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The biggest UFC event of the year was finally here and it was well worth the wait. Jon Jones took on massive underdog Antony Smith in the main event while Ben Askren made his UFC debut against the Ruthless Robbie Lawler.
Kumaru Usman and Tyron Woodley looked to settle some scores as the faced each other in the co-main event of the evening. The night was certainly not short on action as there were finishes, controversies and most importantly, some high level mixed martial arts on display.
So let's not waste anymore and jump right into the UFC 235 results:
Prelims Results
* Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
* Johnny Walker def. Misha Cirkunov via TKO (flying knee and punches) (0:36, Round One)
* Cody Stamann def. Alejandro Perez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
* Diego Sanchez def. Mickey Gall by TKO (elbows and punches) (4:13, Round Two)
* Edmen Shahbazyan def Charles Byrd via TKO (elbows and punches) (0:38, Round One)
* Macy Chiasson def. Gina Mazany via KO (punches) (1:49, Round One)
* Hannah Cifers def. Polynna Viana via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
#1. Cody Garbrandt (11-2) vs Pedro Munhoz (17-3-1) (Bantamweight)
A bantamweight contest kicked off the main card proceedings of the night. No Love, who was coming off two consecutive losses to TJ Dillashaw, faced a tough test to get his career back on track. Munhoz had won 6 of his last seven fights and a win over the former Bantamweight Champion would have catapulted him straight to the top of the division.
Round 1: Lots of movement to begin the fight. Munhoz landed a good right that imbalanced Cody. Munhoz almost got the leg lock but the referee separated the two.
Both men assessed each other's range and speed in the early goings. Munhoz attempted a spin kick. Cody went for the head kick but Munhoz got his guard up. Munhoz kept connecting with the low kicks as he seemed to work towards pulling Cody for a big right.
The low calf kicks from Munhoz may have had its effect as Cody looked to be wobbling. Munhoz landed a good right hook. Cody got headbutted while Munhoz came in and No Love went to the ground. Munhoz jumped in to get on top of Cody, however, they got back on their feet,
Cody went for a flurry of strikes as he kept swinging rights and lefts. Munhoz was stunned but not completely out. Munhoz let the punches fly too as the final minute of the round just saw both fighters swinging like mad men! They were relentless. The stood and unleashed big power shots.
Cody didn't back out, neither did Munhoz. Eventually, The Young Punisher shut Cody down with a big right hook and his knees gave up. Munhoz with the hammer fists before the referee stepped in to end it.
Result: Pedro Munhoz def. Cody Garbrandt via TKO (Strikes) (4:52, First Round)
What an exhilarating finish to the round! The win for Munhoz puts him in line for a potential title shot and the Brazilian reiterated that fact in his post-fight interview.
#2. Tecia Torres (10-3) vs. Weili Zhang (18-1) (Women's Strawweight)
The #7 ranked Straweight of the world Tecia Torres took on the brightest talent from China in a potential show stealer. Zhang came into the fight on an 18-fight win streak, while Torres had lost both her previous fights against Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade.
Round 1: Zhang with a nice spinning attack as both women checked each other's range. Zhang with a low inside leg kick, Torres answered with a jab.
Torres kept her distance as she avoided to get into a grappling sequence with the proficient Chinese fighter. Both Zhang and Torres were very light on their feet. Zhang got hold of Torres and took her down with a headlock throw. Torres did a great job of rolling over and getting back up on her feet.
Zhang shot for another takedown but Torres defended really well. Torres kept her at bay but Zhang sneakily jumped onto Torres' back. That was nimble a move!
Torres managed to get out of a sticky position as Zhang lost the underhooks. Torres sneaked out and the fight was back to the center of the Octagon.
Torres got Zhang down at the end of the round but Zhang flipped her over and tried to land a few close range elbows as the round came to a close.
10-9 Zhang
Round 2: Zhang used the kicks to good effect as she landed straight body and low kicks to the thigh. Zhang with a sweet spinning back fist. The inside leg kicks to the thighs of Torres kept landing for Zhang.
It wasn't just to the thighs as Zhang kept peppering Torres with the kicks. Zhang had more volume thus far into the fight as the kicks just kept coming.
Torres showed great defense to block Zhang's headlock takedown. The fight moved near the cage and Zhang finally got her down.
Zhang stepped over but mistakenly let Torres jump into her guard. Zhang was known to have a good offensive guard but Torres did a great job of landing the hammer fists from the top. The round ended with Zhang getting a few up kicks from the mat.
