As they often do, ONE FC kicked off the final full weekend of MMA in 2014. They did so with a Beijing Flyweight and Featherweight tournament. Li Wei Bin defeated Wang Wei by unanimous decision to win the Flyweight tournament. He made it to the finals by winning his semifinal fight against Hao Yi Jie via armbar at 2:51 of round 1. Li Kai Wen defeated Wang Ya Wei by unanimous decision to win the Featherweight tournament. Wen got there by winning his semifinal fight against He Nan Nan via TKO at 2:25 of round 1.
Titan Fighting Championship is known for pushing their fighters to finish fights by offering a bonus to those who can pull it off, but at Titan FC 32 the desire for bonus money seemed to be absent. Only one fight on the entire fight card ended in a finish. In the main event Desmond Green claimed the vacant Featherweight belt by earning a hard fought unanimous decision win over UFC veteran Steven Siler.
At UFC Fight Night 58, former Bantamweight champion Renan Barao returned to the win column by sinking in an arm triangle on Mitch Gagnon. The finish came at 3:53 of round 3. Barao proceeded to call out the man who took his title from him, T.J. Dillashaw, in his post fight speech. The main event saw Middleweight Lyoto Machida completely dominate C.B. Dollaway. Machida won by TKO off of a nasty body kick at just 1:02 of round 1.
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has resigned with the UFC after going 3-0 with Bellator FC. The contract rights to Jackson are still being worked out.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
12/14/14
Last Friday a landmark season of The Ultimate Fighter came to an end. The TUF 20 Finale crowned the first ever Women's Strawweight champion. Carla Esparza won that belt in impressive fashion, derailing the Rose Namajunas hype train. Esparza won in round 3 via rear naked choke at 1:26. Other notable winners included Charles Oliveira, Yancy Medeiros and Jessica Penne.
Two belts were on the line at World Series of Fighting 16. The first, the Featherweight belt, saw Lance Palmer defeat the champion Rick Glenn by rear naked choke at 3:09 of round 3. In the main event Rousimar Palhares successfully defended his Welterweight title against fellow UFC veteran Jon Fitch by his go to move, the knee bar, at 1:30 of round 1.
At UFC on FOX 13, three Heavyweight fights took up 75 percent of the main card and it made for an exciting night. The first of those Heavyweight fights saw Matt Mitrione TKO Gabriel Gonzaga at just 1:59 of round 1. Heavyweight Alistair Overeem got back on track with a KO win over Stefan Struve at 4:13 of round 1. In the co-main event Rafael dos Anjos earned a Lightweight title shot with a dominate decision win over Nate Diaz. The main event saw Heavyweights Stipe Miocic and Junior dos Santos slug out a fight of the night type performance. Dos Santos won by unanimous decision.
Following a loss to Drew Dobar at UFC on FOX 13, UFC/WEC veteran Jamie Varner has announced his retirement.
Rafael dos Anjos will get the next shot at Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis due to Khabib Nurmagomedov being injured.
Two belts were on the line at World Series of Fighting 16. The first, the Featherweight belt, saw Lance Palmer defeat the champion Rick Glenn by rear naked choke at 3:09 of round 3. In the main event Rousimar Palhares successfully defended his Welterweight title against fellow UFC veteran Jon Fitch by his go to move, the knee bar, at 1:30 of round 1.
At UFC on FOX 13, three Heavyweight fights took up 75 percent of the main card and it made for an exciting night. The first of those Heavyweight fights saw Matt Mitrione TKO Gabriel Gonzaga at just 1:59 of round 1. Heavyweight Alistair Overeem got back on track with a KO win over Stefan Struve at 4:13 of round 1. In the co-main event Rafael dos Anjos earned a Lightweight title shot with a dominate decision win over Nate Diaz. The main event saw Heavyweights Stipe Miocic and Junior dos Santos slug out a fight of the night type performance. Dos Santos won by unanimous decision.
Following a loss to Drew Dobar at UFC on FOX 13, UFC/WEC veteran Jamie Varner has announced his retirement.
