Renan Barao’s last-second hospitalization effectively threw T.J. Dillashaw into a lose-lose situation, but with the livelihood of UFC 177 hanging in the balance, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion made the best of what he had to work with, peppering a surprisingly game Joe Soto for four rounds before sealing his first title defense with a blistering final-frame high kick.
Soto faded late, an understandable blemish considering the UFC rookie only had 24 hours to prepare for Dillashaw’s pace and the rigors of a five-round fight, but early on the contest was remarkably competitive, and a whole host of Soto’s fellow pros were more than a little impressed with the gumption on display in the night’s main event, as you can see from their running commentary below.
I smell the upset coming its been that kind of a year
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) August 31, 2014
Already a better start than Barao!!!!! #UFC177
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) August 31, 2014
& we have a fight on our hands #UFC177
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) August 31, 2014
Soto needs to BRAWL
— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) August 31, 2014
Dillashaw handling pressure well. Moving, hitting, trying to capitalize but soto not going away and landing some strikes of his own #UFC177
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 31, 2014
Soto is really impressing me right now
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) August 31, 2014
Props to @JoeSoto135 putting on a beast performance so far!
— Jake Matthews (@JakeBJJMMA) August 31, 2014
Wot a pace
— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) August 31, 2014
Really impressed with soto!
— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) August 31, 2014
Does aren’t all landing clean on soto the count is ridiculous in MO
— Mitch Gagnon (@MitchGagnonUFC) August 31, 2014
Hey man I punch harder than this guy TJDillashaw!! He punch like a girl and got luck with @RenanBaraoUFC. Today Barao would kick his butt!!!
— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) August 31, 2014
Soto might deserve an immediate rematch
— John Moraga (@chicanojohn) August 31, 2014
Dam my bad Soto I jinxed u.
— John Moraga (@chicanojohn) August 31, 2014
Wow what a finish to the fight
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) August 31, 2014
Dillashaw with a nasty head kick that turns soto backwards then crumbles him! 5th rd finish for TJ #ufc177
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 31, 2014
5th round stoppage by Dillashaw hats off to Soto. That head kick was amazing! #UFC177
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) August 31, 2014
BOOM!
— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) August 31, 2014
And Stilllllll!! Congrats @TJDillashaw #UFC177
— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) August 31, 2014
Great job!!!!! @TJDillashaw @ufc
— Seth Baczynski (@Sethbmma) August 31, 2014
Congrats @TJDillashaw nice kick bro
— Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) August 31, 2014
Amazing finish for @TJDillashaw always setting those kicks up nicely, awesome job by @JoeSoto135 for putting on a game fight @ufc #UFC177
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) August 31, 2014
He Patiently Waited 4 that head kick-TJ Left soto an exit at the end of the boxing combo,then ended it with the kick-got it! #Timing #UFC
— Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) August 31, 2014
Massive respect to soto. Did very well against the champion. Look forward to seeing him in the @ufc
— jimi manuwa (@POSTERBOYJM) August 31, 2014
Looked like a glorified sparring match but props to Joe soto and TJ #ufc177 keep it warm TJ I’m on my way!
— Anthony Birchak (@abirchakMMA) August 31, 2014
Absolutely nothing but respect for Joe Soto!!!!!
— michael (@bisping) August 31, 2014
Awesome fight @TJDillashaw! @ufc @danawhite should give @JoeSoto135 a FAT check. Change that man’s life. Great job Joe!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 31, 2014
Can’t wait to see what @JoeSoto135 does in the division! Great fight man!
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) August 31, 2014
Sick fight @TJDillashaw congratulations @DUANEBANGCOM
— Kelvin Gastelum (@KelvinGastelum) August 31, 2014
@JoeSoto135 great fight homie ! Keep grinding you gonna make noise
— Sean Soriano (@ssorianoMMA) August 31, 2014
Joe Soto have my respect. He got a 24h notice fight and fought like a lion.
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) August 31, 2014
This 135lb division will be mine again! I’m excited to be back in this mix. #UFC
— Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) August 31, 2014
TONY FERGUSON VS. DANNY CASTILLO
Tony did all the work on the ground and Danny tried to just hold him down.
— Dana White (@danawhite) August 31, 2014
I have to say I agree with judges decision, and I was rooting for Castillo
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) August 31, 2014
Lmao!! If we where in jail…#phraseoftheweek
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) August 31, 2014
@lastcall155 you owe no apologies! You put on a hell of a fight and left it all in the cage!!
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) August 31, 2014
Did Castillo just imply he could rape Ferguson? Or am I trippin?
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) August 31, 2014
Keep your head high @lastcall155 . I thought you won that. Proud of you brotha. #UFC177
— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) August 31, 2014
Watching the #UFC177 I think Tony out worked and should win ! You can’t win by stalling and running ….
— JohnTheBull Makdessi (@JohnMakdessiMMA) August 31, 2014
Well the Sacramento crowd isn’t happy with ferguson getting the split decision win but the fight was close #ufc177
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 31, 2014
Wow. What a call. Come on. @ufc @lastcall155
— Paige Vanzant (@PAIGEVANZANT) August 31, 2014
This sport will break your fucking heart.
