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Join 411’s LIVE UFC 225 Coverage

June 9, 2018 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC 225

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MAIN CARD
Champ Robert Whittaker (185 lbs.) vs. #1 Yoel Romero (185.2 lbs.) *
#3 Colby Covington (169 lbs.) vs. #1 Rafael dos Anjos (169 lbs.) – for interim welterweight title
Megan Anderson (146 lbs.) vs. Holly Holm (146 lbs.)
#9 Andrei Arlovski (249 lbs.) vs. #12 Tai Tuivasa (261 lbs.)
Phil “CM Punk” Brooks (169 lbs.) vs. Mike Jackson (170.5 lbs.)

PRELIMIMARY CARD (FS1)
#4 Curtis Blaydes (254 lbs.) vs. #2 Alistair Overeem (244 lbs.)
#6 Carla Esparza (116 lbs.) vs. #3 Claudia Gadelha (116 lbs.)
#11 Mirsad Bektic (146 lbs.) vs. #7 Ricardo Lamas (145 lbs.)
Rashad Coulter (247 lbs.) vs. Chris De La Rocha (261 lbs.)

PRELIMIMARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass)
Rashad Evans (205 lbs.) vs. Anthony Smith (206 lbs.)
#1 Joseph Benavidez (125.5 lbs.) vs. #5 Sergio Pettis (126 lbs.)
Clay Guida (154 lbs.) vs. Charles Oliveira (155 lbs.)
Dan Ige (146 lbs.) vs. Mike Santiago (145 lbs.)

* Yoel Romero missed weight at 185.2 pounds. This UFC 225 fight was originally scheduled for the middleweight title.


Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 225. I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for this event, relaying all of the action to you just as I see it. UFC 225 is one of the better cards on paper all year, in fact probably the best if we’re talking year to date, but I’ve felt my excitement wane over the last three days. The main event is a rematch between middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero that was to be Whittaker’s first title defense as full champion, then yesterday Romero missed weight by a fifth of a pound and now the bout is a non-title five round main event. It’s a shame as their first fight was darn good, but for this one the narratives will surround missed weight and what a loss would do for Whittaker’s fledgling title reign.

The co-main is for the interim welterweight title and features Rafael dos Anjos taking on Colby Covington with the winner securing a future shot at champion Tyron Woodley and the real title. Covington is on a heck of a run and dos Anjos has quietly amassed a great body of work in the UFC. Elsewhere on this card we have the UFC debut of Megan Anderson, Tai Tuivasa taking on Andrei Arlovski, and even the prelims have some very relevant fights on them. Then there’s the return of Phil “CM Punk” Brooks as he and Mike Jackson both try to get their first ever professional MMA wins. I think this is the first time in at least a decade two fighters with 0 wins have squared off in the UFC, but the UFC needs some financial wins on PPV and Brooks is theoretically a draw.

UFC 225 comes to the world from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA with Jon Anik, Joe Rogan and Jimmy Smith on commentary. As for the rules Illinois has adopted the new rules so you need both fists or palms flat on the mat to be considered downed, extending fingers towards the opponent is a foul regardless of contact being made, and the language around scoring is clearer while encouraging more 10-8’s. There will also be the limited use of replay, but as always once invoked the fight cannot be restarted.

Mike Santiago has gone 0-2 in the UFC, granted his first fight was against Zabit Magomedsharipov and the follow up was against Mads Burnell and neither of those guys are pushovers but he really needs a win here because going 0-3 could easily spell the end of his UFC tenure. Dan Ige has yet to win in the UFC, he lost his debut to Julio Arce and is trying to avoid the first losing streak of his career. As for the odds on this fight, they lean towards Ige at -130 to +100 on Santiago.

Featherweight Bout: Dan Ige (8-2, 146 lbs.) vs. Mike Santiago (21-11, 145 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Santiago is three inches taller but Ige has two inches of reach on him. Santiago fighting southpaw. Both men pawing a bit and Ige lands a combination then gets a double leg into full mount. Ige gets the back and starts pounding on Santiago with a body triangle. Ige keeps pounding until the ref has to step in and stop this one.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Dan Ige via TKO, punches, at :50 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Ige for his work this evening. Well that was quick and emphatic. Ige on the mic now, he gives glory to God and says he knew he needed a big win after losing his debut. He talks us through the finish to close out the interview.

Here’s the finish, nothing that interesting but his shot placement and control with the body triangle are great.

Clay Guida is currently on his first UFC winning streak since 2011, he’s looking to extend that to three in a row here and prove that despite the years and miles on his body he could still be a relevant fighter in the deepest division in the sport. Charles Oliveira has gone 1-1 since returning to lightweight, he submitted Will Brooks then was finished by Paul Felder and he’s now hoping to avoid another losing streak. Oliveira is the favorite at -155 to +125 for Guida.

Lightweight Bout: Clay Guida (34-17, 154 lbs.) vs. Charles Oliveira (22-8 1 NC, 155 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Oliveira is three inches taller and has four inches of reach on Guida. Guida waves off a touch of gloves and starts bouncing around. Oliveira lands a couple of inside and outside leg kicks, just sniping right now. Another couple of leg kicks from Oliveira. This fight is taking place at Oliveira’s range so far and Guida isn’t working to close distance. Stiff jab from Oliveira. Guida is cut around the right eye, I think that jab started it. Oliveira lands a knee and grabs a guillotine that quickly forces Guida to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Charles Oliveira via Submission, guillotine choke, at 2:18 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Oliveira for his work this evening. Oliveira just tied Royce Gracie for most submission wins in UFC history at 10. Mic time for Oliveira now, he gives glory to God and says he worked really hard for this. He puts over his coaches and hopes the crowd liked the fight despite their home town guy losing. Asked about staying at lightweight or trying to go back to featherweight, he just says he wants to fight on the upcoming Sao Paulo card but does want another crack at featherweight to close the interview. Seriously him at featherweight is a bad idea, he missed weight several times.

In case you missed the finish, here it is. Guida tries a double leg, because it’s all he’s got, but leaves his head outside of the body of Oliveira and commits after Oliveira already has his arm over the head and snaking around the neck. Oliveira just locks up the full guillotine quickly and pulls guard to finish it off then forces Guida to tap.

The broadcast confirms the rematch between flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo as the co-main event for UFC 227 in Los Angeles. Well you’ve got to keep DJ fighting and Cejudo got rushed into their first fight, I’m not favoring him this time mind you but he’s been growing since that first fight.

