Paulo Thiago defeated Jacob Volkmann at UFC 106 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
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Here is how it happened:
Volkmann is a southpaw, giving Thiago even more reason to want to get the fight to the ground. Thiago started it with a head-kick attempt that did not land, then tried to get close. Volkmann had an arm while Thiago had his back to the fence, but Thiago was able to take him down. Thiago worked into Volkmann’s half-guard, but could not maintain it as Volkmann used the fence to get up. Two minutes in, Volkmann already was cut on the bridge of the nose.
With 2:38 remaining, Thiago took down Volkmann into full mount. But Volkmann battled back into half guard, then full guard, then to the feet as Thiago separated. The final 76 seconds were on the feet, but it was mostly posturing, as Thiago landed a big right at the bell that finished a combination and nearly his opponent.
Volkmann appeared somewhat worse for wear, as Thiago leveled him with a low kick, but Volkmann scored a takedown into side control and pushed hard for the mount as Thiago sat with his back to the fence. Thiago scrambled to get it back on the feet, where the pair postured for position, mostly against the fence, as the crowd grew restless. Volkmann worked it to the ground and appeared ready to mount when Thiago pulled out, stood up and landed a big shot. Thiago sunk into Volkmann’s guard, backed out of it, landed a big blow and dove into side control, where he stayed until the end of the round.
The third-round feeling-out period lasted 30 seconds, when Thiago was able to land a solid right hand that put Volkmann on the canvas. Volkmann and Thiago traded good position on the ground for a minute before they stood up. Volkmann stayed on his back as Thiago tried to reign down blows to set up a mount, but Volkmann swept right into side control. Volkmann trapped Thiago’s left arm but could not capitalize with punishment, eventually ending up on his back while Thiago stood up, threw down a right hand and powered into side control. With 40 second left, Volkmann nearly pulled off a D’Arce choke from the bottom, then lost it as Thiago moved again to the side and landed a few blows. The closely contested ground war went to Thiago.
Thiago via unanimous decision, 30-27 twice, and 29-28
“I thought I was going to knock him out,” Thiago said of the punch at the end of the first round. “But that guy is really tough, he put on a good show.”
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