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Welcome to the PWInsiderXtra.com live coverage of the UFC 144 Preliminary Card, live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Fight #1 - UFC Featherweight Division Fight
Tiequan Zhang (18-2-0) vs. Issei Tamura (6-2-0)
Referee: Herb Dean
Round One
The round begins with Tamura popping Zhang early with a left hook, Tamura then catches Zhang with a right following a takedown attempt that fails. Tamura then gets on top of a fallen Zhang and attacks him with ground and pound, Tamura then transitions to half guard while attacking with strikes. Tamura then backs Zhang into the fence while attacking with hammer fists, the referee stands up the fighters after inactivity and Tamura hits Zhang with a counter left. Tamura then scores a takedown and he winds up in a guillotine choke from Zhang, Tamura breaks free and attacks with some strikes. Zhang then attempts an arm triangle choke from his back and he fails at it, Tamura lands a few more strikes as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Zhang immediately attacking Tamura with leg kicks, Tamura then catches Zhang with a counter right and Zhang goes out cold. Tamura lands a few more on the ground as the referee jumps in.
Fight Result: Issei Tamura def. Tiequan Zhang by KO via punch (0:32, R2)
Post fight interview with Issei Tamura, who says it is his dream come true to compete in the UFC and it felt great to win.
Fight #2 - UFC Bantamweight Division Fight
Chris Cariaso (12-3-0) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (15-6-2)
Referee: Leon Roberts
Round One
The round begins with Mizugaki catching Cariaso with a counter right during a kick attempt, Mizugaki then catches Cariaso again with a counter right. Cariaso responds by hitting Mizugaki with a three punch combination, Cariaso follows it up by landing a few short rights. Cariaso then stumbles Mizugaki backwards with a left, Mizugaki then scores a takedown on Cariaso and he gets the open guard. Cariaso rolls for an omaplata and Mizugaki scrambles to escape, Mizugaki gets back on top of a sitting Cariaso. Mizugaki eventually starts attacking Cariaso with some ground and pound, Cariaso tries to attack Mizugaki with elbow strikes from his back. Mizugaki lands some elbow strikes of his own as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Mizugaki charging at Cariaso while throwing strikes, Mizugaki then powers Cariaso up against the cage wall. Mizugaki then catches Cariaso with a counter right during a high kick attempt, Cariaso then leaps in to pop Mizugaki with a left. Mizugaki then runs at Cariaso and forces him against the cage wall, Cariaso switches positions with Mizugaki as both attempt knee strikes. Mizugaki then scores a takedown on Cariaso and he gets the full guard, Mizugaki postures up and lands a few punches on Cariaso. Cariaso uses a hundred percent sweep on Mizugaki to get the fight standing, Cariaso and Mizugaki exchange strikes as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Cariaso landing a head kick on Mizugaki, Mizugaki then forces Cariaso up against the cage wall. Both fighters then exchange some knee strikes while in the clinch, Mizugaki uses a few elbow strikes to block a Cariaso takedown attempt. Mizugaki then pops a charging Cariaso with a straight left to the head, the fighters clinch up and Cariaso lands a few short range strikes. Cariaso then slips during a head kick attempt and Mizugaki jumps right on top of him, Mizugaki then attacks Cariaso with some ground and pound. Mizugaki then transitions to half guard on Cariaso, Cariaso quickly responds by getting Mizugaki back into the full guard. The fighters stand up and exchange some strikes as the round ends.
