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| Getty Images / UFC |
Smith was subject to more than 2 rounds worth of brutal damage, eating uppercuts and ground strikes with no answer having emptied his gas tank with an early outburst in the main event.
The win marks Teixeira's 4th straight in the light heavyweight division and puts him well and truly back into the mix at 205.
UFC 249 report: Gaethje brutalises Ferguson to take interim championship
Big wins for Kelleher, Sherman in prelims
A losing skid which saw Chase Sherman dropped from the UFC may have been the best thing to happen to him. After overcoming turbulence in his career and personal life, he blitzed his way back into the promotion - and on his return fight, he was similarly triumphant. He powered through and broke down the debuting Ike Villanueva, who showed resilience to make it out of the first. Ultimately a crushing lead elbow buckled his opponent prompting the referee to step in. "You ever order 10 wings and get 11? Yeah," Sherman told Cormier in the post-fight interview. Summarised to perfection.
Chase Sherman looking rejuvenated and very powerful in his octagon return , clean work . #UFCJacksonville pic.twitter.com/n09XVZfqXY— Rawmmanews (@rawmmanews) May 13, 2020
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| Image: MMA Fighting |
Brian Kelleher pulled through a rough first round to hand Hunter Azure his first professional loss by means of a picture-perfect left hook and a complementary hammer fist to punish another prospect. "Boom" is his nickname for a reason. (Watch: UK | US)
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Omar Morales would however keep his undefeated record intact. The judges ultimately favoured the Venezulan's body work and aggression against Gabriel Benitez who fought the majority of the fight with a horrific, bone-deep would on the shin. Viewer discretion advised.
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Sijara Eubanks kept up the pace and it was too much for Sarah Moras en route to a unanimous decision victory. Her boxing had the Canadian busted up, and the only offence in reply were armbar attempts that Eubanks saw off at ease. Another big win at 135 for Eubanks who will be wanting to keep up that pace as the year continues.
Johnson lets Moises off the hook
Thiago Moises def. Michael Johnson via submission (heel hook), round 2 (0:25)
Thiago Moises may have been worked in the first round, but an adjustment in his corner and he had Michael Johnson tapping barely a minute into the second. The lightweight veteran made a perfect start, backing up his opponent with straight shots to the body and splitting the guard multiple times, while keeping the takedowns at bay.
In the second round though, Moises changed levels straight away and Johnson knew he was in a dangerous predicament. Moises grabbed the leg and turned for the heel hook, and Johnson tapped immediately. An impressive turnaround against a credible opponent and as he gets back into the win column he wants a crack at Anthony Pettis next.
Thiago Moises landed 1 strike against Michael Johnson #UFCJax pic.twitter.com/7QhMa3YGUo— Jason Floyd (@Jason_Floyd) May 14, 2020
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| Image: MyMMANews |
Half-centurion celebrations for Arlovski
Andrei Arlovski def. def. Philipe Lins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
There's no better way to reach 50 professional fights than with a victory in the world's biggest MMA organisation. Andrei Arlovski did just that, knocking off promotional newcomer Philipe Lins.
Lins made a good start against the former heavyweight champion, cracking him with big shots and stifling him with leg kicks, backing "Pitbull" up on several occasions. In the second round however his pace slowed and that's where the veteran began to chip away. There was a break in the action in the second round after an unintentional strike to the groin, but following that Arlovski saw off Lins attempts to push the pace and counter him, and he was hitting big counters before the bell, taking the win by unanimous decision.
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| Image: MMA Junkie / USA TODAY SPORTS |
Ricky wins game of Simon Says
Ricky Simon def. Ray Borg via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
A wrestling and talk-dense approach from Ricky Simon saw him grind out the win against former flyweight title challenger Ray Borg.
"The Tazmexican Devil" certainly had his moments but was unable to string enough effective work together to change the tide of a fight largely dominated by Simon's takedowns and striking to supplement it. Making the most out of the crowd-less arena, Borg and Simon had some wholesome verbal exchanges during the fight... (Watch: Europe | US)
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| Image: The Sun |
Three on the bounce for Dober
Drew Dober def. Alexander Hernandez via TKO (punches), round 2 (4:25)
Drew Dober catapulted his name into the lightweight rankings with a stunning finish over Alex Hernandez in the second round - carrying the momentum from teammate Justin Gaethje's win on the weekend.
