When the early story of the night is a near-record number of split decisions, well, you probably need a good main card.
And that’s what we got at UFC on Fox 8 Saturday night, broadcast live from KeyArena in Seattle. It wasn’t scintillating action from …
When the early story of the night is a near-record number of split decisions, well, you probably need a good main card.
And that’s what we got at UFC on Fox 8 Saturday night, broadcast live from KeyArena in Seattle. It wasn’t scintillating action from gavel to gavel, but it was just that: good.
The event culminated with home-state flyweight and beltholder Demetrious Johnson making his second defense against dangerous, if unheralded, challenger John Moraga. And doing so just days after his wife gave birth, no less.
Would the champ’s head be in the game? And what about the rest of the main card? Here are my grades for every fighter who laced up the fingerless gloves on national TV.
At UFC on Fox 8, Rory MacDonald bested Jake Ellenberger by unanimous decision in a battle to determine the newest inductee into the UFC’s small cadre of title contenders at 170 pounds.
For the most part, the fight was a kickboxing match. MacDonald (15-…
At UFC on Fox 8, Rory MacDonald bested Jake Ellenberger by unanimous decision in a battle to determine the newest inductee into the UFC’s small cadre of title contenders at 170 pounds.
For the most part, the fight was a kickboxing match. MacDonald (15-1) stayed within himself and attacked right down the pipe with jabs and the occasional kick. Ellenberger (29-7) looked for the counter and the clinch, but he hesitated often and had trouble getting inside. MacDonald held a substantial 3.5-inch reach advantage, but at UFC on Fox 8 it seemed to be even more.
Ellenberger did score the fight’s only takedown in the final minute of the fight, but it was too little, too late.
What we’ll remember about this fight
The road to this fight unfolded before the backdrop of a semi-heated and thoroughly entertaining Twitter feud between the two. Perhaps as a result, the two didn’t touch gloves at the beginning. MacDonald was on the receiving end of several verbal jabs, but in the cage he plied the literal version, maintaining total composure and coldly executing a winning strategy that frustrated Ellenberger from horn to horn.
What we learned about Rory MacDonald
“The Canadian Psycho” is alive and well. The fightbot that is 24-year-old MacDonald did what he needed to do to win a fight. No more, no less. No emotions, no mistakes. It was reminiscent, in its feel if not its action, of mentor Georges St-Pierre’s cold dispatching of heated rival Nick Diaz back at UFC 158.
What we learned about Jake Ellenberger
This is largely because of MacDonald’s physical advantages and tactical intelligence, but Ellenberger showed he can have difficulty imposing his will or initiating action at the elite level. It’s not his first boring fight (see Hieron, Jay), but it is unusual, and it was the first time I can recall him fighting conservatively without choosing to do so.
What’s next for MacDonald
MacDonald reiterated just this week that he won’t face his training teammate and welterweight champ St-Pierre. He may want to reconsider (Dana White certainly thinks he should). If he doesn’t budge, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the winner between Martin Kampmann and the last man to beat MacDonald: Carlos Condit. Before getting injured this past winter, MacDonald was scheduled for a March rematch with Condit, and he has publicly and extensively lobbied for the matchup.
What’s next for Ellenberger
The loser between Condit and Kampmann. Those two face off on August 28 at UFC Fight Night 27 and are coincidentally the only two men to defeat Ellenberger in the UFC Octagon before Saturday night.
Headlined by a flyweight title bout between reigning champion Demetrious Johnson (17-2-1) and challenger John Moraga (13-1), UFC on Fox 8 has invaded KeyArena in Seattle.
The free televised main card, which started on FOX at 8 p.m. ET, featu…
Headlined by a flyweight title bout between reigning champion Demetrious Johnson (17-2-1) and challenger John Moraga (13-1), UFC on Fox 8 has invaded KeyArena in Seattle.
The free televised main card, which started on FOX at 8 p.m. ET, features four bouts and is co-headlined by a pivotal welterweight collision between rising contender Rory MacDonald (14-1) and proven veteran Jake Ellenberger (29-6).
