The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for UFC 209: “Woodley vs Thompson 2.” The event was headlined by a UFC Welterweight Championship rematch between Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.
After last-minute changes to the card, tonight’s co-main event featured a lightweight matchup between David Teymur and “Groovy” Lando Vannata. In a featured middleweight bout, Daniel “Judo” Kelly battled former 205-pound ace “Suga” Rashad Evans. MMARising.com has results for the main card.
UFC Welterweight Championship
Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley vs Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson
Round 1:
Little transpired in the opening minute until Thompson landed two side kicks to the body. Woodley stayed on the outside and Thompson threw occasional kicks. The fighters remained very tentative and neither landed anything damaging during the ensuing minutes. Quick combinations were finally exchanged and Thompson appeared to land the cleaner shots. The crowd booed the lack of action in the final minute. 10-9 Thompson.
Round 2:
Woodley landed two right hands to the chest in the second round and Thompson responded with a flurry. He followed with a side kick as Woodley circled and the crowd once again voiced its displeasure. Woodley rushed in and clipped Thompson with an overhand right that opened a cut near Thompson’s left eye. Thompson responded with side kicks to the chest as time wound down in the uneventful round. 10-10.
Round 3:
Woodley scored a takedown into half-guard in round three and he landed short left hands to Thompson’s head and body until Thompson battled back to his feet. He broke free of Woodley’s grip and landed straight left hands to Woodley’s head and body. Thompson continued to mix things up with punch-kick combos and Woodley replied with right hands. A big left hook scored for Thompson late in the round. 10-9 Woodley.
Round 4:
The fourth round began with an exchange of kicks and Woodley followed with a combination. Thompson threw straight left hands and landed a grazing spinning wheel kick. He snapped Woodley’s head back with a side kick and the fighters traded single punches. Thompson went high with a head kick that was partially blocked. He landed a one-two in the final seconds and Woodley replied with a body kick. 10-9 Thompson.
Round 5:
Woodley was more aggressive in the final round and he pressed the action early on with punches. Thompson kept him at bay with side kicks and straight lefts. Woodley tried for a takedown and Thompson circled away. He jabbed and avoided Woodley’s right hands. Thompson kicked to the body and he continued to stay out of range of Woodley’s power punches. With 35 seconds to go, Woodley dropped Thompson with a combination and he swarmed on him with punches. Thompson stood and was floored by a right hook to the temple. He battled back to his feet and backpedalled until the end of the fight. 10-9 Woodley.
Winner: Tyron Woodley by Majority Decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-47) after five rounds. He improves to 17-3-1 and remains the UFC Welterweight Champion.
David Teymur vs “Groovy” Lando Vannata
Round 1:
Teymur targeted Vannata’s lead leg with kicks in the opening round and the fighters exchanged punches after Vannata threw a spinning backfist. Teymur landed straight left hands and Vannata connected with a flashy cartwheel kick. He dropped Teymur with a right hook and rushed in with more punches, but Teymur weathered the storm and he landed two hard left hands. Vannata slowed down and Teymur landed a combination. Vannata scored with a spinning back kick to the body, but Teymur fought off takedown attempts and he stunned Vannata with a right hand. More power punches landed for Teymur late in the round. 10-9 Teymur.
Round 2:
Quick kicks were exchanged early in round two and Teymur countered a right hook and a big kick to the body. Vannata caught a kick and landed a spinning wheel kick in return. Teymur scored with a one-two and he followed with a left hook. Vannata answered back with two punches, but Teymur snapped his head back with a Superman Punch. He took Vannata down against the cage and landed punches on the way up. Teymur punished Vannata with three knees to the body and two left hooks in the final 15 seconds. 10-9 Teymur.
Round 3:
The final round began with an exchange of quick punches and Teymur landed a hard knee to the body. He kicked at Vannata’s lead leg and went high with a head kick. In a clinch against the cage, Teymur landed knees to the body before backing away. He flurried with punches and took Vannata down for a split second. On the feet, Teymur landed an elbow and he took Vannata down again. Vannata stood and Teymur put together a combination of punches and a body kick. He connected with overhand lefts and another body kick, then shot in for a takedown before the bell. 10-9 Teymur.
Winner: David Teymur by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 6-1-0.
Daniel “Judo” Kelly vs “Suga” Rashad Evans
Round 1:
Kelly landed jab-hook combos in the first round and Evans looked for an early knockout with a head kick that was blocked. Kelly stunned him with an overhand left, but Evans recovered and he tried for a takedown. Kelly defended, but Evans was able to briefly take his back. Kelly broke free from the clinch and ate an uppercut. He connected with another overhand left and followed with a flurry, but Evans cut him on the forehead with a short right hand. The fighters clinched and Kelly snuck in an elbow and a left hand in close. Evans fired off a body kick before the bell. 10-9 Kelly.
