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MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Kamaru Usman (170 lbs.) vs. #2 Leon Edwards (170 lbs.) – for welterweight title
#6 Paulo Costa (185.5 lbs.) vs. Luke Rockhold (185.5 lbs.)
#3 Jose Aldo (136 lbs.) vs. #6 Merab Dvalishvili (136 lbs.)
Lucie Pudilova (135.5 lbs.) vs. Wu Yanan (136 lbs.)
Harry Hunsucker (204.5 lbs.) vs. Tyson Pedro (205.5 lbs.)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ABC/ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
#13 Alexandr Romanov (239.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Marcin Tybura (252.5 lbs.)
Jared Gordon (155.5 lbs.) vs. Leonardo Santos (156 lbs.)
Luis Saldana (145.5 lbs.) vs. Sean Woodson (146 lbs.)
A.J. Fletcher (170.5 lbs.) vs. Ange Loosa (170.5 lbs.)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)
#11 Amir Albazi (126 lbs.) vs. Francisco Figueiredo (125.5 lbs.)
Aori Qileng (136 lbs.) vs. Jay Perrin (136 lbs.)
Victor Altamirano (125 lbs.) vs. Daniel Da Silva (126 lbs.)
Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 278. I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the evening, relaying all of the action to you just as I see it. Tonight the UFC is back on PPV and has a pretty solid top three fights for us. The main event sees welterweight champion Kamaru Usman trying to continue is total dominance of the division when he battles the streaking top contender Leon Edwards, these two met way back in 2015 with Usman winning a wide decision and now Edwards tries to get even and secure his first UFC title. The co-main event is the return for former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold when he takes on former title challenger Paulo Costa. My eye is more on a bantamweight clash between Jose Aldo and Merab Dvalishvili, the bantamweight title picture is spoiled a bit for choice over the next few months so whoever can have the most impressive performance might be the one to lay claim to the next crack at the title and both men are fully capable of turning in something special tonight. Beyond that we’re got to drop more to the prelims but the surging Alexandr Romanov gets his first taste of upper tier competition when he battles Marcin Tybura, Sean Woodson vs. Luis Saldana has some potential, and AJ Fletcher vs. Ange Loosa is getting a bit slept on. All in all it’s a pretty solid, if slightly top heavy, card.
UFC 278 comes to the world from the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. We’ve got Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and Daniel Cormier. Cormier was pretty abysmal on the mic last week, let’s hope he’s better tonight. As for the rules I believe we’re under the newer set and will call things/score according to that assumption until corrected, I’m also assuming we only have instant replay for fight ending sequences. Keep in mind we’re in the bigger 30 foot Octagon set up as well.
Daniel Da Silva has gone 0-2 in the UFC and badly needs to find that first UFC win tonight. Victor Altamirano dropped a split decision in his UFC debut back in February, now he’s looking to bounce back and secure his first win in the promotion. The odds are with Altamirano at -165 to a +140 comeback on Da Silva.
Flyweight Bout: Victor Altamirano (10-2, 125 lbs.) vs. Daniel Da Silva (11-3, 126 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Altamirano is two inches taller while the reach is identical. Pretty lively crowd for the first fight of the evening. Both men open southpaw. Altamirano blitzes right away and lands a body kick, then starts switching stance. Da Silva lands an inside leg kick. They trade power hand punches, defense is not a thing apparently. Altamirano avoids a wheel kick, then Da Silva floors him with a right hand but Altamirano is able to fight back to his feet and reset. Da Silva misses a wheel kick, but lands a spinning back fist. Altamirano lands a body shot but he’s still hurt. Da Silva has started switching his stance as well now. Both men land punches in close. Da Silva lands a knee. Again, defense is not a thing in this fight. Altamirano lands a knee to the body that crumples Da Silva, he gets on top and tries to unload but Da Silva grabs at an armbar which Altamirano defends. Da Silva keeps working his guard up high, some elbows from Altamirano have cut Da Silva around the hairline, not a bad cut though. More elbows from Altamirano, Da Silva is blocking a lot of these but Altamirano is relentless with his offense. Altamirano just wont stop throwing offense as he avoids armbar attempts. The ref warns Da Silva about defending himself, he’s not trying to get out from under Altamirano and Altamirano keeps landing enough blows to prompt the stoppage.
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Victor Altamirano via TKO, punches and elbows, at 3:39 of Round 1
The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Altamirano for his work this evening. Mic time for Altamirano, he talks us through the finish noting he wanted to avoid getting tagged when exiting a clinch like he did at the start of the round. He promised the crowd a show and feels he delivered, then gives love to his team, sponsors, and family.
Here’s the finish. Da Silva gets a bit too complacent on his back and Altamirano is able to keep up a sprint of offense and eventually break through the guard. Let this also be a lesson for the future, you’ve got to address negative positions not just ride them out if the other guy is able to land offense.
El Magnifico opens things up with a bang 💥
Stream #UFC278 tonight on @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/pxRev9nc4A pic.twitter.com/wSbqh4NDvS
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 20, 2022
Aoriqileng has gone 1-2 in the UFC but he’s coming off of a win in his return to bantamweight and now looks to get his first UFC winning streak up and running in the stacked division. Jay Perrin lost in his UFC debut earlier this year, now he’s trying to bounce back and secure that all important first UFC win. This one is close but the odds lean towards Aoriqileng at -135 while a +115 comeback on Perrin might tempt bettors.
