'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
If we had to describe UFC Fight Night 157 in one word, it has to be historic. It may sound cliched but the event held in Shenzhen, China ended with one of the most significant moments in UFC history.
Weili Zhang emphatically defeated Jessica Andrade to become the first Chinese UFC Champion.
With that being said, let's not waste any more time and get right to the results and highlights of the full show:
UFC Fight Nigth 157 Results: Prelims
Anthony Hernandez def. Jun Yong Park via submission (anaconda choke) (4:39, Round 2)
Sumudaerji def. Andre Soukhamthath via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
Da Un Jung def. Khadis Ibragimov via submission (ninja choke) (2:00, Round 3)
Damir Ismagulov def. Thiago Moises via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Alatengheili def. Danaa Batgerel via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Karol Rosa def. Lara Procopio via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
UFC Fight Night 157 Results: Main Card
#1. Wu Yanan vs. Mizuki Inoue (Women's Flyweight)
Chinese prospect Wu Yanan was the underdog going into the opener of the main card, but she also had the hometown fans on her side. Her opponent, Mizuki Inoue was competing in the UFC Octagon for the very first time and intended on making a strong statement on the Women's Flyweight division.
Round 1: The size difference was evident from the get-go. Yanan had a significant reach advantage over her opponent. Many feints from Inoue. Inoue went in for the single leg but Yanan caught her with a knee.
Inoue kept her opponent guessing with feints and forward pressure. Yanan went for a kick and missed. Inoue connected with a straight right and a few a jabs. She was the more active of the two as her short combinations seemed more effective.
Jab and straight left from Inoue. She ducked under a combination and a straight right from Yanan. Inoue continued to march forward but Yanan landed with a combination to stop her in her tracks.
Inoue clinched and landed a few looping right strikes in the pocket. She rushed in again for a hook but Yanan avoided getting hit. Inoue feinted for the single leg but went up for a head strike. Yanan answered with a1-2. Yanan with a body kick and a two-piece combo to end the round. 10-9 Inoue
Round 2: Inoue continued the pressure with a solid right to begin the second round. Another big shot from Inoue that wobbled Yanan. Yanan tried to keep Inoue away with the kicks but Inoue kept getting into the pocket.
Yanan attempted a standing Guillotine but Inoue got out. Inoue went for the takedown. Stuffed. Yanan landed a big elbow on the break. Back in the centre, Inoue kept pressing and clinched with Yanan again. Two stiff elbows from close range from Inoue.
Good jab from Inoue. Yanan goes low to the body. Both women clinched. Yanan looked for the foot sweep. Inoue stepped back. Yanan landed a right on the break. Yanan avoided getting hit and landed a two-piece combo on the break. Inoue attempted a sloppy takedown. Inoue with a nice 1-2. In and out and very smooth from Inoue.
They clinched with 40 seconds to go. Short elbows from Inoue. Inoue tried for a trip but Yanan stayed firm on the feet. Yanan was doing a good job of defending strikes and countering with combos of her own. That was an evenly-contested round.
Round 3: Inoue kept coming with the jabs as instructed by her corner. Yanan shot for the takedown but Inoue defended it with ease. Feint and go was the mantra for Inoue.
The high temp approach from both fighters with a lot of movements and heavy combinations made this an entertaining watch. Yanan shot for a takedown and almost got Inoue down to the mat. However, Inoue kept her posture straight and stuffed it.
Clinch in the centre. Inoue pushed Yanan against the cage. Left hook from Inoue on the break. They clinched again. Good knee from Yanan. Inoue with an elbow on the break. Inoue with a straight jab as they make their way back to the centre. Inoue kept coming in. Yanan landed with a few combinations but Inoue landed her best combination of the fight. A 1-2 to the jaw. That was clean from Inoue.
Inoue showed off great head movement. However, Yanan landed a clean right and elbow. The hometown fans tried to rally Yanan on but the final flurry may not have been enough to get him the win.
Result: Mizuki Inoue def. Wu Yanan via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
It was a close fight but the 24-year-old Inoue got a deserved W on her UFC debut. She was the aggressor throughout the fight and looked more dynamic with her striking.
#2. Song Kenan vs. Derrick Krantz (Welterweight)
A product of Dana White's Contender Series, Derrick Krantz had an impressive resume to boast about. Krantz had finished 21 of his 24 wins and had 17 first-round finishes. His opponent, Chinese Welterweight Song Kenan was an all-action fighter with a penchant for finishes. This one promised to be a wild fight.
Round 1: Song closed the distance and landed a kick to the body. Krantz took his time and looked to read his opponent's movements. Song kept firing in the kicks. It was loud in the arena as the fans chanted for one of their own.
