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UFC stopped over at the Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for its 240th major PPV event. The underrated card was headlined by a featherweight title fight between Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar.
Cris Cyborg returned to the Octagon for the first time since losing to Amanda Nunes. Niko Price took on Geoff Neal in what promised to be an engaging fight. UFC 240 looked solid on paper but did it deliver with the action?
Here are the results and highlights of the UFC 240:
UFC 240 Results - Prelims
125 lbs.: Viviane Araujo def. Alexis Davis via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
145 lbs.: Hakeem Dawodu def. Yoshinori Horie via TKO (knee and head kick) (Round Three, 4:09)
145 lbs.: Gavin Tucker def. Seungwoo Choi via submission (rear-naked choke) (Round Three, 3:17)
125 lbs.: Deiveson Figueiredo def. Alexandre Pantoja via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
125 lbs.: Gillian Robertson def. Sarah Frota via TKO (elbows) (Round Two, 4:13)
170 lbs.: Erik Koch def. Kyle Stewart via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 240 Results - Main Card
#1. Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Krzysztof Jotko (Middleweight)
Round 1: It was a cautious start from both men with Jotko pulling the trigger with an attempted grappling attempt. Jotko got the underhooks in, but Barriault countered with knees to the body. Jotko went for a takedown, but Barriualt had it covered. Barriault began to loosen up as he sent out individual strikes. Jotko avoided all shots and countered with an elbow.
Barriault avoided another takedown as he landed on his knees. A scramble ensued as Jotko ended up on top as a result of a Barriault takedown. The round came to a close with knees from both men.
Round 2: Barriault and Jotko circled looking for an opening. Barriault kept pressing forward and went for a wild right cross. They clinched, and Barriault went for the uppercut but missed. They broke up. Jotko with a good left hand.
Barriault moved his head well from side to side. They clinched up on the cage as Barriault tried to yank him down. Jotko answered with a few knees and changed levels that was read well by Barriault. It was Jotko now who pushed Barriault up onto he cage looking for the takedown. Barriault held onto his face first and scored a few body shots from the clinch.
Good right hand from Barriault. Jotko followed up with a straight left and a big uppercut. Barriault pressed Jotko into the cage. Jotko turned in around and landed a knee in the clinch. Barriualt had his back against the fence with 20 seconds to go. They got the fight back to the centre of the Octagon. Jotko got Barriault down to the mat and was prepared to unleash from the top before the bell rang. Another relatively tough round to score.
Round 3: Jotko went for an early takedown, but Barriault's defence held up. Clinch with Barriault's back o the cage. Barriault got in a few short punches to the face and body in the clinch. The fans sounded restless. Jotko broke up. Barriault now kept going forward and tasted success with a few uppercuts and rights from close range.
Jotko swung a kick, but Barriault escaped. Jotko landed a combination. Bariault was trying to make something happen with his aggressive stance. Jotko though used the space well and kept retreating. He shot for a takedown that was stuffed. Barriualt switched to southpaw and looked to let his hands go. Jotko missed with an uppercut. Barriault tried to work his way into the pocket, but Jotko maintained the distance well. Jotko got a cut near his eye. He connected with a good body kick. Right hand from Barriault. Jotko looked exhausted but kept Barriault at bay with kicks. Jotko successfully landed the first takedown of the fight with ten seconds to go, and that may have won the fight for the Polish fighter.
Result: Krzysztof Jotko def. Marc-Andre Barriault via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
It was not the most visually pleasing fight as Jotko's 'elusive' style got him the win tonight. A win is a win and Jotko would have had no problems with that.
#2. Oliver Aubin Mercier vs Arman Tsarukyan (Lightweight)
After losing a close fight in his UFC debut, Georgian fighter Arman Tsarukyan was posed his a big challenge of facing submission specialist Aubin-Mercier in his second UFC fight. Aubin-Mercier was coming off a heavy training routine with the legendary Georges St-Pierre, but did it help the Canadian? Let's find out.
Round 1: Mercier in southpaw while Tsarukyan began in orthodox position. Surprisingly, Tsarukyan shot for the takedown and pushed Mercier towards the cage despite having more advantage on the feet.
