UFC 275: All the latest news, reaction and results from the octagon
Breakout fighter Jack Della Maddalena is bringing the hype as Australia drives the flagpole into the ground after another dominant performance in the octagon at UFC 275.
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After that devastating left rip, there was still two seconds before the ‘Della Era’ was confirmed.
A wait nobody counted but Jack Della Maddalena.
“Because hitting that shot, it felt real soft,” Australia’s breakout fight star said backstage of the punch that has changed everything.
“So I knew it went deep.
“But sometimes with a punch like that, it can take two seconds for them to react.
“So I landed the shot, waited two seconds and then, yeah, I knew I’d hurt him.
“Knew I was in that brief window where you can win a fight — so I went for it.”
Didn’t he what?
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Only days after his agent Tim Simpson predicted the arrival of the ‘Della Era’, the Aussie went and confirmed the hype with a vicious first round finish of Ramazan Emeev at UFC 275 in Singapore.
Despite getting caught in a deep choke attempt by the Russian early, the Perth native recovered to land a big rip to the body which — after that briefest of pauses — saw the sambo specialist crumple.
Which is when Della swarmed in and finished with a flurry of punches not unlike his January UFC debut — when he scored a TKO win over American Pete Rodriguez.
In seven previous fights, the Russian had never been finished.
It took Della less than three minutes.
The devastating stoppage topped a massive night for the partisan Aussie crowd — with countryman Jake Matthews scoring an outstanding KO win and Josh Culibao also winning a chaotic split decision.
The night also saw UFC great Joanna Jedrzejczyk announce her retirement from the sport after being kayoed from a flying backfist by Chinese star Zhang Weili.
All up, part of a cracking Singapore card that saw Valentina Shevchenko defend her title narrowly, Jiri Prochazka win one in a gladiatorial war and Della continue his own rise despite enduring some real trouble early.
Asked afterwards about the Russian’s choke, he cackled: “Not the ideal spot to be early on.
“It was tight, and he had a good squeeze.
“But I don’t feel like the angle he had was right.
“He was trying to get me to roll over but I was being stubborn and waiting, waiting for my time to push the elbow and move.
“It was definitely a strong choke but I’ve been in that position before so I knew to stay calm and look for a way out.”
Meanwhile, Matthews said he now wants onto the historic UFC Paris card in September — which will likely include Tai Tuivasa, Rob Whittaker and Tyson Pedro — after finishing André Fialho in one of the best performances of his career.
And while Jacob Malkoun suffered a controversial decision loss to rising American middleweight Brendan Allen, fellow Sydneysider Culibao earned the biggest win of his career — a swangin and bangin’ upset over South Korean Seung Woo Choi.
Despite going in an underdog, the Igor MMA product scored a courageous split decision win that saw him twice drop his rival and escape two choke attempts late.
In an exciting first round, Culibao wobbled Choi with a flurry of punches, then dropped him into the cage where he continued to throw down.
However the South Korean not only found his feet, but then responded, eventually chasing the Aussie around the cage while throwing.
The second round was also as entertaining as the first, with the highlight coming when Culibao again dropped his opponent and followed up with a big knee.
Yet if that wasn’t enough, he also had to escape two late submission attempts late in the third after Choi took his back and attempted a rear naked choke.
On a night the ‘Della Era’ arrived, UFC fans also farewelled UFC favourite Jedrzejczyk, who retired after being kayoed in her hyped rematch with Weili.
“I love life so much. I’m retiring guys,” she said afterwards.
“It’s been 20 years. I’m turning 35 this year. I want to be a mum. I want to be a business woman. I’ve been training two decades, more than half my life. I love you guys.”
‘I’m ready to go again’
Australia, the ‘Della Era’ has officially arrived.
Still only 25, breakout Australian welterweight Jack Della Maddalena has confirmed the hype surrounding his arrival with a vicious first round finish over Russian Ramazan Emeev at UFC 275.
Only days after his agent predicted the arrival of the ‘Della era’, the 25-year-old took less than three minutes to finish his rival with a series of vicious shots.
Better, the Perth native got the win after escaping a deep choke attempt in the opening.
A huge hook to the body saw Emeev crumple, with Della then quickly finishing just like he did his UFC debut in January — a TKO (punches) win over American Pete Rodriguez.
Asked when he wanted to fight next, he shouted: “If anyone pulls out tonight I’m ready to go”.
