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UFC 237 is finally in the books. The event took place at the Rio Olympic Stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and was headlined by an incredible Women's Strawweight title fight between Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade.
With two of the greatest Brazilian fighters of all time in Jose Aldo and Anderson Silva also featured on the main card, UFC 237 was never expected to disappoint.
However, there were a few shockers along the way. Here are the results and highlights of UFC 237:
UFC 237 Results (Prelims)
Ryan Spann def. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via KO (punches) (Round 1, 2:07)
Thiago Moises def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Warlley Alves def. Sergio Moraes via KO (Punch) (Round 3, 4:13)
Clay Guida def. B.J. Penn via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Luana Carolina def. Priscila Cachoeira via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)
Raoni Barcelos def. Carlos Huachin via TKO (elbows and punches) (Round 2, 4:49)
Viviane Araujo def. Talita Bernardo via KO (punch) (Round 2, 0:48)
UFC 237 Results (Main Card)
#1. Irene Aldana (9-4-0) vs. Beth Correia (10-3-1) (Women's Bantamweight)
Former Women's Bantamweight title contender Beth Correia had not tasted victory in two of her previous fights as she lost one and drew the other. In contrast, Irene Aldana was coming off two wins against Talita Bernardo and Lucie Pudilová respectively.
Aldana used her reach well to land the jabs on Correia. Aldana was the aggressor as she connected with some shots despite getting tagged. Aldana took the first round owing to better striking and more volume.
Correia looked much better in the second round as her combinations, leg kicks and the corresponding punches began to connect. The Brazilian event attempted a takedown, which got stuffed. While Irene also had her moments, Correia took the second round.
The third round began and Correia continued with her pressurizing stance. She was getting the better of the stand-up exchanges, however, Correia got caught in an armbar in the third minute of the final round and was left with no option but to tap out.
Result: Irene Aldana def. Beth Correia via submission (Armbar) (Round 3, 3:24)
#2. Thiago Alves (23-13-0) vs. Laureano Staropoli (8-1-0) (Welterweight)
UFC veteran Thiago Alves was coming off a big win against Max Griffin while his opponent Staropoli had not tasted defeat since 203. A classic showdown between a Brazilian and an Argentine, this ought to be good.
Round 1: It hadn't been a minute and Staropoli had already changed stances more than most fighters would in a full fight. Staropoli landed a kick to the chest and continued to move around looking for an opening.
Alves was patient and kept reading the unpredictable movements of his opponent. The long and fluid Staropoli kept mixing things up. He threw question mark kicks. Staropoli was the more active fighter as he controlled the Octagon, landed strikes at regular intervals, and avoided much damage in return.
Alves started landing as the round came to a close, as he connected with his patented low kicks along with a solid punch.
However, round one was Staropoli's. 10-9 Staropoli
Round 2: Staropoli came in hot but Alves was better prepared to deal with him as he had already read all his movements in the first round. Alves looked composed and scouted for the opening for one big finishing shot.
Staropoli feinted and forced Alves to throw, Alves missed and Staropoli countered with a quick right that knocked Alves down. Staropoli tried to keep Alves down, even trying to get his back at one point, however, Alves managed to get back to his feet.
Alves began pressing forward and got a good combination in, before ending with a big left hook. Staropoli replied with a 1-2 himself. A left hook, right uppercut followed from Staropoli.
Alves connected with a few shots as the fans got excited. Staropoli answered with a combination of body shots and uppercuts.
Alves put together another combination - two rights and a left - at the sound of the hooter. That was a close round to score but Staropoli may have edged it.
Round 3: Both men came out swinging. Staropoli wildly swayed his hands for a potential finish but Alves showed his veteran instincts to score a takedown. He couldn't keep him down for long as Starapoli jumped back up.
It was strange to see Alves not use his repertoire of low kicks. Alves wrapped his hands around Staropoli for a possible takedown. He looked for a leg trip, but Staropoli resisted.
Alves connected with a solid knee in an exchange that hurt Staropoli. The Argentine retreated as Alves rushed in to finish things off. Staropoli hung in there and managed to knock Alves down with a punch.
The two fighters wrapped things up with a highly engaging third round.
Result: Laureano Staropoli def. Thiago Alves via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Despite having only 10 fights to his name, Staropoli looked like a really well-rounded prospect as a result of his win over the seasoned Thiago Alves.
While the scorecards may not paint a proper picture, Alves did put up a solid effort against despite coming up short.
#3. Jose Aldo (28-4-0) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (19-1) (Featherweight)
While the main event seemed great on paper, Hometown hero Jose Aldo's fight was supposed to be the real highlight of the show. The Featherweight legend is an icon in Brazil and put his #1 ranking on the line against the #4 ranked Alexander Volkanovski.
Aldo was on a two-fight win-streak while his Australian opponent had not been defeated in all of his six UFC fights.
Round 1: It was absolutely electric inside the Rio Olympic Arena as the fight got underway. Aldo took the centre of the Octagon and didn't allow Volkanovski to back him up.
A cautious start from both men as they read each other. Volkanovski was active though as he used the feints and let his legs loose.
Volkanovski tried to get Aldo to react by moving around and throwing a few punches. Aldo landed a right and the place erupted. It wasn't even a knockout-worthy shot and the fans popped. Every noticeable movement from the Brazilian was cheered in unison.
