00:26: Well, I’m pleased I called that right. Evans was showing some good footwork and head movement but really wasn’t impressive. Better than the Little Nog fight, but that’s not saying much.
Overall this card was decent, not a barn burner but some good fights. The prelims in particular impressed. I went 2-9 on predictions, but frankly I feel robbed with Pague and Woodley! Sub and KO of the night are academic, as the only one of each were for Krause and Jordan respectively. FOTN I think should go to Krause/Stout, which would make this a nice payday for Krause!
That’s all folks. It’s nearly 5:30am here, so I need to sleep! Thanks for joining us, we’ll be back in July for UFC 162.
00:23: UFC 161 results: Rashad Evans def. Dan Henderson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
00:21: Rashad is definitely the better fighter, and some good flurries in this round means he probably takes it. I have 29-28 for Rashad…
00:15: Henderson is managing to neutralise the takedowns, and therefore the superior wrestling, of Rashad that many said was his key to victory. That round could go either way but probably Hendo’s. 20-18.
00:09: Very cagey first round, but Hendo wobbled him near the end. Based on the effective strikes, 10-9 Hendo.
00:00: At the stroke of midnight, we are ready for a three round main event. Rashad Evans .vs. Dan Henderson!
23:50: It’s basically daytime in the UK now (almost 5am). Just our main event to go, but I think that last fight will be the story of this card. Miocic has got to be in line for a big fight later in the year – maybe Hunt, Mir or even Werdum? I’m ashamed of how bad my picks have turned out, I’ve only picked Clarke so far, and I’ve got Rashad in the main event. Let’s hope he does it for me.
23:48: UFC 161 results: Stipe Miocic def. Roy Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). No one saw that one coming. A very impressive result for Miocic, but this will knock Nelson way down the HW pecking order. A really interesting fight for the future of a somewhat shallow division.
23:46: If you listen closely, you can hear Dana White popping champagne right now. I have this 30-27 for a very impressive Miocic.
23:40: Wow. Miocic is absolutely bossing Nelson. As much as we love him, Nelson is a very limited fighter. Miocic seems to have him scouted and really sharpened his skills. 20-18 Miocic.
23:34: That was not the first round anyone expected. Miocic got some great shots in, and Nelson didn’t really get to connect. Miocic could have finished it with a minute to go, but he takes the first round for me.
23:28: Okay. Forget that abomination – its Big Country time.
CO-MAIN EVENT TIME! @roynelsonmma v @smiocic, fireworks predicted! #UFC161 pic.twitter.com/EuJs5km0uX
— UFC United Kingdom (@UFC_UK) June 16, 2013
23:17: I was distracted by a cat, but I assume that round 3 was dull? UFC 161 Results: Ryan Jimmo def. Igor Pokrajac by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
23:10: A dominant round on the mat from Jimmo. Pokrajac didn’t really manage to do anything, a potential 10-8 round. 23:03: As it starts to get light in the UK, Ryan Jimmo controls the distance and hits some big shots. 10-9 Jimmo.
22:58: Jimmo .vs. Pokrajac now. I’m not giving my predictions since I’m 1-7 so far…
22:53: UFC 161 Results: Alexis Davis def. Rosi Sexton by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
22:39: That was a lot less close, Davis nearly finished the fight with ground and pound. Probably 20-18 to Davis now.
22:33: Davis is dangerous with that triangle but she took a lot of damage. Great fight so far, I’d say just 10-9 to Davis.
22:22: It’s time for Davis .vs. Sexton. I’m picking Sexton as a dark horse here.
22:14: Not a lot to say about this fight – Jordan with a massive knockout! Impressive backflip too.
22:03: The boss isn’t happy with that last result:
Does anyone think Jake won that fight!?! WTF??? — Dana White (@danawhite) June 16, 2013
22:00: And here we go! Main card time. First fight will be Barry .vs. Jordan – remember these two have 21 knockout finishes in 31 fights. This will be a good one.
21:59: UFC 161 results: Jake Shields def. Tyron Woodley via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28). I was wrong…
21:58: Jake Shields took round 2 with good strikes, but I thought Woodley took rounds 1 and 3.
21:46: Close round but Tyron Woodley probably getting the best of the striking here. Think this will come down to cardio. 10-9 Woodley.