Bantamweight Bout: Aori Qileng (23-11, 136 lbs.) vs. Jay Perrin (10-5, 136 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Aoriqileng has two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Bit of a leg kick from Aoriqileng. Perrin showing off some stance switches as they get a read on each other. Perrin lands a calf kick. The “woo’s” have begun, and I’m ashamed of my state. Body shot form Perrin, Aoriqileng tries to clinch but Perrin separates. Aoriqileng lands a left hook that staggers Perrin, he looks to follow up with a flying knee but Perrin clinches him into the fence. After a bit of jockeying for position they break. Aoriqileng lands a right hand then they clinch again. Perrin pushes Aoriqileng into the fence and digs body shots then they break. Bit of a blitz from Perrin mostly misses. Aoriqileng lands a right hand then a calf kick. Perrin lands a left to the body. Knee to the body from Perrin, then Aoriqileng lands a left hook to counter. Perrin tries a double leg, it takes a second effort but he does finish it into full guard. Perrin moves to half guard and lands some punches as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Aoriqileng
ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Perrin lands to the body in close, then misses a front kick. Aoriqileng lands a right hand. Jumping knee from Aoriqileng lands, but Perrin eats it and lands a calf kick. Perrin catches a kick and off balances Aoriqileng then gets on top in half guard. Aoriqileng starts working towards a hip, Perrin lands a couple of short punches as they’re scooting towards the fence. Aoriqileng gets to full guard and starts to wall walk, he’s on his knees and is able to finish the wall walk but they’re still clinched. Perrin avoids a hook as they break apart. A right from Aoriqileng stuns Perrin but he doesn’t go down. Aoriqileng avoids a left hook and lands a right then a leg kick. Perrin lands a calf kick, but he’s behind on the striking and it’s visible. Aoriqileng lands a calf kick, that one hurt as Perrin immediately tries a takedown but it stalls out on the fence. Some knees go back and forth in the clinch then they break. Aoriqileng lands a right hand. Perrin lands a left hook, but eats a counter right. Both men swing punches in the pocket, Aoriqileng is getting the better of this ever time as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Aoriqileng, 20-18 Aoriqileng overall
ROUND THREE: Aoriqileng lands a right hand, Perrin has to push the action but he’s not technically on par with Aoriqileng. They wind up clinched on the fence. Short elbow from Perrin, Aoriqileng lands a body shot as they’re fighting in the clinch. Aoriqileng spins free and they reset. Both men miss kicks, then Perrin lands a left hand. Bit of a left hook from Perrin, Aoriqileng lands a calf kick then a right hand. Perrin pushes forward and lands a knee, he’s trying to make it ugly and hits a double leg against the fence. Aoriqileng immediately looks to wall walk, he’s up but now clinched on the fence. Perrin lands a few knees to the body then he drags Aoriqileng to his knees for a second but Aoriqileng bounces up. Body shots from Perrin in the clinch, he’s having a lot of success at the moment and Aoriqileng seems content to burn this round if necessary. Perrin lands an elbow. Another elbow from Perrin, then again. Aoriqileng lands an elbow of his own but the dirty boxing isn’t going his way. Perrin lands an elbow as Aoriqileng is able to spin free. Aoriqileng lands a right hand and they start swinging again. Perrin lands a calf kick. Bit of a spinning back fist from Perrin. They trade rights, then Perrin lands a front kick to the body and forces another clinch. They break and Perrin unloads with punches, he’s got Aoriqileng hurt but they just trade punches in the pocket as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Perrin, 29-28 Perrin overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Aoriqileng via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Aoriqileng and his translator get an interview, the crowd isn’t happy but if you lose two rounds of a three round fight you lose, he says he worked a lot on distance management and being in range to counter. Asked about the end of the last round he says he wasn’t hurt and loves the feeling of a fight like that. He much prefers to fight at bantamweight now and looks to continue in the weight class.
Amir Albazi has gone 2-0 in the UFC and is on a three fight winning streak overall, he’s been out of action for 18 months though and now looks to continue his winning ways while defending his ranking. Francisco Figueiredo has gone 2-1 in the UFC and is coming off of a win, he’s looking to build his first UFC winning streak tonight while possibly cracking the rankings at the expense of Albazi. Albazi is a heavy favorite at -475 while the +380 payout for a Figueiredo win is a tempting value bet.
Flyweight Bout: #11 Amir Albazi (14-1, 126 lbs.) vs. Francisco Figueiredo (13-4-1 1 NC, 125.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Figueiredo is an inch taller while the reach is identical. Southpaw for Figueiredo, Albazi declines a touch of gloves. Body kick from Figueiredo. Figueiredo is switching his stance a bit now as he’s probing with kicks at long range. Albazi keeps trying to close distance but he’s not being allowed to hang out at the range he’s aiming for. Figueiredo lands a body kick. Inside leg kick from Figueiredo, but Albazi is able to trip him up and then jumps on top in full guard. Bit of an elbow from Albazi. Albazi tries to pass the guard but he’s unable to get all the way around the legs. Figueiredo puts himself in half guard, for some reason. Albazi lands a few short punches as Figueiredo hip escapes to full guard again. Some rights from Albazi land, Figueiredo is able to kick him off then they fight for trips in a clinch before breaking apart. Figueiredo lands a left hand as Albazi forces a clinch on the fence. Albazi is able to get a clinch takedown and lands on top in half guard. Figueiredo grabs at a leg, he tries to roll for a kneebar but Albazi gets his leg free and lands punches from the ride position before getting the back with both hooks in and a choke attempt. That choke is tight and Figueiredo has to tap.
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Amir Albazi via Submission, rear naked choke, at 4:34 of Round 1
The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Albazi for his work this evening. Mic time for Albazi, he messes with Joe Rogan before saying he’s been dealing with injuries but now he’s back and he puts over the flyweight division and lobbies to be on a card in Abu Dhabi. He talks us through the finish and notes he’s tapped out a couple of black belts now and looks forward to putting on more shows in the future.
Here’s a look at the finish. Albazi’s left arm is in position to attack the choke, so he uses both the motion of getting hooks in and punches from his right hand to overload the defensive options that Figueiredo has, meaning the choke goes unaddressed until it’s far too late.
ALBAZI GETS IT DONE IN ONE 😤
Stream #UFC278 tonight on @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/pxRev95Bd2 pic.twitter.com/j1O8wbcaGZ
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 20, 2022
AJ Fletcher lost his UFC debut earlier this year, which also got him his first professional loss. Fletcher is trying to improve upon that outing and get his first UFC win tonight. Ange Loosa has been trading wins and losses for a bit, including losing his UFC debut back in April and now he’s also trying to secure his first UFC win. This one is pretty close by the odds, Fletcher is a slight -165 favorite against +140 for Loosa.
