UFC 178: Demetrious Johnson retains title and other results

In the UFC 178 main event, Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson showed why he is not only the reigning flyweight champion, but also one of the P4P best in the UFC. Johnson would enter his bout with Chris Cariaso as a huge betting favor and showed why, with a dominant victory via tap out (kimura) in the second round.

After another specular performance in defense of his title, Johnson would be asked if he had any competition left in the flyweight division, to which Johnson would answer, “For me I always try to go out there and put up a perfect fight, and that’s a challenge in its self. I fight the best guys in the division. For me, a lot of guys didn’t give Chris Cariaso recognition, but I trained like he was the best guy in the world. So for me there are always challenges out there, and that’s to be the perfect martial artist.

 

Other UFC 178 results

 

Lightweight Bout 3 Rounds

Donald Cerrone (5)                                  vs                Eddie Alvarez (14)

Albuquerque, NM – 24-6-0, 1NC                              Boca Raton, FL – 25-3

 

Eddie Alvarez was welcomed into the UFC by the “The Cowboy”, Donald Cerrone, but unfortunately for the ex Bellator champion, Cerrone did not bring the welcome mat with him, as Alvarez was soundly beaten in the UFC 178 co main event. Judges all saw the fight 29-28 for Cerrone.

Alvarez would have a good first round, landing the better shots and controlling the round. However, in the second Cerrone began to pick up the pace and outworked Alvarez to win the round. In the last stanza, Eddie would look visibly tired and was taken down and beaten up for most of the round. “I’m a slow starter it’s my curse,” Cerrone would say in his post-fight interview. Slow starter or not, Cerrone earned himself another victory against a top opponent in the deeply talented lightweight division.

 

Featherweight Bout 3 Rounds

Dustin Poirier (5)                                    VS            Conor McGregor (9)

Coconut Creek, FL – 16-4                                       Dublin, Ireland – 16-2

Read: Conor McGregor fulfills his promise and takes out Poirier in one, wants title shot next

http://www.boxeomundial.com/conor-mcgregor-fulfills-promise-takes-poirier-one-wants-title-shot-next/

 

#UFC178 results:

Tim Kennedy (6)                                      vs               Yoel Romero (10)

Austin, TX – 18-5                                                       Coconut Creek, FL – 98-1

 

After the Zingano and Nunes fight, Tim Kennedy and Yoel Romero had a tough act to follow, but they delivered and then some. In a fight was that was brutal and hard fought from the first round, Yoel Romero would come away with a technical knockout in the third round.

The first round was controlled by Romero, who used his standup and great take down defense to punish and bloody Kennedy. However Kennedy would come right back and win the second round, unleashing some hard shots towards the end that had Romero out on his feet. There is no question that a few seconds more and Romero would not have made it to his corner. However, he did and in what will be discussed for some time, Romero’s corner seem to delay the round, given their fighter some extra time to recover. How much of an affect the extra time had in the fight will be debated for time to come, but the result was a brutal finish by Romero, who punished Kennedy until the ref stopped the fight at 58 seconds of the third round.

“I don’t know what happened between rounds. I was fine but I didn’t hear him trying to start the fight. My coach was in front of me and there was a lot of confusion. I was ready to fight I just didn’t know it was time,” Romero would comment about the delay in between the second and round.

Tim Kennedy for his part felt the fight should have been stopped and a victory awarded to him. “If you can’t get off the stool in a minute the fight is over. Not a minute and a half, not two minutes, not two and a half minutes while your coaches are still putting Vaseline on you and toweling you off. That fight should’ve been over, period.”   

In post-fight presser the controversy was discussed and we were informed that it would be reviewed by the commission.

 

Women’s Bantamweight Bout 3 Rounds

Cat Zingano (1)                                           vs                  Amanda Nunes (8)

Broomfield, CO – 9-0                                                        Miami, FL – 9-4

In a brutal and exciting bout Cat Zingano showed why she is currently ranked as the number one contender in the Bantamweight division with a technical knockout over Brazil’s Amanda Nunes.

First round was mostly dominated by Nunes who kept Zingano on her back for the greater part of the round. In the second it was Zingano’s turn to go to work and exert some of the damage. The excellent first two rounds, setup the stage for an explosive final round; one which both combatants knew they needed to win in over to come out victorious. As such, they both came out fighting, but it was Zingano who was able to land a take down and unleash a barrage of punches and elbows to the bloodied face of Nunes. The referee would see enough and call a halt to the action at 1:21 of the third round.

With the victory Zingano improved her perfect record to 9-0 and perhaps more importantly setup a match to challenge the women’s Bantamweight champion Rhonda Rousey. When asked if she was ready to challenge Rousey in her next bout, Zingano did not hesitate in answering, “I’m ready to do this, let’s go.”

