UFC 168 Results: Chris Weidman Retains Middleweight Title; Ronda Rousey Defends Bantamweight Title
By Jaime C. Feal
A sickening ending cut short what could have been a great fight, as Anderson Silva broke or fractured his leg throwing an inside leg kick that was checked by Chris Weidman. To Weidman’s credit, he was clearly winning the fight, but the unfortunate ending still leaves many questions to be answered. In the co-main event, it took a little bit longer than expected, but Ronda Rousey remained undefeated with all her wins still coming by armbar submission, this time over Miesha Tate in the third round. Tate defended valiantly against relentless armbar attempts from Rousey, but eventually succumbed to the hold at the start of the third round. Starting off the main card, Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier destroyed Diego Brandao with strikes in the first round. The impressive knockout over the Brazilian prospect puts Poirier very close to title contention in the loaded featherweight division. Next up, Jim Miller got back on track in the lightweight division with a first round armbar win over fellow BJJ black belt Fabricio Camoes.
Photo: USA Today
Heavyweight Division (265 lbs.):
Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett (33-6, 5-1 UFC) vs. Travis “Hapa” Browne (15-1-1, 6-1-1 UFC)
Round 1:
Browne starts jabbing and then lands a good kick, and left hook. Brown trying to maintain distance, but Barnett gets the clinch and starts dirty boxing. Browne escapes and goes back to the jab. Browne lands a good straight right hand, Barnett again looks for a clinch-knee, but misses this time. Barnett shoots for a takedown, and eats a huge knee to the chin in the process. Barnett is almost out, and is now eating elbows to the head and he is out cold, face first on the mat.
Travis “Hapa” Browne wins by Knockout at 1:00 of Round 1.
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship (135 lbs.):
Ronda Rousey (7-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Miesha Tate 13-4, 0-1 UFC)
Round 1:
Both fighters immediately come forward and start exchanging with one-twos in the center of the Octagon. Rousey gets on Tate’s hip and is looking to take her back standing, or judo toss her to the mat. Rousey briefly trips Tate down, then tags her with two punches and knee as T ate gets to her feet. Rousey has Tate against the cage, working knees to the thighs. Good knee from Tate, but gets bulled back into the cage. Now Tate creates separation, but gets taken down. Rousey with some ground and pound, looking to pass. Tate goes for a triangle, but gets slammed instead. Now Tate gets a takedown, and Rousey is trying to roll for an armbar. Tate defends well. Rousey punching from the bottom, looking for the armbar still. Tate in trouble already, arm is isolated. Tate completely in defensive mode even though she’s on top. Rousey hitting her with punches and trying for the arm hard. Tate is holding on with just over two minutes in the first eround. Tate escapes back to her feet, nails Rousey with a left hook. Good left hand from Tate, nails Rousey again, but Rousey judo tosses her into side control. Beautiful takedown by Rousey. Rousey is going for a belly down arm bar, Tat escapes. Rousey whips her to the floor again. Rousey lets her up. Tate is busted up, but makes it out of the first round, becoming the first woman to ever survive past round 1 with Rousey. 10-9 round for Rousey.
Round 2:
Good right hand from Rousey, Tate responds with the same. Rousey trips Tate, and is hovering over her. Rousey eats a hard upkick. Tate shoots for a takedown, and Ronda tosses her like a child into side control. Rousey lets her back up. Rousey gets a single leg takedown, and is looking to get into side control again. Tate spinning, but may be giving up her back. Rousey beginning to punch with the left hand, but Tate gets back up. Crowd appears to be on Tate’s side. Fighters are clinched against the cage, Ronda doing the better work with dirty boxing. Another great judo throw by Rousey, now attacking Miesha’s left arm. Just over two minutes left, Tate trying to counter. Ronda escapes, gets on top, and mounts Tate. Hard punches from the mount by Rousey. Tate giving up her back. Rousey spinning for a belly down armbar, starting to roll with Tate. Rousey hyperextends the arm, Tate grimaces but doesn’t tap, and escaped. Tate turtles up, eating hard shot shots to the side of her head. Rousey is pouring it on with a minute left. Rousey with a reverse triangle, sick hold. Rousey is such a wizard on the ground, free-flowing submissions. Tate’s head is completely trapped, she is just trying to survive, and does as the round ends. 10-9 round for Rousey.
Round 3:
Another right hand from Rousey to start the round, then pushes Tate against the fence. Rousey looking to get a takedown, gets it, but Tate is on top. Rousey again going for the belly-down armbar, Tate quickly taps out this time to avoid her arm being broken.
Ronda Rousey wins by submission (armbar) at :58 of Round 3.
UFC Middleweight Championship (185 lbs.):
Chris “All-American” Weidman (10-0, 6-0 UFC) vs. Anderson “The Spider” Silva (33-5, 16-1 UFC)
Round 1:
The fighters touch gloves and begin measuring the distance. Weidman throws a front kick to the body, shoot sof r atakedown. Weidman gets the single leg, Silva gets back to his feet. Lnee to the body from Anderson. Weidman eats a knee to the body, then crushes Silva with a hook. Silva is in huge trouble, dizzy, on his back, and Weidman is smashing him with ground and pound. Ref Herb Dean is having a very close look, Silva regains guard just in time to avoid the stoppage; for now. Weidman lands an elbow, Silva starting to use his legs to go for submissions. Another good elbow from Weidman. Weidman repeats, and Silva is hurt from this elbow, but locks up a body triangle from the bottom to buy himself some time. Two more huge right hands from Weidman hurt Silva, somehow he is surviving, but Weidman looks much more powerful. Short hammerfists from the bottom by Silva, then cuts Weidman with an elbow. Mostrous elbow from Weidman, postures up, Silva upkicking, round ends. 10-9 round for Weidman
Round 2:
Inside leg kick from Silva lands. Good counter right hook from Silva, but misses with a straight left. Fighters exchange jabs, then Silva goes for a hard inside leg kick that is checked. Silva falls to the ground in agony, clinching his limp leg, ref Herb Dean immediately calls off the fight. Anderson Silva has fractured his leg throwing a kick.
Chris Weidman wins by TKO at 1:16 of Round 2.
