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MILWAUKEE, WI, August 14 – One thing stayed intact in Jared Hamman’s move from light heavyweight to middleweight, and that’s his penchant for exciting fights. The new wrinkles in his game against CB Dollaway Sunday night were the ability to keep the pace high and finish, as he thrilled fans at Bradley Center, stopping The Ultimate Fighter veteran in the second round. Watch post-fight interview
Both fighters traded hard shots in the early going, with Dollaway using a couple flush punches to the head to set up his first takedown of the bout. Hamman got back to his feet, but a relentless Dollaway kept the pressure on and took him to the canvas again. This time “The Doberman” locked on an arm triangle, and after being in trouble for more than a few seconds, Hamman got free. Dollaway rewarded “The Messenger” for his escape with a couple hard ground strikes, but again Hamman got out of danger and back to his feet. A return trip to the mat saw Hamman in control as he got the mount position and then took Dollaway’s back, but it was Dollaway getting the last word, as he got up, rocked Hamman standing with two right hands and then ended the round with a series of strikes on his grounded opponent.
There was no let up to the ferocious pace set in the first round, and Hamman looked to have the upper hand as he unloaded punches on Dollaway as he pinned him against the fence. Dollaway was eventually able to score a takedown, but Hamman refused to let up from the top position, causing referee Herb Dean to watch the action closely for a stoppage. Midway through the round, Hamman got the mount position and unleashed more strikes, but Dollaway showing just enough situational awareness to prevent the stoppage. Eventually though the barrage of unanswered blows was too much, and Dean halted the bout at 3:38 of the round.
With the win, Hamman improves to 13-3; Dollaway falls to 12-5.
WINELAND vs. BENAVIDEZ
Bantamweight contender Joseph Benavidez showed off an impressive standup game against striker Eddie Wineland, winning a shutout three round unanimous decision over the former WEC champion. Watch post-fight interview
“That’s what I train for,” said the Sacramento resident, “to be great everywhere.”
Scores were 30-27 across the board for Benavidez, who improved to 15-2; Wineland falls to 18-8-1.
Wineland’s striking was sharp at the start of the bout, allowing him to keep Benavidez at bay. But once Benavidez began to find his range with leg kicks, he moved his attack upstairs, rocking Wineland with a right, and then bloodying Wineland’s nose with a shot that drew oohs from the crowd. The blood brought a sense of urgency from Wineland, but he was unable to draw even with the sharpshooting Benavidez.
Aggressively stalking his foe to begin the second, Wineland almost found the opening he needed when Benavidez turned his back on the Indiana veteran to protest an inadvertent eye poke. Wineland pounced, but Benavidez easily tied him up, gained a couple second break and threw Wineland off. With seconds remaining in the round, Benavidez finally scored a takedown, yet Wineland quickly rose to his feet.
A quick right hand by Benavidez rocked Wineland early in the third, followed by a flying knee that just missed. Wineland got out of trouble quickly, but he caught a kick to the head moments later. The cool Benavidez showed while standing was impressive, while Wineland’s lack of a more busy attack, especially this late in the bout, was puzzling considering that he wasn’t being completely shut out while striking. But despite some late round shots that scored, the round and the fight was Benavidez’.
HERMAN vs. NOKE
Middleweight Ed Herman made it two in a row since his 22 month layoff due to injury, ending Kyle Noke’s three fight UFC winning streak with a devastating first round heel hook. Watch post-fight interview
Showing off a varied array of submissions, Herman was on point with his ground game from the moment Noke (19-5-1) took him down. Noke wasn’t going to make it easy for him though, and though he escaped triangle and armbar attempts, Herman was relentless, and eventually it was the heel hook that did the trick, forcing a tap out at 4:15 of the round.
“I was trying to attack,” said Herman, now 19-7. “He’s a tough opponent and making it hard for me, but I got him.”
MARKES vs. VEMOLA
Brazilian light heavyweight Ronny Markes entered the win column via unanimous decision over Karlos Vemola in his first Octagon bout, but he didn’t exactly win over the fans with his gameplan, continually drawing boos from the Bradley Center faithful. Watch post-fight interview
Scores were 30-27 across the board.
Markes used his takedowns and ground control to nullify Vemola’s attack, leaving the wild-swinging native of the Czech Republic unable to get untracked. Markes final takedown of the attempt of the round almost cost him though, as Vemola locked in a tight guillotine choke that was only interrupted by the bell.