Mercier stuffed it and the fight got back to the centre. Tsaurkyan caught Mercier's leg and followed him to the cage. Mercier hung on and avoided getting taken down. Tsarukyan controlled the dance early on as he tried a few kicks. Mercier landed a well-timed knee. He followed it up with a strike. Tsarukyan got hold of Mercier's body kick again and then his back. Not completely though as Mercier looked to fend him off while being on one knee near the cage. He got up back to his feet but Tsarukyan got him back down. The fans booed. Tsarukyan landed a few knees to the back of Mercier's leg. Tsarukyan continued to work hard to get to Mercier's back. Solid knees from Tsarukyan to the back.
10-9 Tsarukyan
Round 2: Good combination from Tsarukyan that included a body punch, a hook and a jab. Mercier got Tsarukyan pinned onto the cage with a clinch. Tsarukyan was more busy with striking attempts. However, he didn't land much as Mercier's connected with a body kick and a massive knee to the face. Tsarukyan looked hurt. His knees buckled up as Mercier got him in a front face lock.
Tsarukyan recuperated and both men began moving in the middle again. Mercier realised the high kick was his best option to rattle Tsarukyan as the Georgian left himself open to it. Tsarukyan went for another takedown. Stuffed. Arman with a spinning back kick. Mercier went for the uppercut but Tsarukyan adjusted well to avoid damage. Mercier showed good head movement to avoid a head kick. Tsarukyan ended the round with an aimless combination going forward.
10-9 Mercier
Round 3: Big right hands from Tsarukyan to begin the round. Mercier weathered the storm but Tsarukyan kept being offensively active. Mercier clamped him down with a clinch against the fence. Mercier almost got the takedown with the leg sweep but Tsarukyan landed on top of Mercier. Mercier is good from the bottom as Tsarukyan looked to inflict some damage in full guard. Elbows from both men. Mercier kept himself busy with punches and elbows from the bottom but so was Tsarukyan go kept yanking back and coming right back with big shots.
Mercier had to get out of this position as Tsarukyan kept scoring with strikes. Mercier tried for an arm triangle but Arman was too slippery. Nice elbow from Tsarukyan. This was Tsarukyan's fight to win as he kept Mercier down and most importantly, was active with elbows, punches to the body and face. Tsarukyan shifted between full and half guard and ended the round by being on top of Mercier.
10-9 Tsarukyan
Result: Arman Tsarukyan def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
The highly-rated Arman Tsarukyan notched up his first UFC win and showed glimpses of his talked-about potential. His fight IQ was all there to be seen against one of the most dangerous grapplers of the 155 lbs division in Aubin-Mercier.
This was Aubin-Mercier's third straight loss and that surely is an alarming sign for the Canadian fighter.
#3. Geoff Neal vs. Niko Price (Welterweight)
A product of Dana White's Contender series, Geoff Neal's rise towards being on the fringes of the Welterweight division's top 15 has been truly remarkable.
Three wins on the trot and another W will take him closer to the top of the pack. Standing in his way is one of the most exciting fighters, stylistically, in the 170 lbs division - Niko Price.
Round 1: Both men gaged each other's movement. Price went for a superman punch but missed. Neal landed his first UFC takedown and Price found himself in a terrible position early in the fight. Price worked his way back to his feet but Neal showed good head control.
Neal continued with some good wrist control before they broke up the clinch. Price went for a combination. A front kick to the body by Price. Neal answered with a left hand. Neal connected with a straight left. Price went for a takedown but Neal stuffed it and got the underhooks against the cage.
Neal came in with a right hand but got stunned with an incoming left hand infused with a headbutt from Price. Neal was hurt as he got flattened.
Price got on top of Neal and tried to cut his breathing. Elbows and short punches from the top as Neal tried to cut the distance. Both men got back up to their feet with Neal landing a takedown near the cage. Neal got Price's back. Price flipped around as Neal ended the round on top of Price. That was great! 10-9 Neal
Round 2: Incredible start to the second round as Neal got in a few big shots in. This was the fight Price wanted, who came in swinging like a legit madman. Rights, lefts, spinning backfists, knees - Price was throwing. The crowd popped! Neal managed to escape the storm and took Price down to the mat in side control.
