UFC 271: Robert Whittaker loses world title rematch, Bam Bam KOs Derrick Lewis
Rob Whittaker and the UFC 271 Houston crowd thought the Australian slugger should have gold strapped around his waist, not Israel Adesanya’s after the pair’s title rematch.
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Robert Whittaker says a third fight with Israel Adesanya is “inevitable” following a contentious UFC 271 loss that was loudly booed by the Houston, Texas crowd.
On a huge night for the Australian fight game, a gutsy Whittaker took it to Adesanya over five rounds before eventually losing the rematch of their 2019 blockbuster on points – 48/47, 48/47, 49/46.
When the decision was read aloud, large sections of the Toyota Center crowd, who had started the night extremely pro Adesanya, booed heavily, with Whittaker later saying “I did enough”.
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The result also came on a night where Mt Druitt slugger Tai Tuivasa stunningly elbowed his own way into heavyweight title contention – knocking US favourite Derrick Lewis cold in a massive second round upset.
Asked about facing Adesanya in a trilogy bout, Whittaker suggested it would not take as long to acquire as this second fight did.
“Props where they’re due, he’s a phenomenal fighter,” Bobby Knuckles said of his arch rival.
“And I don’t see anyone else getting close to him.
“But honestly, I thought he looked beatable. And I thought I beat him.
“I got inside his reach, beat him to every punch, landed my takedowns and thought I was hurting him – I was hurting him.
“And don’t get me wrong, I don’t want a (headline) screaming Rob thinks he won blah, blah, blah.
“I’m not taking anything away from him.
“He won. He literally won.
“The judges gave it to him and I have nothing but respect for his skillset.”
Adesanya, unsurprisingly, disagreed.
With the champ arguing you have to “take” a UFC belt rather than simply do enough. UFC president Dana White also said he scored the fight three-two for Adesanya.
Elsewhere, the Aucklander admitted he did tell Whittaker afterwards they would likely fight again, before adding: “I say that to pat them on the butt.
“Like, yeah, good job kid.
“This division is filled with killers. I’m looking for fresh meat.”
With Adesanya already suggesting he wants to fight again in June, his most likely opponent will be American Jared Cannonier, who enjoyed a stunning undercard win.
Which of course, brings us back to Tuivasa.
That, and the elbow heard around the world.
Or close enough.
Truly, the Mt Druitt houso has arrived.
The chants were all for Adesanya in the first two rounds. Now we're getting "Robbie!" #UFC271
— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) February 13, 2022
Specifically, with a vicious thwack that dropped American cult favourite Derrick Lewis in something like the walkoff kayos made famous by his idol Mark Hunt.
On a run of three straight losses not so long ago, Tuivasa has now finished five opponents straight -- only one of 11 fighters in UFC history to have achieved said gong.
Yet none have been so incredible as the elbow which felled Black Beast and started a night of shoeys, including by UFC boss Dana White.
Truly, Tuivasa is now a national treasurer.
Think the Great Barrier Reef, but bigger.
More popular with the Yanks, too.
With so much of the love due to nights like this one where he walked in to Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, walked out downing beer showers and, somewhere in between, iced a man with Knockout King inked on his chest.
Quizzed on the finish, Tuivasa said: “I haven’t even watched it, my coach rushed me out of there.
“I said, ‘did we have a bit of a f…ing swack’ because I had some bumps on me head. He said ‘yeah, you had a swack’.
“I just remember being in the cage and throwing an elbow. I like my elbows”.
Indeed, immediately after the fight Tuivasa had shouted to the Houston crowd: “My name’s Tai, like Muay Thai.
“And I’m always down to f...ing get down.”
Same deal Whittaker.
Asked about taking fewer than three fights to face Adesanya again, he said: “Hopefully it will be, right?
“There are obvious people I have to fight first. People I haven’t beaten in the top 10.
“And then surely that puts me in position to fight for the titale again. Especially how close this one was.
