After each of his fights against Anderson Silva during 2013, Chris Weidman was rightfully announced as the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.
Maybe now people will finally stop disputing it.
Weidman answered his many critics Saturday at UFC 175…
After each of his fights against Anderson Silva during 2013, Chris Weidman was rightfully announced as the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.
Maybe now people will finally stop disputing it.
Weidmananswered his many critics Saturday at UFC 175, earning his stripes as 185-pound kingpin with a unanimous-decision victory over LyotoMachida in a bout that will no doubt wind up on many Fight of the Year ballots.
In the process, Weidman proved that his previous two victories over Silva were no flukes, that he deserves his place among the very best fighters at any weight and—perhaps most importantly—that he can take a hard shot and keep his torrid pace over five full rounds.
All of these things were still up for debate for some fans leading up to the event, though Weidman entered carrying both UFC gold and an unblemished 11-0 record. In certain circles, his back-to-back wins over Silva were discounted due to freakish endings in both fights.
People openly questioned whether he deserved to have the hardware:
I hope Chris Weidman gets slaughtered by lyoto machida! His whole championship is a fluke😤
That line of inquiry is no longer valid. Weidman rendered it moot with a convincing all-around performance against the former light heavyweight champion, earning the nod from all three judges, 49-45, 48-47, 49-46.
He shut down Machida’s elusive, counterstrike-oriented offense with a game plan that looked similar to the ones he used against Silva. Weidman quashed the 36-year-old karate master’s unorthodox style with straight-ahead pressure, beating Machida to the punch more often than not and mixing in the occasional takedowns against the fence.
By the end of the third round, Machida was cut over the right eye and appeared to be fading. He was down 30-27 on most observers’ scorecards and near the end of the stanza had fallen victim to an impressive, high-octane throw from Weidman.
The champion’s corner was jubilant, and it seemed as though Weidman might be heading for a clean sweep on the scorecards.
To his credit, Machida rebounded during the final two rounds. His best offense throughout the fight had been shots to the body, and they may have caught up with Weidman down the stretch. Machida began to land hard counters, and on a couple of occasions hurt the champion, who sported a nasty purple bruise on the right side of his rib cage.
Weidman battled back, though, and snuffed out any hope of a late comeback when he took Machida down with under two minutes to go and worked his way to back mount. Machida regained his feet and ended the fight with a flurry of strikes, but Weidman seemed to get the best of the last five minutes. As the final horn sounded, he was waving Machida forward, having taken his best shots.
“He was as good as I thought,” Weidman told UFC color commentator Joe Rogan in the cage when it was over. “He’s quick. When you think he’s going to do something, he does the opposite, so he’s really tricky in there. He’s a great fighter. Tough as nails.”
The victory might quell many of the doubts about him, but the road ahead doesn’t appear to get any easier for Weidman. The middleweight division is rife with potential challengers, including another former light heavyweight titlist in VitorBelfort, as well as former Strikeforce champs JacareSouza and Luke Rockhold.
Belfort—who was slated to fight for the title at UFC 173 before he was forced to pull out—took to social media to reissue his challenge before Weidman even left the cage Saturday. Belfort still has some licensing issues to work out with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, though, and the UFC had previously said it won’t give him a fight until he takes care of it.
For Machida, the loss at least temporarily short-circuits his career reboot at middleweight. After cutting from 205 pounds last year, he’d been impressive in consecutive victories over Mark Munoz and GegardMousasi. On this night, he was not quite good enough to jump-start his second UFC title reign, though he probably still has some legs at 185 pounds.
Machida had been complimentary of Weidman throughout the lead-up to the fight and, in the end, summed up what many spectators were thinking during his in-cage interview.
“He’s the true champion,” Machida told Rogan. “He deserves the title.”
There were going to be a lot of questions answered at UFC 175 on Saturday night as reigning middleweight champion Chris Weidman (12-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) put his strap on the line against No. 1 contender Lyoto Machida (21-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC).
Wei…
There were going to be a lot of questions answered at UFC 175 on Saturday night as reigning middleweight champion Chris Weidman (12-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) put his strap on the line against No. 1 contender LyotoMachida (21-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC).
Weidman, who was coming off back-to-back victories over Anderson Silva, was still somewhat of a question mark in the eyes of the MMA community. The respect that should have come with defeating the fighter widely recognized as the greatest of all time had eluded him for the most part.
His bout with Machida was his opportunity to assert his dominance.
While the circumstances were a bit different for Machida, the former light heavyweight champion came into UFC 175 looking to complete his climb up the 185-pound ladder. The Dragon had been on a tear since dropping down into middleweight waters, and two convincing performances in his new weight class earned him the right to challenge for the divisional strap.
The All-American was on a mission to prove his two victories over Silva were no fluke, and the Brazilian karate machine looked to pick up a title in another division. The bout figured to be a stylistic chess match, and that’s how it played out.
Weidman took the early rounds with his pressure and wrestling, while Machida‘s counterstriking and offensive rushes tagged up the champion in the two final frames.
