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UFC Fight Night 112 Results: Kevin Lee's Controversial Win Leads Card


Jun 25, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Michael Chiesa (red gloves) fights Kevin Lee (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports
Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports

UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma City featured a strong prelim and main card, but all that will be forgotten after a controversial finish to the main event between Michael Chiesa and Kevin Lee.

Lee came away with the victory after (kind of) submitting Chiesa.

You can't take anything away from Lee's performance, no matter how much you disagree with referee Mario Yamasaki stopping the fight.

Lee did well to avoid Chiesa's armbar and transition to get Chiesa's back. Once Lee got the body triangle in place, it only seemed like a matter of time until Lee would get under Chiesa's chin for the rear-naked choke.

Eventually, Lee got under the chin and put the squeeze on Chiesa, but the referee stepped in to separate the fighters before Chiesa tapped out. 

It could be argued that Chiesa's left arm went a little limp, but he appeared to still be awake and looking to put his elbow down on the mat to turn his body in an effort to stand up. Yamasaki tried to protect Chiesa, but he may have stopped the fight too soon.

Lee was on pace to win the fight, or at least the round, so a rematch could be on the books later this year, specifically in December as Lee and Chiesa said post-fight inside of the Octagon.

But let's move on from the main event and take a look at the rest of the main card.

Main Card Results:

Kevin Lee def. Michael Chiesa via submission (RNC) (1st, 4:37) 

Tim Boetsch def. Johny Hendricks via second-round TKO (0:46)

Felice Herrig def. Justine Kish via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)

Dominick Reyes def. Joachim Christensen via first-round TKO (0:29)

Tim Means def. Alex Garcia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 

Dennis Siver def. B.J. Penn via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-27) 

Siver Seals Penn's Fate

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 25: BJ Penn reacts after the conclusion of his featherweight bout against \ds#@\ during the UFC Fight Night event at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 25, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuf
Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Let's get one thing straight about B.J. Penn's future in the UFC: There shouldn't be one.

If Penn wants to keep fighting, hat's fine. But it shouldn't happen in the UFC anymore.

There are other organizations, like Rizin in Japan, where he can still be a star. Getting punished fight after fight by some of the world's best strikers is bad for Penn's health, fight fans and the legitimacy of the UFC. 

In the first round, Penn didn't get much off in terms of offense and seemed comfortable watching Siver throw leg kicks to the body while putting together a few combinations. However, Penn didn't shoot for a single takedown not only in the first round but at any time in the fight.

Penn had an opportunity in the second round to take care of Siver after landing a beautiful uppercut that sent Siver to the canvas, but instead of trying to gain full mount and work for a submission, Penn just put his weight on Siver and waited for the round to end.

The third round wasn't much of a fight, and Penn looked like he didn't want to be there.

Siver was sharp and in shape after two years away from the Octagon, but he should've finished Penn in the third round. Penn couldn't walk from the damage done to his lead leg and was breathing heavily, constantly walking away from Siver. 

The win was big for Siver, who can now look forward to getting back into the top 15 of the featherweight division with a couple more victories under his belt, but the loss for Penn was his fifth in a row. He hasn't won since 2010.

It's time for the UFC and athletic commissions to protect Penn and stop him from fighting. 

By Any Means Necessary

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 25: Tim Means celebrates after his unanimous-decision victory over Alex Garcia of the Dominican Republic in their welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 25, 2017 in Oklahoma Cit
Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Alex Garcia can be a frustrating fighter, and that was apparent Sunday against Tim Means. Garcia was waiting for an opening to counter Means, but it never came. Means used his size and kept distance between himself and Garcia's power, which was a smart move since Garcia seemed to be loading up on every strike he attempted to land.

Call it methodical and perhaps a bit boring, but Means did what he had to do to earn the decision. Why should he have to go out of his way and allow Garcia to come closer in range to deliver a lethal blow if he can outsmart Garcia at arm's length? 

After an awkward couple of fights against Alex Oliveira, including a no contest and a submission loss, Means is back in the win column and, even at the age of 33, there is still a lot of room for him to grow in the welterweight division. 

As for Garcia, he needs to go back to the drawing board.

