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One of the biggest fight cards of the year, UFC 241 is finally in the books. It's safe to say the much-hyped PPV lived up to its billing.
The freakish dream fight between heavy-hitters Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero was as wild as they come. Nate Diaz made a triumphant return to the Octagon after three years and looked better than ever. The best moment, however, was saved for the end as the UFC crowned a new champion in the main event.
Here are the results and highlights of UFC 241, held at the Honda Center, Anaheim, California.
UFC 241 Results: Prelims
Khama Worthy def. Devonte Smith by TKO (punches) (4:15, Round 1)
Cory Sandhagen def. Raphael Assuncao via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Drakkar Klose def. Christos Giagos via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28, 29-28)
Casey Kenney def. Manny Bermudez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29=28, 29-28)
Hannah Cifers def. Jodie Esquibel via unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Kang Kyung-Ho def. Brandon Davis via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Sabina Mazo def. Shana Dobson via unanimous decision (30-24, 30-25, 30-25)
UFC 241 Results: Main Card
#1 Derek Brunson vs. Ian Heinisch (Middleweight)
Perennial title contender Derek Brunson was coming off a unanimous decision victory over Elias Theodorou and the vet Middleweight was looking to get back to title contention.
A product of Dana White's Contender Series, Ian Heinisch's has managed to rise considerably high up the UFC rankings despite being in the promotion for only a year. Heinisch aimed that extending his five-fight win-streak and progress to the top of the pack in the middleweight rankings
Round 1: Heinisch opened up quick as he pressed forward and connected with an inside leg kick. He rocked Brunson with a head kick to the temple and the crown, as well as Joe Rogan, popped for that. Brunson wrapped his arms around Heinsich and tried to take him down. Heinisch maintained his balance and avoided going down.
Both men broke up. Heinisch kept up the pressure with a 1-2. Brunson was cautious. High kick from Heinisch. He followed it up with a leg kick to the calves. Kick to the body. Brunson connected with a right. Inside leg kick from Brunson.
The fight mellowed down after the initial burst. Brunson shot for the takedown. Stuffed by Heinisch. Brunson held onto the leg and Heinisch landed a few shots while being on one foot. Brunson didn't let go of the leg. Brunson moved his head and avoided a combination to connect with a good right. He shot for another takedown. Stuffed again from Heinisch. 10-9 Heinisch
Round 2: Body kicks from Brunson to begin the second round. He went low to the leg. Heinisch changed levels and loaded up on the right hand. Brunson had his guard up. Brunson went for a single leg takedown again but Heinisch defended it well yet again.
Brunson was being patient and let Heinisch engage before he came back with offensive tools of his own. Heinisch began slowing down as Brunson connected with the better shots which included a well-placed left-hand strike.
Both men exchanged body kicks. Brunson rushed in for a big 1-2. Heinisch covered up and Brunson got in a few big shots from the back. He tried to take him down again but Heinisch stayed up. Brunson had 18 significant strikes in the second round in comparison to Heinisch's 5. Brunson easily avoided a Heinisch shot, who seemed to be showing signs of fatigue.
Heinisch went for a big power shot but Brunson got his head out of the way. Brunson stuffed a Heinisch takedown and landed a big left. Brunson ended the round in a big way and fought really smartly to take it on the scorecards. 10-9 Brunson
Round 3: The fans booed as Colby Covington's image came up on the big screen. What a heel!
Heinisch kept the body kicks coming as the final round began. Colby sucks chants in the arena! Heinisch showed some urgency with good left shots. Brunson landed a nice takedown. Scramble from Heinisch, who popped right back up. They clinched against the cage.
Back to the centre, Brunson landed with a straight left. Another left. Brunson's left hand kept hitting the spot today. Brunson went for a takedown but his corner told him to stay up and capitalize on Heinisch's fatigue. Brunson landed another takedown. He had his back for a few moments before both men stood toe-to-toe again.
