Johnson (photo) retained the UFC flyweight belt. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
Demetrious Johnson once again defended the UFC flyweight belt in the main attraction of the 186th event, held on Saturday night (25), in Montreal, Canada. The champion dominated practically every moment of the fight against the challenger, Kyoji Horiguchi, and made history by submitting his opponent literally in the last second of action, at 4:59 of the fifth round.
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Throughout the fight, Johnson managed to impose his versatile game, efficiently mixing striking with takedowns. Horiguchi tried to resist and attack, but the champion seemed aware of the dangers and wasn't taking any risks. In the last takedown applied, Johnson immobilized the Japanese man's arm and threw several blows, which ended up opening the way for the champion to apply an armbar in the final moments – marking the latest submission in UFC history.
This was the sixth title defense by Johnson, UFC flyweight champion since the category was created in the organization in 2012. Previously, he defeated John Dodson, John Moraga, Joseph Benavidez, Ali Bagautinov and Chris Cariaso. Horiguchi, on the other hand, suffers the second defeat of his career, the first in the UFC, interrupting a sequence of four victories inside the octagon.
UFC 186 also provided different moments for the Brazilians who entered the Octagon. Promise of the division of cocks, Thomas almeida maintained his unbeaten record in MMA with style by knocking out veteran Yves Jabouin in the first round, in the fight that opened the main card of the attraction.
Now Fábio Maldonado he was unable to impose his game in the second most important fight of the event and ended up defeated by Quinton Rampage Jackson in the unanimous decision of the judges, giving the American his first victory in the octagon since May 2011.
How was the fight
The fight between Demetrious Johnson and Kyoji Horiguchi started off quite busy, with the champion looking for low kicks and the challenger also attacking. The Japanese landed the first most powerful blow of the fight, which forced Johnson to try, unsuccessfully, to take the fight to the ground. The champion tries to take down again when he grabs a kick from Horiguchi, but is unable to stabilize his rival on the ground. Standing up, Horiguchi again attacks with good blows, but nothing that would shake the champion.
Johnson started the second round a little more aggressive, even trying to throw a flying knee, but the challenger defended himself well. Even in the initial moments, Horiguchi responded and attacked with great speed. The fight stays in the clinch and it is Horiguchi who gets the first takedown – but the position does not stabilize and the fight returns to striking. Then, what we see is Johnson trying the takedown, but without being able to stabilize the position. The fight has moments of striking, but the round ends with the champion trying to complete a takedown, getting on the challenger's back.
Johnson begins the third round again determined to move forward, alternating overhead strikes with takedown attempts. Smart, Horiguchi defends himself and avoids being taken down. After taking advantage of a kick from his rival, Johnson takes Horiguchi's back while still standing and knocks the challenger off balance, but the Japanese avoids remaining still on the ground and gets up again. During the exchange, Horiguchi explodes and attacks, moving forward, but Johnson takes advantage of the moment and finally puts the Japanese on his back on the ground. The champion has the guard passed, but, initially, the fight ends up not developing very efficiently, which causes a hint of booing from the crowd. Johnson manages to immobilize Horiguchi's arm and starts attacking, but the round ends.
In the fourth round, Horiguchi takes the center of the Octagon and attacks Johnson, but the champion blocks and grabs him. The fight remains standing, although Johnson has made clear his intentions to take down his opponent. The champion insists on taking down the challenger, pressing him against the fence, but Horiguchi resists and stays on his feet. The Japanese catches a kick from Johnson and tries to take him down, but the champion manages to stay in the exchange. The round ends with both on their feet, without throwing many blows.
At the start of the final five minutes, Johnson was easily able to take the fight to the ground. The American passed guard, although Horiguchi turned onto his stomach and stood up. Then, the champion took his back near the fence, but the challenger got up again. The fight, however, was short-lived, with Johnson once again taking down the Japanese fighter. Johnson went for a kimura, but Horiguchi resisted. The challenger seemed less and less capable of resisting Johnson's “tick” game, which again fell. The champion passed guard once again, and when Horiguchi spun, he caught the challenger's back. The fight was still standing once again, but Johnson took advantage of the opening and took the fall again. With an eye on finishing the fight, Johnson trapped Horiguchi's arm and threw several blows. Flustered, Horiguchi defended himself and opened an opening for Johnson to apply an armbar, finishing in the final second of the fight.
UFC 186 results:
MAIN CARD
Demetrious Johnson defeated Kyoji Horiguchi via submission in R5;
Quinton Rampage Jackson defeated Fábio Maldonado in a unanimous decision by the judges;
Michael Bisping defeated CB Dollaway via unanimous decision;
John makdessi defeated Shane Campbell via TKO in R1;
Thomas almeida defeated Yves Jabouin via TKO in R1;
PRELIMINARY CARD
Patrick Côté defeated Joe Riggs via unanimous decision;
Alexis Davis defeated Sarah Kaufman via submission in R2;
Chad Laprise defeated Byan Barberena via unanimous decision;
Olivier Aubin-Mercier defeated David Michaud via submission in R3;
Nordine Taleb defeated Chris Clements via unanimous decision;
Valérie Létorneau defeated Jessica Rakoczy via unanimous decision;
Randa markos defeated Aisling Daly by unanimous decision;
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