The Ultimate Fighting Championship headed to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for UFC 194: “Aldo vs McGregor.” The event was headlined by a UFC Undisputed Featherweight Championship bout between José “Scarface” Aldo and “The Notorious” Conor McGregor.
Elsewhere on the card tonight, UFC Middleweight Champion “All-American” Chris Weidman defended his title against Luke Rockhold in the co-feature. Also at 185 pounds, Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza met Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the UFC 194 card.
UFC Undisputed Featherweight Championship
“The Notorious” Conor McGregor vs José “Scarface” Aldo
Round 1:
Aldo walked forward right away and threw a lead left hook, but McGregor landed a counter left hand a split second earlier. An unconscious Aldo collapsed to the ground and the fight was waved off.
Winner: Conor McGregor by KO (Punch) at 0:13 of round one. He improves to 19-2-0 and becomes the new UFC Undisputed Featherweight Champion.
UFC Middleweight Championship
Luke Rockhold vs “All-American” Chris Weidman
Round 1:
Weidman closed in and took Rockhold’s back right away in round one. He jumped on Rockhold’s back and dragged him down, but Rockhold turned into Weidman’s guard. Weidman attacked with a kimura attempt and the fighters stood. Weidman dumped Rockhold to the mat and landed two knees on the way up. Weidman took him down again and Rockhold countered with a guillotine choke. Referee Herb Dean bizarrely stood the fighters up and Rockhold countered a takedown with another guillotine after landing body kicks on the feet. Close round. 10-9 Rockhold due to the late rally.
Round 2:
Rockhold hurt Weidman with a lead right hook in the second round, but Weidman recovered and threw kicks to the body. Rockhold avoided a clinch attempt and threw a series of kicks to the upper body. Weidman clinched and ate a knee to the chest. A big right hand landed for Rockhold and he continued to score with kicks. Weidman landed a nice body kick of his own, but Rockhold answered with a left cross before the bell. 10-9 Rockhold.
Round 3:
Hard body kicks were exchanged in round three and Weidman clinched against the fence. He landed a one-two and Rockhold gave up an easy takedown. The fighters stood and both landed hooks in close. Weidman kicked to the body and ate a counter one-two. More kicks landed for Weidman, but he missed with a spinning back kick and Rockhold took him down into back control. He mounted Weidman and cut him with elbows. Rockhold unloaded with punches and elbows until the bell and Weidman was very wobbly as he got to his feet. 10-8 Rockhold.
Round 4:
Rockhold reversed a takedown in the fourth round and he struck from the top in Weidman’s guard. Rockhold moved to half-guard and punished Weidman with punches until the fight was finally stopped.
Winner: Luke Rockhold by TKO (Punches) at 3:12 of round four. He improves to 15-2-0 and becomes the new UFC Middleweight Champion.
Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero vs Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza
Round 1:
Souza threw hard right hooks in the opening two minutes and Romero kicked from a distance. A looping left hook landed for Romero and he dropped Souza with a spinning backfist. Romero dropped down into Souza’s guard and threw big punches while Souza tried to frame up an armbar from the bottom. Romero landed more punches and elbows and avoided a triangle choke attempt. 10-9 Romero.
Round 2:
Romero landed kick-punch combos in the second round and he stuffed a takedown attempt. Souza rushed in again and Romero grabbed the cage in order to reverse. The fighters were stood back up due to Romero’s foul. Both men landed left hooks and body kicks. Souza pressed forward and landed a right hand. Romero sent Souza off-balance with a leg kick. Close round. 10-9 Souza.
Round 3:
The final round began with an exchange of body kicks and Souza targeted Romero’s lead leg. Romero answered back with a kick-punch combo and he stuffed a takedown. Romero scored with a one-two and an elbow, but Souza hurt him with punches and took him down. Souza used punches to set up an arm-triangle choke attempt. Romero defended and Souza punished him with punches, elbows and knees. Romero scrambled up late in the round and the fight ended in a clinch. 10-9 Souza.
Winner: Yoel Romero by Split Decision (29-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 11-1-0.
Demian Maia vs Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson
Round 1:
Maia shot in for a takedown right away, but Nelson reversed on the way down and immediately stood back up. Maia worked for a takedown and Nelson used a guillotine choke attempt to sweep into top position. A scramble ensued and Maia hopped onto Nelson’s back. He mounted Nelson soon after and dropped hard punches. Maia took Nelson’s back once again and landed more punches. He transitioned to an armbar late in the round, but Nelson escaped and landed punches from the top. 10-9 Maia.
Round 2:
The second round began with Maia landing a left cross. He tried for a takedown and Nelson reversed again. The fighters stood and Maia dragged Nelson down after taking his back. Maia struck from the back until Nelson secured a sweep into top position. Maia kept him at bay with butterfly guard and swept right back. He dropped a series of elbow strikes and mounted Nelson before the bell. 10-9 Maia.
Round 3:
Nelson countered a takedown from Maia by working for a guillotine choke in the final round, but Maia easily escaped and took top position. Nelson gave up his back and Maia threw punches to the body while looking for a rear-naked choke. Nelson defended and Maia wrenched back on a neck crank. Nelson refused to submit and Maia resumed punching with his free hand. Nelson turned into Maia’s guard just before the end of the fight. 10-8 Maia.
Winner: Demian Maia by Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26) after three rounds. He improves to 22-6-0.
Max “Blessed” Holloway vs Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens
Round 1:
Cautious kicks were exchanged in the opening round and Holloway targeted Stephens’s body. He followed with a left-right combo over the top and landed another kick to the midsection. The fighters briefly clinched and Holloway landed more kicks. Stephens scored with leg kicks and Holloway quickly answered back with a combination. Stephens clinched and held Holloway against the fence as time ran out. 10-9 Holloway.
Round 2:
Stephens kicked at Holloway’s lead leg in the second round and Holloway landed lead right hooks. An uppercut landed for Stephens, but Holloway immediately countered with another right hook. Big punches were exchanged in close and Stephens clinched. Holloway broke free by landing a right hand and he snapped Stephens’s head back with another one soon after. 10-9 Holloway.
Round 3:
Stephens scored with a head kick in round three, but Holloway was unfazed and he took Stephens down seconds later. Holloway punched from the top and took Stephens’s back. He looked for a rear-naked choke, but Stephens rolled and escaped. Holloway once again worked for a rear-naked choke, but Stephens turned into his guard and the fighters stood. Stephens looked to land a knockout strike and he shot in for a takedown soon after, but Holloway stuffed it. Looping hooks were exchanged in the final seconds. 10-9 Holloway.
Winner: May Holloway by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 15-3-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)