Cris Cyborg is the most dominant champion in the UFC and second-place isn't really close. On Saturday night in the main event of UFC 222, Cyborg destroyed a completely overmatched Yana Kunitskaya in the first round.
The fight opened with Cyborg landing a hard overhand right that hurt Kunitskaya. The challenger shot a low-leg takedown and landed it. Cyborg worked her way to her feet and it was all downhill for Kunitskaya from there.
Credit: UFC.com
Cyborg landed a series of accurate power shots that sent Kunitskaya cowering to the canvas. The champion pounded more shots on her fallen foe before referee Herb Dean moved in to stop the fight. Can anyone beat Cyborg?
It doesn't look like it, but bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes might get the next shot.
She has to beat Raquel Pennington in her next fight. If that happens, the UFC will likely have a superfight coming later this year.
Ortega Becomes The First Man To Stop Edgar
Credit: UFC.com
If you're looking for the next serious challenger to Max Holloway's featherweight title, look no further. Brian Ortega solidifies his position as perhaps the UFC's best young superstar with a superlative first-round finish against future Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar.
A nasty elbow badly hurt the former lightweight champion and a hellacious uppercut put Edgar down and out. The ground and pound only happened because the referee hadn't made it over to halt the beatdown.
Ortega expertly stopped Cub Swanson with his insane jiu-jitsu game in his last fight.
That's his claim to fame, or at least it had been up to now. To stop Edgar with striking shows how well-rounded he is as a fighter. Look out, Max.
Here are all of the results and breakdown of the fights on Saturday.
#UFC222 bonuses Fight of the Night: O’Malley vs. Soukhamthath Performances of the Night: Ortega, Hernandez — Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) March 4, 2018
UFC 222 draws announced 12,041 attendance for $1,367,672 live gate in Las Vegas https://t.co/5QV5BFGns8 — MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) March 4, 2018
Matchup Weight Class Results Bonus FIGHT SCORE Jordan Johnson vs. Adam Milstead Light Heavyweight Johnson by SD (29-28x2, 27-30) 16.3 Bryan Caraway vs. Cody Stamann Men's Bantamweight Stamann by SD (29-28x2, 28-29) 20.95 Zak Ottow vs. Mike Pyle Welterweight Ottow by TKO - R1 24.4 CB Dollaway vs. Hector Lombard Middleweight Dollaway by DQ - R1 13.13 John Dodson vs. Pedro Munhoz Men's Bantamweight Dodson by SD (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) 17.16 Beneil Dariush vs. Alexander Hernandez Lightweight Hernandez R1 KO POTN 33 Mackenzie Dern vs. Ashley Yoder Strawweight Dern SD (29-28x2, 28-29) 25.13 Ketlen Vieira vs. Cat Zingano Women's Bantamweight Vieira SD (29-28x2, 28-29) 28.16 Andrei Arlovski vs. Stefan Struve Heavyweight Arlovski UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) 19.08 Sean O'Malley vs. Andre Soukhamthah Men's Bantamweight O'Malley UD (29-27x2, 29-28) FOTN 33.36 Frankie Edgar vs. Brian Ortega Men's Featherweight Ortega R1 - TKO POTN 24.4 Cris Cyborg vs. Yana Kunitskaya Women's Featherweight Cyborg R1 - TKO 24.85
Jordan Johnson Out Scraps Adam Milstead
Credit: UFC.com
In the opening fight of the night, Johnson ate more of the hard shots in stand-up, but he did utilize his wrestling effective enough to control Milstead and to secure two takedowns. One of the judges saw all three rounds for Milstead, that's a little tough to validate, but ultimately the right fighter earned a win in a very tough fight.
Stamann Outlasts Carraway
Credit: UFC.com
After a rough first round that saw him taken down and controlled in the final minute, Cody Stamann rebounded with strong performances in the second and third frames to eek out the victory. Carraway might have stolen the final round, but two of the judges gave the nod to Stamann.