The highly-touted Hernandez looked strong from the start, looking for big right hands and kicks as he teetered on the outside. Dober's work rate was solid in the first stanza, which was only marred by an eye poke at the end of the round.
Hernandez got one back and coincidentally, unintentionally poked the eye of Dober when pushing away early in the second. Dober was growing with danger by the round, coming closer with the left hand, until he dropped Hernandez. He popped back up and got the takedown, but Dober wouldn't be deterred and landed huge shots again, as Hernandez did all he could to stay in the fight. After a another takedown which Dober sprung back up, some unanswered shots left Herb Dean with no option but to wave the fight off.
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| Image: MMA Junkie / USA TODAY Sports |
Rothwell welcomes OSP to heavyweight division with a gunfight
Ben Rothwell def. Ovince Saint Preux via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
The heavyweight debut of Ovince Saint Preux was spoiled by veteran Ben Rothwell, but not without a struggle in what proved to be a ferocious co-main event.
Stepping up a division, Saint Preux was wary and was on his bike for most of the round, after eating a right hand unfazed. "Big Ben" was walking him down and walked into a high kick, but got OSP down and unsuccessfully pursued a 10-finger choke as the round came to a close.
Rothwell was looking especially dangerous within close quarters, with a cluster of uppercuts and knees in the clinch, and at this point OSP was finding his new division hard work, breathing heavily. He got a big gust of momentum though when a counter left hook dropped Rothwell, but he was unable to finish.
Both men set about a menacing pace to begin the final round, Saint Preux was still moving well laterally to evade the danger, and was less concerned about getting into the pocket now making for some fierce exchanges. OSP was stil being walked down and eating shots but he was having more answers for Rothwell. As the fight came to an end, both dug deep and traded, and it was the native heavyweight who dropped after the bell. It was a tough one to call but there were few complaints with Rothwell getting the nod on the scorecards.
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| Image: Bloody Elbow |
Teixeira demolishes Smith in brutal main event
Glover Teixeira def. Anthony Smith via TKO (punches), Round 5 (1:04)
After a tough first round, Glover Teixeira poured it on Anthony Smith for a late, fifth-round stoppage in the main event. When the Brazilian weathered the storm and his counterpart began to fade, it made for some brutal viewing.
"Lionheart" was switched on, with a menacing expression on his face as he stung the Brazilian with a 1-2 and a low-kick. He was continually being backed up and couldn't get going. After an unintentional groin strike on Smith which paused the bout, he picked up from where he left off, jabbing at will and busting his opponent open.
By the second round though it was clear that he was already fading. Teixeira's eye was swelled heavily after eating a right hand, but the urgency was showing and he had Smith in trouble towards the end of the second round, landing huge shots against the fence and a spinning back kick to the body to top it off.
The pace was really wearing on Lionheart now who caught a body kick and went for the takedown, but the slightly-fresher Glover popped back up. A big shot had Smith holding his nose as he retreated and was worse for wear. He then dropped him and went for some ground-and-pound and a choke, and despite it looking all but over Smith somehow saw out the round.
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A big uppercut in round 4 meant it was more of the same. Smith tried firing back with elbows and knees but there was nothing behind his shots. He ate some uppercuts after momentarily backing up the American and then went for a takedown and worked out for the rest of the round. Smith was all but beaten by the time the fourth round drew to a close.
With the writing on the wall, and Smith telling his corner that he had lost teeth in between rounds, we knew where this was going. More shots landed and Smith went for a takedown exhausted. Eventually Teixeira mounted him and poured on the strikes for the referee to finally stop the bout.
And so it seems age is merely a number in mixed martial arts. Glover Teixeira, a veteran of the sport has all of a sudden got himself back in the mix. He was being outclassed in the first round but when Smith faded, the Brazilian pounced and notched a huge victory. Four on the bounce.
More: UFC 249 report
