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MMA Insider: Hazelett falls short in UFC 108 co-headliner

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By Dann Stupp, Contributing Writer 11:16 PM Sunday, January 3, 2010

LAS VEGAS — This past weekend’s UFC 108 co-main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was a throwback to the early years of mixed martial arts and featured a classic striker vs. grappler matchup.

Unfortunately for local grappler Dustin Hazelett, the striker reigned supreme.

Hazelett, a West Virginia native who now trains with Jorge Gurgel’s camp in West Chester Twp., is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and one of the best MMA fighters to adopt the discipline to fight conditions. But the ground specialist opted to stand and trade with British slugger Paul Daley, and he paid the price.

With his extensive work with Muay Thai coach and former UFC fighter Dorian Price, Hazelett has improved his stand-up skills and caused a stalemate through much of the first round. But after the 23-year-old unloaded a right, Daley countered with a big left. Hazelett hit the mat and went out cold when Daley delivered three additional blows before the referee could halt the fight.

“He’s a hell of a fighter and a great guy,” said Daley, who apologized for an excessive post-fight celebration. “It was just my night. Few guys survive when they play my game.”

Hazelett was taken to the hospital after his pay-per-view bout for a precautionary CT scan.

Hazelett, who returned from a 14-month layoff due to an ACL injury and November opponent cancellation, is 12-5 (5-3 UFC). Daley moved to 23-8-2 (2-0 UFC) and has been promised an upcoming bout with a top 170-pound contender such as Josh Koscheck or Jon Fitch.

Franklin sidelined  with hernia surgery

After a busy 2009 fight schedule, former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin is taking some time off.

With the break in action, the West Chester Twp. resident will undergo hernia surgery this week. The procedure likely will keep him sidelined up to two months and out of the octagon until approximately May.

The UFC actually called Franklin on late notice (an often occurrence) to fight Forrest Griffin in November and asked about his availability to compete on a February card in Australia.

“But I needed to get the surgery done before it got any worse, and I was just ready for some time off,” Franklin said at a media event in Las Vegas prior to UFC 108.

Franklin (26-5), 35, has recently competed at catch-weight bouts of 195 pounds, but the former 185-pound champ plans to return to 205 pounds and use the time off to bulk up.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, voted best media outlet in the 2008 and 2009 World MMA Awards. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to MMAjunkie.com.

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