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) August 31, 2014
Tony was the better fighter either way IMO. But he gonna have to sneak out the back of that mfer
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) August 31, 2014
I 100% agree with @lastcall155 . Controlling a grown man¬ being able to do damage is a lot better than being controlled¬ doing damage.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) August 31, 2014
Shit!!! Didn’t expect that!!!!
— jimi manuwa (@POSTERBOYJM) August 31, 2014
I’m going split for @TonyFergusonXT
— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) August 31, 2014
Goddamn that was entertaining … Beautiful ground work
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) August 31, 2014
Submission Attempts & Damage > Control & Takedowns #IfImJudging
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) August 31, 2014
BETHE CORREIA VS. SHAYNA BASZLER
Correia with some nice body punches.
— robbie lawler (@Ruthless_RL) August 31, 2014
Why did Baszler just keep walking back to the fence for more punishment? Get off the cage! #UFC177
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) August 31, 2014
Dang talk about some solid striking!!! Gotta move away from the cage in there like that. @ufc #UFC177
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) August 31, 2014
How about that @bethecorreia ! I wonder if she’ll get a shot @RondaRousey ?!? @ufc
— LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) August 31, 2014
I could beat her
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) August 31, 2014
Corriera says she wants Honda! Here you go… #Civic #Sedan #UFC177 @ufc pic.twitter.com/rea6gHx0S0
— Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) August 31, 2014
Wowwwwwwwwww vc é fera @bethecorreia pic.twitter.com/fVk27N27UM
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) August 31, 2014
This fight is a good reminder to the world of how good @VenezuelanVixen is. If Bethe is #10 then VV should be in the top 5.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) August 31, 2014
Lol http://t.co/UzABVgp1hR pic.twitter.com/JJVRf2ZyI3
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) August 31, 2014
CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA VS. RAMSEY NIJEM
Oh shit!!!
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) August 31, 2014
lights out#UFC
— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) August 31, 2014
Damn that was a nice finish from Diego @ufc
— FranCisco Rivera (@CiscoRiveraUFC) August 31, 2014
That ladies and gents is called a text book counter punch!! Good stuff!! Right hand to the chin… @ufc #sweetchinmusic #hegone #ufc177
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) August 31, 2014
YES!!! !!! #ufc177 @diegoferreira !!
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) August 31, 2014
Always proud of you @RamseyNijem everyone gets caught, we all know your gonna bounce back strong @ufc #UFC177
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) August 31, 2014
Hold the phone – A Brazilian with high level BJJ and striking that speaks decent English? #UFC177
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) August 31, 2014
Diego’s English voice is deeper than his Brazilian voice. How odd
— russell doane (@RussellDoane135) August 31, 2014
Didn’t go my way but I’ve grown more for this fight. Nothing to be disappointed about excited to know I can only get better #ufc177
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) August 31, 2014
YANCY MEDEIROS VS. DAMON JACKSON
Holy SHIT that choke was CRAZY
— Dana White (@danawhite) August 31, 2014
I have never seen that EVER
— Dana White (@danawhite) August 31, 2014
That was a sick guillotine! Nice work @ymedeiros #UFC177
— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) August 31, 2014
Niiiiiice #UFC
— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) August 31, 2014
@ymedeiros you’re the man bro so happy for you
— Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) August 31, 2014
Congrats @ymedeiros @natediaz209 Awesome Finish tonight http://t.co/tNzE0CY7tj
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) August 31, 2014
UFC 177: Guillotine
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) August 31, 2014
Congratulations @ymedeiros on your sweet finish! #ufc177
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) August 31, 2014
@ymedeiros awesome man!!!! 50k you got my vote PON…. Pay this man!!!! @ufc give this guys a Harley. Killing it!
— Seth Baczynski (@Sethbmma) August 31, 2014
Wow that was dirty
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) August 31, 2014
Crazy guillotine !! But why would you spin into it? #UFC177
— Louis Gaudinot (@LouGaudinotUFC) August 31, 2014
Yancy with a crazy choke that looked backwards and almost a crucifix but puts jackson to sleep. Cool submission and win #UFC177
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) August 31, 2014
Double WOW!!! #UFC177
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) August 31, 2014
What a choke!!!!! That was like a human noose!!!! #crazy #subofthenight? @ufc #ufc177
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) August 31, 2014
Wild choke finish for Yancy. Had Damon doing the twitch dance afterwards. Ouch #UFC177
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) August 31, 2014
Congrats bratha! @ymedeiros I saw you trying to win the bet with that handstand kick lol yeee #teamhawaii
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) August 31, 2014
Disappointed in the outcome but it was a great experience I’ll be back with a full camp,better than ever. Thank you all for thesupport @ufc
— Damon Jackson (@DamonTheLeech) August 31, 2014
Thank you everyone for all the support! Submission of the night hopefully! #UFC177
— Yancy Medeiros (@ymedeiros) August 31, 2014