UFC 80 came direct from the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England, on January 19, 2008. This was an action-packed night and was aptly titled Rapid Fire, with only two of the bouts going the distance.

Alessio Sakara def. James Lee by TKO – 1.30, Round One.

Sam Stout def. Per Eklund by unanimous decision.

The fighters clinched and Antonio brought up a left and right knee to the body, two leg kicks and a stealth left fist that did the trick.

They tested each other with jabs, and Jorge shot out a leg kick.

4.47: Jorge moved in with a left and right, then took Kendall down and got half guard.

4.23: After some rummaging, Rivera had Grove against the cage and was tagging him with right hooks.

3.55: Grove surrendered his back while Rivera kept pounding.

3.46: Kendall climbed to his feet, but Jorge was unrelenting with the right and left hooks. Kendall collapsed to the floor with his legs jackknifing as Dan Miragliotta pulled the pin. The replay revealed it was a powerful left from Jorge that put Kendall away. What a dynamic opening for p-p-v fans!

They shaped up with Davis in southpaw stance.

4.57: Jess missed with a low kick.

4.38: Marcus blocked a high kick.

4.31: Jess leg-kicked.

4.25: He followed with an inner-leg kick.

4.18: Marcus landed a right as Jess kicked again.

4.12: Liaudin smacked Davis with a cracking inner-leg kick.

4.07: He then failed with a high kick.

4.03: Davis kicked to the body.

3.56: Jess prepared to send in a right kick and Marcus countered with a crushing left hand. Lights out.

These two gladiators came out for war and went hell-for-leather from the word go. It was more like a good old alleyway stoush than an MMA contest. Both men stood and banged, with Taylor punctuating his knuckle-up with a body kick.

4.41: Kelly brought up a knee and they clinched with the pair exchanging knees to the legs and body.

3.57: They hurled fists again.

3.48: Taylor sent up a high kick and Kelly replied with a fist combo.

3.40: Knuckles and kicks kept flying until Kelly trapped a kick from his opponent. Taylor wrapped a guillotine on Kelly and pulled him to the floor. Kelly’s head popped free from the hold and he commenced g’n’p-ing from guard.

2.56: The ‘Irish Hand Grenade’ was raining down elbows and fists. Taylor looked to return fire from the hull.

0.29: Taylor opted for a guillotine but Kelly shrugged it off. The action remained unrelenting for the opening five minutes. 

Taylor came out jabbing and they traded more leather as Taylor added a leg kick and Kelly dispensed a knee. They clinched and fell to the ground with Taylor in half guard delivering g’n’p.

4.01: Kelly gave up his back, rolled, and maneuvered into guard position.

3.15: He progressed to half guard.

2.51: Kelly was back in full guard. Neither man looked for a submission, but chose to wear the other down with g’n’p-ing until 2.11, when Taylor went for a kimura on Kelly’s left arm, with Kelly in half guard.

1.46: Taylor gave up the ghost and Kelly was back in full guard.

0.17: Blood was already around Taylor’s nose, however a more damaging cut opened on his forehead after Kelly sliced him there with a right elbow.

The banging recommenced. Taylor shot up a high kick and Kelly rattled him with a right and left knuckle package.

4.46: Kelly swept Taylor to the ground from the clinch and hammered Taylor from side control.

3.28: Kelly was in Taylor’s guard before Herb stood them up.

2.42: Taylor fired off a high kick. Kelly’s back was against the cage as Taylor unloaded a volley of uppercuts.

2.23: The Irish Hand Grenade swept Taylor to the mats before pounding from half guard.

2.12: Taylor took Kelly into guard, but he was copping a pounding, with his forehead being the center of attention. Taylor fought back like Crockett defending the Alamo, however Kelly kept thumping from the dominant position up to the bell.

There’s no love lost in the stare down as Dan Miragliotta lays down the law and instructs the combatants to touch gloves. The mitts barely make contact.

Lovely ring girl Edith struts her stuff and the battle begins.

