen is able to get back to his feet after a front headlock takedown allows him to get free. Accidental groin kick, but the two men touch gloves and we continue. Dirty boxing against the fence as Salas sees another takedown stuffed. Head kick from Kuivanen misses. Just over one minute to go and Salas misses a jumping front kick. Big right hand connects from Kuivanen, but Salas power doubles Kuivanen and will kill any momentum for him. Kuivanen is able to get out of side mount and Salas is back standing over his opponent. The fight comes to a close with both fighters on their feet circling for a finish. 10-9 Salas and 30-27 for Justin Salas

Winner: Justin Salas by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-27)

Buddy Roberts vs. Sean Loeffler

We’ve just received word that the fight between Buddy Roberts and Sean Loeffler is off. Loeffler is hurt backstage and will not be able to make it. That’s heartbreaking for both guys, but you have to think that Joe Silva will find a way to get both guys into the mix again in the future.

Jonathan Brookins vs. Vagner Rocha

Round 1 – Each fighter comes in with an early punch. Kick is caught by Brookins. Rocha is finding homes for his strikes early, including a good body kick. Big right from Brookins leads to a takedown attempt from Rocha. Brookins reverses, Rocha is on his back and he tries for a heel hook. Brookins lands two big rights on the chin of Rocha and he is out.

Winner: Jonathan Brookins by knockout (R1, punches, 1:32)

Main card (Live on FUEL TV)

Albert opens the aggressor, landing an early leg kick and some light punches. A couple of exchanges and Albert is getting the better of Menjivar early; spinning back fist by Menjivar misses and Albert goes for the takedown. Menjivar catches him and gets him to the ground; Albert turns an Omipalata into an armbar and back again but Menjivar counter beautifully. Albert eats some elbows in guard and Albert goes into a triangle choke into an armbar, can’t finish. Menjivar with a footlock and Albert grabs a heel hook, both lose and scramble leads to Menjivar landing a kick to the mid section and missing a head kick Albert catches him with a head kick and unloads with some strikes, Menjivar looks to be finished but survives the storm. Albert goes for a guillotine and can’t finish. Menjivar escapes and manages to get back, unloads with some furious ground and pound and locks a deep rear naked choke in. Albert taps at 3:45 of the first round.

Official decision: Ivan Menjivar wins via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:45 of the first round.

T.J. Dillashaw vs. Walel Watson

Round 1: Dillashaw opens with a superman punch and goes for a double leg takedown. Switches to a high single and can’t finish the trip. Switches back to a double but Watson is defending really well. Dillashaw with a slam and Watson immediately up, Dillashaw slams him to the ground again. Watson goes to an open guard as Dillashaw is looking to posture, Stands up and throws down some strikes, and Watson goes for the scramble. Dillashaw gets the back and locks in a rear naked choke but doesn’t have it in tight. Watson is defending well but Dillashaw is using his hooks really well to control. Watson rolls into half guard and looks to move into side control; Watson stands up and Dillashaw grabs the back. Locks in a rear naked choke and Watson is defending it well despite it being deep. Watson rolls onto his back and Dillashaw into mount; Dillashaw uses some strikes to set up the rear naked choke again as watson rolls to his stomach. Dillashaw can’t get it in as Watson’s defense is strong. Dillashaw is using the mount to set up strikes and goes for a rear naked choke again but can’t finish it. Watson rolls to his back and then onto his stomach again. Dillashaw uses the hooks to get him down and the round finishes with him raining strikes on Watson.

Round Score: Dillashaw 10-9. You can make the case for a 10-8 based on how dominant he was.

