It took three painfully long months, but the UFC’s inaugural flyweight tournament is finally down to two names.
Demetrious Johnson picked up right where he left off last March, edging Ian McCall in another tightly contested decision at the main event of UFC on FX 3. Just like the first time around, the fight was a momentum charged back-and-forth affair, though ultimately it was “Mighty Mouse” who advanced to challenge Joseph Benavidez for the right to be crowned the first-ever UFC 125-pound champion.
However, the headlining scrap was just the cherry on top of a bloodstained main card sundae, one that featured three straight first-round finishes and had Twitter buzzing with professional fighters admiring their colleagues’ handiwork.
MIGHTY MOUSE VS. IAN MCCALL II
Man these flyweights are crazy lol I wouldn’t mind if flyweights where the only main events from now on #nojoke
— Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) June 9, 2012
Great fight! What r these crazy moves@MightyMouseUFC keeps doin?? Good job brotha!lockerz.com/s/215515777
— chad mendes (@chadmendes) June 9, 2012
How do you train with someone THAT small? #CircusMidgetDivision
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) June 9, 2012
@JoeJitsu @MightyMouseUFC Very much looking forward to u 2 throwing down, 125 might be my fav weight class…
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) June 9, 2012
Gotta be honest… I am jealous of the @Xbox sponsorship @MightyMouseUFC has going #UFConFX
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) June 9, 2012
See you soon @MightyMouseUFC ! Congrats!
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) June 9, 2012
ERICK SILVA DOES IT AGAIN
Parabens Eric SilvaShow
— Rogério Nogueira (@Minotouromma) June 9, 2012
Huahuahuahua…
— edsonbarboza (@EdsonBarbozaJR) June 9, 2012
@ErickSilvaMMA Parabéns que Deus continue te abençoando
— Vitor Belfort (@vitorbelfort) June 9, 2012
That’s some BULLSHIT when a ref has that much of an effect on a fight. That fence work shouldn’t have been stopped either time. #Boo
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) June 9, 2012
MIKE PYLE DELIVERS A FACEPLANT KO
Congrats @Mike_Pyle sushi is on you
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) June 9, 2012
Love seeing another teammate bank that KO of the night bonus. Way to go @Mike_Pyle !!
— Ryan Couture (@RyanDCouture) June 9, 2012
Is this fight in slow motion? Or I should have my eyes checked?
— Siyar Bahadurzada (@SiyarTheGreat) June 9, 2012
Boom goes the dynamite!!! Congrats @Mike_Pyle !!!
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) June 9, 2012
YESSIR!! Good job @Mike_Pyle !! Knock out of the night right there!! @ufc
— Martin Kampmann (@MartinKampmann) June 9, 2012
CUTS, BRUISES, AND THE FIGHT OF THE NIGHT
@EddieWineland Great Win! Way to represent Indiana @ufc #ufconfx3
— Darren Elkins (@Darren_Elkins) June 9, 2012
@EddieWineland “cornfed hillbilly from Indiana”…fighting is what keeps US happy! Great job my guy. Proud of you
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) June 9, 2012
Spoke with my son. “dad you need to practice punching harder” #lovethatkid
— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) June 9, 2012
15 stitches…thanks Scott!! #toughguy #manly #frankenstein instagr.am/p/Lo2ArokhAw/
— Eddie Wineland(@EddieWineland) June 9, 2012