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The final UFC event of the year, UFC Fight Night 165, was live from the Sajik Arena in Busan, South Korea.
Frankie Edgar stepped in on short notice to replace the injured Brian Ortega to face The Korean Zombie in the main event.
Doo Ho Choi returned to the Octagon after nearly two years for an important fight against rising Canadian prospect Charles Jourdain.
A huge Light Heavyweight fight between Aleksander Rakic and Volkan Oezdemir was the co-main event of the card which had a perfect balance of highly technical decisions and some hard-hitting knockouts.
On that note, here are the UFC results and highlights of the Fight Night 165:
UFC Fight Night 165 Results: Prelims
Ciryl Gane def. Tanner Boser via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Seungwoo Choi def. Suman Mokhtarian via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-26, 29-25)
Omar Morales def. Dong Hyun Ma via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
Alexandre Pantoja def. Matt Schnell via KO (punches) (4:17, Round 1)
Raoni Barcelos def. Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Amanda Lemos def. Miranda Granger via technical submission (rear naked choke) (3:43, Round 1)
Alateng Heili def. Ryan Benoit via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC Fight Night 165 Results: Main Card
#1 Liu Pingyuan vs. Kang Kyung-Ho (Bantamweight)
Liu 'The Hurricane' Pingyuan had lost just one of his last ten fights while Kyung Ho 'Mr/ Perfect' Kang had one defeat in his last six fights, and was currently on a two-fight win streak.
Round 1: Pingyuan came in hot as he extended himself to connect with combinations.
Kang weathered the storm, changed levels within a minute and scored a neat takedown.
Mr. Perfect worked his way into full guard. Pingyuan tried to fire off a few elbows from his back. He even briefly attempted to get a kimura but Kang got his arm out.
Kang landed shots from the top to the side of Liu's body. A few overhand rights too landed for Kang. Pingyuan pushed himself back against the cage and found an opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kang was relentless, however, as he took his opponent down to the mat again. Liu continued to land the elbows from his back. Kang had enjoyed three minutes of top control. Kang got in some big ground and pound shots in the final ten seconds with Liu trying to keep him away with the up kicks. 10-9 Kang
Round 2: Kang began the round with a big head kick. Pingyuan retreated but Kang changed levels and scored another takedown, his third of the fight.
Kang tried to get in a dominant top position but Liu kept himself busy by dishing out some punishment from his back. Pingyuan pushed back against the cage again while Kang continued to land punches to the face.
Kang stayed in full guard and landed some heavy shots after creating some separation in the guard. Liu finally got his back against the cage but Kang pinned him down to the mat again. Liu got in the body lock to minimize the damage. Liu got up on his knees but Kang used his head to blind him and masked it with left-hand punches. 10-9 Kang
Round 3: Liu attempted a few left-hand shots. Kang went for the front kick to the body.
Liu came in for a combination but Kang wasn't home. Liu landed a few low kicks and the double jabs. Kang level-changed but Liu stuffed the takedown attempt. He went for another takedown, but Liu's defence held up. Liu landed a few good knees to the side of Kang's body. Liu slipped and found himself on his back. Kang took advantage and jumped into the guard.
Liu tried to get back up again but Kang was in no mood to let that happen. Liu opened up Kang with a sharp elbow from the bottom. Liu was doing a great job with the elbows from the back. They ended the fight with a back-and-forth brawl on the mat. 10-9 Liu
Result: Kang Kyung-Ho def. Liu Pingyuan via split decision 29-8, 28-28, 30-27
Liu's work from the back convinced one judge that he'd done enough however, Mr. Perfect's top control proved to be the decisive factor for him.
#2 Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Park Jun Yong (Middleweight)
Marc-Andre Barriault was on a two-fight losing streak and was looking for his first UFC win. The same went for South Korean Park Jun Yong, who lost on his UFC debut against Anthony Hernandez in August.
Round 1: The feeling out process lasted for 30 seconds before Barriault went for an overhand right. Park tried to land the left-hand jabs. He landed a solid low kick as Barriault tried to get his range going.
Barriault connected with a body kick. Both men exchanged leg kicks before Park landed a solid body kick of his own. Park took a timeout after he accidentally got poked in the eye.
They resumed and Park landed a good left hook from the inside. Barriault shifted from Orthodox to Southpaw, however, he got pushed back with a few strikes.
Park changed levels and went for the double leg. Barriault tried to avoid going down but Park lifted him up and slammed him down to the mat. The fans loved that. Barriault didn't stay down for long as he got back up fairly quickly. Barriault kept a tight guard and absorbed a lot of Park's punches.
