UFC on FOX 3 Results: Three Stars

Since we at Fight Cove operate out of the Great White North, what better way to honor one of Canada’s great pastimes (Hockey) than to use the famous “three stars” system for UFC events? If you are unfamiliar with the system, this is how it works. An independent, non-bias viewer (in this case, yours truly) selects the three top performers from the event to name as the “three stars”. If you couldn’t figure it out on your own, the first star is the most impressive performer from the event, the second star is the second most impressive, and so on and so forth.

The “three stars” are judged off the effectiveness and overall impact of their performance. Still following? Good, cause here are the “three stars” from “UFC on FOX 3: Diaz vs. Miller”.

Third Star - Lavar Johnson
Just a few years after nearly being shot to death in 2009, Lavar Johnson’s comeback story is truly inspirational. The heavyweight entered the organization on a two-fight losing streak when he made his octagon debut last January, and after his first round obliteration of Pat Barry, is now 2-0 in the UFC with two first round finishes. Johnson is certainly not the most technical or well-rounded heavyweight on the roster, but he does carry dynamite in his hands. The 34-year-old California native earns the third star for not just his first round TKO victory over Barry, but the fact he delivered one of the most exciting fights of the night and was able to open the main card on FOX with a bang.

Second Star - Louis Gaudinot
Louis Gaudinot showed what the flyweights are all about with a second round submission of John Lineker on UFC on FOX 3 preliminary card. Gaudinot received one of the warmest receptions of the night from the New Jersey crowd and for good reason; his bout was an absolute slugfest. The green-haired Gaudinot lives just a few exits up the New Jersey turnpike from the IZOD Center where the event took place and had an abundance of friends and family there to support him. He put on a performance that made his supporters proud while picking up his first UFC victory in his organizational debut at 125 pounds. Gaudinot earned an extra $65,000 cheque for being part of the “Fight of the Night” and it was a well-deserved bonus for “The Ultimate Fighter” season 14 cast member. With only a shortlist of flyweight fighters in the UFC, Gaudinot could be just a few wins from a title shot.

First Star - Nate Diaz
It’s pretty remarkable that the Nate Diaz that dominated Jim Miller in the main event of UFC on FOX 3 last night is the same man that struggled against Manny Gamburyan at “The Ultimate Fighter” season 5 finale a few years ago. Diaz’s improvements over that time are truly mindboggling as the younger brother of the extremely popular Nick Diaz is starting to emerge from the shadows of his older brother and become a star in his own right. Diaz beat down Jim Miller in every facet of mixed martial arts en route to a second-round mounted guillotine choke submission victory and the fourth “Submission of the Night” award of his UFC career. Diaz earns the first star of the night for putting on a performance that has made him the number one contender in the UFC’s lightweight division. Diaz was on a two-fight losing streak at this time last year, making the Stockton natives current position all the more impressive.