The end result was Weidman making his second successful title defense, as he took the unanimous-decision victory in one of the best fights of 2014.
Where there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the top fight on the billing, the co-main event was figured to be a lopsided affair.
Anytime women’s bantamweight champion and megawatt superstar Ronda Rousey steps into the Octagon, there is heavy expectation. Few seemed to be giving No. 1 contender Alexis Davis much of a chance in the tilt.
It wasn‘t so much that anyone was taking the Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada, native lightly, but it was more so that the Rowdy one had been absolutely dominant coming into UFC 175.
Many figured that the women’s 135-pound title bout would be another installment of the Ronda Rousey Show, and boy (girl) was it ever. The former Olympic judoka cut like a buzzsaw through Davis en route to a 16-second victory.
It was nasty.
It was brutal.
It was lightning-quick violence.
It was the perfect Ronda Rousey fight.
Outside of the two showcase bouts on the card, there was plenty of action that went down at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday night.
Let’s take a look at the good, bad and strange from UFC 175.
The Good
There may have been doubt hovering over Weidman coming into his bout with Machida at UFC 175, but there won’t be any in the aftermath.
The New York native proved he’s the real deal, as he battled toe-to-toe with the former light heavyweight champion every step of the five-round affair.
While Weidman‘s wrestling scored him points at critical times in the fight, it was his stand-up game that served to keep Machida at bay. The champion landed some shots that kept The Dragon on the run and allowed him to take a big lead in the early rounds of the fight.
His performance Saturday night was a gritty showing that proved he’s every bit as legitimate as a man who defeated Anderson Silva on back-to-back occasions should be regarded as. Weidman is the undisputed champion of the 185-pound division, and the respect that was held out from him should certainly be coming his way after defeating Machida.
As for the 36-year-old Brazilian, he has nothing to be ashamed of. While Weidman got the nod from the judges’ table (49-45, 48-47, 49-46), it was Machida who received the love from the crowd in attendance at the Mandalay Bay events center.
Although the former 205-pound strap-holder started out in his conservative counterstriking mode, he became aggressive when he needed to.
Nevertheless, it was too little too, late for the title challenger. That said, Machida‘s stock definitely went up with his showing at UFC 175.
OK…here is where it gets crazy. Ronda Rousey is a fighting goddess among mortal women.
It took the women’s bantamweight champion 16 seconds to smash Alexis Davis into oblivion. Rousey put on such a violent display of technical brilliance that any type of lengthy description would be a disservice. Rowdy is simply in a class of her own, and she used Davis to prove that fact once again.
The term “annihilation” doesn’t do justice to what happened in that fight. That was a flat-out trucking from the get-go. Moving on…
Urijah Faber has never lost a fight where there wasn’t a title on the line, and that trend continued at UFC 175. While the brand of steamrolling The California Kid has been known to dole out wasn’t on display, that had more to do with a game Alex Caceres than anything else.
Faber and Caceres engaged in a back-and-forth affair for two rounds until the Team Alpha Male leader caught Bruce Leeroy’s neck in a hectic scramble on the ground. Once Faber locked in the rear-naked choke, the MMA Lab fighter tapped shortly after, and the former WEC featherweight champion picked up his fifth win in his past six outings.
While Faber got the victory, Caceres has nothing to hang his head about. His performance against a perennial contender like Faber shows just how far he’s come since his time on The Ultimate Fighter. Caceres may have had a five-fight winning streak snapped at UFC 175, but he proved he’s the real deal, even in a losing effort.
***
Mixing his time between teaching and fighting is apparently a working formula for Kenny Robertson. The East Peoria, Illinois, native continued his winning ways by defeating IldemarAlcantara via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26) on the preliminary portion of the card at UFC 175.
While Robertson did ping the Brazilian with a pair of accidental groin shots, the 30-year-old Central Illinois Combat Club fighter picked up his third victory in four showings and his second consecutive win inside the Octagon.
***
Getting that first victory inside the Octagon can be an emotional moment for a fighter, and those tides certainly got the best of Luke Zachrich. The Ohio native earned his inaugural win under the UFC banner by defeating GuilhermeVasconcelos on the judges’ cards (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) to pick up the unanimous decision.
It was a solid back-and-forth affair, but when the final bell sounded, The Ultimate Fighter alum’s hand was raised. Then he cried. And then he cried some more.
***
Rob Font made an impressive showing in his debut performance, as he starched veteran George Roop in the first round of their tilt on the preliminary portion of the card.
TheTUFalum attempted to use his range to strike from a distance, but Font waded in and dropped him with a huge shot. Font finished things up with a flurry on the canvas shortly after.
***
Kevin Casey was looking to make the most of his second chance with the UFC, and he wasted no time making good on those intentions.
The Ultimate Fighter alum put a stone-cold drubbing on Bubba Bush, as he pounded out the victory with a series of nasty elbows to pick up the win. Casey dropped Bush with a left hand then unleashed the fury as he secured the victory in just north of one minute of work.