Joseph Benavidez is one of the premier lighter weight fighters in the world, in fact he’s only ever lost to Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson. Benavidez is on a six fight winning streak but hasn’t fought since taking a controversial decision from Henry Cejudo in December of 2016, now he’s trying to reassert himself in the flyweight division and possibly earn a third date with flyweight overlord Demetrious Johnson. Sergio Pettis just had a four fight winning streak snapped by Henry Cejudo, despite that loss if he can take out Benavidez here he’ll immediately put himself into the title picture. Despite the long layoff Benavidez is a -185 favorite against +150 on Pettis.

Flyweight Bout: #1 Joseph Benavidez (25-4, 125.5 lbs.) vs. #5 Sergio Pettis (16-3, 126 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Pettis is two inches taller and has four inches of reach on Benavidez. Low kick from Benavidez, then another. Benavidez is aiming those at the calf. Pettis lands a couple of rights as Benavidez was coming in fast. A bit of stance switching from Pettis, he clips Benavidez with a right that drops him, Pettis is coming after him now. Another right from Pettis lands and Benavidez grabs a desperate knee tap to get on top in guard. Pettis has full guard and is able to wall walk but he basically let Benavidez back into this with that takedown. Benavidez is keeping close and is after a high crotch but can’t get it and Pettis spins free. There’s bleeding around the left eye of Benavidez from those rights. bit of a one two from Pettis. Benavidez lands a leg kick but Pettis is countering him nicely so far. Another right from Pettis lands. Pettis is consistently tagging Benavidez with counter rights after he slips the initial offering. A couple of high kicks mostly land for Pettis and Benavidez is holding a single leg to buy himself time. Pettis slips free and resets at distance. Bit of a right from Benavidez. They stare away the last couple of seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Pettis but a marginal one

ROUND TWO: Pettis sticking the jab to start the second, Benavidez is moving his head now and trying to get inside the range of Pettis. Another pull back right lands for Pettis and Benavidez pushes into the clinch. Benavidez lands a few knees to the thigh then Pettis moves to the back and escapes. Calf kick from Benavidez, it’s been his best weapon so far. Another counter right from Pettis lands. They clinch up again and hit the fence. Pettis lands a knee to the body, he’s doing a great job of staying upright and he’s able to spin free. Body kick from Pettis after he avoided a wheel kick. Short right lands for Pettis, he’s timing these punches very well. Another clinch from Benavidez that hits the fence but he can’t get Pettis down and they wind up separating. Pettis lands a jab and takes another calf kick. They hit the fence in the clinch again and kill the last few seconds there.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pettis, 20-17 Pettis overall

ROUND THREE: Pettis lands a right and Benavidez lands a left. Right from Benavidez. They get close and Benavidez lands a spinning back fist then they wind up clinched. Pettis lands a right as they break. The right from Pettis is still doing work, Benavidez is trying to push close and make this dirty. Pettis blocks a single leg attempt and lands a right. A few front kicks from Benavidez land. Body kick from Pettis. Pettis lands a knee then has a bit of a standing guillotine that he uses to avoid a takedown attempt. Benavidez pushes into the clinch again and they hit the fence. Knees from Pettis and he spins free. Benavidez pushes into the clinch again, commentary and I couldn’t disagree more on the scoring of this fight. Bit of a left from Benavidez but he eats a counter right. Benavidez lands a body kick then tries a double leg, switches to an ankle pick and hits the fence and Pettis wall walks. They’re still in the clinch and Pettis spins free. Pettis lands a wheel kick, eats a couple of rights and we get a few flurries to end the fight.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pettis as I question the efficacy of Benavidez down the stretch, 30-26 Pettis overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Sergio Pettis via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

Huge win for Pettis, first truly elite guy he’s beaten. Mic time for Pettis now, he says he was worried about the decision because while he wasn’t hurt he was controlled at times. He puts over Benavidez but felt if he could keep this striking he’d win, then puts over his coaches for the time and support then promises to rep Milwaukee until he dies. Asked who or what is next he says he’s getting better and says the loss to Cejudo motivated him and notes he’s still young and has no idea how far he can go.

Rashad Evans might be a former UFC light heavyweight champion but that was nine years ago and he currently finds himself on a four fight losing streak. Evans is trying to breathe any kind of life into his career here by returning to light heavyweight after going 0-2 at middleweight but if he gets to 0-5 here we might see him out of the UFC and possibly even retired altogether. Anthony Smith is trying his hand at light heavyweight for the first time in the UFC but he’s 3-1 in his last four fights though he is coming off of a loss to Thiago Santos. Smith is trying for the biggest win of his career here, at least in terms of name value, over a recognizable former champion. Smith is a notable -240 favorite to a +190 comeback on Evans.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Rashad Evans (19-7-1, 205 lbs.) vs. Anthony Smith (28-13, 206 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Smith is four inches taller but has just one inch of reach on Evans. Smith lands a leg kick to get us going, he’s doing a bit of stance switching as well. Another leg kick from Smith, who then blocks a takedown attempt and they wind up clinched. They break then Evans dives into the clinch again, Smith is cross facing him and then ENDS him with a single knee strike to the face.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Anthony Smith via KO, knee, at :53 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Smith for his work this evening. Mic time for Smith after that one, he says moving up to light heavyweight was a great decision as he feels great then puts over Evans as a legend of the sport. He talks us through the finish then calls out Sam Alvey for the upcoming Lincoln, Nebraska card.

Here’s the finish, Smith with a textbook cross face to break the posture of Evans then uses the forearm on the neck to further break it down and then land a perfect knee to the exposed face of Evans.

That does it for Fight Pass prelims, we’re on Fox Sports 1 for the rest of the prelims.

Rashad Coulter has yet to win in the UFC, he’s been finished by Chase Sherman and Tai Tuivasa, and he’s trying to avoid a three fight skid that could easily see him ousted from the UFC. In exactly the same position is Chris de la Rocha, who’s been finished by Daniel Omielanczuk and Adam Milstead but also hasn’t fought since May of 2016. The odds on this one favor Coulter at -130 to +100 for de la Rocha.

