By Jaime C. Feal
Jose Aldo is still the Featherweight King. Aldo, who hasn’t lost since 2005, was able to take out The Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung, who was previously unbeaten in the UFC. Aldo out-struck Jung throughout all 4 rounds, and was able to mix in takedowns. Ultimately Jung succumbed to a separated shoulder more than anything, but Aldo still keeps his place among the pound-for-pound greats.
In the co-main event, Phil Davis won an extremely controversial decision over Machida on the strength of two takedowns at the end of Rounds 1 and 2, which no doubt influenced the judges’ decision. Starting off the main card, John “Hands of Stone” Lineker battled back from an early scare to score a TKO win over Jose “No Chance” Maria. The win was important for the #7 ranked Brazilian to keep his progress in the UFC Flyweight division. Next up, hometown favorite Thales Leites returned to the UFC using improved striking, and his always dangerous jiu jitsu, to earn a unanimous decision victory over the Englishman Tom “Kong” Watson.
Middleweight Division (185 lbs.):
Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira (5-2, 1-0 UFC) vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos (8-1, 0-0 UFC)
Round 1:
Ferreira nails Santos with a left high kick right off the bat. Santos reels backwards and “Mutante” swarms with hard lefts. Ferreira looking for a guillotine and Santos is trying to roll out of it, but it’s too deep. Ferreira elicits the tap with his favorite submission.
Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira wins by submission (guillotine choke) at 0:47 of Round 1.
Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs.):
Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida (19-3, 11-3 UFC) vs. Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis (11-1, 7-1 UFC)
Round 1:
Davis with a couple nice kicks to start. Davis lands another leg kick, this time Machida lands a harder one in response. Inside leg kick for “The Dragon.” Phil tries a superman punch but misses. Left head kick partially lands for Machida, which has Davis on his bicycle backing away. Machida lands a straight left. Davis swings and misses with a combo. Machida explodes forward with a nasty combo, finishing with a knee that staggers Davis. “Mr. Wonderful” is able to regain his composure and get back to his feet. Davis gets a double leg takedown. Davis in half guard, looking for a kimura. Machida defending well, Davis closes the round with some good ground and pound. 10-9 round for Machida.
Round 2:
Davis misses with an overhand right. Machida with an inside leg kick. Davis on his bicycle again, circling away, eats an inside leg kick. Machida with a beautiful left high kick, Davis handles it well. Davis tries to answer with a right body kick of his own. Davis again tries the right head kick, but it is blocked. Davis clinches up with Machida, but “The Dragon” shrugs him off. Davis swings and misses with a wild right hook. Machida looking for the counter left, staying calm in the center of the cage. Davis lands a good overhand right. Inside leg kick form Machida, then shrugs off another clinch takedown attempt. Davis tries the same move, and once again Lyoto denies it. Nasty straight left lands for Machida, Davis somehow shakes it off. Big right hand from Machida, but then gets put on his back. Davis with several hard knees to the body, and an elbow to close the round. 10-9 round for Machida.
Round 3:
Good counter right finds the mark for Machida. Davis is still trying the superman punch, but coming up empty. Machida now backing away, Davis is the aggressor; different dynamic now. Davis tries to get ahold of Machida and clinch him, but Machida again shrugs him off. Machida lands a knee and is able to put Davis on his back very briefly. Davis gets up, but Machida has the bad standing. Davis breaks free and eats a body kick for his troubles. Davis with more forward pressure, clearly losing this fight. Good left hand from Machida, Davis with a decent right. Big knee from Machida, then throws Davis off when he tries to take him down. Hard counter right lands for Machida, who is picking the aggressive Davis apart now. One minute to go in the fight, Davis tries to take Machida down, and again is fought off by Machida. Davis goes for one final takedown, and Machida denies it again, symbolic of the bout as a whole. 10-9 round for Machida.
All three judges score the fight 29-28 for the winner by unanimous decision, Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis.
UFC Featherweight Championship (145 lbs.):
Jose Aldo (22-1, 4-0 UFC) vs. “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (13-3, 3-0 UFC)
Round 1:
The featherweights touch gloves and start the title fight. Jung lands a light outside leg kick. Zombie rushes forward with a combo, but Aldo backs away. Jung trying to stay compact and technical, but eats an overhand right from Aldo. The Korean Zombie is very calm, lands a left hook, but eats a jab from the champ. Jung tries a head kick but whiffs on it. Aldo lands a good outside leg kick. Jung trying to go to the jab and one-two, but Aldo deftly backs away .Nasty outside leg kick from the champ. Jung with a good outside leg kick himself, although nowhere near the same impact. Jung fakes a takedown, tries to throw a right hook, but again Aldo’s defense is on point. Aldo goes for a takedown and briefly gets Jung down, but the Zombie pops right back to his feet. Nice spinning kick from Aldo at the end of the round. 10-9 round for Aldo.
Round 2:
Jung pressing forward a little more aggressively now, misses with a front kick. Aldo lands a nice right hand as the Korean Zombie was coming in. Jung still looks fine, his chin is legendary. Good jab from Aldo. Jung not as aggressive now, gets hit with a hook from Aldo. Outside leg kick from Jung. Aldo with a nice right and left hook to the body. Nice stiff jab from the champion. Good right from Jung, no problem for Aldo though. Pure stroking match so far, and Aldo is landing all of the significant blows. Jung misses with a right, eats a punch that buckles his knees. Aldo scores a takedown, lands in half guard. Aldo landing light shots to the body, passes to side control. Jung is able to regain guard, and goes for a triangle, which Aldo quickly gets out of. Jung has the closed guard again as the round comes to a close. 10-9 round for Aldo.
Round 3:
Zombie just standing in front of Aldo, not pushing the pace. Jung tries a flying knee but Aldo side steps, and takes Jung down. Aldo has Jung up against the cage on the ground. Jung trying to wall walk back to his feet. Kind of a stalemate here, not much action, both fighters tiring. The ref warns them about the inactivity. Jung stands up, and the featherweights grapple against the cage. Aldo gets another takedown, but Jung is in a good position to wall walk to his feet again. Herb Dean gives several warning for inactivity, then stands the fighters up. Jung lands a left hook, swinging wildly now. Aldo presses him against the cage. Back in the center, the Korean Zombie tries another flying knee but misses. 10-9 round for Aldo.
Round 4:
Jung trying to jab, Aldo’s defense still impeccable. Good hard jab from Aldo. Jab finally lands for Jung, then a left hook partially lands. Aldo with three left head kicks that all partially land, Jung looks weary. Left hook for Aldo, then a takedown. Aldo spinning, looking very fast. Zombie is big time hurt, turtled up, Aldo landing heavy shots.. Herb Dean stops the fight. Jung is rolling around on the mat, clinching his shoulder, which is clearly separated.
Jose Aldo wins by TKO at 2:00 of Round 4.