UFC Live on Versus 5: Lytle vs. Hardy – Preview & Event Coverage
By PDG Staff
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This Sunday the UFC invades Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the fifth installment of UFC Live on Versus and while it may not be a stacked card as far as name reorganization goes, there are definitely some exciting match-ups. In the main event, former Ultimate Fighter and seasoned UFC veteran Chris Lytle will look to start a new winning streak when he faces the always exciting British bomber Dan Hardy. The co-main event features a number one contender match-up with Ben Henderson taking on Jim Miller.
The main card is rounded out by the return of Duane ‘Bang’ Ludwig after almost a year of being on the shelf as he faces another Ultimate Fighter alum in Amir Sadollah. Donald Cerrone steps into the Octagon for the third time this year and he will be met by Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Charles Oliveira. The four fight main card will air live on Versus and all eight preliminary bouts will be aired on the UFC’s official Facebook.
Chris Lytle (30-18-5) vs. Dan Hardy (23-9-1)
Main Event
Chris Lytle has been around for a long time, competing in professional mixed martial arts since 1999. His lengthy career has seen him compete in the UFC eighteen times, Pancrase thirteen times, and the IFC and WEC. Lytle has remained a UFC mainstay since UFC 78 and has gone 6-4 in that time.
Lytle’s original bout with Matt Brown came after a 1-2 run in the UFC. Lytle submitted Brown with a guillotine choke in a smaller show, and then returned at UFC 78 to face Thiago Alves. Lytle lost the bout to Alves due to a cut, but the two stand-up fighters put on a show and earned fight of the night honors for their ten minute performances. Lytle rebounded with a thirty-three second knockout of Kyle Bradley to earn knockout of the night honors, but then lost to Josh Koscheck by decision in a bout which he was outwrestled and controlled.
Lytle then earned fight of the night honors in each of his next three bouts, earning a decision over Paul Taylor but losing a split decision against Marcus Davis. Lytle was riding a four-fight win streak until he was upended by UFC newcomer Brian Ebersole at UFC 127.
Quick Facts:
UFC Record: 9-9 (1 TKO, 5 Sub)
Strengths: Most wins by submission, professional boxing background, durable
Weaknesses: Sometimes fights to entertain rather than to win
Key Wins: Kazuo Misaki, Pat Healy, Ronald Jhun, Paul Taylor, Brian Foster, Derrick Noble, Pete Spratt, Matt Brown, LaVerne Clark, Tiki Ghosn, Aaron Riley
Notable Losses: Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan, Marcus Davis, Josh Koscheck, Matt Serra, Thiago Alves (cut), Joe Riggs (cut), Robbie Lawler, Nick Diaz, Jason Delucia, Koji Oishi, Dave Menne, Shonie Carter, Ben Earwood, Izuru Takeuchi, Keiichiro Yamamiya, Daisuke Ishii
Dan Hardy exploded into the mainstream. Joining the UFC as a relative unknown to help bolster the organization’s popularity in Europe, Hardy made an immediate impact with a decision win over PRIDE veteran Akihiro Gono and a first round knockout over IFL veteran Rory Markham.
Hardy continued to find success with a decision win over Marcus Davis, followed by a decision win over Mike Swick to earn number one contender status. On a seven-fight win streak, including four in the UFC, Hardy faced Georges St. Pierre for the UFC’s welterweight championship. Hardy was thoroughly handled and lost a one-sided unanimous decision, but showed a tremendous amount of heart. Since that loss Hardy has been defeated twice in a row and comes into this fight on a three-fight losing streak.
Prior to joining the UFC, Hardy had already put himself through the ringer and gained a wealth of experience. Fighting in promotion’s such as 2H2H, King of the Cage, and CWFC, Hardy fought world-class competition including UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida, current MFC champion Pat Healy, PRIDE veteran David Baron, Pancrase veteran Daizo Ishige, and Japanese veteran Hidetaka Monma.
Quick Facts:
UFC Record: 4-3 (1 TKO)
Strengths: Good submission defense, heavy handed, physically powerful
Weaknesses: Fails to threaten off his back
Key Wins: Mike Swick, Marcus Davis, Rory Markham, Akihiro Gono, Daizo Ishige, Chad Reiner
Notable Losses: Georges St. Pierre, Pat Healy, David Baron (2), Yoshiyuki Yoshida (DQ), Forrest Petz, Lee Doski, Carlos Condit
Jim Miller (20-2) vs. Ben Henderson (13-2)
#1 Contender Match-Up
Jim Miller has proven to be one of the UFC’s best signings in recent years. Miller made a name for himself in smaller shows with wins over Chris Liguori, Nuri Shakir, and Muhsin Corbbrey before stepping up to the IFL where he won a decision over stand-out Bart Palaszewski.
After winning his sole IFL appearance Miller signed with the UFC holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 11-1. In his promotional debut he stopped Dave Baron with a third round rear naked choke. He then won a unanimous decision over Matt Wiman before losing for only the second time in his career in a decision against Gray Maynard. Miller rebounded with a decision win over The Ultimate Fighter 6 winner Mac Danzig.