Fight Result: Chris Cariaso def. Takeya Mizugaki by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fight #3 - UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Steve Cantwell (7-5-0) vs. Riki Fukuda (17-5-0)
Referee: Marc Goddard
Round One
The round begins with Fukuda eating a head kick from Cantwell as he scored the takedown, Fukuda then catches Cantwell with short range punches. Fukuda then postures up and he starts landing a ton of strikes, Cantwell then uses a scramble to get the fight standing. Cantwell then starts attacking Fukuda with low level leg kicks, Cantwell then nails an incoming Fukuda with a right. Fukuda then goes for a takedown and Cantwell stuffs it, Fukuda then starts attacking Cantwell with leg kicks. Cantwell then attempts and misses a superman punch on Fukuda, Fukuda the resumes his leg kick attack on Cantwell. Cantwell then lands a kick to the midsection of Fukuda as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Fukuda resuming his leg kick attack on Cantwell, Fukuda then nails Cantwell with a straight left. Fukuda then scores a takedown on Cantwell and he gets caught in a guillotine choke, Fukuda eventually escapes and both fighters stand up. Both fighters clinch and then exchange several knee strikes, Cantwell then nails Fukuda with a lead left hook. Fukuda then catches Cantwell with a kick to the rib cage, Fukuda then backs Cantwell up while landing a ton of punches. Cantwell then goes for a spinning elbow strike and Fukuda avoids it, Fukuda then continues his striking assault on Cantwell. Fukuda then returns to attacking Cantwell with a series of leg kicks, Cantwell then gets caught with an uppercut from Fukuda. Fukuda then accidentally kicks Cantwell in the testicular region and the fight is halted, the fight resumes with both fighters simultaneously kicking each other. Cantwell then scores a takedown on Fukuda and he gets back control as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Fukuda immediately attacking Cantwell with leg kicks, Cantwell then backs Fukuda up with a head kick attempt. Cantwell then barely lands a spinning roundhouse kick on Fukuda, Fukuda then nails Cantwell with a few uppercuts. Fukuda then scores a takedown on Cantwell and he gets the closed guard, Cantwell then starts going for submissions from his back. Fukuda then uses a scramble to get back control on Cantwell, Fukuda then gets side control after Cantwell rolls. Cantwell then finds a way to get the fight back onto the feet, Fukuda then goes for more leg kicks on Cantwell. Fukuda then lands a series of strikes to the midsection of Cantwell, Fukuda follows it up by landing a body kick on Cantwell. Fukuda then lands a push kick on Cantwell as the round ends.
Fight Result: Riki Fukuda def. Steve Cantwell by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Fight #4 - UFC Bantamweight Division Fight
Vaughan Lee (11-7-1) vs. Norifumi Yamamoto (18-5-0-1NC)
Referee: Herb Dean
Round One
The round begins with both fighters circling each other around the octagon, Lee connects first by landing a left on Yamamoto. Yamamoto then dives at Lee and he catches him with a left hook, Yamamoto then catches Lee with a right hook. Yamamoto follows it up by charging at Lee and nailing him with a lot of strikes, Lee then catches a backing Yamamoto with a flying knee strike. Lee then catches Yamamoto with a counter right hook to the jaw, Lee then catches Yamamoto with a multi punch combination. Yamamoto then scores a takedown on Lee while being dazed from the earlier strike, Lee then locks up an arm bar from an original triangle choke attempt and a tap out follows.
Fight Result: Vaughan Lee def. Norifumi Yamamoto by submission via arm bar (4:29, R1)
Post fight interview with Vaughna Lee, who says it is a dream come to fight Kid Yamamoto and to have a fight in Japan. Post fight interview with Norifumi Yamamoto, who says he is disappointed in his performance and he will learn from the loss.
Fight #5 - UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Takanori Gomi (32-8-0) vs. Eiji Mitsouka (18-7-2)
Referee: Leon Roberts
Round One
The round begins with Mitsouka charging at Gomi while throwing punches, Mitsouka then catches Gomi with a counter right. Mitsouka then backs Gomi up with a straight left to the head, both fighters clinch and exchange knee strikes. Mitsouka then starts attacking Gomi with some leg kicks, Mitsouka then chases Gomi and hits him with a right. Mitsouka then nails Gomi with a kick to the midsection, Gomi responds by clobbering Mitsouka with an uppercut. Gomi then catches Mitsouka with a body kick after eating a left, Mitsouka then drops Gomi with a counter right. Mitsouka then gets back control on Gomi and he locks in a mounted triangle as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Gomi landing a kick to the midsection of Mitsouka, Gomi then catches Mitsouka with a two punch combination. Mitsouka then scores a takedown on Gomi after getting hit with a few more strikes, the fighters stand up and Gomi lands a knee strike on Mitsouka. Gomi then nails Mitsouka with a knee strike and uppercut, Mitsouka then goes for another takedown on Gomi stuffs it. Gomi then attacks Mitsouka with some strikes as he held onto the legs, Gomi spins to back control on Mitsouka and he attacks him with strikes until the referee jumps in.
Fight Result: Takanori Gomi def. Eiji Mitsouka by TKO via strikes (2:21, R2)
Post fight interview with Takanori Gomi, who says that the “Fireball Kid†is back and he thanks his opponent for taking the short notice fight.