Heavyweight Bout: Rashad Coulter (8-3, 247 lbs.) vs. Chris De La Rocha (4-2, 261 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: De La Rocha has four inches of height and reach on Coulter. They touch gloves to get us going. De La Rocha showing the jab early then fails on a takedown. There’s a clinch and they hit the fence. Knee to the body from Coulter, and our first “woo’s” come in as they break. Coulter lands a left hook. Coulter slips on a knee attempt and De La Rocha grabs a mounted guillotine then bails on the choke to land punches as he’s on a hip. Both hooks in for De La Rocha now and he’s after the choke. Coulter tries to get up, but does so stupidly and nearly gets choked but De La Rocha can’t finish it. Coulter escapes to his feet and we’re back to clinch fighting. Hard elbow from Coulter wobbles De La Rocha but his follow up hooks don’t seem to connect cleanly and we’re back to distance. De La Rocha is cut over the right eyebrow and I think the bridge f the nose. Wild brawling now and Coulter gets wobbled then moves to the fence. De La Rocha moves in close and lands punches and elbows, Coulter gets a second wind and more awful punches miss before they break to regain their wind. Coulter lands a right but whatever technique these two had is long gone. De La Rocha lands a right and they clinch up again. Double leg from De La Rocha and he’s in half guard now. They just kind of hang out there as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 De La Rocha

ROUND TWO: Both guys sucking wind, the doctor comes in to double check both guys and they’re good to continue. They touch gloves for the second round. De La Rocha lands a right that wobbles Coulter but Coulter hits the fence and then lands a right of his own. They clinch up on the fence and De La Rocha gets a single leg easily and he’s nearly in full mount. Lefts from De La Rocha and he’s got the back again. De La Rocha is after the choke, he’s got the gable grip but he’s not under the chin, he’s just cranking the face and Coulter pushes his arm off. If De La Rocha lands a flurry of punches he’ll stop this, but he can’t muster the energy to do so. De La Rocha is after the choke again, Coulter verbally tells the ref he’s fine though. Arm punches from De La Rocha, this is just sad, a single flurry from De La Rocha would prompt the stoppage but he can’t string together enough offense to force it. Elbows from De La Rocha, but only two before he has to regain his wind. Another choke attempt, nothing doing but De La Rocha gets to full mount now and tries more punches and finally gets three or four together in a row and the ref saves Coulter and the audience from more of that.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Chris De La Rocha via TKO, punches, at 3:53 of Round 2

That mostly sucked. De La Rocha gets an interview, if he’s got enough wind to talk. He says his arms are dead but felt the game plan worked. Asked about the lethargic stop he says Coulter was defending well (he wasn’t) but felt the fight was sweaty and bloody and good.

Ricardo Lamas has been a top featherweight for a while now but he’s coming off of a loss to Josh Emmett when he was violently knocked out, he’s trying to avoid what would be the first losing streak of his entire career. Mirsad Bektic regained a bit of his hype with a body punch TKO win in his last fight, he’s 5-1 overall in the UFC and if he can take out a former title challenger he’ll take another important step towards the very top of the division. Despite his lack of experience at this level of competition Bektic is your favorite at a surprising -250 to a tempting value payout of +195 for Lamas.

Featherweight Bout: #11 Mirsad Bektic (12-1, 146 lbs.) vs. #7 Ricardo Lamas (18-6, 145 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Lamas has an inch of reach on Bektic. They touch gloves to get things going. Both men flashing the jab and range finding, Bektic doing a bit of stance switching. Lamas blocks a couple of punches, neither guy having much success. Lamas in on a double leg, Betkci scrambles back up and they hit the fence. They jockey for position, Lamas has a body lock and is trying to drag Betkic to the mat but can’t quite get it yet. Lamas lands a couple of knees to the body, Bektic lands one of his own as he spins Lamas into the fence. A few more knees go back and forth. They break without incident. Left hook from Bektic lands. Bektic lands a right. Lamas slips but regains his feet and they fight in the clinch for a bit. Some knees go back and forth then they break and Bektic hits a single leg and gets on top of Lamas. Lamas is looking to wall walk, Bektic keeps him down for now. Another wall walk from Lamas, Bektic knees his body as he does so then lands some lefts in close. Knees for Betkic and they separate. They just stare away the final seconds, and then Lamas misses a wheel kick.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Bektic

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. They clash and separate, neither landed flush. There’s a clash of shins on kicks, Bektic blocks a takedown then can’t quite finish a single leg. Bit of a right from Bektic and they clinch, Lamas is cut on the face I think, under the left eye on the cheek. Bektic gets Lamas to the fence and lands a few knees to the body that Lamas works to return. Commentary tells me the cut was caused by a headbutt. They’re kind of stalling out, Bektic lands a short left elbow to the face of Lamas and they break. Leg kick from Lamas. Lamas on a single leg attempt, Bektic has a heavy sprawl going on and they move back up and break. Lamas misses a jumping knee and they hit the fence in another clinch. Bektic with a few body shots then they break again. Lamas lands an uppercut but eats some counters as they hit the fence in another clinch. The ref breaks them after they stall out. Bektic lands a right then a leg kick. Lamas tries a capoeira kick that’s blocked and they share a laugh as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Bektic, 20-18 Bektic overall

ROUND THREE: Another touch of gloves. They both miss lefts in close, these two are still swinging leather. Body to head combination from Bektic then he pushes Lamas into the fence. They break without incident. Lamas misses a high kick, Bektic gets a takedown off of it and is trying to set up an arm triangle from near side control. Sweep from Lamas and he tries an elbow but Bektic sweeps him back. Lamas is after a guillotine from that arm triangle position, it’s pretty tight as he sells out for it. Bektic is able to get his head free and gets a mat return then spins to the back. Lamas up again but Bektic still has a body lock. Bektic towards the back again with a rear waist lock, he’s looking to ride Lamas down again. Lamas is trying to set up another guillotine attempt, he sits for it again but his legs aren’t in play and he tries to adjust it. Bektic shakes him free and gets on top again. Another guillotine attempt from Lamas but his hips still aren’t in play and Bektic pounds to the body and head as time runs down.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lamas, 29-28 Bektic overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Mirsad Bektic via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

Bektic keeps rolling and should be in the top ten after that. No interview for Bektic though.

Claudia Gadelha is coming off of her first loss to someone besides Joanna Jedrzejczyk when she lost to Jessica Andrade, she’s trying to avoid the first losing streak of her career and defend her spot as a top contender in the division. Carla Esparza is a former strawweight champion and is currently on a two fight winning streak but this would be the biggest win of her post title career and could set her up for another shot at the title she used to hold. Gadelha is the biggest favorite on the entire card at a whopping -400 while the +300 comeback on Esparza has to be tempting a few degenerate gamblers out there.

