'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC 250 emanated from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas Nevada and the card was headlined by a featherweight title clash between champion Amanda Nunes and contender Felicia Spencer.
Amanda Nunes created history in the main event of UFC 250 by becoming the first fighter to defend the titles in two different weight classes. There have been double champions but none like The Lioness.
The main card featured three Bantamweight fights, and the biggest of the lot was the co-main event of the evening in which Cody Garbrandt made his Octagon return to take on Raphael Assuncao.
Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sanhagen also locked horns in a pivotal 135-pound showdown. Sean 'Sugar' O'Malley vs. Eddie Wineland was the third bantamweight fight on the main card of UFC 250. Four of the Bantamweight division's top nine competed on the main show.
UFC workhorse Neil Magny and Anthony Rocco Martin also squared up against each other in a Welterweight contest at UFC 250.
Here are the results and highlights of UFC 250:
UFC 250 Results - Prelims
Alex Caceres def. Chase Hooper via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ian Heinisch def. Gerald Meerschaert via TKO (punches) (1:14, Round One)
Cody Staman def. Brian Kelleher via (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Maki Pitolo def. Charles Byrd via TKO (punches) (1:10, Round Two)
Alex Perez def. Jussier Formigaby via TKO (leg kicks) (4:06, Round One)
Devin Clark def. Alonzo Menifield via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Herbert Burns def. Evan Dunham via submission (rear naked choke) (1:20, Round One)
UFC 250 Results - Main Card
#5. Sean O'Malley vs. Eddie Wineland (Bantamweight)
The 25-year-old Sean O'Malley put his undefeated record on the line against the 35-year-old veteran Eddie Wineland. Did the main card opener end up being a 'Suga show' or did Wineland put a stop to the O'Malley hype train? A fun fact: Sean O'Malley was just eight years old when Wineland made his professional MMA debut.
Round 1: O'Malley's elusiveness and swift movement was evident from the onset of the fight. He shifted stances, and they both circled the Octagon.
Wineland was the aggressor as O'Malley pushed back; however, it's a known fact that Sugar is in his element while fighting on his back foot.
Wineland found the target with a counter shot. O'Malley connected with two solid body kicks. He feinted a right uppercut and Eddie made the mistake of subtly reacting with a half-hearted attempt to block. And then it happened!
Sugar dropped Wineland with a picture-perfect right that landed flush on the jaw. Eddie was flat on the mat, and O'Malley walked away à la Mark Hunt.
Result: Sean O'Malley def. Eddie Wineland (1:54, Round One)
Sugar has the 'It' factor as that may have been the greatest walk off knockouts in UFC history. The hype is real with this guy!
#4. Neil Magny vs. Anthony Rocco Martin (Welterweight)
Neil 'The Haitian Sensation' Magny had won three of his last four fights, and he last fought at UFC 248 against Jingliang Li. Anthony Rocco Martin had lost just one fight in his last six Octagon appearances heading into this Welterweight contest.
Round 1: Martin took the orthodox stance while Magny began in southpaw. Martin had Magny backtracking, and he engaged in a clinch against the fence.
They broke up, and Magny pushed forward, trying to get in a few kicks. Martin ducked and took Magny's back.
Rocco attempted a back trip, but Magny kept his posture. Martin tried hard to secure the takedown, but Magny turned over, but he continued to get controlled in the clinch. Martin decided to let Magny go.
Back in the centre, Magny began to find his range as he landed a strike followed by two low kicks. Neil landed a jab, but Martin cut the gap and got into another clinch. Magny went for a wild strike at the break, and both men were back in the centre.
Magny kept getting in the kicks to the calf. Matin rushed in again and clinched. The round ended with Martin attempting a looping right.
10-9 Martin
Round 2: Magny picked up the pace, but he still looked measured in his approach.
Martin tagged Magny with a right, and Neil got on his bicycle. Martin checked the leg kicks, picked Magny up and got him down to the ground, where he secured guard. Neil worked his way up reasonably quickly and clinched against the cage. He landed a few knees to the body before Martin flipped positions.
