UFC 109 "Relentless" Results

Stars Shine and Contenders Are Crowned as Randy Couture Takes Another Step Towards a Championship Showdown

UFC 109 is now over and done with, but its effects upon the UFC will likely be felt for many months to come.

The Pay-Per-View opened and closed with a battle of elders statesmen, and sandwiched in-between were three fights featuring some of the UFC's best and brightest. In the opening contest, Matt Serra perhaps sealed Frank Trigg's pink slip by knocking him out early in Round 1, making Trigg 0-2 in his latest UFC run, with both losses coming by way of knockout. Demian Maia returned to action after his own brutal knockout at the hands of Nate Marquardt, who also competed on the card. Maia faced a very game Dan Miller who, to the shock of all, was mostly able to nullify Maia's expert ground game. Maia instead was forced to display his improved striking, which he did, and while the fight did not end dramatically, none could doubt that Maia earned every bit of the Unanimous Decision win given to him.

Paulo Thiago proved once and for all that he is not a one-trick pony when he took on Mike Swick in his best performance in the UFC to date. Thiago displayed crisp striking, expert head movement, and the ability to take several hard strikes. Thiago weathered some early storms and scored a big shot to put Mike Swick down, and in the scramble on the floor Thiago quickly locked in a D'Arce Choke and sent Swick into dream-land to earn the Submission victory.

Perhaps the biggest upset of the night was Chael Sonnen vs. Nate Marquardt, as Sonnen thoroughly dominated Marquardt in a three-round war that saw "Nate the Great" get in comparatively little offense. Sonnen weathered a big cut and a third-round Hail Mary barrage by Marquardt and locked in a Unanimous Decision win, earning him the next opportunity to fight for the Middleweight Championship after Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort meet in Abu Dhabi.

And in the night's main event, Randy Couture put on a MMA clinic against Mark Coleman in Couture's best showing since his most recent return to the Octagon. Couture displayed crisp, precisioned striking and expert cage control, but the highlight of the night came in Round 2, when the fight got to the ground and Couture locked in a Rear Naked Choke for the victory. Post-fight Couture claimed to be better than ever and ready to once again make his mark on the Light Heavyweight Division. Mark Coleman seemed at a loss for words in his post-fight interview, until he got into an altercation with Tito Ortiz that got the MMA world buzzing about a possible Coleman vs. Ortiz match-up.

Here are the full results to UFC 109 "Relentless".

Randy Couture def. Mark Coleman by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:09, R2

Chael Sonnen def. Nate Marquardt by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), R3

Paulo Thiago def. Mike Swick by Submission (D’arce Choke) at 1:54, R2

Demian Maia def. Dan Miller by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), R3

Matt Serra def. Frank Trigg by TKO (Strikes) at 2:23, R1

Mac Danzig def. Justin Buccholz by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), R3

Melvin Guillard def. Ronys Torres by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), R3

Rob Emerson def. Phillipe Nover by Unanimous Decision, R3

Phil Davis def. Brian Stann by Unanimous Decision, R3

Chris Tuchscherer def. Tim Hague by Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28), R3

Joey Beltran def. Rolles Gracie by TKO (Strikes) at 1:31, R2

Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen was Fight of the Night. Matt Serra earned Knockout of the Night. Submission of the Night went to Paulo Thiago. Each fighter earned a $60,000 bonus for their awards.