Divisions line up in Chicago (UFC on Fox 6 Review)
Photo Credit: UFC.com
The Flyweight division is one of the youngest divisions in the UFC and at UFC on Fox the first title defence would take full focus. The Flyweight title fight would be the main event of the sixth fight on Fox but there would plenty more at stake in this free card. Every fight in the main card would be an important one for all involved as every divisions would see their next contenders step up. The lightweight division would see one fighter become the #1 contender after two of the best would face off. The featherweight division would see two of the best up and coming fighters face off for a chance to enter the title conversation. Meanwhile the Light Heavyweight division an up and comer would face a savvy veteran for his chance to enter the title conversation. As these divisions figured out their rankings and their positioning the Flyweight division would see the first title defence in the young divisions history. Looking to defence the title would be Demetrious Johnson. Johnson was one of the best Bantamweight fighters in the division and would give Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz his toughest title defence to date. Johnson would not win that fight though and would take the opportunity to join the new Flyweight Division where he would move on to win the Flyweight tournament and become champion. He would now defend his belt for the first time ever against The Ultimate Fighter winner John Dodson. Dodson would win the reality show as a Bantamweight and like Johnson would take advantage of the new lighter division dripping to a more natural weight. Johnson would represent the technical side of fighting as a fighter who does not have KO power but lands the majority of his shots with great footwork and solid technique. Dodson would represent the opposite as he is one of the few flyweights with power in his shots and the ability to KO anyone in the division. Both fighters would face off for the Flyweight championship in what was sure to be the fastest fight in UFC history. The beginning of the fight seemed to be going the exact way that John Dodson had wanted as both fighters would stand and exchange with Dodson winning the battle. Johnson was simply not used to fighting someone as fast as himself and so he would not be able to land many shots. Instead Dodson would land more shots and would land some very powerful shots. Dodson would drop Johnson a number of times in the first two rounds with some great and powerful punches. Dodson did not seem to have that killer instinct though as he would back off and let Johnson back up rather than risking getting stopped himself by going in strong. As the third round began Dodson was clearly beginning to wear down while Johnson was just getting started. Johnson would not eat any more big shots and instead would begin putting Dodson in the clinch to control the fight. The rest of the fight would see Johnson continue to press Dodson against the fence in the clinch while landing knees. It would be a solid end to the fight as Johnson was clearly ready to fight five rounds while Dodson did not seem ready for much more than two rounds. It may have been his weight cut that he is not used to or just the fact that Johnson is the only one who could match his pace the entire fight. Clearly it was Johnson’s fight as he would win in a unanimous decision to remain the flyweight champion. John Dodson will take the loss and the learning experience back into the flyweight division and could see himself back at the top with a small stable of fighters. Meanwhile Demetrious Johnson will remain the Flyweight Champion and take on the next challenger that could be a rematch with Joseph Benavidez or Ian McCall after they face off next week.
Before the Flyweight division determined their championship a number of other divisions would see their rankings sorted out. The Featherweight Division is one that is still looking for its next contender as Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo face off next week in a championship bout. The next contender might be the winner of the opening fight of this main card between Erik Koch and Ricardo Lamas. Both fighters have had success in the past and begun to make their way up the ladder in the featherweight division. Koch was riding a two fight UFC win streak while Lamas was on a three fight win streak in the UFC and both were hoping to impress enough to become the next #1 contender in the division. Lamas would come out on top with a very impressive second round KO putting him in the conversation for the title. Next would be the lightweight division as Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone would face off with the winner earning the #1 contender spot in the lightweight division. Both fighters were stars in the WEC with Pettis leaving the promotion as the last lightweight champion in WEC history. Now they would face off to be the top contender in the lightweight division. In a highly anticipated matchup it would be Anthony Pettis who would kick Cerrone in the ribs twice sending him down and ending the fight. In the co-main event the light heavyweight division would match and up and comer looking for his next win and a veteran looking to go out on top. Glover Teixeira would look to get a win and earn a spot in the title conversation when he would take on Rampage Jackson who would be fighting for the last time in the UFC. It would be Teixeira who would come out on top in a dominant win that would put his name among the top in the division. With UFC on Fox 6 in the books a number of divisions would see their contenders and champions lined up for the near future.
Fight Bonuses:
($50,000 Bonuses)
Submission of the Night
The Submission of the Night would go to Ryan Bader who would end his fight against Vladimir Matyushenko with a Guillotine Choke and would set a Light Heavyweight Record for the fastest submission in the division
Knockout of the Night
Anthony Pettis would earn the Knockout of the Night as he would earn the #1 contender spot in the lightweight division by beating Donald Cerrone with two devastating body kicks that sent Cerrone to the mat
Fight of the Night
The main event of the night would earn the Fight of the Night for their five round battle that made true on the fast fight as Dodson seemed to be winning until the end of the fight when Johnson would take control for the win
Fight Results
Main Event:
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson def. John “The Magician” Dodson [Flyweight Title]
(Unanimous Decision)
Main Card:
Glover Teixeira def. Rampage Jackson
(Unanimous Decision)
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis def. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone
(TKO; Rd. 1)
Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas def. Erik “New Breed” Koch
(TKO; Rd. 2)
Undercard:
TJ Grant def. “Handsome” Matt Wiman
(KO; Rd. 1)
Clay “The Carpenter” Guida def. Hatsu Hioki
(Split Decision)
Pascal “Panzer” Krauss def. Mike Stumpf
(Unanimous Decision)
Ryan “Darth” Bader def. Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko
(Submission; Guillotine Choke, Rd. 1)
Shawn “The Damage” Jordan def. Mike Russow
(TKO; Rd. 2)
Rafael “Sapo” Natal def. Sean “Black Magic” Spencer
(Submission; Arm Triangle, Rd. 2)
David “Daudi” Mitchell def. Simeon “The Grin” Thoresen
(Unanimous Decision)
Upcoming Fights:
UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar (Saturday February 2nd; 10:00 pm EST)
– Las Vegas, Nevada (Mandalay Bay Events Center)
– Main Event: Jose “Junior” Aldo vs. Frankie “The Answer” Edgar [Featherweight Title]
– Notable: “Suga” Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
– Notable: Allistair “The Reem” Overeem vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva
UFC on Fuel TV 7: Barao vs. McDonald (Saturday February 16th; 3:00 pm EST)
– London, England (Wembley Arena)
– Main Event: Renan Barao vs. Michael “Mayday” McDonald
– Notable: Jimi “Poster Boiy” Manuwa vs. Cyrille “The Snake” Diabate
– Notable: Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson vs. Justin “Fast Eddy” Edwards
UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche (Saturday February 23rd; 10:00 pm EST)
– Anaheim, California (Honda Center)
– Main Event: “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey vs. Liz “Girlrilla” Carmouche [Women’s Bantamweight Title]
– Notable: Dan “Hendo” Henderson vs. Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida
– Notable: Urijah “The California Kid” Faber vs. Ivan “The Pride of El Salvador” Menjivar
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