Jones Dominates OSP Via UD To Capture UFC Interim Gold And Demetrious Johnson Successfully Defends For 8th Time With 1st Round TKO

Jon “Bones” Jones (22-1) made his UFC Interim world title win from inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena look easy tonight, almost sparring session-like with his dominant performance via unanimous decision over a very game Ovince Saint Preux (19-8). The former Strikeforce alum stepped in as a replacement for the original opponent, light heavyweight UFC champion, Daniel Cormier. Ironically enough, following the Tennessee-born fighter’s loss this actually only raises his stock in the MMA world as he went the distance against one of the most dominant champions and Pound for Pound greats of this or any era. Saint Preux can now look forward to bigger paydays, more notoriety, media attention and recognition from fans in the same fashion Nate Diaz garnered brighter limelight last month off of his replacement performance at the same MGM Grand Casino when he defeated retired former 145lbs UFC champion, Conor McGregor.

As for Jon Jones his stock shoots through the roof in an unexpected fashion. The reception from the fans inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena was deafening as they assured him they still love him for his craftsmanship in the Octagon as a warrior and can move past his human mistakes outside of the cage. ‎His popularity is at a fever pitch and he is now offcially more connected with the fans than ever before, something he spoke of happily in the lead up to the bout.

Regarding his performance in the cage as he headlined another PPV, this time UFC 197, we can give him a solid grade of “B”. The New Yorker picked his man apart from the outside, somewhat conservative nonetheless with his strikes clearly aware of the lengthy layoff as well as more muscular frame that he chissled out of stone during his time away and undertaking of power lifting into his work out routine. He didn’t force anything and admitted at the post-fight press conference that he trained for Cormier for 7 months and that the change of opponent threw him off. But, once he turned up the heat on Saint Preux after sticking and moving for the first 15 minutes of the battle, the ex-titlist ran away with the cards in the championship rounds.

‎In the 4th round he effortlessly took Ovince down 3 times and then took another pair of takedowns in the 5th round. He almost finished his foe once he passed his guard at the very end of the 4th and ran out of time. Then “Bones” went to work in the 5th and final round landing at will looking for the finish but Saint Preux wouldn’t go quietly into the night. Post fight talk from president Dana White expressed that the Florida resident fought with a broken arm in the championship rounds, an amazing feat in it of itself, which will only add to Ovince’s star power and selling potential in upcoming matches.

The official cards read 50-45, 50-45 and 50-44 for Jon Jones as he captures his second world title and first UFC Interim belt. ‎A UFC championship unification against full champion, Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 in July would be perfect since Cormier would be healed and Jones walked away relatively unscaved more than ready for that highly anticipated grudge match.

Jon Jones:

 

“I needed to do this and get this fight out of the way. I felt like I only used 20 percent of my technique tonight. I felt that I was just watching and imagining things instead of landing. I didn’t look at this fight as a warm-up fight, but I needed this fight before I fight for the championship. I’ll probably be back at practice on Tuesday and I’m excited to fight Daniel Cormier.

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (24-2-1) retained his UFC 125lbs championship for the 8th time, tying Jon Jones’ record as well as coming one defense under Georges St. Pierre and 2 under Anderson Silva. ‎You get the strange feeling that Henry Cejudo (10-1) walked into some sort of secret penalty for upsetting the one and only flyweight champion by taking him down early in the match. Amazingly, the former 2008 Olympic gold medalist did what a only handful of men have been able to do and that’s plant Johnson on the canvas after the two buzzed around one another looking to land kicks and punches in the center of the Octagon then settled with a clinch.

After dragging the Washingtonian to the Octagon floor the Los Angelino was not able to keep him there since the champion scooted his hips then push-kicked away from his foe in order to pop back up to his feet. Shortly there  he landed some knees and punches off of his own clinch-heavy assault and began dismantling Cejudo. In close a short right elbow from “Mighty Mouse” to the side of his man’s head knocked Cejudo’s equilibrium for a loop. A few knees followed on both sides of the body and Cejudo escaped the clinch shoving himself backwards but stumbled on unsteady legs across the Octagon. The champion smelled blood and charged forward using his jab as a range finder then landed another crushing knee to Cejudo’s liver that made him fold like a lawn chair. Johnson pounced on him with two right hands that landed flush as the referee stepped in to waive it off.

Henry Cejudo can keep his head held high knowing that his first loss is to ‎the #1 or #2 top Pound for Pound MMA fighter on the planet and the only UFC flyweight champion that the organization has ever had. For Demetrious Johnson the sky is the limit. He isn’t writing records he is breaking his own, he isn’t making history, he is history and locks in one more accomplishment with his momunental 8th title defense by way of TKO at (2:49) of the 1st Round.