“Let’s be honest, there aren’t a lot of people in the top 10 I haven’t had it over.”
RE-LIVE UFC 271 WHITTAKER-ADESANYA BELOW
Call it the elbow heard around the world.
Or close enough.
Regardless, Tai Tuivasa has arrived as a genuine UFC heavyweight title contender.
Truly, the Mt Druitt houso is here.
Big time.
Impossible?
So everyone has been telling him.
Ever since he was a kid.
Was still going right up to this fight with UFC cult favourite Derrick Lewis, too - a fella who is ranked number three in the world, was fighting out of his hometown and has Knockout King tattooed across his chest.
Then ... well, Tuivasa went and knocked him out.
Vicious elbow.
Incredible.
“That’s the King of Knockouts,” Tuivasa said afterwards. “Much respect to him.
“But I’m young - and I’m taking over now.”
Then, of, course, Bam Bam drank shoeys – with everyone.
Even a couple, as we had warned, with his very own Drink West label.
On a run of three losses not so long ago, Tuivasa has now finished five rivals straight - only one of 11 fighters in UFC history to have achieved said gong.
That he did it against the Black Beast, in the second round, and having been taken down a couple of times, made the win even more incredible.
Truly, Tuivasa is a national treasurer.
Tai fistbumping @nickwalshaw on the way out of the Octagon is very good areas. #UFC271
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) February 13, 2022
OH MY.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 13, 2022
BAM BAM JUST KO’D DERRICK LEWIS OUT COLD. SECOND ROUND.
Holy hell that was awesome
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 13, 2022
NEVER STOP SWINGING#UFC271
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) February 13, 2022
Holy hell that was awesome
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 13, 2022
That man is about to leave his mark on Houston. #UFC271pic.twitter.com/G96ZLo9fIP
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) February 13, 2022
Think the Great Barrier Reef, bit a little bigger.
More popular with the Yanks, too.
First, he walked out to Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’.
Perfect.
Then, he waited for the Black Beast.
Behind him, draped over the Octagon wall, both the Australian and Indigenous flags.
Twice in the first round, Tuivasa was taken down.
Twice, he got up.
But not without taking some damage, especially on the first occasion when Lewis clobbered him with blows.
Then, however, Tuivasa fired back.
Of course, he did.
Same in the second, when a big Lewis swing just missed him early.
But then Tuivasa fired back all streetfighter hands and elbows.
This isn’t his first rodeo you understand?
“My name’s Tai, like Muay Thai,” he cackled afterwards. “I like throwing elbows. Getting nitty gritty.
“And I’m always done to f...ing get down.”
Right throughout the week here in Houston, Tuivasa had promised to come in and remove a head.
It came in the second round.
With that elbow heard around the world.
3.30PM: CANNONIER ROARS BACK INTO TITLE CONTENTION
Jared Cannonier has confirmed himself the next UFC middleweight contender after viciously finishing Derrick Brunson with a run of elbow’s so devastating it saw the white towel thrown.
That, and Blond Brunson kayoed.
While Cannonier was dropped in the first with a devastating right hand, then taken down early in the second, the American rose and went about creating havoc.
Rising from the mat to initially land a heavy shot of his own, Cannonier then exchanged, exchanged some more and … bam … vicious elbow … then, bam … backhand.
When Brunson dropped seconds later, Cannonier pounced to land a quartet of elbows to the melon that saw the towel thrown, the fight waved off and the victor screaming at Dana White to give them next UFC title shot.
Of course, that will all be determined by what happens two fights from now.
Should Israel Adesanya defend his UFC strap, Cannonier is almost certainly up.
But if Australian Robert Whittaker wins, the UFC travelling roadshow is headed Down Under for a blockbuster trilogy fight at the bend end of this year.
Regardless, Cannonier is now next in line between the Trans Tasman rivals.
“I turned Blond Brunson into Blood Brunson,” the winner said.
He wasn’t wrong.
