411's UFC Fight Night 17 Report 2.07.09

Posted by Jeremy Lambert on 02.07.2009

Joe Lauzon continued his rise up the Lightweight division with an impressive performance over a very tough Jeremy Stephens. Plus Cain Valesquez dominated another Heavyweight and proved that he is all that is hyped to be. Click for the full report.

-UFC Fight Night 17
-Live from Tampa, Florida on SpikeTV

-Warrior intro with Stephens promising a KO and Lauzon promising punishment.

-Hosted by Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan. Goldberg talks about the 155 division, which segues into Rogan breaking down the main event between Lauzon and Stephens.

-Video preview for Luigi Fioravanti vs. Anthony Johnson

Welterweight Fight: Luigi Fioravanti (13-4) vs. Anthony Johnson (6-2)

Round One: Inside leg kick by Johnson after a slow start. Neither guy engaging much. Johnson using kicks to keep the distance. Luigi throwing with power but not connecting. Hard leg kicks by Johnson. Luigi shoots for a single but Johnson stays on his feet. They clinch on the cage and Johnson catches a knee to the cup. Johnson recovers and is ready to go. Johnson getting the better of the exchanges. Big right drops Luigi. Head kick as Luigi shoots. Johnson rushes in. Johnson pounds him out and it looks like Luigi taps. The ref jumps in.

Official Decision: Anthony Johnson by TKO at 4:39 in Round One

-Johnson is happy he won but didn't think his performance was great.

-Video preview for Josh Neer vs. Mac Danzig

Lightweight Fight: Josh Neer (24-7-1) vs. Mac Danzig (19-5-1)

Round One: Head kick by Danzig but Neer catches him with a right. Danzig covers against the cage and Neer lands combos. Danzig survives and clinches. They break and Neer has his lands really low. Another clinch and Neer scores with the uppercut. Left jabs by Danzig followed by a big right. They clinch against the cage and Neer just missing with the elbow. Uppercuts by Neer in the clinch. They break and Danzig lands a right. Neer is cut. Knees to the body by Neer in the clinch. Leg kicks by Danzig. Danzig drops Neer with a right hook as he comes in with a push kick. Danzig tries to follow up but Neer survives. Danzig in the guard of Neer. Neer goes for a triangle. Danzig escapes but Neer punishes him on the way up. Showboating by both. They trade jabs. Neer presses forward as the round ends. 10-9 Neer.

Round Two: Neer pressing forward and Danzig scores with some jabs. Neer stuffs a takedown and gets on top. Big elbows by Neer in the guard of Danzig. Neer postures up and continues to drop elbows. Neer passes the side control. Danzig spins but gives up his back in turtle position. Neer tries to get in the hooks but Danzig slips out the back and is now in the half guard of Neer. Neer gets him in guard and does a good job controlling Danzig. Neer wants a stand up. Neer goes for a triangle. It's deep. Danzig taps out.

Official Decision: Josh Neer by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 3:36 in Round Two

-The fans are booing Neer. Neer thought a headbutt caused the cut near his eye.

-Video promo for UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson. The show will be free on SpikeTV.

-Brian Boyle from the show DEA joins Joe Rogan. Boyle talks about the show and a preview for Season 2 is shown.

-Video preview for Cain Valesquez vs. Denis Stojnic

Heavyweight Fight: Denis Stognic (12-1) vs. Cain Valesquez (4-0)

Round One: They trade jabs. Stognic going for broke but missing. They clinch and Cain with knees to the thigh. Plum clinch by Cain. Big knees followed by big punches. They break. Cain with heavy jabs. More big knees by Cain. Knees to the body by Cain. Stognic covers up in the corner and Cain with big jabs. Leg kicks by Cain. Stognic covers again and Cain punches the body. Leg kicks by Cain. A right stumbles Stognic. Stognic surviving. Cain picking him apart with the jab and leg kicks. Round ends. 10-9 Cain.

Round Two: Cain just picking apart Stognic. Takedown by Cain. He passes to side control. Cain gets the Salaverry position and comes down with punches. Cain his him in the turtle position and just punches him in the head. Stognic is bloodied up. Salaverry position again and more big punches by Cain. Ref close to stopping it. Cain relentless with punches and Stognic does nothing but cover up. The ref finally stops it.

Official Decision: Cain Valesquez by TKO at 2:34 in Round Two

-Cain was disappointed with the finish.

Lightweight Fight (Preliminary Fight): Matt Grice vs. Matt Veach

Round One: Dirty boxing by both men. Veach gets a takedown and is in guard. Grice gets back to his feet. Veach shoots but Grice stuffs and gets an anaconda choke but Veach escapes. Back to the feet. Dirty boxing by both. Big uppercut by Grice that drops Veach. Grice follows up and tries to finish. Big punches by Grice on the ground. Veach surviving. Grice passes to half guard. Grice slips to mount but Veach rolls him back to half guard. Veach tries to explode to his feet. Grice looks to a guillotine but Veach escapes and ends up on top. They stand. Big hooks by Geice. Veach shoots and it's stuffed. Big punches by Grice. They both swing wildly. Veach drops him and pounds him out. The ref stops it.

-Grice is very upset with the stoppage. Looked early.

Official Decision: Matt Veach by TKO at 4:34 in Round One

-Veach thought the fight was going to be stopped when he was dropped.

-Video preview for Jeremy Stephens vs. Joe Lauzon

Lightweight Fight (Main Event): Jeremy Stephens (16-3) vs. Joe Lauzon (16-4)

Round One: Lauzon drops down and pulls guard. Lauzon using a butterfly guard and has a body lock. Stephens gets to his feet but Lauzon still has a body lock. High knee by Stephens in the clinch. Lauzon drops down for a leg lock but Stephens escapes to his feet. Lauzon with a big takedown and gets side control. Stephens gets him back to guard. Lauzon presses Stephens against the cage and lands multple elbows. Lauzon passes to half guard and slips to mount. Lauzon goes for an armbar. Stephens defends but Lauzon still has the position. Stephens escapes and is now in guard. Big punches by Stephens. Lauzon gets to his feet and goes for a guillotine. Stephens pops his head out. Round ends. 10-9 Lauzon.

Round Two: Wild exchanges and both men land good punches. Lauzon gets a takedown and is in half guard. Lauzon passes to side control. Lauzon doing a good job controlling Stephens on the ground. Lauzon passes to mount. Stephens gives up his back and Lauzon gets the hooks in. Stephens rolls into the guard of Lauzon. Big elbows by Stephens. Lauzon is cut on the forehead. Stephens has Lauzon in the turtle position. Stephens tries to take the back but Lauzon slips out and gets side control on Stephens. Lauzon passes to mount. He goes for the armbar. Stephens rolls but ends up tapping.

Official Decision: Joe Lauzon by Submission (Armbar) at 4:43 in Round Two

-Lauzon says he wants to fight someone tough.

Middleweight Fight (Preliminary Fight): Dan Miller vs. Jake Rosholt

Round One: Rosholt shoots in and gets the takedown. Miller goes for a leg lock. He uses the to sweep. Rosholt goes for a double and Miller locks in a guillotine choke. Rosholt taps.

Official Decision: Dan Miller by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:03 in Round One

-Miller just loves fighting.

-Rogan and Goldberg wrap up the night.

-End show.