Round 2:
Kelly set up left hands with lead leg kicks in the second round, and he tried for a trip takedown. Evans stayed on his feet, but he was rocked by a left hand from Kelly. Evans clinched and he tried for a takedown after landing two punches over the top. Kelly stood and Evans landed a knee. Time was called after Kelly was poked in the eye, but action resumed and Evans landed a nice body kick. Kelly continued to press forward with aggressive punches and he was effective with jabs. Evans secured a very brief takedown into back control, but Kelly stood up and he flurried with punches. He caught a head kick and backed Evans up with a combination. 10-9 Kelly.
Round 3:
Evans fought off a trip attempt in round three and the fighters exchanged two- and three-punch combinations. Evans landed a nice uppercut and he countered a leg kick with a lead left hook. Kelly tripped him with a leg-sweep, but Evans quickly stood and he scored with a body kick. Kelly pressed forward with combinations, but Evans was more effective with counter jabs and hooks than in the first two rounds. Both men landed kicks and Kelly scored with a big uppercut. Both men landed power punches in the final minute and Evans tried for a takedown. He teed off with punches in the final seconds. 10-9 Evans.
Winner: Daniel Kelly by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 13-1-0.
Cynthia Calvillo vs Amanda Bobby “ABC” Cooper
Round 1:
Cooper pressed forward with one-twos in the opening minute that were answered by a punch-kick combo from Calvillo. The fighters continued to trade punches and Calvillo mixed in leg kicks. She took Cooper down and tried to pass Cooper’s guard, but Cooper scrambled well on the ground and kicked Calvillo off. She escaped to her feet and shot in for a takedown, but Calvillo reversed on the way down and she trapped Cooper in an Anaconda choke. Calvillo used the choke to transition to back control. She worked for rear-naked chokes until she sunk one in under Cooper’s chin and Cooper tapped out.
Winner: Cynthia Calvillo by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:19 of round one. She improves to 4-0-0.
Alistair Overeem vs Mark “Super Samoan” Hunt
Round 1:
Hunt opened the action with leg kicks, but Overeem checked one and a large gash opened up on Hunt’s right shin. He continued to throw kicks and Overeem answered back with front kicks to the midsection. Hunt landed a hard body kick and the fighters traded one-twos. Hunt knocked Overeem off-balance with a counter right hand and he cracked him with an overhand right seconds later. Another solid body kick landed for Hunt and Overeem fired back with a punch-kick combo. He landed a knee and Hunt flurried to the body after backing Overeem up against the cage. 10-9 Hunt.
Round 2:
The second round began with Overeem landing a spinning back kick to the body. He threw a front kick that grazed off of Hunt’s chin and followed with knees to the body in a clinch. More knees landed for Overeem and Hunt began to bleed from the nose. The fighters separated and Hunt rocked Overeem with a standing elbow. He closed in and landed punches, but Overeem clinched and bought time to recover. He scored with knees to Hunt’s body, but Hunt hurt him again with another elbow. The round ended with Hunt countering Overeem’s knees with three more elbows. Very close round. 10-9 Overeem, barely.
Round 3:
Overeem connected with an overhand left early in round three and he countered an uppercut from Hunt with a right hook. The fighters clinched and Overeem threw a series of knees to the body. He hurt Hunt with a knee to the head and dropped him face-first to the canvas with a second one for a vicious knockout win.
Winner: Alistair Overeem by KO (Knees) at 1:44 of round three. He improves to 42-15-0, 1 NC.
Undercard Fights:
– Marcin “Tybur” Tybura defeated Luis Henrique “KLB” Barbosa de Oliveira by TKO (Punches) at 3:46 of round three. He improves to 15-2-0 with the win.
– Darren “The Damage” Elkins defeated Mirsad Bektic by KO (Punches & Head Kick) at 3:19 of round three. He improves to 22-5-0 with the win.
– Iuri “Marajo” Alcantara defeated Luke “Cool Hand” Sanders by Submission (Kneebar) at 3:13 of round two. He improves to 34-7-0, 1 NC with the win.
– Mark “The Hand of” Godbeer defeated Daniel “Daddy Long Legs” Spitz by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 12-3-0 with the win.
– Tyson Pedro defeated Paul “Bearjew” Craig by TKO (Elbows) at 4:10 of round one. He improves to 6-0-0 with the win.
– Albert “The Warrior” Morales defeated Andre “The Asian Sensation” Soukhamthath by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 7-1-1 with the win.