Welterweight Bout: A.J. Fletcher (9-1, 170.5 lbs.) vs. Ange Loosa (8-3, 170.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Loosa has a whopping seven inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men feint and circle for a bit. Inside leg kick from Fletcher. Right from Fletcher, Loosa lands a left hook. Both men are still getting a feel for the range. Bit of a right from Fletcher. Fletcher lands an elbow. They trade some jabs, Loosa lands a body kick as well. Front kick from Fletcher. Fletcher is starting to show some stance switches, he lands a right hook then a body kick. Loosa lands a left to the body. A couple of hard body shots from Fletcher land. Loosa blocks a high kick. Fletcher lands another right to the body. Bit of a right from Loosa, Fletcher responds with a left hook. Bit of a head kick from Fletcher. Fletcher lands a body kick. Loosa lands a right hand, then another one. Another right from Loosa, he’s messing with the timing and Fletcher is struggling to pick up on it. They trade body kicks then Loosa lands some strikes in the clinch as he gets Fletcher to the fence. Loosa lands rights in the clinch then a knee to the body as Fletcher gets free. Another right from Loosa, Fletcher is bleeding form the bridge of the nose. Loosa hits a takedown to end the round on top.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Loosa
ROUND TWO: Fletcher blocks a high kick and lands a jab. Calf kick from Fletcher but Loosa fires back with a combination. Bit of a front kick from Fletcher. Loosa lands a jab as he’s starting to switch his stance as well. Loosa lands another right. Fletcher lands a calf kick. Some jabs from Loosa land. Fletcher lands a body kick but Loosa hits a double leg off of it, then they wrestle back up to the feet and separate. They trade rights. Loosa lands an uppercut in close. They split jabs, Fletcher’s face is busted up visibly. Loosa lands a right hand. Fletcher lands a bit of a right of his own, he’s still coming forward and looking to keep the pressure up. Both men land rights. Fletcher lands a right, and Loosa is hurt, Fletcher unloads along the fence and Loosa tries a takedown but Fletcher defends and unloads with lefts and rights. Loosa staggers away from Fletcher but Fletcher is on him and tries a takedown but Loosa is able to defend against the fence. Fletcher is on his knees holding a single leg, Loosa is on top and both men are gassed in this position. Loosa lands a few short punches to the body and head as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Fletcher, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the last round. Loosa seems to be recovered, Fletcher is still stalking forward though. Both men land rights. Fletcher lands a front kick but slips doing so and has to fight up to his feet when Loosa lands a knee to the body. Loosa lands a right hand. A right from Loosa lands, Fletcher tries a takedown but he’s out of gas and Loosa is able to spin to the ride position and lands punches. Fletcher tries to granby roll and winds up getting half guard but Loosa is landing elbows from on top. More elbows from Loosa land before Fletcher is able to stall the offense out. Not a lot going on here, Loosa is landing some body shots and they’re both just kind of hanging out as they’re still dead tired. Elbow from Loosa. Loosa lands another elbow. Fletcher tries to shrimp but he’s unable to get any real motion going. I’m a little surprised the ref hasn’t stood them up, this has stalled out badly. Loosa lands another elbow. The clock runs out in that spot.
SCORECARD: 10-8 Loosa, 29-27 Loosa overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ange Loosa via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28 x2)
Surprised at only one 10-8 in the third, Fletcher did nothing all round. Mic time for Loosa, he gives glory to God first and says he’s happy to be here and thanks Fletcher for the fight, noting how hard the first two rounds were so he fought the third like that because he had to. He says he was hurt in the second but did enough to avoid being stopped. To close he gives love to his team and people back home.
Sean Woodson has gone 3-1 in the UFC and is on a two fight winning streak, if he can extend that streak here it could signify that he’s ready for a step up in class going forward. Luis Saldana has gone 2-1 in the UFC but he’s coming off of a win and is looking to build his first UFC winning streak while proving he’s a notable prospect in the featherweight division. Woods is a pretty solid favorite at -365 to Saldana’s +300.
Featherweight Bout: Luis Saldana (16-7, 145.5 lbs.) vs. Sean Woodson (9-1, 146 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Woodson is three and a half inches taller with five inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men fighting long to start, Woodson is showing off stance switching already. Some kicks from both men, they’re just range finding mostly. Saldana is switching his stance as well. Bit of a right from Woodson. Saldana lands a left to the body. Woodson lands a body kick. Bit of a jab from Woodson. Woodson lands a body kick. Saldana lands a left hook then a leg kick. Body kick from Woodson. A left hook from Saldana badly hurts Woodson, but Saldana doesn’t jump on him to try and capitalize. A jab from Saldana drops Woodson, but Saldana illegally knees him in the head on the ground so we’ve got a time out while they sort this out. Woodson was badly hurt, and there’s no dispute over the foul as the knee clearly landed to the head. The ref takes a point from Saldana for the foul, and we restart after 1:22. Woodson seems more of less recovered and lands some jabs then a body kick. Saldana didn’t like that body kick and they wind up clinched. They break without incident. Saldana lands an inside leg kick then a left hook. Leg kick from Saldana drops Woodson for a second. Bit of a body kick from Woodson. Saldana lands a right hand. Woodson lands a front kick. Bit of a right form Saldana then they trade punches in close to end the round.
