UFC 89: Bielkheden Grinds Out UD Over Liaudin

Swedish welterweight David Bielkheden (13-6) handed “Joker” Jess Liaudin (12-11) his third consecutive loss in the Octagon in a unanimous decision by scores of 29-28 twice and 30-27 once.

Bielkheden opened all three rounds scoring a takedown, fighting off omoplatas from Liaudin after takedowns in rounds one and two.

“That was the plan,” Bielkheden said after the fight.  “Take him down and be on top.  I was never worried about his attacks.”

In the first round, Liaudin swept Bielkheden’s second takedown of the round and ended the fight hammering from top position; and, again in round two, Liaudin scrambled to top position after a Bielkheden takedown attempt and ended the round punch from inside Bielkheden’s guard.

But, Bielkheden’s control of where the fight took place kept up his momentum into round three when Bielkheden opened a cut on Liaudian’s forehead with an elbow from top position.

Bielkheden had lost his UFC debut to Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked welterweight “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (19-2) at UFC 82 in Columbus 1 March.

After starting 2-0 in the UFC, Liaudin’s future in the promotion is on thin ice after his third straight loss.