Hannah Cifers defeated Polyana Viana, via split
Hannah needed to win this fight, and while Viana lost her second in a row, she probably has another fight before she's cut. Cifers made this a dirty fight, and was particularly exciting and willing to exchange at the end of the fight. Cifers even took Viana down at one point, but let Viana back up. It's one of those fights where on the stat sheet Viana has more significant strikes and took two out of three rounds, but Cifers deserved to win this fight. This was the right call.
SRS' Rec: Watch the last round.
Macy Chiasson dropped Gina Mazany, R1
Mazany came into this fight with everyone counting her out. She doesn't have a lot to lose against a prospect as highly touted as Chiasson. What she did lose, however, is consciousness. Chiasson broke away from the clinch and just pourred on a sick combination. It dropped Mazany and Chiasson followed up until the ref stepped in and called it.Chiasson is 10-2 between amateur/pro and exhibition, and is 4-0 as a pro fighter now. She says she feels better at 135 than at any point in her career.
SRS' Rec: Watch. Chiasson is a major prospect.
Edmen Shahbazyan elbowed Charles Byrd. R1
Byrd shoots in and immediately gets elbowed out of consciousness. Edmen Shahbazyan finished him with the quickness. Edmen moves on to 9-0, but I don't know if even 9 people were in the crowd to actually see the fight.
SRS' Rec: This was 30 seconds. Watch it.
Diego Sanchez clubs Mickey Gall. R2
This is Diego Sanchez's 28th UFC fight. Gall is way more aggressive during this fight, and it's tough for Sanchez to overcome. Gall is trying his luck with punches, with leg kicks, with combos, in the clinch and doing well. Diego Sanchez's wrestling is still there and very impressive, but missed a very easy hammerlock opening that Gall almost did to himself. I dunno if getting into an elbow trade with Diego Sanchez is a hot idea, but that's what Gall does. In round 2, Sanchez put Gall down and ground and pounds him until the referee stops it. This was an outstanding Diego performance. Diego Sanchez was one of my "I Got 5 On It Picks." How do you set a line like that with someone with that much experience. Diego Sanchez just picked up his first back-to-back wins since 2010-2011. Sanchez's first stoppage since June 2008!
SRS' Rec: Diego's not gone yet. Watch this. This was good stuff.
#12 Cody Stamann defeated #13 Alejandro Perez via UD.
Perez doesn't have a lot for Stamann in the early rounds, but there are some decent exchanges. Perez at one point does the Daniel Cormier Driver, but it's not enough to overcome the pressure of Stamann. Stamann has won three of four, all by decision, so don't expect him to get off of the prelims any time soon. Perez is now 7-2-1, but ends a seven fight unbeaten streak.
SRS' Rec: Pass on this one.
#15 Johnny Walker FINISHES #14 Misha Cirkunov, R1.
Huge fight for Walker and Cirkunov both. Walker winning launches him into top 10 fights in the division. Cirkunov needs to win to stay relevant. Flying Knee and THAT'S IT. Walker wins. This guy is nothing short of special already. He got hurt by an early kick, threw a huge knee and won. This guy wanted to fight for fifteen minutes and got 36 seconds. Then Walker dislocates his shoulder celebrating, but at least he's light hearted about it. UFC Light Heavyweight is way, way better than anyone is giving credit for
SRS' Rec: Oh yeah
#13 Zabit defeated #6 Jeremy Stephens, UD
Jeremy Stephens gets his RIGHT IN THE HEATHENS. He doesn't have an answer for Zabit, and this is not a great fight. It's a glorified sparring match that has spinning shit in it here and there.
SRS' Rec: No.
#9 Pedro Munhoz ends #2 Cody Garbrandt, R1
Munhoz drops down for a leg lock early on, but can't get it. Garbrandt has great speed. Munhoz gets in and lands leg kicks, then a nice combo. Garbrandt started moving much slower. Cody gets cracked and manages to lure Munhoz into a slugfest. This is nothing short of a movie fight scene -- one of the great exchanges in UFC history. Eventually, Munhoz drops and finishes Garbrandt. Cody is now riding a three fight losing streak, all because he drops his lead hand and abandons defense. Munhoz has won seven of his last eight fights.
SRS Rec: This is one of the best one round bantamweight fights of all-time.
#15 Weili Zhang def. #7 Tecia Torres by unanimous decision
This was an odd fight to put on the PPV. It's not a bad fight, just odd that they had this on here ahead of some of the better suited fights on the prelims. Torres has really good footwork, and stifles Zhang with kicks. The first round is back and forth, with both women finding success from the top. Zhang finishes the fight on top smothering Torres and racks up points.
SRS' Rec: You can pass on this.
Ben Askren headlocks #6 Robbie Lawler, Technical Sub, R1.
Askren shoots immediately and gets OLYMPIC SLAMMED by Lawler!!! Lawler completely drills Askren from the top, and it's a miracle that Askren survived. Askren applies a SIDE HEADLOCK and Herb Dean calls it when Lawler's arm goes limp. Lawler is awake, and Herb Dean apologizes. A Death Valley Driver couldn't end a shoot fight but a side headlock did.
SRS' Rec: You HAVE to watch this.
UFC Welterweight Championship
#2 Kamaru Usman jobs out Tyron Woodley (c) to win the title
Usman almost gets caught in a guillotine and punches Woodley in the ribs on his way out. There's not a lot that happened in round 1. In round 2, the much bigger Usman pushes forward and lands an elbow and a big takedown. The size difference is big. Bet you the WORLD @allelbows gets a bad ass shot of Usman and Woodley fighting with Covington standing in the background. Usman has begged to be guillotined all fight long, but Woodley hasn't been able to pull it off. Usman really wailed away at the end of round 2. Usman DOMINATED every second of this fight. Dana White couldn't snap the title around his waist soon enough. All due respect to Woodley, but no thanks on that rematch talk. Covington is next and goes after Usman on the way out.
SRS' Rec: Not an exciting fight, but a must-watch performance.
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Literally nothing happens in the first three minutes until Smith throws a head kick that gets caught. Jones punishes him in the clinch. Trying to outpoint Jon Jones is a great way to not beat Jon Jones.A body kick in round two hurts Smith. Finally in round three, Jones lands a huge takedown. It's worth noting that Jones' formerly destroyed toe is taped up. Jones turtles Smith pretty well, but Smith does a good job blocking his own body with his knee. Round four sees Jones really pour it on, even landing a soccer kick to the arm. Round four sees Jones land a scary illegal knee, which would be legal under modern rules. However, Herb takes two points, appropriately. Jones coasts to another win.
SRS' Rec: Another dominant performance. Don't watch it, though.