The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois tonight for UFC on FOX 16: “Dillashaw vs Barao 2.” The event was headlined by a UFC Bantamweight Championship rematch between current champion T.J. Dillashaw and former titleholder Renan “Barao” Pegado.
In tonight’s co-main event, Miesha “Cupcake” Tate battled Jessica “Evil” Eye in a women’s bantamweight contender’s bout. Edson Barboza took on Paul “The Irish Dragon” Felder, and Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon met Takanori “Fireball Kid” Gomi. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for tonight’s UFC card.
UFC Bantamweight Championship
T.J. Dillashaw vs Renan “Barao” Pegado
Round 1:
Barao opened the rematch with body kicks and a right hook. He followed with another hard body kick and a left hook. Dillashaw replied with a combination and a body kick, and he hurt Barao with two hard right hands. The fighters clinched until Dillashaw broke away after throwing a body kick. He flurried with punches and rocked Barao with an uppercut. Dillashaw continued to outbox Barao and he landed a nice head kick, but Barao finally scored with a flurry of his own that backed Dillashaw up late in the round. 10-9 Dillashaw.
Round 2:
Dillashaw scored with an early liver kick and a combination in round two. He shot in for a takedown, but Barao defended well against the fence. The fighters separated and Barao took Dillashaw down very briefly. Dillashaw returned to his feet and tagged Barao with straight punches. A head kick and a body kick both landed for Dillashaw, but Barao countered with a knee to the chest. The round ended with an exchange of punches in the clinch. 10-9 Dillashaw.
Round 3:
Dillashaw mixed things up with head kicks and quick punches in the third round. He took Barao’s back off of a takedown attempt, but Barao broke free from his grasp and the fighters stood up. Dillashaw punched to the body while pinning Barao against the fence. Barao answered back with knees and Dillashaw circled away. He landed a right hand and narrowly avoided a head kick. Dillashaw badly rocked Barao with punches in the final seconds, but time expired. 10-9 Dillashaw.
Round 4:
Dillashaw unloaded with a barrage of punches to start round four and Barao was forced to retreat to the cage. Dillashaw teed off with big shots as Barao wilted and leaned on the cage to stay up. Barao remained on his feet throughout, but Dillashaw hurt him repeatedly with big shots and the fight was stopped.
Winner: T.J. Dillashaw by TKO (Punches) at 0:35 of round four. He improves to 12-2-0 and remains the UFC Bantamweight Champion.
Miesha “Cupcake” Tate vs Jessica “Evil” Eye
Round 1:
Eye knocked Tate off-balance right away with stiff jabs and she followed with a short one-two in close. Eye caused Tate’s nose and cheeks to swell up by landing more jabs and she scored with another combination soon after. Tate cracked her with a looping right hand, but Eye rocked her with a flurry and shrugged off a takedown attempt. An exchange of stiff jabs followed and Tate dropped Eye with a right hook. She settled into Eye’s half-guard and landed short elbow strikes until the bell. 10-9 Tate due to the late rally.
Round 2:
Tate landed right hands early in the second round and clinched with Eye against the cage. Eye broke away and landed a combination, but Tate backed her up with a one-two. Hard right hands were exchanged and Tate stunned Eye with another big punch. She dropped her with a right hook and dove in with more punches on the ground. Eye countered with an inverted triangle choke, but Tate escaped into side control. She put herself back in half-guard and landed elbows to the body. Tate secured a guillotine choke late in the round, but Eye was saved by the bell. 10-9 Tate.
Round 3:
Eye struck from a distance with leg kicks and single punches in the final round. Tate countered with overhand rights and Eye targeted her lead leg with kicks. Tate took her down and transitioned to back control. Eye held on to Tate’s hands and a stalemate followed, which forced referee Yves Lavigne to stand the fighters up. Tate pressed forward and clinched again, but Eye countered with knees and elbows. 10-9 Tate.
Winner: Miesha Tate by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 17-5-0.
Edson Barboza vs Paul “The Irish Dragon” Felder
Round 1:
Felder opened the action with leg kicks and lead left hooks that caused Barboza’s right eye to swell up. Barboza answered with three hard kicks to the body and the fighters traded kicks in the ensuing minute. Both men threw leg kicks and Felder checked one, which caused Barboza to grimace in pain. Time was called after Felder was hit by a spinning back kick to the groin. Felder recovered and the fight continued. Barboza landed lead left hooks and Felder responded with a knee to the chest. Close round. 10-9 Felder.
Round 2:
Barboza scored with a spinning back kick to the body and an overhand right in round two. He connected with a right hand just as Felder threw a spinning backfist that landed with the forearm. Barboza missed with two winging hooks, but he landed a leg kick and a big kick to the body. Both men attempted spinning attacks at the same time. Felder countered a leg kick with a spinning backfist, but Barboza regained his footing and landed a spinning wheel kick. Felder snuck in two right hands and a jumping knee, but Barboza answered right back with a body kick. 10-9 Barboza.
Round 3:
Both fighters landed leg kicks in the opening minute of round three and Barboza grazed with a left hook. He followed with a lunging left cross and a chopping leg kick. Barboza ducked under a left hook from Felder and landed one of his own. He countered an elbow from Felder by landing a switch kick to the body. Barboza caught a kick and ducked under a counter spinning backfist. Felder shot in for a takedown and Barboza stuffed it against the cage. The fighters separated and Barboza swept out Felder’s legs. 10-9 Barboza.
Winner: Edson Barboza by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 16-3-0.
Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon vs Takanori “Fireball Kid” Gomi
Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of punches and both men threw lunging shots. Lauzon took Gomi down and moved from back control to a kneebar attempt. He took Gomi’s back again and landed short elbows to the side of his head. Lauzon flattened Gomi out and landed a series of unanswered punches. Gomi stopped defending and appeared to go limp for a split second. Lauzon stood up and walked away before the fight was waved off. A dazed Gomi stood as well and referee Herb Dean then stopped the fight.
Winner: Joe Lauzon by TKO (Punches) at 2:37 of round one. He improves to 25-10-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)