The Bad
Stefan Struve was set to return to the cage after a 16-month hiatus due to a heart issue. Doctors cleared him to resume training in April, the fight with Matt Mitrione was booked in May and the UFC’s annual Fourth of July card was supposed to be his comeback.
Yet, that’s not how things would go down.
Shortly before the first fight on the pay-per-view portion of the card got underway, SportsCenter broke the news that Struve had fainted in the back locker room due to an elevated heart rate and was pulled from the bout.
Several minutes after the news broke, Dana White swung by press row to inform the media that Struve had indeed blacked out and had been taken to the hospital to undergo additional testing.
While losing one of the more high-profile fights on the card is unfortunate for the fans and promotion alike, a fighter’s health is without question the No. 1 priority.
That said, there will undoubtedly need to be a stern conversation as to where Struve goes from here. Despite being a seasoned veteran in the fight game, the rangy Dutchman is just 26 years old, and he—and the UFC—will need to determine what matters the most.
Fight fans have endeared themselves to Chris Camozzi for his full-throttle fighting style, but he may find himself in troubled waters after his bout with Bruno Santos on Saturday night.
While the Colorado representative gave another one of his signature showings, the 27-year-old came out on the business end of a split decision against his Brazilian opponent (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). The loss is his third consecutive setback, and three is typically the magic number where pink slips in the UFC are concerned.
While Camozzi may live to see another opportunity inside the Octagon, he’s certainly going to have to make some adjustments going forward. Putting on entertaining squabbles for the fans at a regular clip is undoubtedly a positive, but three straight losses will bring him right up to a line no fighter wants to see.
He may not have been happy with the tactics Santos used to get the nod, but winning is what matters, and Camozzi has not seen that particular column since March 2013.
The Strange
Urijah Faber was on the preliminary portion of the card at UFC 175.
While the UFC placed The California Kid in the final slot on Fox Sports 1’s collection of free fights to be a strong lead into the pay-per-view portion of the card, it was still strange to see one of the most recognizable fighters in the game on the undercard. Meanwhile, a handful of competitors who were far less notable were on the main card lineup.
The former WEC featherweight champion is a solid draw in the fight game, and it was weird to see him in that position on the billing. I understand the move, but it was certainly a worthy entry to this category.
Curious things happen to the human body when feet and fists are slammed into the head. Sometimes the body goes rigid and stiff. Other times the infamous “robot arms” rise to the heavens. Yet, there are other instances where the initial shot does not claim the fighter’s consciousness, but the rest of their body rebels against the central-command center, and awkwardness ensues.
Roop became the latest example of this phenomenon in his tilt with Font on the preliminary portion of the card for UFC 175. Roop was attempting to use his length to his advantage, but the promotional newcomer timed his counter perfectly and put a blaster square on the TUF alum’s chin.
Once the shot landed, Roop attempted to circle out, but his body had other ideas, and he went into a herky-jerky trot that resulted in a trip to the canvas.
There was plenty of strangeness before Roop hit the mat, and his trip to the ground became instant highlight-reel material. In other words, Roop there it is, was and will be in the fight-footage library for quite some time.
Speaking of strange things from the human-anatomy department, Uriah Hall’s toe became one of the stories at UFC 175.
The New York native was letting his feet fly at a fast and furious pace in the opening round versus Thiago Santos and, somewhere along the way, he suffered a gnarly injury to the middle toe on his left foot. The UFC cameras picked up a shot of the injury between rounds, and it was unclear whether the fight would continue.
Hall decided to trudge forward and battle through 10 more minutes of action, all the while continuing to use the injured foot in his arsenal. Hall’s decision to continue certainly registered on the “bonkers” scale and received a huge pop from the fans in attendance at Mandalay Bay.
The Ultimate Fighter alum stuck it out to pick up the unanimous-decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) and grab his second consecutive win under the UFC banner.
On final addition to the “zombie pilot” mode the brain shifts into once it is hammered was put on display by Davis courtesy of Rousey in the co-main event.
After the champion rocked Davis with a right hand, she cranked on a headlock and whipped out one of her signature throws. While the Canadian title challenger was already rocked from the big shot she ate, the impact of the throw put her somewhere out in limbo. With her opponent on the ropes, Rousey poured on a fountain of short punches until referee Yves Lavigne stepped in to stop the fight.
As the official intervened, Davis locked a tight single leg on Lavigne. While these things sometimes happen in mixed martial arts, Davis’ commitment to taking the referee to the ground was fierce, and it took her corner running into the cage to finally get her to unlock her hands.
It was a brutal drubbing, and I’m positive the last thing Davis wanted in the fight was to be hugging Lavigne’s leg as Rousey celebrated another successful title defense.
A 16-second destruction, a toe bone exposed in the sanitary world of the Octagon and the two best middleweight fighters in the world put on an instant classic for the love of the fighting faithful.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
From the very beginning, Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida was a legacy-making fight. Weidman had the chance to cement himself, beyond any doubt, as the greatest middleweight in MMA. Machida, meanwhile, had the opportunity to establish himself as the UFC…
From the very beginning, Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida was a legacy-making fight. Weidman had the chance to cement himself, beyond any doubt, as the greatest middleweight in MMA. Machida, meanwhile, had the opportunity to establish himself as the UFC’s third two-division champion, behind only MMA legends BJ Penn and Randy Couture, and stake a claim as one of MMA’s all-time greats.
