Mark Madsen narrowly managed to get the better of Clay Guida by split decision tonight at UFC On ESPN 29.
Round One:
Calf kick from Guida to start. He lands another kick. Madsen wings a power punch, but doesn’t land it due to Guida’s movement.
Guida swinging for the fences, but doesn’t connect. Madsen gets the clinch and lands a knee strike. Guida gets away.
Guida with an uppercut as Madsen presses in again. Thigh kick from Guida. Now a big strike that gets Madsen’s attention and he goes into the clinch.
Back to striking range again. Guida continuing to throw hard even if without much in the way of accuracy. Madsen clinching up again and landing a big knee.
Striking range again and Madsen throwing a big single power punch. so far he’s not been phased by Guida’s work-rate.
Slight lull in the action now. Front kick just lands for Madsen. Right hook for Guida. Madsen lands a punch. Rangey overhand from Madsen. Guida with a combination of punches and a kick.
Madsen clinches up against the cage and lands a couple of knees to the body. Guida able to break free. Leg kick for Guida. Front kick to the body from Madsen.
Round Two:
Leg kick for Madsen. Madsen attempts to shoot for a takedown, but nothing doing. Jab for Madsen. Calf kick for Guida. Jab from Madsen and a low kick from Guida that knocked his opponent off-balance. Madsen immediately looks to get that back with a calf kick of his own.
Guida still throwing hard, but still having trouble finding the mark. solid calf kick from Guida. Guida with a combo.
Calf kick from Madsen. Right hook and an elbow from Guida. Knee to the body from Madsen at close range.
Another solid calf kick and left hand from Guida. jab for Madsen. Another low kick from Guida. Jab from Madsen.
Madsen just touches Guida with that jab. He lands it again as Guida comes forward to keep him at bay. Another punch lands for him and Guida chops to the leg again.
Now Madsen is doubling up on the jab. Calf kick for Guida. Jab and then a right hand from Madsen. Inside leg kick now from Guida.
Round Three:
Madsen back to the jab. He goes for a calf kick, misses and Guida lands a punch while he’s off-balance.
Good left hand from Madsen. Grazing overhand right from Madsen. Light inside leg kick from Guida. He lands it again and throws hooks behind it, but misses.
Jabs for Madsen as Guida is landing a kick. Right hand for Madsen. He lands a big uppercut. Guida reaches and misses with punches.
Calf kick apiece there. Madsen tries to battle into the clinch, but Guida isn’t having it. Guida chops at the calf again and Madsen responds with one of his own.
Front kick to the body from Madsen. Leg kicks exchanged again and Guida’s landed heavier. Glancing left hook from Madsen.
Both men load up on a punch at the same time and both miss. Madsen bundles into the clinch against the cage, but Guida breaks free.
Right hand for Madsen. He’s comes forward behind the jab as the fight draws to a close.
Decision:
A close fight then and in the end it’s Madsen’s utilization of the jab in particular that helps him edge out the battle by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27).
