DeMarques Johnson vs. Michael Guymon

The fifth bout of UFC Fight For the Troops 2 saw DaMarques Johnson take on Mike Guymon. Johnson, an Ultimate Fighter runner-up, came into the contest 2-2 in UFC competition. Guymon's UFC record stood at 1-2.
Guymon threw a low kick and shot for a takedown to begin the fight, but was defended by Johnson who got a takedown of his own into side control. Guymon regained guard but ate some powerful elbows from Johnson. Johnson passed to the side, to full mount, and then to the back all within a few seconds time. Johnson continued to work and roll with Guymon as he looked for submissions, only to have Guymon tap a moment later. Guymon, who appeared to injure his back or midsection in the grappling, verbally submitted.
Speaking to Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview, Johnson stated, "That was just one of those things where who likes foreplay with no orgasm... I was just looking to get pressure and get a good angle, he was a big strong guy with good wrist control."

Jon "Bones" Jones vs. Ryan Bader

The greatest difference with Jones's UFC 126 outing was the increased level of hype surrounding him as he entered the Octagon. Jones had clearly broken through in terms of public awareness between his last bout, a free televised affair against Vladimir Matyushenko on Spike, and the current fight with Bader on Pay Per View from Las Vegas. A crackle could be felt in the arena as Jones, the new "it" fighter, entered. He was visibly nervous stepping inside the cage.
Once the fight began, however, Jones was once again a tour de force of MMA virtuosity, completely shutting down Bader's offense over the ensuing 9:20 of action. Bader, for his part, entered the Octagon undefeated, with what was believed to be the superior wrestling of the two men. He sought to back Jones up in the early going with aggressive standup and big overhand strikes. Jones measured his standup strikes carefully and did not open up excessively. But he wrestled Bader to the canvas more than once in round one, where Bader's work on the bottom in half guard was leaving openings for Jones to attack with a variety of front chokes, including Guillotines and D'Arces.
That theme spelled the end of the fight in round two, as Bader once again discovered himself foundering helplessly on the bottom in half guard as Jones worked for chokes. The fight-ending submission from Jones officially came at 4:20 of round two as a Guillotine forced Bader to tap. Bader had connected with a total of one solid punch in the entirety of the fight, a left hook to Jones midway through. It was his only bright spot on a night in which he was completely outclassed.
The drama continued in the Octagon immediately after Jones's victory as he was informed by ringside announcer Joe Rogan during the post-fight interview that his close friend and teammate Rashad Evans, who had been scheduled to fight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua for the title, had been forced off the card due to a knee injury. Jones was being granted an immediate title shot in his place. An overjoyed Jones fell to his knees in thanks. Shogun entered the cage moments later and welcomed the challenge. Reports were that Ticketmaster phone lines lit up within moments of the live announcement as fans sought a chance to see the UFC's apparent next big thing fight for the title in person.

The Cowboy vs. Paul Kelly

Cerrone immediately dove under a punch from Kelly, that may have been as Cerrone was looking to touch gloves. Cerrone took Kelly down and briefly had mount, yet Kelly popped up to his feet and threw a pair of knees. Kelly came in again with a flying knee that had Cerrone on the defensive but looking composed. Kelly continued to score, landing first with punches as Cerrone could only land a couple of low kicks. Kelly landed again with his right hand and countered Cerrone effectively, and was nearly dominating the striking. Cerrone landed a takedown with just over a minute remaining in the fight and worked some elbows from half guard as the round ended. Kelly was cut wide open by an elbow with seconds remaining.
Cerrone dug a series of low kicks into Kelly's leg to begin round 3. Kelly again found success with his striking, yet Cerrone completed a takedown with three minutes left and soon found full mount. Kelly gave up his back to escape the ground and pound onslaught, and in the transition Cerrone locked on a body triangle and then attacked for a rear naked choke. Softening Kelly up with punches, he finally sunk in the tight rear naked choke that forced the tappet.
Speaking to Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview, Cerrone commented, "I'm glad to be here and show that WEC guys deserve to be here… that's Greg Jackson's jiu jitsu, my training partners are the best in the world."