Strawweight Bout: #6 Carla Esparza (13-4, 116 lbs.) vs. #3 Claudia Gadelha (15-3, 116 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Gadelha is three inches taller but has just half an inch of reach on Esparza. Esparza is circling, Gadelha stalking forward. Quick exchange of punches. Counter fight from Gadelha lands. Solid counter right from Gadelha, Esparza tries a double leg but but Gadelha shoves her off. Another double leg attempt from Esparza but Gadelha sprawls and grabs a front headlock for control. Gadelha back up and lands an elbow as they stand. Esparza lands a leg kick but eats a counter right. Another looping right lands for Gadelha. Esparza lands a right that wobbles Gadelha, then she gets a takedown into the guard of Gadelha. Gadelha hits a sweep off of a eg lock attempt and she’s in the guard of Esparza now. They’re back up, Gadelha is limping a bit on her lead leg and she gets a takedown into side control. Gadelha lands a few elbows to the body and head. Hammer fists from Gadelha and she grabs a guillotine but can’t finish it from mount before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gadelha

ROUND TWO: Gadelha rolled her ankle a bit when she got hit with that Esparza right, that’s what’s causing her stability issues. Esparza comes forward with punches, Gadelha whiffs on a right. They trade rights in close, Esparza is squaring up in the pocket and they’re trading rights. They clinch up and hit the fence. Esparza lands a few knees to the thigh. Gadelha gets a body lock and takes Esparza down against the fence. Side control for a moment for Gadelha but Esparza gets half guard back. Gadelha lands some rights to the head while looking to pass. Esparza has full guard again and is trying to wall walk but Gadelha keeps stripping the posting arm to keep her flat. Elbow from Gadelha has opened up Esparza’s forehead. Gadelha gets the back as Esparza regains her feet and she’s about to hit that misdirection body lock again, and there it is. Gadelha has side control and is looking for mount but gets caught in half guard. They’re kind of stalling out but Gadelha has solid shoulder pressure going. Esparza kicks Gadelha off and gets on top as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gadelha, 20-18 Gadelha overall

ROUND THREE: Esparza tries a looping hook to start. They both land some punches, Esparza lands a right that caught Gadelha flush. Gadelha lands a right of her own. Esparza lands a knee to the body, she might be finding a second wind, and then walks into a right. They split rights, Esparza is really going for it if nothing else. Gadelha’s face is swelling visibly. Gadelha catches a kick and gets a rear waist lock looking for a takedown. Solid slam from Gadelha and shes in side control. Half guard now and Gadelha lands some punches to the body and head. Esparza is throwing a few elbows and trying to set up a wall walk. Esparza kicks Gadelha off and gets a double leg into the guard of Gadelha. Gadelha is just tying her up and killing time. Esparza lands a couple of punches. They close the fight by throwing wildly at each other.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Esparza, 29-28 Gadelha overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Claudia Gadelha via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Gadelha once again faded down the stretch but did enough in the first two to secure a win. She needs to move up in the worst way, but she gets an interview. She puts over Esparza as the crowd boos the decision. Asked about the punch in the first she doesn’t even really remember it, she’s just happy to be here and win then thanks the crowd who continue to boo. Even Rogan asks the crowd to applaud and not boo the fighter for the decision, they agree with Rogan and abide his wishes. Gadelha closes by saying that’ll be the best fight of the night and wants her fifty thousand bonus.

Alistair Overeem is one of the premier heavyweights of his generation, but he’s 2-2 in his last four fights and is coming off of a brutal KO loss to Francis Ngannou. Overeem is trying to avoid his first losing streak since 2013 and prove he’s still a heavyweight to be reckoned with. Curtis Blaydes has only lost to Francis Ngannou and is coming off of a big win over Mark Hunt, if he can follow that up by taking out Overeem he could find himself in the title picture very quickly. The odds lean towards the up and coming Blaydes at -200 to +160 for Overeem.

Heavyweight Bout: #4 Curtis Blaydes (9-1 1 NC, 254 lbs.) vs. #2 Alistair Overeem (43-16 1 NC, 244 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Blaydes is eleven years younger, the height and reach are even, and Blaydes is ten pounds heavier. Overeem comes out southpaw but will do some stance switching. Both men circling and feinting, Blaydes feinting with his level and Overeem with his hands. A lot of circling still, neither man has landed a blow. Blaydes misses a high kick. Double leg from Blaydes and he’s in half guard now. Blaydes lands a right. Overeem trying to get butterfly guard but can’t secure the position. Overeem after a leg lock now, he can’t get it and they end the round in that spot.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Blaydes

ROUND TWO: Blaydes misses a right, Overeem lands a stepping knee then a right and a right uppercut then a guillotine as Blaydes grabs a double leg. Overeem after the heel hook again, he’s nearly got it this time and is really selling out for it. Blaydes gets free and has a rear waist lock as Overeem is on a knee. Overeem back up and they break. Blaydes lands a short uppercut in close. There’s something up with the right leg of Overeem, not sure what it is but he’s not moving well on it. Another knee from Overeem but Blaydes gets a takedown into half guard. Blaydes is looking to get to full mount, he lands a short elbow. They’re stalling out a bit but the ref isn’t saying anything. Blaydes lands a few punches and elbows, Overeem gets full guard for a second then Blaydes moves to half guard again. The round ends in that spot.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Blaydes, 20-18 Blaydes overall

ROUND THREE: Overeem blocks a double leg but eats a knee to the body and a right behind it. Hard body kick from Overeem. Blaydes lands a right. Right and a knee from Blaydes, Overeem is covering up and Blaydes gets a double leg for safety. Blaydes lands an elbow. A few more elbows from Blaydes as he’s in half guard. Blaydes is trying for a knee slice into full mount but he can’t finish it. Overeem after a heel hook again but no control this time and he just gets full guard back. Another couple of elbows from Blaydes start blood spewing from Overeem’s head and the ref jumps in to stop the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Curtis Blaydes via TKO, elbows, at 2:56 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Blaydes for his work this evening. It hasn’t been a good night for the old guard, and that was a brutal finish from Blaydes. Blaydes gets some mic time, he says he feels great and he wants the next shot at the title and that’s all we have time for.

Here’s the finish, Blaydes finds an opening for elbows and just slams them down as blood starts pouring from Overreem’s head.

That’s it for Fox Sports 1, to PPV for the main card. We open with a graphic about the late Anthony Bourdain, who was a jiu-jitsu practitioner and big MMA fan.

Phil “CM Punk” Brooks is here because of his celebrity, he lost his UFC and professional debut when Mickey Gall basically ran him over but he’s looking for a touch of redemption (or at least progression) here and getting his first win in his home town would unquestionably be a feel good moment. Mike Jackson is also after his first professional win here, and also lost to Mickey Gall in his debut. Jackson is after his first win as well, and hoping to spoil the homecoming for Brooks. As for the odds on this farce fight they lean towards Jackson at -200 to a +160 comeback on Brooks.