SCORECARD: 9-8 Saldana but could be 9-9 after the point deduction
ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Woodson is stalking forward, he lands a right hand to counter a body kick. Saldana keeps showing that left hook on the counter. A lot of pressure from Woodson right now, Saldana lands a body kick. Stiff jab from Woodson. Woodson lands a one two then a follow up jab. Saldana misses a spinning attack. Bit of a right from Saldana then eh lands a leg kick. Woodson lands another jab. Saldana evades some punches. Saldana starts showing the jab now as he circles. Double leg from Saldana as Woodson over commits on some punches, Saldana lands on top in full guard. Saldana lands a few short elbows, Woodson attacks an omoplata then transitions to a Buggy choke. That’s in pretty tight and Woodson is able to clamp down on the the choke, Saldana is defending at the moment but it’s getting tighter. Saldana is able to hold on until the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Woodson, 18-18 overall
ROUND THREE: Both men land jabs as the round begins. Woodson punches into a clinch and lands some knees, then Saldana lands a right as they break. Saldana lands a couple of leg kicks, then Woodson lands a left hook. Bit of a right form Woodson. They trade jabs, then Saldana tries a double leg and gets it against the fence. Woodson wall walks immediately, Saldana moves towards the back in the clinch but Woodson brings him back around and they settle into a clinch. They break and Saldana misses a spinning back fist. Woodson lands a right hand. Brief clinch, and Saldana lands a knee before they break. Woodson lands a few jabs. Both men look tired at this point. Woodson avoids a few punches. Saldana lands a body kick. Both men land power hand punches. Saldana lands a few leg kicks, then Woodson avoids a double leg attempt. Woodson lands a left. Saldana lands an uppercut. Bit of a spinning back fist from Saldana, then they clinch and Woodson is able to push him over and get on top. Saldana quickly slips free from bottom and they just kind of hang out as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Woodson but I’m not sure about that, 28-27 Woodson overall but scores could be all over the place
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – DRAW, split (27-29, 29-27, 28-28)
Like I said, scores could be all over the place given not only the point deduction but just how the overall fight played out. No interview for either man.
Leonardo Santos had some momentum for a while but inactivity robbed him of the chance to capitalize on it, now he’s on a two fight losing streak and needs a win pretty badly if he wants to make any kind of legitimate run towards the top of the division. Jared Gordon had a three fight winning streak snapped in his last fight, now he’s trying to avoid his first losing streak since 2018 and resume wading his way through the lightweight ranks. The odds are with Gordon at -260 while a Santos win would payout at +220.
Lightweight Bout: Jared Gordon (18-5, 155.5 lbs.) vs. Leonardo Santos (18-5-1, 156 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Santos is three inches taller with a whopping seven inches of reach advantage, Santos is also nine years older. They touch gloves to get us going. Some feinting and circling to begin, Santos is stalking forward and looking to switch his stance if necessary. Body kick from Santos. Gordon avoids a body kick. Leg kick from Santos. Bit of a left from Gordon, Santos falls short on his counter right. We get a time out as the ref warns Santos about his finger position, he keeps extending them straight out, then get back to fighting. Santos shows some front kicks. Bit of a flurry from Gordon. Santos lands a knee to the body, Gordon didn’t like that but he’s back to coming forward right away. Gordon lands a left. Leg kick from Gordon. Minor blitz from Gordon which is partially successful. Santos lands a knee in close. They trade leg kicks then Santos lands a body kick. Gordon lands another calf kick. Bit of a right from Gordon. Body shot form Gordon, Gordon seems to be finding his rhythm and starts unloading body shots as he’s got Santos along the fence. They clinch up and Gordon lands more body punches. Santos lands a couple of knees then uses a Thai clinch to break free. Gordon lands another body shot and they clinch again, this time Gordon lands a few more lefts before the round ends in the clinch.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Gordon
ROUND TWO: Santos lands a front kick to get the round going. Gordon lands a body kick. Calf kick from Santos, Gordon returns it. Santos lands a knee to the body, Gordon didn’t like that. Body kick from Santos and Gordon forces a clinch to stifle the offense, then breaks with a left hook. Gordon clinches again and lands punches before Santos spins free. More pressure from Gordon, he’s looking to turn this into a close quarters brawl and keep the pace higher than Santos can sustain. Gordon lands a couple of body shots. Bit of a head kick from Santos. A couple of short punches from Gordon, then Santos lands an elbow. Santos tries a double leg, he winds up just jumping towards the back as they hit the fence and he gets to the ride. Some fence grabbing from Gordon to stay upright, then he turns into Santos and lands some lefts. Gordon lands a few body shots in the clinch then slips to the back. Santos gets chest to chest right away but he’s struggling in the clinch. More body work from Gordon then they break as Gordon lands a right hand. Santos lands a knee to the body but Gordon forces another clinch off of it. Gordon goes back to digging body shots before Santos slips free. Santos looks tired and Gordon is pressing forward again. Santos lands a right hand then circles away from Gordon to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Gordon, 20-18 Gordon overall
ROUND THREE: Gordon gets back to forward pressure. Santos lands a leg kick. Some inside leg kicks from Gordon land. Gordon lands a right to the body. Santos lands a jab but Gordon is relentlessly pushing him back and landing punches. Bit of a combination from Gordon. Both men miss rights. Gordon lands another right to the body. More body shots from Gordon as he pushes into a clinch and keeps working the body once they’re clinched. A flurry from Gordon lands as Santos slips free. Another body shot from Gordon then a right to the head. Gordon digs the body again and clinches, then lands a couple of lefts as they break. It’s kind of rinse and repeat for Gordon, he’ll bang the body then land short punches in the clinch before Santos slips free. Santos tries a double leg, Gordon sprawls into a front headlock position and lands some more punches to the body as Santos hangs on. Hammer fists from Gordon now, Santos wrestles up into a clinch but he can’t do much with it and the round ends as Gordon lands a couple of punches on the break.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Gordon, 30-27 Gordon overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Jared Gordon via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
No interview for Gordon.
Marcin Tybura just had a five fight winning streak broken when he fought Alexander Volkov in October of last year, now he’s trying to get back on the winning side of things and turn back another rising heavyweight. Alexandr Romanov is undefeated and has gathered a fair bit of hype while going 5-0 in the UFC, now he’s taking a step up to ranked opponents and should earn another step up with a win here. Romanov is your favorite at -330 to +275 on Tybura.