Power Bar landed a few solid shots as we entered the final minute. Barriault tried to press forward with a few combinations. He connected with a leg kick. Park landed one of his own as the round came to a close. 10-9 Park
Round 2: The South Korean fighter was leading on the striking charts and Power realized that.
Barriault tried to cut the distance but Park shut his opponent down with a big elbow followed by a high kick. Park unloaded a few knees as Barriault looked hurt.
The Iron Turtle got in the double under hooks and tried to take Barriault down, who resisted and settled for the clinch against the cage. Park had a strong body lock on Barriault as the latter found it difficult to shake his opponent off.
Park released the lock and they got back to the centre. Barriault tried to follow him around and landed a decent leg kick. He changed stances and looked for an opening. However, Park's reactions and awareness were on point today. Park tried to get the jabs through Barriault's guard followed by a 1-2.
Barriualt faked the level change a few times and went for the overhand right, however, they all hit Park's guard. 10-9 Park
Round 3: Barriualt sprinted towards Park as the round began. The Power Bar's urgency was evident as he looked for the power shots. Park changed levels and got Barriault down for a few seconds.
Back in the centre, Barriault marched forward and landed a few combinations. They clinched and Park landed a few knees on the inside. Park landed a few punches on the break. Barriault went back to southpaw before going back to orthodox. Park kept Barriault away with the jabs. Barriault kept pressing forward and landed two consecutive calf kicks. Barriault changed levels but Park scouted it well and got his hands around the neck in a standing guillotine position.
They broke up and Power Bar continued to push forward. He landed a few more leg kicks. Barriault applied the pressure as Park circled the Octagon to avoid any damage. 10-9 Barriault
Result: Park Jun Yong def. Marc-Andre Barriault via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
The Iron Turtle neutralized his opponent's pressure and notched up his first UFC win with a highly professional performance.
#3 Mike Rodriguez vs. Jung Da Un (Light Heavyweight)
Mike Rodriguez had lost two of three UFC fights, with last loss coming in July earlier this year. His opponent, the South Korean Jung Da Un was coming off a big win in his UFC debut and had not tasted defeat since 2015.
Round 1: They touched gloves and we got underway. Rodriguez began in his trademark Muay Thai Southpaw style.
Jung landed a few fancy jumping kicks to the body to pop the crowd. The mantra for Jung Da Un was simple - Knock out or get knocked out. And he didn't disappoint.
The South Korean came in with a lazy lead left. However, that was a diversion for a picture-perfect straight right that pierced through Rodriguez' jaw like a sniper.
Rodriguez's knees gave up and Jung Da Un went down to apply the finishing touches as the fans went bananas! Emphatic!
Result: Jung Da Un def. Mike Rodriguez via KO (1:04, Round 1)
After two laborious fights that went the distance on the main card, Jung Da Un got the fans on their feet with a quintessential first-round knockout. He is now on a 12-fight win streak. The UFC Light Heavyweight division has a serious finisher rising up the ranks now.
#4 Charles Jourdain vs. Doo-ho Choi (Featherweight)
Doo-ho Choi returned for his first fight in over two years and he couldn't have asked for a better place than to fight in front of his hometown Busan fans. This would be Canadian Charles Jourdain's second UFC fight, with his first ending in a loss to Desmond Green back in May.
Round 1: Choi was the one pressing in the early stages as Jourdain attempted a few spinning leg kicks. They clinched for a few seconds before Jourdain got back to the low kicks.
Choi got in the pocket a few times and landed a few rights. Jourdain answered with a body shot and hook combination. He pushed Choi back with a knee.
They got back to the centre and went for the leg kick at the same time. They clinched again for some time before Choi amped up the pressure. His timing was immaculate as he caught Jourdain with a quick-fire left hook as the Canadian rushed into the pocket.
Jourdain wobbled a bit as Choi went for the flying knee. Choi rocked Jourdain yet again with a right that sent Jourdain down to the mat.
The Korean Superboy got into Jourdain's guard. They jockeyed for position as Choi got Jourdain's back near the cage. Jourdain got up on his feet and broke away. Choi's striking was on another level as he kept tagging Jourdain with lefts and rights from weird angles.
However, Jourdain mounted a comeback right at the end by knocking Choi down with a huge right. Jourdain jumped in for the finish but Choi was conscious enough to shoot a few up kicks. Jourdain tried to get the ground and pound for the finish but Superboy was saved by the bell. 10-9 Choi
Round 2: Jourdain had earned Choi's respect with the late flurry at the end of the first round. He began the round with a good body kick. Choi looked measured and calm as he got into punching range.
Choi reached in for the overhand right but Jourdain kept him away with the body kick. Choi faked an uppercut as Jourdain covered up. Choi fired a straight punch to the chest of Jourdain.