For three rounds, the fight wasn’t even remotely competitive. Weidman took The Dragon down with little effort, tossed him around, landed big punches and seemed impervious to the former champ’s charms. While bigger, stronger, more experienced fighters like Rashad Evans, Couture and Dan Henderson had all been lured into Machida’s web, Weidman demonstrated a remarkably smart, tight game that had him, if you can believe it, dictating the pace of the fight.
Machida would muster up a bit of offense down the stretch, taking Round 4 in convincing fashion and keeping things interesting in the fifth. Ultimately, however, this was an amazing performance by Weidman.
Had my doubts about Weidman heading into tonight. Those doubts have been put to rest.
Naturally, when it comes to a fighter as divisive as Weidman, some personal introspection needs to come into play.
Yours truly was never one of the Weidman haters. He was a great talent, and the sky was the limit for him right from the get-go. His wins over Anderson Silva weren’t quite as definitive as they could have been (through no fault of his own, of course), but anybody who claimed he wasn’t the rightful middleweight champion was just being foolish.
The issue with me was simply doubt.
Was his wrestling really good enough to contend with Machida, who made many a light heavyweight look downright foolish? Would he be able to get around Machida’s amazing footwork and close the distance for his shots? Could he even touch Machida standing up, with such a huge gap between them on paper in the striking department?
Like a true great, Weidman answered each of those questions with an emphatic yes. It doesn’t matter whom he is fighting, what they have done or how they seem to match up.
Weidman can outwrestle them, outstrike them and beat them all. Badly.
So what did we learn from Weidman vs. Machida?
Chris Weidman is the greatest middleweight mixed martial artist in the world, and if he keeps showing up as good as he was Saturday, there isn’t a single fighter at 185 pounds who can challenge him. So watch out, Vitor Belfort, Gegard Mousasi and Luke Rockhold, the odds are against you.
(This 4th of July weekend, let’s declare our independence from “Machida drinks pee-pee” jokes. #cagepotatoban / Photo by Esther Lin for MMAFighting.com)
When UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman knocked out Anderson Silva last July, fans called it a fluke. When Weidman snapped Silva’s leg by checking a kick in their rematch, fans called it a fluke again. Tonight at UFC 175 in Las Vegas, Weidman has the opportunity to prove that his title reign is the real deal when he takes on Lyoto Machida, who could become just the third fighter in UFC history to win a belt in two different weight classes.
Fresh off his liveblog of the last UFC PPV (sorry about that, dude), our friend Barry “Bear” Siragusa is BACK in the saddle agaaaain, and will be posting round-by-round results from the “Weidman vs. Machida” pay-per-view broadcast after the jump beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and shoot us your own thoughts in the comments section or on twitter @cagepotatomma. Thanks for coming.
(This 4th of July weekend, let’s declare our independence from “Machida drinks pee-pee” jokes. #cagepotatoban / Photo by Esther Lin for MMAFighting.com)
When UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman knocked out Anderson Silva last July, fans called it a fluke. When Weidman snapped Silva’s leg by checking a kick in their rematch, fans called it a fluke again. Tonight at UFC 175 in Las Vegas, Weidman has the opportunity to prove that his title reign is the real deal when he takes on Lyoto Machida, who could become just the third fighter in UFC history to win a belt in two different weight classes.
Fresh off his liveblog of the last UFC PPV (sorry about that, dude), our friend Barry “Bear” Siragusa is BACK in the saddle agaaaain, and will be posting round-by-round results from the “Weidman vs. Machida” pay-per-view broadcast after the jump beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and shoot us your own thoughts in the comments section or on twitter @cagepotatomma. Thanks for coming.
UFC 175 preliminary card results
– Kenny Robertson def. Ildemar Alcantara via unanimous decisions (30-26 x 3)
– Bruno Santos def. Chris Camozzi via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
– Rob Font def. George Roop via KO (Punch) at 2:19 of round one.
– Luke Zachrich def. Guilherme Vasconcelos via unanimous decision (30-27×2 29-28).
– Kevin Casey Def. William “Bubba” Bush via KO (elbows) at 1:01 of round one.
Please stand by…
Hi again folks. “Back in the saddle” is right and boy was I Saddle Sore after that last one. I haven’t seen that many decisions since… well… ever. As much fun as UFC 174 was, let’s move on and try and forget the soul crushing decision-i-ness of that card and look forward to UFC 175. Weidman vs. Machida just may be the best fight this year (We’ll see what Hunt vs. Nelson and Brown vs. Lawler look like). Rousey vs. Davis will either be the biggest upset since the beginning of time if Davis wins, or a “makes you uncomfortable but you can’t look away” mauling. The sort that Rousey fans have come to love. I’m banking on the latter.