In other welterweight action, Robbie Lawler (20-9) will take on Bobby Voelker (24-9). Rounding out the action is a women’s bantamweight bout between Liz Carmouche (8-3) and Jessica Andrade (9-2) in Carmouche’s first fight since her title-bout loss to Ronda Rousey.
Be sure to check back here throughout the night for the latest results and grades for each of the main card’s combatants.
At UFC on Fox 8 on Saturday, Liz Carmouche might have needed to win to keep her UFC tenure going. The veteran bantamweight—and the first woman to fight twice inside the UFC Octagon—delivered with a second-round TKO of young Brazil…
At UFC on Fox 8 on Saturday, Liz Carmouche might have needed to win to keep her UFC tenure going. The veteran bantamweight—and the first woman to fight twice inside the UFC Octagon—delivered with a second-round TKO of young Brazilian Jessica Andrade.
Carmouche (9-3) and Andrade (9-3) now have even professional records, and they fought pretty equally through an entertaining first round—that contained several striking and grappling exchanges—that was difficult to score in. In the second, Carmouche used her physical strength and Andrade‘s momentum to plant Andrade on the mat. She worked to gain the mount position and proceeded to pound Andrade for the rest of the round. Finally, at the 3:57 mark, referee Herb Dean called the stoppage.
What we’ll remember about this fight
The power of “Girl-rila” Carmouche. Andrade looked good, in particular with a strong slam of her own in the first. But Carmouche bullied Andrade to the ground in the second, and she did not let her opponent recover. Andrade appeared to be discouraged by Carmouche‘s airlocked mount as she was punished by those relentless ground strikes.
What we learned about Liz Carmouche
She is a winner. Carmouche was valiant but overmatched against women’s MMA golden girl Ronda Rousey. She has come up short against Sarah Kaufman and MarloesCoenen. In fact, coming into UFC on Fox 8, she had never defeated anyone who currently has a winning record. She changed that Saturday night.
What we learned about Jessica Andrade
She’s only 21 and will be back. Perhaps there was a case of Octagon jitters on display, but Andrade had several flashes of the talent and skill that brought her to the UFC in the first place.
What’s next for Carmouche
Given the newness of the division in the UFC context, wheat is still being separated from chaff. I’d give Carmouche a shot at Alexis Davis.
What’s next for Andrade
Another veteran of the women’s game. This time, I’d give her British pioneer Rosi Sexton.
The main card for UFC on FOX 8: Johnson vs. Moraga kicks off at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and our man George Shunick will be hooking us up with round-by-round results, after the jump. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and toss your own thoughts, predictions, and one-liners into the comments section. Thanks for being here.
The main card for UFC on FOX 8: Johnson vs. Moraga kicks off at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and our man George Shunick will be hooking us up with round-by-round results, after the jump. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and toss your own thoughts, predictions, and one-liners into the comments section. Thanks for being here.
Welcome to the liveblog, Potato Nation. Tonight’s fights have been… interesting to say the least. With another split-decision, UFC on FOX 8 will break the record for most split-decisions on a single card. Not exactly the most prestigious record. Moreover, two of those decisions have had 30-27/27-30 splits. I guess what I’m saying is hopefully the judging incompetence has been pre-emptively exorcised tonight before the title fight between John Moraga and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. With that said, judging aside, tonight’s card should be excellence. My picks? Johnson, Patrick Bateman Rory MacDonald, Robbie Lawler and Liz Carmouche. OK, not the most exciting picks out there. (BUT WE’LL SEE WHO HAS THE LAST LAUGH WHEN THEY WIN.) Now let’s get to the fights…
Liz Carmouche vs. Jessica Andrade
Yeah, I know next to nothing about Andrade. Unprofessional, I know. Still, gotta go with Carmouche here simply by virtue of her experience. You hang as well as she did with Ronda Rousey, you’re gonna be the favorite.