The win capped off a huge card for Australian fighters, with Josh Culibao winning a chaotic split decision win and Jake Matthews defeating Andre Fialho by KO.
The win was a big result for the Melbournian, who went down late in the first round, although replays suggested he slipped.
Matthews, who was once the youngest fighter signed by the UFC, landed some massive right hands in the second before finishing his opponent with an outstanding combination.
The Aussie said inside the Octagon afterwards that he now wants to fight on the historic UFC Paris card in September.
That card is expected to be headlined by Aussie heavyweight Tai Tuivasa against Ciryl Gane, while Australia’s first UFC champ Robert Whittaker will face Italian Marvin Vettori in the co-main.
There has also been talk that Sydneysider Tyson Pedro will appear on the card.
Underdog Aussie emerges from chaos with biggest win
Aussie Josh Culibao has secured the biggest win of his UFC career — and likely a $50,000 bonus — after a swangin’ and bangin’ upset against South Korean Seung Woo Choi.
Despite going into his UFC 275 preliminary headliner as an underdog, Culibao scored a courageous split decision win that saw him twice drop his rival and escape two choke attempts late.
So chaotic was all 15 minutes of this one, it’s almost impossible to believe, and easy to forget, that sections of the Singapore actually booed in the opening moments, when the fighters failed to exchange.
Yet from there?
You couldn’t keep the pair apart.
In an exciting first round, Culibao wobbled Choi with a flurry of punches, then dropped him into the cage where he continued to throw down. However the South Korean not only found his feet, but then responded, eventually chasing the Aussie around the cage while throwing.
The second too was as entertaining as the first, with the highlight coming when Culibao again dropped his opponent and followed up with a big knee.
Yet if that wasn’t enough for the Sydneysider, he also had to escape two late submission attempts late after Choi took his back and attempted a rear naked choke.
When the bell was sounded for the finish, Culibao leapt up onto the cage and pointed out to a section of his supporters in the crowd.
In his last three starts the Aussie now has two wins and a draw, the latter of which had looked so much like a Culibao win that UFC president Dana White give him a winner’s bonus anyway.
UFC 275 RESULTS - MAIN CARD
Jiri Prochazka d Glover Teixeira (Submission 5)
Valentina Shevchenko d Taila Santos (Split decision)
Zhang Weili d Joanna Jedrzejczyk (KO 2)
Jake Matthews d André Fialho (KO 2)
Jack Della Maddalena d Ramazan Emeev (TKO 1)
PRELIMINARIES
Josh Culibao d Seung Woo Choi (Split decision)
Hayisaer Maheshate d Steve Garcia (KO 1)
Brendan Allen d Jacob Malkoun (Decision)
Kyung Ho Kang d Batgerel Danaa (Decision)
Silvana Gomez Juarez d Liang Na (KO 1)
Joselyne Edwards d Ramona Pascual (Decision)
Whittaker stunned at training partner’s contentious loss
Australian Jacob Malkoun has suffered a contentious decision loss against rising American Brendan Allen at UFC 275, causing Singapore Indoor Stadium to erupt in a chorus of boos.
After three rounds fought largely on the ground, all three judges awarded Allen the win 29-28 — leaving Aussie UFC star Robert Whittaker sat cageside shaking his head.
The result followed a series of fight week sledges from the Florida fighter, who branded Whittaker’s main training partner “boring” and suggested he hugged his way to victories.
However despite the slight, it was Malkoun was started strongest in the first, taking Allen down after just two minutes, and controlling.
The American then responded, however, with a judo toss and, soon after, an attempted guillotine to claim what would be a narrow round win with the judges.
In the second, Malkoun landed some strong shots early — prompting Allen to call him on — before the Sydneysider then twice took the American down.
While Allen recovered late, it appeared the Sydneysider got the better of it.
The third round was again close, with Malkoun earning a takedown before Allen then did the same and controlled on the ground for the closing parts of the round.
Regardless, the pro Australian crowd thought Penrith’s wrestling coach had done enough to claim the victory, after responding in style to Allen’s pre-fight sledges.
Prior to their Singapore bout, Allen took a shot at the Sydney fighter describing him as boring, having no ground-and-pound and trying to get decision via “hugs”
Yet afterwards?
“He’s tough man,” Allen said. “I said what I said to hype the fight but he’s tough.”
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