Round 2: Dillashaw opens by catching Watson with another big strike and gets the takedown. Watson is getting stacked and kneed in the side by Dillashaw as he tries to initiate the scramble unsuccesfully. Dillashaw is in side control, Watson controlling the inner knee, and landing some strong strikes. Dillashaw peppers him with strike suntil Watson gives up his back, Watson rolls to his back and then back to his stomach. He’s rollign to just avoid being hit as Dillashaw is unloading with strikes on him. Dillashaw has some deep hooks in and Watson is eating some big strikes. Dillashaw locks in a rear naked choke as Watson gives up his back again, but sneaks out again to his back again. Dillashaw with some strikes again as Watson is just trying to survive at this point. Watson to his stomach again as Dillashaw has hooks in; going for that rear naked again. Watson is defending it really well but not doing much besides that, though. Last 30 seconds of the round is Dillashaw unloading some big strikes from the top.

Round score: Dillashaw 10-9, 20-18 for the fight

Round 3: Watson comes out with some big strikes but doesn’t connect. Dillashaw is usign his distance well to make Watson come to him with wild strikes. Dillashaw darts in with a good combination before Watson can react. Dillashaw gets the high crotch single leg and lands in side control. Watson is going for a Von Flue choke and can’t quite finish. Dillashaw into side control but Watson scrambels up, Dillashaw lets him go. Watson connects with a knee but doesn’t do much damage; Dillashaw’s speed is just too much for him at this point. He can’t gauge distance well and a combination connects as Watson connects with a flying triangle choke and almost has it in deep. Dillashaw is defending beautifully and circles out of it, lands into side control. Brilliant defense from the Team Alpha Male product. Watson rolls into a knee bar, turning it into a heel hook as Dillashaw is trying to power out. Calf slicer attempt and Dillashaw is out, landing into closed guard out of Watson. Watson gives up his back and Dillashaw gets the hooks in, has a rear naked choke and Watson is using hand control to keep him out of it. Defends well and onto his stomach as Dillashaw grind out the last 10 seconds of the round with strikes.

Round score: Watson 10-9, 29-28 Dillashaw

Official decision: 30-25, 30-25 and 30-26 Dillashaw

Stipe Miocic vs. Philip De Fries

Round 1: Fries lands a crisp over hand rightand a terrific combination, Miocic rocked but clears the cobwebs and responds. Absolute brawl between the two that Miocic gets the better of, Fries goes down and Miocic pounds him out until the referee stops it at :43 of the first round.

Official Decision: Miocic by TKO due to strikes at :43 of the first round

Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes

Round 1: Both guys come out tentative; Simpson tries to engage but Markes lands some great combinations in response and gets Simpson against the age. Double leg fails, as does the single, but Markes get the clinch against the cage. They’re playing the cage position game and referee breaks it up. Back to the center of the cage. Simpson misses a wild overhand right and Markes connects with a couple inside leg kicks. Markes with a big straight rights that move Simpson back; Simpson is leery of his power btu catches Markes with a big right uppercut. Markes is hurt and Simpson unlaods with strikes; Markes is in bad shape and trying to survive as Simpson with a flurry. Markes goes for a triangle armbar but can’t connect as Simpson hits him with his free hand to break it up. Simpson gets the stand up and Markes looks a bit wobbly; Simpson’s confidence looks to have increased. Simpson and Markes exchange some wild and sloppy crosses, Simpson goes for the clinch and presses Markes against the cage. Round ends with Markes against the cage.

Round score: 10-9 Simpson

Round 2: Simpson with a big right hand to start, Markes counters with some leg strikes. Simpson goes for a big right and misses, goes into the clinch and gets Marks against the cage. Markes circles out and misses a combination, hits another inside leg kick. Simpson’s left leg is bruised up noticeable. Simpson for a double but Markes doesn’t let him get, Simpson does get the clinch against the cage though. Simpson gets the clinch again and almost throws Markes, good takedown defense and Markes gets advantage with Simpson against the cage. They trade position against the cage with some pummeling and footwork until Markes gets the trip takedown. Simpson’s in half guard as Markes looks to get into side control. Markes with some elbows to the mid section but Simpson tries to initiate the scramble out of a half guard sweep but can’t finish it. Gets ot his feet against the cage as Markes goes from a single leg to a headlock to the clinch. Round ends with the two against the cage.

