TUF 17 star Uriah Hall outclassed Chris Leben and showed worlds of potential en route to a technical knockout win in the featured bout on the UFC 168 preliminary card.
Hall knocked Leben down with a flying knee in the opening seconds and was in control of the entire bout. He peppered Leben with stiff jabs and kicks, while utilizing his superior speed and footwork to keep at a safe distance.
In the dying seconds of round one, Hall hit his opponent with a flush right hand that sent Leben to the ground. Hall followed up with more punches, but Leben was saved by the bell. However, when Leben got back to his feet he appeared dazed, was unsure of what happened. He was overheard telling his cornermen, “I’m done,” before the doctor advised the referee to stop the bout.
The win was Hall’s first in the UFC and his first pro victory since June 2012.
Leben has now lost four in a row and five of six in the UFC, three of which have been by TKO, which could prove to be the end of an entertaining UFC career.
Michael Johnson continued his hot streak, as he finished Gleison Tibau with strikes in lightweight action. Early in the second round, following a close opening round, Johnson landed a big left hand that sent Tibau to the mat. Johnson became the first person to TKO Tibau since Nick Diaz did it in a welterweight tilt at UFC 65 back in 2006.
Veteran Dennis Siver improved to 3-1 in the featherweight division with a win over Manny Gamburyan. Siver out-struck Gamburyan 191 to 36.
John Howard earned a unanimous decision win over Siyar Bahadurzada in his return to the welterweight division. Howard is 2-0 since returning to the UFC earlier this year. The Boston native was cut from the UFC in 2011 after a seven-fight stint with the promotion, however he has gone 8-1 since then. Bahadurzada has lost two straight by unanimous decision in the UFC, his first two-fight losing streak since 2004.
In the opening fight of the night, Robert Peralta showcased the power in his hands in a knockout win over fellow featherweight Estevan Payan. After Payan controlled the first two rounds, Peralta came out desperate in the final frame and it took him just 12 seconds in round three to land the finishing blow. The win was Peralta’s 17th career win and his 13th by KO/TKO.
Also, William “Patolino” Macario picked up his first career UFC win after bloodying veteran Bobby Voelker for three rounds. The 22-year-old Brazilian used a fluid attack of straight right hands, jabs, counter left hooks, knees and short elbows en route to cutting Voelker open on the bridge of his nose and head. Patolino improved to 7-1 as a pro, while Voelker has now lost three in a row in the UFC.