Outside leg kick from Krantz. Inside leg kick from Song, followed by a high kick. Krantz with a hook. They gave each other a lot of respect. While it may have seemed cautious, both men had the power to finish the fight with one shot.
They clinched against the fence. That didn't last long. Oblique kick from Song. Lead right and a follow-up left from Krantz. He followed it with a lead jab. Outside leg kick from Krantz. Krantz began to get into groove looked to cut his rhythm with a kick.
Krantz kept circling Song, who connected with a body kick. Song used the kicks to keep Krantz away. Three heavy shots from Krantz in the centre. Song hung in there, faked a knee and connected with a left high kick. That was a beautiful exchange. That was a very tough round to score.
Round 2: Inside leg kick from Song. Krantz was the aggressor now as he looked to get some momentum.
Krantz shot for the double leg takedown. Song resisted, but Krantz hoisted him up in the air and slammed him down to the mat. Krantz got into side control and did a good job of generating some good downward pressure. He passed to mount and tried to pin Song down on his shoulders. Punches from Krantz to Song's gut. Krantz' briefly looked for a kimura.
Song waited for his opportunity and scrambled to flip positions. The crowd popped as Song almost got Krantz' back. Krantz slipped out settled into Song's guard. They changed positions again as Krantz locked in a standing Guillotine. Song got his head out in time. Song targeted Krantz' back again. Krantz escaped from the back door and got Song down again before assuming side control. He kept Song on his back and landed a few strikes until the round ended. 10-9 Krantz
Round 3: Solid kab from Song. Song came out as a man possessed. He had Krantz backed up. Wild swing of hands from Song, who unloaded with rights and lefts. Krantz landed many hard shots before taking Song down. That diffused the situation.
Krantz suffered a big cut above the eye as a result of Song's flurry. Song wanted to put on a show. Big left from Song. Krantz looked hurt. Song followed it up with a 3-piece combo. A flying knee followed from Song.
Krantz grabbed Song's legs and looked to force a takedown. Song resisted but gave in eventually. Krantz began in full guard and to win this fight, he needed to keep Song down. Krantz got a little impatient and gave up a strong position. Song got up and so did Krantz. Both men were exhausted.
Song with a jumping knee and a wild left. Krantz was spent as he wobbled around due to exhaustion. Song kept going forward with his arms down. Krantz took a deep breath and attacked the body. The fans booed but both men were just too tired to even care. The round ended and we just don't know who won here. Krantz may have edged it as he had more ground control. However, Song inflicted more damage.
Result: Song Kenan def. Derrick Krantz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Song's outrageously aggressive stance in the third round was instrumental in him getting the win here. A unanimous decision is contestable as Krantz did have a dominant second round. However, he took serious damage in the third round and was sloppy on the ground when it mattered the most in the third round.
#3. Mark De La Rosa vs. Kai Kara-France (Flyweight)
Mark De La Rosa returned to the Flyweight division intending to break into the top 10, however, he had to go through Kai Kara-France, a New Zealander on a 7-fight win streak.
Round 1: Kara-France went straight to the body with the punch. Rosa was told to take him down to the mat and use his Black Belt BJJ.
Rosa's corner was distracting. The loud instructions echoed around the arena. De La Rosa got Kara-France's back. De La Rose looked to get in the hooks for a takedown from the back but Kara-France showed strong defence. Kara-France tipped the scales and slammed Rosa down to the mat. That was incredible!
Kara-France followed it up with some ground and pound. De La Rosa got up and both men returned to the centre of the Octagon. De La Rosa landed a few good combinations. Kara-France went high for the kick. De La Rosa used the jabs well by doubling and tripling the straight shots. De La Rosa shot for the takedown. Kara-France defended it impeccably well. A quick scramble and both men were back on their feet as the buzzer rang,
Round 2: Kara-France showed more urgency as the round began. A three-piece combo from France. Shot to the body before going upstairs with a few hooks.
Kara-France rocked De La Rosa with a clean right. Rosa got knocked out. Kara-France jumped in for the finish but Rosa recuperated. Rosa shot for the takedown as soon as he got up but Kara-France stayed steady on his feet. Rosa got in a few good strikes and combinations in.
Kara-France swept Rosa off his feet again with a kick to his legs. Rosa got back up, which is exactly where Kara-France wanted the fight to go down.
Kara-France mixed it up with kicks to the body and outside to the leg. Kara-France with a big looping overhand right that missed. De La Rosa attempted seven takedowns but failed on every single attempt thus far.