He almost got in a Von Flue choke but released the pressure from the neck. Neal transitioned to full guard and began hurting Price with monstrous shots from the top. Massive shots! Neal was relentless despite Price displaying unmatched resilience. It proved just too much as the referee had to step in and stop the fight.
Result: Geoff Neal def. Niko Price via TKO (Round 2, 2:39)
That was wild! Some may argue that it was an early stoppage but Neal looked dangerous and the decision seemed warranted in the end. Price's reaction after the stoppage should tell you everything about the man. He lives to entertain and it doesn't even matter if he loses doing so.
This was a proper fight that made Geoff Neal look like the real deal. Powerful hands, adept on the ground and the calmness to deal with pressure situations; the Handz of Steel is a force to reckon with in the Welterweight division.
#4. Cristine 'Cyborg' Justino vs. Felicia Spencer (Women's Featherweight)
After suffering her first loss since 2005 in her last fight against Amanda Nunes, Cyborg came into the co-main event of the evening with a reputation to reclaim. Her opponent was Felicia Spencer, a relatively untested yet undefeated fighter with a black belt in Brazilian Jui Jitsu.
Round 1: Cyborg was the aggressor from the get-go. Spencer went for a takedown. Stuffed. Cyborg with a big head kick. Spencer clinched with Cyborg against the fence. Cyborg already had a cut on her forehead due to Spencer's elbow.
They broke up from the clinch and Cyborg unleashed a nasty combination. Spencer's chin held up the onslaught. Cyborg momentarily kicked Spencer off her feet. Cyborg with the high kick and a punch to the face. Spencer absorbed some big shots yet didn't seem to be fazed by it all.
Cyborg mixed the kicks up well as she targeted the legs, body and head. Spencer clinched again, but Cyborg landed a huge knee. Spencer worked for a takedown as Cyborg kept getting the knees in. The round came to an end.
10-9 Cyborg
Round 2: Cyborg came in hot with a kick that got caught by Spencer. She initiated a clinch and Cyborg already looked tired. The Canadian fans chanted 'let's go Spencer' in unison.
Spencer attempted a leg trip takedown, but Cyborg held firm. Spencer was wearing out Cyborg in the clinch. Spencer pulled guard on purpose to get Cyborg down. Cyborg landed big shots from the top. Spencer with an upkick that irked Cyborg. Spencer went for another upkick, but Cyborg rained down with a few more big shots from the top.
Spencer didn't get up and invited Cybor down. She held onto Cyborg's hand, but the Brazilian didn't want to indulge on the ground and told her to stand up.
The fans loved it as both women got back to the centre of the Octagon. Low leg kick from Cyborg. Spencer kept trying to find a way into the pocket, but Cyborg kept her at bay with kicks and jabs. And that crazy round came to an end. Spencer is one tough lady.
10-9 Cyborg
Round 3: Spencer with a superwoman punch! Cyborg moved out of the way and got her offence going with a good inside leg kick. Two big knees and a good punch from Cyborg as Spencer rushed in for the takedown. Nice jab from Cyborg. Spencer caught Cyborg in the face with a head kick. They clinched against the cage again. A few good knees from Cyborg. Spencer tried hard to get the takedown, but Cyborg kept stuffing it with offensive moves. Cyborg connected with knees again and a few big shots, right and left hooks. Spencer ate it up and clinched again.
They broke up again. Good one-two from Cyborg. Cyborg kept pressing forward with power shots with 30 seconds to go. Haymaker, shots to the body, high kick, straight right. Cyborg wanted to finish it up right there, but the buzzer came to the rescue. Spencer walked away as if she wasn't even hurt. Astonishing! Another great fight.
10-9 Cyborg
Result: Cris Cyborg def. Felicia Spencer via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
While Cyborg's elite striking needs to be lauded, take nothing away from Spencer's toughness. Her undefeated record may have gone, but her stock rose by going the distance against one of the greatest female fighters of all time.