Choi applied the pressure and pushed him against the cage. He landed a solid right and looked to finish him off with a follow-up combination, however, Jourdain saw an opening and slithered out.
The Canadian turned it up as he hurt Choi with a right followed by an extensive combination. Choi got his guard up and attempted a spinning back fist out of nowhere. Jourdain put together long combinations as he pushed Choi back.
Choi stepped in for the uppercut, however, Jourdain popped him on the chin with the straight left followed by a short right hook. Choi fell to the mat and all that Jourdain had to do was to get in a few punches before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
Result: Charles Jourdain def. Doo-ho Choi via TKO (4:32, Round 2)
The Canadian fighter silenced the Busan crowd with a finish that should get him a performance bonus. Sadly for Choi, The Korean Superboy couldn't have an ideal homecoming party.
#5 Volkan Oezdemir vs. Aleksandar Rakic (Light Heavyweight)
There was a lot of hype surrounding Austrian giant Aleksandar Rakic as the #10 ranked Light Heavyweight looked to jump up the rankings against the #8 ranked Volkan Oezdemir.
Round 1: They touched gloves and Rakic wasted no time as he went in for the power shots. He rocked Oezdemir with an uppercut followed by a big knee. Rakic got hold of Oezdemir's neck in a standing guillotine.
Volkan survived and they clinched against the cage. They exchanged positions before getting back to the centre.
Rakic stayed on the outside and tried to use his long reach. Oezdemir came in with a combination but Rakic tagged him with one of his own.
Rakis tagged Voljan with back-to-back 1-2 combinations before going for the single-leg takedown. Oezdemir resisted but Rakic tripped him and caught his back. Oezdemir got up to his feet and was pushed against the cage. He landed a knee in with his back against the cage. Rakic fired off a combination but Oezdemir moved his head smoothy and got out of the way. Rakic went low for the body shot. He followed up with a wild lead right but missed. 10-9 Rakic
Round 2: Volkan took the centre and went for the leg kicks. Rakic's lead leg was swollen up as a result of Oezdemir's kicks. Oezdemir continued to attack the swollen leg with a kick.
Rakic shifted stances and went for a left leg kick. Both men scrambled in the centre before clinching against the cage. Oezdemir landed elbows in the clinch before they broke away.
Rakic reached out for the single leg but Volkan defended it well. Oezdemir pressed forward with Rakic landing two inside leg kicks. Volkan came in with a body shot but missed the follow-up left as Rakic moved his head. 10-9 Oezdemir
Round 3: The swelling underneath Rakic's left knee looked horrific and Oezdemir kept attacking the damaged spot.
Rakic landed a two-piece combo followed by an uppercut that missed. Volkan closed the distance and clinched with his back against the cage,
Oezdemir swung his hands on the break. Both men circled the centre of the Octagon. Volkan was looking for the over-the-top right, left hook combo. Rakic avoided getting hit with some fluid head movement,
Oezdemir went back to the leg kicks as Rakic put together a few combos. The Austrian pushed forward and landed a furious combo to the body of Oezdemir. Rakic went for the double leg but Oezdemir had him covered. The fight ended with Rakic trying for the takedown but Oezdemir's defence was solid.
Result: Volkan Oezdemir def. Aleksander Rakic via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
It was a very close fight but 'No Time' edged it on the scorecards. The former UFC LHW title contender is now on a two-fight win streak while Rakic will have to get back to the drawing board.
#6 Chang Sung Jung vs. Frankie Edgar (Featherweight)
The two veteran fan favourites took centre stage in Busan for what promised to be an explosive main event. Did it deliver? Let's find out...
Round 1: The Korean Zombie's fast hands vs. The Answer's quick lateral movement - this one looked interesting right off the bat.
They tested waters before Zombie rocked Edgar with a shot left hook. Edgar wobbled a bit before shooting for a takedown. Jung defended it astutely and Edgar got back to his feet.
The Korean Zombie knocked Edgar down with a precise combination with another left hook, which sent Edgar down to the mat.
It seemed like a wrap for Edgar, however, the Answer showed legit toughness. Zombie tried to take Edgar's back but the latter held on to the wrists.
Jung kept unloading with big shots from the top and Edgar hung in for dear life. Edgar somehow stayed alive and also got back up to his feet.
Zombie wasn't taking it to the second round, however, as he landed another perfect combination. A big uppercut followed by the powerful left hook was the final nail in the coffin for Edgar as the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. The fans went ballistic!
Result: Chang Sung Jung def. Frankie Edgar via TKO (3:18, Round 1)
Total domination from the Korean Zombie! He went in and knocked out one of the greatest featherweights of all time.
Title shot in 2020? Hell yeah!