Oddly enough, Adelaide Byrd, the judge who submitted the questionable scorecard in the Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin bout from September 2017 was one of the individuals scoring the bout. She scored the fight for Stamann.
Stamann gave one of the most honest post-fight interviews you'll ever see and hear. He knew he'd lost the first, won the second and admitted he might have given away the third because of Carraway's late push.
Nonetheless, he got the nod.
Ottow Sends Pyle Into Retirement With a TKO Loss
Credit: UFC.com
Mike Pyle made it known this would be his last fight. Zak Ottow made sure it would be a quick night. A little more than three minutes into the fight, Ottow landed a hard right hand and finished him on the canvas with ground and pound.
OHHH that is it!!@TheBarbarianMMA predicts a first round finish AND GETS the first round finish! Wow! #UFC222 pic.twitter.com/ANNLgUfP2W — UFC (@ufc) March 4, 2018
Pyle is 42 years old and the retirement may have come about five years too late. On the bright side, Pyle did get an opportunity to finish his career in his adopted hometown.
Dollaway Wins By DQ
Credit: UFC.com
At the end of the first round, Hector Lombard hit CB Dollaway with a nasty two-punch combination that left the latter dazed and on his butt. Unfortunately for Lombard, both shots landed after the horn.
Just a tad after the bell by Hector Lombard... #UFC222 pic.twitter.com/xfJT0FlgTo — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) March 4, 2018
Dollaway looked badly hurt and he couldn't continue. Lombard was disqualified and Dollaway took home a painful win.
Dodson Dances Around Munhoz
Credit: UFC.com
Speed was the operative quality John Dodson used en route to a unanimous-decision win over Pedro Munhoz. The lightning-quick Dodson stuck and moved through three rounds and never allowed Munhoz to initiate his dominant submission game.
It wasn't the most exciting fight, but Dodson did what he needed to do to win.
Hernandez Smokes Dariush in 42 Seconds
Credit: UFC.com
He was a late replacement for the injured Bobby Green, but Alexander Hernandez made his own mark. In just 42 seconds, Hernandez starched Beneil Dariush in the first round with an illmatic left hand. Dariush was out before he hit the canvas.
WELCOME TO THE BIG SHOW ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ! #UFC222 pic.twitter.com/8apdiA3VAp — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) March 4, 2018
In a calm and seemingly coordinated post-fight interview, Hernandez made it known, he has his eyes set on big things.
“You didn’t know me then, but I promise you know me now.” - Alexander Hernandez. — Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 4, 2018
Dern Wins A Rough Fight Against A Tough Yoder
Credit: UFC.com
Ashley Yoder was much tougher than most expected. She was hitting Mackenzie Dern with a counter left-hand for much of the fight, but Dern's pressure, leg kicks and a late takedown in the third round sealed the split-decision win. The former Olympian was making her UFC debut amongst much fanfare.
She definitely has some room for improvement, but she came up with the clutch takedown when she needed it.
Vieira Has Too Much For Zingano
Credit: UFC.com
They don't come any tougher than Cat Zingano, but she simply didn't have the sharp striking or the work in the clinch to handle Ketlen Vieira. Zingano was game, but Vieira gets better in every fight. She excellent takedown skills and top control to neutralize Zingano's pressure.
It's hard not to root for Zingano who has battled back from so much adversity, but she didn't do enough to win this one.
Arlovski Looks Sharp Dismantling Struve
Credit: UFC.com
Just six months ago, it looked as if Andrei Arlovski's career was in trouble. Fast-forward to Saturday and Arlovski is now on a two-fight win streak after he easily defeated Stefan Struve. Arlovski moved inside of the 6'11" Struve's reach and landed telling strikes.
He also secured four takedowns against The Skyscraper as he completely shut down the larger man's attack. Don't look now, but Arlovski may have one more serious run left in him.
