UFC 280 is in the books and there is a new lightweight champion that many think could reign for a long time in Islam Makhachev. Makhachev dominated the former Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira before securing the title via second round arm-triangle choke. Aljamain Sterling successfully defended his Bantamweight title in an anti-climactic battle with TJ Dillashaw as Dillashaw knowingly entered the bout with a compromised shoulder. Read on below for recaps of all the main card fights.
Islam Makhachev Dominant in Submission Victory to Secure Lightweight Title
Islam Makhachev started fast in Round 1 as he caught Charles Oliveira with a straight left hand that appeared to briefly stun the Brazilian. Oliveira then cautiously pushed forward before grabbing a body lock but it was the Dagestani who ended up in top position. Oliveira immediately looked for a triangle before landing a solid elbow from bottom. Makhachev kept heavy pressure from top position as he attacked with short left punches to the ribs. Oliveira worked his way back to the feet with three minutes to go in the round. From the clinch, Makhachev hit a hip toss with 2:30 remaining in the round and was able to control Oliveira from top position for the remainder of the round. Makhachev landed some big ground and pound toward the end of the round. Oliveira, for his part, did not threaten any submissions but did land a big upkick shortly before the horn.
Early in Round 2, Oliveira looked for a body lock takedown but Makhachev did well to defend. Makhachev then secured double underhooks and controlled Oliveira along the fence before both fighters landed hard knees. After breaking the clinch, the fighters traded strikes on the feet. The finishing sequence happened quickly, however, when Oliveira missed a jumping knee and a huge right hook counter from Makhachev sent Oliveira crashing to the mat. Makhachev wasted no time jumping on Oliveira and was immediately in position for the arm-triangle choke as he quickly passed from half-guard to Oliveira’s side. The Dagestani applied a heavy squeeze and secured a quick tap at 3:16 of Round 2.
It was an impressive performance from Makhachev as he dominated the fight and was able to get the better of Oliveira in most of the striking exchanges, an area where Oliveira was expected to have an advantage. After the fight, Makhachev asked for Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski to enter the Octagon as both men agreed to fight for Makhachev’s lightweight title at UFC 284 next February in Perth, Australia. That bout may well determine the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
Aljamain Sterling Defends Bantamweight Crown with Second Round TKO of TJ Dillashaw
Aljamain Sterling defeated TJ Dillashaw at 3:44 of Round 2 after Dillashaw suffered a dislocated left shoulder early in the first round. Twenty seconds into the fight, Sterling caught a Dillashaw kick and as he converted it into a takedown Dillashaw suffered the injury when he posted with his left hand to break his fall. As Sterling advanced his top position, Dillashaw briefly tried to pop his shoulder back into place. Sterling then quickly passed to mount and landed heavy punches before transitioning to Dillashaw’s back. Dillashaw was able to briefly escape the position despite his compromised shoulder but Sterling immediately re-took Dillashaw’s back after a short scramble. From there Sterling attacked with punches as he applied a body triangle. Dillashaw was able to twist and go belly down to escape the body triangle before working his way back to the feet with a minute left in the round.
In between rounds Dillashaw was able to pop his shoulder back into place with the help of his corner. Referee Marc Goddard could be heard saying that Dillashaw had informed him prior to the fight that Dillashaw had problems with a left shoulder dislocation. After the fight, Dillashaw admitted that he blew out his shoulder in April and that he had dislocated it 20 times or more during his camp.
In the second round, Sterling immediately kicked Dillashaw’s left shoulder. Sterling landed a double-leg takedown early in the round and immediately landed a big left hand from top position. Dillashaw’s shoulder once more dislocated after he escaped from a d’arce choke attempt. Much to Sterling’s credit, as the fighters returned to the feet, he gave Dillashaw a moment to try and put his shoulder back in place before advancing. Sterling then shot for a takedown and landed a trip with Dillashaw up against the fence. From top position, and eventually mount, Sterling attacked with heavy elbows and punches before Marc Goddard stopped the fight giving Sterling the TKO victory.
After the fight Dillashaw apologized to the weight class as he admitted to holding up the division, knowing since April that his shoulder was compromised. It’s unclear who Sterling might face next as he mentioned Henry Cejudo, Marlon Vera and Sean O’Malley all as possibilities.
Sean O’Malley Takes Close Split-decision Over Petr Yan in Wild Fight
Many in the MMA community were questioning O’Malley’s victory in the immediate aftermath of this fight, but “Sugar” Sean O’Malley at the very least proved he belongs with the top bantamweights after this wildly entertaining fight. O’Malley took the split decision with two judges scoring the fight 29-28 for O’Malley, with the other judge scoring it 29-28 for Petr Yan.
Early in Round 1, Yan pressured and attacked with low leg kicks as O’Malley repeatedly scored at distance with front kicks to the body. O’Malley landed a big straight right hand a couple minutes into the round and immediately followed by scoring with another front kick. O’Malley shortly thereafter landed another big right hand as Yan continued to attack with leg kicks. Midway through the round Yan shot for a takedown along the fence but O’Malley did well to defend and eventually shove off the Russian. But with a little under 1:30 left in the round Yan was able to convert a double-leg takedown as he lifted O’Malley high in the air before putting him down. Yan, however, wasn’t able to land any effective ground and pound as O’Malley quickly worked his way back to standing. O’Malley was active with combinations for the balance of the round. Two of three judges gave this round to O’Malley which turned out to be the difference in the fight as all three judges gave Yan the second round and all three gave O’Malley the third.
