Two of the UFC's greatest champions fell Saturday night at UFC 194 in Las Vegas, and one lost quicker than any fighter ever had in a championship bout.
Conor McGregor is the new UFC undisputed featherweight champion, and it didn't take long for him to claim the title. He knocked Jose Aldo out in 13 seconds in one of the most shocking endings to a UFC championship fight in history.
It wasn't surprising that McGregor won. There were people who picked him, but no one thought he would win that quickly.
There's not much to analyze from a fight that could fit entirely in an Instagram video, but here it goes: Aldo faked a punch, McGregor threw a cross, Aldo came in with a shot and ate a nasty left hook just as he landed his own shot.
Unfortunately for the Brazilian, he was already out cold as his punch connected with McGregor's face. The latter would drop a couple of hammer fists on Aldo's nose, but it was already a done deal. Referee John McCarthy was moving in to rescue Aldo.
ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto had the most appropriate response:
OMGMGMGMGMGMGMGMGMGMGMG
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 13, 2015
Per Fox Sports' Ariel Helwani, McGregor did his best to sum up his sensational victory:
McGregor: nobody can take that left hand shot.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 13, 2015
MMA Fighting and Okamoto shared post-fight quotes from Aldo after his humiliating defeat:
Aldo: This is a fight. These things happen. I’ll be back.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) December 13, 2015
Jose Aldo: I think we need a rematch. It wasn't really a fight.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 13, 2015
It's only natural that Aldo would want a rematch, but MMAjunkie's Duane Finley doesn't think that's the right move:
You don't do a rematch off a 13 second KO. Give Aldo Max and let Edgar get in there w Conor
— Duane Finley (@DuaneFinleyMMA) December 13, 2015
Frankie Edgar disposed of Chad Mendes in similar fashion Friday night at The Ultimate Fighter Season 22 Finale. He's the only legitimate 145-pound contender who hasn't had a crack at McGregor. He's also been passed over a few times.
Perhaps this is the right time to skip the unwritten rule for an immediate rematch for a long-term champion. In any case, McGregor has cemented his status as a UFC legend with this win. He beat one of the best pound-for-pound fighters the sport has ever seen, and he did it in record time.
What more could anyone ask for?
Rockhold Smashes Weidman to Take Title
Chris Weidman will rue the day he ever tried a wheel kick against Luke Rockhold. After Weidman controlled the first round with his wrestling and Rockhold seized the second frame with his striking, the third was set up to be pivotal.
Boy, was it ever.
Weidman was in control of the round up until the final minute, when he threw the ill-advised kick. Perhaps he was trying to light Rockhold up with the same move Vitor Belfort used to hand the challenger his only UFC loss.
It didn't work.
Rockhold ducked it and took Weidman down for the first time in his UFC career. Once he got him there, Rockhold was relentless. He pounded Weidman's face to a bloody pulp with elbows and punches.
He battered Weidman for at least 40 seconds straight, but referee Herb Dean seemed as frozen as a deer in headlights. He failed to stop the fight, and Weidman escaped. Many, including Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden, took umbrage with Dean's hesitation:
Dear Herb Dean: That's how people get permanently hurt. #UFC194
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) December 13, 2015
Dean's indecision only prolonged the inevitable. Rockhold wasted no time regaining control of Weidman in fourth. He pushed him against the fence and resumed the pounding. Thankfully, Dean saw it fit to finally stop the fight.
Snowden tweeted images of Weidman's mangled grill and Aldo's towel-covered face:
The agony of defeat. #UFC194 pic.twitter.com/PnnX1twcDz
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) December 13, 2015
MMA Fighting's Shaheen Al-Shatti was shocked at Rockhold's dominance over a great champion:
Chris Weidman is one of the toughest human beings on the planet. I can't believe we just watched a man break him.
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) December 13, 2015
It seems as though a rematch is in order. Weidman had been the champion for over two years, but he may have to wait his turn, considering Yoel Romero defeated Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza via split decision on the undercard. We'll have to wait for word on Rockhold's next fight from UFC President Dana White.