Brunson kept moving in and out, conserved his energy really well and kept touching Heinisch with lefts rights. Leg kicks from Brunson. Heinisch looked gassed but he still landed a good right hand. A straight left followed. Heinisch kept pressing despite not having much left in the gas tank. Jab, straight left and right from Brunson. He ended the round with a straight right. A great performance from the underdog Brunson. 10-9 Brunson
Brunson landed 60 significant strikes and successfully completed 2 takedowns out of the 10 attempted. Heinisch got in 40 significant strikes with no takedowns.
Result: Derek Brunson def. Ian Heinisch via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Brunson is now on a two-fight win-streak and looks set to begin another journey towards the title. Heinisch's five-fight streak came to an end and 'The Hurricane' has a lot of work to do, especially when it comes to his cardio if he wishes to be a world-class competitor in the Middleweight division of the UFC.
#2 Gabriel Benitez vs. Sodiq Yusuff (Featherweight)
The second fight of the night was a contest between a kicker vs. a puncher. The kicker in this equation, Sodiq Yusuff was on a four-fight win-streak and was also picked up from Dana White's Contender Series.
The kicker, Benitez had won three of his last four fights and boasted of having the highest striking defence in the Featherweight division.
Round 1: They traded right off the bat. Yusuff threw bombs while Benitez connected with the kicks. This began as expected. Yusuff stalked him down. Benitez tried to keep him away with an inside leg kick followed by a body kick. Another body kick from Benitez.
Yusuff was no slouch while using his feet either as he landed a few inside leg kicks. The same went for Benitez who landed with two consecutive lefts. He stunned Yusuff with a massive left. Yusuff covered up and somehow stayed in the fight.
Yusuff got his head back in the game and began connecting again. Benitez had a cut on top of his left eye and he kept mixing it up with leg kicks and strikes with his hand.
Yusuff wasn't backing down. The Nigerian ate a straight left and landed a perfect counter right hook. Benitez' knees gave up. Yusuff went in and finished the fight with hammer fists from the top.
Result: Sodiq Yusff def. Gabriel Benitez via TKO (punches) (4:14, Round 1)
Super Sodiq let the power in his hands do all the talking. He pushed the pace, cut off Benitez' reach and fought in the pocket. He didn't mind absorbing a few strikes either. He came back from being knocked out to notch up a potential Performance of the Night finish
#3 Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa (Middleweight)
Two freaks of nature with scary knockout power locked inside the cage! It doesn't get any better than this!
Round 1: Costa began in orthodox and shot for the body kicks. Romero went high with the head kick and attempted a takedown. Costa stuffed it. Romero tried a wild spinning back elbow.
Romero tried to cut the distance. The Cuban got rocked by Costa with a left to the chin. Romero wobbled a bit and responded by rocking Costa in return with a shot. It was a back and forth slugfest. No surprises here!
The fight continued after the wild exchange. The fight was momentarily stopped after Costa hit Romero in the groin. Romero went high, so did Costa, who went for a head kick.
Romero shot for the takedown. Costa stuffed it and landed shots from the top. Romero sprang back up with a wild combination. It was a chaotic first round which may have been edged out by Costa as he landed the bigger shots and had better moments overall.
Round 2: Front high kick from Romero. Left hook from Romero. Costa with a huge 1-2. Body kick from Costa. Leg kick from Costa. Romero switched stances. Costa with a left hook to the body. Another straight left to the body. Romero looked for an opening but Costa was giving him none of it.
Costa had Romero pinned onto the cage and unloaded with right and lefts. Romero kept asking for more. Back to the centre, Costa fired a straight right.
Romero went low to the gut, then a high kick and an attempted jab. Costa's jab looked more like a powerful straight right. Romero's jabs kept connecting. Romero's hand speed looked great. Romero kept moving as Costa was slowing down. Romero with the jabs mixed with the lefts and right. Body kicks from Romero. Romero with an uppercut through the guard. Romero landed a takedown in the dying stages of the second round.
Round 3: This was Costa's longest fight ever and that would have been something Romero would have wanted to capitalize on. Costa jumped in with a body punch. A jab from Costa. Two jabs from Romero. Romero with a solid right and a straight right.
Costa connected with two hard kicks to the body. Costa with a quick right. The referee asked for a timeout as Costa suffered an eye poke. The fight resumed. Big 1-2 from Costa. Romero kept his guard up but Costa kept landed nasty punches to the body. Jab, body punch from Romero.
