By Jaime C. Feal
Ronda Rousey is definitely not a one-trick pony. Once considered an armbar specialist, the UFC Woman’s Bantamweight Champion made another successful defense of her title. Rousey scored her second straight TKO victory in devastating fashion, this time taking only 16 seconds to tear through the overmatched Alexis Davis. The big news before the main event was Stefan Struve having serious medical issues backstage just 20 minutes before his fight against Matt Mitrione. According to initial reports, Struve suffered a panic attack, and the official UFC doctor came on the Pay-Per-View to inform that Struve had suffered a “mild fainting spell” where he briefly lost consciousness. The fight was cancelled for precautionary reasons. Uriah Hall valiantly fought through a broken foot to beat Thiago Santos by unanimous decision. The bout was entertaining, as both fighters engaged in a stand-up war and tested each other’s skills.
Photo: USA Today
Middleweight Division (185 lbs.):
Uriah “Primetime” Hall (8-4) vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos (9-2)
Round 1:
Urijah Hall eats a body kick from Santos but continues forward. Spinning back fist from Hall misses. Santos lands an outside leg kick. Nice straight right from Hall. Outside leg kick yet again from Santos. Hall isn’t being aggressive enough. “Marreta” back to the outside leg kick. Hall tries a one-two but comes up empty. Crowd begins to boo, another leg kick from Santos. The next time he tries a leg kick, Santos falls, but gets right back up. Hall with a slight limp from all the leg kicks. Good straight right from Hall catches Santos, but he takes it well. Hard inside leg kick from Santos. Outside leg kick from Hall lands. Good left hook from Hall, now stepping up the intensity with his aggressiveness. Good right hand from Hall, stalking now. Hall with his hands down, showing off. Hall tries a spinning wheel kick, misses. Round ends. 10-9 round for Santos.
Round 2:
Hall’s foot is broken. Now he is trying to finish the fight with lots of intensity. Santos has no idea Hall’s foot is broke, it was revealed in between rounds in the corner. Good jab from Hall. Nice overhand right from Hall. Pace has slowed down, Hall seems to have adjusted to the pain. Big kick, then a hard punch from Santos. Good counter right from Hall, Santos slips to his back, but pops right back up. Nice head kick from Santos. Hall fighting valiantly with the broken foot, still kicking with it, not giving anything away, but still losing the fight. Side kick to the body from Santos. Good jab from Hall. Both fighters miss with spinning kicks. 10-9 round for Hall.
Round 3:
Hall’s toe is broken, his foot may not be. Doctor clears him to fight, Santos has to know something is wrong by now, but the fight is still even, and Hall is still kicking. Body kick from Santos. Outside leg kick by “Marreta.” Nice left hook-straight right combo from Hall. Overhand right finds the mark for “Primetime.” Spinning back kick to the body from Santos. Big overhand right lands for Hall. Nice jab from Hall, then another punch lands. Spinning back kick to the body lands for Hall now. Left head kick lands for Hall, amazingly kicking with his injured foot. Inside leg kick from Hall, then a jab. Hall steps forward with a one-two, Santos looking to take him down. Santos has his back standing, against the cage. Knees to the thigh from Santos. Hall tries for a kimura, and rolls to the ground trying to lock it up. Santos escapes, lands a few punches. 10-9 round for Hall.
The judges score the fight 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 for the winner by unanimous decision Uriah “Primetime” Hall.
Heavyweight Division (265 lbs.):
Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve (25-6) vs. Matt Mitrione (7-3)
This fight was cancelled last-minute due to medical concerns backstage with Struve.
UFC Woman’s Bantamweight Championship (135 lbs.):
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey (9-0) vs. Alexis Davis (16-5)
Round 1:
Rousey lands a couple jabs, Davis lands a jab of her own. Big right hand from Rousey wobbles Davis, then Rousey crushes her with a knee and judo toss into side control. Rousey is right on top, pounding on Davis with punches, who is absolutely defenseless. Rousey connects with 9 hard punches, Davis’s arm briefly goes limp, and ref Yves Lavigne correctly steps in to save Alexis Davis from further abuse. After Lavigne stops the fight, Davis is so out of it that she tries to wrestle with him for a good half a minute.
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey wins by TKO at 0:16 of Round 1.