Heavyweight Bout: #13 Alexandr Romanov (16-0, 239.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Marcin Tybura (22-7, 252.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Tybura is an inch taller with three inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men are fighting southpaw. A bit of stance switching from Tybura. They clinch up and hit the fence, Romanov slips around to the back and mat returns Tybura then holds the ride position. Tybura looks to wall walk, Romanov leans on him and lands a knee to the body and leg as Tybura is on his knees. Romanov lands rights as Tybura looks to continue his wall walk, Tybura does regain his feet and Romanov is still on his back standing. Some knees to the thigh from Romanov, those do not look pleasant, then Romanov hits another mat return. Tybura again sets to wall walk, Romanov lands some short punches to the head. Romanov keeps landing punches, these aren’t the hardest but Tybura is struggling to find an answer to the position as Romanov is leaning on him as he’s on his knees. Romanov moves to the ride and is able to slowly break Tybura down to his hip against the fence. More punches from Romanov, then knees to the leg and a few more punches as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-8 Romanov as I don’t think Tybura landed a meaningful strike all round
ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Tybura lands a leg kick, Romanov forces a clinch but Tybura gets free immediately. Bit of a right from Tybura. They trade rights, but Romanov is looking a little tired. Romanov forces a clinch and they hit the fence. Knee from Romanov then they break. Tybura lands a right. Romanov looks flat, he used a lot of energy on those mat returns in the first round. Bit of a left from Tybura. Romanov lands a left hand, then Tybura lands a body kick. Tybura lands a leg kick. A left from Tybura staggers Romanov for a second. Romanov lands a jab but he’s trying to recover his wind. Tybura defends a single leg and lands a left hand. A front kick from Tybura lands to the groin of Romanov so we get a time out. Replay shows the kick was mostly a fair blow, the ref sees that and immediately gets them starting again. Tybura lands a left hand. Romanov lands a left of his own. Both men land power hand punches. Tybura kicks Romanov down and gets on top then moves to side control. North-south now for Tybura, then back towards side control where he lands some punches. Knees to the body from Tybura, Romanov is just holding onto a body lock from the bottom. Tybura is moving between side control and north-south while landing some body shots. Tybura lands elbows to the body. Romanov rolls to his knees, Tybura jumps to his back with both hooks in, short time left though and Romanov is able to slip out the back and ends the round technically on Tybura’s back.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Tybura, 19-18 Romanov overall
ROUND THREE: They hug to start the last round. Tybura is coming forward and looks to be the fresher fighter. Bit of a left from Tybura. Romanov starts moving around, and Tybura kicks him in the body. Body kick from Romanov. Tybura lands a left hand. Another front kick from Tybura then they clinch and break. Another front kick from Tybura. Bit of a blitz from Tybura, Romanov is fading again. Tybura lands an inside leg kick. Romanov lands a right, Tybura responds with a couple of punches. Inside leg kick from Tybura. Romanov misses a spinning back fist. Body shot from Tybura then a jab. Short right form Tybura, Romanov is nearly stationary when not being forced to move. Tybura lands a right hand. Stiff body shot from Tybura. Romanov lands a knee to the body. Tybura lands another front kick to the body. Romanov lands a leg kick but eats a counter right. Solid left from Tyubra lands, then he avoids a counter hook. Romanov misses a couple of hooks. Glancing left from Tybura. Tybura lands a jab, Romanov forces a clinch as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Tybura, 28-28 DRAW overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Marcin Tybura via majority decision (29-28 x2, 28-28)
No interview, but Romanov had no real path to victory given how he fell off after the first round.
That’s it for preliminary action, on to PPV for the main card.
Tyson Pedro returned from a lengthy absence back in April and broke a two fight losing streak with a knockout win, now he’s looking for his first winning streak since 2017 and to remind everyone that’s a legitimate prospect for the division. Harry Hunsucker has gone 0-2 in the UFC but now he’s cutting down to light heavyweight and hopes a change of scenery will net him his first UFC win. Pedro is the biggest favorite on the entire card at a whopping -750 while Hunsucker’s underdog status is +550.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Harry Hunsucker (7-5, 204.5 lbs.) vs. Tyson Pedro (8-3, 205.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Pedro is an inch taller with four inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Pedro is stalking forward right away. Hunsucker lands a bit of a left. Pedro is feinting Hunsucker back towards the fence, Hunsucker lands an inside leg kick. Pedro lands a jab. They trade in close and Pedro hurts Hunsucker with a left hook, then lands a front kick to the body that folds Hunsucker like a lawn chair and we’re done here.
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Tyson Pedro via TKO, punches and body kick, at 1:05 of Round 1
The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Pedro for his work this evening. Mic time for Pedro, he talks about training hard for this fight and mentions it’s the first time he’s fought in front of fans in about 4 years and implores the crowd to make noise. The crowd obliges him in that request. He talks us through the finish and can’t wait to get home and see his new daughter then dedicates the win to his grandfather who passed away recently.
Wu Yanan has gone 1-4 in the UFC and is on a three fight winning streak, this fight really feels like it’s win or go home for her. Lucie Pudilova got cut from the UFC in 2020 after a four fight losing streak, but she’s 5-1 since then and now looks to get her second stint in the UFC going with a win. The odds lean slightly towards Pudilova at -135 against +115 on Wu.
Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Lucie Pudilova (13-7, 135.5 lbs.) vs. Wu Yanan (12-5, 136 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Pudilova has an inch and a half of reach advantage. Wu shows some kicks early as they both circle and feint. Pudilova tries a double leg, that stalls out on the fence and Wu lands an elbow. They fight for position in the clinch, Wu sneaking in some knees then an elbow as they break. Bit of a jab from Wu. Wu lands a leg kick. Pudilova hits a takedown and lands a right hand but Wu grabs at an armbar though Pudilova defends and passes to half guard. Pudilova moves to side control. Things are stalling here, and Pudilova lands a hammer fist as the ref warns her to get busy. A few more short elbows from Pudilova, she’s trying to set up an arm triangle but loses position trying to mount then has to scramble for the back but Wu is up and they’re clinched again. They trade some knees in the clinch as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Pudilova
ROUND TWO: They clash on kicks as the round gets going. Both women showing the jab as they circle. A lot of shadow boxing is going on between these two. They split jabs a few times, then trade inside leg kicks. Wu lands a calf kick. Bit of a flurry from Wu but not much lands. Wu lands a leg kick. Pudilova forces a clinch and they hit the fence, where Pudilova lands a knee before they break. Wu avoids a one two. Some kicks go back and forth but neither woman is doing much. They clinch, and Pudilova hits a headlock takeover into side control. Wu scrambles to her knees, but Pudilova jumps to the back and gets a choke in as her hooks go in but Wu is able to break the choke and start hand fighting. Pudilova scrambles as Wu moves and gets back on top landing some elbows from side control. More elbows from Pudilova then she moves to the back again, this time she unloads with elbows as Wu gives up her back and the ref pulls Pudilova off of Wu to end things.
