Author: Dan Hiergesell

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Stipe Miocic reclaimed his UFC heavyweight title last night (Sat., Aug. 17, 2019) at UFC 241 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., when he put a vicious stop to champion Daniel Cormier via fourth-round TKO (punches), repaying ‘DC’ for his first-round knockout finish over Stipe just last year.

Cormier landed leg kicks early into the first round before clipping Miocic with an uppercut. “DC” did even more work when he was able to pick Miocic up and slam him on the canvas before suffocating from top position. The second round saw Miocic land good knees in the clinch before landing punches from the outside. Cormier returned favor with a few hard elbows before the end of the frame.

A big right hand landed for Miocic in the third round but Cormier pushed forward and threw heavy hands in return. Miocic kept the pressure up with a clinch along the cage and dirty boxing. The former champ even mixed in a short-lived takedown on Cormier before “DC” found a home for a stiff right hand that stunned Stipe before the bell.

The fourth round saw Miocic push the pace even more and really start to bust Cormier up with piercing hooks to the body. Cormier stood in the way and allowed every shot to land as Miocic saw momentum swing his way. Miocic then rocked Cormier with a right hand along the cage. “DC” stumbled backwards and Miocic pounced on top with heavy right hands. Cormier started to fade away and the referee stepped in for the stoppage.

Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC 241 results and coverage click here.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Nate Diaz made a memorable return to the Octagon last night (Sat., Aug. 17, 2019) at UFC 241 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., when he went toe-to-toe with former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis for a unanimous decision win.

Pettis landed early shots in the first round as Diaz tried to close the gap. “Showtime” kept scoring before Diaz was able to secure a takedown. Pettis quickly transitioned into a guillotine attempt and gave Team Diaz a scare before Nate popped his head out and landed some shots.

Pettis started to mix things up in the second with strikes to the head and body. Diaz once again closed the gap and landed a big knee along the cage. Pettis was able to open up a big cut above Diaz’s right eye later in the round but that didn’t stop the Stockton native from pouring on the offense until the sound of the bell.

The third round saw Diaz take over. During a clinch along the cage Diaz landed ferocious knees inside that buckled “Showtime” to the canvas. Diaz poured on the ground-and-pound en route to gaining back control but Pettis survived. Diaz would regain back control to score even more points towards the end of the round as he cruised to his comeback victory.

Check out Diaz’s big third-round knees above and the rest of the action below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC 241 results and coverage click here.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The matchup between Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa delivered on arrival last night (Sat., Aug. 17, 2019) at UFC 241 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., as the two middleweight contenders slugged it out for three bloody rounds. In the end, it was Costa who pulled away with the unanimous decision win.

Both fighters exploded out of the gate to land their own knockdowns early into the first round. Costa started to steal some momentum in the second and pressured Romero along the cage with heavy punches. Romero stood tall and absorbed all of the punches as he channeled his inner zombie and smiled to the crowd.

Romero came back in the third frame as he landed a hard left hand and uppercut in the early moments. The former UFC title challenger followed his efforts up with big combinations midway through the round, as well as a back fist that smacked Costa right in the face. Romero kept his pressure to the conclusion of the bout as Costa invited him in and countered with his own offense, all to the applause of the crowd.

Check out the first-round chaos above and the rest of the action below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC 241 results and coverage click here.

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

As soon as UFC 241 wraps up later tonight (Sat., Aug. 17, 2019) live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., fight fans can check out the live post-fight press conference video above for all the best reaction and official bonus winners.

On a night that features a main event rematch between reigning UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and former titleholder Stipe Miocic, a co-headliner pitting former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis against MMA star Nate Diaz in an intriguing welterweight affair, a middleweight contender fight between former title challenger Yoel Romero and undefeated Brazilian Paulo Costa, a featherweight scrap featuring wrestler Gabriel Benitez and talented striker Sodiq Yusuff, and a middleweight barn burner between knockout artist Derek Brunson and rising newcomer Ian Heinisch, there will be much to talk about when the action winds down.

The post-fight presser is scheduled to go live at 1:15 a.m. ET (Sunday), and feature the biggest winners and losers from the card.

For complete UFC 241 results and coverage click here.

Esther Lin, Vox Media

Massive underdog Khama Worthy gave fight fans their first finish earlier tonight (Sat., Aug. 17, 2019) at UFC 241 from inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., when he unexpectedly finished promising lightweight prospect Devonte Smith via first-round TKO (punches).

Worthy, who was making his UFC debut on less than one week’s notice, did his bidding towards the end of the first round during an exchange inside. Smith looked to land a combination as Worthy slipped the punches and found a home for a short left counter that instantly stunned “King Kage” and forced him to the canvas. Smith looked out but Worthy still piled on a few quick shots before the bout was called.

Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

With this performance, Worthy spoils the lightweight ascension of Smith and locks down easily the biggest win of his career. The 32-year-old certainly didn’t look out of his league against the largest favorite on the card and should score another big spot his next time out. After all, Worthy only had about four days to prepare for his Octagon debut and looked what happened.

For complete UFC 241 results and coverage click here.

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

With Cris Cyborg out of the picture reigning UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes has her next opponent lined up.

According to a recent report by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, “Lioness” is expected to defend her 135-pound crown opposite former UFC featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie at UFC 245 on Dec. 14 from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be a rematch six years in the making as Nunes defeated de Randamie via TKO back in 2013.

Nunes, 31, is coming off a scintillating knockout finish over former bantamweight titleholder Holly Holm back at UFC 239 this past July. The surging Brazilian fighter had finished Cyborg in just 51 seconds the fight before that to capture the 145-pound crown and become a two-division champion. In total, “Lioness” has won her last nine Octagon appearances, including victories over Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, and current UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, en route to becoming the consensus greatest female fighter of all time.

De Randamie, 35, launched herself back into bantamweight title contention with a recent 16-second TKO finish over rising contender Aspen Ladd back in July. “Iron Lady” had won the vacant UFC featherweight championship back in 2017 with a decision win over Holm, but de Randamie was later stripped of the title after refusing to defend it against Cyborg. In total, the Dutch striker has won her last five Octagon appearances after losing to “Lioness” six years ago.

At this time, it is unknown if the women’s bantamweight title fight will headline the UFC 245 PPV card.

Stick with Mania for more UFC 245 fight card news.