• UFC 113

Disgraceful Daley moment marrs Koscheck victory

ESPN staff
May 8, 2010
Josh Koscheck was far too good for Paul Daley © UFC
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Josh Koscheck booked a title shot with Georges St-Pierre and a coaching role on TUF 12, but victory was marred by a disgraceful moment from Paul Daley in the aftermath of the co-main event at UFC 113. Koscheck's wrestling proved far too much for his opponent, leading to a unanimous 30-27 decision, but as he turned his back at the final bell a frustrated Daley landed a left hook from behind that damaged the American's eye.

The welterweight contest had been preceded by a buffet of trash talk from both men, and the talking did not stop inside the Octagon, with Koscheck taunting his rival as the dying seconds of the fight ebbed away. Clearly frustrated, Daley rose to his feet at the bell and landed his trademark left hook - the only one he landed all night - from Koscheck's blindside, creating huge question marks over his future in the UFC.

Koscheck did not come out with his reputation completely intact either as he once again appeared to fake injury, following an illegal knee to the head from Daley in round one. Koscheck, who appeared to feign an eye poke when in trouble against Anthony Johnson in his last fight, once again seemed to be showing a surprisingly low pain threshold as replays showed the knee from Daley barely grazed his forehead.

However, when the AKA man is good, he is very good, and the drive he showed in his single-leg takedowns of Daley was the most impressive seen in the UFC - bar St-Pierre. Watching Daley hit the mat in helpless fashion, the reminders of Dan Hardy's defeat to GSP were obvious. British MMA needs some serious makeover work on its wrestling, of that there can be little doubt.

Huge takedown after huge takedown led to Daley ending on his back, where his defence was largely pretty good. However, he twice had to fend off rear naked choke attempts as Koscheck controlled the entire fight, moving to 17-4 in the process.

Kimbo Slice was mauled by Matt Mitrione © Getty Images
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Former New York Giants man Matt Mitrione (2-0) did exactly what Houston Alexander should have done to Kimbo Slice back in December, picking the Miami brawler apart in a brutal two-round destruction of the limited ATT striker. Mitrione chopped the life out of Slice's left leg before going to work on the body, eventually earning the TKO stoppage via strikes at 4.24 of round two.

Slice started powerfully, earning three heavy takedowns to spark the crowd into action. However, action was barely evident as soon as the fight hit the ground, with Mitrione eventually forcing back to his feet to begin his work on that left leg of Slice. One such kick floored the 36-year-old, who was then almost tapped out via anaconda choke before the bell.

The second round was all Mitrione as the insufficient gas tank of Slice limited his movement, while Mitrione's impressive leg kicks paralysed Slice's left leg. The result became inevitable as Mitrione took his opponent down, slamming knees into the body before pounding away for a full minute as the referee eventually called a halt.

In the lightweight division, Jeremy Stephens landed the heavier blows to take a decision victory over Sam Stout. Both men hit the deck in a strong contender for Fight of the Night, but it was the 23-year-old Iowa-native who landed a 30-27 29-28 28-29 decision from the judges.

The torque on Stephens' shots in the first round was frightening as he floored the home-crowd favourite with a big right, cutting Stout with a knee on his way back up. By contrast, Stout showed the better technique under the guidance of Shawn Tompkins with a variety of leg kicks and uppercuts to the body, but the big moments were still coming from Stephens as the fight entered its final round.

Stout appeared to have set up the finish when a huge uppercut took the wind out of his opponent, leading to a flurry that floored Stephens, but the Arena Team fighter responded with a huge knee and a takedown as they fought right to the bell. Stephens improves to 18-5 with the victory.

Patrick Cote felt he was the victim of a spear from Alan Belcher © Getty Images
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The opening fight of the main card ended with a hint of controversy after Alan Belcher scored the most impressive victory of his career to ruin the homecoming of Patrick Cote. In Cote's first fight since busting his right knee during a middleweight title shot, Belcher secured a rear naked choke in the second round.

Cote had complaints for referee Mario Yamasaki after Belcher dropped the Canadian on his head prior to the fight-ending submission, but replays showed there was no intention from Belcher to spear his opponent.

"I'm happy that I finally showed my potential, I know if I step back and breathe I can take out anybody, and you know who I'm talking about," said Belcher, who left Cote with a heavily bruised ribcage after a plethora of kicks to the body. "Everyone knows I'm talking about Anderson Silva, everyone knows I'm the man to take him. I want that title shot. Give it to me."

Belcher moves to 15-5 with victory, whilst Cote showed enough of that trademark power in his right hand to guarantee he will be back in the Octagon.

Prelim results
Joe Doerksen def. Tom Lawlor via rear naked choke at 2:10 of Round 2
Marcus Davis def. Jonathan Goulet via TKO at 1:23 of Round 2
Johny Hendricks def. T.J. Grant via majority decision
Joey Beltran def. Tim Hague via unanimous decision
Mike Guymon def. Yoshiyuki Yoshida via unanimous decision
John Salter def. Jason MacDonald due to injury stoppage (ankle) at 2:42 of Round 1

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