UFC Middleweight Championship (185 lbs.):
Chris “All-American” Weidman (11-0) vs. Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida (21-4 UFC)
Round 1:
Weidman misses with a leg kick, coming forward. Weidman lands an inside leg kick this time. The fighters are pawing with the jab, measuring the range. Body kick from Weidman. Machida has not thrown a strike yet. Left body kick from Machida, Weidman catches it and goes for a takedown. Machida fights it off, back to striking range. Nice, hard leg kick from Weidman. Nice punches from Weidman, still pushing the pace. Outside leg kick from the Champion. Good pressure from Weidman, and as of now, Lyoto not finding the opportunities to counter. Finally with less than two minutes to go, Machida lands a hard straight left hand. Left high kick from Machida is blocked. Front kick partially lands for Wedman. Leg kick from Machida lands, Weidman catches it, but loses it almost immediately. 30 seconds to go. Weidman misses with a head kick, also misses with a big right. 10-9 round for Weidman.
Round 2:
Inside leg kick from Machida. Nice rush forward from Weidman, lands a couple punches. Good inside leg kick from Weidman. Big left hand from Machida, nice counter right from Weidman. Heavy body kick lands for Machida. Weidman still pressing the fight, Machida always has his back to the cage. Nice left hand from Weidman, Machida responds with an inside leg kick. Short counter left hook lands for Weidman. Machida misses with a big right uppercut. Front kick to the body by Weidman. Head kick from Machida gets blocked. Left over the top lands for Lyoto. Weidman shoots for a double and gets Machida down. Machida has his back against the cage with a minute left. Weidman not doing much but holding him down, half a minute to go in this round. Now Weidman lands a few right hands. Machida turtling a bit, gets up to his feet, but eats two knees. 10-9 round for Weidman.
Round 3:
Leg kick from Machida, then Weidman lands a nice jab. Head kick is blocked again from Machida. Weidman shoots for a single, but “The Dragon” slips away. Body kick from Machida. Weidman punches his way into a transition-takedown, and slams Machida down. Weidman starting to work some ground and pound with three minutes left. Machida spins to his back and gets to his feet. Weidman hits him with a knee before he can fully escape. Nice heavy punches from Weidman, pressuring Machida. Big right hand from Weidman, Machida is cut. Weidman takes a big knee, but takes Machida down. Blood is pouring from Machida’s nose. Weidman has his back with a minute left, landing right hands. Machida gets up, only to be slammed back down. Weidman back to right hands, all over Machida with half a minute. Machida gets up, and he’s a bloody mess. 10-9 round for Weidman.
Round 4:
Knee to the body from Weidman, so far Machida has no answers. The challenger throws a good body kick, but needs a lot more. Weidman looks like he has a very small cut over the corner of his eye, not affecting his vision. Nice left hand from Machida. Weidman shoots for a takedown and gets it, but Machida is struggling back up. Machida gets free, three minutes left in the round. Huge left hook from Lyoto lands, Weidman briefly pauses, keeps coming forward. Machida caught Weidman again, has the Champion backing up a little bit. Weidman is hurt. Machida presses forward, lands some more good punches. Nice uppercut from Weidman. Head kick misses from Machida. Big body kick by Machida. Left hand lands for Machida, right hand from Weidman. Good jab from Weidman. Great round, first time we’ve seen Weidman not get the best of it. Lyoto thwarts a takedown attempt. Body kick again for Machida, then stuffs another Weidman shot. Huge left hand stuns Weidman at the bell. 10-9 round for Machida.
Round 5:
Big inside leg kick from Machida. Weidman now on the defensive. Now Weidman comes forward a bit, as Machida has four minutes to get a stoppage. Nice left hand from Machida. Weidman shoots for a single leg, Machida stuffs it, and starts nailing Weidman with punches. Weidman fights out of it. Nice right hook lands very clean for Weidman. Machida shakes it off. Good jab from the challenger. Weidman tags Machida with a heavy punch, but Machida still comes forward. Good leg kick from Weidman. Clinch-knee by Weidman, then an enormous elbow. Machida is very busted up, but still very game. What a fight. Weidman shoots and lands a big takedown. Machida on his back, Weidman in half guard. Weidman passes to mount One minute to go. ,Machida gives up his back, Weidman has both books in. Weidman has Machida flattened out, lands some good punches. Machida shakes off the hooks, but still turtled up. Machida gets up with half a minute left. Machida comes forward with a huge rush, landing heavy punches and knees, Weidman survives. 10-9 round for Weidman.
The judges score the fight 49-45, 48-47, and 49-46 for the winner by unanimous decision Chris “All-American” Weidman.