Round score: 10-9 Markes, 19-19

Round 3: Leg kick from Markes and they get into the clinch. Markes backs out and connects with a leg kick inside again. Wild exchange and neither connects. Markes with a straight right, back to the clinch and Simpson reverses him against the cage. Markes with a reversal and Simpson is defending well. Referee breaks it up and back to the center of the cage. Simpson with a nice combination to the body, Markes with an inside leg kick. Another big right from Markes connects, Simpson misses on a wild combination. Simpson with a push kick to keep him away, Markes gets the clincha against the cage anyway. Marks can’t get the inside trip after some foot stomps. Referee breaks it up again. Simpson comes out wild and Markes counters well. Simpson with a big power double but can’t finish, whizzered away by Markes. Simpson with a right hook but slipped into a knee by Markes, who gets the back. Simpson stands up and looking to get away but can’t. Markes switches for a double leg takedown and gets him against the cage. Simpson uses an underhook to get up against the cage. Round ends with the two in the clinch.

Round score: 10-9 Markes, 29-28 Markes

Official Decision: 29-28 Markes, 29-28 Simpson and 29-28 Markes .. Ronnie Markes wins by Split Decision

Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman

Round 1: Herman walks Struve back into the cage, both men exchanging solid but not power shots. Herman connects with a couple leg kicks.Struve with a big head kick but doesn’t quite connect. Herman backs him into the cage again and a quick combination is caught up in the clinch by Struvem who circles away from the cage. Herman with another leg kick, to the outside. Struve responds with an inside leg kick of his own. Good combination from Herman as he connects inside with punches, a couple high leg kicks find their way to Struve’s hands. Wild exchange that Struve gets the better of. Big right from Struve that misses, jumping switch kick from Herman misses as well (but looks pretty). Herman with a big right to counter some jabs from Struve. Leg kick to the body from Herman; Struve is letting Herman get inside his range without paying for it.

Round score: 10-9 Herman

Round 2: Nice straight/leg kick combination from Herman but Struve gets an awkward takedown into mount. Goes for back and Herman sneaks his way out, back to the center. Struve wins the exchange with a combination, Herman follows with a nice straight right. Struve with a pair of kicks, first one connects to the leg and second one misses to the head. Another big body kick from Struve. Herman with a nice combination and finishes with a nice uppercut. Struve with a big right, which hurts Herman a bit, and Struve follows it up with some nice straight punshes. Herman circles out but Struve is pouncing, taking ht to him. Big uppercut and Herman goes down, Struve takes him down into mount and Herman looks out of it. Struve raining punches on Herman as Struve is unloading. Ref stops it at 3:53 of the second round by TKO due to strikes.

Official Decision: Stefan Struve via TKO at 3:53 of the second round due to strikes.

Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger

My lord, both these guys are insanely jacked up right now.

Round 1: Both come out swinging wild but missing. Powerful combination from Ellenberger off a missed Sanchez kick grazes. Sanchez with a nice combination, nice counter from Ellenberger. Both guys are waiting for big surge style strikes; they’re looking to connect with two to three punches and then go low for the takedown but neither are connected enough to complete it. Sanchez is getting countered with a straight from Ellenberger each time, though, and Ellenberger connects with a nice knee. Sanchez tries to swarm but Ellenberger circles away from the cage without taking much damage. Diego with a number of glancing rights, wild exchange from both fighters with nothing major connecting. Sanchez with a nice right head kick but is checked by Ellenberger. Ellenberger with a great counter that knocks Sanchez down, Sanchez scrambles out before he can finish. Ellenberger goes for the takedown, can’t complete it. Fight ends with a wild exchange that Sanchez gets the better of.

