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UFC 107 took place earlier this evening at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.

In the night’s main event, BJ Penn put his UFC lightweight title up for grabs against Diego Sanchez.

In the co-main event, Cheick Kongo looked to readjust Frank Mir’s attitude.

Jon Fitch took on Mike Pierce in a welterweight contest.

Kenny Florian looked to rebound from a disappointing loss to BJ Penn against Clay Guida.

Paul Buentello returned to the UFC to face Stefan Struve.

Results, thoughts, bonuses and live gate (when available) after the jump.

Results

• B.J. Penn defeats Diego Sanchez via TKO (Cut) in Round Five
• Frank Mir defeats Cheick Kongo via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in Round One
• Jon Fitch defeats Mike Pierce via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Kenny Florian defeats Clay Guida via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round Two
• Stefan Struve defeats Paul Buentello via Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
• Alan Belcher defeats Wilson Gouveia via TKO (Strikes) in Round One
• Matt Wiman defeats Shane Nelson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Johnny Hendricks defeats Ricardo Funch via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
• Rousimar Palhares defeats Lucio Linhares via Submission (Heel Hook) in Round Two
• DaMarques Johnson defeats Edgar Garcia via Submission (Triangle Choke) in Round One
• TJ Grant defeats Kevin Burns via TKO (Strikes) in Round One

Thoughts

Paul Buentello vs. Stefan Struve: When you see Stefan Struve fight, it feels like your watching a freak show fight in Japan. Struve is that tall. The tremendous height and reach advantage didn’t completely screw up Buentello, but it did affect him at various moments throughout the fight. Buentello had to get in close to hit him and Struve took advantage of that in the first. He tried pulling guard, and when that didn’t work, he caught Buentello with a huge uppercut, took him down and locked in a body triangle Buentello couldn’t escape. Buentello survived defending several submissions, but clearly lost the first. Buentello’s shining moment came in the second when Struve attempted a flying knee. Before Struve could connect, Buentello drilled him with a huge right hand in mid-air that dropped Struve. Struve tagged him a couple time during two highlight reel exchanges later, but Paul took the second. The third was a tough one to call. Both landed a few clean punches, but Struve battered Buentello’s front leg with leg kicks, although Paul didn’t seem too affected by them. Ultimately, two of the judges thought Struve did enough to win and awarded him the decision. Hard to call Buentello a loser in that one though. He’ll be back.

Kenny Florian vs. Clay Guida: We saw a different style of striking out of Kenny Florian tonight. Instead of his traditional Muay Thai style, he fought more like a boxer. He sat down in his stance to prevent the takedown, circled, moved in out with his jab, and it paid off in spades for him the second round. He threw a beautiful counter left-right combo that dropped Guida. Kenny pounced, got his back and sunk in the rear-naked choke before Guida could recover. To be honest, I wasn’t so sure it was working for him in the first round. Before the Penn fight, he was picking guys apart with his technical Muay Thai, but that wasn’t the case here. He did loosen up later in the round and opened up a huge cut on Guida’s noggin with an elbow, so it wasn’t like he was losing either. It’s all a moot point though. Florian did a fine job finishing a guy who’s notoriously difficult to put away.

Jon Fitch vs. Mike Pierce: Mike Pierce proved to be a tough opponent for Jon Fitch but he was still just a notch below Fitch’s level. Fitch outworked him on the feet and took Pierce’s back several times throughout the first two rounds. Pierce defended very well and Fitch never came close to finishing him, but Fitch clearly took the first two. The third was more of the same until the end when Pierce caught Fitch with a left hook. Fitch stumbled and Pierce swarmed, but Fitch was able to hang on and survive the round. Too little, too late.

Frank Mir vs. Cheick Kongo: Cheick Kongo is going to have a giant Mir-sized knot in his stomach for the next few days. Instead of shutting Mir’s “big mouth,” Kongo took an early nap. Mir dropped Kongo with a huge overhand left reminiscent of a Chuck Liddell overhand right early in the round. Mir pounced, snatch Kongo’s neck and put him to sleep. Mir checked on Kongo and they apparently embraced afterwards, so it looks like their bad blood is over. Mir respectfully wished Lesnar a get well soon so he can “redeem himself” in the post-fight interview.

B.J. Penn vs. Diego Sanchez: Diego Sanchez had nothing to chant YES! about tonight. BJ Penn outclassed him. Sanchez couldn’t mount any type of offense against Penn. Sanchez stormed forward early in the first round and BJ dropped him…hard. Sanchez recovered but he was never the same after that. He was very hesitant to engage and when he did, Penn countered and landed cleanly. Diego shot in for a single-leg countless times, and every time Penn maintained his balance, Diego drove him to the fence, and just like Kenny Florian he held him there because he couldn’t finish it. It continued for five straight rounds until midway through the fifth Penn landed a right head kick that split Diego’s forehead wide open — worst cut I’ve seen since Ross Pointon’s infamous cut — forcing the doctor to stop it. BJ Penn’s performance was the definition of domination.

I have no idea who challenges Penn next for the lightweight title. Gray Maynard, Tyson Griffin and Frankie Edgar are all floating out there as possible contenders, but let’s be serious. Not one of them is a real threat to Penn. The only one I might give the tiniest chance to is Maynard because he is a big lightweight and has great wrestling. Maybe he takes BJ down once or twice but to win he’d have to do it for five rounds, I really don’t see that happening. Penn’s the number one lightweight in the world, and that’s not going to change for a long time.

Bonuses $65,000

Submission of the Night: DaMarques Johnson
Knockout of the Night: TJ Grant
Fight of the Night: Alan Belcher & Wilson Gouveia

Live Gate & Attendance

Live gate: $1.5 million+
Attendance: 13,896

Bonus and live gate info via MMA Junkie