21:32: Just one prelim left – Jake Shields .vs. Tyron Woodley. This is a big one!
21:28: UFC 161 results: James Krause def. Sam Stout via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 4:47. In a fight that could have gone either way in the judges hands, Krause did extremely well to get the late submission.
21:21: Krause controlled that round better, and won that round. Stout has the experience to dig deep though.
21:14: Sam Stout is bleeding out here, his eye took serious damage. Close first round. I THINK I give that round to Stout but very close.
21:04: A fair result for that I think. Krause .vs. Stout next!
20:59: UFC 161 results: Sean Pierson def. Kenny Robertson via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
20:57: Pierson dominated round 2 in the same fashion as the first, but Robertson brought it in round 3 with some great striking and great ground and pound. Don’t think it will be enough though – I score it 29-28 Pierson.
20:46: Good first round from Pierson with good wrestling, but both landed shots and did damage. 10-9 Pierson.
20:36: Wrestling legend and MMA fan Lance Storm asks a question we all want to know:
What are there more of in MMA, guys with tattoos, cauliflower ears, or crocked noses? — Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) June 16, 2013
20:33: We now move on to Robertson .vs. Pierson, I’ve got Robertson here.
20:29: UFC 161 results: Roland Delorme def. Edwin Figueroa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). I had it 29-28 to Figueroa based on big damage in rounds 2 and 3, but what can you do. Canada 3-0 so far tonight!
20:22: As I predicted, Delorme was struggling with the pace in round 2. Good submission attempts from Figueroa and some big ground and pound. I give it 10-9 to Figueroa to tie it up.
08:16: Delorme dominated round 1 on the ground, but Figueroa did well to defend with one arm. 10-9 to Delorme.
20:04: Hmm, funnily enough Yves Jabouin saw that first fight differently from us:
Jabouin: “and I thought I was a shot or two away from finishing it. It was a war, I can’t wait to go back home and sleep after that.” — MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) June 16, 2013
19:55: 5 minute break now as we head for the main prelim show. FX in the US, Sportsnet in Canada and ESPN or UFC.tv in the UK.
19:54: UFC 161 results: Mitch Clarke def. John Maguire via decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). I called it right. Good win for Clarke.
19:52: I have that 29-28 Clarke but could easily be 30-27. Maguire showed some decent ground work in round 3 but too little too late. Decision incoming…
19:47:
“Define this round…make a statement” cornerman code for “you’re losing this fight 20-18.” #UFC — GrappleTalk (@GrappleTalk) June 15, 2013
19:45: Similar story in round 2, Maguire just hasn’t got into this fight. Clarke neutralised the ground attack and has dominated on the feet. Another 10-9 for Clarke.
19:39: Clarke looked good in round 1, John Maguire didn’t really do much with his back control. 10-9 Clarke.
19:35: Herb Dean has tweeted the reffing running order for tonight. Herb is doing the main, newbie Jerin Valel gets the co-main.
19:28: Lots of complaints about that first result. At any rate, here comes John Maguire with his excellent flash dance walkout!
‘You know the best thing about MMA? Guys actually get in there and fight to find out who’s better.’ Except, well, in cases like this. — Dann Stupp (@MMAjunkieDann) June 15, 2013
19:25: UFC 161 results: Yves Jabouin def. Dustin Pague via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). You can understand how it would be seen that way with Jabouin on top, but I don’t think Jabouin deserved to win with so little work. Tough break for Pague. 19:23: A dominant ground performance from Dustin Pague with eight serious submission attempts. Jabouin hasn’t done enough on top and in the guard, while Pague looked much better in the ground and pound he did get. I’ve scored it 30-27 to Pague. Decision imminent… 18:58: Last but absolutely not least, your main event – Rashad Evans .vs. Dan Henderson. 
Both coming off disappointing losses and both looking to get back into the title picture, this is a fight between two sure fire future hall of famers. Though Evans is coming off losses to champion Jon Jones and Little Nog, he still has only three losses on his impressive resume, which includes being a former UFC champion. Henderson is a true legend of the sport and will be looking to prove that he can still do it at 42. Hungry for that title shot he should have had at UFC 151, Henderson will still be looking for a big win. Superior wrestling and relative youth means that I’m picking Evans. 18:50: The journalists are ready..
