Tune in at 10:00 PM ET for coverage of UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin 2. Ryan Kelly will be liveblogging the main card for your enjoyment.
Hello and welcome to ScoreMobile's ongoing coverage of the UFC. Tonight we present UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin 2.
Tonight's card is headlined by a catchweight bought (190 lbs.) between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva. Ironically in their first meeting -- at UFC 99 -- it was also a catchweight bout (195 lbs).
Silva was originally scheduled to square off against his TUF: Brazil Coaching opponent, Vitor Belfort, but Belfort was forced off the card when he broke his left hand during training.
Speaking of TUF: Brazil, the middleweight and featherweight finals are also on the schedule for tonight.
Rounding out the action is a featherweight bout between Yuri Alcantara and Hacran Dias and a heavyweight bout between Fabricio Werdum and Mike Russow.
@Pauly I agree, it is kind of strange, but maybe they didn't want two free events back-to-back?
Tonight will be the first time Silva has fought in Brazil in 12 years -- a first round knockout victory over Todd Medina.
Franklin, meanwhile, has been on the shelf for more than 16 months after surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Our first fight is in the featherweight division. Hacran Dias actually came to the tryouts for TUF Brazil, but was given a contract outright.
Dias has a career 20-1-1 record while Alcantara holds a mark of 26-3 (2-0 UFC).
Alcantara takes the middle of the cage right away and both fighters circle around, trying to feel each other out. Alcantara pushes forward and Dias counters by shooting for a takedown and pressing him against the fence.
Alcantara showed some good defense, to keep on his feet, but it proved fruitless as Dias eventually takes him down.
Dias lands a couple good shots, then nearly takes Alcantara's back but he rolls into it. Now Dias starts to look for an arm choke and if nothing else, he is now in full mount.
Alcantara escaped from the choke and managed to get Dias back into half-guard. Dias starts in on the ground and pound though, landing a big elbow.
Alcantara escapes getting back to his feet, but Dias still had a hold of him and slammed him back down. Alcantara now has Dias back in full guard.
As it turns out, this fight is the 2000th fight in UFC history.
Dias with more good ground and pound, pushing Alcantara towards the fence but as he delivers some knees to the thigh, Alcantara gets up, reverses and takes Dias' back.
In the scramble, Dias was able to grab a hold of a kimura that kept Alcantara from doing anything with the position. And the round ends.
That's a clear 10-9 round for Hacran Dias.
A much quicker pace to start round 2 as both guys look more eager to exchange right away.
Alcantara lands a nice kick to the body, then presses Dias against the fence. With double under-hooks he was looking for a takedown, but ended up falling backwards and Dias has top position once again.
Operating in Alcantara's open guard, Dias works in some more ground and pound. But Dias' arm gets caught and Alcantara nearly locks in an armbar.
Dias back into the ground and pound, not really making any effort to pass guard. Though his corner seems to be telling him to do so and then he follows suit.
Dias has a body lock, so though Alcantara was able to get back to his feet, Dias took him right back down .
Once again Dias looks for the arm choke, but Alcantara is doing well to fight it off. Dias then lets it go and delivers a series of relatively slow elbows to the head.
With Alcantara getting the position back to full guard, the ref stands them up.
Alcantara with a couple quick, good exchanges just as round 2 ends.
Alcantara has looked good in defending, but I would say he's still 2 rounds in the hole.
Dias' corner is telling him that Alcantara is much more tired than their man. They want him to push him up against the fence and take him down.
The crowd gets a little restless, as both fighters go back to early round 1 mode, circling around without throwing much in the way of a strike.
Alcantara with a good 1-2 combo, then misses with a wild left hook.
Another good body kick from Alcantara, but Dias answers in kind.
Alcantara with another wild, swinging left hand. He's not really showing the urgency you would expect from someone who likely needs a stoppage to win the fight.
Halfway into the round, Dias finally shoots for the takedown and is able to get it. Two minutes left in the fight.
Ready for the Brazilian heat? Cuz #UFC147 is starting……NOW!by UFConXboxLIVE via twitter 6/24/2012 2:05:15 AM
Yuri vs Dias might be a ground game #UFC147by Luqman_PitBull via twitter 6/24/2012 2:11:11 AM
Funny, I dont see any boxing sites reporting on #UFC147by EricGargiulo via twitter 6/24/2012 2:17:53 AM
10-9 Dias in RD 2 with good ground control again, I got him winning 20-18 through 2 #UFC147by DerekWinsick via twitter 6/24/2012 2:24:07 AM
