Three Stars: Hatsu Hioki, Anthony Pettis and Mark Hunt

UFC 144 brought the promotion back to Japan with a top-to-bottom exciting card, complete with a tight, five-round thriller between new champion Benson Henderson and Frankie Edgar in the main event. Who stood out?

No. 1 star -- Hatsu Hioki: After debuting in the UFC with a split-decision win over George Roop, Hioki fulfilled his promise as one of the world's best featherweights with a three-round beatdown of Bart Palaszewski. Though his stand-up needs work, he's the best current featherweight challenger out there for Jose Aldo's belt.

[ Related: Kevin Iole's UFC 144 breakdown ]

No. 2 star -- Anthony Pettis: Though Pettis' title shot was spoiled by Clay Guida, he kicked his way back into title contention on Saturday with a knockout of Joe Lauzon. He won a $65,000 Knockout of the Night bonus, and a possible rematch with Henderson.

No. 3 star -- Mark Hunt: Between 2006 and 2010, Hunt suffered six straight MMA losses. It was not a reach to think he wasn't going to be in the UFC's heavyweight division much longer. Things changed in 2011, as he took out Chris Tuchscherer, Ben Rothwell and now Cheick Kongo. One thing is clear: the 37-year-old fighter from New Zealand is not done yet.

Who were your favorites from UFC 144? Who didn't impress you? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/three-stars-hatsu-hioki-anthony-pettis-mark-hunt-145315795.html

Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz

Thomson and Misaki take decisions while ?Jacare? and Sayers cruise at Strikeforce

Josh Thomson won in his first fight in more than a year with a decision over K.J. Noons in the co-main event at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey in Ohio Saturday night. Thomson was not happy with his performance.

"It was [expletive]," Thomson told ringside commentator Mauro Ranallo after the fight.

Thomson used his wrestling prowess to control K.J. Noons for the first round and much of the second. A frustrated Noons had no idea how to get out from underneath Thomson's frame. In the third, Thomson used a beautiful takedown to set up an arm triangle choke. The submission looked close as Noons had trouble defending, but he was able to maneuver out from the choke. Still, Thomson controlled Noons' every move, and held on until the fight ended.

Though he and Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez have fought twice, a trilogy is possible.

"I do feel like [a championship shot] next," Thomson said.

In other action, a flat Paul Daley tried to grapple his way to a win over Kazuo Misaki, but it didn't work as Misaki won the split decision 30-27, 28-29, 29-28. Daley was able to get takedowns, but a faster Misaki had better stand-up. In the third, Daley threw an elbow from Misaki's closed guard to open a gushing cut just over Misaki's eye. The fight was allowed to continue as blood poured from Misaki's head like a faucet. Misaki still held on for a win.

After beating up Bristol Marunde for three and a half rounds, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza showed off his world-class jiu-jitsu with an arm triangle. Souza tapped out Marunde, who had taken the fight on short notice, at 2:43 in the third round. After the fight, Souza said he wants another chance at the Strikeforce middleweight belt, which he lost to Luke Rockhold in September.

Lumumba Sayers made quick work of Strikeforce veteran Scott Smith. He slammed Smith early, and caught him in a guillotine to end the fight at 1:34 in the first round. This is Smith's fourth loss in a row, and fourth in five fights.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/thomson-misaki-decisions-while-jacare-sayers-cruise-strikeforce-045407293.html

Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah 

Flyweight final set as Demetrious Johnson and Joe Benavidez win at UFC on FX 2

Update: UFC president Dana White announced at the post-event press conference that the McCall-Johnson decision was read incorrectly. The decision was supposed to be a draw, and the fight should've gone to a 'sudden-death' fourth round. White says the UFC will try to set up a rematch in April.

Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez took very different paths to the final, with Johnson winning a tight decision and Benavidez getting a second-round knockout at UFC on FX 2 in Australia. Those wins set them up to face off for the first ever UFC flyweight (125-lb.) championship.

Johnson survives to win split decision

Despite a terrible third round, Demetrious Johnson won the UFC's first flyweight fight in a majority decision. 29-28, 29-28, 29-29. Though the crowd in Australia yelled their displeasure, Ian McCall's strong third round was not enough for the win. The fight was originally announced as a split decision in Johnson's favor, but MMA Junkie showed score cards from on-site that showed one judge scored the first round as a 10-10 draw.

Johnson started with fast kicks followed by sticking and moving. McCall got a takedown on an inside trip, but Johnson managed a reversal and brought the fight back to the feet. McCall took advantage of a leg kick, using it to take Johnson to his back. When McCall stopped takedowns, Johnson still would make him pay on the way out with a punch or two.

The second round featured continued furious action, with the fighters standing in front of each other early in the round and trading blows. Johnson peppered McCall's legs with kicks, while McCall landed powerful shots when he could get his hands on Johnson.

Early in the third round, McCall bent over when he was inadvertently kicked in the crotch, but referee Leon Roberts did not stop the fight. Johnson took advantage and landed several punches before McCall responded.

Johnson tried a flying knee, but McCall just used it to take Johnson to the ground and land several elbows. They returned to their feet, but then McCall got another takedown. He took Johnson's back, stretched him out, and landed a bevy of strikes. Somehow, Johnson kept the fight alive and got back to his feet. With less than a minute left, Johnson tried for a takedown, but after a scramble, McCall ended up on top and then in full guard. He laid into Johnson's face with strike after strike, yelling to the crowd as he punched in the final seconds of the fight.

Benavidez earns final berth with TKO

Benavidez didn't leave it in the hands of the judges, knocking out Yasuhiro Urushitani in the second round.

Urushitani showed strong takedown defense early in the first round, but Benavidez was able to get him down late in the round. He took his back, controlling him with body triangle and a rear naked choke. However, it was too late in the round to end the fight. Urushitani survived.

Benavidez wasted no time in the second round. He knocked Urushitani down with a short right hook and finished him with ground and pound. The fight was stopped 11 seconds into the second round.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/flyweight-final-set-demetrious-johnson-joe-benavidez-win-033231860.html

Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz

Translator?s pen steals show at UFC 144

Though UFC 144 started with an impressive knockout by Issei Tamura and Vaughan Lee finishing off Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, it was the translator Mizutuma's pen that really stole the show.

The UFC asked a translator into the cage at the Saitama Super Arena to share comments from fighters and commentator Joe Rogan. She used a pen and paper to keep track of everything said. A multi-colored, fuzzy pen.

After the fights, she tweeted a picture of her pen with the introduction, "Let me introduce my partner."

If there's one thing MMA needs, it's more flair. Hopefully this pen will open the door for cage announcer Bruce Buffer to use a bedazzled microphone.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/translator-pen-steals-show-ufc-144-023715598.html

Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz