In a match up with lightweight title implications,
Hermes Franca and Josh Thomson took
to the octagon in hopes of staking their claim as
the number one lightweight in the UFC. Thomson dictated
the pace in the first with numerous low kicks, keeping
Franca away until he scored the first takedown with
less than a minute left. Franca, after getting back
to his feet notched a takedown of his own. As the
round came to a close, Thomson was forced to defend
and omo plata just as the horn sounded.
The second round saw action from the get go as both
fighters traded blows and submission attempts at a
frenetic pace. Thomson controlled from the top for
most of the round with Franca getting the better of
it only as the second round came to a close. Thomson
looked to have a two rounds to none lead going into
the third and final round.
Franca came out like a man looking for the KO as
the third began. And he nearly got it. Franca dropped
Thomson with a booming right hand after catching an
attempted knee from Thomson. Fighting on instinct
alone, Thomson scrambled to tie up the flurrying Franca
who was swinging for the fences. Thomson did survive
and eventually made it back to his feet. With a double
leg takedown near the end of the fight, Thomson staved
off a 10-8 round and captured a unanimous decision-29-28
on all three judge's cards.