Miller continued to gain momentum with a win over Steve Lopez. Miller earned a unanimous decision over Mark Bocek and then American Top Team’s Gleison Tibau before recently submitting previously undefeated and highly-regarded prospect Charles Oliveira with a submission of the night honored kneebar in less than two minutes. Miller followed that win up win TKO victory over Kamal Shalorus and he enters Sunday’s bout riding a seven-fight win streak.
Quick Facts:
UFC Record: 9-1 (2 TKO, 3 Sub)
Strengths: NCAA Div I wrestler, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, great conditioning
Weaknesses: Average striking
Key Wins: Mac Danzig, Mark Bocek, Gleison Tibau, Charles Oliveira, Matt Wiman, Dave Baron, Bart Palaszewski, Chris Liguori (2), Muhsin Corbbrey, Kamal Shalorus
Notable Losses: Frank Edgar, Gray Maynard
Ben Henderson took his time climbing the lightweight ranks, but fans and critics alike are hoping to see the twenty-seven year old former champion get a chance to fight the quality of opposition that the UFC has to offer. Still, Henderson has made the most of his opportunities so far and has lost only twice since his professional bout in 2006.
Henderson made his WEC debut with a 7-1 record, including a win over UFC veteran Diego Saraiva. In his promotional debut he derailed prospect Anthony Njokuani with a second round guillotine choke, then picked off Shane Rollerby TKO. Former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner was on a lay-off due to an eye injury, so Henderson was matched up with Donald Cerrone for the promotion’s interim title. In a fight of the year candidate bout of 2009, Henderson managed to come out on top in a close unanimous decision.
Henderson then faced Jamie Varner to unify the divisional and interim titles. Henderson stopped Varner with a guillotine choke in the third round and has placed himself on the cusp of the top ten ranks. In December of last year, Henderson lost his WEC Lightweight Championship belt to Anthony Pettis but rebounded in his UFC debut with a decision win over Mark Bocek.
Henderson holds a black belt in taekwondo and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In eleven professional victories he has defeated two opponents by TKO and seven by submission (including one due to strikes). He is also a two-time NAIA all-American wrestler.
Quick Facts:
WEC/UFC Record: 6-1 (1 TKO, 3 Sub)
Strengths: Two-time all-American wrestler, great submission defense, athletic
Weaknesses: Tends to end up in bad places
Key Wins: Jamie Varner, Donald Cerrone (2), Anthony Njokuani, Shane Roller, Diego Saraiva
Notable Losses: Chad Klingensmith, Anthony Pettis
Donald Cerrone (15-3-1) vs. Charles Oliveira (14-1-1)
PDG’s Match-Up Of The Night
Donald Cerrone made a name for himself in the WEC where he compiled a record of 6-3 with one no contest. Cerrone enters Saturday’s fight on a four-fight win streak over former WEC champion Jamie Varner, IFL stand-out Chris Horodecki, Paul Kelly and Vagner Rocha. Cerrone holds additional career wins over former WEC champion “Razor” Rob McCullough, Anthony Njokuani, and Danny Castillo. He will be making his third appearance in the UFC as he looks to get back into title contention at a very talent deep division in the sport.
Charles Oliveira joined the UFC with an impressive 12-0 record earning stoppages in all but one bout. Currently holding a 2-1-1 record in the UFC, Oliveira won his promotional debut by submission over Darren Elkins and then scored a third round rear naked choke over TUF winner Efrain Escudero. Then he faced the red-hot Jim Miller and suffered his first career defeat by submission. Oliveira returned at UFC Live on Versus 4 where he faced Nik Lentz. Oliveira was originally ruled the victor after he choked out Lentz but the decision was overturned and ruled a no contest because Oliveira had landed an illegal knee that set-up the submission.
Duane Ludwig (20-11) vs. Amir Sadollah (5-2)
Duane Ludwig was on a two-fight losing streak to Jim Miller and then suffering a severe ankle injury against Darren Elkins. Ludwig was able to return at UFC 122 were he scored a decision victory over Nick Osipczak but has not been seen in the Octagon since. He holds notable wins over Yves Edwards, Genki Sudo, Jens Pulver, Jonathan Goulet, Charles Bennett, and Sam Morgan.
Amir Sadollah entered the UFC green, but still won the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter. His entire professional mixed martial arts career has been fought in the UFC where he has earned a 5-2 record with wins over IFL veteran Brad Blackburn and PRIDE veteran Phil Baroni before losing a one-sided decision against ‘The Stun Gun’ Dong Hyun Kim. Since that loss though, Sadollah has rebounded with a decision victory over Peter Sobotta and most recently a striking submission win over DaMarques Johnson at UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis.
UFC Live on Versus 5: Lytle vs. Hardy Fight Card
Main Card (Versus):
Dan Hardy vs. Chris Lytle
Ben Henderson vs. Jim Miller
Donald Cerrone vs. Charles Oliveira
Duane Ludwig vs. Amir Sadollah
Preliminary Card (UFC Facebook):
C.B. Dollaway vs. Jared Hamman
Joseph Benavidez vs. Eddie Wineland
Ed Herman vs. Kyle Noke
Ronny Markes vs. Karlos Vemola
Alex Caceres vs. Jim Hettes
Cole Miller vs. T.J. O’Brien
Danny Castillo vs. Jacob Volkmann
Edwin Figueroa vs. Jason Reinhardt