10-9 Zhang
Round 3: Zhang with an inside leg kick within seconds of the final round. Torres got back with a leg kick of her own. A good combination from Zhang, who almost got the job done, but Torres retaliated with a solid right and left hook combination that in turn, hurt Zhang.
They clinched near the cage as Zhang tried to take Torres down again. Torres avoided going to the ground and broke the clinch. Zhang got another takedown and went into half guard.
Zhang dominated on the ground, as the Chinese fighter locked Torres' left leg down and punished her with elbows and punches.
Zhang held on to Torres' right arm and kept working. Torres looked stuck and remained under Zhang until the end of the round. Pure dominance there in the final round.
10-9 Zhang
Result: Weily Zhang def. Tecia Torres via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Zhang's lengthy streak continued as he put on a well-rounded performance against Torres. The Chinese prospect is indeed the real deal.
#3. Robbie Lawler (28-1-1) vs. Ben Askren (18-0-1) (Welterweight)
It was finally time for Ben Askren's UFC debut as he was set to take on the extremely dangerous Robbie Lawler. Funky vs Ruthless! Let's go!
Round 1: Askren shot for the double leg from the onset. Askren got Lawler's back but Lawler flipped him, picked him up and dropped him straight to the mat! Askren looked discombobulated.
Lawler unloaded with some monstrous shots! Askren seemed out but somehow, and I mean somehow hung in there! Holy s***! Askren survived and his face was painted in red by the end of the exchange.
Askren got back to his gameplan as he pinned Lawler down to the cage. Askren worked his way for a double leg again. He got Lawler down and locked in the Bulldog choke. Askren squeezed! Herb Dean stepped in and looked at Lawler's hands, which seemed to have gone limp. Dean lifted it up again but it looked like Lawler was out. The referee stopped the fight but Lawler was still conscious. He protested as soon as Askren unhooked the choke. That looked like a very bad stoppage!
Results: Ben Askren def. Robbie Lawler via technical submission (Bulldog Choke)
All the controversy apart, Askren showed legitimate toughness to survive the deadly onslaught of the former UFC Welterweight Champion. He stuck to his gameplan and worked his way to a position of submission.
Lawler was no doubt unlucky but Askren didn't buckle under the Ruthless one's power, which in itself is a major feat. We just have one word - REMATCH!
#4. Tyron Woodley (19-3-1) (c) vs. Kumaru Usman (14-1) (UFC Welterweight Championship)
It was time for the first of two title fights of the night. A win for Woodley and he continues on his path towards becoming the greatest Welterweight of all time.
The Nigerian Nightmare, though, can shit his detractors up if he pulls off an upset!
Round 1: Usman moved forward as soon as the fight began. Kumaru shot for the takedown, Woodley initially defended but went down near the cage. Woodley got his hands underneath Usman's chin in a side headlock.
Woodley worked his way up to his feet as Usman landed some good knees to the body. They broke up and Usman continued to keep up the pressure. He went for the single leg takedown but Woodley defended and clinched.
Usman was doing a fantastic job of closing the distance and indulging in some wrestling. He wasn't staying idle either as he showed some good bodywork with the knees and punches.
Usman went for the knee tap transition takedown but Woodley defended it again to end the round. A strong round for the challenger!
10-9 Usman
Round 2: Woodley needed some more volume and was told by his corner to move forward. Usman closed down the gap again as he clinched with Woodley onto the cage. Knees, foot stomps, short shoulder thrusts; Usman kept it busy.
Usman connected with an elbow on the break. Woodley felt that for sure. The Nigerian went right back in and took Woodley down. Usman was outwrestling Woodley at this point as he got into full guard.
Usman dominated from the top as he had Woodley mounted and kept the volume of strikes going. Vicious elbows from the top as Woodley remained flat on his back without a way out. Usman looked shockingly good.
Kumaru went for the Arm Triangle by Woodley arched his body back at the right time. The round came to a close as Kumaru outperformed the champ. Massive round for the challenger again.
10-8 Usman
Round 3: Woodley lost both the rounds and needed to dig in deep to get this fight in his favour. The champion went for a big right but Usman ducked. Usman caught Woodley in a body lock yet again and continuously punched into Woodley's gut. Relentless!
The referee broke up the clinch but Usman kept pushing forward as usual. Another body lock and Usman continued with the body shots. Usman had landed over a 100 body strikes as the referee broke up the lock yet again.
Woodley had a moment when he momentarily tagged Usman with a right. Usman wasn't all that fazed as he continued to attack. Usman got into the clinch again and dished out punishment.
