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UFC 271 Highlights: Israel Adesanya Edges Out Robert Whittaker

MMA UFC
Ewan Ross Feb 13, 2022 2:06AM

UFC 271 featured an incredibly high level title fight in the main event, and not one, not two, not even three, but four fighters on the undercard being put to sleep. Check out those highlights and everything else from the PPV card in Houston after the break.

Note that the UFC's English language feed was not posting their normal clips, so their Spanish feed is being used in place of that.

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Israel Adesanya def. Robert Whittaker via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)

In a nip/tuck fight that was much closer than the first time around, Israel Adesanya edged a decision over his rival Robert Whittaker. Adesanya scored a knockdown in the first round, and was able to stuff most of Whittaker's takedown attempts on the way to getting the call on all scorecards. Good performance by both men, and a very high level fight.

Tai Tuivasa def. Derrick Lewis via Knockout (Elbows) (Rd. 2 1:40)

In a fight that was as much fun as it could possibly be, Tai Tuivasa scored a huge knockout victory over Derrick Lewis. The two behemoths threw haymakers at each other for as long as the fight lasted, and eventually a pair of massive elbows felled Derrick Lewis, and Tuivasa got the walkoff knockout victory. Tuivasa is just the most fun fighter in the UFC, and everyone should love him.

Jared Cannonier def. Derek Brunson via Knockout (Elbows)(Rd. 2 4:29)

Middleweight might have a new contender, as Jared Cannonier got a shocking knockout victory over Derek Brunson in the second round. Brunson came out strong in the first and secured multiple takedowns, and ended the round threatening a rear-naked choke attempt. However, in the second round, Brunson's gas tank seemed severely depleted, and Cannonier's power striking approach started showing effects. As the round neared its end, Cannonier rocked Brunson with a massive back-first, and closed the show with brutal elbows from top position.

Renato Moicano def. Alexander Hernadnez via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) (Rd. 2 1:23)

Jiu-jitsu ace Renato Moicano showed improvement on his feet before finishing off Alexander Hernadnez with a choke finish.

Bobby Green def. Nasrat Haqperast via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

In a spectacular performance, Bobby Green took Nasrat Haqperast to boxing school, and dominated him with the sport's best jab and defense. The volume, and accuracy that Green unleashed on Haqperast was incredible. Green trash talked, showboated, in between all his surgical strikes. Utterly outstanding.

Andrei Arlovski def. Jared Vanderaa via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

In another workmanlike performance, Andrei Arlovski extends his current run to 5 wins and 1 loss in his last six with a less than thrilling decision victory over Jared Vanderaa. Arlovski is now one fight behind Jim Miller for the all-time UFC lead in career fights. Of noting, the dissenting judge in this bout, was also the judge who gave the egregious score card in the previous Modafferi/O'Neill bout, and probably shouldn't be allowed to judge any other fights the rest of the night.

Casey O'Neill def. Roxanne Modafferi via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

In her retirement fight, Women's MMA legend Roxanne Modafferi called it a career in a valiant defeat to undefeated prospect Casey O'Neill. O'Neill set a women's flyweight record for significant strikes, as Roxy seemed more than willing to keep the fight on the feet in her retirement fight. However competitive the fight may have been, and for all the heart Modafferi showed, there is absolutely no chance she won that fight, and the judge who scored it has such needs to have his head examined.

Kyler Phillips def. Marcelo Rojo via Submission (Arm-bar) (Rd. 3 1:48)

In a dominant outing, Kyler Phillips easily handled Marcelo Rojo in all phases over three rounds, before scoring the finish midway through the final stanza. Phillips chopped Rojo's leg to pieces, controlled the fight on the feet, and looked dangerous whenever he got the fight to the floor. A great performance that shows Phillips is ready for a stiffer test.

Carlos Ulberg def. Fabio Cherant via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

In a truly dreadful fight, Carlos Ulberg defeated a totally inert Fabio Cherant over three rounds. Ulberg never needed to get out of first gear, because Cherant only landed approximately 15 strikes over the course of the entire fight, and didn't even attempt many more than that. Very poor fight.

Ronnie Lawrence def. Mana Martinez via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

In a wild back and forth bout Ronnie Lawrence emerged victorious over Mana Martinez. Lawrence came out with a purpose, scoring three knockdowns, and multiple takedowns enroute to taking both the first two rounds in dominant fashion. However in the third round, Martinez showed he had nothing to lose and went for broke trying to get the finish, and scored a knockdown and threatened with an arm-bar but wasn't able to get it done. Very fun bout.

Jacob Malkoun def. AJ Dobson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Despite AJ Dobson busting out some very innovative takedown defense techniques in the first round, Jacob Malkoun was not to be deterred, and was able to get the takedown in the latter two rounds, and control Dobson for the rest of the bout. Not the most thrilling bout, but complete domination by Malkoun over the final two rounds, which easily could've both been 10-8 rounds.

Douglas Silva de Andrade def. Sergey Morozov via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke (Rd. 2 3:24)

In an absolutely thrilling bout Douglas Silva de Andrade weathered a brutal first round that saw him knocked down, and cut open by Sergey Morozov's heavy punches and knees. However, Andrade rebounded in the second round and rocked Morozov multiple times before taking the back and cinching in the rear-naked choke to put Morozov to sleep. Back to back technical submissions on the prelim card, and an early contender for comeback of the year. There is a disappointing lack of clips for this stellar bout, if you can find the whole fight, its well worth your time.

Jeremiah Wells def. Mike Mathetha via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) (Rd 1 4:38)

Jermiah Wells gave Mike Mathetha a rude introduction to the UFC by taking down the veteran kickboxer early in the first round, and dominated him from mount before finding the rear-naked choke, and putting Mathetha to sleep near the end of the round. A difficult debut for Israel Adesanya's teammate.

Maxim Grishin def. William Knight via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

William Knight came in 12 pounds heavy for his bout against Maxim Grishin, and was then picked apart by his Russian opponent for a fairly dull win to start the show off. Knight is absolutely enormous, tho he did accept the fight on short notice, its mindboggling someone so musclebound can make 205 lbs under any circumstances.

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