At the end of the first round, Garcia looked as if he were just doing his best to conserve energy for the second and third rounds, but he didn't look to pounce on Means and be the aggressor. Instead, he waited for the third round.

But Means was ready for anything Garcia was willing to throw at him and wasn't going to let him get near to landing a haymaker to change the outcome of the bout. Garcia has the skill set and power to be a force in the 170-pound division, but he needs to improve his endurance and become a more aggressive fighter if he ever wants to be more than above average in the UFC.

Reyes Sets World on Fire in Debut

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 25: Dominick Reyes celebrates his knockout victory over Joachim Christensen of Denmark in their light heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 25, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

What's the best way to introduce yourself to the light heavyweight division in your UFC debut? By knocking out your opponent in under 30 seconds.

Dominick Reyes was a highly touted prospect coming into his fight against Joachim Christensen, but he may have cemented himself as an immediate threat to the top 10 of the division after flat-lining Christensen with a vicious straight left.

The two punches he landed once Christensen hit the deck were unnecessary, but you fight until the referee stops you.

Reyes didn't call out any top fighters after his first UFC win. We'll wait to see what the UFC decides to do with a fighter who has a lot of hype and can knock people out with a single punch in a division that is desperate for top-flight contenders.

Now 7-0 as a pro, Reyes has options. As for Christensen, the fight ended so quickly it's hard to imagine what he could have done differently other than covering up a little better. Look for Reyes to emerge from the next wave of 205-pound contenders in the next year. 

Herrig Picks up Another Win 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 25: Felice Herrig celebrates after her unanimous-decision victory over Justine Kish in their women's strawweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 25, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (
Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Felice Herrig almost had the submission win over Justine Kish, but she'll take the dominant victory and continue to wreak havoc on 115-pound division. 

Herrig was Kish's backpack for the majority of the fight as Kish couldn't shake off Herrig for the entire fight and struggled to compete with Herrig's jiu-jitsu. Anytime Kish was able to stand herself up, she received a resounding applause for the effort. That's how good Herrig was.

The fight was almost stopped halfway through the third round as Herrig had a tight rear-naked choke on Kish and it seemed like a matter of time before Kish either tapped or went out cold.

Credit to the referee for not pulling apart the fighters despite how tight the choke looked, as Kish was able to miraculously get Herrig's forearm from under chin, which allowed her to survive all three rounds.

For Herrig, the win marks her third in a row as she looks to continue her rise to the top of the division. Currently ranked No. 13 in the strawweight division, it might be time for Herrig to get a top-10 fight. 

Perhaps a date with former champion Carla Esparza could be next, who also earned a win Sunday. 

Boetsch Ruins Hendricks' Homecoming

Jun 25, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Tim Boetsch (red gloves) fights Johny Hendricks (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports
Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Boetsch came to Oklahoma City with a huge target on his back, fighting the hometown boy in Johny Hendricks. Fortunately for Boetsch, the fight didn't last very long thanks in part to a perfectly placed right head kick that hit Hendricks above the ear and knocked him off balance against the cage.

Boetsch was able to set up the head kick by targeting Hendricks' lead right leg, which made Hendricks think twice about putting weight on his right foot to launch his dangerous left hook. Boetsch was able to pounce on Hendricks once he landed the head kick and didn't let him breathe. 

With a flurry of uppercuts from Boetch, Hendricks' body slumped down against the cage and was saved by the referee who had seen enough. The victory was big for Boetsch, who needed a bit of a lift after getting submitted in his last fight by Jacare Souza. He should be looking for another top-15 fight next. 

After a successful debut at middleweight, it looked as if Hendricks finally found a new home at 185 pounds until he came in overweight on Saturday. Does the UFC give him any more leash to make weight again? Or has the organization become fed up with the lack of discipline Hendricks shows outside of fight camp?

Maybe 205 pounds is next for Hendricks if he can't get his act together. But beside his weight, it's clear that the former welterweight champion has lost a step. Or two, for that matter.

Losing to Boetsch was big for Hendricks, especially since he was fighting in front of a home crowd. Maybe he needs some time off to get his act (and weight) together before coming back to the Octagon. For his sake, he should take the rest of 2017 off.  

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