UFC Fight Night 22: Marquardt vs. Palhares (Live Summary and Analysis)

If you live on the West Coast and are unable to access Spike TV tonight, fear not because Bleacher Report has you covered.

Being the most attractive MMA columnist on the planet, I was too busy tending to my wife Penelope Cruz and couldn’t make the trip out to Austin, Texas to sit cageside for UFC Fight Night 22.

I will, however, watch the fights from the comfort of my own Mansion. I'll provide in-depth summary and analysis for every main card matchup, wrapped up in a snuggie whilst smoking a corn cob pipe and sipping on some Scotch.

UFC Fight Night 22 is headlined by a marquee middleweight matchup between Nate Marquardt and Rousimar Palhares. The event airs on Spike TV at 8 pm E.T/P.T and will be proceeded by the premiere of "The Ultimate Fighter" and its 12th season: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck.

Follow along with this blog for in-depth analysis of the main card action.

Props to Tracy Lee of Combat Lifestyle for the photos

Cole Miller Vs. Ross Pearson

Photo by Tracy Lee of Combat Lifestyle

In the first round, Pearson had a difficult time dealing with Miller’s reach on the feet. Miller, the superior grappler, took Pearson down with a single leg takedown.

Pearson managed to stand up and once again Miller frustrated the Englishman with his reach. Both were aggressive with their strikes, but Miller landed the crisper shots, however, as the round reached its endpoint, Pearson began to find his range.

Miller won the first round with the takedown and more effective striking.

Pearson kicked off the second frame with a swift leg kick and landed a solid left hook to Miller’s body.

Miller attempted a takedown but Pearson defended with a nice sprawl. Miller pulled guard but the Brit successfully avoided going to the ground. Miller then rocked Pearson with powerful punches, swarmed Pearson and finished the fight with a tight rear naked choke.

Result: Cole Miller def. Ross Pearson via second round submission.

Miller displayed an ever-improving standup game in this fight. The lengthy lightweight utilized his reach perfectly against Pearson, which is something that he hasn’t quite done as well in his previous bouts. This victory solidifies Miller as a lethal threat in the lightweight division.

Jim Miller Vs. Gleison Tibau

Photo by Tracy Lee of Combat Lifestyle

Tibau landed a big left hand early on in the first round. Miller went for a leg kick but Tibau caught him and brought the New Jersey native to the floor.

Miller got back to his feet and rocked Tibau with a power jab but the Brazilian was able to recover, and even managed to take Miller down again. Miller threatened with a guillotine choke but was unable to latch it on.

They stood back up trading in the middle of the ring, neither landed anything threatening. Tibau kept Miller pressed up the cage briefly and almost scored a takedown but Miller stuffed it. Miller landed two hard punches but Tibau seemingly brushed them off, throwing strikes of his own.

It was a close first round but I believe Tibau did enough to earn the 10-9, with the takedowns. Miller did land some solid strikes that round, but so did Tibau.

Miller landed a big left hand very early in the second round and swarmed after the Brazilian. Miller then landed a big knee to rock Tibau even more.

Tibau seemingly recovered from those strikes as Miller pushed him up against the fence.

Tibau took Miller down with a powerful double leg takedown but Miller almost instantly scrambled back to his feet. Miller couldn’t take Tibau down but Tibau again took Miller down with a thunderous double leg.

Tibau finished the round in the top position. However, despite the two takedowns, Miller won this round 10-9. Miller came very close to finishing Tibau in the beginning of the round and Tibau didn’t do much after getting his takedowns.

In the third and final round, Miller displayed superior striking early on. Miller stuffed a takedown from Tibau and continued to press the action on the feet. Miller attempted a takedown, Tibau almost latched on to a kimura.

Miller went for another takedown towards the end of the round but was stuffed by Tibau. I score this round and the fight 10-9 for Miller, but let’s see if the judges make the correct call.

Result: Jim Miller def. Gleison Tibau via unanimous decision.

Miller is now 7-1 in the UFC and extremely close to a shot at the UFC lightweight title.

Efrain Escudero Vs. Charles Oliveira

Photo by Tracy Lee of Combat Lifestyle

Oliveira threw some wild kicks to kick off the first round and managed to land a flying knee to the body. The Brazilian displayed quickness and constant movement, landed some good strikes, but was unsuccessful in his first attempts to take the fight to the floor.

The wild style of Oliveira was successful this round and the young Brazilian showcased unbelievable quickness on his feet. When I say wild, I do not mean sloppy, as Oliveira’s technique is very crisp and accurate.

Oliveira pulled guard and Escudero controlled from the top position to close out the round. Oliveira takes the first frame, 10-9.

The two exchanged strikes in the early goings of the second round. Oliveira took Escudero down and Escudero positioned himself into a dominant position. They didn’t stay on the ground for long, they stood back up and Oliveira landed two strong knees from the Muay Thai clinch.

Oliveira seemed to get a bit cocky this round and taunted Escudero. The Brazilian certainly got the better of the standup exchanges and won the second round with another 10-9 score.

As a sign of respect, the two embraced with a hug to begin to final round. Oliveira landed an accidental strike to the groin that forced the referee to briefly pause the fight.

The leg kicks of Oliveira have been extremely successful in this fight, most notably his lead push kicks. Escudero pushed Oliveira up against the cage and landed an accidental knee strike to the groin.

Oliveira was hurt badly from the low blow and UFC commentator Joe Rogan made a classic comment when Oliveira reached into his pants about this being a “family show.”

Oliveira locked on a standing rear naked choke when the fight restarted and Escudero tapped out.

Result: Charles Oliveira def. Efrain Escudero via second round submission.

This was an extraordinary performance from the young Oliveira. We already knew about this particular Brazilian’s incredible jiu-jitsu prowess but now we can see that he is also a terror to deal with on the feet as well.

Oliveira could quite possibly be the Jon Jones of the lightweight division.

Main Event: Nate Marquardt Vs. Rousimar Palhares

Photo by Tracy Lee of Combat Lifestyle

Palhares showed an improved standup game in the early goings of this fight. Although there wasn’t much action early in the first round, mainly just a lot of feeling out and circling. Palhares took Marquardt to the ground and Marquardt transitioned into a triangle.

Palhares escaped the triangle and obtained the north-south position, Marquardt transitioned into a better position, and Palhares attempts his vintage heel hook.

Marquardt slipped out and Palhares complained that Marquardt’s legs were greased. Marquardt then pounced on the Brazilian with vicious punches from the top which forced the referee to stop the fight, thus awarding Marquardt the victory.

Result: Nate Marquardt def. Rousimar Palhares via first round TKO.

This was an impressive victory for Marquardt that might end up being clouded in controversy. Palhares believed that Marquardt greased up his legs, although it is revealed after the fight that Marquardt was indeed clean and just slippery from sweat.

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Mitch Ciccarelli is the sexiest MMA columnist on the face of the earth. His articles drive women crazy and make men extremely jealous. Mitch is a staff writer to both HeavyMMA.com and Bleacher Report.

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