Welterweight Bout: Phil “CM Punk” Brooks (0-1, 169 lbs.) vs. Mike Jackson (0-1, 170.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Jackson has an inch of height and reach on Brooks. They touch gloves to get us going. Both guys doing some feinting. Jackson lands a jab, Brooks lands a leg kick. Jab to the body then a right from Jackson. Brooks fails on a takedown, lands a right and they basically fall into the clinch. Some knees go back and forth as they jockey for position. Jackson gets a body lock and separates. Brooks misses some punches then lands a bit of a leg kick, Jackson jabs the body. Jackson lands a right then a right to the body. Brooks has a right blocked and gets into the clinch. They’ve only been fighting for two minutes and I already really want this to end. They jockey for position , Brooks lands a knee to the body. Brooks after a double leg, no drive or level change though and Jackson stays upright. Jackson breaks free and they split jabs. Brooks misses a few kicks, Jackson lands a right to the body and they’re both gassing a bit. Knee tape from Brooks doesn’t do much but get them to the fence. Brooks is bleeding from the bridge of the nose and they break. Jackson lands a jab and avoids the counters. Brooks gets a takedown into half guard, Jackson scrambles back up and they’re in the clinch then Jackson tees off to the body. The round ends in the clinch with a right elbow from Jackson.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Jackson

ROUND TWO: Brooks coming forward, they both miss sloppy rights. Jackson lands a jab, the nose of Brooks is busted up. Brooks after a takedown, they hit the fence and start fighting for position. Jackson is able to step free and lands a right. Jackson lands a right that hurts Brooks, he lands to the body and lands an elbow but Brooks tries to jump for a guillotine. They fall to the mat and Jackson is on top in the guard of Brooks. A few rights from Jackson get through, neither man doing a whole lot. A few more punches from Jackson, Brooks tries for a triangle but nothing doing. Body shots from Jackson but there’s nothing on them. This is getting embarrassing. Jackson lands a few punches and hammer fists. A few elbows land for Jackson. Sloppy triangle attempt from Brooks closes out the round. Both guys sucking serious wind.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Jackson, 20-17 Jackson overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Jackson lands a right. Brooks pushes into the clinch and they hit the fence. Jackson spins Brooks to the fence, he’s easily out pummeling him here, and lands a few lefts. They break without incident, Jackson lands a couple of jabs and they clinch again. They break, Brooks is done, he’s stumbling around the cage. Jackson blocks a double leg and lands a hard left as Brooks flops back. Brooks is made to stand but he’s got nothing left. Hard one two from Jackson then they clinch up and hit the fence. They break, Jackson lands a right as commentary speculates that Jackson was paid to carry Brooks this far. No guys, Jackson just sucks too. They fall into another clinch, Jackson lands a few rights and Brooks tries a rolling knee bar that fails badly. Jackson is in side control, now the ride position. Brooks is trying to roll or something, I genuinely can’t figure out what he’s trying to do. Jackson lands a couple of weak rights. Brooks now goes belly down, Jackson holding a front headlock position. And that’s where the fight will run down, as Brooks gets a single leg from his knees mostly because Jackson stopped caring any more.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Jackson, 30-25 Jackson overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Mike Jackson via unanimous decision (30-26 x3)

Those judges were generous. Mic time for Jackson, he speaks some Spanish for I believe his kid, then references that his real job is as an MMA journalist. He says he’s a laid back kind of dude, and would have been more laid back if weed was legal in Illinois, then talks about maybe transferring to Zuffa boxing. He closes by mocking everyone who prayed for him to lose.

We get this over the top hype package for Ronda Rousey, it goes on forever and ever, after which they announce that Rousey is going into the UFC Hall of Fame to headline the current class. It’s deserved all things considered, but man that video package just never ended.

Andrei Arlovski somehow survived a five fight losing streak and is currently on a two fight winning streak, he’s looking to extend that here and stave off talk of retirement for a little while longer. Tai Tuivasa is undefeated as a professional and has finished all of his opponents in the first round, he’s after the biggest win of his career here over a veteran and former champion. Tuivasa is your favorite at -240 against +190 for Arlovski.

Heavyweight Bout: #9 Andrei Arlovski (27-15 1 NC, 249 lbs.) vs. #12 Tai Tuivasa (7-0, 261 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Tuivasa is fourteen years younger, Arlovski has an inch of height and two of reach on Tuivasa, Tuivasa is also twelve pounds heavier. Touch of gloves to get us going. Circling from both men, Tuivasa lands a left and a short uppercut. Leg kick from Tuivasa, Arlovski returns it. Leg kick again from Tuivasa. Neither man finding the right hand just yet but they’re both throwing it. Arlovski lands a left jab. Tuivasa lands a right then gets a takedown into full mount. Arlovski tried a sacrifice throw and Tuivasa read it all the way down. Someone is cut, I think it’s Tuivasa and he’s bleeding on the chest and neck of Arlovski. Arlovski is able to hip sweep and they wind up on the feet again. Sharp left from Tuivasa drops Arlovski but he makes him stand back up. They clinch up again and then hit the fence, Arlovski into wall and stall mode. Arlovski lands a knee before they break. Tuivasa lands a couple of punches and Arlovski gets another clinch. Elbow from Arlovski lands and Tuivasa lands a counter. Tuivasa lands to the body then a hard left and right. Arlovski lands a right of his own. Arlovski misses a high kick and the round comes to a close.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Tuivasa

ROUND TWO: Tuivasa’s nose is busted, that’s where the blood was coming from. Arlovski already breathing from the mouth. A couple of inside leg kicks from Arlovski. Arlovski misses a head kick. Left then a right from Tuivasa land. They both land in close. Short left hook from Arlovski lands, he’s moving in and out well now. They clinch up and Arlovski is on the fence. They kill some time then break free. Arlovski lands a left but eats a right. Tuivasa lands a right. Bit of a right from Tuivasa then a leg kick. Arlovski misses a spinning back fist. Tuivasa lands a left then digs the body a couple of times before they clinch again. More wall and stall from Arlovski, he tries a trip but doesn’t follow Tuivasa down to the mat so they wind up striking again. Body kick from Tuivasa and we get time as Arlovski complains of an eye poke. I’m not sure about that one based on the replay, at best it was a glancing blow and not a poke. Error by the ref there from where I sit, and Tuivasa gets a warning on the restart. Arlovski lands a right but eats a left hook that has him moving backwards. Tuivasa avoids a spinning back fist and lands a bit of a right as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Arlovski but I’m not sold on that, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves again. Tuivasa lands a leg kick. Short right lands for Tuivasa then he avoids a right. Arlovski avoids a right and I think he landed a counter left. Left from Arlovski lands but he’s not landing the follow up blows. Right from Tuivasa lands then he digs the body with a right. Elbow from Tuivasa lands, Arlovski is hanging out on the fence now. Arlovski misses a high kick. There’s a couple of body shots from Tuivasa. Arlovski lands a right but eats a hard left hook and he’s backing up again. Tuivasa pushes in close and lands an elbow, he’s trying to tee off but Arlovski is able to circle free. Quick combination from Tuivasa lands flush. Arlovski lands a right. Tuivasa is struggling a bit with the range in the pocket, he’s not quite dialed in there. Leg kick from Tuivasa. Arlovski lands a jab but he’s also dancing away from Tuivasa. They both posture for the final five seconds or so.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Tuivasa, 29-28 Tuivasa overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Tai Tuivasa via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

It got ugly down the stretch but seeing a young heavyweight go all fifteen is important in many ways. He puts over Arlovski and thanks him for the fight and says this was a big learning curve but feels good about showing he can fight all fifteen minutes. My feed cuts out a bit during the interview, so my apologies for that.

