Parisyan beats Kim by split decision

A pair of judo black belts face off: Korean Dong Hyun Kim against Armenian Karo Parisyan, who has beaten Matt Serra.

(I turned my assignment over to Adam Hill for his thoughts as our MMA beat reporter. Plus, remember I said earlier that I'd been drinking coffee all night?)

From Adam:

Kim, who is unbeaten as a professional, has Las Vegan Frank Mir in his corner.

FIRST ROUND: Kim controlled Parisyan in a body lock for much of the first round. At one point, he landed a few punches and got the crowd going. He then paused to urge the crowd on to get louder before resuming his punching of Parisyan's head.

SECOND ROUND: Parisyan bounces back, executing a textbook judo throw midway through the round. He gets booed loudly, however, after losing his mouthpiece for the second time in the fight, forcing a brief stoppage.

THIRD ROUND: Not much happens. The fight will be difficult to score as the fighters appeared to have split the first two rounds. It should all come down to how each judge saw the final five minutes.

UFC fans aren't shy. They booed the end of the match.

Wolf says: Who cares?

Official scoring: Parisyan by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Hill says, "He's quite surprised that the crowd has not booed more often tonight. All seven fights thus far have gone to a decision, a situation that usually lends itself to drawing the ire of the fans.

"It really hasn't happened tonight. The fights have been largely technical battles, with much of the action happening on the ground.

"Just as these words are typed, a chorus of boos begins with Parisyan and Kim locked in a clinch against the cage in the closing minute of the fight."

Time to get back to MIXED martial arts.