P.S. I know the Urijah Faber vs. Alex Caceres fight is part of the prelims but, I don’t care. It’s a main card caliber fight.
Let’s do this.
First up:
Urijah Faber vs. Alex Caceres
Alex Caceres (10-5-1 MMA) Was a contestant on season 12 of TUF. He is currently the #13 ranked Bantamweight. His most recent fight was a win, FOTN, and Submission of the Night against Sergio Pettis. Faber will be the first top 10 opponent Caceres has faced.
Urijah Faber (30-7 MMA) is currently the #2 Bantamweight fighter in the world and founder of Team Alfa Male (home of current Bantamweight champ. T.J. Dillashaw). Former WEC featherweight Champ and KOTC Bantamweight Champ. Faber lost to Renan Barao at UFC 169 in a fight for the UFC Bantamweight Championship in what many consider a early stoppage by referee Herb Dean.
Round 1:
Caceres looking confident during the walkout. Goldie agrees, says “confident” 5 times. Faber looks relaxed and pumped up. T.J. Dillashaw in the background looking on. Caceres has a huge reach advantage.
Faber gets a takedown almost immediately. Caceres back up instantly. They grapple and spin around the octagon before coming to rest against the fence with Faber on the outside. A nice right hand by Caceres, Faber goes after him and Caceres shoulder rolls away. Faber chases and gets the takedown. Faber with some brutal rights to the body. Faber dropping elbows into Caceres ribs. A nice elbow to Caceres’s face. Big right over the top from inside the guard by Faber. Caceres is defending but eating some nasty elbows. Caceres gets his feet against the fence. Faber picks him up and slams him down. Faber still on top. Caceres is not panicing but doesn’t seem to have an answer, Faber is just putting on a G&P demo. Careres connects with an ax kick from his back and gets his feet as the buzzer sounds.
Round 2:
Faber connects with a big overhand right to start the round and follows up with a takedown in the middle of the cage. Careres has control of Fabers hand and gets to his feet. Caceres attacks and pushes Faber against the fence. Caceres backs off and connects with a solid punch that rocks Faber. Faber rushes him and takes him down but Caceres is quickly back up on his feet. They clinch against the fence and Caceres gets the reversal still against the fence. They rest briefly and Faber takes Caceres down, Caceres pops right back up. Amazing resilience… High kick attempt by Careres. Faber throws a sloppy overhand right. Caceres attempts a spinning round kick and Faber pins him against the fence. They stall there. Faber explodes and hip throws Caceres who pops right back up again. They stalk each other in the center of the octagon. They clinch and Faber pushers Caceres against the fence. Careres connects with a knee but can’t push him off.
Round 3:
Faber fakes a shot. Caceres misses with a super-man punch attempt. They clinch and whip each other around. They clinch against the fence and break apart. They clinch, flurry, and Faber gets the takedown. Faber gets Caceres’s back and gets sinks in the RNC. Caceres taps! It’s over.
Urijah Faber def. Alex Caceres via Submission (RNC) at 1:09 of round 3.
Next up:
Marcus Brimage vs. Russell Doane
Marcus Brimage was a competitor on Season 14 of TUF. Brimage has gone 3-1 in the UFC with his sole loss coming at the hands of Conor McGregor.
Hawaiian fighter Russell Doane (13-3 MMA) will enter the octagon for only the second time tonight. His previous fight was a win via Triangle Choke against Leandro Issa at UFC Fight Night Saffiedine vs. Lim.
Round 1:
Doane is looking angry and ready. Brimage is looking pretty relaxed.
Brimage immediately starts jabbing to find his range. Hard inside leg kick from Brimage, answered by a head-kick attempt by Doane. Doane goes for the double leg and gets the takedown. Doane quickly gets side control. Doane gets Brimage’s back. Brimage shifts and is on the bottom but now on his side. Doane is pounding him, Doane only has one hook in, he still needs to get the left in. Doane gets both hooks in. Doane flattens Brimage out, Brimage is defending the RNC attempt from Doane. Doane has both hooks in DEEP. Brimage is defending well but is using a ton of energy. Brimage explodes and breaks free. Brimage is on his feet and starts throwing leg kicks and big punches to keep Doane at a distance. Doane with a straight kick. Brimage answers with a leg kick and a right hand.
Round 2:
Brimages corner tells him he is down a round. Doane with a front kick to start things off in the second. NASTY inside leg kicks from Brimage. Brimage connects with a big right hook and knocks Doane down. Brimage goes for the guard but Doane shifts and sprawls. Brimage connects with another inside leg kick and Doane’s leg gives out. He is limping now. Doane switches stances but quickly switches back. Another inside leg kick from Brimage. Doane goes for the takedown and gets it. Doane quickly gets Brimages back. He has neither of the hooks. Brimage shrugs him off and is on his feet. Doane is much more cautious of Brimage now. They flurry and clinch. Doane connects with a knee to the body from the clinch. Doane pushes Brimage up against the fence. Doane gets Brimages back while they were standing but Brimage rolls over when Doane attempts a takedown. Brimage is on his feet. Doane is looking like he is hurting after all the leg kicks. Brimage ends the round with an outside leg kick.
