UFC 185 was arguably one of the wildest, most exciting, nights in recent UFC history. Buoyed by a pair of title fights, the fight card was seen by many to be one of the UFC’s more interesting PPV offerings in recent months. While cards that have such hype more than often fail miserably in practice, I have to admit that UFC 185 actually delivered as promised.
Nothing captures the “holy sh*t” vibe of UFC 185 quite like the night’s main event between the reigning lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and rugged Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos. Pettis, one of the UFC’s “golden children” is widely considered a champion not to be f*cked with. The Wheaties box cover model is as dynamic a striker, and tenacious a fighter as any one in the UFC. His ascension to the UFC title was all but preordained and the manner in which he defended the strap is often awe-inspiring. However, standing across the cage from him Saturday night was one Rafael dos Anjos. Dos Anjos is a fighter who is as hard as granite and has long voiced his desire to challenge for the title based on the merits of his destruction in the cage. Still, despite dos Anjos highlight reel of pain few gave him a shot of upsetting Pettis on such a stage.
Then the fight started.
Dos Anjos wasted little time in establishing himself in the fight, winging brutally hard kicks to the ribs and midsection of Pettis early on. Pettis, full of youthful swagger, seemed unfazed early on but try as he might he could not keep dos Anjos off of him. For better or worse that was the story of the fight, dos Anjos supplying relentless pressure, suffocating, and beating the living Hell out of Pettis over the course of the fight. Pettis never quitted but you could see it in his face. He simply had no answer for the challenge of dos Anjos. Scorecards were not needed; everyone knew who won this fight. Rafael dos Anjos is the new UFC lightweight champion.
The night’s co-featured fight of the night was the UFC woman’s strawweight title fight pitting newly minted champion Carla Esparza against Polish kickboxer Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Esparza had just won the title following her stint on TUF and this was set to be her first defense. An uncanny wrestler, Esparza is a handful when she can dictate the pace of the fight. However, Jedrzejczyk was unwilling to give Esparza that glimmer of hope.
From the opening bell it was Jedrzejczyk who was in firm control throughout. Standing, she battered and bruised a completely out-gunned Esparza. When Esparza tried to take the fight to the ground Jedrzejczyk would not allow it, stuffing the takedown attempts and punishing Esparza for the attempt. Esparza had no hope in the fight as Jedrzejczyk just would not yield her attack. Mercifully, referee Don Turnage stopped the fight near the end of the second round as we had all see enough. Jedrzejczyk now claims the title as her own and hot damn fight fans could not be more excited.
Former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks made his first return to action following his title losing performance to Robbie Lawler earlier in the year. Tough as nails Matt Brown was tasked with beating Hendricks on Saturday night but unfortunately for him, “Big Rigg” was having none of that.
Returning to his roots as a top-tier collegiate wrestler, Hendricks wasted no time in shooting in and taking down Brown early in the fight. Many thought that Brown’s high level jiu-jitsu would serve him well being on his back but Hendricks attack was as smothering as a wet blanket. Brown had no answer and while he didn’t really get beat up, he was a non-factor in the fight as Johny Hendricks simply did what he wanted to do in route to a unanimous decision victory.
OTHER RESULTS
Alistair Overeen put on the most impressive performance of his career as a UFC fighter by beating the hell out of iron-chinned Roy Nelson. Mixing in an attack of knees, flying knees, and kicks, Overeem simply battered Nelson. Nelson was game and fought on to the last bell but he was out classed in every way imaginable in this fight.
US gold medalist Olympian Henry Cejudo finally made the 125 lbs flyweight limit and in doing so looked impressive as hell controlling Chris Cariaso in route to a unanimous decision. Cejudo’s mix of wrestling and boxing might see him gain a title shot sooner than later.
PRELIM RESULTS
Ross Pearson starched Sam Stout in the second round with a wicked left hook.
Elias Theodorou defeated Roger Narvaez when Naviaez broke his arm following getting kicked in the second round.
Beneil Dariush chocked out Daron Cruickshank with a RNC in the second round.
Jared Rosholt stopped Josh Copeland in third round.
Ryan Benoit rallied back from a beatdown in the first round to stop Sergio Pettis in the second round.
Joe Duffy looked super impressive in his UFC debut by starching Jake Lindsey in the first round.
Germaine de Randamie defeated Larissa Pacheco via second round TKO.
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