They got back to the centre. Another clinch ensued, and Martin got the advantage yet again as he'd done all night. Martin briefly attempted a Kimura, but it was just to get out of the clinch. Magny connected with the best right of the fight and Martin retreated. We had another clinch that didn't account for much. They exchanged low kicks towards the end of the round. That was another close round, but the takedown may have given Martin the edge.
10-9 Martin
Round 3: Martin landed two clean jabs to begin the final round. Magny increased the pressure as Martin looked like he'd started to gas out a bit.
Magny landed a few strikes and engaged in the clinch. He forced a takedown, but Martin stayed on his feet.
Magny continued to land elaborate combinations. Neil looked strong in the clinched and ripped Martin with knees to the head. Martin took deep breathes, and Magny kept pilling up the volume with two minutes on the clock. Martin's head kept snapping back with the jabs. Magny followed it up with a big right before clinching.
Martin and Magny put it all on the line in the final thirty seconds. However, the third round was huge for Magny in what was a very close fight.
Result: Neil Magny def. Anthony Rocco Martin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
The first two rounds were close despite Rocco Martin's strong clinch work, but Neil Magny's dominance in the third round and the leg kicks coupled with the jabs in the first two may have given him the UD in the eyes of the judges.
#3. Aljamain Sterling vs. Cory Sandhagen (Bantamweight)
The highly-anticipated Bantamweight showdown had significant implications on the title picture. This fight was on the cards for a very long time, and it was all the more relevant now. Who came out on top, though? Let's find out.
Round 1: Sterling put on the pressure early. Lot's of side-to-side and foot movement from Aljo. Sterling got the clinch, turned over, took Cory's back and yanked him down to the mat.
He tried to get the arms under the chin for the Rear Naked Choke, but Sandhagen wasn't giving in easy. Sterling let go of the jaw, but he stretched Sandhagen out as he had him trapped in the body triangle.
He didn't let go of the back mount and finally got the hooks under the chin. He put in a tight squeeze and Sandhagen tapped just before he passed out.
Result: Aljamain Sterling def. Cory Sandhagen via (submission) (1:28, Round 1)
That was a statement! Aljo stepped up to the plate in the biggest fight of his career and made the highly-rated Cory Sandhagen look ordinary. The Funkmaster also handed Sandhagen his first loss in the UFC, and he is now the frontrunner in the Bantamweight title picture.
#2. Cody Garbrandt vs. Raphael Assuncao (Bantamweight)
Former UFC Champion Cody Garbrandt returned to the Octagon for the first time since his loss to Pedro Munhoz in March, 2019.
Raphael Assuncao was a perennial title contender in the 135-pound division, and a win against a former World Champion would solidify a title shot.
Round 1: Garbrandt drew first blood with a swift low kick to the thighs. Assuncao's lead leg had already started to get red as a result of the kicks that followed.
Cody went for the spinning head kick but missed. Raphael went for a kick himself that got blocked. No Love went to the body with a kick. They moved around and tried to get their range.
Cody landed a straight right hand and ducked under an incoming left. No Love looked sharp. He landed a snappy low kick. Assuncao attempted a few kicks, but Cody wasn't home. The low kicks continued to land as Gardrandt kept the distance.
Assuncao was having a hard time dealing with Cody's speed. Assuncao connected with a good outside leg kick. The round came to an end with Garbrandt showing off some slick head movement.
10-9 Garbrandt
Round 2: Cody picked up from where he left off and fired in a fast right hand. Assuncao landed a good body kick.
Assuncao was getting kicked to the body in southpaw, and he got targetted with the low kicks in orthodox. He was facing a stance dilemma. Assuncao, however, began to get his defence in place and he also got in a few significant strikes in response. Assuncao finally seemed to have gotten a grip of Cody's speed.
Garbrandt dropped Assuncao with a big clean right. That was a knockdown in the book for Garbrandt.
They both went for the flying front kick near the fence.