Round 3
Last round. Brimage still jabbing. Doane attempts a high kick and Brimage grabs it and throws Doane to the ground. Doane goes for the amaplata but doesn’t get it. Brimage disengages and they are on their feet. Doane has slowed way down. He is hurting. Brimage connects with another inside leg kick and Doane goes down but quickly gets up. Brimage connects again with the outside leg kick on that injured leg. Doane tries for a high kick which is blocked by Brimage who answers with another inside leg kick. Doane attempts to drag Brimage down and goes for a guillotine but loses it. Brimage gets back up. Brimage connects with an outside looping right. Doane working hard to protect that leg. Brimage kicks that leg again. Doane goes for the double, but Brimage sprawls and avoids the takedown. Doane connects with a right hand. Brimage eats a high-kick. Doane is really trying to put the pressure on in these final seconds. There is the buzzer.
Russell Doane def. Marcus Brimage via Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Breaking news: Stefan Struve vs. Matt Mitrione is cancelled due to health concerns for Stefan Struve. According to the UFC doctor Struve experience heart palpitations and felt as if he would faint. Based on Struve’s pre-existing heart condition the decision was made to cancel the fight in the name of fighter safety.
Next up:
Uriah Hall vs. Thiago Santos
Uriah Hall (8-4 MMA) was the runner-up during season 17 of TUF. Despite showing a well rounded game with excellent striking skills during TUF, Hall has met with mixed results since signing with the UFC, loosing his first two fights in the promotion. His last fight was a TKO win over Chris Leben, saving his career and ending Leben’s.
Thiago Santos (11-2 MMA) was a contestant on TUF Brazil 2. Santos trained in Capoeira before starting his MMA career. This will be Santos’s third fight in the UFC.
Round 1:
Santos is looking hungry. He is pacing like a caged lion. Hall is looking focused.
Hall with a jab and spinning back fist attempts to start things off. Santos attempts a spinning back kick. Some HARD leg kicks from Santos. Santos with another spinning kick. Solid jab from Hall. Another solid jab by Hall, answered by two consecutive leg kick by Santos. Santos attempts a head kick. Santos connects with another inside leg kick but eats a straight right from Hall. Hall with a low kick and a straight kick. Another huge leg kick from Santos. He attempts a head kick and Hall catches it and throws Santos down. Santos is quickly on his feet again. Another spinning kick and leg kick from Santos. Hall is starting to limp. A solid left hook from Hall. Hall is moving forward really pushing forward, he has his hands down and is taunting Santos. Santos is not taking the bait. Hall attempts a spinning heel kick to end the round. Hall has clearly broken his foot.
Round 2:
Hall starts this round with some intense energy. Trying to end it quickly. Hall is still dancing in front of Santos with his hands down. Santos is not taking the bait. Hall with a nice jab. Big overhand right from Santos. A quick leg kick/left hook combo from Santos that connects hard. Some front kicks from Santos. Hall throws a spinning body kick with his injured foot. Hall throws a big hand over the top. Santos attempts a high kick and Hall throws him down again. Santos gets back on his feet and connects with a inside leg kick. Hall with some big swings and misses. A BIG spinning back kick from Hall that misses and knocks him off balance. Santos connects with another inside leg, followed by a body kick. Both men seem afraid to clash. Hall attempts a spinning head kick but misses and falls. Santos doesn’t rush him. Santos with a spinning round house kick. Hall with a rolling kick to end.
Round 3:
Wow, the bone is sticking out of Halls toe.
Hall still wants to fight. The doctors will allow it. Hall and Santos meet in the middle of the octagon but neither man willing to close the distance and get in close. Santos with some straight kicks. Hall blocks a body kick and connects with a left. Hall is really going for the kill. Santos pushes him back and connects with a solid body kick. Inside leg kick from Santos. Hall connects with a overhand right. Now it’s Hall with the inside leg kick. Hall checks a leg kick. Hall connects with a solid right hand. Santos almost connects with a high kick. Hall hits Santos in the body with a spinning kick. Ouch! Santos jump kicks Hall in the groin. Hall is working it out. He takes a minute and signals that he is ready to roll. Santons gets the single and almost gets the takedown. Santos pushes Hall against the cage and starts smashing Halls legs and thighs with knees. Hall goes for the Kimura but looses it. Santos knocks him down and rains down elbows from the top. The buzzer sounds with Santos on top of Hall. That was a brawl. I have no feeling for who will get the decision.
Uriah Hall def. Thiago Santos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
A replay of the Rob Font vs. George Roop fight from earlier tonight will fill in for Struve vs. Mitrione fight as Ronda Rousey and Alexis Davis prepare for their title fight next.
Rob Font def. George Roop via KO (Punch) at 2:19 of round one.
Next up:
Ronda Rousey vs. Alexis Davis for the Women’s Bantamweight Championship
Former Olympic Bronze medalist in Judo, Ronda Rousey (9-0 MMA) is the current and first UFC Bantamweight Women’s Champ. Rousey has won all of her fights except one via armbar.