Paul Taylor vs. Gabe Ruediger... Head kick!!

Taylor came out early and landed good combinations to Ruediger. The fight moved to the clinch where Taylor finally broke free and continued to unload with powerful combinations. Ruediger brought the fight to the clinch again, looking to wrestle Taylor to the ground, yet was shaken off and onto his back. Again Ruediger looked to bring the fight to the mat but Taylor's defensive wrestling enabled him to stay standing. Referee Kim Winslow broke the fighters up from the clinch where Taylor again won the next exchange. The round ended with Ruediger unable to avoid yet another series of punches that landed flush, and having not completed a takedown attempt.
Taylor started round two landing again and preferring to stay standing despite an opportunity to take top position on the ground. Ruediger was overwhelmed standing with the moments in the clinch his only respite. Ruediger desperately worked to get the fight down again, and as Taylor broke free he unloaded a combination of punches to the head capped off by a gruesome left kick to the head. The kick sent Ruediger straight down to the mat where Taylor landed one more unnecessary combination to cap off his impressive KO victory.

Best Woman Fight--- Amanda Nunes vs. Julia Budd

Amanda Nunes, a Brazilian female MMA fighter entering Strikeforce Challengers on a five fight win streak, blasted out the bigger and more muscular Julia Budd in only 0:14 to record one of the fastest knockouts, not only in women's MMA, but in the sport's all-time record books. Nunes, with only a scant three years of MMA training and fighting experience, jumped out guns blazing in the Challengers 13 undercard event, squaring her hips up to her opponent in retro Chute Boxe fashion and launching lefts and rights in peppering combination.
A crisp straight left from that opening barrage landed squarely on the chin of Budd, dropping her to the canvas where Nunes followed up with a series of hammerfists. Referee Jeff Mackens rightly intervened as Budd was separated from her senses. The quick loss dropped Budd to an overall record of 1-1, both fights in the Strikeforce promotion.

The Machine vs. George Roop

Mark Hominick polished off George Roop in under 90 seconds at UFC's Fight for the Troops fundraising event on January 22, 2011 with the latest in a series of impressive performances for the streaking featherweight. Hominick's dominant striking display was the first of three fights in a row to end by first round knockout on the night. But Hominick's was the fastest, and also carried extra weight, as he earned a title shot with the win against vaunted Brazilian 145 lb. champion Jose Aldo.
Roop, the taller of the two fighters, started out game in the opening seconds with good kicking at range as well as punching combinations. But Hominick quickly found his rhythm and began tagging Roop with precision shots to the head. By the one minute mark Hominick was stalking Roop down, who clearly had no answer for Hominick's standup skill. The end came at 1:28 with a left hook to the jaw that dropped the stunned Roop. Referee Don Turnage quickly stepped in to call an end to the bout as Roop slumped against the fencing.
“You have to make statements with your performances, and I think I did that tonight,” said Hominick, who improved to 20-8 with the win. Roop momentarily challenged the stoppage, but quickly accepted it as he stumbled around the Octagon upon standing back up.

What do you find more exciting? Knockout or Submission

Personally I think in a MMA match there is nothing more exciting than a good match up. Having to evenly matched players fighting against one another truly shows the greatness of this sport. These fighters train harder and tougher than any athletes in the world. I find the knock out more exciting and eye catching than a great submission. There's nothing more exciting to see someone work so hard and then all it takes is one hit and all that work goes away. Respecting both the fighters for stepping up to the challenge is in everyone's minds but seeing one of them get there lights knocked out, is priceless. I take nothing away from the submission game cause I think the ground game is also very exciting. I respect all the technique that is required to get positions and to sweep your oponent. Don't get me wrong I get excited seeing someone get tapped out and screaming in pain cause there arm is about to get torn from its socket. Which one do you think is more exciting??????