Top ten welterweight Paulo Thiago survived a surprisingly tough challenge from UFC newcomer Jacob Volkmann to take a unanimous decision win. He dropped Volkmann twice with punches but the rest of the fight was very even with both showing great grappling skills.
Thiago quickly tripped down the UFC newcomer Volkman and passed to side mount. Volkmann fought to guard and reversed position, standing against the fence. But Thiago tripped him down quickly again and worked to mount. Volkmann got back to full guard impressively quickly.
They returned to standing and Volkmann quickly shot in on a Thiago leg kick, he failed to get the take down but forced the Brazilian back against the cage. Breaking the clinch, he caught Thiago with a hard right. Thiago answered with a hard combination that dropped Volkmann but the Minnesotan was saved by the bell just as he hit the ground.
In the second round, Thiago quickly dropped Volkmann with a brutal leg kick. Volkmann bounced back and quickly answered with a takedown of his own and took side mount. The Brazilian escaped, but Volkmann took his back and fired away with shots to the head. Thiago escaped to his feet but was forced against the cage by the wrestler as the crowd grew restless. Volkmann briefly mounted Thiago but was quickly reversed and found himself on his back taking hard shots. Volkmann ended the round on his back in side control.
Thiago dropped Volkmann with a hard punch to start the third. But was unable to finish from top position and Volkmann reversed. After a number of exchanges Volkmann got the crucifix position but Thiago fought desperately to escape and soon did. Volkmann shocked everyone by getting a D'arce choke from the bottom with thirty seconds left but was unable to hold the choke. Soon Volkmann was on his back eating elbows and punches.