Round 1
Carmouche refuses to touch gloves to begin. Andrade catches a kick, but Carmouche muscles her against the fence. Carmouche slames her with a double leg and gets side control. Andrade turtles, but Carmouche stays on her as she works short punches. Andrade gets to her feet, but is pushed into the fence again. Andrade briefly reverses position, but not for long. Carmouche works short strikes along the fence. Carmouche lands a takedown and ends up in half-guard. Andrade goes for a sweep, fails, and gives up side control. Andrade tries to use the cage to escape, to no avail. Andrade escapes, stands and SLAMS Carmouche down. Now she grabs a gullotine as Carmouche tries to go for a takedown. It’s tight, but Carmouche is fighting it. Andrade alternates between an intense grip and a lighter one, pacing herself. As the round end, Andrade cranks but Carmouche survives. Close round with the submission attempt at the end.
Round 2
Carmouche looks for front kicks, but doesn’t connect. Andrade runs full speed at Carmouche and Carmouche easily changes levels and lands a takedown. Carmouche lands strikes from halg-guard and passes to side control. Then mount. Serious ground and pound from Carmouche. Andrade rolls over and flattens out. Carmouche with vicious strikes to the side of Andrade’s head. Now working for an RNC. Andrade is managing to survive and escape. Now she’s eating shots from mount, though. Again she rolls to her back, and again she’s flattened out. Elbows to the side of Andrade’s head thud on the mat. More elbows and punches from mount. Carmouche with a solid minute of unanswered shots and Herb Dean is close to stopping it. And he does. Andrade never gave up, but she had no answer for Carmouche’s ground and pound.
There was a moment in that fight where Carmouche was elbowing Andrade’s head as it was trapped against the mat, and the thud was sickeningly audible. Andrade is tough and wasn’t going to give in, but that’s why you’ve got refs.
Robbie Lawler vs. Bobby Voelker
The battle to decide who has the better nickname for “Robert” begins!
Round 1
Voelker lands a short right. Lots of circling in the first minute. Jab from Voelker. Low kick from Voelker answered by a body kick from Lawler. Lawler grabs Voelker and simply tosses him down. Lawler lands a knee to the midsection as Voelker stands. Now against the cage, Lawler lands another knee to the body, then one to the head. Voelker is cut on the bridge of his nose. Big uppercut from Lawler. Headkick form Voelker is blocked. Lawler checks a kick. Head kick from Lawler barely misses. Voelker has trouble closing the distance in this fight. Lawler with a flying knee that lands! Voelker remains unfazed, but ineffective. Elbow from Lawler. Body kick from Voelker. Nice jab from Lawler. BIG kick to the body from Lawler, then another flying knee. They exchange in the center of the Octagon until the bell rings. 10-9 Lawler.
Round 2
Lawler lands a headkick to Voelker forehead and Voelker is out. He sits down, unconscious, and Lawler adds a punch to accentuate his point. Robbie Lawler surpassed expectations, which is impressive considering we expected him to do something like this.
I’ve got Rory here. Ellenberger’s definitely got more power, but he tends to gas after about a round and a half. He can get the knockout, but I doubt he’ll win a decision. And I don’t see him getting close enough to knock out MacDonald. Still, if it’s any consolation, I think he’s got the best of Rory in their twitter exchanges.
Round 1
They don’t touch gloves. Duh. Jab from Rory lands. Ellenberger blocks a kick. Ellenberger lunches for a cross, but can’t land it. Not a lot of action thus far. Both men are sizing each other up. Jab from Rory again. More jabs land, but nothing substantive. The crowd is beginning to grow restless. Ellenberger lands a jab of his own. Neither is commiting to entering into striking range. MacDonald tries a high kick, but it’s blocked. Ellenberger rushes in with a flurry and lands a knee. Ellenberger misses with a left-right combination. MacDonald blocks a headkick and evades a hook. Ellenberger slips a double jab. He reaches for a hook and it doesn’t connect. Rory lands a jab. They clinch but nothing comes of it. Round ends, 10-9 MacDonald or 10-10.