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Lucie Pudilova via TKO, elbows, at 4:04 of Round 2
Mic time for Pudilova, she thanks the fans for coming out and is very happy to be back in the UFC then thanks everyone who helped her get back here. She wanted to grapple quickly because she knew she could end things on the mat, then talks us through the finish.
The broadcast confirms Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili for UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden, they’ll play co-main event to Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira.
Jose Aldo is one of the all time greats of the sport, and his reinvention at bantamweight has been as impressive as it was unexpected, Aldo’s on a three fight winning streak right now and with a win here could make a case for getting another shot at his second UFC title. Merab Dvalishvili is on a seven fight winning streak, now he’s squaring off with a legend and if he can get a win here could likewise stake his claim for a title shot next. Dvalishvili is the favorite at -140 while the +120 comeback on Aldo has to tempt more than a few bettors out there.
Bantamweight Bout: #3 Jose Aldo (31-7, 136 lbs.) vs. #6 Merab Dvalishvili (14-4, 136 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Aldo is an inch taller with two inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get things going. Aldo starts stalking forward, Dvalishvili showing the jab as he circles around. Very Muay Thai stance from Aldo. Dvalishvili lands a spinning back kick. Aldo starts showing the jab, looking to get a read. Dvalishvili pushes forward, Aldo easily slides back and checks a leg kick. Aldo avoids a right hand. Dvalishvili shoots a double leg that hits the fence, Aldo defends and separates. Aldo checks a leg kick and lands a jab. Jab to the body from Aldo then a leg kick. Knee from Aldo partially lands then he jabs the body. Dvalishvili lands a leg kick. Dvalishvili falls short on punches, he’s not got a read on the striking range yet. Aldo checks another leg kick. Bit of a leg kick from Aldo then a front kick. Dvalishvili tries another takedown, they hit the fence again and Aldo lands a few punches while defending. Dvalishvili lands a left hook but Aldo cracks him with a right as they break. Aldo jabs the body again. Left to the body from Aldo then a knee to the body as Dvalishvili tries a takedown. Aldo misses a right. Dvalishvili misses several kicks. Aldo checks some leg kicks. Bit of a left from Aldo then he knees Dvalishvili in the body. Dvalishvili tries to get that back but time runs out on his effort.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Aldo but a close one
ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Dvalishvili lands a calf kick. Aldo lands a leg kick but Dvalishvili counters with a right hand. Jab from Aldo. Dvalishvili tries a double leg, Aldo defends as they hit the fence. Some knees to the leg from Dvalishvili as they’re on the fence, Aldo lands a couple of punches but things are stalling a bit. The ref could break this, Dvalishvili is just throwing little knees but not advancing or doing anything of real note. They break and Aldo starts coming forward again. Aldo lands a couple of body shots then a body kick. Dvalishvili tries a single leg, Aldo again defends and they wind up clinched. Both men try elbows in the clinch but neither finds much success. Aldo lands a left hook as they break. Dvalishvili tries again, again they stall on the fence. They break without much happening. Bit of a right from Aldo then he avoids a double leg attempt. Body jab from Aldo. Aldo lands a leg kick. Dvalishvili avoids a right hand and clinches again, but they break and trade punches. Aldo lands a knee then they trade, Dvalishvili forces another clinch and that’s where the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Dvalishvili but another close one, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Dvalishvili tries a single leg, and again they wind up on the fence but break quickly. Aldo lands a couple of front kicks. Bit of a right from Dvalishvili. Aldo slips some punches, he might be tiring though and Dvalishvili is still a cardio freak. They split some jabs then Aldo lands a knee to the body. Aldo avoids a right hand. Dvalishvili lands a leg kick. Aldo lands another knee to the body, but Dvalishvili lands a right hand then a leg kick. Left hook from Aldo. They clinch then break without incident. Dvalishvili forces a clinch, and lands a right as they break. Bit of a flurry from Dvalishvili. Aldo jabs the body then lands a knee but again eats a counter right. Dvalishvili is still coming forward, then man is a Terminator. Aldo slips some punches but he needs to find some offense. Bit of a left hook from Aldo. Dvalishvili tries a single leg, they hit the fence though and he breaks landing a right hand. Dvalishvili tries another takedown, again they wind up clinched. Aldo defends a body lock takedown, then another one but he can’t get free. They wrestle around and Dvalishvili gets the back in the clinch and lands some short knees to the leg. More knees from Dvalishvili as Aldo isn’t really working to get free and the round will end as they break the clinch.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Dvalishvili, 29-28 Dvalishvili overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
30-27 for Dvalishvili seems wrong, but him winning rounds 2 and 3 makes sense as Aldo’s offense was very muted. Aldo and Dvalishvili share a moment post fight and then embrace. Mic time for Dvalishvili, he calls this a dream come true and puts over Aldo but he had a job to do and needed to win so he had to fight to win. He was a little surprised he couldn’t get Aldo down at least once and puts over Aldo again. Asked about the future and possibly fighting his team mate Aljamain Sterling for the title, he puts over Sterling and says Sterling helped him when he came to the US and as the primary reason he’s improved so much as a fighter and says he wont fight Sterling as they’re brothers.
Paulo Costa has been a bit inactive lately, fighting just once in 2020 and once in 2021, both losing efforts and he now finds himself in need of a win to try and maintain a top ranking. Luke Rockhold has been out of action for a little over three years, he’s trying to return to the form that saw him capture the middleweight title though and a win over a ranked opponent like Costa would be a great way to kick off this campaign. The odds are solidly with Costa at -345 to a +285 payout on Rockhold.