Garbrandt dipped and threw a monstrous right hook before the horn. Assuncao's lights were out, and the referee ended the fight. That came out of nowhere!
Result: Cody Garbrandt def. Raphael Assuncao via KO (4:59, Round 1)
No Love could not have timed that any better! It took Assuncao a few minutes to get back to his senses; that was how clean Garbrandt got him with that thunderous right hook. As Conor McGregor famously said, "Precision beats power and timing beats speed." Garbrandt's right had everything!
No Love is back!
#1. Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer (UFC WomenFeatherweight Championship)
The greatest female fighter in MMA history was set to take on one of the biggest underdogs to have stepped inside the Octagon with the Lionness. Amanda Nunes was the odds-on favorite, but Felicia Spencer had a point to prove. Did she manage to pull off the unthinkable? Let's find out.
Round 1: Nunes fired off a front kick to the body. Spencer cut the distance and went for the clinch, but she got clipped by a right from Nunes.
Nunes landed another big right, followed by a kick to the body. Felicia caught a leg kick and clinched.
Nunes, however, got a firm grip of Spencer and threw her down to the mat. She began to work in side control. Amanda tried to connect knees to the belly. Nunes got in a few healthy elbows as she enjoyed some top control. The elbows came in from close range. The Lioness opened up a cut on Spencer's face. Nunes stayed on top of Spencer until the end of the round.
10-9 Nunes
Round 2: Nunes had twenty significant strikes to Spencer's one as the second round got underway.
Spencer landed a jab and Nunes connected a beautiful leg kick. Nunes cracked Spencer with a big right hook that got Spencer's attention. Spencer changed levels and entered for the takedown.
Nunes stuffed it and took Spencer down. She shrugged off the guillotine and took top control. Back on the feet, Nunes had the patented 'Nunes smirk' on her face. She connected another right, and the sound of the impact was loud!
Nunes was barely sweating as the second round was coming to a close. Pure dominance from the champ, who controlled the pace of the fight at will.
10-9 Nunes
Round 3: Nunes tagged Spencer with a jab followed by a straight right. She cracked Spencer with a few quick strikes as she picked up the pace.
Nunes landed two consecutive 1-2s. She came in with the follow-ups jabs and looked in control all across the board. Nunes was making Spencer look like an amateur. She caught her leg and mercilessly tripped her down to the mat.
Nunes kept punishing her helpless opponent with punches and kicks from all angles. It was the Nunes show, and it was scary how good she looked.
Spencer could barely stand up on her lead leg as Nunes had peppered it with leg kicks.
10-9 Nunes
Round 4: Spencer was trying to give it all she had, but this fight was way beyond her skill set.
Spencer's head snapped back as a result of a straight right. The Lioness looked polished and ruthless in the striking department. Nunes landed a spinning back kick to the body that sent Spencer into the cage.
Spencer deserved props for still staying in there and trying to take the fight to the champ. Incredible heart from Spencer. Nunes punished Spencer, but the challenger still survived. The champ took her back and locked in the RNC, but Spencer got saved by the buzzer.
10-8 Nunes
Round 5: Spencer was surprisingly allowed to continue. It was even more shocking to see Spencer still trying to make inroads into the pocket.
Nunes got the fight match to the ground as the commentators noted, this could be a merciful ending for Spencer. Felicia was bloodied and battered as Nunes just stayed on top of her opponent. The fight got back to the feet as Herb Dean called for the doctors to check on Spencer. The fight resumed, and Nunes applied the finishing touches until the end.
That may have been one the most one-sided title fights in UFC history.
Felicia Spencer needs to be commended, though, for her heart and resilience, but Nunes was just on a whole different level.
Result: Amanda Nunes def. Felicia Spencer via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-45)
Nunes is the GOAT for a reason! Is there anyone who can beat this woman? The Lioness has cleaned out two divisions now, and we wonder what's next for her.
Nunes went up to Spencer and handed her the belt as a testament to the challenger's toughness. Pure class from the champ.