#5. Max Holloway (C) vs. Frankie Edgar (UFC Featherweight Championship)
A resurgent veteran against the greatest featherweight of all time. Two popular fighters with breakneck, no-nonsense styles of fighting. The main event was bound to turn into a slugfest.
Round 1: Inside leg kick from Edgar to start things off. Holloway took his time to read Edgar's movements. Edgar was busy with feints, and forward pressure. A body kick from Edgar.
Egard came in, but got caught by an uppercut. Holloway avoided getting taken down. Holloway pushed forward with a shot to the body. Good one-two over the top from Edgar. Holloway landed a perfect right hand in return. He followed it up with a left to the body.
Left overhand from the top followed by an uppercut from Edgar. Edgar followed Holloway around. He connected with a good right hand with 50 seconds to go on the clock. Holloway with a good left. Edgar with the hab, and a low kick to Holloway's left leg. The round came to an end with Holloway sending out a few jabs. Holloway nodded in appreciation as he went to his corner. A close round that may have been edged by Frankie. 10-9 Edgar
Round 2: Holloway was letting Edgar come in with his combinations before he could counter, Edgar, kept it going with a nice leg kick. Holloway kept looking to land the uppercut as Edgar came in.
Edgar changed levels, and shot for the takedown with the double underhooks. Holloway defended it well, and we returned to the centre. Another good exchange from both men. Holloway closed a combination with a nice right. Another stiff right from Holloway.
They clinched for a moment, and exchanged decent strikes on the break. Holloway began using the jabs to good effect. One of the cleanest shots of the strike was a Holloway jab. A low kick from Edgar followed up with an attempted head kick. Holloway answered with a combination with the final right-hand strike catching him. Holloway ended the round with a beautiful spinning back kick to Edgar. Both men were putting on a highly technical striking display. 10-9 Holloway
Round 3: Edgar started with a good right hand. A superman punch attempt from Edgar. Holloway stayed focused, and avoided Edgar's flurry. Edgar attacked the body while eating a shot himself. Edgar missed with a three-piece combo. Edgar attempted another takedown, but Holloway stuffed it with ease. Edgar landed a three-piece combo. Holloway kept the jabs coming in. Edgar shot for the single leg, but Holloway defended, and caught him with a right on the break.
Holloway hurt Edgar with two uppercuts. Edgar looked hazed, but he got right back into the mix, and landed his first takedown of the fight. Holloway got back up to his feet just before the round came to an end. How do you score that?
Round 4: Championship rounds! Edgar shot for the single leg again, but Holloway stayed strong on his feet. Edgar feinted, and landed a good right hand. Edgar went to the body with the kick. Edgar faked the left, and connected with the right. Holloway with a sneaky jab. Another jab. Edgar entered for the takedown, but Holloway proved to be a tough customer yet again.
Holloway stepped up the gears as he landed a combination. Edgar came back with a left hook of his own followed by a low kick. Holloway swung with a big overhead kick, but missed. Big shots from Holloway in the final minute. A huge straight right that was masked along with a combo visibly hurt Edgar, he stayed in the fight, and changed levels. The round ended with Edgar going back to his corner with a busted nose.
Round 5: Edgar went high to the body. Holloway stayed light on his feet, and avoided some damage, Edgar showed some urgency, and shot for the takedown. Holloway defended it perfectly. Holloway jabbed, and followed it with a punch to the body. Edgar pressed forward with under two minutes to go. Holloway was leading when it came to the head strike differential, 98-48. Edgar went for the spinning back fist, but Holloway got his arm up.
Edgar touched him with a left hook with a right to follow. Edgar tried, but Holloway at Featherweight is a class apart.
Result: Max Holloway def. Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 48-47)
50-45? It was certainly closer than that. Nonetheless, Holloway put on a masterful, and calculated display of distance management, and striking to defeat a future Hall of Famer. The Blessed Train continues to be on its way baby! Chu Chu!
It was emotional to see Frankie Edgar get teary-eyed after his loss during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. The Answer said that he's not done yet and has a lot of fighting left in him.