De La Rosa with the forward pressure. De La Rosa with a heavy combination. France's face looked busted as De La Rosa stayed in the pocket and let his hands go. Kara-France with a capoeira kick to the head of De La Rosa, who defended it with his hand. Some highly technical striking on display by both the fighters.
Round 3: It was a wild third round as De La Rosa ditched the takedown gameplan and decided to stand and bang with France.
He landed some great combinations by getting into the pocket but Kara-France had bigger moments. Kara-France kept going to the body with punches and kicks and the concentrated attack paid dividends as body De La Rosa was exposed to a barrage of punches against the cage. Just when you thought De La Rosa was out of the fight, he gestured for more. He got back to the centre and exchanged strikes. They stood toe-to-toe and put on a stand-up clinic until the final buzzer.
Result: Kai Kara-France def. Mark De La Rosa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
#4. Li Jingliang vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (Welterweight)
Chinese veteran Li Jingliang had only lost once in his last seven fights while Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos himself hadn't lost in his last seven fights.
Round 1: Fakes and feints begin the proceedings. Santos used his kicks to keep Li at bay. Santos kept changing his stance from orthodox to southpaw and back to orthodox. Li got in a kick combination of his own. Outside leg kick from Santos but Li caught it. Santos went down but sprang back up to his feet as Li didn't wish to pursue him on the mat.
Both fighters were trying to settle in and find proper timing and range. Santos with a nice kick and a big left. Li seemed fine despite the combo landing flush. Santos with the body kick.
Li came forward with a three-piece combination that sent Santos off balance. Santos suffered a cut under his eye from one of the landed punches. They clinched for a few seconds before going back to the centre.
Li then absolutely rocked Santos with a massive straight right. Santos was flat on his back. However, he got back up and clinched with Li to see off the round. Santos got up like the Undertaker there!
10-9 Li
Round 2: Li's boxing looked crisp as he landed a hook and a big right. Li checked Santos' kick and landed a straight right yet again.
Santos needed a change as Li was comfortable with the way the fight was going. Li waited for his opportunity as he defended well, let Santos make his move before unleashing his combinations.
Santos rushed in for the superman punch but Li moved swiftly to move out of the way. Santos was aggressive in this round as he knew he was down on the scorecards in the fight. Li kept his focus and defended with good head and foot movement.
There was a massive flurry in the centre in the final seconds of the round before they both clinched against the cage.
Round 3: Li pumped up the crowd before the final round. They obliged. Santos kept up with the kicks. Santos attacked the body with the spinning kicks. The Capoeira background came to the fore. Santos shot for the single leg but Li slipped right out of it.
Santos went for a right cross but Li fought smart by staying on the outside. Santos tried to back Li up and he landed a combination as well. Li moved out of the way again but Santos kept pressing forward. Li connected with a big right. Santos kept following Li but he found it tough to touch him. Li caught Santos' kick again and scored a takedown.
Santos got back up and back down again due to a slip. Both men were back in the centre with a minute left to go.
Santos with a body kick. Li kept gliding around and that frustrated Santos. Just when you thought the fight would go the distance, Li connected with a nasty uppercut. Santos' knees wobbled and Li went in with the heavy-handed shots. Li needed six big shots and a right hook to put Santos to sleep.
Result: Li Jingliang def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos via TKO (4:51, Round 3)
The win now makes Li Jingliang a ranked fighter in the stacked Welterweight division. The real test begins now.
#5. Weili Zhang vs. Jessica Andrade (Women's Strawweight Championship)
The term historic gets thrown around a lot but this main event truly represented a monumental occasion in UFC's history. And Weili Zhang didn't disappoint as she gave 1.4 billion Chinese people a big reason to celebrate and it just took her 42 seconds.
Round 1: Inside leg kick from Zhang. Andrade pushed forward as expected. Zhang kept the kicks coming but found herself in the pocket. She ate a few shots from a rampaging Andrade, who as we all know, loves to fight in the pocket and indulge in some dirty boxing. What followed was goose-bump inducing good!
Zhang cracked Andrade with a quick right and both women began trading shots. Zhang caught Andrade and punished her with some brutal knees. Andrade got pushed back but Zhang followed her until she put her to sleep with a string of massive parting shots.
And just like that, China has its first UFC World Champion. Take a bow, Weili Zhang. These are the moments that leave you speechless.
Result: Weili Zhang def. Jessica Andrade TKO (0:42, Round 1)
Congratulations to Weili Zhang and her camp for giving the fans one of the best UFC moments of the year. Props to Jessica Andrade as well for being a true professional in her post-fight interview.
