UFC 187: "Johnson vs Cormier" Live Play-By-Play & ResultsThe Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with two title fights tonight at UFC 187: “Johnson vs Cormier.” The event featured a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Daniel “D.C.” Cormier.

In tonight’s co-main event, UFC Middleweight Champion “All-American” Chris Weidman put his title on the line against Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone battled John “The Bull” Makdessi in lightweight action. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the UFC 187 card.

 

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Daniel “D.C.” Cormier vs Anthony “Rumble” Johnson

Round 1:
Johnson dropped Cormier with a looping overhand right in the opening 30 seconds and he dashed in with more punches. Cormier recovered and took Johnson’s back on the feet. He slammed him down and tried to hop on Johnson’s back. Johnson stood and threw punches while balancing on one leg. Cormier tripped him again, but Johnson scrambled up once more.

Two head kicks and a right hand backed Cormier up, but he swung back with overhands of his own and tried for a takedown. Johnson stuffed it and landed a kick to the liver. Cormier pressed forward and clinched against the fence. He kept Johnson pinned against the cage wall until the final seconds when the fighters exchanged hooks. 10-9 Johnson.

Round 2:
Huge right hands and a series of head kicks rocked Cormier in the second round, but he recovered quickly. Cormier picked Johnson up and slammed him down into half-guard. He landed short elbows and worked for a kimura on the far side. Johnson escaped once, but Cormier continued to try to set up the kimura. He postured up and dropped punches to the face of a fatigued Johnson. Slicing elbows scored for Cormier and he opened a cut beside Johnson’s left eye. 10-9 Cormier.

Round 3:
Cormier shot in for a takedown in round three, but it was Johnson who got him down. Cormier stood and Johnson cracked him with two right hands. Cormier got him down and briefly threatened from back control. Johnson stood, but Cormier dragged him down and took his back again. He locked on a rear-naked choke and a badly bloodied Johnson was forced to submit.

Winner: Daniel Cormier by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:39 of round three. He improves to 16-1-0 and becomes the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

 

UFC Middleweight Championship

“All-American” Chris Weidman vs Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort

Round 1:
Belfort fought off an early takedown, but Weidman caught his leg and tripped him to the mat. He rushed forward as Belfort stood back up, but Belfort tagged him with a knee and a hard combination. Weidman retreated and Belfort unloaded with hooks and uppercuts. A bloodied Weidman covered up, but he survived the onslaught and took Belfort down. Weidman punched from the top and mounted Belfort, who rolled over and gave up his back. He turned into mount again and Weidman dropped an unrelenting series of punches and elbows until the fight was stopped.

Winner: Chris Weidman by TKO (Punches & Elbows) at 2:53 of round one. He improves to 13-0-0 and remains the UFC Middleweight Champion.

 

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone vs John “The Bull” Makdessi

Round 1:
Cerrone kicked at Makdessi’s lead leg and body in the opening minute, but Makdessi caught him with a counter right hand. Cerrone threw a head kick and backed Makdessi up with punches. Makdessi countered a leg kick with a one-two combination and he mixed things up with punches to the head and body. Cerrone attempted a series of head kicks and Makdessi replied with body kicks and jabs. Cerrone flurried in close, but Makdessi backed away and landed a spinning back kick to the liver. Close round. 10-9 Cerrone.

Round 2:
Makdessi ducked under a head kick in round two, but Cerrone tagged him with a lengthy combination. He followed with a knee and another flurry. Punches were exchanged and Cerrone targeted Makdessi’s lead leg with more kicks. Makdessi scored with lead left hooks and jabs, but Cerrone answered back with knees and standing elbows. A kick from Cerrone broke Makdessi’s jaw and Makdessi verbally submitted. The result was officially classified as a TKO.

Winner: Donald Cerrone by TKO (Broken Jaw) at 4:44 of round two. He improves to 28-6-0, 1 NC.

 

Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski vs Travis “Hapa” Browne

Round 1:
Quick one-twos were exchanged in the opening minute and Arlovski rocked Browne with a counter right hand. He swarmed on Browne with punches to the head and body, but Browne survived. Arlovski landed a big overhand right and a now-recovered Browne landed right and left hooks in return. Arlovski badly rocked him with right hands and Browne barely stayed on his feet.

Arlovski remained aggressive and he floored Browne with a standing backfist. A wobbly Browne stood and Arlovski teed off with shots. He left himself open and Browne dropped him with a counter hook. Arlovski stood up and hurt Browne with a knee and a flurry. He followed with standing elbows and Browne could barely stand up. Two final right hands melted Browne against the cage and the insane fight was finally stopped.

Winner: Andrei Arlovski by TKO (Punches) at 4:41 of round one. He improves to 24-10-0, 1 NC.

 

Joseph Benavidez vs John Moraga

Round 1:
Hard punches were exchanged right away and Moraga landed a head kick, but Benavidez floored him with a counter flurry. He took top position in Moraga’s half-guard and threw punches while working to set up a guillotine choke. Moraga eventually exploded out, but Benavidez took him right back down. Moraga threw Benavidez to the ground with a lateral drop, then reversed a takedown into back control seconds later. The fighters stood and Benavidez slammed Moraga down. 10-9 Benavidez.

Round 2:
The fighters traded more power punches on the feet in the second round and Moraga landed a series of leg kicks. He threw more kicks to the legs and body and followed with looping right hands. A clash of heads opened a bad cut along Moraga’s hairline and Benavidez got him down. Moraga tried for a guillotine choke and Benavidez escaped into his half-guard. He transitioned to side control and landed short shots until the bell. 10-9 Benavidez.

Round 3:
The pace picked up in round three and both men landed punching flurries on the feet. Moraga mixed in kicks and knees, but he continued to bleed heavily from the cut on his hairline. Benavidez dumped him to the mat and effortlessly moved to side control. Moraga got back to full guard and tried for a triangle choke as Benavidez dropped elbows from the top. 10-9 Benavidez.

Winner: Joseph Benavidez by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 22-4-0.

 

(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)