Alexis Davis (16-5 MMA) is on a 5 fight win streak. Having gone undefeated in the last two organizations she has fought in (Invicta and UFC). She is a jiu-jitsu fighter with a mean stand-up game.
Round 1:
Remember we are looking at a possible 5 rounds. Alexis Davis is looking like she is shopping for bread… So relaxed. Rousey looks angry as usual. Ronda with the jabs to open it up. Davis with a solid jab and the clash, Rousey catches Davis with knee to the face, hip throws Davis and starts to punch Davis in the face. IT’S OVER! WOW! Rousey with the KO. Unbelievable. Davis is still fighting the ref. She has no clue what is happening. That is the second fastest KO in a Championship match in UFC history (according to Joe Rogan).
Ronda Rousey defeats Alexis Davis via KO (punches) at 00:16 of the first round.
Next up:
Weidman vs. Machida for the Middleweight Championship
These two need no introduction but, I will do a quick one anyway.
Weidman (11-0 MMA) is the current UFC Middleweight Champ and the only man in UFC to ever defeat Anderson Silva (Weidman has done it twice).
Machida (21-4 MMA) is the former Light Heavyweight champ. Has gone undefeated since moving down to middleweight with wins over Gegard Mousasi and Mark Munoz.
Round 1:
This is it! For the Middleweight Belt. Weidman with a kick to start us off. Weidman is going for leg kicks. Something I am sure no one expected. Straight kick from Weidman. Nothing so far from Machida. Front kick from Weidman. Machida kicks and Weidman catches the leg and goes for the takedown. Machida defends and gets back up. Weidman clips the chin of Machida. Follows up with a quick flurry. Constant pressure from Weidman. Lyoto has not answered in any way yet. Machida absorbs a kick but hits Weidman with a straight right. Machida is starting to move. Weidman continuing with the kicks. Machida throws a body kick, Weidman catches it and attempts a takedown. Machida spins away and avoids the takedown. Machida has no answer for Weidmans pressure yet. There is the bell.
Round 2:
Machida kicks first with an inside leg. Weidman fires back. Weidman still pouring on the pressure. Machida just can’t set up for anything. Weidman is forcing Machida to fight reactively. Weidman lands some left jabs. Weidman connects with a solid inside leg kick. Weidman is completely controlling where this fight is happening. Machida connects with a kick to the body. Weidman with a front kick. Machida with an inside leg kick. Weidman is just pressuring Machida. He has a hand in Machida’s face all day. Weidman with a jumping front kick. Machida can’t get his back away from the cage. Some jabs from Weidman followed by a big high kick attempt from Machida. Machida connects with a left. Weidman gets Machida’s legs and takes Machida down. Machida defends, but Weidman is grounding and pounding Machida. Machida has no answer. Weidman lifts him up and connects with some good knees to the head to end the round.
Round 3:
Machida looking nervous headed into the 3rd. Weidman still has a hand constantly in Machida’s face. Machida kicks high, Weidman blocks and goes for the takedown. Machida spins away. A big head kick attempt from Machida. Machida more active this round. Weidman goes for the legs and Machida sprawls. Weidman lets him up and gets both his legs. Weidman lifts Machida up and slams him down. Weidman is in Machida’s guard, punishing Machida’s face with elbows. Machida scrambles almost to his feet. Weidman attempts to take Machida’s back. Weidman connects with some big punches. Machida is bleeding. Weidman connects with an overhand right. Machida is hurt. Machida kicks Weidman in the body, and Weidman gets the takedown. Weidman has Machida’s back and is just punishing him with punches and hammer strikes. Weidman lifts him up and slams him down. Weidman says to Herb Dean that Machida has his fingers in Weidmans gloves. Machida gains his feet and attempts a kick just at the horn. I have this three rounds to nothing for Weidman
Round 4:
Machida opens with a leg kick. Weidman blocks the kick and instantly pours on the pressure. Nice body kick by Machida. Weidman still dictating the pace. Weidman connects with a knee to the body. Weidman connects with a left hand jab. Machida attempts a knee to the body, Weidman catches the knee and gets the take down. Machida fights out of it and gains his feet. Machida connects with a left hook that rocks Weidman. Machida connects again with a left hook. Weidman is hurt. Machida smells blood. Weidman pushes back into the center of the octagon. Weidman is starting to back up. Machida is landing some hard kicks to the body. Now Machida is pouring on the pressure. Weidman is looking a little tired. He has never been out of the second round before. Weidman goes for the takedown and eats a punch for his troubles. Weidman still connecting with the jab. Weidman gaining his momentum again. Machida has more momentum than he has before. Machida taunts Weidman, Weidman attacks and Weidman eats a punch to end the round.