10-9 Usman
Round 4: Woodley's corner was done playing with him. They told him to go and do something big because he was down three rounds. It was still the same story as Usman pressurized and kept adding to the numbers.
Woodley almost got the Guillotine choke in but Usman wriggled his way out. Usman got right into Woodley's guard and landed a nice elbow from the top. It was a grappling clinic from Usman as he smashed his shoulders into Woodley's face into the cage. Pure dominance.
Both men got stood up again. Usman stunned Woodley with a nasty uppercut. What followed was a wild exchange. They traded huge shots. Rights, lefts, uppercuts, knees and what not!
Woodley showed the heart of a true champion as he hung in there for dear life. He got in a few good shots too but Usman got the better of the exchange as he almost got the job done.
Usman, though, may have gassed himself out.
10-8 Usman
Round 5: Woodley needed to go in for the kill as he was convincingly losing the fight. Woodley got in the standing choke but Usman looked alright.
Usman lifted Woodley up and dropped him down to the mat. Usman was back to where he was all throughout the fight as he continued to completely control the grappling exchanges.
From there on, Usman didn't even let Woodley up to his feet as he controlled the fight to perfection. A masterful performance from the challenger. Take a bow, Usman!
10-9 Usman
Result: Kumaru Usman def. Tyron Woodley via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-45)
Woodley's Nigerian Nightmare just came true as UFC just got their first African Champion. The scorecards painted a perfect picture as Woodley got outclassed by a challenger who was on top of his game.
Usman gave an amazing post-fight interview as he admitted he that he may not be the best striker or the best pure wrestler in the world, but he is the best welterweight in the world when it came to mixing it up. He gave Woodley props and shared an emotional moment with his daughter.
It's true folks, Marty from Nebraska is the new king of the Welterweight division!
#5. Jon Jones (23-1-1) vs. Anthony Smith (31-13) (Light Heavyweight Championship)
Main event time!
Round 1: Cautious start as Smith got in a leg kick. Smith looked composed and technical in the early goings. Jones connected with a solid spinning leg kick.
Jones attempted an axe kick. Jones continued to work the body with a spinning kick, followed by a body shot.
Jones caught Smith's head kick and clinched onto the cage. Smith is known to be a great striker in the clinch and Jones knew that. They separated and scouted each other in the middle of the cage.
Bones continued to land the kicks to the body as the round came to a close.
10-9 Jones
Round 2: Jones came out more active as the volume multiplied. Jones with the kick and a spinning elbow. Jones with the upward shoulder thrusts in the clinch. The champion dictated the pace of the fight as he continued to rack up with numbers with kicks. The left kicks to the body of Smith connected all day for Jones.
Jones forced Smith to go back to a conventional stance which made it easier for the champ to land his combinations. Jones throwing strikes which in turn set up the incoming combination.
They clinched again as the round ended.
10-9 Jones
Round 3: The body kicks from Jones kept coming in. Vintage Jon Jones was on display as he landed a knee and level changed really well.
Jones looked for the takedown but Smith defended to great effect. Nasty knees from Jones in the clinch as it only helped soften Smith for the potential takedown.
Jones was the busier fighter in the clinch as he finally picked Smith up and slammed him to the ground. Bones imposed his will and strategically picked his challenger apart.
Jones ended the round on a strong note on top.
10-8 Jones
Round 4: Smith's corner tried to fire him up, however, will it work?
Jones kept it going as he landed with a big shot to the body and followed it with a succession of elbows. Smith laughed it off as Jones jumped in with a flying knee.
The champ yanked Smith to the grounedd as Smith looked done. Smith's blood sprinkled all over the mat as Bones dominated from the back.
Jones had landed a hundred more strikes than Smith as he continued to maul the Lionheart. Absolute dominance. Jones seemed to have landed an illegal knee as Smith had one hand on the mat. Bones got two points deducted after Herb Dean checked out the replays.
8-8
Round 5: Smith came into the final round with a little more urgency as he swung his hands and the overhands looked to come along.
Jones, though, kept tagging away with jabs and punches. Smith was gassed as Jones connected with a step-in elbow. They clinched once again and Jones did really well to control Smith's hands. He kept attacking Smith's thighs with punches. Jones almost put Smith to the ground as there were two minutes left on the clock.
Jones just looked way too superior for Smith as he wore Smith down in the final stages of the fight. All Smith did was to not get knocked out. Defensive survival mode for the challenger.
Jones finished off with a flying knee. A professional performance from the Champion.
10-9 Jones
Result: Jon Jones def. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (48-44, 48-44, 48-44)
And still! It was the Jon Jones show and that's the bottom line.