A hard right by Vemola got Markes’ attention early in round two, but a follow-up flurry was met with another takedown from the Brazilian. With the crowd getting restless following a stalemate against the fence moments later, there was a takedown from Markes, but he was doing nothing with it except holding Vemola in place while throwing a sporadic series of punches.
Vemola went back to the wild brawling that he opened the bout with in round three, but Markes was ready for him, which meant another tie-up along the fence followed by a takedown and a stalemate. Markes would throw just enough strikes to keep referee Rob Hinds from standing the fight up, and in the fourth minute he made it into side control, but he was unable to finish or keep the crowd from turning on him for the less than impressive action.
With the win, Markes improves to 12-1; Vemola falls to 9-2.
HETTES vs. CACERES
Late replacement Jimy Hettes made the most of his big opportunity in featherweight action, showing off a dazzling submission game against The Ultimate Fighter 12 vet Alex Caceres before finishing matters with a rear naked choke in the second round. Watch post-fight interview
A frantic flurry of action kicked the bout off, with Caceres (5-4) on the offensive and Hettes (9-0) looking for the submission wherever he could. Caceres fought well on the mat though, whether it was defending against Hettes’ submissions or firing off ground strikes from the top. With a little over a minute left, Caceres nearly caught Hettes’ arm, but Hettes escaped and almost locked up ‘Bruce Leroy’s leg, both maneuvers drawing an appreciative roar from the crowd.
Hettes’ initial scoring salvo in the second was a thunderous throw to the mat followed by a choke attempt, but Caceres escaped and got to his feet, only to be thrown back to the mat. Another choke followed, but again the Miami product fought loose. After getting victimized by another throw, Caceres looked worn out as Hettes search for yet another submission, and though he got back to his feet, Hettes pounced on his weary foe, finally ending matters with a rear naked choke at 3:12 of the round.
Hettes replaced the injured Leonard Garcia in the bout.
MILLER vs. O’BRIEN
Cole Miller returned to the win column in his first bout since a January loss to Matt Wiman, submitting TJ O’Brien in an entertaining lightweight scrap. Watch post-fight interview
The two submission artists spent the opening round kickboxing, with Miller gaining an edge thanks to some flush shots, including a right hand that briefly rocked O’Brien.
Going on the offensive in round two, O’Brien stalked Miller in the early going with some success, but got dropped with a quick left hook for his trouble. O’Brien cleared his head and shot for a takedown, but Miller slapped on a guillotine choke and at 2:38, that was all she wrote as O’Brien tapped.
With the win, Miller, who injured his right hand in the first round, improves to 18-5; O’Brien falls to 16-5.
VOLKMANN vs. CASTILLO
Jacob Volkmann won his fourth consecutive UFC bout, outpointing Danny Castillo in lightweight action. Watch post-fight interview
All three judges saw it 29-28 for Volkmann, who improves to 13-2; Castillo falls to 11-4.
Castillo’s striking was fast and sharp as the bout began, but he couldn’t hold Volkmann off forever, and in the second minute he was taken down and almost submitted by the Minnesotan. Castillo kept his cool though, escaping and getting into top position against the fence. The two rose to their feet moments later, with Castillo landing a thudding kick to the midsection before hitting the deck again and staying there for the rest of the round.
Volkmann showed off some high-level wrestling and grappling in the second round, keeping Castillo guessing at every turn and even coming close to sinking in a choke on a few occasions.
The Milwaukee crowd appreciated the grappling prowess of both men on offense and defense, and let the fighters know it in the third round. When the bout hit the deck, it was Volkmann on top and in control as he again looked to take Castillo’s neck. Castillo powered loose yet again, but the effort left him spent as Volkmann went back to his reliable maneuver again just before the final bell.
FIGUEROA vs. REINHARDT
Bantamweight prospect Edwin Figueroa lived up to his nickname “El Feroz,” as he kept veteran Jason Reinhardt winless in his three fight UFC stint with an impressive second round TKO. Watch post-fight interview
A bizarre start to the first round was actually followed by some compelling action, as an early Figueroa right hand dropped Reinhardt and was followed by a guillotine choke attempt. Reinhardt escaped and took his opponent’s back, but Figueroa escaped and got back to his feet. Another trip to the canvas didn’t go as well for Reinhardt, as Figueroa pounded away with both hands until the bell.
In round two, Figueroa finished the job, as a takedown attempt by Reinhardt ended with the Texan in the mount position. From there, a series of unanswered blows forced referee Rob Hinds to stop the fight at 50 seconds of the frame.
With the win, Figueroa improves to 8-1; Reinhardt falls to 20-3.