Holly Holm is one of the premier female combat sports athletes and a former UFC champion, but she’s pretty clearly getting towards the end of her career. Holm is just 1-4 in her last five fights and that win was over Bethe Correia, she’s coming off of a loss to Cris “Cyborg” Justino and is mostly looking to avoid another losing streak while proving she’s still competitive at the elite level. Megan Anderson is making her UFC debut here and hasn’t fought in just about 18 months, but she’s one of the few female featherweights in the world and is on a four fight winning streak. If she can take out a former champion here one has to imagine a date with Justino for the title is in her immediate future. The odds here favor Holm at -160 against +130 for Anderson.

Women’s Featherweight Bout: Megan Anderson (8-2, 146 lbs.) vs. Holly Holm (11-4, 146 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Anderson is four inches taller and has three inches of reach on Holm. Holm fighting southpaw. Anderson stalking forward to start, both women feinting a bit. Holm lands a left to the body. Anderson lands a knee then an elbow that have Holm rethinking things. They clinch up and Holm gets Anderson on the fence. Holm lands an elbow. Another elbow from Holm. Holm lands a knee to the body, Anderson returns it. I’m surprised that Anderson isn’t trying harder to spin out of this position because Holm is controlling her here. Anderson finally spins free and resets at distance. Holm avoids a couple of rights. Holm lands a front kick to the face. Anderson steps too deep and Holm gets a single leg takedown into side control. Anderson is holding a double under hook lock trying to sweep but when she can’t get it she bails to properly defend herself. Holm tries to get full mount but Anderson catches her in half guard. Anderson tries to invert looking for the back or a leg lock but nothing will come of it before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Holm

ROUND TWO: Anderson coming forward again, Holm lands a straight left. Looping right lands for Holm, she’s starting to stick and move at distance. Holm after a takedown but she had no drive behind it so they wind up just hitting the fence and clinching up. Holm is sneaking in elbows in the clinch, Anderson really needs more urgency here. They break without incident. Bit of a right from Anderson, Holm lands a couple of side kicks to the body and thigh. Body kick from Holm. Anderson lands a knee to the body but gets takendown and Holm is in half guard. Holm can’t quite pass to side control, instead she lands elbows to the thigh of Anderson and tries to knee slice into full mount. Side control now for Holm, that knee slice was something of a bait, and she’s trying to set up a kimura. Holm lands a few lefts and moves to full mount, Anderson to 1/4 guard and Holm lands a couple of hard punches then is after an arm triangle. That option is still there, Holm could go for that choke but instead lands more lefts and moves higher on the mount to land punches. Shoulder strikes from Holm now, Anderson is really unprepared for being mounted like this. Bit of an elbow from Holm, and another few of them to close out the round.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Holm but again a marginal one, 20-17 Holm overall

ROUND THREE: Holm lands a body kick, Anderson lands one of her own. Straight left from Holm lands, Anderson lands a straight right and Holm goes for a double leg. She can’t finish it though and they wind up on the fence. I might have missed some things there, my feed is getting a little choppy. Holm still sneaking in those left elbows and she gets a body lock takedown into half guard. Holm knee slices into full mount almost without issue and she’s looking to posture up and land punches. Another high mount for Holm, Anderson walks up the fence with her legs and Holm decides to just stand up and force the fight back to the feet. Anderson blocks a head kick. Front kick to the body from Holm, then another one. They clinch up and Holm gets a body lock throw again into half guard. More elbows to the thigh from Holm as she tries to set up a pass. Side control for Holm now and she lands some elbows then moves to full mount again. Holm postures up and lands punches, Anderson finally shrimps and Holm is back into side control. Anderson to her knees looking for a single, Holm sits for a guillotine, there’s nothing there though as time runs down.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Holm, 30-25 Holm overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Holly Holm via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26 x2)

That’s the most complete Holm’s looked in the UFC, though much of that is Anderson being green. Holm gets an interview and she jokes it was about time she started using takedowns. She plays a bit with the crowd, who cheer her, then she says she wants the bantamweight title back but she really wants another shot at Cyborg to become a two division champion and feels that’s the biggest challenge. Rogan wants a more concrete answer and she jokes that she wants it all, she wants both belts and is leaning slightly towards returning to bantamweight and trying to get her belt back. She puts over her team while noting that everyone does this but despite her age and miles she says her team still supports her and never questions her about retirement and dedicates the win to them.

Rafael dos Anjos has quietly amassed an overall body of work that is severely under appreciated, he’s a former lightweight champion and has yet to lose since moving up to welterweight. Dos Anjos is coming off of an impressive win over Robbie Lawler and is looking to become one of just a few fighters to win titles in two different weight classes if he can capture the interim welterweight title here. Colby Covington is on an impressive five fight winning streak and is overall 9-1 in the UFC, he’s coming off of a win over Demian Maia and is looking to claim the interim title as well and the subsequent date for the real title in the future. Covington is favored at -125 to +105 for dos Anjos.

Welterweight interim title Bout: #3 Colby Covington (13-1, 169 lbs.) vs. #1 Rafael dos Anjos (28-9, 169 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Covington is three inches taller and has two inches of reach on dos Anjos. Dos Anjos fighting southpaw, as is Covington. Covington comes in quickly and gets a double leg, dos Anjos back up and Covington holding a waist lock and looking to drag him back to the mat. Dos Anjos back up, Covington just riding him so far and gets another mat return. They’re back up in the clinch, they trade a few short elbows while fighting for position. They break without incident and Covington misses a kick. Hard leg kick from dos Anjos then they trade punches as Convington gets another clinch. Dos Anjos lands a few knees and elbows, Covington lands a few lefts. They break without incident, Covington still coming forward and they clinch again. Dos Anjos lands a hard right to the body and they clinch again. They break without incident. Another clinch, Covington trying for takedowns but dos Anjos is blocking them and sneaking in offense before they break. Hard knee from dos Anjos as Covington closes distance, dos Anjos slips away quickly. Dos Anjos lands a stiff jab. Body kick from dos Anjos then a heavy leg kick. Covington gets another clinch on the fence. Dos Anjos is content to land offense when Convington gets close and Covington isn’t doing much with his clinch. They trade leg kicks then clinch up again. The round ends in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 dos Anjos

