UFC 89 Live Blog – Bielkheden vs Liaudin

Nothing much to report from the first round, other than three or four questionable knees that referee Kevin Mulholland (here in the UK for the first time) totally missed – Liaudin seemed to have a hand down on the mat at the time. Bielkheden looks far stronger, but Jess is game and ended the first round strong from top after stuffing one of the Swede’s takedowns.

Bielkheden keeps going for takedown after takedown but doesn’t do mch from top other than defend takedowns. His usual fearsome GnP is nowhere to be seen, and Jess is slowly making his own mark on the fight – that is, until Bielkheden lands a big elbow to the temple that gets the claret flowing.

Liaudin lands my favourite move, the rolling kimura, off a single leg takedown attempt as the fight ends but it’s not enough to snatch victory from Bielkheden, who wins by unanimous decision.

As the fighters leave the Octagon Jess walks past me and stops to inform me that he broke his ribs in the first two minutes of the fight. Ouch.