Middleweight Bout: #6 Paulo Costa (13-2, 185.5 lbs.) vs. Luke Rockhold (16-5, 185.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Rockhold is two inches taller with five inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Rockhold. Costa looks to pressure forward right away. Front kick from Rockhold then an inside leg kick. Leg kick from Rockhold. Costa lands a clubbing hook and defends a takedown attempt then looks to land strikes from the clinch but Rockhold breaks away. More pressure from Costa, he lands a right hand then Rockhold lands a body kick. Costa lands a left hook then hits a takedown into guard. Rockhold looks to work his guard high, but Costa passes to half guard and is looking to move into full mount from there. Arm triangle attack from Costa, Rockhold is able to defend but Costa starts landing elbows to the body. Full mount for Costa now but Rockhold immediately scrambles and gets to half guard. Some more body shots from Costa and he moves to full mount. Rockhold bucks and slips free then lands a right hook as they separate. Both men look a little fatigued after that exchange. Front kick from Rockhold. Body kicks from Rockhold, a third and fourth all connect. Costa keeps coming forward, he punches into a clinch. They jockey for position in the clinch then break as Rockhold tries a whizzer kick. Another body kick from Rockhold connects. Rockhold lands a one two. Bit of a right hook from Rockhold to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Costa
ROUND TWO: Both men are tired but Rockhold seems a little worse off as we start the round. Rockhold lands a left hand. Another left from Rockhold, then a body kick. Costa lands a left hook but Rockhold shoots a double leg and nearly gets the back but they just wind up clinched. Costa lands an elbow and they break. Costa lands a left hook. Rockhold lands a left. They trade hooks then Costa lands a body kick. Rockhold is dead tired, but he lands a spinning back kick. Tornado kick from Rockhold lands then a left hand in close. Costa jabs the body. Bit of a head kick from Rockhold. Costa lands a head kick then they trade hooks in close. Rockhold lands a body kick then a leg kick. More pressure from Costa, he lands a body kick but can’t follow up. Rockhold lands another body kick then has a head kick blocked. Costa blocks a high kick and keeps marching forward. Costa misses a wheel kick then lands a couple of body shots, one of them went into the groin so we’ve got time for Rockhold to recover. Rockhold has up to 5 minutes to recover, and he’s going to take a ton of it but Costa is pretty tired as well. Rockhold wants to continue, the ref warns both of them for getting sloppy and we’re back to fighting after 96 seconds. Rockhold with a partially successful head kick then an inside leg kick. Costa keeps coming forward, he lands a left hand. Bit of a spinning attack from Rockhold. Rockhold lands an inside leg kick then a spinning back kick. Inside leg kick from Costa. Costa lands a body shot. Costa lands a heavy body kick. Rockhold avoids a kick. Bit of a right from Costa to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Costa, 20-18 Costa overall
ROUND THREE: Costa gets back to forward pressure. A few punches from Costa land as he’s keeping Rockhold on the fence. Rockhold off balances Costa and jumps on top but gets too excited going for mount and Costa is able to shove him over the top and they reset on the feet. Hard right from Costa lands. Rockhold lands a one two and backs Costa off with it. Costa lands a body kick. Jab from Costa lands then he avoids a wild left hand. Costa lands another couple of rights, but Rockhold staggers him with a counter left but he can’t follow up. Body kick from Rockhold then a one two but Costa just eats it and starts mocking Rockhold. Costa misses a spinning back kick, then sprawls away from a double leg from Rockhold and Rockhold winds up on bottom in side control. Now Costa looks for mount, but Rockhold catches him in side control for a second. Costa lands a couple of elbows, Rockhold gives up the back and Costa starts fishing for the choke. Rockhold is looking to spin into Costa, Costa reads that though and is able to maintain the back. Rockhold finally spins into Costa and gets on top with 20 seconds left. Rockhold smears his bloody face into Costa’s eyes and ends the fight on top.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Costa, borderline 10-8, 30-27 Costa overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Paulo Costa via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Pretty wild brawl there. Mic time for Costa, he plays with the crowd first and mentions the last time he fought in front of fans was 2019 and thanks the fans for being here to enjoy the show. He puts over Rockhold’s chin then sends love to people in Portuguese.
Rockhold gets an interview as well, his gloves are in his hands and he’s very emotional. He talks about all he’s been through in the last few years and thanks the fans, the UFC brass, and says he’s old and can’t do this anymore. Rogan thanks him for a career if this really is the last one, which seems to mean a lot to Rockhold. Rockhold doesn’t leave his gloves in the cage but his intentions seemed clear.
Leon Edwards hasn’t lost since running into a much younger Kamaru Usman back in 2015, the lone blemish on his record in the 10 fights since that point being a No Contest with Belal Muhammad. Edwards is finally getting a crack at the welterweight title tonight and looks to topple one of the very best fighters in the world right now. Kamaru Usman is the reigning welterweight champion, has never lost in the UFC, is going for his sixth title defense, and could tie the great Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive UFC wins if he can defend his title against Edwards. Unsurprisingly the odds are with Usman at -345 while the +280 comeback on Edwards might tempt a few bettors out there.
