UFC 119: Frank Mir Knocks Out Cro Cop in the Final Round

UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop took place on September 25, 2010, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The UFC’s first event in the state ended with Frank Mir knocking out Mirko Cro Cop late in round three. Ryan Bader defeated Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in the light heavyweight co-main event, while Chris Lytle, Sean Sherk and Melvin Guillard also won on the main card.

Video: the UFC’s official extended preview, published before the event. It introduces the matchups rather than replaying the completed fights.

Mir finds the finish after a slow main event

Mir and Cro Cop spent much of the heavyweight main event negotiating clinches against the fence. Mir’s size and pressure limited the space available for Cro Cop’s striking, but neither man sustained much offense during the first two rounds. Referee Herb Dean separated them several times as their exchanges stalled. The contest appeared headed for the scorecards until the closing minute.

When Cro Cop moved forward more urgently in the third, Mir met him with a counter knee that sent him to the canvas. Follow-up punches brought the stoppage at 4:02. The recorded result was a knockout by knee, not a submission. Mir returned to the win column after his loss to Shane Carwin at UFC 111, and the ending gave a subdued matchup a decisive final image.

Cro Cop entered after submitting Pat Barry at UFC 115. Indianapolis offered another opportunity against a former UFC heavyweight champion, but his familiar long-range weapons rarely became the centerpiece of the fight. Mir’s clinch work restricted those attacks before the late knee settled the contest. No championship was on the line.

Bader remains unbeaten against Nogueira

Ryan Bader earned a unanimous decision over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, extending the unbeaten start to his professional career. The Ultimate Fighter winner had stopped Keith Jardine at UFC 110; this time he had to sustain his work for fifteen minutes against a much more experienced contender. Wrestling, positional control and effective bursts of striking helped him claim the decision.

Nogueira remained dangerous enough to require careful choices, but Bader completed the contest without losing the momentum built during his rise through the division. The result mattered because it came against an established light heavyweight name, rather than because it awarded Bader a belt or guaranteed his next matchup. It was a significant step in his development as a contender.

Lytle wins his rematch; two lightweights take split decisions

Chris Lytle defeated Matt Serra by unanimous decision in a rematch of The Ultimate Fighter 4 final. Their welterweight contest featured extended striking exchanges, with Lytle producing the more effective work over three rounds. Winning in front of his Indiana supporters added a local highlight to a main card led by visiting heavyweight and light heavyweight stars.

Sean Sherk edged Evan Dunham by split decision in a much more disputed lightweight bout. Dunham fought through a cut and repeatedly threatened with guillotine attempts, while Sherk’s wrestling and early offense helped him on the judges’ cards. The official result handed Dunham his first professional defeat, but the competitive performance made the decision a major talking point. Melvin Guillard also won a split decision, defeating Jeremy Stephens after another close fifteen minutes.

The six preliminary bouts

Matt Mitrione outpointed Joey Beltran in an entertaining heavyweight striking battle. C.B. Dollaway and Thiago Tavares each finished with first-round guillotines, while Waylon Lowe and T.J. Grant earned decisions. Sean McCorkle submitted Mark Hunt in 63 seconds as both made their UFC debuts. The arm-lock is listed as a straight armbar in Sherdog’s record and described as a kimura/armbar in the UFC recap. These were the actual preliminary contests; Carlos Condit–Rory MacDonald belonged to UFC 115, not this event.

Complete UFC 119 results

Main card

• Frank Mir def. Mirko Cro Cop — KO (knee), round 3, 4:02.
• Ryan Bader def. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
• Chris Lytle def. Matt Serra — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
• Sean Sherk def. Evan Dunham — split decision, round 3, 5:00.
• Melvin Guillard def. Jeremy Stephens — split decision, round 3, 5:00.

Preliminary card

• C.B. Dollaway def. Joe Doerksen — submission (guillotine choke), round 1, 2:13.
• Matt Mitrione def. Joey Beltran — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
• Thiago Tavares def. Pat Audinwood — submission (guillotine choke), round 1, 3:47.
• Waylon Lowe def. Steve Lopez — split decision, round 3, 5:00.
• T.J. Grant def. Julio Paulino — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
• Sean McCorkle def. Mark Hunt — submission (straight armbar), round 1, 1:03.

Sources

• UFC: Mir’s knockout of Cro Cop.
• UFC: the remaining main-card fights.
• UFC: all six preliminary bouts.
• UFC: the official lineup and venue.
• Sherdog: complete event results.

Article Tags

UFC 119, Frank Mir, Mirko Cro Cop, Ryan Bader, UFC Results