The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for UFC 168: “Weidman vs Silva 2.” The event was headlined by a UFC Middleweight Championship rematch between champion “All-American” Chris Weidman and Anderson “The Spider” Silva.
Tonight’s co-feature saw UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey face bitter rival Miesha “Cupcake” Tate in a rematch for Rousey’s UFC title. Heavyweight Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett took on Travis “Hapa” Browne. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
UFC Middleweight Championship
“All-American” Chris Weidman vs Anderson “The Spider” Silva
Round 1:
Weidman shot in early in the first round and got Silva down against the cage. Silva returned to his feet and landed a knee. More knees scored for Silva, but Weidman rocked and dropped him with a right hook. He followed with more punches on the ground, but Silva recovered. Weidman looked for an Ezekiel choke and landed elbows from top position. Silva countered with an arm-triangle choke attempt.
From the top, Weidman used a series of can opener submissions to try to get Silva to open his guard. He rained down more punches and elbows and Silva answered with hammerfists. Weidman continued to try to force Silva to loosen his guard with can openers and he dropped more punches and elbows. Silva kicked him off, but Weidman dove back in with another right hand before the bell. 10-9 Weidman.
Round 2:
The second round began at a measured pace and Silva threw occasional kicks to Weidman’s lead leg. Weidman landed a one-two and Silva countered with a body kick. He followed with another leg kick that Weidman checked at the knee. Silva’s shin bone snapped in grotesque fashion and the fight was immediately waved off.
Winner: Chris Weidman by TKO (Broken Leg) at 1:16 of round two. He improves to 11-0-0 and remains the UFC Middleweight Champion.
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey vs Miesha “Cupcake” Tate
Round 1:
After a brief exchange of punches, Rousey clinched and dragged Tate to the ground. Tate scrambled up and ate a knee. Rousey pinned her against the cage and threw more knees to the body. She caught a kick from Tate and tripped her to the mat again. Tate attempted a triangle choke and Rousey slammed her way out. Tate stood and took Rousey down, but Rousey immediately struck from her back and framed up a triangle choke. From the bottom, Rousey tightened the triangle and cut Tate with elbows.
Tate tried to pull her head free and she finally escaped. Back on the feet, both women landed punches and Tate got the better of the exchange. Rousey threw her to the ground and landed on top in mount. She attempted to transition to an armbar, but Tate scrambled free and stood. Rousey threw her down once more and punched from the top. She stood and allowed Tate to follow. Tate landed a nice right hand and the fighters clinched against the cage. The round ended with Rousey landing punches. 10-9 Rousey.
Round 2:
Rousey landed a quick combination in round two and took Tate down, but Tate landed some solid upkicks from her back. She stood and Rousey threw her back down. On the feet, Rousey caught a kick and dragged Tate down yet again. The fighters stood and clinched against the cage. Rousey landed knees and short right hands, then tossed Tate to the ground.
From side control, Rousey looked to isolate Tate’s right arm, but Tate used her legs to counter into an armbar attempt of her own. Rousey escaped and mounted Tate. She dropped punches and Tate rolled to her side. Rousey dove for an armbar, but Tate rolled and broke free. Rousey locked on an inverted triangle choke and punched to the body. Another amazing round. 10-9 Rousey.
Round 3:
Rousey secured a takedown early in the third round, but Tate wound up on top. Rousey countered by taking her back and she transitioned to an armbar. Rousey rolled through with the submission hold and wrenched back on Tate’s left arm from side control for the tapout victory.
Winner: Ronda Rousey by Submission (Armbar) at 0:58 of round three. She improves to 8-0-0 and remains the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.
Travis “Hapa” Browne vs Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett
Round 1:
Browne landed a leg kick and a left hook right away and Barnett countered with knees in close. Browne broke free and stuffed a takedown. He drilled Barnett with a knee and a right hand on the way in and Barnett dropped to his knees for a takedown. Browne unloaded with vicious elbows to the temple and Barnett was quickly rendered unconscious.
Winner: Travis Browne by KO (Elbows) at 1:00 of round one. He improves to 16-1-1.
Jim Miller vs Fabricio “Morango” Camões
Round 1:
Camões clinched in the early goings and he landed a knee and a left hook before breaking away. A big left hook backed Miller up and Camões followed with another combination and a head kick. Miller caught it and took him down. Camões stood, but Miller dragged him back down into back control. Camões rolled into Miller’s guard and Miller postured for a gogoplata. He switched to an armbar and Camões was forced to submit.
Winner: Jim Miller by Submission (Armbar) at 3:42 of round one. He improves to 23-4-0, 1 NC.
Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier vs Diego “Ceara” Brandao
Round 1:
Brandao opened the fight with body kicks and a left hook to the liver. Poirier replied with a left cross and leg kicks. The fighters traded hard power punches in close and Poirier lost his balance. Brandao landed an illegal kick on the way up and apologised for the accidental foul. The fight continued and both men landed more kicks and punches. Brandao connected with a nice right hook.
Brandao tried for a takedown, but Poirier defended on the way down and the fighters returned to their feet. Poirier landed a right hook and attempted a lunging one-two. After an exchange of hooks, Brandao shot in for a takedown and briefly got Poirier down. Poirier stood and swarmed on Brandao with punches to the head and body. Poirier tripped him and Brandao stood. Poirier dropped Brandao with punches and struck from the top until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Dustin Poirier by TKO (Punches) at 4:54 of round one. He improves to 15-3-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)