Dillashaw (photo) defends the bantamweight belt at UFC 177. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
The American Joe Soto was brave, but TJ Dillashaw showed why he is the Ultimate bantamweight champion. Last minute call to replace the Brazilian Renan Barao, who fainted just before weigh-in, Soto resisted the champion for almost 23 minutes, but was knocked out in the fifth round of the main fight of UFC 177, an event held this Saturday night (30), in Sacramento, in the United States. With the victory, TJ defends the title in the 61,2 kg division. for the first time.
Still on the main card, the Brazilians did well. After surprising everyone with a bold lingerie when weighing, Beth Pitbull He also showed his qualities in the Octagon. She defeated Shayna Baszler, her training partner Ronda Rousey, and after the triumph challenged the champion. Already Carlos Diego Ferreira also defended his unbeaten record in MMA by passing TUF 13 runner-up Ramsey Nijem
The fight
After surprising the world by knocking out the super favorite Renan Barao, in May, TJ Dillashaw entered the octagon this Saturday in an opposite situation. Acting at home in his first title defense against an opponent who was making his UFC debut, the Californian was not impressed. But he still managed the knockout in the fifth round to defend his reign.
Without letting go of the game throughout the fight, TJ worked well on his movement, moving forward and hitting Soto. However, without much force. In turn, Joe showed courage to respond to the champion's attacks with some blows that ended up hitting Dillashaw in the face.
In the middle of the third round, after winning the first two partials, the champion started to fight even more tactically. He started attacking the legs and kept the challenger on his back on the ground.
With an advantage in the first four rounds, Dillashaw ended the fight in the fifth round. With Soto already feeling the wear and tear of the fight, the champion was unable to dodge TJ's attacks.
With a high right kick, the Californian rocked the challenger. From then on, with a few more quick punches, the referee ended the dispute and declared a technical knockout.
“It’s been crazy. An hour before making weight, they say he's going to change his opponent, and he's a tough opponent, you don't know him but he's tough. I would do this for Sacramento, my city, I love you! I'm not sure who I'd like to face next. My head was in Renan Barao in the last nine months. I'm going to take some time to rest, but I'm going to wait and see what the UFC wants,” said Dillashaw
Check out the UFC 177 results below:
main card
TJ Dillashaw defeated Joe Soto by knockout in R5
Tony Ferguson defeated Danny Castillo via split decision;
Bethe Correia defeated Shayna Baszler via TKO in R2;
Carlos Diego Ferreira defeated Ramsey Nijem via TKO in R2
Yancy Medeiros submitted Justin Edwards with a guillotine choke in R2
Preliminary Card
Derek Brunson defeated Lorez Larkin via unanimous decision;
Anthony Hamilton defeated Ruan Potts by TKO in R2;
Chris Wade finished Cain Carrizosa with a guillotine choke in R1.
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