As the main event of UFC 178 got underway, it was eerily quiet inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Las Vegas faithful seemed drained of their energy even as the card was supposed to be hitting its culmination.
After Conor McGregor and then Donald Cerrone vs. Eddie Alvarez, who could blame them?
Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson was a minus-2000 favorite in some quarters when he stepped inside the cage Saturday night. And the fight unfolded along those lines. Johnson was quicker, stronger and all-around better than Chris Cariaso, a talented but overmatched challenger who has never beaten a fighter of consequence in the UFC flyweight division.
The evening began with Johnson dancing circles around Cariaso. The first big offense happened when Johnson moved in for a double-leg takedown, landing it with ease. Mighty Mouse spent much of the rest of the round in top control, pounding Cariaso. A knee-punch combination at the very end of the frame put Cariaso on weird street, and a spinning high kick nearly put the challenger out just as the horn sounded.
The second round unfolded much like the first. Johnson gained top control and worked for a kimura. He secured the hold and bent Cariaso‘s shoulder and arm into a very difficult angle. The challenger held out as long as he could, gnashing his teeth in pain but then finally was forced to tap, lest the champion break his arm.
The official end came at 2:29 of Round 2.
It is difficult to know what might come next for Johnson. He has said he wants to take some time off. Perhaps if John Lineker can defeat Ian McCall (and stay on weight) this November, he could have an inside track at the title. As it is, especially with John Dodson still recovering from injury, it is hard to see a challenger who could actually, you know, challenge the champ.
Cariaso still has a future in the UFC but not in main events. He’ll head back to the pack now and do just fine lighting it up on undercards.
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