ROUND TWO: They both miss jabs, dos Anjos lands a leg kick then blocks the counters. Covington gets a takedwon but dos Anjos is back up against the fence looking to turn into him. Dos Anjos is chest to chest again, dos Anjos lands a knee to the body. Single leg attempt from Covington, nothing doing and they break then dos Anjos lands a body kick. Another clinch, more knees from dos Anjos as they hit the fence. Covington after a double leg, dos Anjos spins out of it and they resume clinch fighting until dos Anjos spins free. Commentary is preaching Covington’s pointless aggression, I’m ashamed of them. Dos Anjos lands a series of punches to the body, those are getting to Covington a bit. They clinch up again, again Covington isn’t doing anything from this spot but commentary thinks he’s winning. Dos Anjos lands to the body again. Left from dos Anjos staggers Covington for a second. Bit of a right from Covington, and an uppercut then he tries for a single leg against the fence. Dos Anjos still hitting the body in the clinch and they break then trade lefts. Leg kick from dos Anjos. Covington gets a takedown and has the back without hooks against the fence. Dos Anjos back up but still in the clinch. They break again then don’t land before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 dos Anjos, 20-18 dos Anjos overall

ROUND THREE: Covington is cut around the eyes. They trade jabs to start the round, dos Anjos lands an uppercut as they clinch up. Covington is after a single leg, dos Anjos defending well and they break. Covington lands an uppercut. They clinch again, Covington lands a knee to the body. Dos Anjos blocks a single leg and lands a left as they break. Leg kick from dos Anjos. Another clinch and Covington gets a low single leg, dos Anjos back up and Covington holding a body lock. They break without incident and trade body kicks. Dos Anjos takes a kick to the groin and we’ve got time for him to recover. Replay confirms the low blow, dos Anjos walks it off and we’re back to fighting. Covington pushes forward, misses his punches and they clinch up. They trade knees to the body. They break without incident. Dos Anjos lands a punch, Covington just eats it and pushes into another clinch. They break without incident and dos Anjos lands a leg kick. Lefts go back and forth then Covington gets the back in a clinch. Dos Anjos spins into him and they break. Dos Anjos lands a jab and they clinch up again. They break as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Covington, 29-28 dos Anjos overall

ROUND FOUR: Dos Anjos lands a hard left to start the found. Dos Anjos coming forward, blocks a high kick and lands a couple of body shots. Another couple of body shots from dos Anjos, Covington tries a takedown but dos Anjos bounces up then gets a double leg of his own against the fence. Dos Anjos immediately into side control, Covington to his knees and dos Anjos holding a front head lock. Covington back up and they’re on the fence again. Dos Anjos spins free and gets another double leg into side control. Covington is starting to suck some air here and dos Anjos is all over him. They’re up again but dos Anjos is after another takedown. Knees to the thigh from dos Anjos as he’s holding a waist lock then gets a double leg. Another stand from Covington, dos Anjos punches him as they break. Left from dos Anjos lands. They clinch up again but dos Anjos disengages then hits a double leg , Covington back up and we settle for another clinch. Knees to the body from dos Anjos and they break. Bit of a right from Covington, they trade in close and Covington in on a double leg against the fence. They break without incident then trade lefts. Body kick from dos Anjos and Covington gets a single leg into half guard. Dos Anjos goes deep on the half guard but there’s no time and the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 dos Anjos, 39-37 dos Anjos overall

ROUND FIVE: Covington coming forward again, and they clinch up quickly. Covington is after a takedown, he’s got the back with a body lock. Dos Anjos spins into Covington and they break. Dos Anjos just misses a jumping knee and they clinch up again. Covington gets a double leg against the fence, moves to the back but he can’t keep dos Anjos down and they break on the get up. Body kick from dos Anjos. Covington into another clinch, the wall and stall is strong with this one. Dos Anjos holding a kimura but Covington gets the body lock again. They’re back chest to chest then break and dos Anjos lands a body kick. Covington in on another takedown that doesn’t go anywhere. Dos Anjos lands a body shot, Covington lands a knee to the thigh. They break and dos Anjos lands a jab. Body kick from Covington. Dos Anjos lands a punch that forces Covington into the fence and Covington after another takedown, he’s stalling visibly at this point. They trade some knees to the body then Covington gets a single leg and dos Anjos sweeps him with a kimura and they stand. Elbow from dos Anjos. We get a bit of a fire fight here then Covington tries a knee tap that hits the fence to stall out again. Dos Anjos spins him and they jab away, dos Anjos lands a hard body kick as the last relevant blow of the fight.

SCORECARD: 10-9 dos Anjos, 49-46 dos Anjos overall but watch this go to Covington

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Colby Covington via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47 x2)

49-46 for Covington is borderline indefensible. Mic time for Covington now, he says he’s got the real title and plans on presenting it to President Donald Trump and calls out Tyron Woodley. He says no one can go with him for twenty five minutes and claims he melted Woodley in training and will do so when they fight.

Yoel Romero unfortunately cast a pall of this fight by missing weight by .2 pounds. Romero can’t with the title here as a result but he’s trying to avoid the double gaff of losing after missing weight that could see him get cut. Robert Whittaker might be the most technically sound yet overlooked and under appreciated fighter right now, he’s the middleweight champion and hasn’t lost since moving up to middleweight. Whittaker was last seen besting Yoel Romero to win the interim title which was later promoted to the full title. While he can’t get his first title defense here a loss would put a serious dent in his plans to establish himself as an all time great in the division. After the weight cutting issues, and the fact that he’s already bested Romero once, Whittaker is your -250 favorite to +195 for Romero.

Middleweight Bout: Robert Whittaker (19-4, 185 lbs.) vs. #1 Yoel Romero (13-2, 185.2 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Romero is fourteen years older but the height and reach is identical. Romero fighting southpaw, and we get a touch of gloves to start things off. Actually Romero opens orthodox, Whittaker working side kicks to the thigh, apparently they’ll both be doing some stance switching. Side kick to the body from Whittaker. Whittaker is trying to get his jab going, lands a leg kick. Romero fighting very defensively so far, just managing his energy and reducing the damage he’s taking. Bit of a left hook from Whittaker but he’s struggling with the defense of Romero. Left hook from Romero lands. Whittaker avoids a looping right that would have taken his head off. Bit of a right from Whittaker, he’s looping that punch to get around the arms of Romero now. Stiff jab from Whittaker lands, he’s looking smooth so far. They trade rights, Whittaker also stomping the knee. Romero blocks a head kick. Whittaker avoids a spinning back fist. Body kick from Whittaker. Whittaker is really trying to find the holes in the defense of Romero, Romero lands a leg kick. A couple of body shots land for Whittaker, then Romero misses a spinning back fist as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Whittaker