1.41PM:“F... YOU”: AUSTRALIA’S BADDEST WOMAN SETS UFC RECORD
She may not be the famous Queenslander to carry the nickname King, but Gold Coast flyweight Casey O’Neill has definitely confirmed her status as Australia’s baddest women.
Got booed like Wally at the SCG, too.
Up against retiring UFC favourite Roxanne Modafferi, 24-year-old O’Neill broke the record for significant strikes thrown in a three-round women’s flyweight to win by split decision at UFC 271.
While two judges had it for the Gold Coaster 29-28, a third was 28-29.
When the decision was announced however, boos thundered around Houston’s Toyota Center given Modafferi, an OG of women’s MMA, had already announced this would be her last fight.
Cue King Casey.
“You want me to be the bad guy,” the Aussie shouted into the microphone. “Then f… you, I’ll be the bad guy.”
Despite only making her UFC debut a year ago, O’Neill has now racked up four straight wins including this latest record-breaking performance.
Certainly the Queenslander seemed to have been the stronger in two of the three rounds however Modafferi simply refused to quit in her last Octagon appearance.
The veteran also took O’Neill down at the end of the first and then again late in the third, to earn raucous applause from the big Texas crowd.
O’Neill, who herself screamed out loud with less than 60 seconds to go in the second, seemingly in a bid to spur herself on, was incredibly gracious in victory – collapsing before Modafferi and then, when on her feet, raising her rival’s arm in acknowledgement.
Yet while Modafferi will always carry status as a pioneer of women’s MMA, O’Neill is undoubtedly its future.
All times AEDT - this story will auto update every 60 seconds.
Straight up savage!
— Lewis Simpson (@LewisSimpsonMMA) February 13, 2022
Casey O’Neill gets it done and remains undefeated. That judge needs his eyes checked. The crowd boo’ing, you’ll be cheering soon enough.
Congrats @kingcaseymma ðŸ‘🻠pic.twitter.com/XmTUoZNaIJ
12.40PM: TEAM ADESANYA SCORES AMID “FREE JOE ROGAN” CHANT
Aucklander Carlos Ulberg has put the famed City Kickboxing Gym into the win column at UFC 271 – and in a fight interspersed with a ‘Free Joe Rogan’ chant.
A training partner of UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, Ulberg earned his first UFC win via unanimous decision over Fabio ‘Water Buffalo’ Cherant.
All three judges scored the bout 30-27 for Ulberg.
Not sure whether it's audible on the broadcast, but that is a "free Joe Rogan" chant you're hearing. #UFC271
— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) February 13, 2022
While the Kiwi light heavyweight was dropped at the end of the first, Cherant rarely got out of second gear otherwise in a fight that continually saw Ulberg walk him down.
Ulberg also looked far more relaxed in his second Octagon showing, even if the bout occasionally drew boos from a crowd that has been largely spoiled by a strong undercard.
At one point, the Houston mob even broke into a ‘Free Joe Rogan’ chant, showing support for the hugely popular comedian and podcaster who is not at this event in his usual role as a UFC commentator.
— KnockoutAlerts (@TheToro514) February 13, 2022
11.51AM: PANTHERS COACH IN GUTSY UFC COMEBACK
Penrith wrestling coach Jacob Malkoun has continued his undefeated run since immersing in the Panthers system, squeezing his way to a gutsy, comeback win over hyped US prospect AJ Dobson at UFC 271.
A key member of the Panthers 2021 NRL premiership staff, Malkoun dropped the first round against UFC debutant Dobson, a touted power puncher who entry to the big show via Dana White’s Contender Series.
Watch UFC 271: Adesanya vs Whittaker LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 13th February from 2pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
However, Malkoun then fought back strongly over the next two rounds, with the training partner for Australia’s Robert Whittaker taking Dobson down in both rounds and then keeping him there.
The Aussie also landed some strong strikes to his grounded opponent, with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28.
After losing his UFC debut by KO, and in just 18 seconds, the Sydneysider then returned home and began working with the Panthers.