Volkanovski clinched with Aldo onto the fence but the two men split up. They danced around in the centre to see out the first round. Volkanovski got the first as he peppered Aldo with inside leg kicks and the occasional punches that connected.
10-9 Volkanovski
Round 2: Inside leg kick, body kick from Volkanovski. Outside leg kick, left jab, right cross. Volkanovski kept himself busy.
Aldo grew into the round as he landed a few good jabs, one of which got the acknowledgement of Aldo. Aldo hadn't used his kicks as he possibly looked for an opening for a finish.
The fight momentarily stopped after an eye poke from Volkanovski, for which he got a warning. Volkanovski pinned Aldo near the fence and kept shooting knees to Aldo's legs. Aldo flipped over briefly to get Volkanovski's back, but the Australian turned over again. The two men got back to the centre of the cage as the round came to a close. While this was still an open round, Volkanovski may have gotten it in the bag.
10-9 Volkanovski
Round 3: Aldo had a lot of work to do as he was lagging behind on the scorecards. Aldo with a combination and Volkanovski fired back a combination of his own. Volkanovski clinched yet again and pushed Aldo into the cage. Body kick, straight left, jabs, feints - Volkanovski was bringing in the heat while Aldo didn't have much in terms of volume in reply.
Volkanovski trapped Aldo near the fence again and went to work with his knees to his body. The Australian kept him there until the end of the round.
10-9 Volkanovski
Result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Jose Aldo via unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27
That was a masterful performance from Volkanovski, who extended his streak to 17 victories on the trot and snapped Aldo's winning momentum.
A featherweight title should be what's next for Alexander 'The Great' Volkanovski.
#4. Jared Cannonier (11-4-0) vs. Anderson Silva (34-9-0) (Middleweight)
The Killa Gorilla vs. The Spider. A prospect vs. the GOAT. A former American army man vs. a Brazilian icon. This was one of the most interesting matchups on the card.
Round 1: Both men moved around the Octagon, and worked towards finding their range. Silva landed a shot and the crowd the popped. Cannonier stayed patient as he pushed Silva back but didn't do much when it came to the offence.
Silva connected with a switch kick. Cannonier clinched with Silva onto the fence and laned three big shots. Silva replied with a slicing elbow.
Cannonier kept shooting the inside leg kicks, and one of them landed right to Silva's knee.
The Spider looked to be in a lot of pain as he dropped down to the mat. The referee stepped in and stopped the fight instantly. What a bummer!
Result: Jared Cannonier def. Anderson Silva via TKO (Round 1, 4:47)
The fans booed Cannonier in his post-fight press conference, who silently absorbed all the jeers and gave Silva his props.
Silva apologised to the fans in his interview and admitted that his knees were in a delicate condition in the build-up to the fight. Sadly, his knees just couldn't hold up when it mattered the most. Nonetheless, Cannonier came up with a solid inside leg kick game plan and got the job done in front of an incredibly hostile crowd.
#5. Rose Namajunas (8-3-0) vs. Jessica Andrade (19-6-0) (Women's Strawweight Championship)
Will Jessica Andrade finally realise her dream of becoming a UFC World Champion or will Rose Namajunas continue to reign supreme as the queen of the Women's Strawweight division? The main event of the evening was billed to be a proper showstopper.
Round 1: Lots of feints and fakes by the champ to begin with. Andrade stayed focussed until she rushed forward. Rose tagged Andrade with a counter left hook despite eating a few shots.
Namajunas with two beautiful jabs. Namajunas got hold of Andrade's hand, who tried to lift her up and slam her to the ground. Andrade partially scored a takedown the first time around but did so successfully in her second attempt.
However, Andrade's hand was still caught up in a kimura position, and she had to retreat to her feet. Namajunas kept up the pressure and dropped Andrade with a big knee. The champion jumped on Andrade for the finish but the Brazilian survived.
10-9 Namajunas
Round 2: Inside leg kick from Andrade. Jab in return from Namajunas. Andrade rushed in with a combination, but Namajunas showed tremendous fluidity and head movement to evade all the attacks.
Andrade wasn't giving up though, as he kept up the forward pressure and landed a few strikes as Namajunas went back. Namajunas kept looking for the counter punch as Andrade came in. The champ kept getting in the jabs but Andrade was having a much better round as she was taking the fight to the Thug.
Andrade came in hot yet again with a flurry of strikes and hurt Namajunas with a knee before clinching onto the fence.
Andrade picked Namajunas up and slammed her head first right into the mat. Rose was out and Andrade unleashed a few punches before the referee frantically stepped in to the finish the fight. And NEW!
Result: Jessica Andrade def. Rose Namajunas via KO (Slam) (Round 2. 2:58)
That came out of nowhere! As broken down by DC himself, Namajunas held onto the Kimura while she was hoisted up in the air by Andrade. Instead of letting go and dropping down on her back, Namajunas didn't release the Kimura and was dropped right on her head that knocked her out cold. Namjanuas should be grateful she didn't break her neck as a result of the impact.
While it may have been a mistake on the Thug's part, you just can't take anything away from Andrade, who thoroughly deserves the win. Also, you don't see a piledriver finish quite often inside the Octagon.
The Strawweight division has a new Queen and Brazil has a new champion.