Welterweight Title Bout: (c) Kamaru Usman (20-1, 170 lbs.) vs. #2 Leon Edwards (19-3 1 NC, 170 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Edwards is two inches taller while Usman has two inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Edwards. Both men paw with the lead hand, looking to smother each other. Usman catches a kick but can’t capitalize on it. Edwards side kicks the knee. A bit of stance switching from Edwards as he circles. Inside leg kick from Edwards. Usman is pressuring Edwards back towards the fence, he lands a calf kick then a jab and shoots a double leg then lands rights in the clinch. Edwards gets off the fence but they’re still clinched, Edwards goes for a foot sweep, Usman almost laughs as he counters and get on top in full guard. Elbows from Usman, Edwards is able to elevate and regain his feet but Usman is on his back in the clinch. Usman lands some knees to the leg and works to drag Edwards back to the mat. Edwards is trying to fight the grip of Usman, he winds up chest to chest and trips Usman down, Usman tries to lateral drop in reply but Edwards lands on top in full mount. That’s the first time Usman has been officially taken down in the UFC. Edwards lands an elbow. Now Edwards gets the back with a body triangle locked in and he starts fishing for the choke but Usman is hand fighting well. Usman keeps fighting off choke attempts, they start trading punches on the mat. Edwards lands an elbow to end the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Edwards
ROUND TWO: Usman resumes coming forward, Edwards lands a front kick to the body. Both men miss rights, then Usman lands a jab. More jabs from Usman, then a bit of a left hook. Usman lands a right and clinches up. Bit of a knee from Edwards as they break. Usman lands a jab then a few body shots. More punches from Usman against the fence, Edwards covers up and spins away. Edwards lands a leg kick. Usman lands another jab but takes an eye poke so we’ve got a time out. Replay confirms the thumb to the eye of Usman, but we’re back to fighting after 40 seconds. More stance switching from Edwards, Usman lands a leg kick. Edwards lands a knee to the body then avoids a clinch. Usman lands a jab. Bit of a one two from Edwards, Usman lands a body kick. Edwards lands a knee but eats a right hand counter. More pressure from Usman now, he lands a leg kick but eats a left hook. Usman backs Edwards to the fence then punches into a clinch. Foot stomps from Usman as they hand fight then Edwards is able to spin free. Edwards tries a double leg, Usman sprawls easily and grabs a front headlock. Usman is looking to spin around to the back, he’s able to snap Edwards down but Edwards comes up and they trade knees then break. Usman lands a right hand then an elbow, he’s got Edwards on the fence and unloads with body shots. Another clinch, Usman hits an easy double leg into full guard. Some elbows from Usman land then body shots to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Usman, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: Usman’s pressure is getting to Edwards at this point, let’s see if he can adjust. Some circling to start, then Usman starts going forward again. A lot of feints from both men, then Usman blocks a high kick. Edwards lands an inside leg kick. Jab from Usman. Another jab from Usman. Usman grabs a single leg and pushes Edwards to the fence then gets a takedown. Edwards regains his feet rather quickly but Usman is on his back in the clinch. Knees from Usman land as Edwards tries to fight the grip of Usman. They get chest to chest and Usman lands body shots then Edwards lands a knee but Usman is back to pressuring him immediately. Bit of a one two from Edwards but he’s struggling to follow up. Usman lands body shots then a right hand and takes Edwards down again. Edwards looks to wall walk, Usman moves to the ride position and starts wearing on Edwards. Usman lands some short punches. Edwards is trying to post and start working up, Usman is stripping his posting limbs and keeping him down. Usman moves to mounting the legs and wraps up a cradle for control. Full mount briefly for Usman, he lands punches to the body and head as Edwards sits on the fence. Front headlock for Usman, then he lands punches as Edwards regains his feet and the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Usman, 29-28 Usman overall
ROUND FOUR: Usman feints a takedown to start the round. Edwards is trying to regain his rhythm and starts coming forward, Usman lands a jab and ducks under a hook. Usman lands a jab. Edwards lands a front kick to the body, Usman responds with a calf kick then a body jab. They both swing and miss then clinch up, Edwards on Usman’s back as they hit the fence. Edwards just bails on the position, then Usman lands a right and hits a double leg into full guard. Usman postures up and lands some right hands to the body and head. More body shots from Usman as he looks to posture up. Short elbow from Usman, then another one. Edwards scoots to the fence and looks to wall walk, Usman moves to the ride as he does so an begins leaning on him. Some knees from Usman land as Edwards regains his feet but Usman is still on his back. Usman keeps landing knees to the leg while Edwards tries to fight the hands. They break briefly then Usman hits a double leg, Edwards tries to wrestle up and grabs the fence to do so then the ref restarts them with Usman in the ride. Edwards moves to his base then his feet pretty quickly but he can’t get Usman off of him. Usman lands a couple of punches as they break. More punches from Usman, he digs the body as well but Edwards fires back as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Usman, 39-27 Usman overall
ROUND FIVE: Usman resumes pressuring to start the final round. Body kick from Edwards then Usman jabs the body. Knee from Edwards then he jabs the body as well. Usman backs Edwards to the fence and lands a jab. Usman digs body shots then hits a double leg against the fence. Edwards quickly bounces up but he’s still in the clinch. Usman’s control is still ridiculously impressive, he lands some knees to the leg while keeping Edwards pinned on the fence. Edwards tries to fight off a double leg, he does and the ref has seen enough inactivity and breaks them up. Front kick from Edwards. Edwards lands a body kick that goes into the groin of Usman so we get a time out. Replay is a little awkward but we’re fighting again soon. Edwards fires a few body kicks. They circle, then Edwards lands a thunderous head kick that knocks Usman out cold!
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and NEW UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards via KO, head kick, at 4:04 of Round 5
The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Edwards for his work this evening. Edwards is emotional and over the moon, that was about as dramatic a finish as you’ll ever see in MMA. Mic time for the new champion, he can’t put this into words but it’s been a long 4 years and he recounts everyone who doubted him but he just knocked out the pound for pound best. He didn’t care about being down, he’s from the trenches and he’s been down his whole life but just look at him now. We get a video of his team back home watching the win and he dedicates this win to everyone who’s had to come up hard and proved he could win a title from the UK. He walks us through the finish then gives love to his family and feels God is on his side tonight. Despite the years off, the pandemic, all of it, he’s here as the world champion. To close he expresses gratitude to a ton of people.
Well on that note, UFC 278 comes to a close. My state had to wait 6 years from a Fight Night main evented by Yair Rodriguez and Alex Caceres, but this PPV pretty much delivered. We’ll be unpacking all the fallout from this on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast tomorrow. There’s no UFC event next week so I hope you enjoy your Saturday, but I’ll be back in two weeks for UFC on ESPN+ 67 when the UFC makes their debut in France. Until then I thank you, as always, for reading. Stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.
