The first fight of the night at UFC 138 and airing on Facebook is Chris Cariaso vs. Vaughan Lee. This is a bantamweight fight, meaning 135 pounds. The referee in charge of the action is Dan Miragliotta.
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ROUND 1 - Both fighters open southpaw with Lee doing the stalking. Cariaso eats a short kick on a takedown and then is forced to fend off a standing guillotine attempt. Now the two jockey for position along the fence. Lee gets a dump takedown along the fence and is working on top. Cariaso stands and the two jockey along the fence again. Lee with an outside trip puts Cariaso back down.Cariaso stands and after a brief exchange, Lee is again pressing Cariaso into the fence. And again, an outside trip temporarily puts Cariso back down before he stands again.
MMA Nation scores this round 10-9 Lee.
ROUND 2 - Inside leg kick from Lee and response to start the round. Left hand from Cariaso lands and Lee nearly lands a turning side kick. Outside trip from Lee puts Cariaso down. Cariaso stands an lands an elbow. Cariaso cuts the corner and is able to chase down the takedown, now working from half guard. Cariaso fakes the pass to side control and instead moves to mount. Lee hip escapes to full guard briefly before Cariaso moves to side control. Cariaso again takes mount, this time without the fake. Lee hip escapes again and is now working his full guard.
MMA Nation scores this round 10-9 Lee.
ROUND 3 - Cariaso pressing forward with single strikes, but landing little. Cariaso puts punches together and the two fighters clinch. The referee separates them. Cariaso punches his way into the clinch, but misses on the takedown. Uppercut and body shot in tight from Cariaso. Lee hunting the single leg, switches to a double and Cariaso stuffs both. Cariaso changes levels and gets the single himself in the center of the cage. Cariaso now passes to side, then mount and is beginning to unload punches. Now Cariaso takes the back of Lee and the Brit rolls to avoid punches. Cariaso back to mount and then back mount as Lee struggles. Hard elbows on top from Cariaso in mount. Back to the back for Cariaso.
MMA Nation scores this round 10-9 Lee and the fight 29-28 Lee.
UFC 138 results: Chris Cariaso defeats Vaughan Lee by split decision (29-28 Lee, 29-28 Cariaso, 29-28 Cariaso)