UFC 226 Results: Highlights (VIDEO), Bonus Winners, Social Media Reaction, Attendance And Gate

in #heavyweight6 years ago

UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier further solidified his position as an all-time great. In the very first round, Cormier scored a scintillating knockout victory over UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic to become the fifth man to hold two titles in one division, and the second to ever carry two titles simultaneously.

UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier further solidified his position as an all-time great. In the very first round, Cormier scored a scintillating knockout victory over UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic to become the fifth man to hold two titles in one division, and the second to ever carry two titles simultaneously.

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier punches Stipe Miocic in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Cormier landed a hard right hand in the clinch and finished Miocic with a few shots. It was an amazing moment for an all-time great of the sport and an excellent rep for the UFC. Miocic looked a little shocked at the stoppage by referee Marc Goddard, but it was the right call.

Miocic was out and taking unanswered shots.

The victory sent MMA Twitter for a loop.

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After the fight, the real show began. Former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar climbed into the cage after Cormier called him out. Lesnar pushed Cormier and the two men exchanged words. Cormier challenged Lesnar, and in so many words, Lesnar accepted.

Nothing official was set, but it's clear the UFC has big plans for Lesnar to return and challenge for the title.

Lewis and Ngannou Put On The Worst Fight In UFC Heavyweight History

Almost everyone thought the Francis Ngannou vs. Derrick Lewis bout would be an amazing heavyweight brawl. Instead, it was the big heavyweight bore.

The two men seemed afraid to engage. That was especially the case for Ngannou. He didn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation or that he was not winning the fight. The fighters were pelted with boos and hardcore criticism from the analysts.

Quite frankly, it was embarrassing and the worst fight I can recall seeing in 25 years of following the promotion and over 30 years of watching the sport.

Results

Emily Whitmire def. Jamie Moyle via unanimous decision (29-28x3)
Dan Hooker def. Gilbert Burns via first-round KO
Curtis Millender def. Max Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28x3)
Drakkar Klose def. Lando Vannata via unanimous decision (30-27x3)
Raphael Assuncao def. Rob Font via unanimous decision (30-27x3)
Paulo Costa def. Uriah Hall via second-round TKO
Khalil Rountree Jr. def. Gokhan Saki via first-round TKO
Anthony Pettis def. Michael Chiesa via second-round submission
Mike Perry def. Paul Felder via split decision (29-28x2, 28-29)
Derrick Lewis def. Francis Ngannou via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28x2)
Daniel Cormier def. Stipe Miocic via first-round KO
Performance Bonuses, Attendance and Gate

Whitmire Takes Unanimous Decision With Strong 3rd round and Language

After two sleepy rounds, Whitmire hit a well-timed takedown against Moyle. Whitmire maintained top position throughout the third round and took a well-deserved unanimous decision. After the bout, Whitmire had some tough language for Moyle's coach and her former coach Vinny Malgahaes as he left the cage.

In the current climate of the UFC, Whitmire's first Octagon victory and rawness on the microphone will likely earn her some more attention and shine.

Hooker Scores Explosive First-Round Stoppage Win

For the fourth time in a row, Hooker scored a stoppage win and the level of competition keeps getting better. On Saturday night, Hooker smashed Gilbert Burns with a vicious left hook.

He'd dropped Burns just moments earlier, but not before he was hurt by a right hand..

Hooker will undoubtedly be ranked next week after this win. He's now secured a place as one of the best up-and-coming fighters at 155 pounds.

Millender Rallies With Strong 2nd and 3rd Rounds To Earn Unanimous-Decision Win

In stand-up exchanges, Curtis Millender had a sizable advantage over Max Griffin. In the first round, Griffin was able to get the fight to the ground. Thankfully for Millender, he was able to defend takedowns moving forward and he commenced to beat up Griffin with a variety of strikes en route to the win.

Klose Chops Down Vannatta

With a focused attack on Vannatta's left leg, Klose was able to limit the effectiveness oh his opponent's unpredictable attacks. He was also efficient with counter punches as he did the most damage in all three rounds.

Vannatta is a dynamic fighter, but he is beginning to be exposed by guys who can stay disciplined and not get caught by the high-wire act. Klose was too physically strong and fundamentally sound. He beat Vannatta up on Saturday.

UFC Schedule Announced for The Rest of the Year

Assuncao Outclasses Rob Font

It wasn't exactly a thrilling bout, but then again, that's not what we've come to expect from Assuncao. However, we have come to expect him to win and that's just what he keeps doing.

After dropping Font in the first round with a strong right hand, Assuncao maintained distance and countered Font effectively, mixing in the takedown where he needed. Assuncao is 11-1 at 135 pounds with his only defeat coming to TJ Dillashaw, though he also owns a victory over the bantamweight champion.

During his postfight interview, Assuncao seemed frustrated as he is still awaiting a title shot. Unfortunately, Assuncao's best hopes will probably be a title shot as the co-main event for a stacked card. It would be hard to sell him as an opponent on a pay-per-view.

That's sad, but it's the reality.

Paulo Costa Fights Off Stiff Challenge And Stops Uriah Hall

He was dropped and peppered with the jab, but Paulo Costa is a machine. He walked through a number of strong strikes from an on Uriah Hall, but his sledgehammer-like punches wore him down. Costa did land at least two low blows in the fight which might have also had an impact on Hall, but still, The Eraser has to get props for this vicious combination that spelled an end to the fight.

Costa was caught on the top of the head by a counter right hand just before he scored the stoppage, but that only seemed to infuriate him. He's a dynamic performer with an unquestionable presence. If he can score a similarly impressive win over a legitimate middleweight wrestler, he might very well be a future champion in the division.

A Costa vs. Israel Adesanya bout isn't a bad matchup either.

Rountree Smashes Saki

Gokhan Saki came into the fight as a favorite who would appear to have a striking advantage over Khalil Rountree, but that wasn't the case. Rountree caught Saki with a nasty straight left hand followed up by well-placed hammerfists.

Rountree was fired up as it appeared he was a bit miffed by the lack of respect from oddsmakers and analysts.

Pettis Shocks Chiesa With Slick Submission Win

Moments after Chiesa accused Pettis of greasing in his corner, Showtime proved he didn't need any substance to gain the win.

In the second round, Pettis landed a nasty counter right hand that dazed Chiesa.

Pettis tried to land a jumping knee, but it was blocked. He landed in the bottom position, but Pettis immediately started working his forgotten bottom submission game. He wrapped Chiesa up in a sophisticated triangle and forced the submission.

This was an enormous win for Pettis. It kept him from potentially falling out of the rankings and will likely land him back in the Top 10. Chiesa has had better times in his career. Fresh off suffering injuries during Conor McGregor's infamous shuttle attack and being removed from the UFC 223 card, and missing weight for Saturday's fight, Chiesa's career has hit some bumps.

It'll be interesting to see where both fighters go from here.

Perry Outbrawls Felder

Paul Felder fought through a broken arm he suffered on a spinning backfist in the first round, but he couldn't do enough to overcome Mike Perry on two of the three judges scorecards.

Felder suffered a bad cut from a headbutt in the opening seconds. Perry, who switched his training camp to Jackson Wink, was sharper than he'd been in his last few fights. He landed some hard shots that produced swelling and cuts.

A vicious left hook in the second round opened a nasty cut and that seemed to influence the judges. You could have made a case for Felder winning despite the visual damage he incurred, but the official result is a split-decision win for Perry.

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