Kicking off a two month run of stacked events, UFC 185 featured two title bouts; newly minted strawweight champion Carla Esparza defending against dangerous Muay Thai striker Joanna Jędrzejczyk, and flashy lightweight kingpin Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis defending against a resurgent Rafael dos Anjos. Winning the belt is only the beginning of the struggle. Were both of the UFC’s newest champions able to hang on to their gold?
Since winning the lightweight crown with a fine submission victory over Benson Henderson in 2013, Anthony Pettis has been on a mission to establish himself as the top 155 pounder, a difficult feat considering the depth of the division. In the UFC 185 main event ‘Showtime’ realised just how difficult his task was. Facing off against Rafael dos Anjos, a Brazilian grappling specialist whose recent striking improvements had granted him a shot at the title, Pettis started brightly, throwing his patented high kicks, but a well placed shot to the right eye of the champion changed everything.
Essentially blinded in one eye and staggered early, Pettis’ confidence declined rapidly as dos Anjos began to take control. Pushing his opponent against the fence and punishing his entire body with multi-leveled striking, mixed with an endless barrage of takedowns, dos Anjos put on a clinic, never straying from his gameplan over the course of their 25 minute fight. Pettis tried, and did threaten with some shots and a late kimura attempt, but ultimately came up short in his effort to defend the title. The scorecards told the ultimate truth: A resounding five round victory for ‘Rafa’, another in a long line of upset victories for the Brazilian, completely revitalised since his move to California’s Kings MMA.
Jędrzejczyk Too Hot To Handle For The ‘Cookie Monster’ Esparza
Muay Thai expert Joanna Jędrzejczyk made history in the co-main event, becoming the first Polish UFC champion as she ripped the former champion Carla Esparza apart in just shy of ten minutes. Hoping to impose her will on the ground, Esparza was only able to take her challenger down once in over a dozen attempts. Forced to stand with Jędrzejczyk, the TUF champion didn't have a chance trading blows with her decorated opponent. Setting her strikes up with a nasty jab, Jędrzejczyk brutalised Esparza with a flurry of hooks and elbows, leaving the referee little choice but to step in with seconds remaining in the second round. It was one of the most lopsided title fights I’ve ever seen.
‘Bigg Rigg’ Hendricks Dominates Brown, Back In Title Mix
Former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks made a big case for why he should be the next in line for another title shot as he muted the brawling offense of highly regarded fellow prospect Matt Brown over the course of their 3 round duel. Refusing to just stand and bang with ‘The Immortal’, the more disciplined Hendricks instead went back to his NCAA Division 1 level wrestling, repeatedly driving Brown into the mat. Brown attempted to fight off his back, threatening his more fancied opponent with a number of inverted triangle attempts, but Hendricks maintained control and did more than enough to secure the unanimous decision nod.
Overeem Overcomes ‘Big Country’
Essentially blinded in one eye and staggered early, Pettis’ confidence declined rapidly as dos Anjos began to take control. Pushing his opponent against the fence and punishing his entire body with multi-leveled striking, mixed with an endless barrage of takedowns, dos Anjos put on a clinic, never straying from his gameplan over the course of their 25 minute fight. Pettis tried, and did threaten with some shots and a late kimura attempt, but ultimately came up short in his effort to defend the title. The scorecards told the ultimate truth: A resounding five round victory for ‘Rafa’, another in a long line of upset victories for the Brazilian, completely revitalised since his move to California’s Kings MMA.
Jędrzejczyk Too Hot To Handle For The ‘Cookie Monster’ Esparza
Muay Thai expert Joanna Jędrzejczyk made history in the co-main event, becoming the first Polish UFC champion as she ripped the former champion Carla Esparza apart in just shy of ten minutes. Hoping to impose her will on the ground, Esparza was only able to take her challenger down once in over a dozen attempts. Forced to stand with Jędrzejczyk, the TUF champion didn't have a chance trading blows with her decorated opponent. Setting her strikes up with a nasty jab, Jędrzejczyk brutalised Esparza with a flurry of hooks and elbows, leaving the referee little choice but to step in with seconds remaining in the second round. It was one of the most lopsided title fights I’ve ever seen.
‘Bigg Rigg’ Hendricks Dominates Brown, Back In Title Mix
Former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks made a big case for why he should be the next in line for another title shot as he muted the brawling offense of highly regarded fellow prospect Matt Brown over the course of their 3 round duel. Refusing to just stand and bang with ‘The Immortal’, the more disciplined Hendricks instead went back to his NCAA Division 1 level wrestling, repeatedly driving Brown into the mat. Brown attempted to fight off his back, threatening his more fancied opponent with a number of inverted triangle attempts, but Hendricks maintained control and did more than enough to secure the unanimous decision nod.
Overeem Overcomes ‘Big Country’
Once considered a potential UFC heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem’s star may have dimmed considerably in recent years, but he took a massive step back towards the elite of the division with an excellent unanimous decision victory over the always lethal Roy Nelson. Avoiding his opponent’s much storied power, the Dutch former kickboxer showed considerable improvements to his game as he battered Nelson’s legs and body with blistering knees and oblique kicks. ‘Big Country’ did manage to drop his foe deep in the third and final round, but Overeem was able to escape without absorbing any significant damage.
Cejudo Demonstrates Olympic Pedigree With Strong Display
Beijing 2008 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling champion Henry Cejudo finally made his flyweight debut with an exceptional performance against former title challenger Chris Cariaso. Mixing his strikes with his world class grappling, Cejudo dictated the pace and location of the entire fight, never once allowing his opponent to get a foothold in the bout. With this impressive showing Cejudo might be the next in line for a crack at the 115 pound belt, a title due to be defended at next month’s UFC 186.
UFC 185 Main Card Results:
Lightweight Championship
Rafael dos Anjos def Anthony Pettis © via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Women’s Strawweight Championship
Joanna Jędrzejczyk def Carla Esparza © via TKO (punches) in round 2
Welterweight
Johny Hendricks def Matt Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight
Alistair Overeem def Roy Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Flyweight
Henry Cejudo def Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Event Awards:
Best Fight: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Anthony Pettis
Best Finish: Joanna Jędrzejczyk
MVP: Rafael dos Anjos
Cejudo Demonstrates Olympic Pedigree With Strong Display
Beijing 2008 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling champion Henry Cejudo finally made his flyweight debut with an exceptional performance against former title challenger Chris Cariaso. Mixing his strikes with his world class grappling, Cejudo dictated the pace and location of the entire fight, never once allowing his opponent to get a foothold in the bout. With this impressive showing Cejudo might be the next in line for a crack at the 115 pound belt, a title due to be defended at next month’s UFC 186.
UFC 185 Main Card Results:
Lightweight Championship
Rafael dos Anjos def Anthony Pettis © via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Women’s Strawweight Championship
Joanna Jędrzejczyk def Carla Esparza © via TKO (punches) in round 2
Welterweight
Johny Hendricks def Matt Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight
Alistair Overeem def Roy Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Flyweight
Henry Cejudo def Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Event Awards:
Best Fight: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Anthony Pettis
Best Finish: Joanna Jędrzejczyk
MVP: Rafael dos Anjos