John Locher/Associated Press
Stipe Miocic closed out UFC 252 with a unanimous-resolution victory over Daniel Cormier to remove his belt and seize the lead in his sequence with DC 2-1.
It no doubt wasn’t an effortless protection for the Independence, Ohio, native. Whereas he won four rounds to at least one on two of the judges’ scorecards, those rounds had been conclude, and each opponents landed strikes that can have effect down lesser opponents.
In the tip, Miocic was as soon as surprisingly ready to smother DC with just a few takedown makes an attempt one day of the fight. Whereas he was as soon as never ready to get Cormier down, he was as soon as ready to effect on out his opponent. When he wasn’t inserting him against the fence, he was as soon as scoring from the out of doors.
Unfortunately, gaze pokes had been a little bit of the fable for the third time in as many fights between the two. Cormier poked Miocic within the gaze early within the fight, whereas Miocic landed one within the course of the bout that visibly damaged Cormier’s gaze.
No subject the loss, DC confirmed all over but again this will doubtless be his final fight. If he in actuality advance it, he walks away as judicious one of many few who’ve held titles in two assorted weight classes although he couldn’t repeat as heavyweight champ.
Main Card Outcomes
- Stipe Miocic def. Daniel Cormier by unanimous resolution (49-46 x2, 48-47)
- Marlon Vera def. Sean O’Malley by TKO at 4: 40 of Spherical 1
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Junior dos Santos by TKO at 3: 47 of Spherical 2
- Daniel Pineda def. Herbert Burns by TKO at 4: 37 of Spherical 2
- Merab Dvalishvili def. John Dodson by unanimous resolution (30-27 x3)
Prelim Outcomes
- Vinc Pichel def. Jim Miller by unanimous resolution (29-28 x2, 29-27)
- Virna Jandiroba def. Felice Herrig by submission (armbar) at 1: 44 of Spherical 1
- Daniel Chavez def. TJ Brown by unanimous resolution (29-28 x3)
- Livia Renata Souza def. Ashley Yoder by unanimous resolution (29-28 x2, 30-27)
- Chris Daukaus def. Parker Porter by TKO at 4: 28 of Spherical 1
- Kai Kamaka def. Tony Kelley by unanimous resolution (29-28 x3)
Marlon Vera def. Sean O’Malley
Sean O’Malley and the Suga Teach took a colossal hit Saturday evening. Marlon Vera’s energy and an apparent damage had been true too principal for him to beat as Chito picked up the first-spherical TKO.
O’Malley began stable and former his leg and physique kicks to effect the distance and effect Vera on survey. On the opposite hand, O’Malley was as soon as soon hobbled after an apparent damage whereas he was as soon as stepping ahead. With the damage within the end inserting him on the floor, Vera wasted no time in taking advantage.
He adopted up with elbows, and that was as soon as the tip of the evening for the rising 25-one year-former.
No subject the center-broken conditions, this was as soon as restful a colossal remove for Vera. The 27-one year-former has been across the UFC since 2014, however he is now 6-1 in his final seven fights with the handiest loss coming in a controversial resolution against Song Yadong.
It can even be nice to request them bustle this abet, however within the occasion that they like to no longer, Vera would possibly restful be getting one other colossal-name opponent.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Junior dos Santos
For nearly a spherical-and-a-half, Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Junior dos Santos engaged in a high-stakes sport of hen. The two teammates each performed things obtain and confirmed respect for their counterpart’s energy.
When the levee at final broke and Rozenstruik landed a extensive left and appropriate hand, it grew to change into positive why: That was as soon as all it took for him to flip the tide completely and ship the fight to an cease.
This was as soon as a stable and necessary efficiency for Bigi Boy. After a 20-second loss to Francis Ngannou, he desired to search out a technique to discover just among the momentum he had from the 10-0 originate as much as his profession.
For dos Santos, this has change into an heart-broken type. It’s his third consecutive knockout loss, and considerations that his chin can’t rise up against just among the finest heavyweights anymore are exact. At 36 years former, the extinct champion is past the days of being an elite heavyweight.
Rozenstruik’s background as a expert kickboxer makes him a attention-grabbing element within the heavyweight division transferring ahead. The posthaste loss to Ngannou is a pickle for his marketability as a title challenger, however within the shallow heavyweight division, he would possibly restful be ready to shake that result.
This was as soon as a colossal step toward that cease.
Daniel Pineda def. Herbert Burns
What was as soon as imagined to be a colossal spoil for Herbert Burns grew to change into accurate into a nice weekend for Daniel Pineda. The 35-one year-former who was as soon as struggling with within the UFC for the first time since his birth in 2014 pulled off an very neutral appropriate attempting efficiency and a second-spherical TKO.
Burns, whose brother is welterweight contender Gilbert Burns, seemed the part in his appearance on Dana White‘s Contender Sequence and in his first two UFC fights. But missing weight Friday and getting blown out by Pineda will no doubt decelerate just a few of his hype.
Pineda had his final two bouts within the PFL overturned on myth of he examined positive for a banned substance however had effect together a four-fight remove hotfoot to support him get re-signed after six years away from the UFC.
Whereas Burns has been lauded for his submission skills, Pineda confirmed no grief of mixing it up alongside with his opponent on the floor. He embraced the wrestling and within the end drew the develop with elbows from the crucifix location.
Besides to to a success, he’ll seize dwelling some extra money on myth of of Burns’ troubles on the scale. Overall, Burns will want to learn loads about prepare if he’ll reach his capability.
Merab Dvalishvili def. John Dodson
It’s extremely difficult to perceive factual against John Dodson, however Merab Dvalishvili did his easiest. Dodson’s quickness and evasiveness make him a laborious man to pin down and land any offense, however that didn’t cease Dvalishvili from making employ of his smartly-liked high-rigidity vogue.
In accordance to ESPN’s stats, Dvalishvili tried 20 takedowns. Whereas he handiest landed two of those, it was as soon as ample to completely neutralize any offense from Dodson.
Dvalishvili’s assault was as soon as all volume and little effectivity, as he was as soon as unable to withhold Dodson down, however The Magician was as soon as exiguous to true 27 valuable strikes landed within the three-spherical fight.
Getting past Dodson is a factual designate for Dvalishvili’s boost as a fighter. Dodson is no longer judicious one of many elite opponents in his weight division, however the list of those which have beaten him remains an elite club. Petr Yan, Jimmie Rivera, Marlon Moraes and John Lineker are the final of us to intention so.
With 5 wins in a row for the 29-one year-former, those are the forms of opponents he would possibly restful perceive ahead to subsequent.
