Round 1 - Referee Josh Rosenthal in charge of this welterweight co-main event contest. Johnson takes the center. Hardy circling left. Might not want to do that. Low kick from Johnson. Hardy still circling left. Left high kick drops Hardy, even though it looked to be blocked, and Johnson pounces. Hardy scrambles to his knees, and tries to control the head. Hardy works back to his feet. Johnson stays on top and drives Hardy to the floor. Shoulder strike from the top. Hardy with a closed guard underneath. Johnson postures up and lands a big punch. Hardy tries to trap the arm, but Johnson pulls free. Halfway in. Hardy works the legs high, but Johnson continues to punch. Hardy briefly secures the right arm, but Johnson pulls free and advances to half-mount. Hardy rolls to the right and locks in a kimura grip. He briefly gets it past the body, but Johnson works his arm free and pushes back down from half-mount. Less than a minute. Hardy reaches under the leg, trying to sweep. Can't get it, and Johnson land sa few short hammerfists. Johnson works the body as Hardy holds the action close. Round ends there, and MMAjunkie.com sees it for Johnson, 10-9.
Round 2 - Johnson takes the center, and Hardy again circling left. Johnson blocks a jab. Johnson ducks under a jab and takes it to the floor. Hardy's head against the cage. He's got full guard, and he ties up the arms. Johnson pulls them free and wings away from the top. Not a lot of damage, but he's completely neutralized Hardy's striking. Hardy rolls to his right and again looks for the kimura. Johnson works the ribs with his free hand. Johnson defends the kimura. May be grabbing the shorts, but Rosenthal says no. Hardy releases, and Johnson stays on top. Hardy again rolls for the kimura. Less effort this time. Two minutes left. Johnson in half-mount, and he pushes in tight. Crowd wanted more fireworks, but Johnson is in control on the floor. Left hands to the head from Johnson. One minute left. Hardy can do nothing from his back, and Johnson is staying active. Crowd boos, and Rosenthal grants them their wish. Johnson wastes little time shooting again on the restart. He's got a single, but Hardy bounces across the cage and remains upright. Second effort gets the takedown, and the round ends. Johnson has gone back on his word, but he's won another round on the MMAjunkie.com card, 10-9.
Round 3 - Johnson in the center, and this time it's Hardy who clinches up. Not going to happen, and Johnson reverses the effort and winds up in top position. Hardy rolls to his left this time for the kimura, but it's not there. Four minutes remain, and it may stay here for the duration. Hardy tries again for the kimura, and it looks good momentarily, but Johnson steps over the arm and brings it back in. Hardy works to a knee, and Johnson slips around to the back as they stand. He releases and punches before backing away. Three minutes left, and we may strike. Nope. Johnson ducks under, gets the takedown and takes the back. Choke misses, but Johnson has both hooks in on a kneeling Hardy. Johnson lands a few left hands. Hardy is absolutely trapped. Crowd is irate they're not getting the slugfest they expected. Johnson very high on the back as he looks for the choke. Hardy can't escape, though. Johnson rolls him over. No choke, so he takes mount. Left arm is trapped. Johnson leaps into a side choke that looks deep. Doesn't finish. Hardy showing his resiliency as Johnson cranks the neck from a seated side control position. Johnson punches away until the final bell and takes a convincing win, even if it wasn't in the fashion he promised. MMAjunkie.com sees the final round for Johnson, 10-9, and gives him the fight, 30-27. Anthony Johnson def. Dan Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).