The octagon rolled up in Sao Paulo, Brazil for the penultimate UFC event prior to their stacked 217 card next weekend, with the main event seeing popular fan favourite Lyoto Machida finished half way through the first round by Derek Brunson.
Former middleweight champion Machida, returned to the octagon after over two years on the sidelines due to an anti-doping violation and the 39-year-old was unable to cap a fairy-tale return in his home nation of Brazil.
Brunson pressed the pace early in the first round, catching Machida with a left hook before flooring the Brazilian with repeated left hooks. More left hands landed on the ground with the referee forced to step in to leave Machida with one win in his last five bouts.
That left hand is made of steel 👊
On the other end of the spectrum, one of the least popular fighters in the promotion in welterweight contender Colby Covington, outpointed jiu-jitsu specialist Demian Maia in the co-main event.
Covington managed to stop the Brazilian’s takedowns and the two grapplers went toe-to-toe on the feet in the first round. Maia couldn’t answer his opponent’s relentless pace as the fight went on, with Covington unanimously taking the decision victory.
However, his post-fight interview made the headlines with some unsavoury comments about the local crowd. He was pelted with rubbish as he was led backstage surrounded by security. He wants the next shot at welterweight champion Tyron Woodley after winning five straight bouts in the last 18 months.
In an event where all twelve fights featured Brazilians taking on other nationalities, the home nation represented in fine form, winning nine and losing just three! Pedro Munhoz was the last Brazilian victor on the card, handing Rob Font his first defeat inside the distance with a first-round submission, earning a $50k bonus in the process!
Francisco Trinaldo outpointed veteran Jim Miller over three rounds whilst Thiago Santos earned a knockout victory against Sweden’s Jack Hermansson with a second to go in the first round.
John Lineker outpointed Marlon Vera over three rounds to open the main card, with Vicente Luque closing the prelims with a slick d’arce choke submission over Niko Price. Antonio Carlos Junior submitted Welshman Jack Marshman in the first round.
Vicente Luque got the job done in style at #UFCSP 👏
Jared Gordon outpointed Hacran Dias over three rounds after Elizeu Zaleski and Max Griffin went to war, earning the fight of the night bonus in the process. Jarred Brooks and Deiveson Figueiredo contested a controversial bout with Brooks outstriking his opponent whilst landing more takedowns. Figueiredo took the decision which left fans split on who should’ve got the nod.
Marcelo Golm stepped up on short notice to submit Christian Colombo in the first round. Colombo now slides to three fights without a win, whilst Golm marks his octagon debut with a win to improve to 6-0.
The octagon returns at Madison Square Garden, New York for UFC 217 next Saturday night!