Round 5:
Machida starts again with the inside leg kick. Weidman is just in survival mode right now. Still moving forward, but Machida is avoiding his kicks and jabs now. Machida connects with another left hand overhand. Weidman wants another takedown. Machida defends and is all over him. Weidman defends with an elbow. Weidman connects with an overhand right. Machida is hurt. Both men are tired now. Weidman connects with a kick. Mahcida moves forward and tries for a clinch. Weidman throws a knee. Weidman connects with a leg kick. Weidman connects with a knee and an elbow. He connects again with a left hand. Machida is not giving up. Wiedman goes for the double and gets the takedown. Machida is on his back eating elbows to the face and shoulder punches. Nothing seems to be hurting Machida too much. Weidman has Machida’s back. Weidman has both hooks in and flattens Machida out! Machida somehow escapes and gets to his feet and Weidman lets go of his back. Machida tries to finish with a flurry. He has Weidman rocked! Weidman pushes Machida away, takes a step out towards the middle of the octagon and motions Machida forward. There is the buzzer! What a brawl! Weidman looks satisfied.
Chris Weidman defeats Lyoto Machida via Unanimous Decision (49-45, 48-47, 49- 46) and remains the Middleweight Champion
Chris Weidman defended his UFC middleweight title for the second time at UFC 175, and did so against Lyoto Machida.
Machida entered as the No. 3-ranked contender at middleweight, and he was undefeated since dropping from light heavyweight. He held a kn…
Chris Weidman defended his UFC middleweight title for the second time at UFC 175, and did so against Lyoto Machida.
Machida entered as the No. 3-ranked contender at middleweight, and he was undefeated since dropping from light heavyweight. He held a knockout win over Mark Munoz and a decision victory over Gegard Mousasi.
Weidman and Machida battled for 25 minutes, but it was the champion who was able to come away with the unanimous decision. A very competitive and fun bout that should garner both men more fans moving forward.
The champion will finally get the respect he deserves.
Chris Weidman vaulted into the UFC champions club by twice squashing The Spider. At UFC 175, we will see if he’s up for slaying The Dragon.
For the first time since July 2012, The All-American will be fighting someone not named Anderson Silva. And with…
Chris Weidman vaulted into the UFC champions club by twice squashing The Spider. At UFC 175, we will see if he’s up for slaying The Dragon.
For the first time since July 2012, The All-American will be fighting someone not named Anderson Silva. And with that comes the opportunity to expand his legacy beyond “the guy that dethroned the king.”
Of course, the game plan for Weidman isn’t going to change to much. When he looks across the cage on Saturday night, he’ll be seeing Lyoto Machida—the closest thing MMA has to an Anderson Silva clone.
A win against the former light heavyweight champion would certainly silence any critics clinging to the notion that Weidman’s last two wins were flukes. Since moving down to middleweight, Machida has looked like the man that once wore UFC gold around his waist.
Here’s a look last-minute look at the odds for the fight, via OddsShark, followed by a brief breakdown and prediction for the bout.
Preview
The most obvious point from a stylistic aspect regarding this fight is the fact that Weidman is a wrestler by trade, and Machida is among the most dangerous strikers in the UFC.
But that alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
Yes, if Weidman has his druthers this fight will wind up on the mat. That’s exactly where he took Silva in the first round in both of his fights against the legend. However, what people often forget when looking back on the second bout is that Weidman also got to the fight on the ground by knocking The Spider down in the clinch.
As Jack Slack of Fightland noted at the time, the punch was well-defended by Silva. But Weidman’s power is an underrated part of his game:
So while it’s easy to say that Weidman needs to get the fight to the ground, the real key will be closing the distance.
For Machida, he’s going to look to do the exact opposite. As much power as Weidman has, his striking is still fairly rudimentary. That isn’t to say he isn’t dangerous, just that Machida’s striking is much more refined.
It may not be the most fan-friendly style of fighting, but Machida’s best route of victory is going to maintaining as much distance as possible and using his sniper like accuracy to outpoint Weidman on the feet.
With 54 percent striking accuracy over the course of his career, The Dragon is the much more efficient fighter in the stand-up department.
The final key to this bout could be cardio. While Weidman has earned the championship. We’ve never seen him fight in championship rounds. However, his most lackluster performance was a three-round affair with Demian Maia.
Machida—on the other hand—has gone five rounds twice in his career. Both resulted in victories as he outpointed Shogun Rua and Gegard Mousasi in main events.
Prediction
All things considered, this figures to be an excellent bout. Weidman has proved that he won’t be intimidated against any opponent, so Machida is really going to have to earn it if he wants to take Weidman’s belt.
Many will point out that Machida’s speed advantage could be the X-factor. There’s no denying his blitzkrieg style makes him a tough out for anyone.
However, it’s hard to imagine that Machida is going to be able to keep up a cat-and-mouse game with the champion for five rounds. Eventually, Weidman is going to be able to take the fight to the mat or trap Machida against the cage.
Once Weidman gets the fight where he wants it to go, he’s a proven finisher. Be it submissions or with his strikes, he’s the kind of aggressive fighter that knows how to capitalize on opportunities.
Weidman via 3rd-Round TKO.
All statistics via FightMetric unless otherwise noted.
After each of his fights against Anderson Silva during 2013, Chris Weidman was rightfully announced as the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.