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round, Whittaker lands a side kick to the knee. Bit of a left from Romero, he’s mostly looking to counter rather than instigate. More side kicks to the body from Whittaker, and he lands a bit of a right. Solid body kick from Romero. Romero lands a side kick to the knee. Front kick to the body from Whittaker, then a round kick to the body. Whittaker is just keeping a consistent pace and beating up the defense and body of Romero. Whittaker lands a jab. More front kicks to the body and thigh from Whittaker, just consistently picking Romero apart and making him work and feel it. Knee to the body from Romero, Whittaker lands a body kick. There’s some swelling around the right eye of Romero, it’s nearly closed up very quickly. I’m amazed at how quickly that happened, just a well aimed jab from Whittaker and the eye is basically shut. They might stop this between rounds with that swelling. Head kick from Whittaker is blocked then he lands a couple of jabs. They both miss elbows in close. Romero gets a clinch, Whittaker quickly disengages and separates. They get close and trade uppercuts then Whittaker avoids an inside trip from Romero. Whittaker lands a side kick to the knee then a couple of jabs behind it. The round ends on that note.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Whittaker, 20-18 Whittaker overall

ROUND THREE: They got the swelling under control between rounds, Whittaker lands a side kick to the knee then a front kick to the face. Romero misses a couple of punches, Romero lands a right that drops Whittaker. He’s back up but he’s on wobbly legs, Romero throws him to the mat and lands some elbows to the head as Whittaker tries a single leg. They’re up and Romero lands an elbow in the clinch but can’t get a takedown. Quick combination from Romero, Whittaker is throwing back and wobbles Romero with a couple of elbows, this is nuts! They trade more elbows in close and finally settle the pace a bit after that insanity. Romero digs the body a few times, Whittaker lands an elbow. I never want this two to stop fighting. Whittaker lands a bit of a spinning elbow, Romero keeps things close in the clinch. They fight in the clinch, Whittaker avoids a takedown then has a head kick blocked as they break. They trade rights and clinch again, they trade elbows. Body kick from Whittaker but Romero is teeing off now, then Whittaker circles free but his face is a bloody mess. Whittaker lands a head kick, Romero just ate it! I can’t even, this fight is awesome. Romero pushes into another clinch and gets the back standing this time, he lands a left and looks to sweep the legs of Whittaker. Whittaker able to spin Romero into the fence, they’re both sucking wind as the round comes to a close. Utterly insane round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Romero, 29-28 Whittaker overall

ROUND FOUR: They touch gloves for the fourth round, Whittaker was looking a lot at his right hand between rounds so let’s keep an eye on that. Whittaker lands a side kick to the thigh. Romero is standing still looking to spin, Whittaker working some kicks to the body then has a head kick blocked. Another body kick from Whittaker. Whittaker lands a jab. A couple of stomp kicks from Whittaker to the lead knee of Romero, then another one goes to the groin of Romero so we’ve got time for him to recover. Romero takes his time, he’s got up to five minutes and will be taking every bit he can. He’s ready to continue and we get a quick apology from Whittaker, then he lands a side kick to the leg on the restart. Whittaker lands a series of jabs then Romero ducks under a head kick. Another jab from Whittaker, he’s not throwing his right at all that hand could easily be broken. A few front kicks from Whittaker to the body. Romero lands a left to the body. Romero is starting to come on now, Whittaker backing up and looking to counter. Bit of a right from Whittaker. A few jabs go back and forth, Whittaker lands a body kick as well. Romero is bleeding from the nose, or under the right eye. Whittaker is throwing right elbows but not punches, that hand is clearly hurt. Inside leg kick from Romero, Romero wobbles Whittaker with a left hook but can’t follow up. Right from Romero lands and Whittaker is circling to end the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Romero I think he stole it at the end there, 38-38 DRAW

ROUND FIVE: They touch gloves for the last round. Quick side kick to the knee from Whittaker, Romero lands a one two, Whittaker responds with a body kick. Spinning back kick from Romero. Whittaker avoids a spinning back fist, it’s crazy to think Romero is 41 years old. Quick double jab from Whittaker lands. Another jab from Whittaker, Romero lands a jab of his own. Romero lands a huge left that drops Whittaker again, Romero on top landing some punches as Whittaker holds a single leg. Romero looking to tee off with elbows, Whittaker surviving by holding that leg and hiding his head. Whittaker drives to the fence but he’s got to get off of his knees. Whittaker is back up, Romero with a mat return but Whittaker is back up, and back down again. Knee to the body from Romero, he’s on the back and has to avoid the spine there. Whittaker is back up again, Romero sweeps his legs out but he bounces up this time only to still hang out in the clinch. The ref breaks them as they stalled out and we restart in the middle of the cage. Circling, Whittaker kicks the legs out from under Romero, they clash on high kicks as the last exchange of the fight. Crazy fight.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Romero, 48-47 Romero overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Robert Whittaker via split decision (47-48, 48-47 x2)

The whole thing comes down to the fourth round, every other round is pretty clear. Fight of the Year so far. Mic time for Whittaker who broke his right hand in the first round and says it’s numb to the forearm and jokes that Romero is bad luck for him. He says Romero hits like a truck. He says he agrees the decision was tight, he got dropped but he controlled a lot of it. Asked about a third fight with Romero he laughs a bit then says he’ll see what the coaches say and he’s just going to focus on getting better.

Mic time for Romero, he’s got both eyes swollen but gives props to Whittaker. He plays with the crowd a bit then says it’s most important that we stay together and thanks them for coming. Romero switches to Spanish for a bit then puts over Whittaker again. He says he thinks he won the fight, references the commission interrupting his weight cut and changing the time and feels otherwise he’d be taking the belt. Asked about a rematch he says he’d be happy to fight Whittaker ten times, and I’d sign up to watch for every single one of them.

Huh, just got a weird note passed to me. Every fight on the main card went the distance, this thing just says “The Decisionatti are pleased.” I wonder what’s up with that? I’ll look into it and see what I can find out.

Alright guys, on that note UFC 225 comes to a close. That fight was so good, I don’t smoke and I feel like I need a cigarette. We’ll be unpacking all of the results from this card tomorrow on the 411 Ground and Pound Radio Show so be on the look out for that when it gets posted. If you’ve got a question or comment you’d like the panel to address feel free to leave one in the comments section or tweet me, I’m @WinfreeMMA if you do the whole twitter thing. I’ve actually got a week off but will be back on June 23rd for UFC Fight Night 132 at some ungodly early morning hour to cover the UFC’s return to Singapore headlined by Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone taking on Leon Edwards. Until next time everyone, thank you for being here and reading along. I know exactly how many places you can go to get this same service and am humbled by your patronage. Stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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UFC, UFC 225, Robert Winfree