By Jaime C. Feal
The UFC had another extremely solid card for free on network TV, with a title fight and a top welterweight contender fight. Starting off the main card on FOX, Liz Carmouche, who challenged Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title in February, was able to defeat Brazilian Jessica Andrade. Carmouche used nice takedowns and a solid ground game to dominate Andrade en route to a 2nd round TKO victory. Robbie Lalwer continued the momentum of the exciting night with a nasty head-kick KO of Bobby Voelker, but a huge dud of a fight in the co-main event between Rory MacDonald and Jake Ellenberger had many fans booing. In the main event, Demetrious Johnson once again used his speed, footwork, and takedowns to establish dominance, then submitted John Moraga with an armbar to retain his UFC Flyweight title.
Welterweight Division (170 lbs.):
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (20-9, 5-3 UFC) vs. “Vicious” Bobby Voelker (24-9, 0-1 UFC)
Round 1:
The welters begin stepping forward looking to engage. Lawler misses with a combination of hooks. Lawler lands a good kick to the body, then clinches and throws Voekler to the ground. Lawler in half guard, working light shots. Voelker gets back to his feet. The fighters are clinched on the cage, and Lawler lands a good knee to the body. More knees to the body from Robbie, then an uppercut on the break. Voelker is bloodied up already. Both men exchange and land hooks. Head kick scores for Lawler, who is dominating the opening frame. Flying knee now from Lawler, displaying all kinds of versatility in his striking. Body kick from Voelker. Nasty left kick from Lawler, going to town on Voelker. 10-9 round for Lawler.
Round 2:
Good left hook from Voelker. Nasty left head kick lands flush for Lawler and drops Voelker flat on his back. Lawler jumps on the dazed Voelker and finishes him with a right hand that is academic. Sick head kick knockout for Lawler.
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler wins by KO at 0:24 of Round 2.
Welterweight Division (170 lbs.):
Rory “Ares” MacDonald (14-1, 5-1 UFC) vs. Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger (29-6, 8-2 UFC)
Round 1:
No touch of the gloves during the stare down, as the two welters have talked tons of trash leading up to this fight. MacDonald with a good jab. Ellenberger tries to rush in with a one-two, but misses. More jabs from MacDonald land. Jab from Rory, left hook from Ellenberger. Dull round thus far, crowd booing. MacDonald continuing to assert himself with the jab. Triple jab combo for MacDonald. Knee to the body scores for Ellenberger. MacDonald closes the round with more jabs. 10-9 round for MacDonald.
Round 2:
MacDonald back to the same strategy of keeping the distance and landing jabs. Ellenberger is growing frustrated as he can’t load up and land his power shots. Ellenberger shoots for a double, but Rory defends well .Ellenberger lands an uppercut on the break. MacDonald back to the jabs over and over. Good head kick from MacDonald. Still no meaningful offense from Ellenberger, as MacDonald has completely controlled the fight with his jab. Good right hand from Ellenberger, Rory backs away to the center of the cage. 10-9 round for MacDonald
Round 3:
Crowd still unhappy with the lack of action, and they can’t be blamed, as this fight has not lived up to the hype at all. Ellenberger swinging wildly and missing now. MacDonald with more jabs, keeping Jake on the outside. Ellenberger finally lands a jab and a right hand. Crowd still booing. Rory slips but Ellenberger is unable to capitalize. More booing. Good front kick, and then jabs from MacDonald. Jab after jab lands in the face of the “Juggernaut,” as MacDonald is taking no risks yet still dominating the fight. Ellenberger isn’t taking enough chances; not fighting with desperation. Finally Ellenberger shoots for a double and gets it. Crowd goes wild, as Jake has top position with a minute left. MacDonald has him neutralized in full guard. 10-9 round for MacDonald.
UFC Flyweight Championship (125 lbs.):
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (17-2-1, 5-1-1 UFC) vs. John Moraga (13-1, 2-0 UFC)
Round 1:
Moraga charges forward and tries to land a one-two. They both land leg kicks at the same time. Good right hand from the champion, body kick from the challenger. Moraga lands another body kick, Johnson with a leg kick. Moraga handling the speed of Johnson well so far, but eats a counter punch now. Outside leg kick for Moraga. Nice right hand for Mighty Mouse. Moraga clinches him and pushes him to the cage. Knee from Moraga, Johnson spins him around against the cage. Johnson looks for the takedown and gets it. Johnson passes to side control. Short elbows from Johnson, looking for a mounted crucifix. Moraga defends that, Johnson back in half guard. Johnson trying to pass to side control again. Nice right to the body, then the head by DJ. Moraga now turtled, Johnson has the front headlock position, but not enough time left. 10-9 round for Johnson.
