UFC Fight Night 20: Sadollah scores decision over Blackburn

UFC Fight Night 20

UFC Press

Fairfax, Va. -- The cheers for hometown boy Amir Sadollah started when he entered the Patriot Center and did not stop until he left.

Sadollah (3-1), from Richmond, scored a unanimous-decision victory over Brad Blackburn on Monday at UFC Fight Night 20, in front of an adoring public in the stands and an audience that got familiar with him on Spike TV a couple of years ago.

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The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 winner surprised everyone in winning the reality show and took a big step up in his young professional career with a win over Blackburn (15-10-1, 1 NC), who had been 3-0 in the UFC.

Both fighters traded in the middle of the Octagon for the first 90 seconds.  Sadollah bounced and danced, while Blackburn measured.  Sadollah tried to stop Blackburn's strikes down the middle by lifting his knee forward, with moderate effect. 

Blackburn got the better of the stand up and stayed free of Sadollah's clinch.  With 48 seconds left, Sadollah connected with a right hand that staggered Blackburn, who narrowly recovered, grabbed a leg and got down Sadollah.  Sadollah got position on the ground but could not finish, even though he stole the round.

With the crowd chanting "Sa-dol-lah", the second round featured the pair trading in the center of the Octagon for the first 45 seconds before Blackburn pushed Sadaollah against the cage and held him there for 30 seconds.  After 20 more seconds, Blackburn did it again and referee Mario Yamasaki  broke them up with 2:43 left. 

Blackburn landed a right that dropped Sadollah for a moment at the midway point of the round, then pressed him against the cage again.  Blackburn went for a takedown but Sadollah stuffed it, only to end up with his back to the fence again.  They traded for the final 90 seconds, and the round went to Sadaollah. 

Sadollah connected with a big knee that staggered Blackburn in the first 20 seconds of Round Three, but Blackburn somehow recovered and got to the ground, with Sadollah in his guard.  Sadollah worked into side control but Blackburn got back into half guard and then guard when Sadollah tried for mount. 

Sadollah went for ground and pound, backing out of the guard, then battled again for side control as Blackburn held firm in the half guard as time wore down under a minute.  The fight finished in that position as Yamasaki let them work perhaps too much.

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