The octagon returned to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California for the first time in over four years with Jon Jones regaining his light heavyweight title after defeating long term rival Daniel Cormier, with a third round stoppage.
Tyron Woodley comfortably defended his welterweight championship with an uneventful victory over Demian Maia, whilst Cris Cyborg defeated Tonya Evinger in the third round with a huge knee and strikes ending the bout, but the challenger showed some serious metal to make it that far.
What did we learn as the UFC put on their biggest and best card of the year so far?
Jon Jones is back!
After years of bad blood, trash talk, drug tests, injuries and a fair few controversies, Jon Jones finally returned to action to defeat his nemesis Daniel Cormier with a beautiful third round stoppage.
A huge head kick rocked Cormier badly with Jones following it up with a barrage of strikes. John McCarthy eventually stepped in (maybe a little too late) to call a stop to the contest.
In the octagon post fight, Jones was ecstatic whilst Cormier was left in tears. The new champion paid tribute to his nemesis for being a great champion. Jones went on to call out Brock Lesnar to set up a monster heavyweight clash for the future.
Will Jones move up to heavyweight? What’s next for DC?
Who would want to fight Cris Cyborg?
One of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time in Cris Cyborg finally sealed her long awaited UFC title. In truth, many expected Cyborg to decimate Evinger inside the first round but Evinger lasted into the third round before a vicous knee and strikes put an end to the bout.
Cris Cyborg TKO Tonya Evinger & become UFC FEATHERWEIGHT champ #UFC214
Why would people want to face Cyborg? Does anyone want to face her? It doesn’t seem like it. Germaine de Randamie didn’t want it but maybe Amanda Nunes would be keen to move up to featherweight.
She’s truly a superstar, and now a UFC champion.
Cerrone and Lawler should do it again… over five rounds!
Did we expect anything less from Robbie Lawler and Donald Cerrone? When the fight ended after fifteen minutes, there was a sheer appetite to see the battle enter the fourth and fifth rounds.
It was so close also, Lawler took the first round whilst Cerrone clearly took the second, with the third quite literally a coin toss! Both Cerrone and Lawler showed a diverse range of striking, with head kicks and elbows adding to the madness of this fight.
Lawler took the nod on the scorecards of all three judges, but I’m sure I’m not alone in saying we want this again over five rounds. Make it happen!
How did you score the fight?
Volkan Oezdemir is the real deal
After defeating Ovince St. Preux in a split decision victory on his debut in February, Volkan Oezdemir was again handed the underdog status against Misha Cirkunov in May.
The Swiss light heavyweight stopped Cirkunov in twenty-eight seconds to secure a potential title eliminator this evening in just his third octagon appearance. He went a step further this evening, by dispatching British hopeful Jimi Manuwa in just twenty-two seconds.
A strike in the clinch followed by a big left hand stunned Manuwa and Switzerland’s twenty-seven-year-old may just have earned himself a title shot, or at least an eliminator with Alexander Gustafsson.
Brian Ortega loves the third round
His last four fights have ended in four victories, with all of those coming in the third and final round. Brian Ortega and Renato Moicano competed in a highly competitive and pretty even fight with the bout heading to the judges’ scorecards.
Ortega busted open Moicano’s nose early in the first round before both men continued to exchange strikes blow-for-blow throughout the second round.
Into the third round and it looked like to fight might swing towards the Brazilian, before he carelessly shot for a takedown, against a submission specialist like Ortega and within seconds, the American had sunk in the guillotine choke and Moicano was out cold.
Ortega could now find himself of the cusp of the top five fighters in the featherweight division. Who’s next for him?