Round score: 10-9 Sanchez

Round 2: Both guys coming out more tentatively this round. Sanchez with some spin kicks that aren’t connecting. Ellenberger is doing a great job of making him move, hits a head kick off Sanchez’s arm. Sanchez presses with a nice combination; he’s pressing more as Jake is slowing down. Ellenberger with a nice counter hook to a leg kick from Sanchez. Ellenberger with a nice uppercut to follow. Sanchez is winning the position game but he’s eating some big punches from Ellenberger when he tries to pounce; Ellenberger has timed him well with the counters. Diego with a bull rush, right hand misses. Big overhand right misses from Sanchez and Ellenberger with apower double into Sanchez’s guard. Sanchez goes for a triangle armbar but can’t connect, same with a regular armbar. Ellenberger with some beautiful elbows to Sanchez. Ellenberger appears to have broken Sanchez’s nose as Sanchez looks beaten up in his corner.

Round score: 10-9 Ellenberger, 19-19

Round 3: Ellenberger comes out swinging wild, can’t connect. Sanchez obliges doing the same. Sanchez lands some strikes to the body. Both exchange jabs. Bull rush from Sanchez misses as Ellenberger connects with a big right. Sanchez tripped up by a nice foot sweep from Ellenberger, content to stay on their feet. Sanchez charges and gets countered wonderfully for his efforts. Ellenberger is connecting with strong counters every time Sanchez charges. Sanchez charges but Ellenberger goes for a double, Sanchez defends and back to their feet. Knee to the body from Ellenberger and a drag single leg doesn’t get finished. Nice right hook from Sanchez and Sanchez turns it on as Ellenberger is starting to fade. Power double from Ellenberger but Sanchez wall walks back up. Ellenberger gives up his back in a scramble and Sanchez is unloading; Ellenberger is just covering up and Sanchez is relentless on the attack. Ellenberger is defending the choke well but is getting beaten on something fierce right now. Sanchez is in the middle of an adrenaline surge right now as he throws everythign he has at Ellenberger. Ellenberger forces the scramble and the round ends with the two throwing wildly.

Round score: 10-9 Sanchez, 29-28 Sanchez

Official Decision: 29-28 Ellenberger by UD
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Struve manages to pull off victories against fighters he’s supposed to beat but has lost against Roy Nelson and Travis Browne when he started to get some momentum after debuting against current UFC champion Junior Dos Santos. His last outing was a spectacular submission victory over Pat Barry that saw him lock in a triangle choke and nearly get slammed out of it by the Death Clutch fighter, who couldn’t break free and would eventually tap out to the towering Struve.

Herman has a stoppage victory over Jon Olav Einemo in his only UFC outing, having been signed after a journeyman’s career in which he compiled a 20-2 record outside the organization with notable wins over a number of aging veterans including Don Frye and Ron Waterman.

In any other fight Herman would have a height advantage over his opponent at 6’5 but Struve towers over the division at nearly seven feet tall with a reach to match. Oddly enough Struve has the second longest reach in the UFC, with light heavyweight champion Jon Jones quirkily having a longer reach than the gigantic Dutchman, but the key to this fight will be how he uses it to his advantage.

Lately that’s been a problem as Struve is one of the worst in the sport at using it to his advantage. In his last two knockout losses, to Browne and Nelson, he allowed the smaller fighter to finish the fight by not using his reach to keep them at bay. It’s frightening how little Struve has used his reach advantage to keep opponents from getting inside and landing power shots on him; Herman’s key to winning will be by exploiting this and landing an uppercut or a straight right flush.

That’ll be the key to the fight as Struve in the past has historically been quite bad at using his physical reach as a major advantage. For someone with the best reach in the division it’s shocking. One would imagine if he hasn’t worked on using his range to keep Herman at distance with both jabs and quick kicks that his chances at victory decrease if this becomes a contest mainly on the feet.