Round 2
Front kick lands from Rory. 30 seconds in and the crowd is already booing. Ellenberger simply can’t close the distance. He lands a hook, but MacDonald quickly lands a jab. Rory barely misses a front kick. Ellenberger shoots, but Rory stuffs it. Ellenberger lands an uppercut, though. More jabs from MacDonald. Rogan’s harping on MacDonald’s jab, but it’s rarely landed flush. Rory shoots for a takedown and is stuffed. There’s a brief flurry and they separate. Head kick from MacDonald misses. Ellenberger begins lunging with hooks, but he’s just hitting air. Ellenberger rushes, but still can’t catch MacDonald who angles out. The crowd is full on booing as the round ends. 10-9 MacDonald.
Round 3
Rory throwing front kicks, keeping Ellenberger at bay. More jabs from MacDonald. Ellenberger thinks about a spinning backfist, but Rory’s gone when he turns around. Another jab. Ellenberger tries to use a takedown attempt to set up some strikes, but it doesn’t work. He lands a jab, though. Then a right hand. Ellenberger needs to push forwarrd if he has any hope winning. MacDonald slips, but immediately returns to his feet. Ellenberger doesn’t capitalize, merely landing a left hook. Front kick from Rory again backs up Ellenberger. A jab stops him in his tracks. Ellenberger lands a right hand and then a takedown. With less than a minute to work, MacDonald has Ellenberger in butterfly guard. MacDonald attempts a sweep, then uses the threat of a triangle to neutralize Ellenberger. The round ends as they scramble. 10-9 MacDonald? I guess he takes this 30-28.
30-27, 29-28 and 30-27 for Rory MacDonald. No post-fight interview as the crowd boos heavily. I wouldn’t go as far as to call this a technical showcase by MacDonald, but he did manage to neutralize Ellenberger. But this fight definitely failed to meet expectations.
Demetrious Johnson vs. John Moraga
But this fight won’t! Seriously, name a boring flyweight fight. Just one. I’m not going to hold my breath. Demetrious Johnson is perhaps the most technically and strategically sound fighter in the UFC. And he probably has the best cardio as well. There’s no way this one’s a snoozer.
Round 1
Johnson lands a low kick. Mighty Mouse switching stances. Moraga goes to the body. Body kick from Moraga. Moraga’s having trouble catching Johnson though. He lands a right after a DJ takedown attempt. Hard low kicks from Moraga. Right hand from Johnson who tries for a Thai clinch. Moraga pushes him into the fence, but Johnson reverses position. They exchange weak knees. Johnson grabs a double leg and gets side control. Moraga hangs on to a headlock, but Johnson gets out and looks for a kimura. he gives up on it and looks for a mounted crucifix. Moraga regains half guard, though. Johnson lands some decent ground and pound. Moraga uses a leglock attempt to try to sweep, but ends up in a front headlock. he turtles, and Johnson attempts a buzzer beating guillotine, but the round ends. 10-9 Johnson.
Round 2
Low kick from Moraga. Johnson returns with his own. Big takedown from Johnson as Moraga rushed in. Johnson passes to side control like it was nothing. Johnson attempts the crucifix again, but quickly goes back to side control. Johnson works short strikes from the top. Moraga scrambles and looks for a reverse triangle, but it’s for naught. Johnson’s in side control again. Johnson looks for a kimura, and uses this to try to get to north-south. However, Moraga turns his back and tries to stand. He eats a slam for his troubles. Moraga manges to stand, eats a knee, and tries to get a takedown on the fence. Johnson escapes and lands a hard low kick. Nice counter jab from Moraga, but Johnson lands a big double leg. Moraga tries to work for a choke despite being on the bottom in side control. He regains half-guard, though. Johnson works for the kimura again, but settles for some ground and pound instead. Round over, 10-9 Johnson.