O'Malley Injures Foot, But Still Wins Decision
UFC.com
Through the first two rounds, Sean O'Malley was dominating Andre Soukhamthath with his striking and some surprising work on the ground. In the third round, he injured his right foot and couldn't even stand. Perplexingly, Soukhamthath kept taking O'Malley down.
Most everyone thought he would allow O'Malley to stand where he was clearly a one-legged fighter. Nope, Soukhamthah shot for multiple takedowns even though he had to know he was down two rounds. In fact, two judges scored the first round 10-8. It's amazing to me that Soukhamthath didn't realize he should make O'Malley stand.
As it was, O'Malley put on a great performance and post-fight interview.
A star was likely born on this night.
UFC 222 is Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cris Cyborg will defend her UFC featherweight title in what looks like a lopsided matchup against Yana Kunitskaya.
Cyborg is a huge favorite and it'll be a shock if Kunitskaya can manage to keep the fight competitive. She hails from Jackson-Wink where former Cyborg-foe Holly Holm also trains. Holm obviously didn't beat the Brazilian wrecking machine, but she did have some early success.
Kunitskaya's trainers are hoping they can apply some of those tactics to facilitate what would be one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Here are the 10 things you should about the card.
TV Info
UFC Fight Pass - 6 pm ET
Fox Sports 1 - 8 pm ET
Main Card - 10 pm ET
Weigh-In Info
(c) Cris Cyborg (144.75) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (144) – for women’s featherweight title
Frankie Edgar (146) vs. Brian Ortega (145.5)
Sean O’Malley (136) vs. Andre Soukhamthath (135.25)
Andrei Arlovski (247.5) vs. Stefan Struve (266)
Ketlen Vieira (136) vs. Cat Zingano (135.5)
Mackenzie Dern (116) vs. Ashley Yoder (115.5)
Beneil Dariush (156) vs. Alexander Hernandez (155)
John Dodson (134.5) vs. Pedro Munhoz (135)
C.B. Dollaway (185.5) vs. Hector Lombard (185.5)
Zak Ottow (171) vs. Mike Pyle (170)
Bryan Caraway (135.5) vs. Cody Stamann (135.75)
Jordan Johnson (206) vs. Adam Milstead (205)
UFC in Vegas and T-Mobile Arena
Believe it or not, this is 117th event the UFC will have held in Las Vegas. It is the ninth UFC event held at the T-Mobile Arena. The last time the UFC was in the venue Cyborg headlined the event in the aforementioned battle with Holm at UFC 219 on Dec. 30, 2017.
The bantamweight division was once the undisputed marquee division for women’s MMA. That has changed over the past couple years as top fighters have left the sport and others have moved to the newly instituted featherweight and flyweight divisions. That exodus has opened up opportunities for the remaining fighters including Cat Zingano and Ketlen Vieira. Zingano is a former title challenger looking for another shot with Vieira is undefeated in MMA with three UFC victories.
Round 1. Zingano moves in and walks right into a hard straight punch. Zingano lands a solid overhand right of her own and clinches but Vieira backs up. Vieira catches Zingano with another punch in an exchange. Zingano lands a left hand and clinches but can’t do anything from there. Vieira’s boxing looks really crisp. Zingano goes for a takedown but Vieira sprawls and defends well. Zingano clinches and lands a couple of knees to the body. Vieira uses a trip takedown with a little over a minute remaining. Vieira looks to pass into full mount but isn’t able to secure the position. 10-9 Vieira.
Round 2. Zingano pushes forward to start the round but gets reversed with a beautiful judo throw. Vieira lands in full mount and looks to set up an arm triangle choke. Zingano pushes her off impressively but Vieira controls the legs and prevents Zingano from getting back up. Vieira drops down into Zingano’s guard. They grapple for position there, with Vieira looking to pass and Zingano working hard to prevent her from doing so. Vieira lands some punches here and there in the process. 10-9 Vieira. Zingano likely needs a finish in the third.