 

 

FOX Prelims

Bantamweight Bout 3 Rounds

Dominick Cruz (10)                                  vs                 Takeya Mizugaki (5)

San Diego, CA – 20-1                                                    Kanagawa, Japan – 20-7-2

See: Dominick Cruz demolishes Mizugaki and earns shot at Bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw to regain his former title

Dominick Cruz demolishes Mizugaki and earns shot at Bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw to regain his former title

 

Lightweight Bout 3 Rounds

Jorge Masvidal (12)                                vs                     James Krause

Miami, FL – 28-8                                                              Lee’s Summit, MO – 21-6

(30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Jorge Masvidal continued his climb up the UFC lightweight ranking with a dominant unanimous decision victory over James Krause. For Masvidal this was his sixth win in his last seven fights, as he continues to make a case for himself as a top contender in the loaded UFC lightweight division.

 

 

Welterweight Bout 3 Rounds

Patrick Cote                                               vs                     Stephen Thompson

Montreal, Canada – 21-9                                                 Simpsonville, SC – 10-1

Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson extended his current UFC winning streak to 4 with a unanimous decision victory over Patrick Cote. Judges scores were 30-27, and 29-28 twice. The Wonderboy credited his standup fighting for giving him the win tonight.

“I’m at my best on the feet so I wanted to keep it standing tonight. Everyone wants to see a knockout and that’s what I tried to make happen for the fans. Unfortunately, Patrick is very tough and he has a hard head so I didn’t want to chase. I knew I hurt him in the third and he is slippery on the ground so I let him stand back up. I tried to put him down again but he recovered quickly. Just glad to have the win.”

 

 

 

Welterweight Bout 3 Rounds

John Howard                                           vs                     Brian Ebersole

Boston, MA – 22-10                                                        Phuket, Thailand – 51-16-1, 1NC

 

Brian Ebersole snapped a two fight losing streaking with a split decision victory over John Howard. Judges scored the fight 29-28, 29-28, 28-29. It was close fight in which Ebersole knew he would need to dig deep in the third and final round to come away with the victory.

“I was a bit frustrated out there tonight. I was winning the striking but I willingly gave up a takedown thinking he would be open for a sweep. I was looking to finish with the submission but he pulled a trick out of my book and sat backwards out of the under hook of the takedown, perfectly defended it. It’s never fun losing a round where you lay on your back not even getting hit. I really thought I did more damage but he controlled. Going into the third I knew the pressure was on so I dug deep. Nothing comes easy in that Octagon when the lights are on and the fans are watching. It’s not like training but I’m glad I got the win and I’m thankful to have competed against a guy like Howard.”   

 

 

UFC Fight Pass Prelims

 

Lightweight Bout 3 Rounds

Jon Tuck                                                  vs                        Kevin Lee

Hagatna, Guam – 8-2                                                        Las Vegas, NV 9-1

 

Kevin Lee defeated Jon Tuck via unanimous decision. All judges saw the fight 30-26 for Lee who even though won every round, was disappointed he didn’t get the finish. “It’s really about me just getting more comfortable out there. I’m a little disappointed because I think I left a little too much in my gas tank tonight. I was trying to pace myself but I definitely could’ve poured it on there at the end and gone for a finish. Regardless I’m happy for the win and ready for my next challenge.”

Tuck for his part, felt low blows landed by both combatants played a role in the bout. “I made a few mistakes. He hit me low and it hurt pretty bad after that point I never really recovered. I threw a low kick and it slightly grazed him and he took a point. I’m not really sure what to say about that.” He would also add, “We were getting in good exchanges I just couldn’t capitalize.”

 

Bantamweight Bout 3 Rounds

Manvel Gamburyan                                vs                        Cody Gibson

Hollywood, CA – 17-9-0, 1NC                                            Visalia, CA – 13-4

 

In the opening bout of UFC 178 Manvel Gamburyan defeated Cody Gibson via a submission (guillotine choke) at (4:56) the second round. After the fight Gamburyan discussed how he felt in his debut at bantamweight and his desire to face Bryan Caraway next.

“It was a very tough fight as I expected it to be. He’s a great brawler and a decent wrestler so I didn’t take him lightly and I was very well prepared to go a full three hard rounds. When he hit me with the low blow I wasn’t fully recovered but I kept fighting through it. My stomach was burning really badly and I was trying to get back to 100 percent. He defended the choke very well but I just pulled as hard as I could and luckily I got the finish. I should have been in this weight class a long time ago and this is definitely where I belong. Bryan Caraway has avoided so many fights at this point. He wouldn’t even follow through on the grappling match we agreed to on The Ultimate Fighter. He can’t escape me this time win, lose, or draw in his next fight I want him. I respect him as a fighter but Miesha has more guts than him. She fought the best in the world twice.”