Romero pressed forward. Costa with another shot to the body. Romero with an elbow to the face. Romero went for the uppercut, but Costa moved his head. Romero kept pushing forward. Costa wanted more. The fans went bananas. What a fight! What an atmosphere!
Both men threw bombs in the centre. Three quick jabs from Romero. Costa with a body kicks again. Romero with a big headshot. Costa tried to cover up as Romero followed him.
Romero scored a takedown but almost gave up his back. Both men held on as they went the entire 15 minutes.
That lived up to all the expectations and then some.
Romero scored 96 head strikes to Costa's 55. Costa was up in the stats when it came to the body strikes with 55. Both men had one knockdown each.
Result: Paulo Costa def. Yoel Romero via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Lot's of Yoel fans in the house as the fans vociferously booed after Costa was announced as the winner. They just didn't let him speak as the post-fight interview was drowned out by the jeers.
Was that a disputable decision from the judges? We'll have to watch that crazy fight again as well as see the scorecards to make a fair assessment.
All said and done, The Eraser and The Soldier of God delivered one of the fights of the year.
#4 Nate Diaz vs Anthony Pettis (Welterweight)
The most anticipated fight of the card was finally here. It was electric. Did the Stockton Zombie stop Showtime's welterweight resurgence? Let's find out.
Round 1: Loud chants for Diaz to begin the fight. Diaz with a lot of pressure early on in the fight. Pettis caught him with a right. Pettis looked to get his kicks going. Diaz with a wild flurry before he clinched with Pettis against the cage. Diaz got in a few punches to the body in the clinch. The broke up and Pettis landed a body punch.
Pettis with a high kick. Many feints and fakes from both fighters. Diaz wanted to make this a dirty boxing fight as he pressed him against the cage again.
A good right from Diaz. Pettis looked for the high kick. Diaz went for a 1-2 but Pettis moved away. Diaz shot for the takedown and got it. Pettis got him in the Guillotine position. Diaz managed to get his head out of the grip. The crowd loved that. Diaz was not on top of Pettis. Big shots from the guard. Pettis flipped around. Diaz got to hold off Pettis' back. He attempted a read naked choke but Pettis delayed it until the bell. Big round for Diaz.
Round 2: Leg kick from Pettis, however, his shin gave in and he lost balance, Diaz rushed in and clinched. They split up and Pettis landed a good left on the break.
Pettis was warned about watching his fingers. Pettis attacked the left leg of Diaz. Nice jab and strike to the body from Pettis. Diaz was having issues with his eye. The referee called for a timeout and got the doctors to check on Diaz. Diaz gave a thumbs up and the fight resumed. Solid right from Pettis. 1-2 from Diaz. Diaz kept pushing forward and didn't allow Pettis to stretch his legs. Diaz got Pettis' back and took him down with ease. Side control from Diaz. A scramble from Pettis. Both men got back on their feet.
Clinch against the cage again. Knees to the body from Diaz. Elbows from Diaz. Big right on the break, Beautiful jab from Diaz. Pettis was hurt but he let his hands loose. Diaz clinched again. Pettis attempted a knee. Right hand from Pettis. Short punches from Diaz. Diaz with a knee to the body Right from Pettis. Elbow from Pettis. Diaz kept unloading with rights and lefts near the cage as the round came to an end. Pettis kept swinging as well. That exchange got the fans on the feet.
Round 3: They clinched again. Diaz continued with the dirty boxing and cut off the Pettis' reach. Pettis tried to go high but Diaz had his guard up. Diaz with a hook followed by a punch to the body.
Short punches from Pettis in the clinch. Diaz with a left, and then a right. Big shots. Pettis tried a spinning back fist. Diaz was relentless. More big shots from Diaz followed. Three brutal knees from Diaz and Pettis was down on the mat. Diaz looked to finish off the fight. Pettis covered near the cage and Diaz unleashed a barrage of strikes. Mike Beltran didn't stop the fight as Pettis was still in it. He somehow survived.
Diaz worked on Pettis and got his back. He tried to lock in the RNC. Pulled gaurd. Pettis reversed it and found himself on top of Diaz. A recovered Pettis tried to land shots from the top. Diaz flipped the fingers back at him. He's back!