That’s where Herman prefers to keep fights and he has good enough wrestling to keep it there if he wants. A wrestler at Indiana University, Herman is good enough to take Struve down but odds are he doesn’t want any part of Struve’s surprisingly good ground game from the bottom. Struve excels on the bottom and has long enough limbs to pull off a triangle choke at his height, including the one on Barry, and uses his body really well from the bottom. When it comes to grappling Struve uses his physical tools better than anyone in the division in an ironic twist from his stand up.

Herman showed in his last fight with Einemo that he’s smart enough to not go to the ground with someone very skilled there. Odds are he’ll make the same decision with Struve; Herman has good defensive submission skills from the top but against more skilled ground fighters he generally tends to keep it standing. For him to win he’s going to have to get inside and land a big shot or two.

Struve has underrated power but he doesn’t have the chin to get into extended slugfests; look for him to keep Herman at distance (or at least try to) with leg kicks. If Struve can maintain distance and keep Herman from getting inside and landing big strikes he can take the fight. All it takes for Herman to pull out the victory is to exploit that one weakness Struve has yet to show he’s cleared up and land a big strike to knock down the Skyscraper.

The Pick: Herman by KO, Round 2
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It hasn’t been announced whether this fight will make the broadcast portion of the main card.
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I went in to give my drug test, right? And a week later they called me and said they lost my urine speciman and I had to come in and re-do it. That was last week. Like, I went back in that day and today they said I failed. And I said ‘uh, that’s impossible.’

They didn’t say I had performance enhancing drugs, they said I had marijuana. And I don’t even smoke, so yeah. Although I think the Diaz brothers do claim it is performance enhancing somehow.
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21-2 Dave ‘Pee Wee’ Herman and 14-1 Mike Russow have verbally agreed to a heavyweight showdown at UFC 136 in Houston this fall, confirmed UFC president Dana White today.

Both men are unbeaten inside the Octagon. Herman made his UFC debut in June with a Fight of the Night win over John-Olav Einemo at UFC 131. Russow’s most recent victories were a TKO over Jon Madsen and a memorable third-round comeback KO of Todd Duffee.

UFC 136 takes place in Houston, Texas and is rumored to feature UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez taking on number one contender Junior dos Santos and Brian Stann facing off with Chael Sonnen.
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UFC heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos was the card’s top earning combatant, earning $200,000 for his unanimous decision victory over Shane Carwin. Carwin pocketed $40,000 in the loss. In the co-main event of the evening, Kenny Florian made his debut at featherweight, earning $130,000 for his win (via unanimous decision) over Diego Nunes, who earned $12,000 for the bout.

With a combined $390,000 in fight purses, dos Santos, Florian and Mark Munoz (who made $60,000 for his razor-thin decision over Demian Maia), the winners of the top three fights on the card accounted for nearly half of the disclosed $782,000 payroll.

Junior dos Santos: $100,000 ($100,000 win bonus) def. Shane Carwin: $40,000
Kenny Florian: $65,000 ($65,000 win bonus) def. Diego Nunes: $12,000
Mark Munoz: $30,000 ($30,000 win bonus) def. Demian Maia: $43,000
Dave Herman: $18,000 ($18,000 win bonus) def. Jon Olav Einemo: $15,000
Donald Cerrone: $20,000 ($20,000 win bonus) def. Vagner Rocha: $6,000
Sam Stout: $19,000 ($19,000 win bonus) def. Yves Edwards: $12,000
Chris Weidman: $10,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Jesse Bongfeldt: $6,000
Krzysztof Soszynski: $12,000 ($12,000 win bonus) def. Mike Massenzio: $8,000
Nick Ring: $8,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. James Head: $6,000
Dustin Poirier: $5,000 ($5,000 win bonus) def. Jason Young: $6,000
Joey Beltran: $12,000 ($12,000 win bonus) def. Aaron Rosa: $6,000
Darren Elkins: $8,000 ($8,000 win bonus) def. Michihiro Omigawa: $8,000
Courtesy: MMA Fighting

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