UFC 199: Michael Bisping knocks out Luke Rockhold to become Britain's first UFC champion
Bisping knocked out Rockhold in the first round to win the UFC middleweight championship
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Your support makes all the difference.Coming in on just two weeks notice for any fight is a daunting task but to face Luke Rockhold on short notice is about as tough a test as they come. Michael Bisping on Saturday night became the second ever Brit to fight for UFC gold and he started well in the first round boxing Rockhold at range.
Then after three minutes and thirty-six seconds of the first round it happened. Bisping landed a massive left putting Rockhold on wobbly legs, he followed up with another big left and Rockhold was out cold against the cage. Bisping stunned the world and knocked out Rockhold to win the UFC middleweight title on just 17 days’ notice.
Cruz retains his bantamweight strap after decision win over Faber
In the co-main event of the evening, the bantamweight title on the line as the ten-year long bitter feud between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber came to an end.
Round one was fast paced and frenetic with both fighters securing takedowns but Cruz landing the cleaner in the striking exchanges. The frenetic pace continued in the second round and it was Cruz first to strike as he dropped his man with a big left hand. He wasn't able to finish him as he followed him down to the mat but it was by far the most significant moment of the round.
In the third round, Faber had a few successes clipping Cruz as he came in but Cruz seemed to always land the harder, cleaner shots as he began to put together his strike and move patterns with better timing as the fight went on.
Round four was a matter of rinse and repeat. Cruz again out landing the Californian and making his miss with every attempted big shot he threw. In the fifth and final round, Cruz poured it on and looked for the finish but Faber to his credit was still throwing his big right hand. With two minutes to go, Cruz capitalised on a slip and then took his back but it was to no avail as Faber bravely battled out.
With a minute left on the clock, the two wrestled and grappled against the fence and then made their way to the centre of the Octagon for one final throwdown. As the final buzzer sounded, the two bitter foes half embraced but it was down to the judges. To the surprise of no one, Cruz took the unanimous decision 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 to retain the bantamweight title.
Holloway outclasses Lamas in dominant win
Hawaiian Max Holloway put on a clinic of striking and movement as he defeated Ricardo Lamas via a unanimous decision. Holloway throughout the fifteen minutes landed some devastating combinations and was unlucky not to get the finish in both the first and second rounds, Lamas to his credit hung on well but the difference in class was obvious. In a crazy final ten seconds, Holloway pointed to the ground indicating he was ready to throw down and in a flurry of fists he kept his promise. Despite their best efforts, neither man was able to take the other man's head clean off and with the sound of the final buzzer, the fight went to the cards. Unsurprisingly Holloway got the nod 30-27 on all three scorecards.
Henderson leaves Lombard cold with devastating KO
A crazy fight featuring 45-year-old Dan Henderson featured a barn burner of an opening five minutes with both men hurting the other to the point where they looked to be finished. Somehow, both guys managed to see the round through but it ended abruptly in the second in devastating fashion. After Henderson landed a head kick, he pivoted his body expertly to deliver a stunning short elbow to the side of the head of Lombard who was out before his back hit the canvas. It was an incredible knockout and was described after as one of the most devastating in UFC history.
Poirier stops Bobby Greene to extend winning streak
In lightweight action, Californian native Bobby Green returned to the Octagon for the first time in eighteen months to take on fellow American Dustin 'Diamond' Poirier. Unfortunately for Green, it wasn't to be a successful return as he was totally outclassed for the entire duration of the 2 minutes and fifty-three seconds as he was dropped twice by Poirier before being finished by strikes. The win was Poirier's fourth on the bounce and will no doubt propel him up the lightweight rankings.
Best of the rest ...
On the UFC Fight Pass main event, Brit Tom Breese was unlucky to lose a split decision in a razor tight fight with American Sean Strickland. Beneil Dariush scored a stunning first round knockout on previously unbeaten James Vick while Jessica Andrade blasted through Jessica Penne to win in dominant fashion in the second round of their strawweight encounter.
The fight of the evening was perhaps the first with Polo Reyes defeating Dong Hyun Kim via TKO in the third round of an epic back and forth war. The fight was so good, many members of the media and fans were calling it 'the best first fight on a UFC fight card ever', while that forever remains open to debate, it was admittedly a very fun fight and worth going back to watch if you didn't see it first time around.
UFC 199 Full Results
Main Card
Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 3:36
Dominick Cruz def. Urijah Faber via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
Max Holloway def. Ricardo Lamas via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Dan Henderson def. Hector Lombard via knockout (strikes) - Round 2, 1:27
Dustin Poirier def. Bobby Green via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 2:53
Preliminary Card
Brian Ortega def. Clay Guida via TKO (knee, punches) - Round 3, 4:40
Beneil Dariush def. James Vick via knockout (punch) - Round 1, 4:16
Jessica Andrade def. Jessica Penne via TKO (punches) - Round 2, 2:56
Alex Caceres def. Cole Miller by (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
UFC Fight Pass Preliminary Card
Sean Strickland def. Tom Breese via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Luis Henrique da Silva def. Jonathan Wilson via TKO (punches) - Round 3, 4:11
Kevin Casey vs. Elvis Mutapcic declared a majority draw (29-28, 28-29, 28-28
Polo Reyes def. Dong Hyun Kim via knockout (punches) - Round 3, 1:52
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