4.42: Fabricio launches fists. They clinch and Gabriel takes Fabricio down before pulling half guard. Little is achieved by either BJJ specialist, so Gabriel stands at 3.12, and summons Fabricio to his feet.

3.00: Gonzaga leg-kicks. Despite Gabriel’s previous wipeout of Cro Cop, Werdum’s guard appears dangerously low.

2.48: Gonzaga delivers another punishing leg kick to Werdum’s lead thigh.

2.40: Werdum front-kicks.

2.35: Gonzaga unleashes a brutal leg kick that puts Werdum on his butt. These are industrial-strength kicks. Again, he calls Werdum to stand.

2.11: Fabricio closes in with soft gloves and Gabriel briefly clinches before releasing his opponent.

2.03: Gabriel ducks under a high kick.

1.58: He slams Fabricio with a leg kick. Werdum moves in and Gabriel follows with yet another leg kick that drops Fabricio down on one knee.

1.45: The next leg kick from Gonzaga doesn’t quite connect, and he follows with a higher one that Fabricio intercepts, then puts Gonzaga down and takes his back. Gabriel rolls and Fabricio gets half guard.

0.46: Gonzaga is tying up Fabricio’s hands before Werdum penetrates with a solid right fist.

0.31: Werdum slips in three consecutive right elbows.

Fabricio detonates a high kick, followed by a knuckle combo.

4.38: He attempts a shoot, but Gonzaga wards it off and calls Fabricio to stand up.

4.22: Werdum is ready for Gabriel’s incoming leg kick and counters with a leather dust-up. He outguns Gonzaga, however Gabriel replies with a knee strike.

4.07: Both men come up short with high kicks.

4.02: Gabriel lands two leg kicks.

3.22: Werdum decides the leg kicks are a good idea and tries one of his own, but Gonzaga catches the kick and delivers a kick to Werdum’s midsection.

3.19: Gabriel leg-kicks and Fabricio answers with fists.

3.11: Gabriel catches a kick from Fabricio and sweeps him to the floor, before calling him back up.

2.38: Gonzaga bangs Werdum’s lead leg with a kick.

2.03: Werdum drives in a heavy knee. He follows up with soft gloves and another solid knee. Two more follow from the clinch before the fighters part. Gonzaga looks flat footed and is possibly running on empty.

1.30: They clinch and exchange knees. Fabricio keeps pounding as Gabriel sags to the floor and wears more right gloves. He cannot reply or protect himself. Dan Miragliotta doesn’t wait for the fat lady to sing.

Unbelievable! BJ throws a jab and Joe crumbles to the floor. Penn follows up with a right and left. He crouches over Stevenson and unloads more fists. The stunned crowd gets its breath back and starts chanting, “BJ, BJ, BJ.”

4.23: Penn is smothering Stevenson from half guard.

3.46: Joe works his way to the fence in an attempt to use the cage for support to climb back up.

2.43: BJ scrambles for Joe’s back, then he gets the mount at 2.40, before Stevenson betters his position by sitting up with his back to the fence and exchanges strikes with Penn.

1.58: BJ stands and delivers, then grabs Joe’s back again.

1.28: They’re away from the cage with Penn in side control. Stevenson discharges punches from below but Penn is dominating the game.

0.36: BJ drops a big right elbow from Joe’s guard. The blow only nicks Joe’s forehead but it comes down with great force and starts the claret gushing.

Stevenson bravely bats on. They unload and clinch.

4.43: Joe hurls a right elbow as they break the clinch. BJ is clinical with his smart-bomb jabs.

4.19: Joe’s corner calls for him to keep his hands up. The pair continues to trade toe-to-toe, but the blood flow has to be hindering Stevenson’s vision.

3.01: Herb calls time out as the ring physician wipes Joe’s face.

2.41: BJ unloads a barrage of leather, causing Joe to crumble.

2.30: Penn takes the mount and pounds.

2.01: Stevenson rolls and Penn seizes his back.

1.47: Stevenson rolls and Penn takes the mount. Joe is fighting blindly.

1.20: Stevenson rolls and Penn seizes his back. He fits Joe with a rear naked choke and Joe is forced to tap.