Round 2:
Leg kick lands for Moraga, who comes out aggressively. Johnson lands a leg kick of his own, then a huge takedown. Johnson postures up, passes to side control. Mighty Mouse gets the crucifix and lands a few right hands. Moraga escapes back into side control. Johnson again working for that crucifix, now landing hard knees to the body. Moraga scrambles and tries to lock up a triangle, Johnson escapes back into side control. Moraga turtles up, Johnson on his back as he stands. Johnson suplexes him back down to the mat. Johnson completely controlling his opponent now. Moraga gets up, eats a knee to the body, but lands an uppercut. Good dirty boxing from Moraga, Johnson backs away. Hard leg kick from the champion. Beautiful takedown from Johnson, again into side control. Johnson looking for a kimura or straight armbar, bails on it to land some heavy ground and pound at the end of the round. 10-9 round for Johnson.
Round 3:
Nice left body kick from Johnson, Moraga just misses with a big right. Hard outside leg kick from DJ. Inside leg kick for Johnson, then a left body kick. Johnson shoots for a takedown and easily gets it. Johnson in full guard, landing short elbows. Johnson postures up, lands a right hand, then passes to side control. Moraga turtles and now Johnson is looking to take his back, has one hook in. Johnson takes his time, gets the second hook in. Moraga escapes at the last second back to his feet. Moraga comes forward, misses with a standing elbow, then clinches with the champ. Knee to the body from Moraga. Johnson reverses a takedown attempt in midair and lands on top. Johnson looking for a kimura, has it locked up bad. Moraga is being stubborn but this looks nasty. DJ saving energy to explode. Moraga escapes and gets on top. Nice submission defense from the challenger. Johnson gets back up. Moraga scores his first takedown of the match, but can’t do anything with it, as Johnson quickly gets back up, and the round ends. 10- 9 round for Johnson.
Round 4:
The championship rounds begin as Johnson is in complete control, still fresh as a daisy, and it would appear Moraga needs a stoppage to win this one. Left body kick lands for Johnson, then he shoots in with lightning quickness to take down Moraga. DJ is in half guard, looking to pass. Moraga turtles again, but DJ lets him up and lands a body kick. Another body kick lands for Mighty Mouse. Good knee from the clinch by Johnson, then takes Moraga down yet again. Johnson is a perfect 7 for 7 so far on his takedown attempts. Moraga gets back up, eats some knees to the body. Johnson pushes him against the cage, Moraga looks gassed. Johnson drags Moraga down, lands a knee to the head which appeared to be illegal, ref doesn’t catch it. Moraga hands in there, but Johnson is teeing off on him. Moraga gets up, showing tons of heart, but outclassed. Head kick partially lands for Johnson. Moraga still coming forward. Huge right hand by Moraga stuns Johnson. DJ backs up and is wobbled, Moraga rushes in and tries a flying knee, misses, and gets taken down. 10-9 round for Johnson.
Round 5:
Johnson is cut under his nose from the right hand Moraga landed last round. Moraga steps forward and tries to land and uppercut, but misses. Inside leg kick from the Champion. Outside leg kick now from Johnson, then ducks under and gets another takedown. Johnson in full guard, Moraga trying to work his way back up. Johnson gets him right back down, and passes to side control. Moraga turtles again, Johnson looking for a front headlock. Moraga gets back up to his feet. Johnson gets a trip takedown, lands in side control. Impressive display of wrestling by Mighty Mouse, completely outclassed a former All-American wrestler. Hard knee to the body by Johnson, then good short elbows. Johnson looking for a kimura again, now has the double wristlock position. Spins for an armbar, it’s in deep. Herb Dean stops the fight, Moraga may have tapped verbally. The armbar was locked in extremely deep and Moraga was using both hands to try and resist, was in danger of getting hurt. Good stoppage
Demetrious Johnson wins by submission (armbar) at 3:43 of Round 5.