Round 3
Low kick Johnson, and another after a faked takedown. Moraga is slowing down a little. Body kick from Johnson. Moraga misses a kick and follow up punches. Another double leg for Johnson. He’s in full guard as Moraga works short elbows from the bottom. But DJ quickly passes to side control. Once again, he works for a kimura, but Moraga turtles. Johnson gets a hook in but not the second. They stand. A knee and elbow land for Moraga, and he pushes Johnson into the fence. He tries to take Johnson down, only to have Johnson spin him around. Johnson is in half-guard, and again works for that kimura. He’s got the grip and the arm isolated! He takes his time, but loses it and has his back to the fence, sitting down. Johnson stands against the fence, and they exchange knees. Moraga lands a takedown, but as soon as he does, Johnson sits up and they stand. Moraga falls down as he misses a spinning back kick. 10-9 Johnson.
Round 4
Moraga misses a combination. Johnson lands a body kick, but Moraga answers with one of his own. Then he’s immediately taken down. I imagine he must be a little frustrated by now. Johnson has a front headlock as Moraga is turtled. He spins and tries to take Moraga’s back. Moraga stands and eats a body kick as he does. Low kick Mighty Mouse. Another body kick. head kick from Johnson misses. Johnson delivers a knee from the Thai clinch, separates and lands a takedown. He’s in full guard, Moraga pushes him off and stands. Now Johnson grabs the Thai clinch. He lands a knee and pushes him into the fence. Johnson lands a knee to Moraga’s face as Moraga’s hand just touches the floor, but nothing is called. Johnson has a front headlock and knees the body. He unleashes a combination, but Moraga stands and tries for a single. Nope. Standing, Mighty Mouse misses a headkick. Moraga lands a BIG shot with thirty seconds left, rushes after the injured Johnson… and gets taken down. Johnson is bleeding, but that doesn’t stop him from passing to side control as the round ends. 10-9 Johnson.
Round 5
They touch gloves. Low kick from Johnson. Another one. Johnson slips a left and lands his tenth takedown. He passes to side control. Moraga hip escapes, stands, and is immediately taken down. And Johnson passes to side control. Some deja vu here. Johnson grabs a front headlock as Moraga turtles. Johnson works short knees to the shoulders. Moraga stands, tries for a toss, but gets taken down. Johnson in side control. (Obviously.) Works short knees to Moraga’s ribs. Mighty Mouse looking to isolate Moraga’s arm for a kimura. He goes for an armbar and he gets it!! That’s how a champion does it; clearly ahead on the scorecards, Johnson never let up or stopped looking for a finish. Exceptional performance from Mighty Mouse in an excellent, if one-sided main event.
Johnson gets the record for the latest stoppage in UFC history with only 1:17 left in the first round. I believe that tops Anderson Silva’s submission of Chael Sonnen at UFC 117. That about wraps it up for tonight, folks. Enjoy your evening, Potato Nation!
UFC on FOX 8 Preliminary Card Results:
– Jorge Masvidal def. Michael Chiesa via submission (d’arce choke), 4:59 of round 2
– Danny Castillo def. Tim Means via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Melvin Guillard def. Mac Danzig via KO, 2:47 of round 2
– Daron Cruickshank def. Yves Edwards via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)
– Ed Herman def. Trevor Smith via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)
– Germaine de Randamie def. Julie Kedzie via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
– Justin Salas def. Aaron Riley via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)
– Yaotzin Meza def. John Albert via submission (rear-naked choke), 2:49 of round 2
UFC on Fox 8 takes place Saturday night from Seattle’s KeyArena, and a co-main event between Rory MacDonald and Jake Ellenberger serves as a highlight for the event.
The younger MacDonald enters the fight as more than a 2:1 favorite, but Ellenber…
UFC on Fox 8 takes place Saturday night from Seattle’s KeyArena, and a co-main event between Rory MacDonald and Jake Ellenberger serves as a highlight for the event.
The younger MacDonald enters the fight as more than a 2:1 favorite, but Ellenbergerhas attempted to get in his opponent’s head, taking to Twitter to ignite a war of words.
The winner of this fight could (and almost certainly should) be next in line for a shot at the welterweight title.
Check back here tonight for round-by-round results and analysis from Ellenberger vs. MacDonald.
