UFC 194: McGregor vs Aldo - Review and results

A historic night in VegasA historic night. Historic performances. Historic memories. UFC 194 was everything it was supposed to be. We finally got the featherweight unification fight between Aldo and McGregor. We finally got the middleweight showdown between Weidman and Rockhold. We finally got Jacare Romero, Nelson Maia and Holloway - Stephens. It truly was about time.Below we look back at an event that will live long in the memory as champions put their titles on the line, legends put their legacy on the line and rising stars put their hype on the line. If you havent already watched the event, please find a way to do so. But until then, enjoy a detailed breakdown of all the drama, all the heartbreak and all the glory from an epic night of fights.

#1 Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens

Holloway was coming in to the fight on the back of the biggest winning streak of his career. Stephens on the other hand was trying to push on from his win at UFC 189, which came after back to back defeats. On a card headlined by the current featherweight kings, this was a showcase of the depths of the division.

Round 1

The fight began with both men switching between orthodox to southpaw stance trying to create openings for themselves. They spent much of the opening exchanges trying to get establish their range. The cagey opening was a testament to the respect both fighters have to each other. A stutter stop kick to the body by Holloway was caught by Stephens who would proceed to push him against the cage trying to take him down. Holloway however defended and forced the fight back to the centre. Though there wasn’t much action in the first round, Holloway dictated the pace and direction of the fight for a majority of the time.

SK score – Holloway 10-9

Round 2

In the early exchanges of round 2, Holloway picked his shots and got out of danger, continuing to dictate the exchanges. There was a lot of hand fighting as both men tried to create openings. Holloway threw a spinning body kick but Stephens defended, pushed him against the cage again and tried to score a takedown. Holloway however, resisted and eventually moved away. The two finally opened up a bit landing significant strikes each in an exchange. Normalcy was resumed when Stephens once again pinned Holloway against the cage and Holloway successfully defended the takedown. There were a few more big shots attempted by both however the second round ended in similar fashion to the first.

SK score – Holloway 10-9 [20-18]

Round 3

Between rounds, Stephens’ corner told him he needed to knock Holloway out. Stephens threw an early head kick, coming out the more aggressive fighter. However he left an opening which allowed Holloway to take him down. Holloway was working towards an arm triangle before getting Stephens back trying to lock in a choke. Stephens resisted but Holloway spun into half guard and began raining down shots. Holloway once again tried to lock in the choke. Stephens managed to scramble to his feet and get the fight to the centre. Stephens began going for broke, throwing big shots with little reward. Stephens attempted an 8th takedown and Holloway defended for the 8th time. The last 20 seconds was an all-out stand and bang with Stephens desperate for the finish.

SK score – Holloway 10-9 [30-27]

Official Result – Max Holloway via Unanimous Decision [30-27, 30-27, 29-28]

#2 Gunnar Nelson vs. Demian Maia

The long awaited BJJ centric showdown between Iceland’s Gunnar Nelson and Brazil’s Demian Maia was next. Nelson successfully rebounded from his first career set back at UFC 189. Maia on the other hand was riding a 3 fight win streak, his last coming in August against Neil Magny. The fact that a fight that could have headlined half of the UFC cards this year was fourth billing is testament to just how good this card was.

Round 1

Maia immediately shot for a takedown but Nelson managed to reverse and landed up on top of the Brazilian. Maia grabbed Nelson’s leg and worked to get a single leg take down. However Nelson used a leg trip to get on top of Maia again. As Nelson tried to work position, Maia grabbed Nelson’s back. As Nelson tried to shake him off, Maia landed up on top of Maia in full mount and began throwing down shots. Nelson got up but Maia immediately got his back again. Maia locked in a body triangle and took Nelson to the ground. Maia was on his back with Nelson caught in his triangle. Maia went for an armbar but Nelson spun away escaping the armbar and launched into an offence just as the round ended

SK score – Maia 10-9

Round 2

Maia once again shot a single early in the second aiming for a single leg takedown. Despite getting Nelson down, Maia ended up on the bottom but managed to scramble up. Maia slowly worked his way to Nelson’s back and wrapped in another body triangle. Maia unloaded in punches from the back forcing Nelson to the ground. Nelson however rolled over and got on top of Maia. However as Nelson tried to advance his position, Maia rolled him around and landed up on top again. Maia once again began inflicting punishment on the downed Nelson with hard elbows from the top. Maia transitioned to a full mount and pounded Nelson repeatedly as the round drew to a close.

SK score – Maia 10-8 [20-17]

Round 3

The final round started just like the other 2. Maia shot for a single leg and dragged Maia to the ground. Nelson tried working for a top position guillotine but was unsuccessful. Maia landed up on top again and went to work on Nelson landing big elbows. Maia locked in a body triangle and took Nelson’s back, continuing to throw shots for a significant amount of time. Nelson did eventually spin around and get top position for the last 15 seconds of the fight but it was too little too late.

SK score – Maia 10-9 [30-26]

Official Result: - Demian Maia via Unanimous Decision [30-26, 30-25, 30-25]

#3 Ronaldo Jacare Souza vs. Yoel Romero

Romero emerges in a controversial decision win

This fight was a long time coming. After failing to make it twice, Souza and Romero squared off in a title eliminator. Both were in the form of their lives but both came in knowing they may never have another chance to work themselves into the title picture if they lost.