The fighter has now won two fights since, telling us this week here in Houston Texas about drawing inspiration from the Panthers revival after their own grand final heartache.
“I work hard for this s…,” Malkoun shouted immediately after the fight was done.
Later, during an interview with commentator Daniel Cormeir, he added: “After that first loss, I’ve worked my arse off every day.
“I want to keep pushing hard.
“I’m not just here to fight and see how I go. I’m here to win.”
10.45AM: BLOOD DIAMOND’S SHOCK FIRST-ROUND DEFEAT
He was billed as being among the smokeys to steal the show at UFC 271.
But New Zealand’s highly-touted UFC prospect Blood Diamond has suffered a shock loss after being choked unconscious in the first round by Jeremiah Wells.
Diamond, whose real name is Mike Mathetha, was widely hyped for this fight by his training partner and headliner, UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya.
However, Wells controlled the fight from the opening bell being eventually winning via rear naked choke.
“I seen his eyes go back,” the welterweight said afterwards of the finishing move. “The choke was in.”
The loss was an early blow to the City Kickboxing team, who have three fighters on the card.
10AM: RECORD-BREAKING WHITTAKER ON REVENGE MISSION
Robert Whittaker looks set to create a TAB record as one of the best backed Australian fighters ever as support pours in for the Sydneysider to create an upset at UFC 271.
While he will start a $3 outsider against UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya, TAB officials say Whittaker boasts 80 per cent of a hold of what is shaping as their biggest UFC take.
Despite losing Australia’s first UFC title by devastating kayo in 2019, punters are backing Bobby Knuckles to turn the tables in his hyped rematch, with a quarter of bets predicting him to win via KO in the fourth.
Adesanya, however, remains the $1.38 favourite.
Those backing Adesanya are also tipping him to finish, with his biggest hold suggesting a KO win in the third.
Of his 21 career wins, Adesanya has secured 15 via KO – including names like Paulo Costa, Derek Brunson and, of course, Whittaker.
Elsewhere, the rangy New Zealander also already boasts 11 knockdowns as a UFC middleweight, placing him third behind only Brazilian legend Anderson Silva (13) and Nate Marquardt (12).
BAM BAM’S SAVAGE WAKE-UP CALL
Tai Tuivasa says he is now a completely different fighter to the guy who lost via TKO to Junior dos Santos in 2018, saying: “I thought I was the man back then”.
On a run of four straight UFC finishes, Tuivasa takes on the biggest challenge of his career at UFC 271 — facing American cult favourite Derrick Lewis in his Houston backyard.
Since the dos Santos result, his first UFC defeat, Tuivasa then dropped two more fights before re-emerging on his current run of highlight reel finishes.
Asked what he learned from the JDS bout, the Mt Druitt heavyweight said: “I wasn’t prepared for that fight.
“Thought I was the man back then.
“But what happened, it’s made me a much better fighter
“Obviously with my nature, I want to get in there, win, get it done.
“But I’ve also matured.
“Before, I used to rush things. Go look for the finish.
“But I know more about the sport now.
“And I know I have (the power) … it’s just about waiting for the right time.”
Main card, from 2pm
Israel Adesanya (c) (184lbs) vs. Robert Whittaker (184lbs) - middleweight title
Derrick Lewis (266lbs) vs. Tai Tuivasa (265lbs) - heavyweight
Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson - middleweight
Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast - lightweight
Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo - lightweight
Preliminary card, from 12pm
Andrei Arlovski vs. Jared Vanderaa - heavyweight
Roxanne Modafferi vs. Casey O’Neill - women’s flyweight
William Knight vs. Maxim Grishin - heavyweight
Carlos Ulberg vs. Fabio Cherant - light heavyweight
Early preliminary card, from 10am
Leomana Martinez vs. Ronnie Lawrence - bantamweight
Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano - lightweight
AJ Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun - middleweight
Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Sergey Morozov - bantamweight
Jeremiah Wells vs. Mike Mathetha - welterweight
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