For now, Rockhold should enjoy the spoils of his victory.
| UFC Fight Pass Prelims | ||
| Matchup | Weight Class | Result |
| Joe Proctor vs. Magomed Mustafaev | Lightweight | Mustafaev by TKO (first round) |
| John Makdessi vs. Yancy Medeiros | Lightweight | Medeiros by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) |
| Court McGee vs. Marco Alexandre | Welterweight | McGee by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) |
| Fox Sports 1 Prelims | ||
| Matchup | Weight Class | Result |
| Leonardo Santos vs. Kevin Lee | Lightweight | Santos by KO (first round) |
| Warlley Alves vs. Colby Covington | Welterweight | Alves by submission (first round, guillotine) |
| Tecia Torres vs. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger | Strawweight | Torres by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) |
| Urijah Faber vs. Frankie Saenz | Bantamweight | Faber by decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) |
| Main Card | ||
| Matchup | Weight Class | Result |
| Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens | Featherweight | Holloway by decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) |
| Demian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson | Welterweight | Maia by decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25) |
| Ronaldo Souza vs. Yoel Romero | Middleweight | Romero by decision (29-27, 29-28, 28-29) |
| (c) Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold | Middleweight | Rockhold by TKO (fourth round) |
| (c) Jose Aldo vs. (i) Conor McGregor | Featherweight | McGregor by KO (first round) |
Other Highlights
Mustafaev Smokes Proctor
The 27-year-old Magomed Mustafaev made it two wins in a row to begin his UFC career. Both victories have come by stoppage.
A liver kick folded Joe Proctor like a lawn chair in the first round of their preliminary bout. In his UFC debut, he won via TKO when the cageside doctor forced a stoppage of his bout with Piotr Hallmann.
The Russian had already built a 17-9 edge in significant strikes before the kick reduced Proctor to rubble, per UFC.com. It was just the first time Proctor had been finished via strikes in his career.
Mustafaev improved to 13-1 overall in his career with his statement-making victory in the UFC's lightweight division.
Santos Shocks Lee
In a major surprise, Leonardo Santos defeated Kevin Lee via TKO in the first round. A one-two combination dropped Lee, and the Brazilian pounced on him while raining down hammer fists and punches.
Referee John McCarthy gave Lee every opportunity to recover, but Santos was relentless. He landed countless unanswered shots before McCarthy stepped in.
When it was over, Santos immediately ran from the cage and almost out of the MGM Grand Garden Arena. He'd return for the official decision and an interview with Joe Rogan, but for a moment, his jubilation got the best of him.
Per MMA Fighting, this quote from Santos might be the line of the night:
Santos: "I know I shouldn't have ran out of the Octagon after my victory but like I said, the cage was just too small to hold my happiness."
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) December 13, 2015
According to some oddsmakers listed by Odds Shark, Lee was the biggest favorite on the card. To see the 23-year-old rising star not only beaten but also stopped via strikes by a fighter who is best known for his jiu-jitsu was shocking.
Fox Sports' Jon Anik talked about how costly Saturday's loss will be for Lee:
Kevin Lee had won 4 straight coming in. Depth @ lightweight is such that it'll take him 2+ years to get back to where he was entering 194.
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) December 13, 2015
Alves Chokes Out Covington
Warlley Alves has a serious guillotine choke. If you don't believe me, just ask Colby Covington. The Brazilian used the maneuver to finish the American in an impressive victory.
The end didn't take long to materialize. Covington was overzealous. He ran right into the choke and then made the hold even tighter by trying to slam his way out of it.
How tight was the hold? MMA Fighting gave us a visual through text:
Covington’s face was turning purple.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) December 13, 2015
Alves talked about his counter strategy against the way most opponents approach him:
Alves: Everyone is scared of my kickboxing, so we’ve been working on [the ground game]. It’s a good weapon.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) December 13, 2015
Alves improved to a perfect 10-0 in his career while handing Covington his first loss in nine professional bouts.
What's Next?
Next week, another UFC world title is on the line. Lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos will make his first defense in Orlando, Florida, against Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. The card will also feature a heavyweight clash between former champion Junior dos Santos and perennial contender Alistair Overeem.
The return of Nate Diaz to the Octagon will also highlight the Orlando card as he takes on Michael Johnson. You can see the entire card at UFC.com.
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