Demetrious Johnson:

“There is no game plan I just come in here and fight. Once I got him off balance I hit him with a knee to the liver and I knew it was over. I’m the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and I will continue to show it.”

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‎The first round was as tentative as it was technical with both men having their moments: Anthony Pettis (18-5) with his overhand right and Edson Barboza (17-4) with his left hook. But the obvious detail was a more poised and ready fighter in Barboza who had all the answers tonight turning away Pettis with scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27.  The connectivity of the Brazilian opened up a cut over the right eye of Pettis who favored a conventional stance as did his foe for the first few minutes. Pettis’ takedown was stuffed during the final minute of the fight as Barboza saw the bulk of the former WEC champion’s arsenal coming a mile away.

The 2nd round saw allot of movement from Pettis who also switched stances multiple times looking for the best angle to attack from. However, while he put together a punch or kick it was usually a lead shot without much set up from a leg kick or a jab so it missed it’s mark. Pettis tried another takedown but it was again stuffed towards the final minute of the round as Barboza would not allow Pettis to take him to the mat. The brilliant Brazilian landed first, moved swiftly thanks to great footwork, was slick and easily blocked and dodged any fire power from the former UFC lightweight title holder.

In the 3rd round Barboza ended a combination with a low right kick that tripped up the ex-two organization belt holder sending him to the canvas. The Wisconsin native returned to his feet as well as to the constant circling of the cage but did not do anything with it. A low leg kick from Barzoa connected below the belt with 3 minutes left in the match temporarily slowing down the action. This did nothing to fire Pettis up as he ate more low leg kicks and got further bruised up by his foe, so much so that the inside left leg of “Showtime” Pettis was a purple, swollen mess. ‎For the remainder of the match Barboza’s low kicks caught Pettis off guard whether he led with them or used them to finish a combination; rinse and repeat for the Brazilian ‎as he took home the win and delivered on his promise to be the better man tonight based on his own very high standard.

Edson Barboza:

“I’m very happy. I worked very hard for this fight and I did my best for the win. I think sometimes my coaches believe in me more than I do, but now I believe in my abilities out there. Whatever the UFC wants I’m ready and I’m 100-percent sure I will be better next time.”

Since Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker (17-4) made the move from 170lbs up to middleweight he seems to be improving. ‎He handled the artistic flow of his last opponent in Uriah Hall shutting down the dynamic striker and imposed his will unto tonight’s adversary in Rafael “Sapo” Natal (21-7-1) just the same  He stuck his jab in the Brazilian’s face, slid out of the way of anything problematic and for 15 minutes had his foe hitting air. Natal came up short with the same 2 or 3-punch combination and consistently finished with a left hook, the same hook that the Australia native slipped as he rolled to out to his right side.

“The Reaper” took ‎the life out of Natal’s offense as well by landing hard and heavy punches that snapped the Brazilian’s head back. Whittaker was clipping him round after round with massive counters and cleverly placed hooks that removed any momentum that Natal could muster. And once again, if Natal decided to come forward and strike he connected mainly with air as The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes winner showed some much improved footwork and defensive movement.

The offcial scores for The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes winner were 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 as he continues to raise his stock in his new weight class.

The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America ‎145lbs winner Yair “Pantera” Rodriguez ‘ (8-1) nickname means “panther” and he channeled his inner beast with a sensational highlight reel KOtonight as he and fellow featherweight Andre Fili (15-4) kicked off the main event card for UFC 197 in a high-paced fire fight. Neither man gave up much ground as the talented strikers came forward with a wide assortment of looping hooks, front kicks, stiff jabs, combinations and spinning back strikes. The match was competitive in the 1st round with the more significant sway in action favoring the Mexican combatant who was able to control Fili on the mat and keep him there for a good chunk of the first 5 minutes.

Then in the 2nd Round Rodriguez began opening up with his strikes and was more fluid in his delivery. His range and angles allowed for him to beat the Team Alpha Male representative to the punch. Once he backed him up towards the cage wall, he leaped forward into the air with a flying roundhouse. The kick connected flush as his left foot crash landed on Fili’s face immediately leveling him, sending the California resident flat on his back to the canvas.

The official time of the KO stoppage came at (2:15) of Round 2 as Yair Rodriguez gets the biggest win of his young career over a high quality opponent.

Yair Rodriguez:

“This win is all about hard work, dedication and sacrifice. I train hard every day and I have a great team behind me. I knew Andre was aggressive and I was ready for him. I knew that when he was moving back, after I closed his eye with a punch, that I had him in a bad position. I will wait and see what Dana and Sean Shelby have for me. I’ll take on whatever is next.”