Round 1

Early on, Jacare followed Romero, forcing him in the pocket and threw a few hard punches. Romero however did not flinch and continued to feint and move around. Jacare was putting a tremendous amount of pressure on Romero, trying to corner him to take away Romero’s explosiveness. Romero caught Jacare and knocked him back a bit. As Jacare continued to work pressurize Romero, the Cuban hit the Brazilian with a vicious spinning elbow. Jacare fell to the ground and Romero followed him unleashing a barrage of elbows and punches. Jacare almost locked in an arm triangle but Romero escaped and continued to punish Jacare for the rest of the round. Jacare struggled back to his corner at the end of the round.

SK Score – Romero 10-9

Round 2

Jacare looked wobbly at the start of the second round while Romero looked relaxed, waiting for his opening. Jacare rushed in for punches and unsuccessfully tried to get Romero down. Jacare threw himself in for another take down but Romero held the fence, reversed and managed to get top position. The referee stood them up, warning Romero about his cage holding tendencies. Jacare began moving more freely while Romero looked to be tiring. Jacare landed a right hand before once again failing at a takedown. Romero stopped moving around as much and slowed down. He did land an inside leg kick that hurt Jacare just as the round ended but looked worn out as the round ended.

SK Score – Jacare 10-9 [19-19]

Round 3

Jacare came out the fresher fighter and began picking up the tempo to test Romero’s cardio. Romero clipped Jacare with a straight left and an inside leg kick without doing too much damage. Jacare went for a takedown which Romero defended yet again. Romero connected with an uppercut as Jacare got close. Jacare unloaded on Romero, pushing him against the cage and landing some big shots. Jacare finally got Romero down in half guard firing shots as Romero tried to fend him off. Romero tried to scramble but Jacare held him down and threw some hard elbows. Jacare continued the punishment with knees to the body, followed by shots to the head. Romero managed to get to his feet in the last few seconds as the bell sounded, ending the fight.

SK Score – Jacare 10-9 [29-28]

Official Result – Yoel Romero via Split Decision [29-27, 28-29, 29-28]

#4 Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold

The long awaited championship bout between the two best middleweight fighters in the world was up next. The excitement was palpable as two martial artists in their athletic prime squared off for the title of the undisputed best.

Round 1

Weidman opened up with a kick to the head which was blocked by Rockhold. As Weidman rushed in, he evaded a punch from Rockhold and grabbed his back. Weidman locked in the body triangle as Rockhold tried to get the champ off. Rockhold freed himself but Weidman continued to hold on, keeping a close distance, landing a knee to the body and taking Rockhold down. Weidman transitioned into back control but was unsuccessful in getting Rockhold’s back. Weidman kept Rockhold pinned against the cage and threw a hard elbow. As the champ took the challenger down, Rockhold trapped Weidman’s neck and tried to lock in a guillotine. Referee Herb Dean controversially stood them up. Rockhold landed a hard body kick. As Weidman tried to take Rockhold down, Rockhold transitioned to top position as a very close first round ended.

SK Score – Weidman 10-9

Round 2

Rockhold evaded a shot from Weidman and connected with a right hook. Weidman fell to the ground, scrambled to his feet but was pressed up against the cage as Rockhold led with a flurry of attacks. Rockhold began throwing kicks after Weidman got away from the cage. Rockhold landed several leg kicks and head kicks. Weidman tried to take Rockhold down unsuccessfully and ate a kick on the way out. Rockhold continued to punish the champion’s body and arms before Weidman unsuccessfully attempted a takedown. Rockhold connected with a right punch to the head. Weidman’s right leg began showing signs of damage as Rockhold continued to control the striking. Rockhold mixed up his offence with leg kicks and question mark kicks. Weidman however connected with a kick to the body that hurt the challenger before eating a straight left himself as the round drew to a conclusion

SK Score – Rockhold 10-9 [19-19]

Round 3

Weidman continued to stand in front of Rockhold allowing himself to be exposed to the kicks of the challenger. Weidman pushed Rockhold against the cage but ate a check right hook on the way in. Rockhold forced the fight back to the centre. Weidman connected with several leg kicks before hitting Rockhold with a right hand. Weidman got Rockhold down but as he tried to establish mount, Rockhold got himself up. Rockhold connected with a kick to the body and Weidman answered with a kick of his own. Rockhold began to look tired as the champion began controlling the fight a lot more. Weidman went for a wheel kick which Rockhhold evaded and grabbed Weidman’s back. As Rockhold worked for the guillotine, he transitioned to full mount launching shots at the champion. Weidman was cut as Rockhold went in for the finish with elbows. The entire last minute of the round had Weidman on his back eating shot after shot. A huge finish to the round for the challenger.

SK Score – Rockhold 10-8 [29-27]

Round 4

Weidman opened up with a kick to the body. Rockhold replied with a kick of his own pushing Weidman against the cage trying to get him to the ground again. After some resistance, Rockhold got Weidman down and entered full guard. The challenger began punishing the champion again with shots to the body. Weidman tried to escape but Rockhold held him down and landed elbows and punches as the champion continued to bleed profusely. Rockhold got on top of Weidman and launched a series of punches forcing Herb Dean to stop the fight. Luke Rockhold, in the performance of his life is the new Middleweight Champion of the World

Official Result – Luke Rockhold via TKO

#5 Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor

Finally. The main event. The most anticipated fight in featherweight history. The 10-year undefeated streak of the pound for pound king Jose Aldo against the superstardom of Conor McGregor. A long time coming, the fight we have all been waiting for was here.

Round 1

After epic entrances and raucous crowd reactions, Aldo and McGregor finally went at it. Both fighters went in at a high pace. McGregor connected with the first punch he threw and dropped Aldo. Knocking him out in record time of 13 seconds, thus beating Ronda Rousey’s 14-second victory!

Official Result – Conor McGregor via Knockout