“Best thing about a UFC in Winnipeg? The arena has a Tim Horton’s in it. Coffee and donuts all night, what?! — Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) June 15, 2013“
18:45: Originally on the prelims, Igor Pokrajac .vs. Ryan Jimmo was bumped up to the main card due to the injury to Little Nog.
Ten year veteran Pokrajac is coming off two losses, though his loss to Joey Beltran was overturned due to Beltran failing a drug test, while Jimmo is 1-1 in his UFC career so far coming into this fight in his home country. On experience and need for a win, I’m picking Pokrajac.
Your co-main event is another fight that was hastily thrown on the pay per view, Roy Nelson .vs. Stipe Miocic.
Nelson is on an absolute tear, with three first round knockout wins on the bounce, while Miocic suffered his first career loss in his last fight, getting knocked out by Stefan Struve. Another win would give him a strong case for title contention, and I’m picking Nelson for another KO win.
18:30: Kicking off the main card will be a heavyweight bout between Pat Barry .vs. Shawn Jordan.
These men have had a combined 31 fights, with just four going to the judges and 21 finishing by knockout. This has the potential to be a KO of the night fight. This will be a close fight that could go either way, but I’m picking Pat Barry for very little reason.
Following that will be Alexis Davis .vs. Rosi Sexton.
Davis is a big name in WMMA. She has wins over Julie Kedzie and Amanda Nunes for Strikeforce, and a deadly Gracie submission game. Sexton is the first British women’s fighter in the UFC, and has been around in the MMA world for over 10 years. With 13 wins and only two losses (to Gina Carano and Zoila Gurgel), I’m picking the veteran Rosi Sexton.
18:15: Rounding off the FX card will firstly be Sam Stout .vs. James Krause.
Stout is a UFC veteran, despite being just 29 this is his 7th year in the UFC, has nine wins and no losses by knockout. Krause is a submission specialist making his UFC debut with an impressive 19-4 record. The home country advantage and UFC experience mean that I’m picking Stout.
Your prelim main event is a mouth watering contest, Jake Shields .vs. Tyron Woodley.
Shields was undefeated in five years before losing to UFC Welterweight Champ George St Pierre and Jake Ellenberger, but a drug test failure next year put Shields on the shelf. The experienced Gracie fighter will be looking to get things back on track here, while the young upstart Tyron Woodley has just one defeat on his record, with wins over Tarec Saffedine and Jordan Mein. With time on side and an exciting style, I’m picking Woodley.
18:00: Kicking off the FX prelims will be Roland Delorme .vs. Edwin Figueroa.
Delorme is coming off a year long lay off, after a loss to Francisco Rivera which was later overturned when Rivera failed a drug test, Figueroa on the other hand is coming off a loss to Rivera at UFC 156 in February. I think the lay off will be too long for Delorme – I’m picking Figueroa.
Next will be Kenny Robertson .vs. Sean Pierson.
Pierson is on a two fight winning streak after a disappointing start to his UFC career, but Robertson is eight years younger than his opponent. He last fought in February, submitting Brock Jardine. A superior record and time on his side means I’m picking Robertson.
17:45: Over the next hour we’ll be previewing tonight’s contests. The first fight on the Facebook prelims is Dustin Pague .vs. Yves Jabouin.
Jabouin is coming off a loss to Brad Pickett at UFC on Fuel 5 back in September, while Pague is 0-2 in his last two fights, including a narrow split decision loss to Ken Stone. With the UFC ruthless with cuts at the moment, Pague must be near his last chance. I think this prospect will drive him to eek out a win. I’m picking Pague.
Then, England’s John Maguire will take on Mitch “Danger Zone” Clarke.
Clarke is in his home country here but has lost both his UFC fights so far, including being knocked out by John Cholish, while Maguire is also on a two fight losing streak but does own a submission victory over DaMarques Johnson in his UFC debut. Due to experience, I’m picking Maguire.
FX prelim previews coming soon!
11:00: Tonight we’ll have LIVE updates of UFC 161 including prelim bouts, starting at 7pm EST/12am GMT. Get prepped for UFC 161 with our official PTBN preview, and join us back here later on!
