Conor receives the Ultimate featherweight belt. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Much was said. There was a lot of speculation. It was months of anticipation. Much was promoted. But the fight was decided quickly. Conor McGregor didn't need more than a few seconds to dispatch José Aldo and win the linear featherweight belt in the main fight of UFC 194, this Saturday (12), in Las Vegas (USA).
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Between the ringing of the gong and the end of the fight there were only 13 seconds. José Aldo He advanced, dodged a straight shot from his rival, tried an attack and was knocked out with a precise left cross to the chin. McGregor even hit his rival with a few hammers on the ground to fulfill his “prophecy” and take the title.
Completely devastated, Aldo cried a lot and, visibly shaken by the setback, promised to turn things around. “He threw a straight shot at my chest, I expected that and when I went to attack him he landed a good straight shot. I think we have to go for a rematch, I don't think it ends there. He landed a good blow and managed to end the fight. His provocations didn't affect anything, I have a very calm head. I get in there and try to do my job. I'm waiting for the rematch and next time I'll be much more prepared and I'll win back what's mine”, said the Brazilian.
After the triumph, the new champion gave the recipe for his success. “No one is going to take that away from me. He is powerful. He is fast. But precision beats power and Conor beats speed. I'm sorry for José Aldo, he is a phenomenal champion, he deserved to go a little further, but at the end of the day, precision beats power. And that’s how things happen”, he assured. “It’s not strength, it’s precision. There's no speed, yeah timing. That's what happens and my left hand was raised. Now it’s over before I even realized it, it was a great moment and I enjoyed the whole process”, he added.
With the reverse, José Aldo now has a record of 25 wins and two losses – and suffered his first setback under the Zuffa banner, in the WEC and Ultimate events. McGregor, in turn, remained undefeated in the Octagon and expanded his record to 19 wins and two losses.
With a bloodbath, Rockhold dethrones Weidman
Ground and pound from Rockhold punished Weidman. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
After the defeat of Ronda Rousey for Holly holm, the second undefeated UFC champion in a row fell. Despite appearing as an underdog, the former Strikeforce title holder Luke Rockhold had an exemplary performance and dethroned Chris Weidman, inflicting the first defeat of the executioner's career Anderson Silva.
In the first round, the champion started wanting to resolve the situation quickly and put a lot of pressure on the challenger. However, the scenario changed with a guillotine from Rockhold, who held Weidman in position for a long time, but without trying to be aggressive. At the end of the partial, the AKA athlete suffered a fall, but finished on top.
Right at the opening of the second round, Weidman suffered a knockdown and was bothered by kicks to the waist from the challenger. The partial took place almost entirely standing up, with a slight advantage for the challenger.
In the third round, Weidman even came back better, but tried to surprise Rockhold with a kick similar to the one used by Vitor belfort on the American and ended up on the bottom, suffering an overwhelming series of ground and pound blows, with elbows that opened a deep cut on his forehead.
Many believed that the duel could have been interrupted in the previous round, but the fight was short-lived entering the fourth round. All it took was for Rockhold to fall on top again and a new barrage of blows to the ground and pound forced referee Herb Dean to stop the fight.
After the fight, Rockhold recalled the blow that paved the way for his victory and said he would never be knocked out again by a thrown high kick. “I thought: This won’t happen again. I'm a little tired, but he shouldn't have tried that, because then I took control on the ground and performed well. I feel very comfortable in my game,” the new champion told Joe Rogan.
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Check out the UFC 194 results:
MAIN CARD
Conor McGregor knocked out (punch) José Aldo at 13s of R1;
Luke Rockhold knocked out (punches) Chris Weidman at 3m12s of R4
Yoel romero won Ronaldo Jacare in a split decision by the judges (29×28, 28×29 and 29×28);
Demian Maia beat Gunnar Nelson in a unanimous decision by the judges (30×26 30×26 30×25)
Max Holloway won Jeremy Stephens in unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 30×27 and 29×28)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Urijah faber beat Frankie Saenz in a unanimous decision by the judges (29×28, 29×28 and 30×27);
Tecia torres beat Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger in a unanimous decision by the judges (30×27, 30×27 and 30×27);
Warlley alves finished Colby covington with a guillotine 1m16 from R1;
Leo Santos knocked out (punches) Kevin Lee at 3m36s of R1;
Magomed Mustafaev beat Joe Proctor by technical knockout (knees and punches) at 1m54s of R1;
Yancy Medeiros won John makdessi in a split decision by the judges (29×28, 28×29 and 29×28);
Court mcgee won Márcio Lyoto in a unanimous decision by the judges (30×27, 29×28 and 29×28).
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