Yan opened Round 2 with a heavy body kick. But O’Malley absolutely cracked Yan with a huge straight left hand twenty seconds into the round. Yan immediately covered in a shell and backed up. But seconds later a massive left hand from Yan as part of a 1-2 nearly dropped O’Malley. Yan then secured O’Malley’s waist and was able to drag him to the ground for a takedown. From closed guard O’Malley did a good job defending as he looked for an armbar. Both fighters were clearly compromised and recovering from the respective big shots they each took. With a few minutes left in the round O’Malley worked his way back to standing. Yan landed a couple of heavy body kicks in the last two minutes left of the round. With 50 seconds left in the round, Yan landed a double leg takedown along the fence. Yan only landed a couple of shots from top position during the balance of the round.
O’Malley established an effective jab during the first minute of Round 3. O’Malley also found success with front kicks and leg kicks in the round. After stuffing a Yan takedown attempt, O’Malley landed a beautiful knee straight up the middle to Yan’s head. O’Malley then followed with a big left hand that opened a cut over Yan’s right eye. O’Malley then went on the attack as Yan covered up. Some of the best action of the fight ensued as Yan was able to land two beautiful counters with both a right and a left hand. O’Malley then followed with a big left head kick. Yan then immediately shot for a takedown. O’Malley initially was able to sprawl and stuff the attempt but Yan was relentless as he continued to pursue the takedown. Yan eventually converted the takedown along the fence but was bleeding profusely from his right eye. O’Malley was able to use a kimura attempt to quickly get back to the feet. With a minute left in the round, Yan landed a big counter left hand. As Round 3 came to a close, O’Malley landed one last front kick and Yan answered with a leg kick.
Beneil Dariush Impresses in Unanimous Decision Victory Over Mateusz Gamrot
Beneil Dariush continued his impressive run by extending his UFC win streak to eight fights in an entertaining bout with Mateusz Gamrot. There were several high level and entertaining grappling exchanges in the first round. The first occurred after Dariush charged forward and landed a left knee that Gamrot caught and attempted to turn in to a takedown. But Dariush gained leverage and the fighters were rolling, transitioning and scrambling through positions. Dariush was able to use a leg lock attack to get the fight back to the feet. Dariush then landed a couple of low leg kicks. Dariush then threw a third leg kick, but Gamrot caught the kick and turned it into a takedown. Dariush then used another leg lock attack to escape the position and get back to standing. Both fighters landed solid body kicks late in the round.
After a close first round that could have went either way, Dariush began to take control of the fight in the second round as he was impressive stuffing takedowns and with his striking. Dariush hammered Gamrot with multiple well-timed knees on Gamrot takedown entries. Darius also had success with body kicks as he clearly wasn’t afraid of being taken down. Dariush also landed several crafty, big left hands this round. Gamrot, for his part, did have some success with the jab in Round 2, but it wasn’t enough as this was clearly Dariush’s round.
Early in Round 3, Dariush stuffed another Gamrot takedown attempt and then punished the Polish fighter with a head kick. Throughout the final frame, Dariush continued to have success stuffing takedowns, as well as with knee strikes, kicks and his left hand. The best strike of the fight came with 90 seconds left when Dariush perfectly timed an overhand left off of a Gamrot kick that floored Gamrot.
It will be interesting to see what the UFC does next with Dariush. It appears that Islam Makhachev will take on Alexander Volkanovski in his first title defense. Dariush, however, has done more than enough necessary to get a title shot. If Dariush wants to stay active, a fight with Charles Oliveira makes sense.
Manon Fiorot Takes Majority Decision Over Katyln Chookagian
Early in Round 1, Manon Fiorot landed a solid right hand and Katly Chookagian answered with a nice front kick. But for the majority of the first round, both fighters had difficulty finding their range and landing strikes. Late in the round, Chookagian landed a front kick flush to Fiorot’s face but Fiorot ate it well after a brief stumble.
At the start of Round 2 both fighters continued to miss a lot of their shots but Fiorot had some success with side kicks which she employed frequently throughout the fight. Fiorot landed a big left hand as part of a 1-2 mid-way through the round. Fiorot began finding her rhythm late in the round a she connected with a couple of hard straight left hands. Fiorot also scored late with a solid lead right hook, a punch she landed several times in the round. In the next exchange Fiorot landed a solid counter left hand.
Thirty seconds into Round 3, Fiorot landed a nice double jab combination with the second shot snapping Chookagian’s head back. Throughout much of the round, however, both fighters missed a lot of strikes which was a theme in this fight. Fiorot, however did crack Chookagian with a counter right hook with 90 seconds left in the fight. With a minute left in the round Fiorot perfectly times a takedown attempt as she ducked a punch and landed a double-leg outside leg trip. Chookagian, however, was able to get back up almost immediately without taking any damage.
All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Fiorot. Fiorot has now won all five of her UFC fights. In taking out the No. 1 ranked flyweight Chookagian in this very close fight the question is if she did enough to set up a title fight with Flyweight Queen Valentina Shevchenko. It seems likely that Taila Santos may get a second consecutive crack at the title considering Santos’s strong performance at UFC 275 in June in a split decision loss to Shevchenko.