Rafael dos Anjos will get the next shot at Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis due to Khabib Nurmagomedov being injured.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
12/7/14
As the year in MMA gradually comes to an end, each promotion begins to put their best fighters on each card to end with a bang. If this weekend wasn't evidence of that I don't know what is.
ONE FC made its way to the Philippines for ONE FC 23. Roger Gracie made his promotional debut at Light Heavyweight defeating James McSweeney via TKO at 3:15 of round 3. In a Heavyweight bout Brandon Vera made quick work of Igor Subora, utilizing soccer kicks after a punch dropped him. Vera won by KO at 3:54 of round 1. In the main event Bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes successfully defended his belt via rear naked choke at 1:16 of round 2 despite a valiant effort by Dae Hwan Kim.
At RFA 21, the promotions final event of the year, Mehdi Baghdad defeated Zach Juusola to claim the vacant Lightweight belt. Baghdad won by TKO after an elbow split Juusola's forehead. The finish came at 2:47 of round 4.
Invicta FC 10 only had eight fights on the fight card because of injuries but still managed to put on a show. Featherweight Tonya Evinger extended her win streak after getting the win over Cindy Dandois via armbar. The armbar marked her second straight and came at 1:23 of round 2. The main event saw a new Atomweight champion crowned. Herica Tiburcio earned the upset victory over "The Karate Hottie" Michelle Waterson via guillotine at 1:04 of round 3.
At UFC 181 Travis Browne defeated Brandan Schaub by TKO at 4:50 of round 1. The first of two title fights saw Anthony Pettis attempt to defend his Lightweight belt for the first time. Though Gilbert Melendez came out strong, Pettis was able to settle and earn a guillotine from the mount at 1:53 of round 2. The second of the two title fights served as the main event. Welterweight champion Johny Hendricks and "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler picked up right where they left off in this rematch. The two slugged their way to a split decision which saw Lawler become the new champion.
Longtime UFC veteran Yves Edwards has announced his retirement from the sport following a recent loss.
Following his release from the UFC, Lightweight Anthony Njokuani has signed with Legacy Fighting Championship and will fight undefeated Thomas Gifford.
WWE superstar CM Punk has signed with the UFC.
ONE FC made its way to the Philippines for ONE FC 23. Roger Gracie made his promotional debut at Light Heavyweight defeating James McSweeney via TKO at 3:15 of round 3. In a Heavyweight bout Brandon Vera made quick work of Igor Subora, utilizing soccer kicks after a punch dropped him. Vera won by KO at 3:54 of round 1. In the main event Bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes successfully defended his belt via rear naked choke at 1:16 of round 2 despite a valiant effort by Dae Hwan Kim.
At RFA 21, the promotions final event of the year, Mehdi Baghdad defeated Zach Juusola to claim the vacant Lightweight belt. Baghdad won by TKO after an elbow split Juusola's forehead. The finish came at 2:47 of round 4.
Invicta FC 10 only had eight fights on the fight card because of injuries but still managed to put on a show. Featherweight Tonya Evinger extended her win streak after getting the win over Cindy Dandois via armbar. The armbar marked her second straight and came at 1:23 of round 2. The main event saw a new Atomweight champion crowned. Herica Tiburcio earned the upset victory over "The Karate Hottie" Michelle Waterson via guillotine at 1:04 of round 3.
At UFC 181 Travis Browne defeated Brandan Schaub by TKO at 4:50 of round 1. The first of two title fights saw Anthony Pettis attempt to defend his Lightweight belt for the first time. Though Gilbert Melendez came out strong, Pettis was able to settle and earn a guillotine from the mount at 1:53 of round 2. The second of the two title fights served as the main event. Welterweight champion Johny Hendricks and "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler picked up right where they left off in this rematch. The two slugged their way to a split decision which saw Lawler become the new champion.
Longtime UFC veteran Yves Edwards has announced his retirement from the sport following a recent loss.
Following his release from the UFC, Lightweight Anthony Njokuani has signed with Legacy Fighting Championship and will fight undefeated Thomas Gifford.
WWE superstar CM Punk has signed with the UFC.
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