Back in the guard, a scramble ensued and Diaz reversed position to get hold off Pettis' back again. Diaz almost got both thse under-hooks but then came another reverse of positions from Pettis. This was beyond incredible at this point. The fight eventually came to an end. Every fan inside Honda Center was on their feet.
Result: Nate Diaz def. Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Now, that was a satisfying fight to watch. The Stockton native put on a typical performance by using his wretsling and clinch work to nullify the threat of Pettis' kicks. A win in his first fight in three years makes us believe that Diaz is immune to cage rust.
He called out Jorge Masvidal during the post-fight interview. Take all our money, Dana. We want Masvidal vs. Diaz!
#5 Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic (UFC Heavyweight Championship)
Main event time!
Round 1: Inside leg kick from Miocic. Stipe looked like he wanted to keep his fight out of DC's reach. Inside followed by an outside leg kick from the champ. A cautious start from both men.
Stipe exercised some offensive patience. Cormier changed levels and shot for the single-leg takedown. Miocic showed some good takedown defence but DC was adamant. He hoisted Stipe up in the air. Stipe hung in mid-air, holding onto DC's back until he was slammed into the mat with authority. Elite level wrestling on display.
It was DC's round from here onwards as he pinned him down. Side control. seamless transitions. Hammer fists and short punches from the guard. Ground and pound at its finest, DC was all over Miocic. Miocic broke away in the end but DC held on with hammer fists to cape off a dominant round.
Round 2: Stipe with a jab and an inside leg kick. Good knee to the body from Stipe. He tried to keep the distance and use his reach. Good combination from Stipe. DC grabbed stipe and landed a few punches.
Big elbow from Cormier. DC kept pushing forward with his hands down. No respect from the champion. DC with two solid punches. Stipe answered with a string of punches. DC kept pressing forward and landed a few strikes. They clinched.
They broke up and began to exchange strikes again. DC with an eye poke that looked nasty. DC with a big right. Stipe got back with a right of his own. They clinched again for a few seconds. DC kept going. A big right from the top and an uppercut. Miocic with a big right to the ear of DC. The round ended with a head kick from DC.
Round 3: Stipe with a good shot to the body and an inside leg kick, Stipe shot for the takedown, but DC defended it and went for a head kick. DC kept up the volume but Stipe clinched and pushed DC against the cage,
Stipe with a knee to the body in the clinch. Stipe attempted a big spinning elbow. He followed up with a good combination. DC with the jabs. Solid body kick from DC. Stipe with a combination. DC with a nice right. Stipe clinched and landed a takedown. Knee to the body from Stipe. Miocic shot for another takedown. DC stuffed it.
DC pushed Stipe back. Solid combination from Stipe. Huge right from DC. Both men looked exhusted. Stipe landed a big right and DC countered with a couple of rights to end the round. That was a big round for Stipe.
Round 4: Championship round #1! Stipe with the jab and the inside leg kick. The former champion was controlling the centre of the Octagon and was the one pushing forward. Another good jab from Stipe. DC responded with a big left. Stipe with another jab. The jabs kept coming in from Stipe. Nice left to the body from Stipe. He followed it with a left hook. Clean striking from Stipe.
Another left body shot from Stipe. Good jab from DC. Stipe kept landing the left hooks to the body. DC connected with the rights. The left hooks to the body kept landing. DC with a big right. Left hook to the body followed by a straight right from Stipe.
Stipe weathered him down with another left hook to the body and then unleashed a brutal combination. 1-2. Three massive straight right-hand strikes. DC was out. Stipe applied the finishing touches as Herb Dean stepped in. And new!
Result: Stipe Miocic def. Daniel Cormier via TKO (punches) (4:09, Round 4)
What a finish to UFC 241! Stipe Miocic deployed a brilliant game plan in the fourth round, wore DC down with the body shots to the liver and took advantage of the opening to put Cormier to sleep. Your new Heavyweight Champion of the world. Stipe is back and how!
DC alluded to retiring from the sport in his post-fight interview and said that he would talk to his wife and make an educated decision regarding his future.
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