Los Angeles, California. Hollywood, sunshine and the host of the first UFC PPV to have two Women's MMA bouts as the featured fights. Also on the card two longstanding welterweights looking to keep their place in the company and a lightweight trying to get himself into title contention. Oh, did I mention the main event was a title fight with the biggest star in womens MMA today? Well, let's see what happened...
Preliminary Card
Masio Fullen v Alex Torres
We opened the event with an entertaining brawl between two fighters from TUF: Latin America. Both came out swinging, with Fullen clipping Torres early on. But after Torres found his feet, he landed a blow that wobbled his opponent. Fullen countered beautifully, and after some more hard shots from both, Fullen dragged the fight to the ground. By the second though the pace had slowed. A clinch against the cage resulted in an exchanging of knees, but Fullen pulled ahead towards the end with a headkick. He continued the assault into the final round with a left followed up by knees, kicks and punches looking for the finish. Torres then ate a flying knee, and tried two attempts at a takedown, eventually landing the second before Fullen popped back up.
Result: Fullen by split decision
James Krause v Valmir Lazaro
Another hard fought fight here. Lazaro started by keeping Krause against the cage to negate his opponents length. From there he used leg kicks and body shots to open up Krause for the head strikes. Into the second round Lazaro's speed and striking variety forced Krause to turn up his speed and spacing of his strikes. A better round for the American but he still took some punishment. Into the last, Krause continued to land with overhand rights with Lazaro striking from all angles, with both mixing in failed takedown attempts. The judges were called in again, giving Lazaro the split decision.
Result: Lazaro by split decision
Derrick Lewis v Ruan Potts
Well, if I'm honest, this one lasted longer than I expected. Lewis came out stalking Potts. Throwing leg kicks, Lewis did damage before Potts got in close and clinched, with the South African eating a knee. Potts slipped on a high kick and fell backwards. Lewis was all over him, but Potts grabbed a leg and locked the submission in tight. Eventually the big American rolled through and drilled Potts with shots until the bell. Round two started and Lewis landed more heavy hands with Potts on the floor. Then Lewis dropped into guard, passed to half, mounted the outclassed Potts and finished the fight with ground and pound. Dominant display from Lewis.
Result: Lewis by TKO
Dhiego Lima v Tim Means
Means came out like a shot. Working with big knees and punches, Lima survived the early onslaught but looked overwhelmed. Then against the cage, Means landed a series of elbows followed by a big straight left that had Herb Dean calling the fight off. Impressive by 'Dirty Bird'.
Result: Means by TKO
Roman Salazar v Norifumi Yamamoto
Unfortunately this fight was called off halfway through round two because of an accidental eye-poke to Salazar. Until then, Yamamoto had started positively, looking to land early and mixing in kicks. In the second, Salazar landed a takedown but 'Kid' bounced up, then was accidentally poked in the eye. After the stoppage Salazar landed a left before eating a right-left combo. But then Yamamoto's hand scraped the left eye of his opponent, and John McCarthy, after consulting the doctor and asking Salazar if he could see, waved it off.
Result: No contest
Roan Carnerio v Mark Munoz
This was a great performance by the returning Carnerio. After stuffing a takedown attempt from Munoz, Carnerio used it to advance and take the back mount, slipping his arm under the chin and choking Munoz out cold within two minutes.
Result: Carnerio by technical submission
Main Card
Tony Ferguson v Gleison Tibau
Tibau threw an early front kick, but Ferguson had an answer for this and everything Tibau tried, sweeping him several times. After a flurry of shots from Ferguson, including a vicious right, the Brazilian shot for a takedown. After threatening several submission attempts, Ferguson took the back and locked in the rear naked choke for the win.
Result: Ferguson by submission
Alan Jouban v Richard Walsh
Walsh started by throwing body kicks early to the body, occasionally throwing the odd punch to the head. But then, an elbow to Walsh's temple turned the fight, Jouban flurrying with the punches until John McCarthy stepped in to end it.
Result: Jouban by knockout
Jake Ellenberger v Josh Koscheck
Not a classic. Koscheck looked very hesitant and nervous trying to strike after over a year off. The most persistent offense of the fight was the jab and overhand right of Ellenberger. The finish came as Koscheck went for a takedown, exposing his neck. Aellenberger synched in a front-naked choke that he modified into a north-south choke, and left Koscheck tapping furiously.
Result: Ellenberger by submission
Holly Holm v Raquel Pennington
The first round was evidently a feeling out period for Holm. The only real offense from either women was a takedown attempt by Pennington, which failed. Holm picked up the pace in round two, controlling the fight whilst being aware of any takedown attempts. Pennington landed a couple of fleeting shots during the round. The final frame was an improvement for Pennington, landing several good shots and causing Holm to bleed from the nose, but it was to little to late.
Result: Holm by unanimous decision
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE
(c) Ronda Rousey v Cat Zingano
Well, I'm sure no-one saw this coming. Ronda Rousey's supposedly toughest fight to date lasted all of 14 seconds. Zingano came rushing out and tried to land a flying knee, missed and Rousey tripped her, landing on top and grabbing the left arm. She then quickly flipped her body over and pulled tight the arm, with Zingano having no choice but to tap. Can anyone stop Rousey?
Result: Rousey by submission
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